Mug Rugs for Swap

Here are the 2 mug rugs that I made to swap with my partner in Washington State.  This swap was sponsored by Quilting Gallery and Mishka's Playground.  You might have noticed the great quilty looking backgrounds at the Olympics last month.  I only watched the indoor skating events and the blue patchwork around the rink looked so good to me.  Can fabric be far behind?  I have already seen photos of a pattern for a batik quilt inspired by the Russian Folkart theme of the Olympics.

They are actually nice and flat and straight, not at all how they look in these photos.  They will be in the mail tomorrow.

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March 2nd, stash report

Yesterday, I attended a Tea and Downton Abbey Trunk Show put on by Andover Fabrics and one of the LQSs in Phoenix.  It was awesome.  I am a fan of the show on PBS but not really of the fabric line (so far).

The presentation was so interesting.  Dennis told us about the history of his company and a thumbnail sketch of how the fabric is made.  Andover oversees every step of the production and purchases their cotton in the US.  Unfortunately, the rest of the process is completed out of this country.  He told us how the company obtained the license to produce the fabric for Downton Abbey and the future of the collection.

Dennis showed lots of clips from the show as well as photos he had taken when he visited the set.  He said the program is set to film for several more years and the fabric line and patterns will be expanded each year.  He said that NBC actually owns the rights to the show and they are being very hands-on about the fabric line and patterns.

Dennis told us to watch for quilts in the show next year made from their fabric.

Anyway, it was an informative and fun afternoon.  We each received 2 FQ's of Downtown fabric and a spool of Sulky thread and a small seam ripper in our goody bag along with a 25% off coupon for the Downton fabric purchased that day.  I also won a charm pack of the fabric (37) pieces.  I gave the charm pack to my friend and I don't know why I didn't give her the FQ's as well.

This was the 50th show Dennis had done and his last for this year.  If you are interested, you might ask your LQS to look into hosting a trunk show for the new additions next year (starting in January along with the new episodes).

I also purchased a 1/2 yard of faux leather to use in making purse.  I think I will use a 3 yard pack with zippers that I purchased at the Houston show several years ago as accents.

I finished my mug rugs and they will be in the mail tomorrow to my swap partner.  I used about 1/2 yard in the process.

Fabric added this week       1 yard

Fabric used this week          1/2 yard

Fabric added this year      2 1/2 yards

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On the Needles February 28,2014

I haven't done much knitting lately but  I have started this pair of socks.  The pattern is ZigZags by Elaine Anderson.  It is free on Ravelry.  I started this pattern once before but ripped it our since the leg portion is larger and looser then I like.  I am making this pair for a friend who needs the extra room.  The yarn is but Opal.  The pattern is pretty easy and the pattern shows up well in this yarn.

Laundry day earlier this week.  So many socks, so little time left before it gets too hot for socks!

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Design Wall Monday February 24, 2014

This is going to be a mug rug for a swap with Quilting Gallery and Mishka's Playground.   The theme was celebrating the Winter Olympics.  This little cutie is supposed to look like one of those Russian Nesting dolls.  She still needs a heart (in her tummy) and she needs to be fastened down and quilted as well.

The second swap mug rug is a winter peace dove.

This needs to be fused in place and a stem embroidered between the beak and the leaves.

The deadline for mailing is March 3rd so even though I feel behind, I know I will easily finish by that date.  However, my swap partner lives in Washington and she is ready to swap-so there is a little pressure!

I hope you have all checked out the Traveling Stash Box which I mentioned in this blog yesterday.  Get your name on the list and you could be the next lucky winner.

Take some time to review the other design walls at Patchwork Times.

Stash report

I have been negligent about posting lately and I want to change that.  I have been pretty good about not adding to my stash!

I attended the quilt show last month in Tucson with friends.  We took a bus from one of the local shops from Phoenix.  It was great fun, there were snacks and contests and prizes and none of us had to drive.  The show was wonderful and those lassies not only know how to quilt but they also know how to put on a show.  I won a FQ on the trip home and I also received a free FQ at a shop we stopped at.

I am currently working on a mug rug swap sponsored by the Quilting  Gallery and Mishka's Playground.  The rugs are based on a set pattern and the theme is this years Winter Olympics.  I am a little behind but hope to have completed enough to post for design wall tomorrow.

I had some Arizona State fabric in my stash and I wanted another Arizona fabric to include in the mug rug.  I purchased a yard of fabric with saguaro cactus and Native American symbols.  I also found a batik that had Thunderbird symbols on it, so I purchased some to send with the mug rug as a bonus.

So I have added 2 yards to my stash this year and I have not used any-I can only improve from here.

I wanted to remind you about the Traveling Stash Box as well.  It is currently in the hands of the Cynical Quilter and she is looking for someone else to pass it on to.  Check out her blog.

http://thecynicalquilter.blogspot.com

Check out the other stash reports at Patchwork Times too.

On the Needles 2014

I have not been doing much knitting lately but I have some photos of work I did since the last post.

I am making a hat, cowl and fingerless gloves for my niece.  I used free patterns from Ravelry after seeing these patterns knit up on other quilter/knitter's blogs.

The hat is a basic stocking cap but baggier-  Sockhead Hat.  The cowl pattern I used the Irish Mesh Cowl and the fingerless gloves uses the Susie Roger' Reading Mitts pattern.

The cowl did not come out as wide or as long as I would have liked.  I can't decide whether start all over or maybe just add another repeat to make it wider???  The hat was quick and easy.  My Niece can roll up the ribbed part or wear it the way I am modeling it.  I sure wish I had finished and sent it to her in time for this past weeks poor weather on the East coast.

I am having problems knitting the gloves.  I make lots of socks so I am familiar with the technique.  However, using larger (fatter) needles has proved awkward-practice will solve that problem.

I have knitted sweaters with 2 different strands of yarn but with both strands being knitted from the right hand.  I am eager to try the Continental Method with a strand in each hand.  A few weeks ago I saw a sock pattern on Ravelry and I just knew I had to make it.

Aren't these fantastic.  I ordered the kit and pattern from ETSY.  You can get the pattern from Ravelry too. It is Starry Starry Night Socks by Suzanne Bryan.  The yarn is awesome and my photos don't show the true colors in the blue yarn.

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EOY Needles December 27, 2013

I treated myself to a swift and winder on Black Friday.  I purchased them from KnitPicks at a nice discount.  I thought it wasn't a big thing to wind balls by hand but this is nice-especially since my husband did most of the work!  We quickly wound 3 hanks of yarn into cakes.

I am working on a sockhead hat (pattern free on Ravelry).  About half way through, the yarn had a knot and the yarn on either side of it was not dyed a tweed.  I knitted a few rows to see how it would look but it was too obvious.  I ripped out several rows and eliminated that part of the yarn.

This is yarn from Herrschners that I bought on sale on Ebay.  I have made a cowl and I intend to make some fingerless gloves as well.  I'm sure my niece will like them.

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