I Need to Set a Date with My Machine

I've been out of school for a couple of weeks but I've been lucky to get lots of grandchildren time so the sewing and weaving have been on the back burner.  It's pretty quiet around here now which means it's a good time to make a dent in my TBQ (to be quilted) pile.  I hung all of the tops in the garage and took pictures, unfortunately not with the best lighting.  I wanted to use Adobe Ideas after Mary, mentioned being able to draw over her quilt photos and try out different quilting designs. 

I also wanted to check on backing/binding, choose threads, and take measurements so I can make sure I have the batting ready.  I thought I had three or four but ended up finding eight!! Yikes.  Here's the first one in line.

Cute as a Bug!! This was a impulse buy because I thought it would go together quickly and I could practice machine quilting on it.  The pieced border took longer than I expected but once I got the hang of it the rest went together like a charm.  It is straight but I'm not so great at adjusting the hanging rod :-)

I've been out of school for a couple of weeks but I've been lucky to get lots of grandchildren time so the sewing and weaving have been on the back burner.

Cousins - Ella and Jacob

 Gates are so much more fun when they're not closed!!

Jackson shows us how it's done!

Summer Fiber Fun!

There's been a bit of knitting.  Veronik Avery's Nordique Swing.  It made my list in 2009 but I never got around to finding the right yarn.  I'm using a Lane Borgosesia sport yarn that was part of a bag sale from WEBS maybe twenty years ago.  Do they even do that anymore?  You would call up a give some general color wishes and you got 5 bags of 10 balls each.  I think it was $50 so your yarn came out to $1 a ball/hank.  I used a ball or two for my Litla Dimun shawl and will have more than enough for this sweater!

Nordique Swing, IK Fall 2009

After more than six months languishing on the front beam of my loom, Ella's huck lace blanket is being threaded. Halfway there, another 350 ends to go.

Ella's Huck Lace Blanket

Lots of tee shirts were embroidered for spring and summer.  A lacrosse player for Jackson.  Jacob seems to be leaning towards golf.  At least he likes swing the club all over the place! 

Jackson's lacrosse shirt

Sewing for little girls is so much fun!!  Here's a little outfit for Ella.  She's already growing out of it so there are a few more on the cutting table. 

Ella's summer outfit

I even brought my Lendrum Saxony back into the living room.  That was relegated to safe storage when the kids moved in with us.  They've been in Long Island since last summer but I just didn't have my spinning mojo back.  Let's hope it's here to stay.

With any luck this is the start of a very productive and very relaxing summer.

Roses in the Winter

I'm finally getting some projects done but the time and the lighting haven't come together for some good photos to show you.  I did get a chance to shoot some still life compositions for You Capture and thought I'd share this one with you.

Jacob will be here tomorrow so I know the camera will be out.  Hopefully there will be some fibery goodness to display soon.

Home Sweet Home

While I am on Facebook and I use Twitter for educational resources and updates I feel most at home here.  I'm sure that most of my readers have gone by the wayside but as many bloggers have mentioned the writing and documenting is the top reason most give for blogging.

This hit home when I was trying to remember how I made a huck lace baby blanket way before I had my own grandchildren.   I spent an hour or two trying to remember where I got the idea and how many threads I'd need, etc.  before I got the brilliant idea to check my blog!  Oops, here was everything I needed.  I love the reference to my mp3 player.  So old school.

This was from July 2004.

 I love the little insets of huck that surround the purple. 

 

The new incarnation will be pink, green, and a very pale yellow.  Why do I need to weave a new baby blanket you ask?  Here's why ....

After a false alarm round-trip to Long Island on Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon I found myself back in the car driving up at 1:00 AM Monday morning knowing that this little sweetheart had arrived.  

Totally worth the drive, I'd say!! And how is Jackson taking to this new addition?

It's exhausting work being a big brother.

But, again, totally worth it!!!!

Tying One On

I feel like I'm coming home! I haven't had towels on my loom for more than a year and I've missed it!  Bright and cheery log cabin towels are the next project.

 

I've woven a lot of towels for presents and I try to keep at least one towel for me.  One of the joys of weaving, or really making any household item, is the pleasure of using something for everyday chores that was made with purpose.  I also think about the recipients as I work.  Later when I pick up this yellow and red towel I will smile and think of my son and his family.

Baby Quilts

In between sessions at the loom finishing up the last two scarves I've been getting some new baby quilts put together.

I was wandering through YouTube this winter when I stumbled across a tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Company for making a tumbler quilt out of 5" charm squares. This is made from Sandy Gervais' Lollipop. I'm going to put a narrow border (1.5") with the marbled blue in the top picture, a wider border with the brown fishies fabric (middle in the bottom photo), and the backing will be the green lollipops in the top photo.

This one is for my new granddaughter, who will be making her appearance in November.  I used AmandaJean's Stacked Coins pattern but added an additional 4" border to make the top 48"x58"  Unlike what you see in this hanging from the I-beam of the basement photo, the colors of these Sugar Pop fabrics are crisp and clean.  The sashing is Moda Snow.

I had a request from Dan for new kitchen towels so some winding was done too.

The plan is for two log cabin towels, two with just yellow weft and two with the red.  We're heading up to Long Island for Labor Day.  That gives me 18 days to get them on the loom, woven, and sewn up.  With school starting on the 29th it could be close. 

We Have Some Weaving Here!

I was having some problems with the end warp threads shredding on this Alpaca/Silk scarf.  Believe it or not it's the first time I've woven anything so narrow and I wasn't sure what was causing the problem.  I'm thinking it might have been the old 10 dent reed with some rust spots on it.  It works for my cotton towels but this is a much softer yarn.

So I cut the first one off and resleyed with a stainless steel 5 dent reed.  It's going much smoother now.  Cutting off the first one gave me a chance to wet finish and check the drape before going on to the next one.  20 epi with a 2/2 twill gives this a great hand!

The second scarf is the same as this.  I'm trying out a 1/3 on the third and final scarf.