Usually, binding a quilt is a very relaxing part of finishing a project. I sit on my comfortable chair in the bedroom, place my feet up on the ottoman, turn the music on, and stitch away. Except today... The cording to the blinds covering the large window in my bedroom broke this morning, so I cannot pull it up. When I pause to rest my eyes and look out the window, all I see is white, accordion-style nothing. I am running out of the perfect color thread for the job. After carefully using … [Read more...] about As I try to bind a quilt
Answers for all your knitting questions
I got The Knitting Answer Book the other day and I am so happy I did! Slowly but surely I am reading all the questions and answers, which have helped ease some fears, answered those pesky questions I did not want to waste others' time with, and gave me great ideas to improve my knitting skills. Addressing questions related to such topics as needle size and type, yarns, reading patterns, casting on and binding off, Margaret Radcliffe provides a wealth of information which can certainly … [Read more...] about Answers for all your knitting questions
Hand quilted lap quilt
Sapphire thinks she has claimed the quilt! Stepping out of my comfort zone is the name of the game. Back when I used to travel all the time for work, I made it a point to visit local quilt stores in search of treasures (that is what I call every piece of fabric in my stash). Once, while working in Orlando, Florida, I found a quilt store on West Colonial Drive (it is no longer in business) which only sold Civil War fabrics. As I walked in, their vast selection of dark and muted colors … [Read more...] about Hand quilted lap quilt
Never too old to learn new tricks…
I completed two more blocks for my knitted afghan. It is supposed to have 24 blocks, but I will make two with 12 blocks each. The picture above shows the block with Yarn Overs (gate stitch) - I think I finally learned it! My first attempt at this block ended with the creation of an entirely different block (see it here) which will, nevertheless, be included in the afghan. This is another cable block (big and small cables). This pattern is so beautiful I think I will eventually make a bag … [Read more...] about Never too old to learn new tricks…
Sewing for the Kitchen
Take a look at the apron I just made and tell me if you notice anything familiar: Yep, I recycled one of my husband's shirts (while he is out of town...)! I wish I could say it was my idea, but I got it from the book Kitchen Stitches - Sewing Projects to Spice up your Home, published by Martingale, which I received for review. I was [virtually] thumbing through it when I saw the apron (picture below) - it was love at first sight! The shirt had a logo which I covered with the … [Read more...] about Sewing for the Kitchen
Freemotion flannel quilt
Just had some 'fun' quilting this lap quilt for my bedroom chair. It is a companion to the quilt I made for my bed. The colors on the picture are not quite right - it is snowing here today - but you can get an idea. I purposedly quilted it with a large motif: first, I wanted it to be really soft; second, I think it is easier to freemotion quilt a flannel top using a large, overall, design. The word 'easier' is relative... I usually SITD when quilting flannel projects as I don't want to … [Read more...] about Freemotion flannel quilt