An old hobby, revisited

I haven't picked up my crochet hooks for quite a while, but I got the urge to have something for my hands to do in the evenings.  So, I found my stash and got started.  Here are the fruits of my labors.

The necklace is made with Patons metallic yarns.  Shiny!  Some folks have ordered some!  Squee!

The socks are very easy and crochet up quickly.  They will be very toasty.

It pays to keep busy!

New Project! Split Decision

It is always exciting to start a new project.  I have had the stuff for this one sitting for a while.  I was taking a class at my local quilt shop and saw the sample for this hanging on their wall - I fell in love.

The pattern is called Split Decision, by A Quilter's Dream.  It is a 2 color quilt.  10 fat quarters of each colorway.  you make log cabin blocks in each colorway.  Then, and this is the exciting part, you slice the blacks in half, using a gentle curve.  You then piece opposite colorway halves together.  The blocks offset as well.  This makes for such a cool effect - I hope I described it right.

The sample in the quilt shop had 2 colorways that were very subtly different and reminded me of sunrise and sunset.  While choosing my fat quarters, however, I made the decision to go a different way.  Cool and Warm.  I think this will be pretty when it is finished.  The fabrics audition well enough together, so cross your fingers.

Now to cut the strips, label the parts and piece the log cabins.  Slicing finished blocks, that will take some courage.  But after the silk quilt, I think I am up for it.

Finished! Purple Dream

All finished!  I ordered a silk cotton blend in a lovely royal purple for backing and binding - and just enough.  I paid very close attention to the basting this quilt because I was very concerned about the slippery nature of silk.  I also ordered a silk bamboo batting.  So, I basted the quilt with both fusible basting spray as well as pins for extra confidence.

I was rewarded for my efforts and had very little issues while free motion quilting.  And I used my wonderful new machine, the Brother PQ1500.  It has a very large harp and was a dream to quilt with.  I chose a meandering swirl pattern, due to all of the straight lines in the piecing.  I used King Tut variegated purple thread (938), top and bottom.  I finished quilting with very little trouble and am quite pleased with the results.

The piecing isn't perfect.  The slippery nature of the silk won that contest.  But I am in love with this quilt anyway and proud of it in spite of its flaws.

So, after putting it off because I was intimidated by the silk, it is finally finished and I have one less UFO.  That feels good.

Purple Silk!

I was visiting the midwest a few years ago and went to a quilt shop with a blogger friend.  And there it was, on the wall.  A gorgeous purple silk quilt sample.  all shiny and purple!  I had to have the kit!  HAD TO!  and it was very reasonably priced!  The blocks are very simple.  In fact, i admit to getting board with the piecing and put it off for a while.  also, sewing with silk is very slippery work, so this is not the best example for piecing.  But who cares.  IT'S PURPLE SILK!!!!!!

I just ordered a purple silk/cotton blend for the backing and bamboo/silk blend batting.  I think this will have to be rather heavily quilted or it will tear easily if used.  And this is one I want to use.  wrap up in the silky luxurious goodness!  Squee!!!

Challenge continued

Here are blocks 1, 2 and 3 of the Quilter's Newsletter challenge.  They are found in the December January issue.  Keeping the fabrics differentiated is difficult, but I like the way they turned out even if I got some things wrong.

Challenge!

This challenge is from Quilter's Newsletter magazine, beginning in the November/ December issue with the center block.  I fell in love the royal purple floral and chose all of my other colors based on it.

This is admittedly the most difficult block I have done.  But I am up for the challenge!

Fantastic Flannel

When I saw the sample of this quilt at the Hershey Quilt Show I just HAD to get the kit.  Hand dyed flannel - stunningly beautiful.  SewBatik makes them, the price was reasonable, and the end result is gorgeous.  The border is another flannel from my stash.  I will go out tomorrow to acquire batting and backing.  Most likely it will be more flannel or maybe fleece.  It is a full sized quilt and will be a present for a lovely 8 year old girl - the daughter of friends.