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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Something a little different!

I'd like to share with you all what my Dad makes...some of it 'quilty' themed. He 'pieces' wood quilt blocks and uses them in his beautiful wood turned bowls. Here are just a few of his bowls. I hope you enjoy!
















I'll be away from my computer for a couple of weeks enjoying the Christmas holiday with my family and I hope to have some quilting themed Christmas gifts to show off when I get back!

Merry Christmas to you all!




Thursday, December 9, 2010

Christmas Stocking!

I finished a new Christmas stocking for my sister-in-law this week. I knitted her last one many, many years ago and because my brother insisted on stuffing it TOO FULL and I could not repair it, a new stocking was needed. I used as inspiration, a table runner pattern from American Patchwork and Quilting magazine from December 2007.



For a project like this I like to use cotton batting as a stabilizer for the machine buttonhole stitch. I also like my tension adjusted so that the stitches are pulled slightly to the back, making sure that the tension isn't causing your stitches to pucker.
I like the way my stitches look with this adjustment.


My backs are a mess now that I have a sewing machine that locks the stitches. I am so glad no one sees this part of the finished stocking! I used to pull my threads to the back, tie and trim them but now I just pull the back thread a bit, clip the top thread and leave the mess at the back. A little lazy of me I think!



Next I machine appliqued the heel and toe and added some trim to 'pretty' it up a bit. 



Ta-da!


Do you think she'll like it?

And this is my inspiration...



Happy Stitching and Merry Christmas!



Sunday, December 5, 2010

A Very Productive Week!

Before I show and tell, I wanted to share a couple pictures of the visitor we had yesterday afternoon. We are hoping he comes back today!


Isn't he wonderful! He was very suspicious of me and did not take his eyes off me while I snapped a few pictures.

And now for my regularly scheduled blog....

I have no idea where it came from but I have been very productive this week! I finished knitting another pair of socks...that makes four pairs in November. I'm taking a break from socks for a bit...or am I? I am still feeling a bit of a tug to knit another pair but I had better save that for Christmas holidays. I have things to finish for Christmas.


I finished another knitting project as well (and just in time for winter!)...a scarf knit with wool from New Zealand that my cousin Heather brought back for me in the spring. It is kid mohair and merino and it is wonderfully soft. I can't wait to wrap it around my neck! The picture does not do it justice. The colors are much more vibrant.

 

I did finish the next 3 Farmer's Wife quilt blocks as well. I am really starting to enjoy all the colors coming together. Even though I have a long way to go, I have started thinking about the sashing and border. I am thinking I may choose either black, charcoal or dark blue. My instinct is telling me dark blue...



I don't make cards that often anymore but I needed to make a couple special ones for a friend. I can't show those but I did do one extra Christmas card just because I loved the paper!



So that is some of what I finished up this week!

I have just one more project to go...a Christmas stocking!

Happy Stitching!