Kigwit's Thoughtful Spot

I started these socks last summer using the Yarn Harlot's Earl Grey pattern. You couldn't really see the pattern so I ripped it out, and ripped it out again, and ripped it out again. DH suggested this pattern so that's what I went with.

I swear these socks did not want to be knit. I had to redo the heel on the first sock three times. When I got to the heel on my second sock I held it up to my sister and announced that I was starting the heel flap. Then I announced I was turning the heel. Then I announced I was picking up the gussets. I figured that was the only way to keep it in proper order.

I finished these socks the day we drove down to Germany and had lunch by the Mosel River. I finished them right as we got there and was a little panicked because I hadn't brought a backup project-I didn't want to be tempted you see. Fortunately we found a souvenir shop that sold yarn! I bought two balls of Regia and finished the first sock in just a few days. Let's hear it for NBK!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

My first machine quilting

Well, DH got me a darning foot for my birthday and I have been quilting Thing One for him. Here's a sample. It took a LONG while to do but I am proud that I finished it yesterday. I thought I had already made the binding but I hadn't so now I need to carve out some time to do it so I can finish!

Monday, June 22, 2009

A little sewing

I took my first quilt class in May and I just finished my block last Friday. It's a Jacob's ladder block. The points aren't perfect but as I am still learning I can live with it.

I also made this dress for my Gma. It's not really a dress-it's a clothespin bag! But I made it for her to put her shopping bags in. I hope she likes it! The colored fabric are from some fat quarters I bought-Posh. And the cream damask is some leftover scraps from my mom.

Friday, May 01, 2009

sniff, sniff

Well, Red is turning four on Monday. FOUR. I don't know how that could possibly be right but it is. DH and I just loaded up all of our infant things (bumbo seat, baby clothes, toys) to give to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. I couldn't bear to go with him-I've had at least four crying jags already-but I hope these things will bless someone else as they blessed us.

We've been blessed with two beautiful boyos and DH said that he could not imagine life more full or more empty than what we have now. I know he's right but it's hard not to want just one more little one.

Monday, April 20, 2009

And then I got my serger out. . .

Red's birthday is coming up and he is seriously into firetrucks right now so I wanted to make him a pillowcase. I decided to use my serger, just to try it out, on a pillowcase.

So I made three. ;-)

The alphabet one and number one will be for when we get the loft beds for the boyos. I will give Red the firetruck one on his birthday. I should have cut the fabric so that the trucks ran across the pillowcase but I was trying to do this quickly. I edged this one in some read minkee I bought at JoAnns. It's not the softest minkee but it will do.

The serger made it a very quick construction. I used Mary Quilts' pillowcase instructions again from http://maryquilts.com/pillowcase . Love that pattern!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Have you seen this?

I was reading The Farm Chicks Blog (clicked over from PamKittyMorning) and then saw this give away from Pixie Dust. I had never seen this fabric line before but it sure is nice. Here's the link: http://www.pixiedustdecor.com/fabric.shtml I love the Chateau Charlotte and the Aqua pagoda. Actually I like it all! You can enter the give-away on The Farm Chicks blog.

You *must* go look at the poufs and tuffets. Too Cute.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Table Runner for Gma

I quilted the table runner for Gma on Sunday. I had brought all my supplies over to my mother's as my brother was there with his kids and I wanted to see them and let my boyos play with them. It didn't go well. My mom's sewing set up is different than mine and I didnt use enough basting spray so after I quilted two lines I had to rip it out. *sigh*

We made two trips to JoAnns. The first to get some more serger thread-guess who is going to hem her summer dresses? And then DH and my kayak-obsessed brother wanted us to meet them there so they could pick out some nylon. They want me to make a splash skirt, a tonneau cover and an ill-advised sail for the kayak. Does the Coast Guard answer 911? I need to find out before they try out the sail.

After the boyos and I got home I pulled out my machine and quilted the table runner. The boyos are obsessed with the machine so I kept bribing them with cookies to let me finish. I was able to get it quilted and the binding sewn on. Then DH and brother came home and started working on building what they called a flower box and I called a pram. So I was able to finish hand-sewing the binding.

The table runner looked a little bare so I made two yo-yos and sewed them on with buttons. The shape of it makes me think it looks like a baby quilt! The measurements are 22 by 30.5 inches .But it will look nice on Gma's kitchen island. I used polyester batting on this quilt and I will never use it again. It is tooooooo lofty. I'll stick to warm n' natural from here on out. It isn't that expensive, especially with the generous coupons from JoAnns.

I put the runner in the mail Tuesday. I hope Gma gets it before Easter. She's out of the hospital now and I know she's upset that she won't be able to come to visit. I'm hoping she can come this summer. We're kind of in a catch-22: it's getting harder for her to travel and it's harder for me and the boyos to visit her house. Her home is lovely but full of breakable things that fascinate the boyos.