Gather We Must

 One of my Southern natural dyeing/spinner friends is one of the best to do research for any topic she wants to follow.  If you think of a fiber that needs to be explored--she’ll do it!  So, it was interesting when this popped up on my feed recently.

if you live in the South, you know the plant--it's that wicked Kudzu!  It grows everywhere it is left to fend for itself.  my dedicated friend went out to gather Kudzu vines to see what is was made of.  She learned to process the fiber to produce a useful fiber.  Actually, this invasive vine is good for some things! who knew?!!  

Watch the video to learn about the processing of Kudzu--maybe, you'll want to try this fiber preparation.

This and That

 Winter or cool weather is a-comin' !!  How can I tell?  First off, when you shop--everything is becoming fallish colors!  Yes, I purchased an autumn throw with lovely warm colors.  That's not the only sign —at the grocery--fall foods pop up--pasta in the shape of fall items--adverts are spilling out with 'pumpkin spice latte' !  Then, the first sign------- Ravelry's new patterns are mostly warm clothing--sweaters!  sweaters! sweaters!  I'm not one to knit a sweater--that's a lot of knitting! 

And the county fairs begin--lots of parades, rodeos, judging of different foods--some receive blue ribbons even.

I find myself pulling out fall quilts to hang, to sling over the bannister rails, throw on beds, etc. etc.  And then there is the music!  Yes,  toe tapping music.  Okay, it's still warm outside.  Your recipes even want to lean towards hot warm meals instead of cool weather foods.  There is the slight idea we will be enjoying the patio again soon.  

Let’s talk lists.  On our road trips our ears are tuned to podcast “This is Vinyl Tap”—recently they mentioned —1000 albums you should hear before you die!    We jumped on that list!  So far, we’ve knocked off five albums on that list as we go top to bottom. There is an app that will spit out an album randomly too. 

  My list of books to be read is growing by the day--so many good books being released.  As I type, I'm listening to an audio book--yay!!

So what are we knitting to wade into fall?  Quick and easy is my go to!  Fall dish cloth for the kitchen knit in fall colors 

This September dishcloth fromThe Kitchen Sink Shop

Garlene also has an offer for these short socks.  Going on my needles soon too.

My sewing has been limited lately--trying to finish a quilt--slow and easy is the rule of the 

But, from Quilt Fabrication comes a good list of fall themed quilt blocks--this would be fun to create--just what I need, something else to add to my list!

Needing a stitching pattern?  Here is a cute fall theme for your needle!  This comes from pinker N pumpkin quilting

 Warping the loom is on the list as well.  Son asks for tea towels--so the warp is being prepared.  

Do you need a list?  Best to write it down! So, you can check it off!!

Knits and Etc.

 Recently, we took a road trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I've always wanted to attend the Santa Fe Opera and we did!  We also took a backstage tour--Awesomeness!  The Opera is like a football game for some--tailgating before hand--tables covered with fancy cloths and chairs set up behind car trunks--champagne corks popping, small tapas consumed before hand  then  comes intermission that allows you to partake again in more bubbly!  It was a great treat!

The docents wore these beautfiully fashioned handwoven tabards which are returned after each performance for the next opera event.  Just fabulous all around!

We had great seats for the evening!  Full orchestra and a view of the area; the sound was perfect too!!  In front of each seat is a screen that gives you the words of the song in your language

On our drive around the area, you would find the 'coyote' fences built as privacy.  Just an awesome sight!

One Saturday we ventured to the large farmers' market held at the Railyard.  I remember years ago, it was sitated outside of town along a side portion of the road===we were late arriving and most of the green chilie varieties had been purchased.  We did find a few to take home to roast, along with fresh ground red and green cilli powder, 

although, we didn't find many green chilies, our senses were filled with the aroma of roasting green chilies!  A good reason to visit the market in the first place!

Our condo was situated on the top of a mountain, facing west--perfect for evening sunsets!  we had a few nights of colorful display but a few nights of rainy skies--the colors are still spectacular!

And the food!!  Should I talk about all the delicious food we satisfied ourselves with--I think not!  My mouth waters just thinking about it.  and my brother was really jealous when he saw the photos!

onto the Knits now

Never, never ever take a road trip without yarn, knitting needles, a few patterns and the willingness to KNIT as you travel those long boring roads.

finished one red hand spun cotton dishcloth!

Another handspun cotton dishcloth

a crazy hat--based on 80 stitches!  adding novelty yarn is fun way to break up the plain SS

And this one using 'eyelash' yarn--someone will love all these frilly twigs hanging out

With this hat, I decided to do some color work (not my favorite) but was fun for a change--alternating yarns over other stitch--try it with weird color yarns to make an interesting hat.

