No Wool = No Sails = No Vikings

 Bet, you have never given one thought to how the Vikings sailed from one place to another or the fact that each boat powered by wind needed sails to maneuver!  It is fascinating to me that without sheep which give us wool, boats would have been dead in the water--oh, you could use man power but there is only so much man power rowing in those ancient days that could achieve the mileage you needed!

When I did demos of wool spinning, I emphasized that in order for one spinner to create enough spun yarn for any type of household item, it would take constant spinning day and night--now, what would it take for spinners to create enough wool to weave a sail!! it's un-fathomable in my mind!  

And on top of that thought, the spinning wheel we know today didn't come into being till 1500--check s history on the wheel invention..

spinning/weaving of Viking Sheep--Utsetøya sheep--

another interesting article of this breed of sheep.

and another article that is fascinating!!!

Okay, you're probably wondering why this came up--Recently, I saw an article, from February, 2016 about Vikings, their sheep, and the wool they used to power their  vessels--

I feel today that I am just plain privileged!! I don't need to spin the fiber to weave our sheets, towels, clothing, etc. 

  

Every Day!

 

 I really enjoy throwing the thread around the needle—it’s fun and relaxing.  No worries about the pattern—just follow along with each easy to read row. This lacy pattern is knit along—just four rows a day—weekends for catch up

So far I’m keeping up during the week—weekends are for other adventures!  

Every day is how I live!  Every day we face different challenges, but tackling one challenge at a time lessens the burden just as I knit one row at a time—no need to look ahead!  The present is now and at my fingertips!   So, knit (live) one day at a time!

"Orphans" Find a Home...................

Two or so years ago, a friend was saying she had all these orphan blocks and didn't know

what to do with them--I said I'll take them--

I love playing with orphans and setting them in a top--

fast forward to this year--those orphans were still orphans but at least there

was a semi plan to join them into a

family.

Arrange, rearrange--take down, put up and then put away for awhile longer

as other projects came along.

Here we go!  A family of orphans—think I might add a border to give this top some zip! 

In the waiting area are other orphans—These orphans are looking nice in this family—just add 

A few more small pieces and they can be united as a quilt top

If you have blocks just lingering, why not gather them into a top—so much fun playing! 

 

Down The Rabbit Hole.................................

 If you look to the side margins of this blog you will find the link to the Color Block challenge--I didn't participate in January and February challenges--then all the quilt tops popped up on my feed--wow!  It was time to think about tackling March--this challenge uses stash fabrics and Boy! I have plenty-- I  had a small box of 2.5" squares but these tops take more than I had--what to do?

Pull out the stash bin and begin to sort--and there I go!

down the rabbit hole!  You begin sorting--large pieces, pieces that could be

cut to 2.5" or 2" or 1.5" and then there are the strings.

Piles and piles and time runs together--

These could be cut into other sizes--3", 5" squares and we're off 

Each day I sort and sort--but I must stop to stitch at least one or two

of those blocks for March--I'm going for random scrappy look--

some are doing straight colors for each month--that's too much planning--

not for me.

And those strings?  Yep, easy to sew on scrap paper--these I could

plan by color.  Now, just need to find lots of scrap paper--

After I had spent a week or it seemed like a week sorting my fabric scraps,

I came across this article!  "Sorting, Saving and Using Fabric Scraps"--

really!! why haven't I been doing this for the past zillion years--

I'll tell you why--I'm a lazy quilter--just cut and throw the reminders in the bin!

Not any more! I will sort by size when I cut---

Sure!! I will.................................

Years (?) In The Making

 It has taken me many months of stitching--don't know how many, didn't keep track--

But, FINALLY!  This quilt top is finished!

I really enjoy doing hand embroidery , deciding on which threads to

use, color choices are totally yours when you stitch.

Just keeping track of the location of the blocks is another thing!

I would work on one block off and on--then lay it down

not to be found for awhile.  Then I loose the hoop--I ordered another

set and now place them in plain sight!

it has been a misadventure for sure--

Not a very good photo--soon to decide on quilting pattern and 

backing and we can truly say 'finished'!! 

Let's Knit Along

Knitlet is hosting a 19 week Knit Along--It began last week, 

we're not too far behind.  Each week you receive a small portion of the

pattern--I'm doing several knit alongs--of course, I'm behind in 

two of them--hoping to keep up with this.

in addition to the KAL, each week you'll receive free pattern

sections to branch out on your own designs.

and since it's a newsletter, you can keep up to date on the latest

trends in the knitting world!

Interweave offers this free knit along--

The asymmetrical triangle shawl is worked primarily in rows of garter stripes,

with a few mosaic colorwork motifs.  A great project for newer knitters for intro

intro to colorwork.  A relaxing knit for the more experienced knitters. Sign up

by March 31 for this FREE knit along!

 

WIPs--Works in Progress

Another month has rolled around and time to work up another block--

These are from February though--I'm just slow posting--well, we

did have a period of time with no power, no internet or cable--

that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!

This is from Civil War "Hands All Around"  Love reading the 

history behind these blocks each month

This one had lots of moving parts to assemble--

concentration and lots of half square triangles--

A Quilting Life host a monthly block of the month--

Can we say "wacky" ?  Yes, this is one of the mistake blocks I

constructed from Pat Sloan's HOME Quilt along!  

Where was my mind when I assembled?  Not even interesting!

Now!  This is the way the block should be!  But, 

Don’t look too closely—I see a mistake!