From These Hands..................

The theme for our 2020 January Spin-in is "Helping Hands"!

I think this is the best theme we could have for any year...

but 2020 will see many hands creating beautiful, useful things

for those in need.

I'm looking at this quilt!  Oh boy, what a great look this is!

Of course, it's all half square triangles--what else!

I'm on a roll using those half squares--there is

a fabric line coming out for this but think any combination

of red, whites, beiges and blues will work.  So, I'm

digging through my stash to build on this top.

If you are interested in the book and fabrics,

you can find them here

My latest spinning adventure is off the wheel

Oh, yeah!  finished spinning this lovely yarn  from Dicentra Designs

The lamp doesn't do justice to the color--it's ready to be plied

and SET!  

A new baby boy is arriving soon--so here is a

gift from my hands to this baby.

I love making these blankets--it's simple and quick

and I love the handwork around the edges and

since it's a boy--I include this book--Love You Forever!

it makes me cry every time I read it.

Ahhhh Spring!

We Made It!  March first!  What a winter some of us had!  Now, it is the time for spring flowers
popping up everywhere, trees budding out, birds building their nests--a feeling of newness!!
What's on your agenda for Spring?

So, you know how to pick up two needles and yarn--

and KNIT.  Would you like to learn how to knit in the

round?  Here is your chance--a five (5) day challenge

to learn how to knit in the round--with videos each

day with helpful hints and techniques.

Sign up at Simplynotable to receive the Facebook live

videos each of the five days.

And

if you prefer to sew your way into Spring--

Alycia Quilts has a free Quilt of Valor mystery

offering--it began February 27, but that's only a few days

passed--easy to begin.  

Socks, Socks, Socks

Hear ye, Hear ye, Hear ye--let it be known--that I'm on a roll with socks!  Knitting socks is my obsession now!  I know--yes, I get on this kick every once in awhile--

I've almost finished this pair--my favorite way to knit socks--

two at a time!  yes, they come out just perfect--each is the

same length--

I found two other sock knit alongs that are upcoming,

so I threw in my hat to do one or both...

Octopus's Garden

by Claire Ellen (aka Wimpwoman on Ravelry)

This is March 2019 mystery sock for Sock Knitters Anonymous

on Ravelry.  You do not need to be a member of the group--but

sometimes, it's a bonus to be a member--you get all sorts of hints

and encouragement.

There are four clues, released on March 1, 8, 15 and 22.

The theme is music and art and the designer was inspired by

The Beatles song of the same name on Abbey Road Album.

The designer describes these socks as novelty, perhaps

ridiculous definitely not elegant nor beautiful!

If interested, check out the other information on yarn,

needles, other pertinent size and knitting ability. 

Precious Metals Knit along (KAL) designed by

Louise Tilbrook Designs is free to those who sign up for

her newsletter..  These will be cuff down (my favorite way

to begin a sock)

Manx Quilting

No matter how long I've been quilting--or sewing squares together, there is always room to learn about other cultures/countries quilting techniques.  Manx Quilting from the Isle of Mann caught my eye

What makes these simple log cabin squares different?

The construction is made on a background square/foundation

fabric, and stitched all around by hand using one long

thread; then the folding technique creates a layer of warmth-

hence, no batting is needed.  

Read about this interesting way of making a quilt--and you

might want to give it a try.

check out Diary of a Quilter how to as she makes a small quilt using this technique.

Years ago, I learned from a super great quilter, Anita Murphy how to make a reversible quilt -
her techniques allowed you build on one square at a time as you assembled your blocks--no need to head to the quilters table.  Anita wrote several books on this topic--I loved Anita's way of quilting and made at least two quilts using the Revisible method.

A Little Sewing--A Little Catching UP

Well, it's about time!  I've been neglecting my quilt blocks--

too many other things to do that are fun as well....

This is block one of three for January (yes! January!)

A Quilting LIfe always has interesting BOM (blocks of the month)

sew alongs.  This year's blocks are made with half square triangles-

once you decide on the size of your block--just make a 'ton' of

half square triangles--it takes 12 for the block size I've decided on.

Second block of January's three--I'm still sewing half-square

triangles for block 3--it takes time to cut the blocks, mark

the sewing lines, sew, cut, square up.

this block is for Pat Sloan's' Flower Bouquet BOW--

Block of the Week!  Each Wednesday she has a different

block for your sewing pleasure--she is one busy

designer!

One Wednesday's instructions gave us the

setting blocks--need 11 of one and 13 of the 

others--those are all done!  Nine patch went together

nicely, as I had many 2" squares already cut in

my scrap bin--of course, the other blocks needed--

you guesses it--half square triangles--but, this size was

just perfect for my paper sets from Quilting and Whatnot

Another Wednesday block--oops!  Something

is wrong with this one--

This is the correct setting for this block!-

some ripping..............

January and February blocks from Sentimental Quilter

She's Kathleen Tracy's Small Quilt Lovers on Facebook.

Blocks are 4" finished--great fun to make, if you can

do small! 

Yarn Twist Problem................

I finally decided to begin on this knit along--love Toni Lorenz's patterns--

you can find her in "Knitting in the Loft" group on Ravelry.

I have been looking forward to this sampler--

I settled on my handspun "Phoebe" blend from Sky loom Weavers

It spun up beautifully!  knits up nice and soft--

One Problem!

I began the ruffle and look what's happening!  It's leaning to the right--

well, that's my fault!  I didn't set the twist in the yarn after I

spun  and plied it.  I just got excited to begin--wound it off

to ball and took it to needles--  when I saw this happening, I

immediately cut the yarn and skeined it off

After it's skeined, you can see how the twist

is uneven--mistakes can always be made when you

are spinning--and I've been spinning for 30+ years!

The object is to take the yarn off your bobbin, skein it

and have a perfectly balanced yarn--

Here's how I set the twist--I soak the yarn skeins in

warm water, wring them out and use two hangers to 

put weight on the skeins to set the twist--when

they dry--I'll be back in business!  to knit with

perfectly set yarn!

I settled on my handspun "Phoebe" blend from Sky loom Weavers

Victorian Knitalong

Well, I have two weeks under my knitting needles on this

interesting look at 19th century knitting.  Franklin Habit with

Markers Mercantile has given us a unique knitting experience.

the first clue--ugh!!  I ripped about 5 times before I finally

got what I was missing.  There are several videos on the

ravelry group's page--but, let me tell you--it wasn't 

easy to get those steps into my brain!

I even changed yarn three times--

Finally!!  I got it!  after the fifth time!

This is going to be really neat--waiting on the

next clue.