Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Since I’m still a bit under the weather, I’m taking it easy and doing some knitting and piecing (and reading).  I’ve turned the heel on my third pair of socks and LOVE doing two at a time.

And speaking of knitting socks, I  added a couple new items to my sewing room. Can you pick them out?

They clamp on and off the table easily – I set them up long enough to wind two hanks into balls and then unclamped them to store in the cabinet until I need them again. Aren’t these gorgeous balls of yarn?

I was trying not to build up a sock yarn stash but it’s very hard to resist buying. I’ll finish my 3rd pair in a few days but I’ve already got yarn for another 11 pair. I’m enjoying knitting these and feel like I’ll continue to do them otherwise I wouldn’t have bought the ball winder and swift.

Tomorrow I’ll put up the design wall and start arranging the blocks for what I’m going to call the Lattice Quilt for lack of a better name.

Carol belongs to the guild I visited Tuesday to talk about HeartStrings and she captured a photo of me speaking along with other pictures taken that night.

Either Keith has given me his cold or my allergies are acting up again so I haven’t been in the mood to work and spent the evening watching TV and knitting a little on and off  but I’ve done everything on my March *must do* list except Adam’s quilt so I’m making progress.

But today instead of piecing blocks I had an opportunity to speak briefly at a local guild about HeartStrings. Excuse the quality of the photo (my cell phone doesn’t have a flash). They had two stands and a table where I was able to set up the quilts so they could be seen before and during the meeting.

I pulled fabric for a backing too and I plan on getting it pieced before I go to bed tonight which will probably be very late.

Lori from SD and her friend Theresa are in town and we wanted to meet for lunch so I suggested the Mall of America because I could take the light rail down and then shop for my dress for Adam’s wedding afterwards.

The jacket looks rather shapeless in the photo above but it’s more flattering on and it has a matching sleeveless top. It also has a pretty purple piping and although it looks very VERY busy in these photos it’s more subtle in person.

I’ve had some questions so I thought I’d post my answers in case anyone else was curious.

First, I wasn’t a complete novice knitter but had only done some really simple things (scarves, hats, baby afghans) and hadn’t done much knitting at all in the last 3 years.

I taught myself to knit about 4-5 years ago using one of those “teach yourself to knit visually” books.

I bought several books on sock knitting when I decided I couldn’t resist any them any longer but the books by Antje Gillingham have been the ones that I’ve learned how to knit socks from.

First I bought the book –  Knitting More Circles Around Socks: Two at a Time, Toe Up or Cuff Down –  thinking I was going to knit toe up socks but quickly decided that it might be easier to learn cuff down socks. I did knit my first pair from the instructions in this book as she has instructions for both.

The book I’m mainly using now is Gillingham’s first book Knitting Circles Around Socks: Knit Two at a Time on Circular Needles and it’s the one I’d recommend unless you’re planning to do Toe Up socks.

I’d never picked up stitches in knitting before and obviously hadn’t closed the toe of a sock with the Kitchener stitch and found a couple videos that helped with those parts. These video’s use the Magic Loop technique but they were still helpful.

I’m using two circular needles to knit and bought my needles and sock yarn at Knitpicks.com.

Finally a lot of people mentioned that they’d tried two socks at once and spent more time untangling yarn than knitting and there was one suggestion to put the yarn in separate baggies but I’ve got to say, I’m not having any problems with tangling — I just set both skeins in my lap and watch how I turn my work.

If you’re new to sock knitting — I suggest you do like I did and knit one sock at a time for the first pair or two until you’ve got a little experience under your belt before trying two at once.

So if you’ve been wanting to knit socks you should go ahead and try. I’m having a lot of fun with them.

Yep, I started a new pair of socks this evening and was brave enough to try knitting two socks at once. I’m finding it much easier than expected and not having problems with my two skeins tangling up which is something several peopled mentioned they’d had problems with.

Today was kind of a lost day between running errands and knitting but I’ve got the tax stuff ready to drop off Monday and one of the two wedding quilts finished so I’m on schedule.

It feels like spring around here with temps  in the 30’s and 40’s but here’s one not so pretty sign of spring – large DIRTY piles of melting snow.

Last night I got through a lot of the tax stuff so today was mostly devoted to sewing….but first, I had to finish up my socks.

Pair #2 – aren’t you impressed? I almost feel like a pro now.

And then I spent the day on wedding quilts….ugh, working on two big quilts when I would rather start a new quilt or cast on a new pair of socks.

I trimmed, bound, and hand stitched the binding down on one of the two so all it needs now is washing and I finished the borders on the Stars and Pinwheels for Adam. That one needs quilting and binding — the wedding is on the 27th so I can’t put it off either.

Thanks to buckling down and working hard today, I made a lot of progress and don’t feel so pressured.

Since it’s Tuesday, on the agenda this afternoon is piecing a few string blocks and a backing. I’ve also got to start assembling the tax stuff but I think I’ll wait and do that when Keith goes to bed tonight — I slept late so I’m sure I’ll be up late.

