January 2014 Goals

Projects have now been chosen for January 2014 completion.  My goals are to:

1.  Complete Paul's Man Cave quilt.  I've already cut out all the pieces, and sewn together the 9 patch squares and 3rd row modules.

All of the appliques have been prepared, and the only ones left to iron on are the pieces to the fishing rod, which will be attached after the rest of the quilt top is sewn together.

All of the appliques are ironed on, then an embroidered blanket stitch is added.  So far I've blanked stitched the Salmon and Bait squares.  It doesn't take long to complete each square so I  believe I can have most of these finished the first week in January.

2.  For my needlework project, I have chosen the Shaker Sewing Kit project I started last year about this time.  I stalled on this, probably because another new shiny project caught my eye and I couldn't resist starting it.

The pieces for the scissor fob, pincushion, and needle book are completed and are ready for me to pick out fabric, ribbon, and embellishments.

And, the sampler for the top of the sewing box, which I still need to purchase, is well on its way.

3.  My knit/crochet projects for the Stash Down A to Z group are ...

A Zombie Named Skip - he works up quickly and should be completed in just a few evenings.  When complete, he will be a marionette!  So cute.

Austin Boot Liners and Mitts - A few pieces for the boot liners have been completed.  With all the pieces, this project is a bit fiddly, but I really want the finished product so will make a concerted effort to get them done before boot weather is over.

Ann Marie:  Pink Ribbon Stockings for Breast Cancer Awareness - These are thigh high stockings and are quite the frivolous knit for me.  No way am I going to wear pink striped thigh highs out in public.  Not at my age or thigh size lol.  But I adore these and will definitely wear them around the house with my jammies on chilly evenings.  Even though these appear to be quite an undertaking, all of the sizing/shaping is done by changing needle sizes and not by increasing/decreasing stitch count, and the pattern is a simple 4 row repeat so I think they will knit up fairly quickly once I get past the heel turn.

All in all, quite an ambitious list for January completion, but I am determined.  I have plans to join 2 teams for Ravellenics in February, and need to finish a couple of projects to make room for the new ones to be started.  There are also a couple of swap goodies that need to be completed in January too, but of course, those won't be making an appearance on the blog until they have been received.

Resurrected Blog

It has been 18 months since I posted anything on this blog, but with the new year dawning, I thought I'd resurrect it.  In years past it has helped me keep track of my goals and progress against them.

A lot has happened since I last blogged.  First and foremost, we've relocated to Wisconsin where the winters are blustery (but the skies are sunny, unlike Ohio that had such dreary winter months), and since moving, I have become a full time homemaker.  I'm thoroughly enjoying this role and don't miss working outside the home in the least.  The problem with this new setup is that I went a bit crazy and started a ton of new projects (of varying types), and have finished very little.

Goals need to be set.  Structure and rules need to be put in place.  I know myself.  Without these, put into writing so I can review them, I will continue on the path of "start everything, finish nothing".

Without further ado, my "craft" goals for 2014 are:

1. To complete or frog the following knit/crochet projects (which have been in progress for more than a year) - Mermaid Jacket, Mary Tudor Cardigan, Chain Reaction Afghan, Sock Yarn Blanket, Beekeeper's Quilt, Great American Afghan
2. Complete one knit/crochet project per month that meets the criteria for the Stashdown A to Z group on Ravelry
3. Spend more time quilting, cross-stitching, and weaving, and less time knitting/crocheting
4. Plant a vegetable garden and can what I harvest
5. Be picky about what knit/crochet projects I start - VERY picky (I've culled my queue, and frogged a lot of projects that I know will not be used if finished)
6. Organize my craft area and get rid of items that will never be used.

Okay, now on to the structure and rules.

1. Each month I will choose a knit/crochet project to complete for the Stashdown A to Z group.  A new project can only be started if I do not have a WIP that meets the criteria for the month. (Chain Reaction Afghan, Sock Yarn Blanket, Beekeeper's Quilt, and Great American Afghan are excluded as there is a plan to complete each in 2014)
2. Each month I will choose a quilting WIP and needlework WIP to work on.  I will spend one hour each day on one of these projects.
3. I will knit one hexipuff for the Beekeeper's Quilt, and one module for the Sock Yarn Blanket for each day of the week.
4. Each month I will complete one square for the Chain Reaction Afghan and one square for the Great American Afghan.
5. A new project (of any type) can only be started if 2 WIPs of that type have been completed. (The exceptions to this rule are a knit/crochet project can be started for rule 1 if no WIP meets the criteria for the month, and gifts and swap items can be started if need be)

Well, that's that.  Next is to compile a list of all the projects I have in progress so I can track what gets finished and what new things get started.  I'm sure this list will grow as I discover projects while organizing my craft area.  Now to see if I can get my craft buddy, Amanda, to join me in my quest.

