Knitted Potato Chip Scarf & Cap

Finished! I have been toying with the idea of giving away this set as a gift, but as I knitted it I kinda fell in love with it and can see it this autumn paired with a jean jacket. So, I'm going to keep it. This was a fun project - enjoyable. No frustrating aspects to it at all. The directions for the scarf are on an earlier post and the instructions for the cap are on the label for Lion Brand "Amazing" yarn. My Sweet Babboo has requested a cashmere scarf & cap. You know, I think I'll get started on that right away.

The Versatile Log Cabin Block

I wonder if there is a quilt block pattern more versatile than the log cabin? With just a simple quarter or half turn of the block, the whole design changes. You can design with color as well as shape using this block. Strips can be one size on one half of the block and larger on the other half for even another design element. Main design elements can be set off-center. Over and over again it happens that I'll see a quilt that is just so striking and upon closer inspection realize, "wow! that's just a simple log cabin block."

I made the quilt in this photo for my Sweet Babboo about 3 or 4 years ago. Just a simple log cabin block with a bit of sashing around 3 sides. Lilly Lucier (machine quilter, Vanceboro, NC) quilted it using a rolling heart design.

Little Projects

I love little projects - I love my big projects, too, but sometimes the little projects are a welcome break. Here is a simple clutch style purse - time to make, about 2 hours. Here is a pin cushion or sachet bird from Joe Dewberry's book "Sewn Spaces" - time to make, about an hour and a half. And finally, a fabric covered switch plate - time to make, about 5 minutes hands-on and several hours for drying. Another fun things about these projects is that they use remnants, which means that I got to go digging through my fabric stash to look for the perfect scraps.

Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times

Update: am also linking to www.todayscreativeblog.blogspot.com.

I'm linking to www.patchworktimes.com for Design Wall Monday. Since finishing Southern Rhapsody the quilt on my design wall has gone from a 96-piece/block quilt to an 8-piece/block quilt! I also have the cathedral window quilt I'm making for my son on my design wall in the event the mood strikes me to work on it - it's been months and months since the mood has hit me. Also on my design wall is a scarf I just finished knitting.




I also took a short break from quilting to sew together a couple of quickie projects from Joel Dewberry's book Sewn Spaces. The bird sachet (or pin cushion is what I'm going to use it for) was fun to put together and went together nicely. The Teddy Bear, though ... I'm hesitant to blame the instructions and think instead that the project just didn't click with me. The final product is okay but there is certainly lots of room for improvement. The belly pocket on the bear can hold small sewing supplies so it will sit on my sewing table, along with the bird pin cushion and be kind of a sewing assistant for me.

Southern Rhapsody Is Finished

It always feels so good to finish a quilt ... to sew on that label and know that the project is complete. This quilt is called Southern Rhapsody. It is a foundation paper pieced project and the star pattern is "California" from Carol Doak's book on the 50 stars of the 50 states. My cousin, Patricia Layson, and I made this together. She sewed together 18 blocks for the quilt top and I did 17 blocks for the quilt top and a smaller (in size) version of the block for the label. Patricia also added the binding. It was machine quilted by Lilly Lucier of Vanceboro, NC. I did the binding. All of the fabric came from Cotton Fields (http://www.cottonfieldsnc.com/).









These photos simply do not do it justice. You cannot see from the photo that are 96 little bitty pieces in each block. I love the secondary designs that are created with the yellow blocks, the green/white dot blocks, and the peach color star. The overall quilting pattern is a rolling heart.










Tonight I'm linking to www.amylouwho.com; she is hosting completed projects. There are some really spectacular ones!

Crafting Friendships

My friends Lori & Laura came to my house tonight. We have decided to try to meet weekly on Wednesday evening to craft and sew and laugh. Laura has declared it to be "Needle Night." Last week Lori and I met at her quilt shop - she sewed together some adorable pin cushions that she'll take with her to sell at the next quilt show. I worked on a knitted washcloth.

Tonight I worked on whip stitching down the binding on the quilt Southern Rhapsody. Laura worked on two knitted washcloths. Lori worked on some adorable origami fabric brooches. There is something magical about the way crafting, sewing, and quilting brings people together.

Knitted Cookie Washcloth

This fun little washcloth knits up in about 2 hours and is about 8" square. It's made using Sugar & Cream cotton yarn. When knitting this I had just made a batch of delicious oatmeal cookies. So when you read the instructions for it you'll see why it's called the Knitted Cookie Washcloth.

With size 5 needles cast on 36 stitches. Knit first 6 rows. Row 7: **K3, P3, repeat from ** to end of row. Row 8: **K3, P3, repeat from ** to end of row. Row 9: **K3, P3, repeat from ** to end of row. Eat a cookie. Row 10: **P3, K3, repeat from ** to end of row. Row 11: **P3, K3, repeat from ** to end of row. Row 12: **P3, K3, repeat from ** to end of row. Eat a cookie. Repeat Rows 7-12 including eating the cookie at the end of rows 9 and 12 until the washcloth is the desired length. Knit 6 rows. Bind off.

I figure I ate 18 cookies. I have to say, I was glad to see the cookies disappear and will NOT be making them again for a long time.

Linking to:
http://allthingzrelated.blogspot.com/