quilts, knitting, and traveling

Almost done with block 3 of my travel quilt...
"My whimsical Garden"
from Piece O' Cake Designs
Yes, I am using the same colors
but different fabric prints than they used.
I love their color scheme so why take the time changing
something that didn't need changing.

I have also been knitting hats...
Along with my church women's group,
for the local Cancer treatment center.
I thought I'd share the pattern we are using;
as well as some of the things we have learned about
the needs of the patients.

Our group did some research into the needs...
actually we asked a mom who is part of our group what is actually needed and wanted in a Chemo Cap...
this is what she told us. (You may want to check with people in your own area)
-the hat needs to fit somewhat snugly and not need to have the brim rolled up.
-they do not want to be uncomfortable; and they do not want to feel like they are too warm and need to remove the hat indoors. They don't want to take them off in public.
-the yarn needs to be soft.
I've included 2 photo's the first one has several finished caps,
some a little smaller than others. and the second has several unfinished caps.
I wanted to display the variety of colors and stripes and just
fun things to do with the simple pattern.

Chemo Caps
Caron Simply Soft Yarns
Sz 8 needles (5.0mm)
To start, cast on 72 stitches. and begin a rib pattern for approx. 1 1/2".
We used the k2 p2 pattern.
(If you notice the pink hat in the first picture, I did a seed stitch pattern for the rib.)
Switch to the stockinette stitch for the remainder of the hat.
-k 1 row, p 1 row...repeat.
at 5 1/2" you begin the decrease rows.
Row 1: *k4, k2 tog, repeat from * across row (should now be 60 sts)
Row 2: p 1 row
Row 3: k 1 row
Row 4: p 1 row
Row 5: *k3, k2 tog, repeat from * across row (should now be 48 sts)
Row 6: p 1 row
Row 7: *k2 tog, repeat from * across row (should now be 24 sts)
Cut off about 18"-24" and thread a yarn/tapestry needle.
Pull through the remaining stitches on the needle, and remove from the needle.
Cinch tightly (use care not to break the yarn LOL, don't ask how I know this)
Sew from the top down using the same yarn piece.
Hide all ends. You have a Chemo Cap.
Remember to have fun, play with stripes... play with colors...
Use boy colors, as well as girl colors, think of the colors of the local colleges,
high schools, sports teams, etc.

now...
I've always thought it would be fun
to have an object I take with me on my travels
that I can include in the photo's...
I have purchased this Gnome
you can see in the photo to the left...
Here he's among the Tulips coming up in front of my home.
and in the next photo...
He's on the step in front of my home.
now, I'm not positive yet,
that this is what I want to use as my travel companion,
he is about a foot tall.
Won't be easy to take some places.
Maybe I should find something more like "Flat Stanley"
Or maybe I should find something less popular,
something unique for me...
Hmmmmmmm.
The jury is still out contemplating the verdict. But I will be doing a lot more traveling now, so I need to make up my mind soon. Until I do, I will be using the Gnome... Whom I have named George.

part 2, photo's and machine applique

Finished the nephew's wedding quilt
still need to mail it to him...
I'll put the photo of that one on the side...
then was inspired by autumn in British Columbia (Canada)
to make a quilt for my son and his girlfriend for Christmas.
I chose 3 types of leaves from the book pictured...
Made simple outline drawings...
actually folded the paper in half and cut out the side I liked the best for symetrical leaves.
I went through my stash of fabric, scraps, FQ's, etc.
selecting all sorts of autumn colors...
I didn't use any color more than once.
Pinned the leaves to the background fabric,
I used a white on white print
mostly because I had a bunch of it-
and I thought the multiple colors would all go with it
without any problems.

