Goodies, goodies, and a few wips

I knew the song lyric thing had to end sometime -- looks like this post is it. I do still have some older projects to share, but all this nostalgia is reminding me that I need to show you the new stuff I bought and am working on.

First up, the goodies I purchased while I was in New Mexico. Mom isn't a quilter, but she does knit. Given my recent knitting jag, I had to hit the local yarn shop, Unravel. They've got some absolutely lovely yarns and super friendly service. In addition to yarns and other knitting goodies, they also have some embroidery and other needlecraft supplies. Since I had limited space in my suitcase, and wallet, I was good. Just these two skeins of cotton/alpaca mix yarns and some stitchery transfers/patterns. I do love those Sublime Stitching patterns -- one is just words and an alphabet, but the other has cobwebs, and gravestones. I'm thinking Halloween here folks. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm thinking my husband would get a real kick out of something from these. In fact, his birthday is coming up....

I also picked these up at the same shop. Two Shashiko (Japanese quilting design) kits and thread. I actually had managed to walk out of the shop without these lovelies -- then I couldn't stop talking about them to my mother. Yeah, I went back. I had to. One is a set of fans, and the other is dragonflies. I really can't wait to try these out, though, the instructions are in Japanese. Hmmnnn...I also can't decide whether or not to do it with a backing or just treat it as a single layer embroidery...I'll figure it out eventually. (Unravel doesn't have an online ordering site -- but, I did find the same kits online here, not that I would try and convince others to join in my madness).

And wouldn't you just know, there is a quilt shop right across the courtyard from the knit shop? Don't you hate it when that happens? Organ Mountain Quilt Shop has a lovely selection of fabrics, notions, books and patterns. I was drooling over their wall 'o Batiks as well as some of the full collections from Moda and Robert Kaufman they carry. Oh my. But, again, I was soooooo good. I only walked out with one little quilt book (on sale for 20% off!) and one little 1/2 yard of fabric. I know, I wasn't sick -- just, well, I knew how much room I left myself in my suitcase. And how many projects I currently have going at home (which I think has more to do with it). I actually have a book review planned for this book (but, hey, it came home with me so that tells you something right there) so I'm not going to say much about it now.

While I was at Mom's I did get some work done. When I was packing, my biggest worry was what to bring on the plane with me to work on. Yeah, I know, I should have been thinking about clothes and stuff -- but, well, I knew I'd have some serious waiting around time. There was the three hour flight, surgery, hanging around at home while Mom was sleeping off anesthesia, etc. Unfortunately, I didn't have any quilting/embroidery handwork prepped, but oh my, I did take some knitting. I already showed you the mitt I finished (which still needs its mate), but I did do some other stuff. I brought Miss Tinkerbell's pink and purple with me and all of the knitting is done. I still need to seam up the other side, get some ribbons for the ties and make the skirt, but, hey, it's for her birthday. I have time.

I also may have raided, borrowed, looked through Mom's yarn stash and got permission to take some lovely cotton yarn she had. I may have also had a look through her patterns and found one that would be perfect for said yarn. And, since I happened to have the right sized needles with me, I may have cast on a sweater for my daughter. And well, since it's easy and fun, I may have gotten a whole lot done on said sweater. Like, darned near 1/2 of it. It's a fun little wrap sweater from this book. It's the pattern on the cover. The pattern is actually for a 12 month size, but Miss Tinkerbell is so skinny, the width fits. So, I'm just making it a bit longer in the length. Since coming home I've finished one of the sleeves and I should have the other one done this week. I'm thinking this one is going to be a lovely little lightweight Easter sweater. I'm being optimistic that the weather will allow for a lightweight sweater for Easter (but I'm not gonna hold my breath).

I also got some great mail while I was gone. This was waiting for me when I got home. A lovely mini quilt from the Calico Cat. This is part of a private swap we're doing -- I still need to get hers out in the mail but it will be done this week. Oh yes. It will be done. (points for the movie reference for this one). I love the bright colors and the cat print in the border :0).

She also sent along a bunch of goodies including some star blocks that didn't make the cut and this little tin full of Moda Cinnamon Stars charms. I'm thinking the mini-quilt pattern in the tin is just about perfect and I feel another mini quilt coming on. Thanks so much!!!

And there was some fabric included to make her a mini-messenger bag like the one I made for my cousin for Christmas. So, that tutorial I was promising? It will be coming up shortly folks! And hey, it's a chance to play with this absolutely adorable Japanese fabric. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I can't wait to cut into this one -- it's just going to be fun!

I also found out when I got back that I had won a blog contest over at Wool and Company. Since I not only guessed the yarn, but also the pattern, I was the big winner. Ok, so I've done one scarf in that pattern and am working on another -- it isn't cheating. And, well, I've been in the shop often enough lately that I know they're in love with the new Noro sock yarns...still, it's just using my knowledge for good right? So, here's my winnings. A skein of each of the yarns used in the scarf and a pair of needles in the right size to make one of my own. Can I just say yummy? Of course, I should finish a few other projects first...but, oh, the temptation...

And speaking of finishes. I do have two to report. First up, the Bella quilt. I did get it quilted before I left -- but the binding had to wait until I got back. It's now hanging at the shop, and I have to say it's adorable. It also is one of those projects that looks like it took a heck of a lot more time than it really did (minus the getting sick, getting called out of town, etc.). This one is nothing more than fussy cut letters from the Lakehouse alphabet panel and charm squares straight out of the pack. Add a 1/4 yard of binding and some backing and you're set. The quilting is super simple, but the letters look like applique if you don't know about the panels. In fact, it fooled one of the shop employees for a second or two. A totally fun project and wouldn't it be adorable for a new baby?

