Lots of Knitting Going On

I am so excited about these socks.  These are my 2 toe up socks and I have just finished the heels.  I was a little nervous since this is a first and I figured that since I was doing something backwards it would be difficult.  Well, it was so much easier than the cuff down heel.  Now I just have to go up the leg to the cuff and these will be done.  My other socks are almost ready for the heels and I am not worried at all. 



On Christmas Eve I finished this hat as a gift for DH.  All through this very cold winter it has been on his head …… until recently.  This is the result of the hat hitting the floor and being found by our most recent doxie acquisition, Sherlock.  DH was very unhappy as he had been enjoying the comfort of his head staying warm.





So I have started his new hat, his Valentine’s gift.  I am making the brim a little wider as he likes to turn it up and I like to see his ears covered.  The brim is completed and I am on my way up: I hope to have this done tonight.







One small problem is that the doxies have decided that even though we have a couch and loveseat, my lap is the only place they want to be.






Even Sherlock, the reason I am knitting a new hat, is demanding that he be front and center on my lap.  But you can see that they make me laugh so it’s not all bad.












And to keep me inspired, these are the flowers DH surprised me with.  He had to leave very early this morning so these were waiting for me when I got up.  They sit right in front of my living room chair so I get to see them whenever we are sitting there, watching TV and working on the computer.

And now I need to get off this computer and get back to hat knitting.  Nothing like creating a deadline for yourself. 

Ta,  Gari

Design Wall

My design wall has a lot on it but very little that is new.  What I have been doing is working on the applique of the owls I have made.










This weekend I spent my sewing time doing the applique on these three owls.  I am impressed at the definition that shows up once the stitching is done.  You can see the difference between the top three and the one below them.


This week I hope to make at least one of the 3 owls I am behind.  AND, I am going to work on a decision of what colors I want to choose for Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilt coming up the day after my birthday.




 This week I bought these blocking pieces for socks.  I was amazed at how great the socks looked once they dried.  I may have to get a couple more, once I have made more pairs. 

















I also bought this new yarn.  It look like shades of purple but there is a lot of denim blue in there, too.


















I also started a new pair.  I am using the same pattern as the last ones as I like how they fit and the 3-1 ribbing on the leg and instep.












I also got this one ready to work on.  It is the same pattern as the class sock.  I had started it prior to taking the sock class but stopped when I realized that I didn’t understand the pattern and decided that a sock class was needed.  All that went well but while I was working on my class socks one of my sweet dogs pulled this sock out of a drawer, the yarn ball was strewn all over the floor and 3 of the 4 needles were broken.  Until this weekend it was still in the bag, just as I found it, but now it has been untangled, rewound, and new needles have been inserted and it is ready to go, again.
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While grocery shopping  this morning DH and I found this.  We were really excited since we had happily eaten Pumpkin pancakes while on our trip in Sept.















And I have to say that they were GREAT.  So great that it was requested that I make a second batch.  I’m thinking that we will be having them again.









Now, if you haven’t already, it is time to visit the Bloggers Quilt Festival to see all of the creativeness and, possibly, vote for my Funky Chicken quilt.  Here is the link to the applique section, where my quilt is, but be sure to check out the other areas.
http://amyscreativeside.com/2013/10/25/bloggers-quilt-festival-applique-quilts-2/

Have a great week,   Gari

Gone and Back

This is the reason I have been absent from my blog, and my studio.  Most of you have seen her picture in the header of this blog but last weekend we had the first chance to be with her in person.  She lives almost 1000 miles away from us and at only 9 months is quite unable to come for visits with us.  She is the daughter of our DS#3 and his very sweet wife.





Even her Grandpa was entranced by her.












And I loved this picture as Elsa eats and Ponce keeps watch over, or under, her.

And just in case you think this will be all the pictures I will be sharing, think again.  I have a few more and, thankfully, her mother keeps taking and sharing even more.








I did try to use my time wisely. I had some time to myself and spent it sourcing out yarn shops.  I found two and did myself proud with these purchases.  Then, on the way home we just happened to go by Mary Jo’s in Gastonia, NC.  Well, we didn’t exactly “go by”.  When I realized that we would be there during open hours I gave myself 30 min to shop for fabrics for a the new BOM Carol Doak is running.  And, yes, I was in and out in 30 min.




The three on the right are batiks.  I never have enough background fabrics and then there are just some that call out to me while I am passing.  And the purple, well, I really need a Halloween tablerunner and placemats.  Will I have them done this month?  Who knows?





Of course I need to say that we also did some antiquing on our trip and one of the things I found was this acrylic box.  It is about 30” high and 36” deep with three shelves and the perfect place to store my yarn. 









