Tour de Fleece 2013 - finale!

Well after 3 weeks of daily spinning my "Tour de Fleece" has come to an end. It was a great tour with Chris Froome winning the Maillot Jaune, and Nairo Quintana bursting from pack to win King of the Mountains and Top Young Rider.

This year I joined the Spin Your Stash Team on Ravelry, and I'm delighted to say that I managed to spin up 6 skeins with a bobbin of a  laceweight merino singles yet to be plyed. Once that's done it's time to return to my other "in process" projects... seems like there's always something to look forward to!

Happy Needle and Thread Network WIP Wednesday!

Tour de Fleece 2013 - finale!

Well after 3 weeks of daily spinning my "Tour de Fleece" has come to an end. It was a great tour with Chris Froome winning the Maillot Jaune, and Nairo Quintana bursting from pack to win King of the Mountains and Top Young Rider.

This year I joined the Spin Your Stash Team on Ravelry, and I'm delighted to say that I managed to spin up 6 skeins with a bobbin of a  laceweight merino singles yet to be plyed. Once that's done it's time to return to my other "in process" projects... seems like there's always something to look forward to!

Happy Needle and Thread Network WIP Wednesday!

Paper Piecing 101

I joined a Paper Piecing Club at my LQS a few month back with the intention of trying yet another aspect of quilting. Who knew there were so many techniques for creating quilt tops? I had picked up a "how to" paper piece book after spending quite some time looking at paper pieced stars on other people's blogs. The book I selected is Needles and Notions because it had a terrific theme and looked "do-able" for a newbie.

My  first block has taken me 3 months to complete - though I admit I've only worked on it "in class". There are 12 blocks - so at this rate it will take me at least 3 years to complete this project!

I'm doing a modern crisp look for my blocks - and I love the colours from Aneela Hoey's "Little Apples" fabric line. I'm using a charm pack for the little bits, and have found a nice white background fabric with little sewing notions on it. I've been fussy cutting here and there - and I think it's paying off!

So - block one "The Button Jar" is finally done! (Embellishments still to come).

(This post is part of  WIP Wednesday for the Needle and Thread Network)

Paper Piecing 101

I joined a Paper Piecing Club at my LQS a few month back with the intention of trying yet another aspect of quilting. Who knew there were so many techniques for creating quilt tops? I had picked up a "how to" paper piece book after spending quite some time looking at paper pieced stars on other people's blogs. The book I selected is Needles and Notions because it had a terrific theme and looked "do-able" for a newbie.

My  first block has taken me 3 months to complete - though I admit I've only worked on it "in class". There are 12 blocks - so at this rate it will take me at least 3 years to complete this project!

I'm doing a modern crisp look for my blocks - and I love the colours from Aneela Hoey's "Little Apples" fabric line. I'm using a charm pack for the little bits, and have found a nice white background fabric with little sewing notions on it. I've been fussy cutting here and there - and I think it's paying off!

So - block one "The Button Jar" is finally done! (Embellishments still to come).

(This post is part of  WIP Wednesday for the Needle and Thread Network)

Tour de Fleece Week One...

Yesterday was a rest day for cyclists and spinners alike. Thus far I have spun only two skeins - not nearly as much as I'd anticipated... like some of the expected "big names" I'm am stuck "off the back" (meaning I am being dropped by the main peleton - the main group).

Having said that I have two weeks to go and my main goal is to de-stash. I've also figured out how to use the instagram collage app on my phone which is a bonus!

Spin on!

(Wednesday is WIP day on the Thread and Needle Network)

Tour de Fleece Week One...

Yesterday was a rest day for cyclists and spinners alike. Thus far I have spun only two skeins - not nearly as much as I'd anticipated... like some of the expected "big names" I'm am stuck "off the back" (meaning I am being dropped by the main peleton - the main group).

Having said that I have two weeks to go and my main goal is to de-stash. I've also figured out how to use the instagram collage app on my phone which is a bonus!

Spin on!

(Wednesday is WIP day on the Thread and Needle Network)

July - a change of pace

So as June slowly wound away from itself, I geared up for a change in direction.

I have suspended most of my sewing efforts this month for my annual Tour de Fleece spin a thon. You may recall last year I worked on  my hexagon quilt while watching the Tour de France. I dubbed it my  Tour de Fabric) and that quilt is still in progress (slow but steady wins the race).  But this year I've decided to jump back on my spinning wheel and work through my stash of a different kind - wool. As in mohair, teeswater, romney, corriedale...etc. Whatever my hand pulls out of the stash.

I've signed up for the Spin Your Stash 2013 Ravelry Team - and so far so good! On Day 1-2 I spun up 50 grams of Blue Faced Leicester which is hand dyed by the Canadian company Fleece Artist.

Spin on!

(PS - Today is WIP Wednesday on Needle and Thread!)

July - a change of pace

So as June slowly wound away from itself, I geared up for a change in direction.

I have suspended most of my sewing efforts this month for my annual Tour de Fleece spin a thon. You may recall last year I worked on  my hexagon quilt while watching the Tour de France. I dubbed it my  Tour de Fabric) and that quilt is still in progress (slow but steady wins the race).  But this year I've decided to jump back on my spinning wheel and work through my stash of a different kind - wool. As in mohair, teeswater, romney, corriedale...etc. Whatever my hand pulls out of the stash.

I've signed up for the Spin Your Stash 2013 Ravelry Team - and so far so good! On Day 1-2 I spun up 50 grams of Blue Faced Leicester which is hand dyed by the Canadian company Fleece Artist.

Spin on!

(PS - Today is WIP Wednesday on Needle and Thread!)