I used a straight stitch in a matching thread
to baste the leaves to the background fabric
and then selected a zig zag to finish the sewing.
this is not the only way to machine applique
it is the method I used for this project...
the basting allows you to get rid of all the pins
so they're out of the way when zig zagging.
on curves...
I leave the needle down on the outside of the curve
and pivot the fabric a few stitches at a time...
it makes a smoother curved edge.
on a corner...
I have yet to find a better way than
stitching right to the edge,
leaving the needle down in the outside corner of the edge...
pivoting the fabric and continue zig zagging over the stitches.
I have seen other quilters narrow the zigzag going into the corner,
and widden it coming out of the corner.
But I haven't the patience for that on the quilts I make as gifts
for family members who don't really care about that stuff.
Maybe I'd try that method if I were going to enter a quilt show?
who knows?

I also found the cutest fabric in a remnant bin,
it was a bright green with pink and orange butterflies...
I just screamed at me to take it home and make a little girls quilt.
So I also picked up some pink and orange, and lighter greens for relief...
and then found a great flannel piece for the backing (mostly pink)
I just played around,
making several 9-patch blocks,
sewed a small 1" finished border around each square,
pink on some-orange on the others. used the butterfly print as the outside border...
fussy cut a few butterflies out of the small left over pieces,
and machine appliqued them down (same method as above)...
and wallah...
had a second quilt as a Christmas gift for Christmas.
It went to the same house as the autumn leaf quilt...
my sons girlfriend has a 3 1/2 year old daughter...
sooooooooooooooo,
watch the side for the photo's of the completed quilts...
1) the nephew's wedding quilt
2) the son's autumn leaf quilt
3) the little girls quilt

I'm ashamed to report,
that I didn't do very well on my quilty new years resolutions I set last year.
Too many things kept me sidetracked...
However the one I did follow through on,
was not buying lots of new fabric for my stash...
I only purchased fabric to complete projects.
Or rescued things from the thrift store/yard sales...
but I did try to keep that to a minimum.
the only thing I bought at a frabric shop without anything in mind...
Happened to be those pieces that called to me-
and were immediately made into that butterfly quilt for the little girl.
So I think I did pretty well there.

I think I'll roll those resolutions right on over for the new year...
now that my daughter is back at University (BYU-Provo)
1) back to my sewing room, yeah! and a bit of organizing there
2) get one of those kits I picked up in the past done and finished
-fortunately one is a small wall hanging- I think that's the one I'll do first
3) keep working on my traveling applique quilt
4) start that farmer's wife quilt I have been wanting to do
-I have finally decided that I really want to do it in 30's reproduction fabrics
5) I need to make a quilt for another son and his wife as a Christmas gift next year
6) keep working on using my stash, only making purchases to finish stuff
7) get one of my UFO's done

I think that's quite enough... we'll see if I do better this year than last
(Oh, and I still have to do the winter block for my calendar wall hanging cover...LOL)
FYI
FQ -means fat quarter's
UFO -means unfinished objects
LOL -means laugh out loud (when I put that in, I really am laughing at myself)
FYI -means for your information

Odds and Ends

My daughter returned from her mission to St. Louis, MO. So we took off on a trip to visit with friends and family before she went back to school (BYU). Unfortunately we ran into some difficulties in Nelson, British Columbia (Canada). The car would not turn off and shut the motor down, so we had to have the ignition replaced. The car happens to be a Saturn which is no longer being made, so we had to wait about 2 weeks to get the part in and get it replaced. We ended up being in Nelson 2 weeks longer than we intended. So we left there and went to Utah instead of going to California... We had intended to go and visit my parents in California... We didn't get to because of the car problems. Now it's December and it just isn't possible to get over to California to see Mom and Dad. I'm quite dissapointed in that. After the new year (Jan 2) The girl will be back at school in Utah.

I did get the quilt done for my nephew... but things are being difficult here right now, so the picture will have to be uploaded later. I also started a quilt as a Christmas gift for one of my son's. It was inspired by the autumn leaves seen around town there in Nelson, B.C. I took a guide book on plants of the Rockies and selected 3 different leaf shapes, an Oak leaf, a maple leaf, and a leaf from a shrub (gooseberry)... drew them to fit the size of the blocks (10 1/2" unfinished). I went through fabrics and scraps of things I had laying around, with no 2 leaves being the same color. I then machine appliqued them on the background fabric. It was quite fun and a great way to use up scraps and things... It's sort of like a charm quilt in being that no two leaves are the same color. However, then I will put in some lattice work using fabrics I did use for a leaf, and there will be some borders, so the charm quilt ends there.

