Day of the Weavers

It was a cool rainy Tuesday when I gathered my 'show and tell' and headed to our weavers' study group--well, it's rather a group discussing everything from daily life, our summer adventures, weaving techniques and other sundry items of topic that needs to be aired.................

What do you do when you're laid up with a broken leg and

can't get to your big loom?  You can still weave, according to Penny,

who had just that situation this summer.

She and her partner in crime, Peggy, hosted a Cricket weaving workshop.

Penny could warp as she sat in her wheel chair and warp she did--

putting lovely warp on ten different crickets for her class.

The students got the weaving knack down but didn't

have time in their class to finish so Penny/Peggy gathered up

the looms and Penny finished each warp to return the

scarves to the weaver at a later time.

She brought along for show and tell these scarves--

each a delight with their novelty yarn warp and weft

all completed and warp tied neatly into fringe

I'm thinking--these recipents are going to be 

thrilled with their project and go on to future

Cricket weavings

Each one of the ten scarves felt soft and fuzzy--something

you would love to wrap around your neck

Penny finally lost her boot and wheel chair to return to her

big loom and began with this weaving project

The pattern is pinwheels but to my eye it looks like

rick rack--doesn't matter--just great weaving ability--

warp and weft is cottolin yarn

Look closely--Marion chose to use linen for her

weaving--she did her 'tree' pattern with revisions--

really shimmered in the light

Ahh, a tartan--a Texas tartan!!

This is the bluebonnet tartan

from this book of District Tartans

Connie was working on her latest shibori piece for the

upcoming guild sale--she had linen with resist areas

and she stitching over the white areas to give this

piece additional depth--she'll pull up the threads

and dye in another indigo bath

Connie thinking holidays with her cotton rug mat

What a fun way to invite your guests into the room!

Each weaver gathering is a delight--always something to

learn anew and an outlet to share your thoughts and experience 

Strings for Michael!

HURRICANE MICHAEL STRING BLOCK QUILT DRIVE

What can I do to assist the Hurricane Michael victims?  I gather staples,

water, some other sundry items to send along with a monetary donation--

in my world that isn't enough!  These folks have lost EVERYTHING!

I know that feeling--having lost everything we owned in a fire--

you feel shocked and dismayed about your next step.

Here is a project I can get behind--

That Fiber Feeling blog is on board to assist with this

massive under taking which is sponsored by  UMW Quilting Group at 

United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama.

The Alabama church is asking for 10.5″ unfinished string quilt blocks in any colors you wish.  Multicolored blocks are fine of course.  Quilters on the other end will sew the blocks into quilts, but if you wish to donate an entire quilt or top, they will gladly take that as well.  If you’re like me, you have lots of string scraps lying around.  These go together quickly, are relaxing and make an easy way for helping others.  There are lots of string block tutorials online and this craftsy one is good, even if it’s a different size block.  Whatever tutorial you use, keep in mind to trim your block to 10.5″.  cut your base squares into 11″ squares.  

Send your 10.5″ string blocks to:

UMW Quilting Group, Hurricane Quilt Drive, Aldersgate United Methodist Church,  6610 Vaughn Road,  Montgomery, Alabama 36116

Minus ONE.............

First off, here is a photo from Luckenbach I took--

just gets you in the mood for Fall, doesn't it!

This pattern is another one that has been staring at me for

a long time!  I look at it and think--not today!

Finally I got busy making those leaves

What put me on hold for awhile was the size of

the smaller leaf--it takes 1.5" squares and I'm not

a big fan of doing small sizes, but I knuckled under

and made all 16 of the small leaves--I would

love to make more of the larger leaves but this

pattern only had five

The table topper is together and guess what?!!

There is one extra small leaf--can't believe I

did more than I needed even though I counted

and counted....

so this stray fellow is lost--would I make another

15 so he could have buddies?  I think not!

he just might go on the back......

Let's Lace Knit...............

What a lovely scarf!  and the pattern is free for you to knit!!

Olann and Design/, designed by Aisling Doonan aka Rubysasha--

using one skein of hand dyed 4 ply/fingering weight yarn

I love Lace! and double yarn overs!  This will be a fun knit! 

Shhh! It's a Secret!

The Quilting Company has their Thanksgiving 'secret' table runner

links up--are you ready to reveal the clues and find out the secret?

I am!  Well, not really--need to go through my stash to

find the appropriate fabrics for this project.

Temecula Quilt Company has a secret Santa project beginning

next Friday, October 19.  Here are the fabric requirements for

this scrappy quilt which will measure 43"x 56"

small scraps of brown prints

1/4 yard of green prints

3/4 yard of red prints

2-1/2 yards of light prints

Beginning Wednesday, October 17, you will find the first clue in solving this

secret project through Fort Worth Fabric Studio.  I got my kit--don't usually do

the kits, but decided I would this time--it's not necessary to buy the kit

as you can use from your stash.

Get ready for lots of sewing in the next few weeks!!

Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!

A well aged pattern for sure--it has been staring at me for

months and months--I look at it and think--I'll get around to it

one of these days!  That day finally arrived!

I found all the oranges I could in my stash and begin

to cut--this pattern asks for 8 fat quarters,which I

didn't have--next plan, cut from yardage--that works

too! 

The corners are added and all 25 blocks have been

sewn.

Stems and leaves added!  Well, that wasn't so hard after all!

All finished!!  One tickled off my to do list!

