Last On The Needles for 2016

Today is the last OTN for this year and I haven't made much progress on my pair of socks that I wanted to finish before year end.  I did get the 2nd sock started, and hope to finish it early in 2017.

As I was taking stock of what yarns I have and what I plan to knit in 2017, I uncovered several unfinished projects that were started long ago.  The one that I first want to finish is at the bottom of the picture,   It's a cowl called "That Nice Stitch" and is knitted on the diagonal. It was rolled up in my knitting bag so long, it has some folds that hopefully will come out when it's blocked. I may have to relearn the stitch pattern too. :)

Knitting in 2016 was a good year for making socks.  In 2017, maybe I will try some new items like mittens, hats, possibly a sweater if I'm brave.  There will always be socks on the needles too.  I'm addicted to them.! Looking forward to more knitting and learning new patterns in 2017 and seeing what everyone else is working on. Most of my projects have been because of seeing you post your knitting and that inspires me so much to try too.  Carol at Polka Dot Chicken is responsible for my love of sock knitting.  Now I will have lots of Frankensocks in my drawer., Thanks Carol.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments throughout the year on my blog.  They mean a lot to me and I feel encouraged to try new things.

Here's wishing all of you a Healthy and Happy New Year and be safe if you are driving for New Years Eve's celebrations. 

Linking up with Judy's Patchwork Times.

Pin Cushion Exchange

I'm running behind on my preparations for Christmas (as usually is the case), but I had to take a break from my baking and sewing to show you some really cute pin cushions from our exchange at one of the guilds. They are very clever and so creative.  Enjoy the handiwork of my talented friends.

A Matryoshka doll

Log Cabin 

Cupcake in ceramic holder

Funky Chicken

Made all with Wool 

Stacked Dresden Plates 

Puppy dog- perhaps a doxie

Slice of pie- lemon meringue or could it be banana creme?

Sewing kit

storage for thimble,thread, needles

Cherry pie or maybe strawberry?

Tiny Tuffet

A gift all wrapped up and ready to use

Froggy pincushion and thread catcher

Hexie Pincushion 

This opened up to reveal a place to hold needles

We all thought it resembled a turtle, but maker said no.

What quilter doesn't like a little chocolate in her sewing room?

I will definitely have to add some of these to my pin cushion collection during 2017. They are just too cute.

Now back to my baking and sewing on labels for quilts to give this year.

OTN and Two Friday Finishes

Finally finished the first sock of my latest scrappy pair.  I hate to admit it but my notes say I started this pair on October 19th.  Did I mention that I'm not the fastest knitter. lol  But in my defense, I have finished several quilts during that time, plus a lot of piecing.

One down and the 2nd will be started with that little ball to the right.  Will I make it before Christmas? Probably not if the speed of the first one is any indication. lol

What I'm really proud of is finishing the quilt for my friend Barb's husband.  As I mentioned before, she passed suddenly and we were all shocked.  She and I were at a retreat together when she started feeling bad.  We took her to the hospital in the nearest city, and they ran tests, but said she should see her own doctor.  She did that as soon as she got home.  Less than a month later she was gone.

Barb had many, many UFOs, as we quilters do, and I offered to finish them and give them to her family as designated. This one was started for her husband.  Now it's totally finished, bound, labelled and will be given to her husband for Christmas.  Yahoo!!

106" 106"

Here's a closer view of the piecing. Lots of scrappy goodies.

A view from the back.

Quilted using"Featheration" by Meredith England for Golden Threads

The other quilt that I finished this week was pieced by Mary S, and I quilted it.  It was a Block of the Month from Susie Q's Quilt Shop in O'Fallon, MO.  It's a Wing and A Prayer design called Mulberry Stars and is all done in batiks.

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.
and Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

On The Needles and More QOV Blocks

I'm still working on the first sock of a Frankensock scrappy pair. Just rounded the heel and working on the foot.  There is just so much that needs to be done for getting ready for the Christmas holidays that I haven't taken time to sit and knit much.  I can't wait for some down time after the first of the year.

I'm still accepting blocks for the QOV of Eastern MO block drive.  This is what came in during the week mixed in among the Christmas cards.  I always open the squishy packages before the cards. Wouldn't you??

