My Favourite Snips and More Farmer`s Wife

It was a very sad day in my sewing room yesterday...my favourite thread snippers are on their last legs.

The spring is not working well and the little clip that closes it is loose and catches when it is not supposed to. I have had my beloved thread snips for well more than 10 years, maybe closer to 15. 

At least Fiskars still makes them so they can be replaced! I'm on the lookout!

While I was fighting with the snips. I was working on some more of the Farmer`s Wife blocks.

When I first got the book, I drafted all the blocks into my EQ7. I had bought fat quarter packs of Thimbleberries Village Green fabrics in Dawn, Dusk and Midnight so I downloaded all the fabric swatches for them to use in EQ7. My thought was to preplan all the blocks but I have ended up just grabbing from the pile. It is great though to have a general feel for the project right in my EQ7.

 My Aunt Sharon`s class is doing Blocks # 8, 18, 80 and 90 so I got right to it ths weekend.

The class is only doing 24 blocks in all, and I plan to make the queen size quilt so I have started from Block #1 and will slowly do them all. I did #6 and #7 yesterday as well. That's 14 blocks done!

I have plans for three more blocks today and a bit more Christmas present making as well!

Happy Stitching!

Christmas is Coming!

With Christmas coming quickly, I have been making a few small things....some I can show, some I can't! Here is my latest little project. They turned out so cute! All you need is a charm pack and you get 3 of them!

Two charm packs later...

When I was finished sewing I started cleaning my sewing room and found this Cutting Mat Cleaner I had never tried. So I took it out and cleaned my cutting mat. The cutting mat even looks clean!

This is the close up- I would never have believed my mat could be that dirty! Very gruesome! This is one product I will be using more often!

Now back to my sewing room...I have a Christmas Stocking to make!

Happy Stitching!

Friendship Triangle Exchange

Today I have been working on my half square triangle squares for a friendship triangle exchange with some other quilters in my area. I only had 9 "cinnamon sticks" to sew and cut so it didn't take me long.

I am doing the Tree of Life quilt but I am adding an extra 2 rows of trees so that it will be square. In all, I need 234 squares for this quilt.

I am already thinking about making that quilt on the cover as well. I love how graphic it is.

These were really easy to do and fast. Each sheet of triangle exchange paper took less than 5 minutes to sew. (Yes, I actually timed it...4 minutes and 36 seconds! )

Cutting them apart took a bit longer but this was still a fast process.

All that's left now is to wait for the exchange!

Happy Stitching!

It's Sock Season!

Along with quilting I also love to knit! I haven't touched a knitting needle since February but with winter on the way I suddenly felt the urge to get working on a pair of socks! As I was sorting my sock yarn, I realized I had enough for 11 pairs plus a few more pairs of thicker socks. I know there are MUCH bigger sock yarn stashes than this, but for me it is a lot.

That will keep me going in socks for a while! But I still find myself browsing online for more. So far I have resisted. Do you think I may have a sickness?

So here is my first pair for this year...I made them to fit me but I have enough so I think I'll be passing these on to someone who might enjoy them for the winter. Although you can't see them well because of the striped wool, they have a diagonal pattern. Want to make them? Find them on Ravelry...they are called Anastasia Socks.

I have already begun pair #2. These ones ( also from Ravelry) are No Purl Monkey Socks. I don't normally make the same socks twice but this pattern is an easy knit for a striped yarn that won't show much pattern.

Maybe socks will end up being this years Christmas gifts!

Happy stitching!