January 23, 2020

Crochet Bobbles

I’m finishes with block 2 of the 50 stitches CAL – the Bobble/Puff Stitch.

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Bobble/Puff Stitch – 2nd block for the 50 stitches CAL.

Observations of this stitch:

*I found making the bobbles in crochet to be much easier than in knit as I didn’t have to keep turning the piece front to back and visa versa.

*I did not care for carrying the yarn from bobble to bobble as I could see the carried thread through the other stitches.

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Carrying thread visible

*One of the other member of the 50 stitches FB group recommended cutting the yarn for every bobble.  This appealed to me as there were no visible threads and I thought it looked much better from the front.

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Ends galore!

*However … that left a boat load of ends to weave in.  Definitely NOT fun.

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Stack of yarn ends.

I know this doesn’t look like very much, but it took about 2 hours to weave in all the ends.

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Back after ends woven in.

Ahhh … much better.  All in all this was a fun experiment and I love learning new to me stitches especially in crochet where I am not as fluent as in knitting.  I LOVE the look of the different color bobbles against the solid background.  I’m not sure I’ll do this again.  Maybe if I had committed to weaving the ends in as I went, it would have been better!

January 21, 2020

50 Stitches CAL

I also found out about the 50 stitches CAL from The Cool Crochet Society FB page.  What a group of talented crocheters!  Kelly is hosting this CAL so that we (the participants) have the opportunity to learn new crochet stitches (or combination of stitches).  For this square, we learned the Seed/lemon Peel Stitch.  This stitch is a combination of single crochet and double crochet and has a really nice look.

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50 stitches CAL – #1

My block is a completely different size than it should be.  I chose to use Sugar’n Cream Cotton with a size G hook.  I actually really like it quite a bit, but have not decided what I will do with it.  The next block we learn bobble stitches.  I have never done these in crochet so am excited to learn.

January 18, 2020

Moogly Square #1 and Slow Stitch Sunday

Every year Moogly hosts a CAL.  This year is no different!  I LOVE the first square from Pinkmambo called Flower Power Square.  The original pattern calls for several colors, but I decided two was enough for mine.

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Moogly CAL 2020 – Block #1

This worked up VERY quickly – just a couple of hours which also included picking my colors.  Lots of bpsc which I love.  I don’t know if I will keep up with the CAL – It will depend upon the patterns and how much time I have, but I really liked this one.

Sharing also with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

January 12, 2020

HQAL and Slow Stitch Sunday

I have been enjoying the slow rhythm of working on Grandmother’s Flower Garden in the evenings most nights after dinner.  There is something so relaxing about sitting and stitching after the dinner dishes are cleaned up.  My progress has been steady and slow as such things are in my home right now.img_8483

The white border around these two flowers was completed.  img_8484

Not much was done on this flower – the three pink hexis were actually sewn to the yellow instead of just sitting there.img_8486

I thought I’d show you my new hexi work box (instead of the gallon size zip lock I was using!).  One of my students gave me these delicious cookies at the end of our classes in December.  We ate the cookies and this tin has been sitting on my counter.  It is so pretty and such a good size I couldn’t get rid of it.img_8485

Finally, I found a way to use it.  The box hold my cut and prepared hexis while waiting to be sewn.  It really is the perfect size, looks pretty, and it is very convenient to have everything contained in one place while stitching in the evenings.

Please take a look at the others who are taking part of this HQAL (Hand Quilt-A-Long) and if you’d like to join us with your project, please contact Kathy at the link below:

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon,
Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy

I am also linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday.

January 6, 2020

One Monthly Goal

I’m squeaking in right under the wire with my goal for the month.  I just had some trouble deciding what I wanted to commit to.  Finally the decision was made – the goal for the month is to finish with the tail portion of the mermaid blanket that I am making for my daughter.  The final fin will be next and hopefully this will be done so it can be gifted for her birthday mid-February.

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January One Month Goal-Mermaid Blanket – 55 rows complete

This is where I’m at right now – 55 rows completed out of 66 for the top portion.  After that there are 10 more rows for the tail portion.  I am hoping that I can complete all that by the end of January.

This Mermaid Blanket pattern by Nadia Fuad of YARNtopia can be found here.

I thought it would be fun to share my “notes” page in my projects book

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Mermaid Blanket notes page

When I’m done, I’ll enter all this information into Ravelry.  Wish me luck!!

January 5, 2020

January SAL and Slow Stitch Sunday

It’s a new year and there are so many things I’m looking forward to!  I’m so grateful for my family, my friends and just my life in general.  I’m grateful for this SAL and the friends I’ve made here.  There is so much support and care from each of you and I truly feel blessed to be a part of it.

Three weeks have gone by already since the last update!!  I simply cannot believe that another year is starting – Happy 2020 to everyone!

At the last update, this is where I was:

12/15/19 SAL Update on Ty’s Christmas Stocking.
12/15/19 SAL Update

This is where I am now.

We were on vacation and I had lots of morning and late afternoon time to work on this.  It was just so very relaxing to sit either on our balcony or on the beach, watch the ocean and stitch away!

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1/5/20 Update: Before the backstitching

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1/5/20 Update: After the backstitching

I even managed to stitch on the airplane!!  That was a first for me.  I hope the start of the new year brings much happiness to you!

Please take a look at the other wonderful stitchers participating in this SAL by clicking on the links below!  And welcome to AJ who is joining us!  This SAL is different than other SALS in that you get to choose the project that you work on.  Every three weeks you post your progress.  It’s a great group of stitchers and if you’d like to join us, please contact Avis (hers is the first link)

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ

I’m also linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitch Sunday.

December 22, 2019

December QAL and Slow Stitch Sunday!

Today is the day to update on progress for the Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt.  This is worked on at night while watching a favorite show or two with the hubby.  We enjoy a little down time together at the end of the day and this stitching both relaxes me and keeps me awake!img_8355

This flower was put together and most of the white border added.

And the pieces for this one were cut and started.  I have a plan for the next pieced hexi and will try to work on that for the next update.  Please take a look at all the others who are participating in this HQAL – this is such a group of talented and creative stitchers!

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link above. 

Also linking up with Kathy’s (a different Kathy!) Slow Stitch Sunday.