These great blocks came from Cherie, of Quilted Jonquil.  Cherie, I love all the different reds and blues you used.  Thanks a bunch Cherie for taking time to send these to me.

The next four red blocks are from Ginny, a sweetheart of a lady who quilts with us during the year at monthly meetings.

Many thanks Ginny.  I hope to see you in 2017 at our first quilt day.  You will be seeing a lot of these blocks when they come through as tops for quilting.

I'm linking up with Judy's OTN post.  Stop by and see what others are kniting these days.

Design Wall and QOV Update

More leaf blocks were added to the #2 Design Wall this past week along with the other piecing projects I mentioned on my post yesterday. Soon I'll have enough blocks to start putting them in rows. There are more blocks in back of the ones with little tags on them. The design wall was not big enough to hold them all.

My focus this week will be to organize and update the QOV Block Drive blocks that have come in recently. The postman has been extra special this past week and here's what he brought. Seeing these packages in the mail makes me happy, happy and it feels like Christmas.

First the postman left a squishy package from Jan of The Colorful Fabriholic who made bunches of QOV blocks for the Block Drive.  She sent in almost enough for a full quilt top!  Thank you so much Jan. They look so crisp and bright and will make a beautiful quilt top.  I'll be on the lookout for an appropriate backing for these fresh, modern blocks.  

A few days later, I received another big package from the group in Troy, MO. Kevin of  Kevin the Quilter was the surprise postman delivering these.  No, he did not take on another job for the holidays, he was in the area to help me with a non-quilting project. You know when you have a large, heavy box to move, it always helps to have a big, strong young man around to help.  He was kind enough to oblige.

Four HST blocks were sewed together to make a bigger block and get this design. 

Another fun arrangement of the block.

Check out Lady Liberty in this block. Isn't that cool?

THANK YOU Kevin and the Troy Ladies for the big bag of blocks.  We are going to have lots of fun assembling them into quilts when our sew days resume after the first of the year.  

AND THEN, as if that wasn't enough excitement for the week, I got another box on the weekend from Libby the Hillside Quilter with some wonderful fabrics for more QOVquilts. They were all packaged and folded so neatly, you would swear they had come directly from the fabric companies.  There are some beautiful Civil War repros here that will be used for quilts for our veterans. 

THANK YOU so much Libby for your generosity.  These fabrics will be put to good use right after we assemble the Block Drive quilts.   

The QOV Block drive is still going until the end of the year.  We have received another prize to add to the list.  For every 4 blocks you send, your name will be put in the drawing for the prizes.  Santa is most likely going to bring some gifts in his sack to add to the pot.  Wonder what he will bring next?

Here's one that came in this week.

6 Spools of Madeira Machine Embroidery Threads

Madeira Machine Embroidery Threads

Comes with an 8 page thread guide with useful tips, ideas and accessory suggestions. You can check out some of the other prizes HERE.

Hope everyone is keeping busy with projects and preparations for Christmas.  I know I am.  Now I'd better get busy if I want to get that big quilt bound anytime soon. Still do not have my house decorated either.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday.  If you have time, check out some wonderful eye candy on other design walls.

Happy Stitching this week.  

Dar

Stash Report and A Finish

This week has been good for getting things done.  I did a lot sewing, quilting and finishing up some projects before Christmas.

I've been working for a long time on one big Christmas present and now have it pieced, quilted and waiting for the hand stitching on the binding.  It's a large scrap quilt for the husband of my friend that passed away suddenly.  The quilt measures 106" x 106" so it may take a few evenings to get the binding done, but in time for Christmas.  That will make my stash numbers look a lot better. lol

Here's a peek of the quilt unfinished.  I will get a better picture of the whole quilt when the binding is all done, in a few days.

