On the needles

Socks are done and almost done.  I ripped a sweater and started over on a different pattern.  I didn't like the way the shoulders and sleeves fit and felt so I ripped and it ripped so fast!  This is just a long sleeve basic crew neck pullover.  There is a strip in the middle of yarn that wasn't ripped yarn and notice how smooth the stitches are.  I didn't think there would be a difference in the yarn.  I sure hope it blocks out.  It is knitting fast on size 9 needles.  Sunny day here and sloppy streets.  linking to Judy's OTN --Ann--

Power sewing and arranging the blocks

I finished sewing the northwind blocks now to arrange them or maybe sew a few more blocks.  While I think about how to arrange them I started machine quilting the white on white quilt.  I started the meandering feather in the corner of the first border and went all the way around the quilt with the feather then went to work on the center.  I stitch a while then glance  at the design wall, then jump up and move a few blocks, step back then machine quilt some more and repeat.  I'll have the machine quilting done before I finish arranging the northwind blocks.  --Ann--

Oops

oops!  look what happens when I don't take the time to lay the parts the way they should be in the block.  Stitch a lot,  rip a little.  --Ann--

180 on Design Wall

The beginning of last week I was merrily sewing on the neutral north wind quilt and checked with the bride to see if I was on the right course.  I sent her a photo of the Northwind in Blue and asked her to imagine it in neutrals.  She decided she liked color better so all the neutral blocks came off the wall and out came the colors.  Which was a pleasant relief and change from the white on white because the ground is white and the sky is gray and the day is overcast and was dreary all last week and there doesn't seem to be a change in the forecast so the bright colors are a welcome change.  I pulled out my box of Merryvale fabrics and sorted the 6 x 18 inch strips and paired them by big and little  prints, busy and calm, light and dark, near compliments, analogous, or monochromatic. Then pulled out some yardage to fill in with more blues and yellows because all the blue strips went into the 2 Northwind quilts in the links.  I need to sew a couple dozen more then arrange into a visual order.  Hope your gray days are filled with quilting fun.  Linking to Judy's DWM.  --Ann--

More Fog

More fog both inside and out today.  When I started cutting strips for In a Fog I cut strips for a couple more neutral quilts because why not cut up all those bundles of 12 inch widths for more quilts and work in a series. It makes me feel like an artist. I added some darker neutrals to this because I needed some contrast in value.  So far I have been pretty random about placing the blocks but when I get all 80 sewn plus some extras I will arrange things by value and try to direct how your eye will travel around the quilt.  I'm much more excited about this quilt than the first neutral.  What did I learn on the first neutral quilt..........it needs more contrast in lights and darks.  Thats why it is fun to work in a series. By the way this block is called Northwind.   Linking to Patchworktimes Design Wall Monday.  --Ann-- 

Second Finish for 2016

Am I starting a trend here? getting in a new routine!??! My second quilt finished in the second week of the new year.  Lets see I have...... how many quilts basted and ready to quilt?  I could........nahhh I'm on a roll here for finishing quilts........ but if I try to do one a week that puts pressure on and then its no fun.  Lets just see what happens in the weeks to come.  I just need to get a label on it by Saturday.  No pressure. Just enjoying the process --Ann--

Machine Quilting

It was a great weekend to machine quilt here on the snow covered prairie.  It was cold outside, really cold.   I have been stitching arcs in and around the stars, lengthwise stitches in the dark steps and diagonal rings in the light steps and star background.  I used a dark thread on the dark sections and light thread on the light.  Only a couple more sections to quilt and then the borders.  It is warmer today with a dusting of fresh snow.  Might be a good day to finish this quilt. --Ann--