New Project and a Little Local Art

I saw a sample of this cardigan pattern hanging in my local yarn shop and was immediately smitten by it, couldn't take my eyes off it. The owner took pity on me and printed off the directions from an on-line site. I envisioned wearing it around the house when I needed a little extra warmth and those eyelet stitch panels really caught my eye. I almost immediately went over to my other local yarn shop to buy yarn for it - that same inexpensive mill end wool/mohair yarn by Brown Sheep Company that I made the lavender sweater with, that comes in the worsted weight that this pattern requires. I've been itching to start on it but wouldn't allow myself until The Simple Thing scarf was done which, frankly, I was getting a little bored with as it only required using the knit stitch on every row. This cardigan would be more of a challenge and require more of my attention which I was ready for.

I've knit lace patterns before where you do yarn overs between decreases to create the openwork and I was kind of expecting the same here. But no, it is called Eyelet Cardigan and it does indeed create eyelets while staying very firm. Also of interest, you might notice that the knit stitches angle across the panels on either side of a central seed stitch panel - the left side angling to the left, the right side angling to the right. I hadn't seen anything but the front of the sample cardigan and didn't notice this detail which surely was on the front panels as well. I do have to pay attention while I knit but can still watch tv while I do it as long as the program doesn't require me to do constant watching. I'm pleased.

As for the local art, on a recent trip to the library, I was greeted by a new display in the foyer, some pretty impressive gradeschool art. This signage explains the van Gogh inspirations. What a cool idea! Click on the pic for a readable size.

The same applies to these pics, where clicking on any of them will give you a larger picture so you can see which grade is responsible. This first group is kindergarten through 3rd grade.

I was so impressed with what those kindergarten kids did with those sunflowers. On close inspection I spotted some pencil lines outlining petals so this may have been more like a coloring book exercise but with paint but boy, they seemed to have done a great job.

And here are the fourth through sixth grade efforts. Apologies for the reflections on the glass case, could not get an angle that would not show them. These kids must be so excited to have their work displayed here. Bravo!

It's Done!

Gosh, I had no idea The Simple Thing scarf would take so long to knit, especially since I thought I was knitting pretty consistently on it. Granted, the yarn itself is a much thinner yarn than the worsted weight yarn used in the sweater, so yes, progress would be slower. Still, it took forever to get to the halfway point where I'd start decreasing stitches. I even started the decreases before I'd reached the length of the pattern's sample, both because I was concerned I wouldn't have enough yarn if I kept going and because I'd already exceeded the width at the center as suggested in the pattern example. The pattern does make suggestions for altering the pattern for narrower or wider finishes so I went for it.

I'd had some of this yarn left after knitting that first cowl that I ended up unraveling to make this scarf. I initially didn't think I'd need it but I sure did. You can just see in the upper left of the top photo how little of the "extra"" yarn is left. When you unravel yarn, its memory leaves kinks in the strands, and there are ways to relax the yarn back to straight, but I hoped just leaving it wound in a ball for awhile would be enough. It certainly was better than when first unraveled, but you can sure see the difference between the unraveled yarn and the unused yarn in the photo above. The knitting on the left is tight and flat while the knitting on the right is less defined and a bit fluffy. I will be soaking and blocking this so I'm hoping that helps make the two sides look more the same. If not, the join of the two is far enough off center that it won't show when it is worn.

And this is the coat I will be wearing it with - the colors such a perfect match.

What To Do With Orphan Blocks

Today I fired up the sewing machine and completed piecing a block I'd used for demonstration in a class I taught when I still lived in Wisconsin. This was not just to show the sequence of sewing pieces into sections but also which way to press seams for an easier and flatter joining of those sections into the finished block. I think I've put off sewing the block together because I really didn't know what to do with it. The quilt itself that was the sample for the class is done and on my bed. I don't need another patchwork pillow, which is a popular way to use up single blocks, not to mention the color doesn't fit any room decor except maybe the bedroom, but I no longer can wedge a chair into that room on which for it to sit. I'm not into table runners either, another way one sees lonely blocks fleshed out into something usable. I've added a single block onto a ready-made tote and also have a tote a friend made from a block I'd appliqued but didn't care for but suddenly looked good on that tote, but I have so many totes, I hardly need to make another. So what to do with this orphan block? I do have a printed panel (to the right of the block) that I bought from Angela Walters which I plan to use to practice her quilting designs (true confession - I was taken with the color as well as the design and also purchased a coordinating print) that is close in color but it doesn't feel quite right to pair them up into a wall hanging, for that is what it would be. I do have quite a bit of paisley and other fabrics leftover from making the top; surely I could come up with something. Any suggestions?

