WELCOMING THE SEASON

I loaded, quilted and added the binding so that I could hang up the new Autumn front porch wall hanging.  The other quilt was just too small for the area.  This is 40' x 48" which fits much better.

And it still looks good with the other decorations.

I'm feeling better about the whole scene now!

The hibiscus is blooming happily

 and it blends well with the color theme!

I even had a visit by a little butterfly 

while I was taking the above photo! 

A SOCK FROM SUNDAY

 An orange Barcelona Memories 2 sock is almost ready for the lacy leg section!  This is the same size needle that I used for the Navy sock but this circular is wooden and I knit less tightly with this one.  I wonder if it is because wood is less slick, so I am not trying to keep the stitches on the needle.  I like it a lot better for knitting pleasure so that is a good thing!

FUN DAY AHEAD

A beautiful morning to wake up and get going!  We have a car ride planned- 

And I will be knitting on the mate 

to this first Barcelona Memories Sock 2!  

 I finally feel like I might've learned a new technique

 for a toe-up sock from this designer!

YARD ATTENTION

We had to buy a new fountain for the front yard--the racoons wouldn't leave it alone -Bill repaired it not too long ago and this last time they really knocked it over and caused an unfixable crack.  We will see if they will have manners with this one. 

 I wanted to electrify it during the nighttime

 but Bill asked me for some restraint.  We will see...

Many flowers are enjoying our rainfalls and more moderate temps--only in the low 90's! lol

This is a pot of curcuma (in the ginger family) with some

mini wave petunias around the left.

 

PLEASANT PURSUITS!

Two quilts are off the frame and now need binding.

The next top is  loaded and quilting has begun.

I made quite a few more of the string blocks;  I am finally 3/4 of the way through the number needed!

Lena helped me close out the day yesterday as I worked on the second rendition of the Barcelona Memory Sock.  It worked much better in just one color and I am liking the pointier needles.  I am close to the finish of this cuff-it is knit vertically while joining as you go.  Thoroughly enjoyable and nice to 'get it' finally!  Lots of new techniques with this pattern!
 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

A few months ago, a friend gave me a 6' piece of her avocado tree that had died in our freeze last winter.  I cut off a 12" piece to turn her a memento vase.  The wood is full of holes from tree larva which give it the character I enjoy in a piece of wood!  And might I mention, not all of the 'worms' were dead!  Well, they are now! I just need to cut it off the lathe, sand and sign it but my work was interrupted by a phone call from said friend

 inviting me to go on an adventure! 

An older mutual friend is selling her house and needed to clean out her sewing room!  We bought a lot of fabric at prices that we couldn't resist and at the same time, we helped her out! 

I managed to find quite a lot of coordinating fabrics which I will sure enjoy working with in the future months!  

A LITTLE DIVERSION

I bought a mug press to go with my Cricut a month ago 

and finally got around to figuring it out yesterday! 

 I made these mugs for my youngest son and daughter-in-law.  Yes, that is a fish biting the toe of the karate kick! 

I asked my son if he wanted me to have a fishing or karate theme and he jokingly told me he wanted a karate kick at a fish!  Well the jokes on him because that is what I did! lol  These mugs are set with infused ink so they are dishwasher and microwave safe--not vinyl applied to the outside like the early projects for mugs.  It just opens a whole new rabbit hole of creative ideas!

 

JUST IDEAS

I bought this tree so that I could hang different cardstock decorations throughout the year--I finally made some leaves!

After cutting them on the Cricut machine, I threaded them with a little loop so they could hang on each of the little 'branches'.  

I'm pleased with the results!

I've started row 6 on the mitered squares blanket. 

It's still a very pleasing knit.

And I cast on another sock in a solid color, 

to see if I like it better!  

 

A SOCK ON SUNDAY

Well other than a dislike for the color choices, I made the new techniques for me sock!  

 

FRONT PORCH SPIFFING UP

Slowly but surely, I am getting some decorations

 for Fall out on the front porch.

Yesterday, I had fun stuffing the bench cushions

 into their new coverings!

But it was worth it in the end!

Both benches are finished and I even had enough for some pillows!  I have to make the second one for the first bench 

but I ran out of steam!

Here is something that has done a lot of growing in the last month--a golden orb spinner!  His legs cover about 2+" --he has a beautiful web.  She does NOT reside on the front porch but is outside my bedroom window so I have a good view of her!

 I couldn't get the angle and the light right to see her web

 but I will try again soon!

 

SLOWLY IT GROWS

 A few distractions have occurred;  I broke the needle and just as I overcame that irritation, I woke up with another blinding migraine.  The navy colored yarn was not friendly to my lack of vision in a  darkened room, either.  Sometimes, you just have to give in and admit it's best to give in!  I'm hoping to be perky today!

Yes, we all remember where we were 25 years ago today.

I also remember where I was 2 years ago--

in the ICU fighting for my life with Septic Shock from a misdiagnosed appendicitis attack!  

In light of that event, a miserable migraine pales in comparison!

A LITTLE SETBACK

 Circular needles are my favorite way to knit for socks but the problem is having the wooden tips which when sat upon do break!  It's a good thing I had a set of double points in the same size because all of my other circs were different !  I'm almost ready to begin the fun cuff but another blinding migraine has put a wrench in the works again!  Sigh.

