A wonderful Thanksgiving

 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend the kids were all here and one brother. Our snow has completely melted, the warmer sunny days have invited long walks. Someone wanted to be carried so Grandma showed her how to skip, yes I remembered, she thought that was pretty funny and forgot about wanting to be carried. My leftovers should be gone by Wednesday and that was my plan to cook for 3 days then leftovers for five. Turkey dinner and leftovers then wild rice soup with turkey. Fresh pan of lasagna then turkey pot pie made of leftovers. Then everyone went home and the house was quiet. Too quiet. I vacuumed and swept the dog hair now the house to clean and tidy, to tidy. It’s time to get the Christmas decorations out but we are still enjoying sunny warm days I think I’ll go for a walk instead.  Ann

Star points

 

All the points are stitched, starched, and pressed. I need to make some decisions about the setting triangles and squares because yardage might be a problem and if I need to piece it I might as well make it pretty. Now I need to start planning the Thanksgiving menu. 

Ann

Another good day to sew

First star point sewn together. It really is a diamond shape it’s just the photographer is looking at it a bit wonky to get the whole thing in the picture. 

Another fussy step in the process pinning the diamonds to a grid drafted specifically for this quilt. Measure the smaller diamonds seam to seam, take an average from those measurements and draw a grid on fabric with a permanent pen. It has to be fabric not paper because there is a lot of spray starch involved. Pin the Star point to the grid using glass head pins, match up seams and lines. Press seams open let dry completely before removing it from the grid. It is worth the effort so the seams intersect just right when the points are sewn together. This is the book with step by step instructions. 

First Star point completely done. Leftovers on the left pinned up for a larger cheat sheet to help me keep everything in the correct order.

Ann

 

Strip sets

 

All the strip sets are sewn, pressed and starched. The starch helps stabilize all the bias edges. Fussy fussy work but I know the results will be worth it. Now to cut 8 strips from each set and keep them in order. Always some little challenge.     Another snowy windy day on the prairie. A good day to sew. ~~Ann~~

Something new in the works

I have been poking at this project for a couple weeks, yesterday everything fell into place.  I colored one more grid while looking carefully at my stack of fabrics then played with my folding mirror.  I was on a roll, cut out my little diamonds and glued them in place then played with the mirror some more. Planning time is always time well spent. And the best part is all this fabric was in the stash.~~Ann~~

A knitting weekend

 

It was a knitting weekend, hubby was off hunting again. He has worked hard at his cardiac rehab so he could go hunting so I can’t complain and a weekend home alone can be really nice. I had complete control of the remote I watched a bunch of hallmark movies and knit, knit, knit. Sometimes I turned the tv off and read, it was that kind of weekend,  chilly and grey.  Almost done with 4th ball of yarn after starting over on this sweater on Tuesday last week. It does fit better now and I like the tighter feel of the fabric too.  I’m not sorry I ripped. Ripping knitting is kinda fun compared to ripping quilting.  ~~Ann~~

Snowflakes

 

Snowflakes dancing in the air today they will have to do an encore performance to cover the ground. I’m willing to wait a few more weeks for that much snow. But it’s a perfect day to knit! Already well into the second ball of yarn as I reknit my sweater on smaller needles.  Staying warm ~~Ann~~

Birthday girls

 

Look who’s turning 2!! Whipped cream frosting is the best.

Sweaters from grandma. Like wearing a hug. Happy Birthday girls!! ~~Ann~~

Pattern by Petite Knits on Ravelry,  sock yarn held with a mohair silk blend was delicious to knit.

Twice the fun

 

Will I ever get the gauge right!??!! Everything was going along swimmingly until I tried it on! An oversized sweater on a slender young person looks cute. On a middle aged averaged sized American woman it just looks bulky, makes me look bulkier.  I have been stewing over this for days, where did I go wrong with the gauge. It was spot on when I started but I must  knit tighter when shaping the shoulders than when I start knitting in the round, I relax and my stitches gradually relax and get a little bigger. My 22 stitches on 4 inches are now covering 4 1/4 inches making the sweater over 3 inches wider than it should be. I knit a new swatch and blocked it, it shrank 1/4 inch in length but not in width hmmmm still going to look frumpy. The sleeve needs to be tapered more so I need to decrease more frequently. I spent way too much on this yarn for it to hang in my closet unloved and unworn. I do like the feel of this yarn in my hands so ripping and starting over will make it twice the fun. ~~Ann~~

Bear Quilts

When DD was working on her flannel rag quilt I was searching the stash for fabrics for little  bear quilts.......I found the leftover bits from the first rag quilt DD made.  I cut the 6 inch sqaures into 3 inch squares I even had the leftover batting squares cut, cut, cut, then sew the X.  It was such a short line that I used lots of different stitches.  One done next to fray all those edges.  I think the little bears will like these quilts.  --Ann--

Sweater progress

 

Warm days cool nights wonderful for knitting and progress on my sweater.  I just started the sleeves.  It looks really big but the swatch shrank some when I blocked it so I'm banking on it shrinking about an inch and a half maybe two. --Ann--

Listless

 

I have been listless lately no not feeling poorly or lack of energy, listless as in no to do list to keep me on track.  I completed the page long list when hubby was hunting and it was a long list but when it was completed I didn't make a new list with new projects and goals.  I need a list of blog possible items.  I could look back and make a list of all the little things accomplished the last 2 weeks but that seems counter productive just to make a list to be able to cross things off the list but it has been done when I deviate from my list and add something that wasn't on the list. The weather here has been glorious more like September than the end of October and first day of November so more time has been outside enjoying the warmth of the sun and lack of bugs. We went up to see the little girls over the weekend and drove home on Monday another glorious day in South Dakota!! They will be 2 in another week and a half.  They guys went fishing, we played ring around the rosie and kicked a ball, filled pockets with rocks, looked at pretty leaves just enjoyed the beautiful weather.

I may sit outside and read this afternoon I can clear my work table so I can start a new project and list when the next cold front moves in until them I'm going to savor the memories of the weekend and enjoy the day.  --Ann--