New Toy

It's June ... and what better project to photograph than a scarf made out of Noro Kureyon!  Gotta love a hubster who is so accomodating as to dress in wool so you can blog :-)

This is the second of three Noro scarves I am making as Christmas gifts for the sons.  The daughter will be receiving a doubleknit scarf in pink and tan with a silhouette of Marilyn Monroe on each end.  Can't wait to get the last Noro scarf finished so I can start on the doubleknit one.  The stripes, no matter how pretty, are getting a bit monotonous now.

Daughter is also receiving this little guy in a couple weeks.  After the infestation we had in our garage last year, she is obsessed with squirrels.  She even named the "ringleader" of the pack that took up residence Patrick.  So this little overall wearing guy is dubbed Patrick also.

I just love his tail!

Another little critter I completed recently is this bright and cheery zebra.  He is going to the prayer shawl group I am part of.  Little ones don't want shawls, they want toys!  I've cast on a pink elephant for my next offering.  And, the rhinocerous that is included in this pattern pack will be done up in purples.  So far, this zebra is the only item on my "must finish" list that I've completed.

I have been doing some work on the days of the week kitchen towels though.  I've finished 4 of them so far, and am about halfway through the 5th. Another couple of weekends watching back to back episodes on one series or another and they should be finished.

 

I put together a quilt top over Memorial Day weekend.  This was a quick and easy project, but will be put away with some other quilt tops until I've finished quilting 3 others before it gets finished.

I love the fabric patterns and colors.  This is the perfect size to cuddle under while watching TV in the cold months.

And now on to my newest toy and obsession.  I finally bought a loom!  I decided on a 24" Kromski Harp with a stand, and it was delivered this week.  I made all kinds of goofy mistakes trying to get it warped, but I finally got it done.  And, the yarn is a bit too big for the heddle I have so I am fighting with it some.  I'll know better for my next project.  I will continue fighting with it as long as the warp doesn't break.  This is going to be a wrap that will be given to the prayer shawl group.  It was mentioned that we needed some wraps that were more manly, since not only women were in need.  My plaid isn't perfect, but it is definitely manly.  I really like the pattern, and the process.

I see a lot more weaving in my future!

Must Finish Lists

I have trying to be good and not start a ton of new projects, no matter how tempted I am.  My friend Amanda and I are trying to hold each other accountable to our "must finish" lists.  The idea is we have a project in mind that we want to start, and a list of projects we need to finish before we're allowed to start that new one.

Today marks a day that we are able to start a new project.  We've both chosen to start embroidered kitchen towels.  Before I am allowed to start another new project I will need to finish:

• the embroidered towels (days of the week so there are 7 of them)
• the crocheted afghan pictured later in this post
• the quilt I am making for my MIL
• the Nook cover I am cross stitching
• a knit zebra for prayer shawl group (little ones don't want shawls!)

 Big list!  But I am determined, and I'm sure Amanda will keep me honest.

On my list is a quilt that I put together last fall and set aside.  Of course now that it's getting warm out I decide it's time to finish it up.  Go figure.

I love the backing fabric I found for this quilt.  It just seemed to fit.

All of the squares are flowers, and quite a few of them are applique.  I definitely need to work on my applique skills. 

I found pieces to a quilt that I had started back around 1998 when we had a little flood in our basement due to the sump pump acting up.  I couldn't believe it when I found them all stuffed into a bag.  I remember cutting out the pieces for this little lap quilt.  I cut some of them wrong and that's why it wound up in a time out.  Several moves and lots more projects and that poor thing was completely forgotten.

Well when we had that little flood, the pieces all got wet so I put them in a lingerie bag, washed, and dried them.  Then they all had to be ironed, the triangles needed to be sewn into squares, and the squares that had been cut the wrong size had to be cut down.  Then I had to remember how to put the dang thing together into the pattern I had intended.  I'm quite pleased with the results.

Now I just need to decide what I want to border and back it with and this little quilt can get added to my next "must finish" list.

The bavarian crochet afghan is coming along nicely.  It seems to take a million hour to finish a round now, but I knew that was going to happen.  I've finished the first repeat of all the colors and think it will be big enough when I've finished the second repeat.  I don't want something huge.  Just big enough to cuddle with on the couch while watching TV.

The Nook cover is making progress too.  The width is perfect, but the length is going to be a bit short.  I think I'm going to extend the border and maybe put my name on it to lengthen it some.  With the right lettering that should do the trick.

