Spinning My Wheels

Well,, Tour de Fleece (Tour de France) is over.  The World Soccer games are finished!  What will I spin to next????
I think I did good to spin what I did during those times--

I had this lovely merino/silk blend to spin--there were

other rovings in the stash closet but this one called

my name-

Just lovely fiber!  From Dicentra Designs

I'm stripping the fiber lengthwise to spin in sections,

which is manageable.  Once the bobbin is full, I"ll ply

from the ball.

I like the colors in this!  Now to ply on self--

Leader And Ender..................

I've been waiting for this!  Not that I've finished the leader ender

project from 2015 or 2016--still working on those guys--but

I'm looking forward to getting these blocks together from

my stash pieces.

Quiltville has the directions! 

Magnolia Mystery

In the South, there are Magnolia trees everywhere!

and once again when this mystery was announced

last year--I was there--what can be wrong with magnolia

quilt?

nothing wrong--just let it linger too long

So many bias corners--trying to keep them from

stretching is difficult--and when quilts are placed

on the point, I have a time trying to keep the blocks

in order so I lay it out on the floor.

Now, to decide on the borders.

Actually, her directions would have you lay 

the quilt this way...

I'm so finished with this quilt--I want to get borders on

and forget about it!!  It will be a charity quilt or maybe

a Quilt of Valor as it is red, white and blue.

Borders added!  I like it now!

Some Knitting Involved

I love my monthly knitting projects--knit a little each month; by year's end, If you progress each month, there will be a finished shawl.  There are two of those shawls ongoing at this time--and I'm keeping up to date with each one......................................
                                                                        THEN
my favorite designers throw in a monkey wrench................well, to them, it's not a problem--to me, it is...........................I want to knit those projects as well...........................so, here we go----

SWEET ROSE OF SHETLAND

you can find this pattern on Ravelry.com

Designed by Elizabeth Ravenwood--this shawl is more of the Shetland Lace type as I've been knitting with the regular monthly project-- perfect light weight scarf to add a bit of pizzazz to your warm weather wardrobe. 

Beads are optional, though they do add a bit of sunlight-on-water sparkle to this scarf. 

Shetland Hap Meets Estonia MKAL pattern by Toni L. Lorenz

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

"Don’t get me wrong here. I’m not saying that Estonia and the Shetland Islands are like Ruth and Naomi.
I’m just feeling a bit like Ruth. While she does not want to leave Naomi, I am not ready to leave the beautiful lace of Estonia. Plus, Estonia is celebrating its 100th year of independence. Let’s join in the celebration by knitting this Shetland Hap inspired shawl. We will follow the construction concepts of the top-down triangle with beautiful Estonian stitch patterns incorporated into the body, the colored borders, and lace edge. This hap, which comes in three sizes, will sure to be warm."

Materials: Finished Size and Yardage:

Small: 58” x 40” x 28” triangle, 600 yards total 
Medium: 87” x 56” x 41” triangle, 1,000 yards total 
Large: 102” x 70” x 46” triangle, 1,800 yards total

Main Color: 400/550/1,100 yards Lace Weight 
Contrasting Color 1: 90/165/350 yards Lace Weight 
Contrasting Color 2: 90/165/250 yards Lace Weight 
Contrasting Color 3: 0/80/125 yards Lace Weight

US size 4 (3.5 mm) 40 Inch Circular Needle 
US Size 6 (4.0 mm) 40 Inch Circular Needle (optional for loose Bind Off) 
40 Stitch Markers, Tapestry Needle 
500+ 8/0 Beads and 1mm Crochet Hook (optional)

I'm using my handspun cotton for this project--think I"ll use

only this one color; although, I do have a few other yarns I

could throw in.  This is step one--fun lace knitting.

There are three sizes but I'm sticking with the small Hap--

not too sure of how much cotton I have.

This takes real talent to catch your marker within the

cast on--which was an I-cord Cast on.  I caught two

of my markers this way--I'll need to break them--or

I could leave them for decorations.

Not much knitting on this Hap, since I'm doing the

small size, I'm waiting for those instructions. 

Happy Birthday Mother!

We are travelling south to celebrate mother's 98th

birthday!  Can't believe that she is doing so well at this

age!

We are fortunate to have good caregivers for her--

and occasionally, they will send me photos of

her activities

She wasn't much for socializing, but I'm happy she is 

getting into the rim of being with others

She loves to eat!  and is a good eater!

That counts in this factor of being healthy--although,

there has been a time or two when she refused any

food they placed in front of her--just showing her

stubbornness!  At least once or twice a month

the caregivers will take her to a local restaurant.

Here's to a happy birthday!! 

Behind Closed Doors

Have you ever thought about how a knitting pattern is created?

Usually, you get the pattern, look at the chart, pick up my needles

and yarn--begin.

This designer, Cassie Rosse, Takes you behind closed doors

as she designs a lace shawl

From drafting on paper to

Drafting on computer to

test knitting the project--she has spent numerous hours of

knitting to create this lovely lace shawl

and she is offering it free of charge! 

I can appreciate the knowledge that designers put into their creations

just so I can knit!

All Is Merry and Bright!

Here is a chance to sew through the next few months--

especially August--which to me is one of the long

boring summer months that lead into the cooler

Fall!

