Projects & priority setting

Due to last year's semi successes in getting a few finishes in I thought I'd give it another go this year. I  found by actually targeting a few projects for completion I knew where to direct my energies. I belong to a Ravelry group called Quilters Knitting and have found it to be a great source of support online (which is great as I don't belong to a guild). For the Quilters Knitting Group I have posted the following picture for this quarter (quilting projects only):

1. (Top left) - Circle Game Quilt - 1/16 blocks completed - #2 in process
2. (Top right) - Chatter of Houses - hand appliqué - 20/48 centre blocks completed
3. (Bottom left) - Gypsy Wife - all blocks done - need to sew together
4. Middle right ) Hometown Picnic Quilt - blocks done - joining rows
5. (Bottom Left) - centre paper pieced Mariner's compass - what to do? what to do?

For my own UFO quarter I have included both quilting and knitting:

1. (Top) Hometown Picnic* 
2. (Middle left) Chatter of Houses*
3. (Middle right) Circle Game *
4. (Bottom left) Viking Owl socks
5. (Bottom right) Sandness Shawl

(*in both groups)

Well that's it for now - just thought I'd get my head in the game for where my priorities are!

Linked to WIP Wednesday Needle & Thread Network

I have some completions! Woo hoo!

In the fall I shared a long list of "in process projects".  I joined the "2015 Fall UFO" group via a Ravelry Group called Quilters Knitting. I had to list at least 5 "in process" projects and make an effort to get "something" done, or (at the very least) to encourage others with their efforts. I visit the group threads everyday. Seeing every one's success (plus targeting a few of my own projects) resulted in a few completion's of my own!

fussy cutting and improv QAYG blocks in process

My first finish was a Quilt As You Go Table Runner that I think I had started earlier last year. It was primarily a stashbuster project. I used a panel that I had on hand and fussy cut the autumn themed leaves, sunflowers, nuts and pumpkins and went at it from an improv point of view from there. I highly enjoyed the process, but came to a complete halt when I hit the sashing bit (and into the UFO pile it went). I finally decided to pull it out, return to the tutorial and soldier on. I am embarrassed to admit how easy it was and how intimidated I had been. The technique is from The Quilting Edge. 

sashing added - QAYG in process

Finally finished!

With a heady feeling of success,  I pulled out my second "time sensitive" project. This was a Happy Holiday Runner that had been languishing from last Christmas.

I spent entirely too much time trying to create a great backing fabric using up my leftovers. In the end I was pleased and I guess the upside is I now have a reversible table runner!

I tried my hand at some free motion quilting (FMQ) with varying levels of success  - bearing in mind that no one who looks at my quilting efforts (in this house) has a clue!

Other than that I finished (finally) my Audrey Cardigan bribing myself that I could start another knitting project if I did.

I'm very happy with how it has turned out but I need to get used to the slippery / slinky feel it has. The yarn is a llama / silk blend and I'm used to warm and woolly yarns!

Well that's it for now. I've a few other thoughts mulling around in my head right now for this blog - just need to let them "moodle" a bit!

Happy New Year!

(Linked to the Needle & Thread Network WIP Wednesday)

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!)