Quilting

When I was sorting through all my various boxes of craft things, I ran across a box full of the quilts I had made way back when.  All of them are just the tops and have been awaiting quilting for more than ten years!  I really need to get back them finished and put to good use.

I could get them finished quicker if I do my quilting by machine, but I didn't like doing my quilting by machine back when I made these tops.  I decided to make a few potholders to see if I liked machine quilting any better now.

Nope.  Just don't like machine quilting at all.  I need to toughen up those quilting fingers and get to work and face up to the fact that it will be years before all of these tops are quilted.

Even though I didn't care for the machine quilting, and I rushed so my seams don't match and they are all a little "off", I do like the cute potholders I made.  I'll be making more of these since they are so quick and easy to complete.

I finished this easy hanging kitchen towel in just a couple of days.  Used up some Bernat cotton I had in my stash.  Need to remember on the next one that the buttonhole tends to stretch so I need to make it smaller or use a much bigger button.  I'm going to have to stitch up the buttonhole a bit on this one because I like the button I used and don't want to replace it.  A couple of these with some dishcloths and matching potholders would make a great gift.

I really like that I've taken up so many of the crafts I used to do but had given up in lieu of knitting.  I stitched up a couple of cards for Mother's Day and really like how they turned out.  Paul wrote a poem that we've written inside.  Now to pull out some more floss and work up something for Father's Day so nobody feels left out.

I needed something pretty mindless to work on while I watched TV, and the washcloths I had in the bathroom were in dire need of replacing, so I tried out this waffle weave pattern I've had queued for some time.  I really like how it turned out, so now I'll be making a bunch more and getting rid of some of the more ragged looking ones currently in use.

I learned about Bavarian Crochet at this past month's Prayer Shawl group meeting.  One of the ladies there had made a gorgeous afghan for someone as a gift and I knew immediately that I had to make one for myself.  A and I stopped at Michaels on the way home and found the pattern book and bought yarn, even though we both had promised not to start anything new.  A rationalizes that since we learned about it in church it is OK.  LOL

The pattern works up pretty quickly until you get to about round 10, at which time it seems to take endless hours to complete one side.  This photo shows 5 rounds complete, and I have now completed 12.  I love the look of this textured pattern and the colors I chose.  Another in progress photo later in the week.

Happy Projects

Recently, my crafting has been all about the gifting.  More of my projects are going to others than are sticking around for my own use.  It's a nice change :-)

Last summer I crocheted a metric buttload of flower granny squares and made a tote bag out of them.  I think I used the tote twice .... ummm that's a lot of work to just sit around and look pretty.  That project was an -along with my friend A.  She gave up on finishing her bag because she realized she wouldn't use hers any more than I was using mine.  Instead, she chose to turn quite a few of her squares into a crochet hook roll.  I immediately went to work taking my tote apart and made notion bags out of it.  I had plenty of the quilted fabric I used for the lining of the tote left over, so the only supply I needed to buy was zippers to close them up.  I made two different sizes, and made three sets.  Two of the sets were made as special gifts for two special women in my life, and the third I am using myself.

The other gift I finished recently is a baby blanket for my hair stylist.  I fell in love with this pattern when I first saw it back in 2008.  It's the only pattern in the magazine that I even cared for and I bought it, knowing that some day I would have a baby to make it for.

This was a fairly quick project to crochet, but the sewing together of all those little pieces took me the better part of a day to complete!  I love it dearly though, and hope C does too.

Sewing Room

I've been promising to take and post some photos of my sewing room for an online friend, and finally got around to taking the photos.  Posting them took another week or so *sigh*.  I get so sidetracked playing silly online games and crafting that I forget all about posting to my blog.  I know I say it all the time, but one of these days I'll get better at this blogging business.

Anywho, on to the sewing room photos.  The room is still a work in progress, but all in all it's a nice cozy place to do some sewing.

I don't have a fancy sewing cabinet or table, but I got this nifty corner unit at a reasonable price on sale at Jo Ann's.  When you factor in the fantastic 25% off total order coupon I used, it was a great buy.  Both my sewing machine and serger can be set up for use.  Hey T, I adore the sewing machine cover you made me!

 

I found creative ideas for displaying favorite cards and such on Pinterest and went to work making them up for my sewing room.  I covered 4 cork boards with 2 different fabrics and got coordinating pushpins for them.  Hung them up in a checkerboard fashion and pinned up some favorite tidbits that make me smile when I'm in there working.

Put up some shelves to display other favorite odds and ends.  I'm going to need to add more since I've filled these up already and haven't found a home for all my stuff.

Finished up a couple of projects in the past week or so.  Now to get photos and hopefully remember to post them :-)