While I was in Utah, we stopped in the local "Michael's" and while browsing through some of the free project sheets posted around the store. My daughter picked up a project sheet for a knitted sock monkey. Which I decided to give a try as a gift for the new grand-baby we're expecting in our family (the same son who's getting the "Autumn Leaf" Quilt as a Christmas gift.) I didn't like some of the proportions shown on the little Free Project Sheet, so I did tweek the pattern just a wee bit. Also the project sheet said the finished monkey should be about 4 1/2" tall....LOL, there is no way that monkey would ever be that small... not possible with the directions given. I didn't bother with the swatch for knitting to fit the measurments... but I don't think anyone could have gotten that monkey that small. So with my tweeks for proportion, my monkey is about 8" tall. Which I think is just about perfect for a gift for a baby.

I have also started another knitting project as a Christmas gift for my Mother. The pattern comes from the magazine "Knit 'n Style" December 2011 issue. The project on page 84, project number 35 Woven Square Wrap. It's a knitting method I've been wanting to try, and I thought this would be a fun way to try it out. I'm using "Heather Blue" fuzzy yarn from Lion Brand, that came in a 12 oz size... The label says "1, 2, or 3 Kids in a Jiffy". I found 3 large balls of this yarn at a thrift shop for for 1.50$ each ball. I think this project will use just a little more than one ball.

I do love to browse thrift shops and yard sales... I consider the finds there as recycling-rescuing, things some one else would have thrown out. I quite often pick up fabric, and yarn, notions, and more stuff to use.

Welllllllll, for some reason I was unable to load pictures up this afternoon, so I'll add them as soon as possible. I do want to show off all the things I've been up to. I haven't gotten the Winter mini quilt done for my Calander holder yet, but we have an idea waiting drawn by my grand-daughter. I plan to have it done before the 1rst day of winter. Hopefully I can get the photo's of everything I've mentioned uploaded soon. Look for part 2 of this post. It will be the photo's.

playing around with the blog design

I thought I'd play with the site and make a few changes... I'll leave it here for awhile and see how I like it. Next, I've got to figure out how to keep the print closer together without the spacing in between the text lines. That drives me a little bit crazy. I've gone back and eliminated the spacing more than once, and still had it come back up. Just going to throw in a few pictures here for fun. No quilty stuff this time.

A few of my favorite things... Nikita, doorway in Antrossano Italy, and Cinque Terra Italy.

Sorry to say, Nikita (Niki) is no longer with us she was 15 when she passed away a couple of weeks ago. We (me) do miss her, she was a faithful friend and companion for lots of adventures, though we did have to leave her with a son for the 2 years we lived in Italy for husbands job.

This and That

Just some random items I've been working on.

Found the small quilt pictured to the right,

I'd made it around 2002...

It was my 4th of July quilted wall hanging.

I had a lot of the rust colored plaid squares

decided I like the tan and dark blue stars print

with the plaid...

Put it together in a round the world pattern.

Added star applique's in the corners.

I was delighted with the way the quilt seemed to float

when I added the dark blue boarder,

You are actually looking at it sideways,

there is a sleve sewn into the far right side for hanging it up.

When I say found,

it wasn't really lost,

just packed away

because if my unusual living conditions the last several years.

The next photo,

is the Autumn block for my Calendar holder...

The Calendar holder is explained in previous blogs.

I saw a quilt block in a magazine

that had two trees with autumn colored foliage...

Done in the no sew method.

ie.;

iron on fusing,

pieces cut out and ironed onto the back ground.

