Under the Needle

I'm not much at machine quilting fancy stitches, but

I can stitch in the ditch!  

I use spray adhesive for the layers 

and it works well--no need for lots of pins.

I'd finished this fall wall hanging--last fall!

it's a small piece and easy to put under the needle

This is Valentine table runner--of course, it was finished

last fall--I tried to stitch it with my regular foot--you

know what happen--one big mess!

I had a walking foot; just couldn't get the darn thing to 

work until I stopped into Bernina shop and they told me

it wasn't assemble correctly--well, darn!  no wonder!

Now, I'm sailing through these tops that have lingered

too long.

Just in time for Christmas--!!!

All three of these pieces need some hand stitching--but so happy

to have them out of the stash bin and out to see the world!

Helping Hands........................Charity Outlet

Our theme for January spin-in 2020 is "helping hands".  I've been stockpiling my knitted items for the past five months and I have a nice batch of hand knit items to send to a charity.  Since I live in the south there aren't many charities that need woolen items--if you have a charity that wants/needs these items, let me know.

Two pair of woolen socks

scarf

another scarf

Hats galore!

Big hats!

Little hats!

Here Comes Fall!

I know it's coming!  It might not feel like Fall, but it's just

around the corner--I'm gearing up with lots of fall theme

projects plus pulling out my stash--

One of my favorite hangings is one I made years ago--fall leaves--I can feel the gentle cool breeze that makes the leaves weave in the air.  Jenny shares with you her quick way to make leaves!

Check out the blog for this awesome Autumn Stars quilt

Fave Quilts has some pumpkin theme banners, table runners

All People Quilt has the pattern for this lovely quilt.

There is no excuse for leaving fall on the cutting table--

sew, sew, sew!

August Agatha Read

Three Act Tragedy or Murder in Three Acts

"Sir Charles Cartwright should have known better than to allow thirteen guests to sit down for dinner. For at the end of the evening one of them is dead, choked by a cocktail that contained no trace of poison.

Predictable, says Hercule Poirot, the great detective. But entirely unpredictable is that he can find absolutely no motive for murder."

The question that needs to be solved--what to knit with this read???

I certainly like these 'Movie Theater Arm Warmers" designed by

Johanna Di Stefano--

Or

I was intrigued by this tea cozy from

TeaHouseTheater--

Winter is coming on and I do like tea so a

nice cozy would be perfect to knit.

Knitting Facts, If You're Interested!

• 

Here it is August--the real 'dog' days of summer!

Here is aside: The Dog Days of summer are the hot, sultry

days of summer, were historically the period following the

heliacal rising of the stay system Sirius--the Greek

and Roman astrology connected with heat, drought, sudden

thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs and bad luck.

What else do you do in the hot summer--knit, of course!

It's time to knit up those socks, mittens, scarves, hats--:}

You might be interested in some knitting facts--

Knitting is centuries old--usually knitting fabrics dissolve over time it can be hard to actually date knitting.  It seems to have been brought by the Crusaders from the Middle East.  The term "knitting" is mentioned in the 14th century for the first time. 

A Former Type of knitting was done with only one needle.  a cross between knitting and crocheting was being practiced by Ancient Egyptians.

In 16th Century in France, knitting was practiced only by males!

The first knitting machine was invented in 1589 by Williams Lee, under the rule of Queen

Elizabeth I.  

During WWI women had the national duty to knit socks, scarves and caps for

fighting soldiers across the battlefields--some sent to their family members,

while others knitting for every soldier in the land.

Knitting can reduce heart rate, blood pressure and it relaxes the body to fight

illness better!

In the beginning, silk and cotton yarns were used most often

In 1611 Johann Siebmacher published the first documentation of 126 knitting patterns

The first knitting needles of record were made from ivory, tortoise shell or bones

Excuse me-- I'm off to relax my soul......................

Summer Stitchery

During these hot steamy summer days, why not stay inside

and stitch away?  This Scrappy vintage kitchen stitchery

by Elefantz is perfect!

The first two blocks have been posted--you

can download the free patterns till NOvember 15--

plenty of time to gather your supplies and 

stitch away

This is the first block--super cute for the kitchen!

Block #2--always did enjoy her pattern style--

She is using her stash to make a quilt--love it!

Happy stitching!

That's All Folks..................................

It's a Wrap!  Another spinning adventure is in the books!

I enjoyed watching the Tour de France when I had a chance--

I learned several things about this race--

it's all about team work! Endurance! Conquering your fears!

Accepting challenges!  

This is nothing new to us--as spinners--we will take

on any challenge we can; tackle the unknown;

not buckle under pressure--never give up (although, there have

been a few fibers I wanted to throw in the waste bin!)

What fiber did you tackle and overcome?  What challenges

did you undertake?

My wheel and hands did its best to make a fine yarn from

cashmere roving

It spun a beautiful BFL/silk blend

Together, the wheel and I, finished up 4 oz. of cotton/silk

We spent two days spinning silk

The last days of TDF we spun another BFL/tussah silk blend.

The exciting part of the tour is seeing everyone's accomplishments--

we worked like a team! to make this Tour de Fleece a success!