Do You Finish What You Begin?

Motivation?!  Who needs motivation to finish what I've begun--Well, I do!  This little nudge will be just the thing to keep me on track.  And it's not necessarily just for sewing projects; but, all those projects that have been lingering in the background.  Several years ago, I vowed to finish at least two projects, before beginning anything new!  Now, let me tell you--that was hard to stick to, but somehow, I finished more than I begun.  Maybe, this year will be the same!
How about you?  Do you need that motivation?

the Finish-A-Long is is a place to find motivation and encouragement to complete unfinished sewing projects. Every quarter, you post a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months. Then, when the three months are over, you post a link from your blog, Flickr or Instagram for each successful finish from your original list. 

The hosts for the year will be:

• Debbie - A Quilter’s Table - USA

• Jess - Elven Garden Quilts - Australia

• Stacey - SLOstudio - Canada (that’s me!)

• Jennie - Clover & Violet - USA

• Helen - Archie the Wonder Dog - UK

• Nicky - Mrs. Sew and Sow -UK

• Rhonda - Rhonda’s Ramblings - USA

• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada

Working on BH's 2015 Mystery..................................

Finally!! I got to my sewing room--I'm wading through moved furniture, stacked boxes, etc.  Flooring will be installed this week so everything has been moved from my weaving room to my sewing room.

But, I'm excited!  that I can actually get two of the clues finished for Bonnie Hunter's 2015-16 mystery~

Here is 120 four patches from golds and neutral fabrics

Another step was 1.5" finished half square triangles from grey and neutral--it was a constant

grey too so that was an easy one to complete--just 296, that's all!

But now, if you see from the photos--now of these have been pressed!

I'm thinking that could be an all day event...........................

We're Cooking!

Yes, it's the first of a new year and what do we do?  We start thinking about our

waist line and eating healthy-------again!

Every year, it's the same!

Recently, I found this recipe in January Southern Living Magazine.

It looked good and easy to prepare,

besides I had the ingredients on hand.

Our son, who thought he was getting a good deal, bought one, got one

on sale--Salmon that is!

Then he found out it was small sections of salmon--

He likes big slabs of fish, not

little sections.

Hence, here comes this recipe

perfect! for this recipe.

Ingredient

4 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon seasoned rice wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

1 pound fresh medium asparagus

8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed

1 small orange, cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 (5- to 6-oz.) fresh salmon fillets

Garnish: toasted sesame seeds

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Keep Calm--And--Crochet

will start on 13 January 2016. The tutorials for each part will be released every two weeks on a Wednesday on  blog where they will remain available forever.

This is a mystery crochet-along for a rectangular mixed motif blanket where either blocks or rows will be introduced every two weeks. Lots of different shapes and stitches will be incorporated so it won’t get boring and there will be plenty of opportunity to play with colour!

As well as posting information on this blog I’ll also be linking the information in my KCACO-UK Community Facebook Group year, is a great source for support and helpful tips from fellow Crochet-Alongers: Facebook page.

So on to the fine details of the CAL…this is a bit of a long post so bear with me!

DETAILS OF THE CAL:

1. There is no charge to join the CAL; anyone can join in as long as they have some yarn and a hook.
2. All featured pattern elements in the CAL will be FREE of charge patterns if released separately from the CAL.
3. For those that like a deadline I will be adding new details about each square every two weeks on a Wednesday at 7 pm-ish (GMT time) – see below for full schedule. For those that want to hook when they have the time then that’s fine too; no pressure to this CAL it’s all about having fun!
4. For this blanket I will be using double knit/8 ply/yarn weight #3 and a 4mm (US size G); though you could use worsted /aran/ yarn weight #4 with a larger hook (US size H) for a larger blanket if you wish to.
5. I will be using both UK and US crochet terminology in the pattern (UK/US) so you can pick your preference. I will also always link a conversion chart and any helpful information about each element including links about special stitches with the release of each new section.

YARN:

I’ve designed this CAL to be a stash-buster to use up bits of yarn you might have lying around (in my case lots) or you can buy new.  I estimate that you will need at least:

• 12 skeins of  Double Knit (1200g / 3600m / 3936 yards)
• 14 skeins of Aran / Worsted (1400g / 2744m / 2996 yards)

Please note that these amounts are approximated – actual finished blankets may vary depending on yarn and hook used and own personal tension when crocheting.  I would always round up a bit as some stitches take more yarn that others.  

As for colours; well this giant bag of multi-toned blues from my stash is going to be the colours I use this time.

New Year--New Beginnings!

Happy New Year to you!

There is a saying that what you do on the first of January

will follow you through to the end of December!

So, I'm going to KNIT today!

Last January 1st we were traveling and it seemed

all we did all year was travel and not much knitting was done.

I'm beginning with 2016 year of lace scarf designed by

Elizabeth Ravenwood on Ravelry, of course!

I did finish 2015 Lace scarf!!!! 

I used handspun wool/silk blend

The scarf has not been blocked yet.

I'm happy with this method of knitting.

Each month you have a section to complete;

easy to do--if you stick to it!!

Oh No Another Mystery KAL!

Sherwood Knits designed by Miriam Pike.

Shawl featuring lace knit from the top down. Pattern recommends Fria laceweight yarn (gradient yarn). 

I have the yarn! And this is a free knit until the pattern is released.

Release Dates
The pattern will be released in 4 increments starting January 1st.
1st pattern clue: January 1st
2nd pattern clue: January 8th
3rd pattern clue: January 15th
4th pattern clue: January 22nd

(Final pattern out sometime in February, once I have enough daylight to photograph the final shawl)

The pattern is a combination of written and charted instructions, but the lace is only charted (with written instructions for the chart, but the lace is not written out).

Want to Learn Something New?

Pattern Writing Series--Wow!  What fun!  An educational blog that will give you pointers on how to design your own quilt pattern!  The series will begin in January 2016.

The series will take you step by step from a quilt design in a sketchbook all the way through to a fully developed quilt pattern.  To make the series less abstract and more practical, I will be demonstrating each step by working through an actual quilt pattern (that will be available as a free pattern at the end of the series).

There is no right way or wrong way to write a quilt pattern, so a number of wonderful pattern designers will be joining me for round table discussions and additional posts to give different perspectives and opinions on the design and writing processes.  With me will be (in alphabetic order) Amy of 13 Spools, Anne of Springleaf Studios, Christa of Christa Quilts, Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts, Soma of Whims and Fancies, and Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl. 

Some topics that will be included are:
Design
Pattern basics
Text
Math
Illustrations
Testing
Finishing