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.  

 

THE PINCH OF TIME!

I had hoped to have this done and up for the front door area but I didn't make it.  I should be able to do it this week, though!  I really wanted a particular panel to quilt but the shipping would make it arrive too late!  I need to plan ahead better!

I did get the DNP on the frame and began quilting it!

I would love to hand this on on Thursday, too.

I also finished the two blocks I needed to hand in to QOV Sew Day on this Thursday.

Bill brought me a bouquet of Ginger flowers--they smell so sweet!  

 

Grey

This blanket is so light and comfy!  It is a DK yarn knit in #9 needles.  The size ended up 38" x 50".

 I think it looks like layers of rock!  

I have started a new knitted blanket in the Lion Brand Mandala Bonus Bundle in the Satyrs colorway! I am enjoying the mitered squares all connected and without any ends to weave in! Lena loves this yarn--she steals the blanket and buries her head in the skein--she likes owning it and I try to be patient! lol

I also enjoyed watching this family of 5 Sandhill Cranes for almost half an hour.  The 'Dad' is standing on guard on the left.  I sure appreciate all of the birds that collect around the bird feeder 

but these are the only ones who are almost tall enough to eat from this one while still standing on the ground! 

(the males are 4-4 1/2 ft tall!)

Which reminded me of this photo I took in 2008--my young cat decided to 'hunt' these Cranes and they responded in kind!  The female is trying to fly away and the male is coming to the rescue!  He didn't actually hit Nyki but she got the message--

and never tried to stalk them again!   

LOOK WHAT I'M MAKING!

All of the labor is done and the fun has begun!   

The pattern is called Point Threading over 12 threads.

On the far right is just Tabby weave or the simple over/under weave for the hem of this dish towel.  No, I don't have a clear idea of what I want  to do with this except a little bit of color changing but for now, I am just happy I am weaving again!

 

A MAJOR FINISH!

The blocks from the Disappearing Nine Patch variation now are a top!  This was a very enjoyable scrappy project 

and I will enjoy making another arranging the colors differently 

next time!  I don't think I can get this completed 

by our QOV sew day next week but I can try!

Meanwhile, I've continued the piecing of the Nove quilt.

And I am designing two blocks to go into a group quilt 

for next weeks' meeting, too!

 

NOVE

It is wonderful to have my amazing sewing machine back in action!  I started another kit from my friend.

The bag contained a pile of strips all pinned into groups

 which are numbered and some large black rectangles.

And here is the goal!  It's fun to stitch it up and just follow along with her plans!

Nove means nine-so the pattern begins to make sense when you know that!

 

BRINGING IT HOME

My sewing machine is back in its proper spot!  I sent this to my local repair guy on May 29th and he identified the problem and ordered the part--that's where he ran into problems;  the part was on back order and it would be a long wait for it!  But paying under $300 to get it fixed was a lot better than $3000 for another machine (this one cost a lot more than that brand new but I bought it used!)  It was ready on Aug 1 but I was in NY!  It was wonderful to pick it up and set it up but by the time Mary and I got through all of our errands I was too tired to do any stitching but I will make up for this morning!

I bought two backings so I can get some quilts loaded on the frame and even bought some outdoor fabric to cover cushions for the front porch benches--more on them when I get it all situated!  Soon I will be able to sit outside again 

without being in risk of heat stroke!

(and I had a spot of cancer removed again from my calf-I am hoping this time they got it all because just a few days ago, the scab just fell off from when I had the procedure done in June!)

 

CORNERED?!

Progress is  happening at the loom 

and I have now passed the halfway mark for the threading.

 even if I am not yet having a lot of joy in the doing!

I did lose at the race with the yarn BUT I did have a back-up plan--I have two more Bonus Bundles of a different colorway but I did notice the dyes for the beiges in this skein was totally doable to finish  my corner!  This skein began with a lighter beige and then changed to this darker one so I wound the middle of the skein into a big ball so I could continue my corner to change to lighter at the very end.  And there will be plenty left to make another blanket even a bit bigger, if I chose!

 Lena loves to curl up on the other end of the blanket so I have to turn my corner back and forth as I knit so we each get our share!  She matches the new blanket perfectly!

I'm off now for my busy day-here's hoping all goes well.