Hand or Machine?

As you can see, the machine won.  Straight lines down the center of the leaves and curves on each side which ended up making a very nice unexpected continuous line pattern.  The CD is what I used to mark the curves - don't worry, it's not music, just one of those advertising things we get in the mail from time to time.  I also wrestled with myself about whether to try to do free motion quilting or mark my lines and ended up marking.  I've still got the borders left to quilt.

 

Isn't this just the cutest thing?  My friend, Pat, loaned me two Elizabeth Zimmerman knitting books because I was interested in a baby sweater pattern.  I found this STAR instead and couldn't stand it until I gave it a try!  Stars will look nice embellishing some of the knit hats I've been making. 

Basted and Ready to Go

On Friday night I took the time to get my new tessellating leaves project basted.  As you can see, it has become Cotton Fields' newest pattern, too.  I'm not quite sure how I will quilt it.  Hand or machine?

I've been knitting quite a lot lately.  Some items will be gifts and others will be going to two craft sales in December.  Last night I started this new hat, the yarn is a very nice feeling wool/soy blend.  I have been fortunate recently to have received a variety of great yarn from friends Katherine, Fonda and Carolyn.  Thanks!!!

Last, but not least, I haven't posted a pet picture in a while.  This is our wise old cat, Cassie, who isn't often available for pictures.  As you can see, she has a major shoe fetish!

Dear Jane Wednesday

It's Dear Jane Wednesday.  Need I say more?  Here are the two latest creations ...

The starry quilt is very nearly finished.  I am hand stitching the binding to the back right now!

Tessellations

Do you know what tessellations are?  I didn't, 20+ years ago when I registered for a class at the NC Quilt Symposium with that name.  Anyway, tessellations are shapes that fit together side to side, not overlapping and not leaving gaps.  Squares side by side are tessellations, so are the hexagons in Grandmother's Flower Garden.  They are all around us, whether we know their fancy name or not.

Today I taught a class at the shop called "Tessellating Leaves Table Topper".  A new pattern is in the works!  We made 3" finished paper pieced blocks.  When fit together, they give the illusion of tessellations. 

When I teach, I demonstrate, and then I have another unfinished project!!!  When class was over, I stayed with it and finished piecing all of my blocks.  Now I'm trimming and will start to put it together soon.  Stay tuned - when the new sample is ready for photography, I'll put the finishing touches on the pattern.

More Odds and Ends

Here they are - approximately 35 little Christmas stockings made with selvages.  I always do this to myself!  Making a few is fun, then I go crazy and make so many it turns into a JOB.  I need to buy some more ribbon so I can finish all of the hangers.

I'm also on the home stretch with hand quilting my scrappy starry quilt.  Maybe it will be finished in time to take to the quilters' luncheon next weekend?

After I finish outlining the applique in the border, I may have to add a little more quilting in between to fill in some of the larger spaces.

Odds and Ends

Here is a picture of the older, finished baby blanket.  I did not like this edging at all!  I remember now that I just made a sort of ruffle with groups of double crochet.  I unraveled it all and made nice neat shells all around.  It looks so much nicer.

I started off the day at the store doing some "real work" (sort of).  I cut and folded and put together these fat quarter Christmas trees.  These were new last year and very popular.  Another great idea sent to my by my wonderful sister -in-law.  Thanks, Jeri!

Dear Jane has kind of slowed down lately, but Linda and I were able to get together today.  She has over 70 blocks finished and several of the pieced outside triangles.  I will have 42 blocks when I finish the one I'm working on.  Here is the one I sewed this afternoon.  It is partially paper-pieced and partially appliqued.

Out of the Tote Bag

Check another project off the unfinished list!  The knit baby blanket is DONE!  It had been packed up in a large shopping bag with pattern and supplies, 3/4 finished for who-knows-how-long, maybe five years.

I have another baby blanket made in the same way.  When I got it out today to check out its shell edging, I found that I don't like the way that I made them on the first one.  So, I'll probably unravel that and try again.  Then I will be completely and officially finished with the knit baby blankets (hey, I don't even have any babies to give them to!)

Before I go back to the exciting book that I will spend the rest of my weekend with, let me show you the spot-of-the-week that Baby has chosen.  Behind the bathroom door.  She's been there before when it made more sense, like when it was very, very hot and she was waiting for the AC.  Anyway, for the time being, it seems to be her preferred nap site.