On The Needles -February 27, 2015

And look!  They are needles and not hooks.  I haven't been very successful at knitting until yesterday.  I sat down and knit a little dishcloth and finished it!  I think it turned out pretty well.  I cast on another but this time in a basket weave pattern.  This one is going pretty slowly because it feels fiddly and I have to think about what I am doing.  My next one will be stockinet with a crochet edge.  Once I show my knitting mentor they will be put to good use.

To see what others have on their needles go to JudyLs.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Linda from Living 4 Quilting is our winner of the stash box.  When she posts her giveaway I will post it here.  I'll get Lindas box off in the mail by Saturday.

Thanks for playing.

Quilt Shop Hopping

I was talking with a friend of mine last week and mentioned that I had a gift certificate to Happiness is Quilting in McKinney, TX and that I was going to get my daughter to take me there on Friday.  That discussion led us to planning for her to pick me up Friday a.m. after her doctors appointment.

Friday morning I got the call that she was on her way to my house.  I gathered up my tote of necessaries and out the door we went.  First stop was Happiness is Quilting where I picked up rotary blades for my 28mm cutter, a cute pair of red embroidery scissors with heart shaped handles and a bobbin holder that attaches to your thread spool.  They have a nice shop.  This was the first time I visited their store.  Previously I had only shopped them at shows.

Next we went to The Quilt Asylum also in McKinney.  I picked up a few patterns and a pair of machinger gloves.  They too have a very nice shop.  It is very spacious.  I had been to their shop before.  I have a piece of Moda fabric that I was trying to find a close cousin to.  The ladies there were so helpful and gathered bolts for us to audition.  Nothing spoke to me.

My friend Linda"s sister lives in town and was celebrating a birthday the next day.  We stopped by and were given a tour of her gorgeous remodeled 1920s home.  I loved every detail.  We went out for a wonderful BBQ lunch too.  It was nice to spend time with these two ladies.  We took her sister home and continued on our journey.

The third stop was another shop in town called Stitched with Love.  This shop caters to the modern quilter.  I really did not know what to expect.  The shop was full of gorgeous fabrics with lots of light.  I found my fabrics cousin there, a FQ and several patterns.  I also picked up two pins.  One says UFO-ologist and the other says Runs with Scissors.  These ladies were also so helpful in locating fabric candidates for me.

When we left here we went to an antique mall in Allen.  The quilt below caught my eye.  It would fit a double bed and was quilted with the baptist fan pattern.  I love bubble gum pink quilts.  It was in beautiful condition and marked down to $65.  What a steal that is.  If I had better storage it would have come home with me.  I'll settle for recreating it in the future.  It is made with a variation of a shaded 4 pach.  Anyone know the block name?

Linda took me home after that shop.  We agreed that we needed to do this again.  I think the next trip should be to the shops in Kaufman, Seagoville and Terrell.  I have not been to any of these shops.  I went to the sew-in at that church and worked on my afghan.  While there I sold two duplicate rulers to a friend.  I decided that I needed to use that money to enhance my neutrals stash. 

Saturday my daughter took me to Pieced Together Studio.  I used the money from the ruler sale to buy several yards of neutrals.  I really want her shop to do well so was happy to spend money with her.

Stash Box Giveaway

I  received a stash box a few weeks ago.  I won the opportunity to receive the box, take the items I liked .and then  add my own items to pass along.  If you would like the same opportunity just leave a comment below.

Here is what was in the box

An assortment of patterns both pieced and appliqués.  Several charm packs.

More patterns, instruction booklets and FQs.

Notions.  More FQs and charm packs.

fQs and yardage.  There are two panels of labels.

Here is what I chose to keep (so far).  Several patterns, thread, some pin on flags that help you assemble your quilt top, charm packs and some yardage.  I am in the process of selecting items to place in the box and will blog about that later.

Everything fits in a large priority box so   if it fits it ships for whatever the latest rate is.  I think it is currently $15.25.  Ask a local friend to join with you and share that cost if you like.  I will draw the winner of the box on Thursday at 8 pm CST to give you time to enter.

Good luck!

On the Needles (Off the Hook) - February 20. 2015

Here are the three afghans my mother started and that I finished.  I out the last stitch in the brown one Friday night.  They are all freshly laundered and ready for use.  Now to choose the next project!

To see more projects On the Needles at Patchworktimes click here.

On the Needles (hook) - February 13, 2015

This afghan was started by my mother back in the 70's for my father.  There were just squares and skeins of yarn.  No pattern.  No notes.  When I was in NY last year I lay them on the floor to try to figure out the pattern or plan.  I had to make a few blocks and fix a few where the yarn wash broken or cut or?

It is an odd shape.  Long and skinny.  It will be good enough for a lap.  I am tying in ends.  I have the light color ends all done.  I work on this in front of the tv until I get bored with it.  It's going a lot faster than I thought.  Once I finish tying the ends I will crochet an edge on this.  Any crocheters with suggestions?

If you go back one more post you can see that I completed the second afghan UFO of my mother's.

I am linking up with Judy Ls "On the Needles" post.  Always lots of yarny goodness to see there.

A Finish and a New Project

Here is the finished afghan.  I worked on it diligently as I am off work and have been on the road.  I had to fudge a little as I ran out of yarn.  Only one yarn that I used bugs me but it is done and usable.  I will put it through the wash and make sure nothing comes undone.

I recently travelled to Michigan.  While I was there my boyfriends sister in law asked if I could repair her sons baby quilt.  Her recollection was that it needed a new back.  When we opened it there were several holes.  Some are through and through.  When she realized the extent of the damage she said never mind.  Knowing my history of fixing some very damaged linens I was not daunted.  I brought it home with me.

I have now taken it down to the top, back and center.  The backing is in terrible shape and is destined for the trash.  It is some poly blend stuff.  The center feels like flannel.  I was considering patching it but may just replace it.  The top looks and feels like bed sheet material.  It is all so soft.  I am going to cut away the edges as the quilt was birthed and the edges are very frayed.  One side where there is a hole all the way through will be cut a little deeper and give me the pieces I will use to repair the other damage.  I will show a close up once the repair is complete.

Here is Buddy sunning himself.  We have been experiencing 70 degree days.  Much better than the -1 we had the day we left Michigan.  Yard and garden work has begun.  I am looking forward to more outdoor time and motorcycle rides!