I finished two bags for friends for Christmas prezzies.

Here’s the insides… one in beige and one in gray.

I also managed to finished the [...]]]> So last day of the year… just a small wrap up, as I’ve been busy as ever working on projects and trying to check things off the list.

I finished two bags for friends for Christmas prezzies.

Here’s the insides… one in beige and one in gray.

I also managed to finished the foundation paper piecing mat and get it done, quilted with some red metallic thread, and bound.

Up close of those tiny little pieces.

Finally… picked up some new wall art… indulging my quilting sense.

Sister’s Choice on the left, Dutch Rose in the middle, and a LeMoyne Star on the right.

Also appears my Flickr plug-in has broken with this latest WordPress update… hope they get that fixed soon, but you can see higher quality photos always at my Flickr page here.  Hate having to scale back my photos.  There does seem to be a few changes in this latest edition of WP that I’m not too crazy about.  I’m hoping that smooths itself over soon.

I ended up having to use a 100/16 titanium Topstitch needle when I did [...]]]> Finished my Smart Shopper pattern by Sweet Treasures.  Great pattern.  Not sure if I would add both extra muslin pieces.  It made it really thick.  It is nice how it stands up though and you can’t see the inside fabric.

I ended up having to use a 100/16 titanium Topstitch needle when I did the French seam.  A great learning experience with the French seam.  You have to do the bottom like you’re putting on binding.  You get to the bottom where you get to 1/4″ before the end, but don’t go over.  Then you start the other side.  Tricky the first time, but totally doable.  I made the French seam larger than probably normal, but it was easier to go wider with such thick seams.

I did all over quilting practicing my flower motif’s here and there.  I put a flower in the center blocks and on the one in the 4 plain blocks.  I’m seriously going to need more tables [...]]]> The quilted table runner was finished, bound, and washed and I *love* how it turned out.

I did all over quilting practicing my flower motif’s here and there.  I put a flower in the center blocks and on the one in the 4 plain blocks.  I’m seriously going to need more tables to display my runners.

It’s backed with Minkee and yes the sewing gals at the knitting group tried to warn me off it, but I [...]]]> A very dear friend of mine is going to be a first time grandma and when I saw this cowboy quilt I had to make it for her grand baby boy to be.

It’s backed with Minkee and yes the sewing gals at the knitting group tried to warn me off it, but I persisted.  The free motion quilting wasn’t bad – my Horizon is built for free motion and wonderful, but the binding was a pain.  I beat it into submission though and it all turned out fine and was a big hit at the shower on Saturday.

This quilt is Crazy 8′s by Bit’s ‘n Pieces made with just 8 fat quarters a smidge of fabric for backing and binding and was a just a bunch of fun.  I made it in less than a week.  It always amazes me how much faster quilting is over knitting.  Not that I don’t love both.  I will definitely be making this pattern again for another baby.  I was even thinking of making a generic baby one or one boy/one girl one to keep on hand for gifts, since I really enjoyed the pattern.

In a finish or frog it decision I decided to felt this mitten and make it a cat toy.  It was too big and I was not [...]]]> I’ve been working really hard to finish up some really old projects.  They had been WIPs way too long and that had to come to an end.

In a finish or frog it decision I decided to felt this mitten and make it a cat toy.  It was too big and I was not going to knit the mate.

Finally got this tea cozy complete.  Again it turned out a bit too small and too long.  It was more like a coffee press cozy.  However, I made it work and was able to ditch the pom-pom on top.  Fits my 2-cup Brown Betty nicely.

These car socks sat in the car way too long.  Finally finished them up and another pair of useful socks for the drawer to replace the few blown out ones I had last winter.  See how I said last winter – we won’t count those nasty snowflakes that tried to fall on Saturday.

I managed to whip up this large knitting bag and the shawl even on [...]]]> So I have not forgotten to knit.  I’ve been working on the Northern Lights Shawl (a Rav freebie) with my newly purchased Sophie’s Toes Magic Ball in Preppy Girl.  This is my project page if your interested in my notes.

I managed to whip up this large knitting bag and the shawl even on the spinner fits in nicely.  Yeah!

I love it.  I have a few more to whip up for friends.

A lovely simple car sock (my favorite pattern is Classic Socks for the Family, but there seems to be a lot of free ones on Rav that have a similar recipe) – that just needed kitchnering and the second [...]]]> Yesterday I started the day off with a bang by finishing two pairs of socks.

A lovely simple car sock (my favorite pattern is Classic Socks for the Family, but there seems to be a lot of free ones on Rav that have a similar recipe) – that just needed kitchnering and the second just needed a few inches knit and since they are in sport weight.  That bit went quick while I was watching a movie.

This lovely pink yarn was gifted yarn from my friend Beverly.  I called these my sanity socks as I had started them right before a very quick business trip and had to have a simple yet, mindful enough pattern to keep my focus.  The pattern is Upside Down – Ampersand, but the heel is from my favorite toe-up pattern – the Humble Sock goes Toe-Up.

I used just under 800 yards of fingering weight yarn.  No bleeding this time off a hand-dyed.  Yipee.  I did 6 repeats and a longer ruffle on a size 4 needles.  More details can be found at my project page.

I learned to knit English.  I have always [...]]]> So Julie and I took 5 classes at the WI Sheep and Wool this year.  Yes we are crazy and that is why we are now busy recuperating.  One of the classes was a Russian continental knitting class.  Technically this is an Eastern combined knitting technique.

I learned to knit English.  I have always knit English, but have yearned to go faster and easier on the wrists – of course.  I’ve ventured to two-handed knitting when doing Fair Isle, but for the most part I have reverted back to English.  This time I thought I would practice with a simple dishcloth that used a cable and some other common stitches.  Thanks to the Combo Ravelry group I was directed to a translation from Western to Eastern and this lovely dishcloth was an evening knit.  I think I’ll have to practice more to get it totally down, but it may be doable.