Let’s Read!!

A tome is a large or scholarly book.

So far, in the past few months I've read several good books-- "A Man Called Ove"--soon to be a movie. Ove played by Tom Hanks--glad I read the book first before the movie.

"When the Crickets Cry" by Charles Martin--a tender happy sad book!

"The Joy and Light Bus Company" by Alexander McCall Smith--love his books and a fast read.

"The Extraoradinary Life of Sam Hill" by Robert Dugoni--I'll never again say "What the Sam Hill!" as an exclamation!

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides—areal page turner

“Rock, Paper, Scissors” author Alice Fenney—

It’s time to read, especially during these cold February days and nights.  Here is my list of books that will keep me warm.  

“For All The Light We Cannot See”—so far, this great prose about a time in history we cannot forget. Soon to be a Netflix limited series.

“The Last Thing He Told Me”

Brown headed daughter recommended this book as she handed me this copy and said, “this is a real page turner!” Okay, then I must wait to begin this book when I want to just read—not at bedtime then! 

“Better Off Dead” 

It’s the annual Jack Reacher read!  Must send 2022off with another book from pen of the Child’s Brothers—and yes! There will be a series on Amazon Prime video called Reacher!--

I love my reading time--what are you reading?

Hexagons

Word of the day:  Palingnesis--rebirth, regeneration

Country Lane in Quilts is hosting a hexagon stitch along--what fun!

great handwork while watching TV, or listening to audio

I printed my hexagons  at half inch on card stock paper, cut those little suckers out.  I’ve never ever made hexagons!! A new experience!  It seems so easy—just cut small pieces of fabric, stitch around the very small hexagons and you have one petal of flower—continue....

Ok....that half inch isn’t working for me!  Way too small—

Printing 1” now—let’s see if that works for me!

Then we jumped to 1.5”! 

Actually settled on .75” and this is my first completed “flower”—this interesting handwork—I’m so proud of me for trying this. I’m learning various techniques on how to keep the hexie centered as I sew around. 

And now that one flower has grown to two

I found after much discussion in the group, that these little clips work well to hold the center in place.  There were some who use magnets but I had these clips and off we go to stitch

While straightening up the table in my sewing room, I found two bundles of micro chips that were freebies at Quilt Con year or so ago—just right for my flower petals! 

Now, that I know what I'm doing (sort of) I'm going to jump to 2" hexies--because I would like to make this top below: 

 

Feet And Mouth!

 Out of my big mouth comes these words, “why don’t you wear your wool socks I knitted for you?”  These words were said to my hubby.  It was a very cold day and he was complaining about cold feet.  His answer—“one pair has big holes in the heel and toes, the other pair is dirty”. 

Oh goodness gracious!  I’m not going to darn holes in socks—I’d rather knit a pair!  And that was that!  I’m knitting a pair of wool socks for hubby!!  

Of course, it takes some time to find a “manly” colored wool yarn in the stash—there are lots of blues, reds, etc but I have only one skein of each—could knit one of blue sock and the other with red—hubby isn’t into this sort of thing—heck, he wants everything the same way.  I did find this brown--looks like I tried to use some other time--it's wound around the ball and a mess!  I took some time to untangle--

Next--I find two circular needles--can't cast on!  For some reason, I can not cast on right for knitting two socks as the same time on circular needles--I have a mental block.  I must cast on four double pointed to get started, then I can transfer to circulars.  I love knitting a pair at the same time--they come out the same length!  

And we're off to knitting a pair of socks! Not sure I like this pattern--K 6, P2--but, I'm committed now--will NOT begin again!

Thinking Hearts!

Word of the Day:  This is SWEET!  Easy to knit, not much to sew, heart to knit for your friends, family and sweet"hearts"!

Scrappy Sticky linky mess has instructions--so knit away!

And don't forget about making some small prayer hearts to give.

below is a video

Knit to your HEARTS content with these heart dishcloth patterns!  Some free! 

Sew Me Some Love!

Fort Worth Fabric Studio--Sew This is Love! 

First clue is making x's and o's--

Clue 2--It looks cool!  But, I"m not sewing this YET!

Finish!  Short and sweet! 

 

HeartFelt! And More!!

Word of the day:  inveigle--To entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements.

Fat Quartershop  announces Hearfelt Quilt Along!  It's their ninth charity--benefit Make-a-Wish Central & South Texas.

 We are proud to present the 2022 Heartfelt Quilt Along!  Join us as we go row-by-row in making this heartwarming quilt designed by Corey Yoder, featuring her fabric collection Beautiful Day, designed for Moda Fabrics!

Fabric requirements are released today 

From February to September,  a new pattern will be published on the blog 1st Friday of each month.

Today is a good day!  Another QAL has arrived at this blog post!

Favorites from Aby Quilts!  Favorites is based on one 18" block, four 12" blocks, four 12"x18" blocks (composed of 6" nine patches), eight 8" blocks and four 8"x18" blocks.  The QAL launches February 1 with instructions for 18" center block, Friendship Wreath.  There will be ten installments of 2022 BOM program, which will finish up in November. 

Melva Loves Scraps is hosting her third walk through family history with

this quilt along, beginning February 3 and each month thereafter through December.  Her historical  stories make history come to life through stitching!

 

Start A New Project For a Good Cause

Begin a new project in a new month!  And this is a great quilt for a worthy cause!

One of my favorite people, Alycia Quilts, is once again hosting this mystery quilt-a-long.

This begins February 1 with fabric requirements and on February 16th the first clue will be revealed.

Alycia says this will be a super easy, beginner friendly pattern; finish at 61"x81" with NO half squares!

This size is just perfect as Quilt of Valor .

Gather your red, white and blue fabrics for this one, I'm sure!

Another great project for someone you love!

This is the quilt-- and below is the block pattern

free block from cluck cluck sew