Did I tell you all that I LOVE knitting socks? I’m almost finished this pair and I think I’ll try two at once next.

Other than a book on Drunkard’s path quilts and a three fat quarter sets, my only quilt show purchase was this antique quilt. The back is discolored from age but there’s just one spot on the front that can be strategically placed so it’s hidden. I don’t have a good place to display quilts but I hung this one over the wall on the landing for a photo.

And a closer view.

Tops finished– 1

Tops quilted – 4

Quilts completed (bound and labeled) – 3

Met my goal to work on string blocks and piece a backing each Tuesday. I’m up to 120 QAYG string blocks – one of our HeartStrings projects started in January.

Finished my first pair of socks and have the second one started (one sock done, the matching one in progress)

The above totals make me wonder what I did all month but traveling and having company ate into my quilting time as did my sock knitting but I had lots of fun so I’m happy.

I’ve got to finish up the borders  on the Stars & Pinwheels top, quilt it and bind it before our trip to GA for Adam’s wedding the last weekend in March.

There are tops here needing quilting and lots more binding to be done — 6 quilts waiting to be trimmed and bound in this bin. The 2nd quilt from the top has a deadline of the first week in April and it’s a big one.

My batting scraps are just about at the point that I need to spend some time piecing them together.

I need to get all our tax stuff ready for the accountant that first week in March AND I have to find something to wear to the wedding which should be interesting.

March isn’t looking like much fun at this point.

This time to Virginia to visit Mom and attend the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show. We’ll probably just be there on Friday and I’ll be with a group of family members but if you see me make sure you say hi.

Some recent photos to help you recognize me.

I was too quick to blame Chris for passing on his cold — while I felt terrible on Sunday afternoon and evening it must have been allergies because I felt fine yesterday. So I went to the dentist today- my entire lower mouth and jaw were completely numb all afternoon but it was relatively painless, thank goodness.

Since it’s Tuesday, I worked on string blocks and pieced a backing when I got back home and Chesty laid down under the ironing board and kept me company.

I’ve been neglecting my binding the last couple nights while I finished up my one sock and got the matching one started but tonight I won’t go to bed until I get get this coins quilt bound.

The boys flew home this afternoon and it appears that I’ve caught Chris’ cold. I’m assuming that will mean canceling my dentitst appt. on Tuesday which I’m not too sad about since I need a cavity filled and a filling re-done on another tooth, something I’m not looking forward to.

I did manage to finish my sock while watching the Olympics today. Still need to knit the other one and I haven’t gotten much binding done either.

Keith always fixes brunch when we have company and Chris decided to take photos.

Mimosa’s and French Toast — Yum!

But I enjoyed spending today at the Mall of America with the boys while Keith was working.

Yesterday, I walked the few blocks to the new Target Field to meet the boys at the Light Rail station and we were back there today to ride it to the MOA.

Keith’s company built a new US Headquarters just up the river from us — about a half mile from our townhouse but today was the first day I went inside. We’d scheduled lunch several times but he kept canceling on me — today when the boys got in from Atlanta we went over for lunch.

They moved in April 2009 – the  photo was taken before it was finished

And a view of downtown from one of the nearby bridges across the Mississippi. The building is right on the river.

I don’t usually like to shop but while Keith works tomorrow, the boys and I are going to take the light rail down to the Mall of America, get lunch, and look for a few things.

Speaking of things that tempt me …. I love Mary Stori’s beaded work and one day I’ll play more with beading too. Maybe when I find time for that Crazy quilt.

As much as I struggle with time management I can’t imagine how those of you with jobs and kids find the time to do all the creative things you want to do.

Quilting is obviously my main focus but as I wander around the internet and visit blogs I constantly come across people doing things that make me want to run out and buy supplies so I can try too.

Visiting Vicki and Judy’s blogs are dangerous for me — I managed to resist the urge to make postcards and knit socks for well over a year in both cases before I caved in.

Other things tempting me right now are Kathie’s mini quilts and Crazy quilts but I don’t plan to take anything else on right now.

By the way, I had no intention of stocking up on sock yarn and planned on buying as I used it up but I’m already way behind with yarn for 5 additional pair here and yarn for 4 more on the way after visiting Suzanne’s sale. I’m NOT buying any more yarn or sock knitting books!

So what tempts you the most?

With Chris and Adam coming tomorrow, I needed to get ready for them and clean up around the house. I really hate cleaning!

Since I take over both the media room downstairs and the 2nd bedroom for my quilting, we have a sleeper sofa in the living room and this cot I set up on those rare occasions we have company. Chesty jumped up as soon as had the linens on.

Then he decided he needed to check how soft the pillow was – do you think I should change the pillowcase for Adam

Chesty went to the beauty parlor yesterday to get ready for the visit from his brothers – can you tell?

He gets all excited when I tell him Chris and Adam are coming but he doesn’t seem to understand the word tomorrow and was patiently waiting for them while I did my cleaning.