Thinking of Turkeys

I know Thanksgiving is over 6 weeks ahead; nothing keeps our brain from thinking about the festivities of the week--all the turkey and trimmings we can consume; gathering with family and friends--nothing like it!

I've been following this group--saving the patterns--SOME

day I'll get around to it--you know that saying!

Here was their pattern recently for a turkey!! Such

a darn cute turkey--postage stamp size--12.5"x12.5"!

Awesome!  YOu can find the pattern here

And now The Quilting Company will be hosting another

QAL with Thanksgiving theme for your table--begins

October 4--hope to see you there!

Back to It.............................

While I was waiting for next October's clue to be released

for two of my year long knitting projects,

I picked up my Japanese scarf again--

Such an easy knitting pattern

I'm working with my handspun cotton

and it feels so good in my hands--alas, I must

put it down again to catch up on my other knitting

projects........

I dd make a few rows of progress though

Wooly Block Adventure

Lisa Bongean  has her Wooly Block Adventure up

and running-so catch it fast!

Here was the first block--not sure you can still get it free--

but check her blog to find other interesting and exciting

wool works.

Look for the Facebook group too!

Autumn Jubilee Time

From My Carolina Home is hosting An Autumn Jubilee with

Quilt Along, a Sew Along, a Stitch Along, all with free patterns and posts on gardening, cooking, tablescapes, cardmaking and more!! 

first project for Autumn Jubilee begins with a stitch along using wool felt--

She gives an detailed account of how to felt your wool; along

with a pattern to satisfy your wool stitching itch.

large pumpkin designed to be stitched onto a 9-inch square.  Add embellishment to it and add some words in two weeks.  Then we’ll mount it on a 12-inch wool base, and do the final finishing.

This just the first of many projects throughout the Autumn Jubilee!

Mystery?

Another Mystery?  WOW!  How I love mysteries--all kind of

mysteries!  This one is Miranda Jollie Designs .  A fun time to

begin work on a fingerless glove--love my FLGs!

How about a mystery that covers your feet as well

as your hands?  Here is a perfect month long knitting

challenge from Anita Grahn--this one is

Celebrate Life!  I like that title!

You can find both of these mysteries on

Ravelry--the sock mystery is in several languages!

How about a mystery to read?  This is an interesting

story that takes place in Thailand--information about

foods and daily life but a couple of mysteries to

go along.  I so enjoyed this one, I will find the second

one in the series.

How About some Flurries??

Oh My Goodness!  While searching for something else, I

came upon this...

Fort Worth Studio was not only hosting a Halloween mystery

quilt but this is the next one upcoming on their agenda!

The patterns are free--here is their kit for that special

Christmas quilt!

Oh boy, getting out into the world of quilting can get you!

Autumn Is In The Air!!

It's time to open the windows and enjoy that

cool fall air--well, I'm wishing for that cool fall

air to flow through my windows--but, alas,

we live in the South where Fall is a sprinkling of a day

or two.

The calendar reads "Fall"--doesn't matter, we can

keep our fingers crossed for that one day of cooler air

blast!

I've been rummaging through my yarns--amazing what I find

These are a hodge podge of spun yarns--some are

cotton singles, some are silk singles .

It's a good day to take the spinning wheel to the patio and

try to catch that breeze!

Pale color and good match for each other

I'll ply them together to have cotton/silk blend two ply

This one ball was already plied--we'll call her the "mother"

of the these yarns.

I Thought I'd Never Finish!!

For some projects, it seems to me, they just go on and on............

I finally finished! with Toni Lorenz's pattern--granted it begin

June 26 and here it is September, I guess it wasn't all that long

The pattern is Shetland Hap Meets Estonian--it's a lovely lace

pattern--you can find on Ravelry.

I knit with my handspun cotton and went for the smaller size--

so glad I did--if not, I would be knitting forever!!

It came to bind off and loosely was the requirement--

That is where you can get technical--looking at

different bind offs--first, there is Grandma's Favorite bind off

Which is a backward crochet, which I did for a few stitches--

Then tried Stretchy Bind off, which is knit off through back loop--

Both work okay--there are other bind offs but

This project has been bound off and is ready for 

blocking!! 

Coming Along.......................

I began this Riley Blake Designs Quilt "Meet The Makers" of 2018

I love the look of the finished quilt--why begin another project when

you have 20+ waiting to be completed????? That's the question of

the time!

But, It's such a lovely quilt and I have fabric!

Just look at it!  Isn't this the prettiest thing you have ever seen?!

Well, almost!  It is lovely though! and right now I have 16 of the 

blocks done!! That's something to crow about, isn't it?

These are the first 8 blocks--I finally dug into my hand-dyed

fabrics--don't know why I was preserving them--they look

great in this block!

The second set of 8--done, finished--

well, of course, I don't have enough for the third set of 4--

do you hear that??  

Only 4 for the third set--

Along comes fourth block --

Love that video tutorials are given for each block and you

can stop and start where you need.

Halloween Mystery Quilt

The Quilting Company has taken away my sanity!

I love Halloween!  I love Fall!  I love anything with Orange!

But, doing this clue was not my favorite way of spending a day!

Doing Kaleidoscope is not easy; although we began with

these wedges: 

Seemed simple enough--until you put them together--

oh, the website has detailed descriptions, but somehow,

my hands went one way and my brain another!

Now, these turned out okay- I'm thinking for

the top one, I'll add a spider in the middle--that could

cover a multitude of uneven centers!

and the finished quilt,,,,,,,,,