Since this is for a Calendar wall hanging,

and there will never be any washing,

this was a chance to play with this method with no worries.

I went with one tree,

and if you look closely, maybe you can see

the young child playing in the pile of leaves,

with a rake leaning against the tree

and a pet dog watching and maybe waiting to join in the fun.

I did minimal quilting around the larger objects and a couple of clouds in the sky.

Photo number 3,

is the next applique block

for "My Whimsical Garden."
I've mentioned this quilt many times before,

So I'll not go into too many details right now.

I've got one last many leaved stalk to do

on the right hand side of the square...

You can just make out the sketch on the paper...

It's my travel project,

and I take it with me when I'm off traipsing around the country side.

Not a quilt I'm in a hurry to complete.

But it's getting there one block at a time. This is the third block of twenty.

The last photo is a sweet water color painting

Done by my 6 year old Grandson.
I loved the fat little bird...

and the colors he used.

It is so cheerful and happy-

It's maybe going to need to be a little

Quilted wall hanging someday.

His sister is pretty talented also,

She has a drawing for me of how she thinks

the Winter square for the Calendar Holder should be.

I think her idea is perfect with a snowman at winter.

Looking forward to getting that done...

I didn't take a photo of the other project I'd been working on,

It wasn't my quilt to show off really...

My next door neighbor Marti,

Had taken some quilting classes;

and she has discovered that she likes the quiting part of the process,

and not the sewing together of the quilt tops...

She was stuck after a mystery quilt class,

and just did not want to finish or even look at the quilt top-

So she'd asked me to suare up what she'd completed

and add the borders, so she could get on to the part she likes

the actual hand quilting...

I did get that done for her also this past bit of time since my last blog.

summer continued

soooo, I chose to do this blog in two parts,
this one is the quilty crafty one.
With photo's of what I've been doing.....

This first photo is of the book "Speed-Cut Quilts,"
by Donna Poster.
The book says there are 1200 blocks
but there are actually only 400 in 3 different sizes for the 1200.
I kind of wish it had actually said that instead
(you almost feel cheated out of 800 blocks)
It was published by Chilton in 1989.
I do not know if it is possible to find this book in print anymore.
My husband picked it up for me at a yard sale.
So, I really cannot complain about anything in the book.

Meanwhile,
My nephew was getting married and I needed ideas for a quilt
for him and his new bride.
Their favorite colors were blue and green.
So I poored over my books for ideas and I quite liked
the one I found in the book mentioned above.
In the colored photo section of the book
I found the one pictured below...
originally made by Teresa Kline in Aqua tones at 86 X 103...

The blocks were diagramed out on page 76 of the book...

as shown in the next photo...

it seemed to be a quite simple quilt,

and yet very stunning in it's layout...

And since the sample in the book was already done in the blues...

I could very easily picture it in the blue and green colors for

the nephew and his bride to be...

I went through my stash to find several blues and greens

to use for the project,

I decided to go with the 12" sized blocks,

The center squares are 4 1/2" cut (4" when sewn)

the strips around the outside are 2 1/2" cut (2" when sewn)

the next picture shows the squares in progress...

and that is actually where I'm at as I am blogging today.

I bought a box full of stuff to work on the quilt

while I am here in British Columbia...

I did not have to transport my sewing machine,

because my daughter left her's here in storage while

she's been at University and serving her mission.

So I've been using hers for the sewing.

She has a basic entry level
Viking 325 Daisy.

It's not computerized like mine back home...

but it works great.

I probably should have reversed the last image above,

and the next one below...

But oh well.

The image below is showing the fabrics I chose

for the quilt I am making...

I went with 4 different blues and greens,

pairing them together with the white,

for continuity.

The larger piece of fabric across the top of the

selection,

I am planning for the main larger border

around the outside of the quilt

to tie everything together.

My only problem is this,

I need at least one smaller border

between the blocks and the larger outer border,

and I am struggling with what to use for that one.

I have a gorgeous dark dark blue I'm thinking about,

it's darker than the one in the photo above...