I found this little piece folded in the stack of that leftover fabric. This isn't exactly an orphan block but another result of a class I taught showing how to use ruler templates to cut pieces for Drunkard's Path blocks, then how to sew those curved seams. When arranging blocks, I was intrigued by this arrangement that looked a bit like Indian architecture. I did add a narrow border around the outside, thinking I could make a small wall hanging but it obviously has never happened. And look at how the blue fabric has faded. It must have happened when it was up in the shop where I taught - I had a sample quilt's back totally fade out where it was hung against wood paneling - or it might have been displayed in the shop's window. At any rate, it's hard to get excited about finishing it. What to do? 

This all got me thinking more about the orphan blocks I have stored away in a drawer, knowing that there were two problems with finding a way to finish them off (besides what I've mentioned above): 1) some are quite large, and 2) they are too diverse to be worked into a single quilt (although I do have a memory of making a rather wild charity quilt from different sizes of leftover blocks). The one above is one of the larger ones that if memory serves was from a block exchange where I ended up winning the blocks. Again, quilt made not needing this block, but I still really love it.

Now we're getting way back into my "origins" of quilting. I had a limited amount of the blue fabric but it reminded me of a shade of blue I'd seen in antique quilts and I made up these two blocks. No recollection of why I chose these patterns, but I'm pretty sure if I'd had more of that blue, I would have made more blocks to make a sampler quilt. Now that I have them out again, maybe I should reconsider making them into a tote bag for my knitting. Hmmmm . . . 

Nearing the end of single blocks, here are two that again, I have little recollection of. I used to cut up leftover scraps into what I then considered usable sizes and saved off-cut triangles as well. I'm pretty sure these were just me playing around with leftovers.

This one though is a real treasure in my book. After we moved to Wisconsin and I wasn't working anymore, I'd gotten serious about learning how to quilt. Quilting magazines at that time ran ads in the back for quilt shows and block contests you could enter. I got very into making blocks for various contests, even winning a few awards. This one came out so well that I took them up on the option to have it returned. It's a state block (Michigan Star) and I soon found myself dreaming of making a quilt with a block for every state in it. I went so far as to start researching and printing out patterns for state blocks (which is how I ran across my signature Idaho Beauty block) and collecting fabric in this same green, rust and peach palette, squirreling it away with this block in that same drawer where I started keeping the various orphan blocks. I find the palette a bit outdated now and I've lost interest in making a full state block quilt but I still love this block. And again, what to do with it?

This last one isn't exactly an orphan block but it IS a single small block that needs a home. I got the chance to see a lot of Hmong textile art when I lived in Wisconsin, so intricate and finely made that I knew I could never replicate it. So I bought a few small zippered bags with different types of applique and embroidery work on them and then this one 5 x 5 inch block. I'd totally forgotten about it, buried so deep in that drawer. It needs someplace special for sure. But I have no idea where that might be.

So help, my good friends! Any ideas?

Just Using Up Some Things

I finally got around to making the last coiled fabric basket I had in mind before putting all those supplies away. The picture above shows how the two I sent to my friend who winters in CA were quickly put into use to corral feet and thread spools under her acrylic sewing machine extension table. What a brilliant idea, I realized, as that area under my own extension table is where packets of needles are scattered.

I wanted mine to be oval though in order to stack the packets upright and not too big. I had the tail end of  the package of clothesline I'd been using that looked to be exactly the amount I'd need. And it was!

I surveyed the strips on my worktable and decided to see if I couldn't use up 3 or 4 short teal ones plus a single lighter teal print strip I hoped would cover the starting center line. Yup, worked pretty well. Then it was add the raindrop fabric strips as I worked up the sides and top it off with strips of the weird floral I'm not keen on.

I've made at least one oval version of these baskets and remember them being trickier than the round ones and this one was even trickier because of its narrow base. However, I persevered and it came out pretty well, nicely holding all my needles under the extension table. I still have quite a bit of the rain drop fabric strips and even the floral I don't care for but it's all going back into the big bag of coiled basket supplies. Time to move on to other things.

On a side note, we've been going through a bit of a warming trend which makes one wonder if spring is closer than one thinks (but the weatherman is quick to remind that this is March and we still could get some more snow). Could ducks along my walk paddling and feeding in a swale be a sure sign?

My camera couldn't catch it but that is a very bright green-headed mallard and his mate. She barely came up for air while he seemed more in protection mode, staying close and only occasionally ducking down to eat. They didn't seem to be too concerned about me pausing to watch. I haven't seen them since, although the swale is still full of water. Are you seeing any signs of spring in your area?