Pat Sloan always has something on her quilting mind--

this one is perfect to finish in time for Christmas.

Begins July 25 through November 25--

You can find the materials list on above website.

Happy stitching! 

Waulking to the Beat.......................

Now that we have seen how Tweed is woven, it's look at fulling that cloth.

I found this wonderful video on Youtube, after I saw them on Facebook, waulking from Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh.

It brought back so many memories of the times we would waulk our woven wool blankets.  I don't know how many blankets I wove that were waulked----it was many!!!
what a fun activity it was to sit around the table, pound the cloth with the beat of the song.
The fulled cloth at the finish was blessed--whomever sleeps under will have a peaceful and full life!

Harris Tweed----Outstanding!

Check out how Harris Tweed is produced!  I would love to have a loom that I could pedal!

Christmas In July QAL!

There is a coolness in the air--that's right it's time for Christmas in July--

Not only is Hallmark Channel bring you Christmas movies in

July, Confessions of a Fabric Addict is giving you a free

sew along--

It could be a Quilt of Valor 

or

how about Christmas colors?

This quilt will measure 68" square

Each step will be revealed for twelve days--the designer

states you can do each step in an hour, if you keep up!

Gather your supplies:

Fabric:  Three different fabrics--Fabric A:  1 3/4 yards; 

Fabric B:  2 1/8 yards; Fabric C:  1 3/8 yards  

I plan to use fabrics from my stash--it might look scrappy.

Happy stitching beginning July 14!

Absolute Slouch..................

Woolly Wormhead, one of my favorite hat designers is

offering another one of her knitted hat patterns

free of charge---have fun knitting a creative hat--

The hat is worked flat and seamed; it includes slipped

stitches and basic increases and decreases.

Visit her website to join her Woolly Wormhead Hat Society--

free of charge as these free patterns are exclusive to members

for a month, before being published on the free pattern page for

all access.

The next newsletter goes out towards the end of the month.

Let's Finish This!

There is a bin of pieces for a quilt--almost

looks like scraps--nope--these are the "parts"

for last November's Quiltville mystery

"On Ringo Lake"--it was free for several

months but not now--so glad I saved all

the monthly instructions/directions.

It looks like a mess--look again--there are some

assembled bocks--this clue is more time consuming,

the reason I put the box away

I was tired of working with all those small parts and pieces

Now, it's a go to a finish!  One small problem--can

you find it?

Blaring mistake once I begin again on this conquest--

the blue block in right hand corner is turned wrong!!

glad I found it!  It wasn't the only mistake either--

This is the finished block--all 50 of them!

I Have ONE!!  continue on....................

Here is my stack of 50 complete blocks--

now to find the next step in my files

to carry on!

Well, OKAY--

When I was making this Texas Flag quilt for our son,

I cut WAY sooooooo many 5" squares!  I had a pile of

reds, whites and blues--and I'm thinking--

what do I do with these?

Idea hit me that a disappearing nine patch would be

perfect way to consume all those extras--so

we begin to sew! and sew! and sew!

Till I had a pile of nine patch of positive and negative

patches--next decision, which way to cut those blocks.

I decided on cut through the middle both ways

and now you have more blocks to deal with--

how to set them??

This one works for me--but I tried several other ways

to place them

We're on the track to create a Quilt of Valor.

Quilting Time

Finally catching up with Fat Cat BOM for Christmas

and Halloween

Of course, a new pattern rolls around with the month--so

I'm not quite caught up!  These blocks are filled with

raw edge applique--which suits me just fine

This is the first block of the series--I opted to sign up

for reminders--only $5 for the year and each month,

there is a reminder in my email with each month 

listed with link--perfect for a slacker such as I

The camera eye sees colors different than your human eyes

When I decided to place the yellow "Y" on this gold

background, I thought it would work; once it's

photographed--not good!  will need to take it off

and replace with another color

Jingle! Jingle!  all the way!  Love her tree!

Hello Halloween--these mice are just so cute!

I don't do much purple-- but this ghost is ohh

so ghostly!! 

Silken Works

For Years, In the back of my mind, I've thought of a silken pillow case--one

that will feel so soft. and smooth.    If I could spin the silk for that pillowcase,

I would be so happy.  Spin the silk, weave the yardage--

what a goal!!

Any idea how much silk it takes to weave a pillowcase?

Me neither!  I know I can do it--I did spin a brick of  bombyx 

for daughter's wedding dress--that was 30 years ago.  I know I can

spin silk again--it's just time consuming; little bit at a time--

I spin!  The bobbins fill slowly.......

This is plied from two bobbins that were spun several

months ago

My make do "lazy kate"--works well--a good way to

ply when on the road......

ahh, silk through the fingers--such a lovely feel and

I keep thinking about that silk pillowcase that my head

will fall on.

Blue Hands!!

I'm anxious to get those Indigo Blue Hands again!  Doesn't matter if I wear gloves--I still
get blue hands!  Enjoy these videos on Japanese Indigo Dyeing!


Why the interest in Indigo dyeing?  Every year our expatcher quilt group shares birthday
fat quarter fabrics with each other on our birthdays.  One of the girls has asked for Indigo
fabric for her selection--here comes the dye pot for her!! And my handspun cotton towels on
the loom--