I love this little layout for snowball blocks – don’t they look like flowers?! I want to make a snowball and nine patch quilt next time I use this die.
Have you noticed that the quilts I’m working on are all child size? I’m trying to get together a batch for donation so I’m working through some of my smaller sized tops and this one just happens to be UFO finish #7 for the year! It’s nice to be a bit ahead of my goals since I’ve got a couple trips coming up in the next few weeks.
I looked at a bunch of crochet afghan patterns yesterday after finishing the green Ripple and even cast on one but pulled it out and decided to start another Ripple – I know, I’m a bit obsessed with them right now but the good thing is that they’re quick to crochet and this is the 3rd one in a row that I’m making from stash. This yarn has been in my stash for years … a batch of 10 skeins bought on sale of course. Don’t you love the tweedy look of it?!
Same free Ripple pattern but I did chain 146 for this one with an H hook. Crocheting in the back loop which creates that deeper texture.
Yarn is Cascade 220 superwash wool
I really should be binding quilts but after another loss by the Lightning tonight, I just felt like sitting and since I don’t have any quilts ready for hand-stitching the binding, that meant more crochet. I’m a bit discouraged that after a great season, they’re in danger of being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
I can’t believe I waited so long to pick my crochet hook back up! I’m really enjoying making these afghans. Started exactly one week ago, the green Ripple Afghan is done and I really, really like it. I’m so tempted to run right out and buy more of this yarn (Caron Big Cake) to start another one but I’ll work a little longer with stash yarn before I allow myself to buy for the next Ripple.
I’ve also changed my mind about hook size. After crocheting the first little bit of this one, I thought I’d go up a size hook for better drape on the next one … but the finished afghan is just right so I’ll stick with a size H hook with this pattern and yarn.
We had a gorgeous day here in FL – hard to believe that Keith just ran from the snow in Minneapolis a couple days ago! We took a 13 mile bike ride and ended up downtown along the river and then we came home and went for a swim – and the water was perfect! This is usually a little early for me to be swimming but we’ve had a warm week.
Since I didn’t sew during the day, I sewed this evening. I loaded and quilted another one of the Maine Happy Block Quilts – same green thread, same pantograph as last night – Steam. Isn’t this one cute … the centers are from the same fabric.
Typically I trim and get the binding on a quilt right away but I’ve got three waiting for binding now. Maybe I can get one done before my trip next week.
Kathy from my HeartStrings group is hosting a sew-in tomorrow in Wisconsin and since I couldn’t be there in person, I wanted to sew along with them on HeartStrings projects this weekend. I’m going to be busy tomorrow during the day so I loaded a quilt late this afternoon and quilted it tonight after watching the Lightning lose their second playoff game – NOT off to a good start but I’m hoping they turn things around on Sunday.
So back to the quilting … you may remember I tied 12 Happy Block quilts in October while I was in Maine and there were plenty more tops completed so I told Bev, I’d bring some home to finish. I have 8 here and the plan is to get them quilted – some I’ll donate to Safe Harbor in GA and some I’ll take back to Maine in September for donating there. This is just #1 so I’m have a ways to go but I’m hoping to get another one loaded and quilted this weekend.
Pantograph is Steam by Norma Sharp – I like to keep these kids quilts nice and cozy so I try to choose quilting that isn’t too dense. There are some really cute fabrics in this one!
I also managed to find the Apple Core UFO – I don’t expect to make much progress on this but maybe I can add a section – I’ve been hand piecing it but I might google machine sewing Apple Core blocks and see what I think. I don’t thing sewing the blocks into rows would be difficult but I’m thinking it might be more challenging when it comes time to sew the rows together.
This is a UFO from 2009 – obviously I like the idea of hand piecing but I don’t seem to make much progress on these projects.
I’m marking all kinds of things off my April to do list today! The Hexagon Flowers and 9 Patch top is assembled. I love it when I’m working on a small top and I can use my big ironing board to measure and pin the borders. It’s so much easier than crawling around on the floor!
I won’t quilt this one right away but since it’s my oldest UFO, the plan is to get it done this year. Those paper pieced Hexagon Flowers waited a long time to become a quilt!
I loaded and quilted this snowball top today. I learned to quilt these little freehand flowers years ago from the Pajama quilter DVD and it’s still one of my favorites.
This was the first quilt I used my snowball die to make but I want to do another one with alternating 9 patch blocks.
