Tag Archives: knitting

Fresh Sewing Day

Posted in Knitting, Quilting, Sewing, Work in Progress by
Lily's Quilts

Oh wow, it’s June. When did that happen? It can’t be June yet because that means that craft fair season is coming–and I’m not ready!

I missed May’s Fresh Sewing Day, but that wasn’t going to happen this month. No, this time I was going for gusto!  Here’s what I did in May:

  • I bought a bunch of fabric from my local quilt store and I finally got a Clover Mini Iron II for small seams. (I plan to write a review for the iron later.) Keep in mind, I’m supposed to be on a fabric diet. But I needed it. Really. *Ahem* Moving on …
stack of quilting cotton fabric

New fabrics for my stash

  • I pieced the top of a mystery gift quilt, and practiced matching points (which I admit I still need to work on).
  • I found a foundation-pieced purple quilt from 2013 that I had forgotten about in my work-in-progress pile. Joined a few rows. Four blocks to go!
  • I pieced the top of my auction quilt for my church. Wahoo! So glad to get this one off my plate, and with time to spare. Now to think up creative ways to raise more money with it.
dog on rail fence quilt

Penny approved of the auction quilt

  • I started piecing the back of my auction quilt using scraps leftover from the front. The jelly roll race section ended up being more work than I thought, but waste not, want not. (More on this in a future post, too.)
  • I became addicted to hexagons.
  • I forced myself to step away from the hexagons.
  • I remembered that I’m a knitter. Seriously. Sometimes I think I’m a quilter from January to May and a knitter from June to December. I wonder why that is? Worked on my sweater a bit, then started making a bunch of washcloths for the craft fair junket. I want the blue one for myself. Is it bad business to hope your favorites don’t sell so you can keep them?

knitting washcloth with basket weave pattern

  • Total number of photos ruined by Penny jumping in the shot (just this month): 6
dog jumping into photo shoot

Well it was a nice shot …

That should be about it. Busy month! This was my first full month of blogging, and I just want to say thank-you to all those who have left comments, liked my posts, and followed me. From the knitters to the crocheters, from the dog lovers to the quilt lovers, you guys are all the best, and I’m humbled that you keep reading my work. (And I love that I get to check out and be inspired by your work, too!)

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WIP Wednesday: Dog Collars!

Posted in Dog stuff, Knitting, Sewing, Work in Progress by

two sewn dog collars

At ARF’s Animals on Broadway fundraising walk and pet fair last Sunday, I saw lots of awesome dog items for sale. It gave me a hankering to make some collars. Thus, today’s works-in-progress (work-in-progresses?) are dog collars–3 of them to be exact. The first is fabric, the second is nylon web, and the third is knit. With bells. Collars need bells.

The fabric collar is the Olive’s Collar pattern from the book Liberty Love. I actually blogged about making it before on the Stash Books blog, but I feel like making another. The best part is that the pattern is available for free! You can download it using the link at the bottom of the Stash post. I know many local dog rescues appreciate when volunteers make collars for them; perhaps you might consider making one. I’m thinking of making two (one for Penny, one for the rescues) using a polka dot or geometric print. Maybe something in lime green? I’m feeling the lime green today.

This nylon web collar has been a UFO since 2008. It was supposed to be a gift for my mom’s {then)new dog, using a free pattern recommended by Camp Cocker dog rescue, but my old sewing machine didn’t like the nylon (it didn’t like much of any fabric really). I was so disgusted with the nasty-looking seams that I shoved the whole thing in my sewing basket and forgot about it.  Now that I have a nice, reliable Janome sewing machine, it’s time to revisit that mess of a collar. First step is ripping out all those old seams! You can even see them sticking out in my main image above–ick!

pom-pom yarn knit dog collar

Finally, knit dog collars are one of my staples for the craft fair junket come December. I keep them simple–just a little knit bit of color to slip on over the dog’s existing collar. I sew on a button for the closure. Easy peasy. This particular one is made of a pom-pom yarn that I think is discontinued now. I like how it looks like little snowballs (maybe I can cash in on the crazy popularity of the Frozen movie?). I have tons of these to make before November, so now’s a good time to get started. Too bad most of the dogs hate the bells (or maybe not too bad … bugging pets is fun!).

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced Modern Quilts.

 

dog sniffing collar

Penny approves of these new collars.

 

WIP Wednesday: Aleita Shell knit sweater

Posted in Knitting, Work in Progress by

Aleita Shell knit sweater in progress

I realized that I’ve yet to have a knitting-related post (it is Penny’s Purls, after all). So, here’s the latest project on my knitting needles: the Aleita Shell (pattern by Bonne Marie Burns). The yarn is Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in Rockwell. I got the pattern from a back issue of Interweave Knits magazine–luckily it’s still available on Ravelry.

Rockwell color swatch, Lorna's Laces

Detail of Rockwell color (Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport yarn)

I must confess I have a phobia about knitting clothes. Three years ago, I tried to crochet a tunic and I screwed up so badly I had to cut the bodice off . (Trust me when I say, if a pattern says swatch, you swatch.) I have not attempted clothes since.

It was time for attempt #2. I chose the Aleita Shell because it was cute but not intimidating.

As for the yarn , you can’t go wrong with Lorna’s Laces. I also love Jimmy Beans Wool, which is why I had so many rewards points to use on skeins of the Shepherd Sport. So far the sweater is turning out pretty nice, but I haven’t gotten to the hard part yet …  and I’ve come too far to have it become another  tunic-turned-unfinished project!

If I’m lucky, I’ll have the thing done by fall, right when the leaves start matching the colors in the Rockwell yarn. That’s a happy thought.

Linking up to Work in Progress Wednesdays at Tami’s Amis.

Penny photobombed me. Apparently I took the best sunny spot on the bed.

Penny attempted to photo-bomb me. Apparently I took the best sunny spot on the bed.