I most likely would look almost black in a photo...

But I am not convinced yet.

I recently saw a quilt show on television

discussing the Amish quilts...

(I think it was a guest on "sewing with Nancy")
The Amish use plain and not printed fabrics...

with beautiful colors -just no yellows.

but then they use a color not used anywhere else in their quilts

as the first border surrounding the squares.

So I am playing with that idea in my head.

What if I did something like that,

and used maybe a purple or red.

Well,

the wedding was in July...

I am behind on the quilt already.

I am going over to California in October.

and plan to have this done so I can give it to them then.

LOL

I think I'll get the blocks done, and sewn together...

then I can audition some of the different color choices

for the borders.

I will try to remember to post them to show the thought

process I went through for the finished project
Hopefully my next blog in September will have that

as a finished project.

I also have planned to do when I get back to Idaho...

1. the neighbors quilt -she'd asked if I could finish it up for her,

that just involves puting the borders on

-it had been a mystery quilt class she'd signed up for.

2. finish the wedding project I mentioned above.

3. the autumn/fall block for my wall calendar cover.

whew, I think that's enough...

We shall go from there and see what happens.

I am still working on my travel

applique hand work quilt.

Though I haven't done anything on it this trip.

Thus no updates on the progress of that one.

I am thinking about the "Farmers Wife" quilt I want to do...

(Or was it -Farmer's Daugher?) I'll have to look it up later.

I have begun gathering fabrics for that one

as I go through my stash.

I want to use 30's & 40's reproduction fabrics for that one.

Then my goal is to begin those blocks as a block of the month kind of thing.

Doing at least one maybe two blocks per month.

I will be blogging about that when I get that going.

I think I am aiming to start it with the new year 2012...

and finish it out by the end of the year.

It will be my new years resolution for 2012.

Plus I need to finish out the seasons of my Calender cover

with a winter block...

I have fabric set aside for another quilt

with a pattern called "Pushing up plaidsies"

I have a few other tops to finish and get quilted.

I have been knitting hats...

I didn't have any photo's to publish here

which is why I'm only mentioning the knitting.

LOL

I will never run out of things to do.

Don't 'cha love the quilting crafty life.

summer stuff

What can I say?

It's been summer...

most likely for everyone and not just me.

Anyhow,

I have been up here at my house in Nelson, British Columbia for all of August.

Where we've participated in a family reunion-

(My husband's family)

and

We have spent a lot of time out doors...

(In case someone doesn't know,

Nelson is located on Kootenay lake in the Selkirk Mountains.)

Our house does not have lake access,

It would have cost 3 times as much to have bought a place on the lake,

But... we can see it through the neighbors accross the street who do have lake access.

And the neighbors accross the street are relatives,

so we can access the lake there anytime we want.

They kind of like us, LOL.

The first photo at the top is of the lake from Uncle Marv's house,

across the street from us.

The dock and boat actually belong to his neighbor.

The second photo at the top is the the River Trail near Kaslo...

which is located up near the top of the Kootenay lake.

Kootenay lake is long and narrow,
sort of north and south...
with a west arm (like a sideways T)
And Nelson is inland on the
west arm.
We live about halfway between town
and the main part of the lake.

I have also been busy with the 2 dogs I have here with me...
They've been members of our family for a long time.
Joneser is my son's dog and he's 16 years old,
Nikita (Niki) is my dog and she is 15 years old.
They came up here with me on this trip only because
there was no one to watch them back home.
They've been with our family since they were puppies.
Now they've both reached an age where they are having a lot of problems
and will probably not be with us very much longer.

Basically we are waiting for our daughter to return home
from her mission for the LDS church in September,
and let everyone have a chance to say goodbye to them.
It is a time of saying goodbye to them for myself.
And they've always loved it up here in Canada.
They've been here for summers since we bought the house in 2000.
I must say that this place will not be the same
when I come back without one of them.
They have been good companions and friends.
I will miss them both.