I started this sock prior to our trip but since getting back I have completed the heel flap and am currently working on the gusset (the hardest part for me to understand).  I forgot to split the yarn into two balls so I can’t start the second sock until I get this one done.

I have a couple of other knitting projects started: I like to have one in the the house, one in the studio and one to work on when I get bored of everything else.

And what about quilting?  Well, I have two new BOMs to start and one to finish plus the two that are still ongoing.  I have one quilt top still waiting on the frame.  So after I get some household chores done I am going to be sewing, quilting, and knitting.  See what fun I have!

Hope you are having fun, too.    Gari

Cluck, Cluck, It’s Quilted

The quilting is complete on my Funky Chickens.  I had a blast revisiting each one of them as I worked my way down the quilt.
















These are the top six.  If you click on the picture you can see the quilting better, even the bobbles of which there are many.










The bottom is a little folded because I didn’t have anyone to hold it and I just had to get pictures right after it came off the frame.
I had planned to sew the binding today but time got a way from me so it is on the top of my list for tomorrow.





I have almost finished my first tube sock and have about 10 rows done on the second.  So I decided it was time to start my next sock.





This is the pattern I am going to try/make.  It will be my first try at doing a heel, something I do not know anything about.  So after casting on the stitches and knitting the first row, I sat down and read and reread the heel directions. 

The yarn has sparkles in it: I see these being my Christmas socks.  Think I can have them done by then?

School for DH has started again and then he will be off judging two Jr. Miss programs over the weekend.  This does sound like a good time to uncover the cutting table, again, and get some of those BOMs completed for August before the end of the month shows up.  And, of course, to make headway on my socks.  The fun never ends around here!

Sew, Quilt, Knit, Oh, My!

This is my Design Wall today.  This is the ornament block for Deck-ade The Halls from the FatQuarterShop.  It doesn’t seem like much but it finally got me back in to sewing.






And I quilted.  This is where I am on the Funky Chicken quilt.  I did get one of the 9 patch blocks quilted on Sunday and will finish this quilt this week (I hope).






Before rolling to that last row I quilted chicken #9.







I am still having lots of fun quilting those little tail feathers.








And here is Funky Chicken #10.










I got a little artsy on this one.  Sometimes I don’t know what gets into me. 






Look how far I have come with my very first sock.  I am a little over an inch away from starting the toe and then this will also be done.  I have started the second sock but have only three rows done so it will be a while before I am wearing these socks…together.

The funny thing happened while I was knitting these socks.  I used to knit, over 30 years ago, so picking up knit and pearl was not very hard.  However, while watching a basic knitting lesson on Craftsy, I discovered that I am doing the knit stitch WRONG and always have.  I am finishing this sock doing the stitch the same way I always have but am learning the correct way on the second sock.  Also on the second sock I am trying the Magic Loop method.  So far I have pulled the stitches out three times: this is not an easy method.  And, boy am I surprised that the DPNs are really easy.


On the home front, we have had rain, Rain, RAIN! 

The rain this weekend was a “soft” rain so all the deck plants got to move out from under the roof to soak up some of the water.  Doesn’t everybody look happy?

School starts for DH this week so, after a 2 1/2 week vacation we will be getting back to our normal routines.  I will miss having him around all day but I will also get a lot more done.
Be sure to check out Patchwork Times and have a great week.  Gari

Keeping Busy

This is what has occupied me in the quilting arena.  This is row 4, give or take a few inches either way.
And it is now done.







Chicken 7 was quick: I think the hens are easier to quilt than the roosters.







And here is Chicken 8.










These are really fun and I am trying to make each one just a little bit different.








My sock is coming along.  However, I have only 8” done and I have to do 14.5” before I can begin the toe decreases.

So today I bought a 40” circular needle and am going to start on sock two using the Magic Loop method, or at least I’m going to try. 




The other thing I bought was a roll of batting: 30 yards of 108” batting.  I have never bought a roll before but recently the LQS owner decided it was time to close up shop and I realized that I have not been able to find the batting I like anywhere else around here.  So even though I really didn’t need batting right now (bought a bunch when she had a sale) I decided I would bite the bullet and stock up.  I am calling this my “lifetime” batting and we will see how that goes.








Yesterday we went on a shopping trip (where I didn’t find any of the things I went looking for) and came home with this.  We have been going out for waffles for the last few years and decided we would like to try to make them at home.





Today was waffle day at our house.









And here is waffle #1. 



This is waffle #2.  I didn’t think  I had put more in but obviously I did.





And for us this is the best syrup ever.  Of course you can see this is now an empty bottle: we did not eat it all this morning. 











The last thing to show is my new sunglasses.  They are Auburn Tiger glasses: War Eagle.





We tried them on Fred and DH says he now looks a lot like me.  I think he looks like DH because they are both bald.