I also finished this one (well, kinda, still needs the ends woven in) as a Valentine's present for my husband before I left. It's just a knit washcloth -- but, since he loved the Transformers when he was younger I just HAD to make it for him. He appreciated the humor and that I made it. So, way cool.

Oh, and one last thing (as if this post hasn't gone on long enough -- can you tell I'm still playing catch-up? I was only gone 5 days, you would think I would be caught up by now wouldn't you? yeah, that whole sick toddler thing when I got back kind of put a kink in the works) -- this is a teaser hint for another blogger. Nope, I'm gonna keep the soon to be finish a surprise, but I hope you like the hint!

That is sooooo much more than enough for now. Time for me to dig out my sewing area -- FINALLY! I'll take a before picture so you'll believe me when I say how messy my house gets (not to mention my sewing area if I don't police it pretty regularly). UGH. My kingdom for a cleaning service. Or a separate craft room -- yeah, that would be nice!

Getting My Knit On

So, we finally had some sun today so I decided to take some photos of projects in the works, things I've finished (yay!) and some gifties I got in the mail that I haven't posted about yet. When I got the pictures loaded in the computer I realized that I took 69 of them. Ok, yes, some of them are multiples of the same thing. I'm not a great photographer. What I lack in skill and knowledge, I make up for in luck and taking a whole lot of photos of the same thing hoping I'll get decent results. Generally this works for me. But even after weeding out the "oh yuck, who the heck took that one" photos, I still had way too many for one post. So, I have photos for the next three days worth of posts.

Today's offering? Well -- hopefully the title kind of explains it. I've mentioned that I've been kind of taken with knitting again lately. Well, the current obsession fascination has paid off in some finished objects to share. First up is the scarf I showed here. Done. Ends woven in (am I the only one who puts this step off until the very last possible minute? I actually had this one off the needles about a week and 1/2 ago -- but, I had to weave in the ends and block it. So, what did I do? Cast on and finish two more projects that also needed ends woven in. I think this is like my aversion to sewing down binding) and blocked. Of course, to do that I needed to go out to the lovely LYS and get some blocking pins and a new yarn needle -- but, we do what we must do. Finished in time for our weather to get back to normal January freeze your tush off cold. (single digits expected for the weekend -- and please remember I'm using the F scale here) And since this is for me, I'm wearing it as an early birthday gift to myself.

Also done (remember I said I had finished two projects while avoiding weaving in ends?) is a pair of warm and soft, soft, soft mitts/wristwarmers for me. They're made out of some Noro cashmere/silk/wool/nylon blend yarn and may I say they are nummy. The pattern is from (of course) Last Minute Knitted Gifts -- and while I couldn't find the really short circulars they called for in the pattern, it works up just fine on double points.

And because after I was done (more ends to weave in remember) I wanted to make another "quick" project. The pair for my aunt out of the same yarn. Though, I do love this color -- too bad my aunt has seen photos of the yarn I bought for her -- otherwise I might think about trading colors...no, that would be wrong (and my aunt would kill me as well).



And just to prove that I only have second sock issues (and no, the second pair of those is NOT done yet), not second mitt issues -- a photo of both PAIRS of mitts.

Oh, and I may be addicted to making these. I mentioned having to go to the LYS to pick up some notions? Well, I finally took my mil out to the shop as well. She goes to quilt shops with her mother and I every year -- but, well, she doesn't quilt or sew much. She does, however, knit. While there she saw the yarn I made these out of and I offered to make her a pair. She decided on this lovely variegated version (looks much more like "Noro" colors hunh?) for her pair.

And speaking of doing the same pattern again -- um, I think I'm going to be making another one of those chevron scarves. Wayyyyy too much fun with that one. So, I may have (just may have mind you -- despite the photographic evidence I'm about to show) purchased some yarn already. This one is going to be for a friend for Christmas (next year!!! How's that for an early start?). I did call and ask her if she wanted something calm or not -- she said go for the hot pink and green so, hope you like it B! Personally, I can't wait to see how these go together in that pattern. The yarn is Shibui sock yarn in orchid and wasabi.

Christmas gifts -- I'm already working on another one for next year! (woo hooo -- another New Year's Goal I'm actually working on. Now, if I keep it up will be another thing) This will be -- um, well, it will be something. I'll show it when it's finished and tell you my plan. Until then -- it's easy peasy knitting in the round (yes on dpns -- but, still, all knit stitches, no purls, no decreases, no pattern, you know -- boring). I'm about 1/3 of the way done with it -- but, it really goes quickly.

And I have more yarn for the next one of, whatever it is, when this one is done. This should be fun (and I hope it works) since it is recycled cotton yarn. It is made from the leftovers/ends that are part of fabric manufacturing. I really like the idea of hand made gifts using something that is recycled (not by me mind you, I bought it -- but, still, by someone).

And one last knitty thing to show. I did mention I was going to have a hard time leaving alone the yarn for my daughter's sweater right? Well, despite having a few other things going -- I did get the gauge swatch for it done. Just need to block it to know for sure, but it looks like I've got gauge!!! Wooo Hooo! (though I'm thinking about trying out a new pair of needles -- I love my addi's but, I may try the addi lace turbos to get a better point for parts of the pattern. We'll see.)

So, wow. I guess I did get a few things done. Though, those ends were woven in on Sunday night and the scarf was blocked before I went to bed. AFTER little one was feeling better. Tomorrow's post (I hope) will be all about fabric and gifts. In the meantime, my living room looks like a daycare center exploded all over it. I had to shove aside move a whole lot of junk stuff in order to be able to take the photos while we had some sun. I think it's time for even my non-domestic goddess self to get some cleaning done!