Month: September 2018

September 30, 2018

One Monthly Goal-September Finish/October Goal

At the beginning of this month I discovered Elm Street Quilts blog.  She runs a monthly goal post.  I decided to join to see if I can push myself to get the Dubline Cardigan for DD#1 done in time for winter this year.  My goal was to finish knitting the sleeves and attach them to the body of the sweater.  This is a raglan type sweater so after the sleeves are attached, the raglan shaping can begin.  This is where I was at the beginning of the month.

The body of the sweater was ready for the sleeves, but the sleeves were not quite long enough.  DD wants them long enough that they touch her knuckles and have a thumb hole.  The pattern calls for the sleeves to be 14.25 inches long (this seems kind of short anyway), but her arm measurement from the armpit to the desired length was 24 inches.  I added the necessary length.img_4378

And now…the sleeves are attached and I can begin the raglan shaping.  My goal for October is to finish the raglan shaping and be ready to start the hood.  Wish me luck!!

September 30, 2018

SAL Update and Slow Stitch Sunday

I love participating in this SAL.  I love seeing what all the other talented stitchers in this group are doing!  I am very pleased with the progress I have made on this project this month!  I feel like i have my old stitching mojo back.  img_4274

This is where I was last month.  Here is where I am now:img_4376

Santa is coming along nicely.  I ran out of one of the colors for the fur around the hat – I just purchased some more and hope it matches.  This pattern is from a kit and they hand dye all their threads – multiple unanswered emails sent me out to the store.  If my thread does not match, I’ll be ripping and shopping more!

About the SAL in case you would like to join us

This SAL (Stitch Along) is slightly different to other SALs in that we don’t all stitch the same design at the same rate. We choose ONE unfinished project, or ONE new one, and show progress of its completion over a series of three weekly updates. There are no deadlines and no set amount to stitch. The result is that the space in our drawers full of WIPs (works in progress) is gradually being freed up to store lots of new crafty goodness. It’s surprising how much motivation I’ve gained from being in this SAL. If you’d like to finish a project you’ve left unfinished for a while, or start a new one with us, you can join us by contacting Avis fromSewing Beside the Sea.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen,Steph, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Catherine, Deborah

I am also linking up with Kathy at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sundays.

September 26, 2018

A terrible hand…

Our family loves to play the game Quiddler.  A lot of times we will start a game before the kids go off to school and then finish when they get home.img_4263

This was a recent hand that I had.  No vowels and one of the kids went out right away so there was no way for me to even try to fix this.  Zero points for the mama on this one!

September 18, 2018

Riding and Walking

In addition to running again, I have been able to get back on my bike and also walk hills and hike.  I am so jazzed about this.  For my mental health, I need to be able to get outside and exercise.  Otherwise I just don’t feel quite right.  One of the places near me is the Stanford Dish.  It’s a little hilly and totally paved and I used to really enjoy walking the paths there.  Guess what?!  I can totally do that now!

My daughter and I ride our bikes there (4 miles) and then walk the dish (a little under 4 miles) and then ride home.  It is so much fun!  The last time we were there we saw a tarantula a cute little lizard and…

This hawk.  He was so pretty!  After he took off from the fence post, we stood and watched him fly and soar over the meadow.

September 16, 2018

HQAL Update and Slow Stitching Sunday

I can’t believe another three weeks has gone by!  And time for another HQAL (Hand Quilt-A-Long) update.  I did spend time with my project almost every evening so I feel I made some pretty good progress.  This is where I was last time we posted.

I had finished the purple and blue flowers and then started the red one.  Some green has also been cut.  This is where I am now…img_4307

The three flowers that are done are now all connected with the green (stems/leaves) around them.  I’m only stitching on this for about forty minutes each evening.  I do think I need to spend some more time ripping out the machine embroidery on the orange flower – maybe every other or every third evening – just so I can get it done.img_4308

There was also a little bit of progress on this flower.  All in all, I’m pretty happy with how much was done in this three week period.

A little information about our group and how to join if you would like.  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 below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, and Karrin

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

September 15, 2018

ScrapHappy September

Kate and Tall Tales from Chiconia hosts a scrap party on the 15th of every month.  It’s fun to have this as a goal each month to try to use up some of the scraps generated by my students.  I love using up scraps!!

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Two strips sewn together.

I saw this idea somewhere on Pinterest and it stuck in my head.  I cut strips of fabric 1.5″ in width and the length of the scrap.  Some of the pieces are long and some are quite short.

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Another strip being pieced.

I generally cut a bunch of little strips of fabric and just keep sewing them together into one long strip.  I then attach the new strip to the other strips and cut it off after 62″.  It’s very fun and quick.

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A pile!

Here is the pile of different scraps waiting to be included in this project!

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Tux

Tux the cat keeping all our scraps warm and safe!

September 13, 2018

Recycling…

I love to make things out of stuff that would otherwise go in the trash! In that vein…img_4268

I made a little tote bag out of the bag our wild bird food came in.  It’s actually quite sturdy.

I put in a box pleat on the bottom to give it a little depth and I cut off part of the bag to make the handles.img_4269

I think this is going to be the perfect size bag to bring to the grocery store!

September 10, 2018

I’ve been running…

A little over a year ago I partially tore my achilles tendon.  WOW!  That was painful!  I cannot even imagine what it would have felt like it I had torn the entire thing!  My doctor offered to do some electro therapy as an alternative to surgery to see if that would stimulate the tendon to heal on it’s own (I still had a little bit of healthy tendon left).  It’s been a long road back.  Lots of stretching, walking, jogging, set backs, etc.  BUT…now I can run a little more than three miles at a time and last week I walked/ran a total of 104,863 steps!!  WOOHOO!!  I haven’t been able to do that for a VERY long time!

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Canadian Geese

I tend to run out on the Baylands right by my house – it’s only about a 10 minute walk to get there.

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White Pelicans and Ducks

I find it so pretty and relaxing to be out there.  There are so many birds!  And I like running on the dirt paths instead of the road or sidewalks.

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Canadian Geese

There are tons of these Canadian Geese.  If you get too close, they will usually fly away but sometimes they hiss at you.

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Flying Canadian Geese

It’s really been nice running lately because my #2 daughter comes with me.  I will miss my running partner when she returns to college later this month.