Another item on my list to finish this week was the block for Mary in my piecing group. Each person was given 2 colors to use on the outside of the block.  Mine were orange and green. I used the colors in the fish print to chose the rest of the colors for the block. The directions were a bit confusing to me, but I kept re-reading them until it finally made sense. It took a long time to make one block.  So glad I'm not making 48 of these for a quilt. lol  I think it turned out just fine, but it did tax my quilting brain a bit.  The pattern is called the "Surprise Quilt"

The backing to the Coming Home Mystery quilt is now finished too and waiting for it's turn to be quilted. That will have to wait until after Christmas because of other commitments due before then. I used many different fabrics in the same color families as was used on the front. That used up lots of older fabrics in my stash.

I haven't posted on the stash since Nov. 13, but this week has made up for that.  Two huge backings will get me over the half way goal I set this year.  I will not make my goal, but still am happy with what I've used.  Gee, if I could piece another 10 backings, I'd be there. lol

Stash Report - Dec. 4, 2016

Fabric Added since last report - 0

Fabric Added YTD - 4.5 yards

Fabric Used this week - 20.50 yds

Fabric Used in 2016 YTD - 104.11 yards

I'm linking up with Patchwork Times.  

I will have an update on the QOV Block Drive tomorrow.  Lots of blocks came in this week and more prizes to add to the pot, so come back and see what's new on Monday.

OTN A little late

Well, I got sidetracked with those Black Friday Sales and forgot to post yesterday to OTN, but better late than never, right?

I'm making slow progress on another pair of Scrappy socks.  I really like the colors of the yarns so far. Can't wait to see how the 2nd sock will turn out.

What fun knitting did you accomplish this week during Thanksgiving holidays?

Linking up with Judy's Patchwork Times.

Design Wall, QOV and A Knitty Finish

My design wall has a few more leaf blocks and a couple zigzag blocks made with the leader/ender process between sewing QOV blocks and making my little knitting bag.

Batik Maple Leaf blocks

Zig Zag Scrappy blocks

Some news on the Quilts of Valor Block Drive.    Last week  The Perky Piecers in Troy, MO had a sew day.   Thanks to Kevin and Marcia for the pictures of the group.

Hard at work making QOV blocks all day!!  

My friend, Kevin the Quilter called and said he had a surprise for me and this is what he brought.  

Isn't this is AMAZING!!??  There are enough blocks here for 4 whole quilt tops and more.

*edited to correct #of quilt tops.

 THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!

You all outdid yourselves.  I can't wait to start assembling them into quilts for our veterans.  

I am still accepting QOV Blocks through the end of December if you want to send any.  There are still more prizes to be added to the drawing which will be the first week in January.

And among all this sewing and quilty things, I did manage to finally finish the other short sock with the Magic Loop.  Bring on the cold weather.:)

Linking up with Judy's Design Wall Monday.

QOV Block Drive Update

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to tell you that I've got lots of wonderful blocks coming in from some very generous people for our QOV Eastern MO Block Drive.  But before I show you the latest arrivals, I think it's time to show you some of the prizes that are being donated for the drawing.

Two (2) spools of Glide Thread- from my friend Ann of Attic Threads and Quilts  

A $50 gift certificate - from The Stencil Company

Two (2) kits with fabric - from Patch Abilities Inc.

Two (2) patterns from Kathy Schmitz - "Be Mine" and "Little Acorns"

Fons and Porter Ergonomic Seam Ripper - from an anonymous donor

 

A "Learn to Quilt" Kit includes a Friendship Star Quilt pattern, Easy Angle Ruler & Quilter's pins

Several fat quarter bundles, threads from Connecting Threads and more to come later.

Now for the blocks.  This last week I received these.

On the Left -from Katy VW- MO;  On the Right - from Lee B - MO

12 from Rita B - MO plus another 12 HST 

12 blocks from Pat H - Florida 

These were the other HST from Rita. I added the red and blue strips to the darker side since she made the light blocks and we are not getting as many of the darker blocks.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT BLOCKS WE HAVE GOTTEN SO FAR.

We are doing well with the block drive.  Remember we are accepting blocks until the end of the year, so you still have time to make a few and get them in the mail before Santa comes.   

A step by step tutorial is HERE.   You can send blocks to me at the address below.  

Thank you so much. I know the veterans appreciate receiving these wonderful quilts from all of us.

QOV Eastern MO BLOCK DRIVE 
2627 Bates Road
O'Fallon, MO 63368