a colorful trip

triparoundworld2

Can I blame the weather for my lack of blogging? I realize there have been a lot of these quilts pictured on blogs recently, but I wanted to get my finished quilt top up on the blog so I have record of it. I’ve tried to get photos of it for the last couple weeks, but the weather has certainly conspired against me – it’s been windy, bitterly cold, and of course, growing dark round about 4:30. Ah, winter in Vermont! Anyway, I’m giving up and admitting that this is the best I can do.

triparoundworld

Most ended up looking like this!

But anyway, the quilt… this is a trip around the world, made using this tutorial. I love it as a scrappy quilt, and I really love that I was able to use up many scraps, as well as many older fabrics that have been hanging around. It was really quick to put together, and strangely addictive. I woke up each morning excited to see some additional blocks come together. Now I’m trying to decide on a backing and a quilting pattern!

backing

Speaking of backings, I did well last week putting together backings for some older quilts. This one is a particular favorite – I used up a good portion of solid grays from my stash, as well as these cute rainbow blocks which I made previously, but didn’t end up using. Since my goal this year is to use up some stash, I’m really pleased with this one, which is made up entirely of stash fabrics! The quilting was pretty quick too. I went with this stem quilting again (previously used on my Glimma cross quilt) but on a slightly larger scale. Now let’s hope that we get some slightly warmer weather soon so I can snap a few photos!

Posted in Posts about Quilts | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

handknit socks!

I knit something!

socks1

For quite some time now I’ve been obsessed with the idea of having handknit socks, specifically socks that I knit myself. I really knew nothing about knitting socks – I can knit a scarf or a cowl, but that’s pretty much the extent of it. Then last year Amanda started knitting the most gorgeous socks and showing them on Instagram (check out this post to see all the socks she made in 2012!), and with her encouragement, I ordered up some sock yarn, the needles, and Wendy Johnson’s Socks from the Toe Up.

socks

Of course, this first pair was certainly no walk in the park – I figured out the toe without too much trouble, but just couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around making the heel. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of ripping out and restarting, along with plenty of thoughts of ‘I should really just buy socks instead’. I’m really glad I kept at it though (even though it’s taken me nearly a year to finally finish them) because I’m mighty proud of these socks, and super happy to put them on and know that I made them! I already have another pair started, and I’m happy to say that this second pair has been so much easier, now that I have an idea of how it all works!

_ _ _

I’m trying to spend the week working on quilt backs for unfinished quilts, so not much to show on the sewing front. But hopefully soon there will be a quilting marathon, and then some finished quilts!

Posted in Knitting | Tagged , , | 25 Comments

winner, winner!

We have a winner! Good old Random.org selected comment #407, Genevieve – congrats to you, Genevieve! I hope you’ll have fun sewing with the lovely Glimma fabrics!

And a big thanks to everyone else who took the time to comment, and who left such nice comments about my two Glimma quilts – thank you, thank you!

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments