Alphabet Stitching!

Do you enjoy a good stitching time?

I enjoy my time with needle and thread

and excited to see this free Stitch Along

Elefantz is offering her 26 week Alphabet Pincushion

Stitch along beginning Today.

If you don't want that many pincushions, you can use

the letters to personalize garments, bags, scarves,

quilts, the list is limitless!

How to do you get these free patterns?

Just join Elefantz newsletter by 

going to her website and signing up!

Happy stitching!

Cool Knitting............

It's still summer in our neck of the woods--

so I enjoy knitting with cotton and this

cotton is special since it's my handspun--

This pattern is designed by Toni L Lorenz

"Shetland Hap Meets Estonia"

I chose the small size--glad I did--as I'm having enough 

trouble keeping up--which I haven't done!

I like the lace and beads

I still have two more clues to finish--each day I might

knit a row or two and soon it will be finished!

All Merry & Bright

Wreath of greens!!

Pat Sloan is hosting a Christmas Sew Along--Here is the block for August 1st--Every Other Wednesday there is a new block.  So far I'm keeping up with this adventure.

Here is my first block--These are quick blocks to cut and sew--many sewers are

doing some very creative things with their blocks--me,

I'm lazy!

I always wonder when I do  block how would

it look if I put the light on the corners and the

dark near the center--won't know unless I

make another block OR I could take the pattern

and color it--Not happening though!

Like this log cabin version--next up on

Wednesday!

UPdate!! Disappearing Nine Patch

A new way to do disappearing nine patch blocks!!

I can take my nine patch blocks that I cut in half--

and make STARS!

I'm thrilled!

Check out this tutorial from 

design originals by KC--

Since I had all the blocks already sewn together--I spent an

evening 'frogging'--rip, rip, rip!  

My stars have white centers--because of the way I assembled 

my nine patches

The alternate blocks have red/blue centers

and now you want to see the finished quilt-----

I think this turned out super!  I'm quite pleased!

Will decide on inner and outer borders later--

definitely, the way to do Disappearing Nine Patch!

I Heart Snowmen!

Yes, I <3 (heart) snowmen!  And there is a perfect opportunity to feel your 'hearts' with snowmen for each month--check out this..........................

Bunny HIll Designs is offering free monthly

downloads so you can make this 

lovely heart tree 

This is January heart--available now!

Here is February--available now!

And March--around the fifth of each month 

another block will be posted!

Happy stitching!!

Can't See The Forest For The Trees!

Piece and Quilt is sharing her recent pine tree quilt pattern--

she is using fabrics designed by herself (Natalia Bonner)

and Kathleen Whiting--

Tree is basic squares and 1/2 square triangles--

The gals have done their blocks in white, green and gray

but I think they will look great in any fabric colors--

I'm thinking scrappy!

A great one to make for Christmas--

How About Halloween Mystery Quilt??

This mystery series is brought to you by 

The Quilt Company

and as usual I'm behind in the first clue--

The quilt designer is Kathryn Patterson

Each week you will have the instructions to make

finished 12" x 12" block--to yield 51" x 68" throw.

Of course, as usual I'm behind with beginning this

series.  You can find  Clue One  and sew along with me.

If you don't want a Halloween style quilt--you can use any

other colors--sometimes, I wait to see what the first block

will look like and then make a decision about color choices.

Let's have some fun and make it seem closer to fall temps!

Seeing Stars!!!

Do You like star quilts as much as I do?! 

Well, here is our opportunity to make stars for several weeks

and complete the above quilt, 

sponsored by Happy Quilting Melissa

As usual, I'm behind.......here is the schedule

The supply list has already been posted but

the following is the listing of which star is

shown.

Each star will be a different size....

August 15th - Double Star Block

August 22nd - Curvy Star Block

August 29th - Pinwheel Star Block

September 5th - Improve Star Block

September 12th - Basic Star Block

September 19th - Applique Star Block

September 26th - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky

October 17th- Seeing Stars Parade and Grand Prize Winners

Expression Fiber Arts!!

Oh WOW--can you see yourself wearing one of these lovelies? 

Saiki is a knitted shawl that uses unique yarns to 

give texture in six different sections--

You can find both of these patterns

this week FREE at

Expression Fiber Arts

A fun, easy angled/striped infinity crocheted scarf pattern - using

two different yarns.

Primitive Magazine--Fall!

Recently, I received my 2018 fall issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects--Holy SMokes!  This book is stuffed full of things I want to make...............

I LOVE everything about this Fall magazine!

So many exciting items to create!

Like this pumpkin hanging--Anything orange

is my motto--anything fall is the way to go!

The above hanging designed by Suzanne Wenzlick

Here we go sewing.....................

All Cut out and ready.......

Step One complete--I know the colors look off, but

it was under different lighting--the above photo is

more true

Now for the pumpkins--all five!

All finished--yet for backing and little quilting and 

then it's off to Colorado to brown headed daughter

as her birthday gift

Now, to decide which of the other projects in

the magazine I'll sew next--

Stretching The Hands

Procrastination!  That is what I've been doing

with my knitting--Then--oops, it's time for another

clue to be published--

I seem so far behind!

I just haven't felt like knitting--

it's hot and the yarn becomes sweaty in

my hands.

Well, it's time to pick up the needles again

I enjoy knitting, when I begin-it's just getting

started again.  This is year long project with my

handspun wool/silk blend--lots of lace!

This was suppose to be a short project--well,

wasn't quite that for me--it just lingers in my

knitting bag--

 This is handspun cotton and it awaits my attention--

my intention was to do the shorter version so each

clue that came after the first was for medium or larger size

so my knitting became lost--Finally, the small size clue

became available--back to knitting this one soon--

There should be no Procrastination--just a lack of

motivation on my part! 

Gifts Acomin'

When the Son posted a photo of his Texas flag quilt on Facebook,

there were various comments from friends and families--

the one that stood out the most was this one from

Brown headed daughter:

"Gorgeous job, Mom! I love it. Now maybe you want to work on a Colorado flag??"

Why Not I said to myself.

Searching that wonderful WWW- on Etsy-I found a "kit'

for just the right thing--A Colorado State Flag!

perfect!  The price was right--no need to buy a zillion fabrics

that I wouldn't use (well, that's not right--I would use

them in due time)  

Thinking this would be perfect for her Christmas gift, I began

that journey to "be" in Colorado for a short while as I

sewed and sewed!  

Teacup Quilt Along

I love teacups!  I love teapots!  I have a number of

china cups/saucers and when you want to feel

special and pampered, I pull out one of these lovely

teacups to enjoy my tea.

Here is to stitching teacups!!

From My Carolina Home has some good pointers on

paper piecing--she does a step by step and then gives us

some bullet points to follow

1.  Color the pattern.
2.  Shorten the stitch length.
3.  Cut pieces larger than needed, accepting that there will be more waste.
4.  Use squares and rectangles regardless of the piece final shape.
5.  Stabilize the first piece.
6.  Use a thin straight edge to fold the pattern back, trim the fabric to 1/4-inch.
7.  Line up the next piece with the cut edge.
8.  Mark the back side of the pattern to easily see if your orientation is right.
9.  Sew 1/4-inch past the end point of the line on both sides.
10.  Sew 1/4-inch past the edges of the cutting line for pieces intersecting the edge.
11.  Sew a stay-stitch all around the piece before taking the paper off.

She has other information for a successful project--

check in today as her

teacup quilt along begins!

Once a month--you can create and learn paper piecing

at the same time!