Thursday, March 20, 2008

Starts with Q, ends with -ing

Howdy knitting neighborinos! Whats new & exciting? Let's just pretend as if I haven't been a way that long, okay. I'll try not to keep this post too long because you know how I can get when I return from an extended absence. Why don't we start with whats new and exciting for me right now....Quilting.

Yup I'm totally hooked, even though I have yet to actually finish one. I don't know where the urge came from but I can remember looking for a shoe under my bed and noticing my overflowing fabric stash and thinking that I've got to do something about this. Since I couldn't bear to part with any of the fabric for the simple fact that....well....for no other rational reason other than its mine, I figured I could use it up if I did some patchwork. I quickly googled the subject to find all there is to know, purchased a couple of books and thought that I knew what I was doing. I jumped head first into my scraps and thought "Shoo, I could wing this, who needs to draw out a pattern". All was going well until I held up my little 15 inch piece that I had been working on for a while to my SO and he's like "Uh, you know what that looks like right" I took a second look and sure enough one out of my four blocks resembled a certain racially charged hate symbol and thats all I'm going to say about that.

Needless to say, I have thoroughly planned the quilt I am working on now. I saw the pattern on my new favorite show Simply Quilts and I knew I just had to have it. I picked out the fat quarters from my newest pusher The City Quilter. This picture doesn't reflect true color but more or less I'm pretty pleased with my progress. The only thing I'm on the fence about is the hot pink. It doesn't really mesh well with the other colors, but at this point I'm not changing it. Lets just call it a character element. that draws your eyes to the center.

If you can't tell already I've fell back in love with my sewing machine. I made a couple of bags but they were gifts so of course I don't have any pictures. I have a crappy cell phone pic of the bag I made my boss from this book.
I also made the scrap pincushion from said book. You don't know how badly I needed one. I had been using an old rolled up crochet swatch as a makeshift one for the longest. It didn't hit my until I stuck myself so hard that my finger was bleeding.


For some strange reason it seems as if all knitting mojo goes on hiatus around this time of year. I don't know, is it just me? I lost my knitting mojo around the end of February and its slowly starting to return. I've been busy lately cranking out the baby gifts and my ravelry can vouch for that. I just have one more shower in April which I think I may do a baby quilt/knitted sweater combo. I did fall head over heels in love with one of the new patterns in Knitty. Any reason to use handspun yarn is swell in my book.

The pattern is Spirogyra and I spun the yarn from one of Abby's Luxury Batts. I believe its a mix of merino/silk/nylon/sparkly stuff. I spun it as a 3 ply and its roughly 12-14 wpi. I spun it a while ago so I can't remember if I blocked the yarn or not. I'm thinking that it'll bloom either way once I soak these babies.

OK, I said I wouldn't keep this post that long (yeah right) so I'll wrap it up. If you read through all of that, then congrats, I may have a prize for you. I missed my blogiversary (yeah, 2 years, I know!) last week so I'm gonna have a little contest. I'll pick one winner randomly from the comments. Oh and you also have to put the letter Q (for quilting, tee hee) somewhere in your comment to to be eligible. It can be in a word or just by itself. Just want to make sure you're paying attention. Almost forgot, the prize will be a hand sewn (by moi) sock knitting drawstring bag in the 2 colors of your choosing (lining/outside fabric). Contest ends on Monday the 24th and I'll pick a winner on Tuesday although I may not announce it for a while, ya'll know how I am. Thats all kiddies, take care, comb your hair.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well. I need to pay attention more because I didn't really you had THAT kind of fabric stash. I knew you sewed, though. I think the block looks great even with the hot pink!! I've already bookmarked the pattern site. I don't know if I'd ever get to a full-sized quilt(do you see any progress on the lap quilt I started? Nope! lol), but That says, PILLOW to me. so I'll start with that. I keep meaning to hit up City Quilter. I'm'a get there, I'm'a get there...

The mitts look nice! I admit I haven't really been feeling knitty lately, but I might have to fall into my stash and knit my way out on this issue.. Oh, and so I don't forget... "Q". LOL

NikkiJ said...

Wow, Harlem, you just doin' the dang thang aren't you? Only thing left for you to learn now is how to shear the sheep. I'm trying to learn how to spin, I've been practicing, but my coily creations aren't inspiring enough for me to keep at it. I hadn't noticed anything strange about the fucia in the quilt, I think it looks ok. I have a Question. Can you post some more spinning stuff to inspire me. Pretty please.

Anonymous said...

Yea you doing the damn thang fo sure. I've been fantasizing about patchwork, and you're doing it. It looks fantastic to me, and you know I love the pink so I don't know whatcha talking about. Your spiyro majiga qima thing is hot too. Keep up the good work!

Sherrin said...

Wow Chante, very beautiful. You are doing a great job. I really like.

Shameka said...

So, that's where you have been hiding!! In the Quilting section of Barnes and Noble. I like the quilt you are working on. It is beautiful. The hot pink is not too much. I think there are just enough variations of pink in there. I am surprised that you didn't choose green. LOL!! And the handwarmer looks lovely too. Oh, now I am glad I didn't get that sewing machine yet.... because I would probably be stuck in the quiltzone with you. And, I have too much yarn stash to knit N burn.

Two Cables and a Frapp said...

I am so impressed !!! I'd love to quilt but I don't believe in setting myself up for failure.

Anonymous said...

One day, when I finally get all little children out of my house, I'm going to learn to quilt. I swear.

I love yours.

ikkinlala said...

Happy belated blogiversary!

Your quilt looks quite nice, and the mitts are gorgeous!

Nancy Wetmore-Mathews said...

You are a very intimidatingly crafty woman. Happy quilting!

hope said...

I am impressed too. Your quilt is unbelievable and that's your first. You must be some kind of genius.

Scheherazaad said...

Now you can start a Quilt Queue. I definitely cannot tell from the photo of that beautiful block that you are a beginner quilter. The whole quilt world is going to be watching you!! I love The City Quilter. I still have fabric in my stash from there and its been 7 years since I last went. When I lived in New York I quilted with a group of quilters in Queens. (Honest, I'm not just saying that to add more "Qs".)

AllyB said...

Must be something in the air. I had my quilt scrap stash out last night looking at it with a stirring of emotion. Maybe spring will bring me some motivation in the fabric arena also. Thanks for the inspiration.

Anna said...

Hey,
So glad to see that you have found the wonderful world of Quilting! I found your blog because you just joined my group QuiltingFriends. (Do I get two entries if I use two "Qs"? hehe) Looks like you are on your way. I have that same Patchwork book! I loved the pictures but couldn't really get my head around the instructions. Great blog, I will definately be adding you to my blogroll. Happy Quilting from Warm Texas!
Anna

Anonymous said...

I've been gone for so long that you have a new layout for your blog! I think it looks wonderful! I'm trying to get back in the swing of htings, and it looks like you haven't missed a beat. Everything looks great!

stickyfingers said...

I have much respect for anyone who can wield a needle and thread and come up with something so nice. I keep trying and failing at sewing and quilting. Your spyrogyra have inspired my to cast on some of my own (like I need another project)