JUST A 'WHAT IF' MOMENT

 I made the hat  on the left in the 'normal' way on the circular knitting machine and the one on the right I knit the inner layer and then took it off the machine, picked up the stitches and made the top side with slipped stitches to make it look a bit more intricate!  This can be done on the machine--that will happen next!  But first, I am all packed up to drive to my daughter's to stay for a week or so!  We will experiment with yarn while I am there!

SOCKS ON SUNDAY

The second pair of Barcelona Memories 2 socks are completed! 

 I didn't have to rip out and reknit any parts of this pair so it is becoming more familiar!  

These are made with KnitPicks Stroll solid navy yarn on size 1 needles; this is a toe-up pattern

 with a very different gusset and heel construction!

I am knitting another pair in very different yarn and slightly larger needles, which is more comfortable to knit with, 

and we will see how that goes!

 

CRACKLED VARIATION

I was gifted this kit to make a table runner and so I jumped right in!  I did take some creative license and made it my own design.

I have it loaded on my frame already and it will get quilted today!  Thanks, Deb!

 

FRIDAY

All the blocks are completed for this variation of Winding Ways and I will be adding two narrow borders after I get these sewn into a top.  I enjoyed this scrappy quilt!

 

Four more hats are added to the pile; several bins of yarn are being used up instead of taking up space!

Hurricane Isaias has pushed a rain system ahead of itself right toward us yielding about 8" of rain so far;

 a much needed rainfall without the damaging winds

that the hurricane itself can inflict!

PIVOT OVERLOAD!

I did manage to applique all of the blocks yesterday--

I use a small (2.0mm) zig zag with invisible thread

 to secure all of the raw edges. 

It takes a  L O N G  time to stitch all of the edges and a lot of pivoting to accomplish this!  I am very grateful for the needle down position setting and the auto-foot to raise feature each time,

 so there isn't a ton of manual lifting of the presser foot

 for every pivot required!!!!

The 'wrought iron gate' and the 'vine' were stitched with a satin stitch.  The large plant on the right is a bonus block and I don't know where it is to be placed so it is on hold!  

Since this is a sew-along, I have completed section 1 and will wait for the next blocks to be released!

 

HAT ENHANCEMENT!!!

I bought a newly released knitting machine that is electric--it cranks on its own and even makes however number of rows I program and stops when that number is reached--incredible!  The machine also is not as fussy about what yarns are used which is nice to reduce the stash of older yarns, too!

In no time, and I do mean minutes, 

I had a double layered adult beanie!

When it is first off the machine, it is a bit wonky looking ....

but a good stretch lengthwise and widthwise lines up those stitches beautifully!

For the next hat, I added some additional rows

 to have a fully reversible had with a fold-up brim.

I like the reversible beanie style for the donation hats I make for the homeless shelters here in Florida because the normal winter only produces chilly not freezing temperatures 

so this style is warm enough.

I like mixing a variegated with a solid yarn for hats.

But solid with stripes on one side is fun, too.

 I need to concentrate on some guy hats since out county has more  homeless men than women in the shelters. 

There is also a need hats for our local boys' home

 so I will start a production line 

to be sure there will be plenty to hand in by Thanksgiving!

 

FLOWERS INSIDE AND OUT

Outside, the buddha plants bring the orange to our Fall yards!

So many little flowers join  together to make a large bloom.

And the ginger are once again in bloom---oh, the smell is delicious!  Bill always brings me a bouquet to enjoy with several senses!

I've started to cut out the pieces to make the first blocks for the Garden Song sew-a-long.

I have these pieces cut out but nothing is fused yet--

I'm hoping to do that today!

 

STRAIGHT ON FROM HERE

Completed quilt, 57" x 68"

I did stitched a few of these blocks together;  the one on the right, I did first and didn't do too great a job!  The middle one improved a bit and the one on the left, I can accept--now to improve with each of the other 9 blocks!

These blocks were much more straight forward and I didn't have to rip out several times to get them to pass muster!

GrandPup is back home with his guys--it's funny how he rides well the whole trip until we get near their street and then he gets so excited he can hardly contain himself!  

 

ON THE NEEDLES

I was putting the latest pair of socks away when I realized that I didn't have a second sock--I made three of these trying out the new pattern but quit with only the one 

when I switched to the orange socks.