These beings started out a socks--but, as they progressed past the border, they took on a life of fingerless gloves.  I have  small bits of leftover handspun yarn knit on size one needles--maybe I'll finish this year!

It was a great road trip--good food, beautfiul scenery, great companion and finished knits!

Planning our next road trip and the yarns I'll take...................

In The Wings!

 What’s waiting in the wings??  Plenty!!  UFOS!  New Stuff!!  Want to do projects!!  Let’s begin….

This is WIP by Colorado friend—it uses strips from her scrap bin.  It’s a take off from pattern by Atkinson Designs—popsicle sticks!  What a great way to use up scrap fabric! 

Join in on this Sewing along—could be a mystery—but I peeked!  This is from Meadow Mist    I think this will be a fun adenture for the year!

This is the first block of five needed; still need to make five other blocks for the first month.

nothing like finding two UFOs in process but uncompleted .   This is another Bonnie Hunter from hears past.  All the steps are included and some of the fabric has been cut and ready to sew!  Why was the pattern left to the side??

Found another Bonnie Hunter pattern from 2023!  All indigo fabrics--which I love!  So why was it left behind?

Also found in my left behind bin was this pattern!!  It was something that I really wanted to make

Even have the backing fabric

And the pieces that Granddaughter colored in many years ago!

Finally!! Putting these blocks together!! finished in 2025! and wanted it for a Christmas hanging!

Here is the layout and Sew with Me information.  There is a sew along for 2026 in process now.

But look!  Something has been finished!  waiting to be gifted!  A sense of completion!!

Updates!

The summer is holding on--and our projects are fulfilling their final completion--can we get some applause for job well done!

 

The short sock pair has met their end!  Yahoo!!

The second sock wasn't such a horrible finish like the first--practice must make perfect!

Stitching away on the year of angels BUT a problem with the thread held up the work 

for a brief time as decisions were made on the right color to use.

Finally, the hand spun silk threads are handy and promised to be the right color!

On we stitch on June angel of the garden==only six more to do!

a quilter friend gave me several orphan blocks and pieces of blocks.  She knew I liked to make orphan quilts.  there were several of these 'tongues' and I studied hard on how to use them.  I had already made several turkey flocks for table runners and place mats.  I was resisting making Dresden plate block!

Okay--I give up!  created three Dresden plate blocks for an upcoming orphan quilt.  Hope these will fit somehow.  I don't want any blocks as orphans!!

The major problem was finding the right center as I didn't have any of the fabrics in the piece==finally, a green was found that would work in.

spinning away on Green cotton--it doesn't show up on camera as green but trust me,

it is!  Color deepens as it is washed and dried.

and speaking of hand spun, here are 12 finished hand spun, handwoven towels!!

So happy to have the warp off the loom and into a useful item.

When these are hemmed, a name tag is added along with a charm, sometimes a cross

Sometimes, a small charm that states "hand made with love!"

That sums up the projects--all made with LOVE and the assistance of the CROSS!

 

Lost And Found Part 2

Bring out the light board and the fine line markers--we're on an adventure!

Light boards are so handy even though they aren't used much

set it up, get a comfy chair, your pens, your pattern, your fabric

be seated and begin to trace

This is for the month of June--ready for the needle and thread

These patterns were started in 1997 when I purchased them from Plain and Fancy quilt shop, which is no more--at least, I couldn't find any connection to it.

These are the angels of the year--I remember so much fun to stitch--don't know why I didn't finish them at the time-probably my attention span!!  Now, they are found again--here we go--

I even took white embroidery floss and dyed them with natural dyes.  That was the part I enjoyed the most! 

January through May have been completed--June is under needle and thread now with July ready to stitch.

Why do I want to do these now?  At the time, I purchased the patterns, I had a granddaughter--, but she grew up!! and she has a Boy!  But, grandson has two boys and now a GIRL!  These spirit angels will be made into a quilt throw for her!  Yes, I have reason to finish!!

 

Lost and Now Found part 1

Do You lose projects for years and then find them again?  

It seems that is what I do!  Projects that were worked on and maybe half finiished

Maybe--at the time stitching was going along on these cute little ones, there might have been some idea of how they were going to work together.

But, now that they have been found--what on earth is the final outcome?!!

sll stitched and ready to be assigned a setting--don't remember even where they came from; 

what blog? what website?  did a search to find them on Flickr!  of all places--still no idea how to complete—maybe potholders?  Maybe, squares for holiday wall hanging?

Then I came upon this!!  Joy McDonald is hosting a stitch along on her blog

Floral Baubles!  Perfect setting for my little critters!  Yes!  I love making star blocks! And the stitchery would be great for this setting! 

Thank you Joy for an idea when my brain was fried!