BIRTHING A SOCK!

So, I did it!  I know, I've made 100's of pairs of socks but this is a new construction and it really used a lot of brain cells but I am so happy to say it worked!

The gusset does not run up the sides but rather runs up the sole of the foot from the arch to the heel.

The heel is turned and then the heel flap is knit decreasing all of the extra stitches!

One more fun step left

 and I hope to accomplish that beginning tonight!

SOCK RETAKE II

I usually have a pair of socks going but this new pattern called for 1mm needles and I got this far and admitted that I just didn't enjoy knitting it on this needle!  I am a tight knitter, so it was a fight to get every stitch to advance for me. 

 It has languished unloved for almost a week.

I decided to pull out my usual needles which are 2.5mm needles and knit the same amount of stitches; there was a minimum  difference, so I am going for it!

You wouldn't think it would matter that much to increase the needle size in such a small amount but it did!

 I need my knitting to be comfortable and enjoyable!  

I knit to relax and create;  so the favorite needle it is.  

Now, if I can only figure out this new way to make this toe-up sock,  I'll be all set!  To be continued!

 

GRATEFUL FOR YARN

The second little baby sweater set for a future great grandchild is now added to the box.  The little bit that was left over of the sweater yarn was just enough to make a pom-pom on top of the hat! Thank you to whoever suggested it to me in the comments!

I am making progress with the mitered squares blanket--the colors are coming out oddly but I am enjoying this and I will just keep knitting for at least another two rows. 

 No, I am not bored with all the garter knitting! 

My plans for finishing the quilt on the frame didn't happen. 

 A migraine put me down for the count.  A dark room, quiet and laying flat on my back took up most of the day 

but I did do some knitting later in the day as its grip let up.

 

TO TOP IT OFF!

I added some leaves and acorns to the panel 

and will soon get it to the quilting frame!

These pieces were cut on the Accuquilt cutter 

and some scrap fabrics. 

This kit from a friend is completed and also added to the queue at the frame.  I felt a lot better so went to finish the QOV that is on the frame and the laser needed charging so I couldn't work after I was all ready to put some uninterrupted time into it!  Oh, well.  It will be first on the list today so I can pound it out and get the four other tops quilted!  

I hope Blogger has its 'bug' worked out so we can comment on each other's blogs today!  I did read all of my blog list 

but could only comment on a few--a bother is all.

WORLD TRAVELED CARDIGAN

A beautiful finish on this cardigan!  I began it in February after a mountain of yarn was gifted to me by ChrisKnits (who lives in Indiana) at a quick meeting in Daytona Beach for the AQS quilt show.  I began the cardigan on the Caribbean Cruise with my daughter, took it with me to NY to continue knitting on it, and now it is done and it fits perfectly!  I am thrilled!  

The pattern is Flower Child by Wool & Pine ; the yarn is Filatura Crosa 501, a superwash wool.  I used size 7 needles .  The textured yoke was very fun to work but it was challenging, too.

Even the back is so pretty!  I will probably wear it first when we take a trip to Georgia because it won't cool off enough to wear it here until Dec/Jan!  

Thanks for the yarn, Chris-it was a dream to work with this yarn AND I have enough yarn left to make a t-shirt sweater which I have already begun!

 

READY FOR FALL

Just because I hate to be beaten by something, I finished the wall hanging again! lol  I quilted it better by quilting it and then trimming and doing a binding.  Now it lays flat!  And the different oranges are lined up the way I planned!  So there!

I also put together a second metal bench on my front porch.  Next, I will be working on the cushions for this one and the first bench I already have.  

And my friend, Mary, brought me a Fall panel which now measures 36" x 40". I added a beautiful red/gold leaf print for the borders and I will quilt this on the frame when I finish the QOV quilt-which I did NOT finish in time for the Sew Day tomorrow.  It happens!  But I am packed and will attempt to go.  I have found that if I don't eat 'real' food, my stomach stays calm.  Toast and bananas get boring by day four....

 

RESET!

I took it all apart and today, 

 I will pretend that I am just beginning it!  No, I couldn't throw it into the trash can but I also couldn't tolerate it the way it was, either!

The rows are growing but it is harder to do because I am picking it up in the other direction therefore, the miters are going in the other direction, too.  I am liking the knitting anyway! 

 I hope to make some progress today on both fronts!

 

APRIL FOOL'S DAY?!

I am adding a square that should begin on top of this block and not to the right of it--on top, to begin a third row 

but I have picked up stitches and knit this wrong --- twice!

I laid it out (and Lena promptly laid down on the blanket bc she loves this yarn) and couldn't believe I was making the block

in the wrong place again! 

I've got it right this time!

And I tried to rush this little quilt (26" x 34") and I messed up the repeat of the orange blocks , I quilted it on my domestic machine and it is horrible.  The old adage of 'haste makes waste' surely applies.  I have been down with the stomach bug and I obviously should've stayed in bed with my eyes closed!  Sigh. 

 I am going to wad it up and throw it away. 

 Really.