Diary of a Mad Fabri-Holic

A Perfect 10

Slowly, slowly, slowly, my mojo is coming back...

I got 8 more blocks done!  I know, big whoop, except, for me lately,this is a HUGE whoop.  It feels so good to be making progress on something- even when it feels bad (in my neck.)  Because of the lingering nack issues, I'm trying to pace myself.  5 blocks in one sitting (the length of the movie I finally watched) were too many.  3 seems to maybe be the magic number...

I'm having so much fun with the fabrics.  I already worked in my hedgehogs, and some mushrooms too.  It's kind of like working on the doggy quilt again, in terms of pulling things I love out of my stash.  It's nice to be enjoy the stash again...

Now, to watch the True Blood season premiere.  Yummy.

Begin the Beguine

This post may come as a shock to you.  Sit down. Take a deep breath.

Ready?

Today, I started a quilt.

 

For months I've been inspired by this book- and the fabulous versions of the cover quilt that I've seen around the blog-o-sphere.  But since that silly car accident back in March, cutting fabric and sewing have created the worst aches in my neck.  Whiplash, the gift that keeps on giving.  After I made the applique Ts for the kids, the pain wasn't quite as bad.  And I miss sewing in an almost physical way.  So today I decided to give it another try.

Pulling fabrics is always the most fun part of starting a new project- and it doesn't hurt my neck!  So I had loads of fun playing this morning.

There are some new pieces in there- have you seen the fabulous 1,001 Peeps by Lizzy House?  Yum.  I got a few pieces of that, and then there's also some Parisville by Tula Pink- that scalloped pattern ii the back row is one of my all time faves.  And there there's random assorted goodness from all over the map.  Amy Butler, Kaffe, Brandon Mably, Alexander Henry, Anna Maria Horner, Heather Ross, and so much more.  I even snuck in my favorite xxx rated fabric, the one I bought at the Denver Quilt Show years ago.  Can you spot that one?  ;-)

This modern cross quilt is going to be for my bed, and I'm hoping to repaint our bedroom this summer to lighten the entire place up.  In keeping with this new, lighter me, I'm doing something I've never done before.  Using a white solid for the background of the blocks!  I've put things on black more times than I can count, but never ever plain white.

My neck made it through a lot of cutting- many many 2 1/4" white squares and 2" white strips.  And then I managed to sew 2 whole blocks before the pain let me know it was time to take a break.  But 2 blocks is still 200% more than I have done in months, so, I'll take it.  Now I have more than 60 to go- still need to do the math on upsizing from largish full size- in the book- to largish queen sized- my desired finished product. 

I'll leave you with the blocks while I go ice my neck, yet again.

 

Wordless Wednesday: One Repeat

Wordless Wednesday: Truth in Art

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, No-- It's a Flying Sock!

I think I mentioned something in the last few posts about a trip to Pittsburgh.  I tried to make those applique Ts, and take some cool photos.  I also, of course, packed some knitting.

(Did I mention I've become totally obsessed with the Retro Camera app on my phone?)

I have no idea what is taking me so long with these socks.  The pattern is probably the simplest Cookie A I have ever made- Boysenberry YO from the April 2011 sock club shipment.  It's a 4 row repeat, where 3 of the rows are the same...  And yet, here I am, about 3 weeks later, not done!  Well, ONE sock is done.

The other is just past the heel turn and gusset.  I need a long meeting, or something, where I can just plow through- that's how I finished the first one.

Meanwhile, this yarn is loads of fun- it's the shiny new, not yet available Solemate by Lorna's Laces.  The color is stunning, and it's knitting up well.  The drape is more like a cotton than I expected, but with more forgiveness...  If I could just get around to finishing the 2nd sock, I could wear them and test out the temperature regulation claims.

And I really need to get my butt in gear to finish, because look what arrived in today's mail:

The June Cookie A shipment! Patterns due to be emailed out on the 8th...can't wait to see what's up next!  I've never tried this particluar yarn before, but even still in skein form it feels like it will have a wonderful drape.  Yum.

T Time

For this post, you're going to have to use your imagination... ready?

(Imagine 4 charming children- cousins, in fact- ranging in age from nearly 4 months to just past 10 years, all in a row, smiling and sporting coordinated Ts, each one appliqued with the initial of their first name.)

Did you see it?  Because the only way you will get to is in your imagination...

Over Memorial Day weekend, we went to Pittsburgh for a mini family reunion.  My 96 year old grandma lives there, along with my mom's sister and brother-in-law.  My cousin (their daughter) was going to be in from sunny CA with both of her little ones, and so we seized the opportunity, along with my mom, to see everyone at once.  Another cousin flew in as well- we ended up down just one as my only other cousin was too sick to make it :-(  We ended up with my grandma, 2 of her 4 kids, 3 of her 4 grandkids, and all 4 of her great grandkids together over the weekend (plus several inlaws)! VERY cool indeed.

Being me, I decided the great grandkids simply HAD to have special matching shirts for the occasion of their first meeting.  I got 3 Ts and a onesie, all in different colors, and picked just the right fabric to use to make the initial of each kid's first name on their shirt.  Doggie pawprints on turquoise for Annie, camo on green for Henry, guitars on navy for Noah, and sweet heather ross matrioshkas on purple for Celia.  I got all 4 letters done with 48 hours to spare.  They weren't as perfect as they were in my head- are they ever?- but they were done, dammit.

And there ended my plan of adorable ensemble photos.  I had forgotten how tricky the under 3 set can be- especially when out of their time zone by 3 hours and missing their dads...  Everyone did indeed wear their Ts, but we never managed to get everyone awake and/or cheerful at the same time.  Ah, well.  It's the thought that counts- and the fun the kids had all together.  And the Ts came out well enough, don't you think?

A for Annie

H for Henry

N for Noah

And now you'll have to use your imagination one more time, to picture the adorable Miss C in her purple onesie- I managed not to get a single photo where you can see the applique! 

Working on these didn't make my whiplash flare up too much, so perhaps I'm mended enough to get back to sewing for real.  Stay tuned!

 

Wordless Wednesday: Right Place, Right Time

Wordless Wednesday: My Brave Girl

Granny, Squared

If you're reading this, I guess you didn't get raptured on Saturday last.  Ah, well, we're in good company. 

Saturday was more then just NOT the rapture, it was also month #5 of my year-long crochet class at Fancy Tiger.

And month #5 was totally my favorite so far...

The Granny Square!

Not only have I been dying to learn how to make this block for years, I also learned that it is easy to do.  The progression of the square is super logical, and the color possibilities are basically endless. 

I am finally starting to get my groove on with this crochet stuff.  I can sort of read stitches and see my mistakes- I remember how amazing it felt when I got to this point with knitting.  I'm still totally struggling with charts and pattern reading, but, all in good time, right?  I've got 7 months to go...

Wordless Wednesday: We All Like the Doggy Quilt!