 BUT I now will finish the second one,

 since I know what I am doing! lol

I also have a simple raglan t-shirt sweater almost to the point of separating the arms from the body.  (This is more of the DK yarn from ChrisKnits).  It will look good under the cardigan of the same yarn recently made!

I'm also on the last row (8th) of the mitered squares blanket but I am thinking I have enough yarn to make another vertical row to make it wider--why not?!

 

A NEW FALL ADDITION

It's been a while since I have done a paint-by-number

 and I've missed doing it!

This one is doubly enjoyable because it is Fall themed!

A GOOD DAY TO STITCH WITH FRIENDS

I had a great time at QOV (quilts of valor) sew day yesterday; 

 I even came home with some 'homework'!  

This is a pile of 3 1/2" strips with some white yardage included;

I was told, " Just make a quilt!"

I also bought some pieces to make 2 1/2" strips for a project in January.  The white is to have some on hand at home and the black is to make the binding for the last quilt I need to finish for my friend.  The orange is for some paper piecing pumpkins that I needed some more orange to play with.  Our meeting is held in our local quilt store so it is very convenient for finding just the right fabric for any project!

When I got home in the late afternoon,  I was thrilled to receive in the mail, this wonderful red/white 'n blue project from a generous blog friend!  Thank you so much!

I was very tired  from my busy day but not too tired to spend some time with this guy;  

we are enjoying our grandpup for the weekend!

 

THREE NEW QUILT PLANS

I had several piles set aside waiting for me to cut them up with the Accuquilt cutter--I did yesterday!

Another set of leftovers from other quilts;  accomplishing two goals which is to use fabrics in the stash and to be creative!

This is the third pile I have cut up to try out an accuquilt die I have had for a long time but never tried out!  

The fabrics are from a kit I have had for even longer

 but since I've never used it, 

I will put the fabric to use to try something new!  

 

BINDING X 2

This quilt was one of the layer cake designs;  58 x 66".

This one was a kit  that my friend had cut out but asked me to put it finish for her.  48 x 85".

Both of these quilts will be donated.

The third quilt needs black binding and I don't have enough fabric on hand.  I will buy some on Thursday 

and be able to finish it soon!

 

A STITCH IN TIME

The Disappearing 9-Patch QOV is a done deal! 

 I managed to get out of bed finally (MS is a hard taskmaster)

and worked on my pile of quilts that need bindings!  

We have our QOV sew day on Thursday, 

so I am feeling good about getting it done in time to hand in! 

 It was 66" x 80" before washing and after drying, it is 64" x 76". 

 I think I will be doing this pattern again changing the colors to make diagonal rows - one in reds and one in blues!

 

JUST RIGHT!

So after knitting this pair of socks twice, 

I finally have a pair that fits and looks good!

The lace section on the top is knit sideways

 so I had trouble with the Goldie Locks syndrome-too large,

 too small and finally, JUST RIGHT!!!

Barcelona Memories Socks by Zanete Knits with Stroll yarn by KnitPicks

 

TO MARKET, TO MARKET!

I finished the crocheted market bag!  

I am so pleased with the size and feel of this bag!

And a fun element of this bag is that I have made a second bottom section that is only partly sewn so that it can be turned inside out to envelop the bag so that it can be kept neatly in the car under my seat until I need it!

It folds to a cute little  7 1/2' biscuuit!

 

A NEW CROCHET PROJECT

I've started a new crochet project from one of my favorite designers;  a market bag out of I Love this Cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby.  It has a two row repeat for as tall as you want the bag.  I can memorize that little bit!  

 

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

I decided it was time to make the 2026 All FL Shop Hop quilt! 

 I am using one of the patterns in the 2026 magazine for inspiration but changing the center panel with my own choice. 

 The single blocks around in the blank areas will be centers to the other star blocks like the one on the left.  I had several false starts but finally got my math on the mark! 

 It was a very good exercise for my brain!

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

Here is the finished Avocado vase;

  it is 7" tall and about 2 1/2" wide.  

Here is the 'buggy' side which has its own charm. 

 (The vase has resided in a bag after being 'sprayed' for a week, so it is definitely bug-free now!  Since I am gifting it back to my friend, I wanted to be sure!)  

 

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!