Thursday, April 17, 2014

Stitchin' it up

There is a whole lotta stitchin' goin' on!

My quilting frenzy has continued. I finished the quilt top of DOOM that I've been languishing over for over a year, and despite the rampant mistakes and the fact that it doesn't quite lay flat I'm rather pleased with it:


I've also been working on the jelly roll throw that I started with the green batiks. I now have six strips sewn together and all the other strips laid out in a pleasing pattern on my sewing table. Every so often I sit down and stitch another strip on quick. I'll post a picture of that when I get a bit further on in the quilt top.

In other-types-of-stitching news, I finished my felt applique mug cozy, although the velcro keeps falling off, so I might have to stitch it on:

 

I also completed a plastic-canvas needlepoint coaster that goes with a set I've been working on off-and-on for a couple years. I'm about 1/3 the way through another, which will be the final of the set of six, so I'll take a pic when I have them all done. They look like roses, and they are so beautiful!

I also started a teeny cross-stitch picture of a hedgehog holding a balloon. We lost our little hedgie to cancer a couple weeks ago and I've had this picture for quite some time, so I thought this could be a tribute to her. The stitching is going well, but sorting the yarn was the worst! The color guide calls for dark brown, medium brown, light brown, beige, and light beige colors, which are all essentially BROWN and I had to lay them all out on a table under a light to try to determine which was which. I think I have it figured out now. If it turns out right it will be adorable. 

I've been continuing my foray into reteaching myself knitting. It's starting to come a bit easier. I experimented with different ways to tension the yarn and I think I've stumbled across something that works for me. My only problem is I can't get myself to do more than three or four rows at a time before I get sick of trying to stumble through it. I lack the patience that would help me get along in this faster, but I will plow on for the sake of my wrist. 

Finally, I am planning to crochet a cardigan soon that will be a stashbuster. I've pulled every ball of worsted-weight acrylic yarn I own out of various baskets and storage bins and I have a plan. It is the cover picture from this book:





I crocheted up a swatch last night so I could check my gauge to get the perfect fit, and it only took me one try! I must be a pretty accurate crocheter. Here is a picture of my gauge, which is monochromatic to save the pretty colors for the real thing:



The swatch is 4" square, which is perfect! I can't wait to start this coat, but I need to get some of my other WIPs (works in progress) done first. I'll save the start of this coat for May.

I feel like I'm starting a lot more projects this month than I'm finishing! It just occurred to me that my monthly wrap-up on May 1st might have just one project on it if I don't get cracking on these WIPs. I'd better get to it!

Happy Easter, Passover, or other spring holiday! I hope you all get some time off work to enjoy the spring weather. It's not very spring-y here, but at least the sun is out. Enjoy!

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