Three down...but that's not the end...so many more to go!

June 9, 2013

I just finished Square 31 for the Learn-To-Knit Afghan. Since I finished Vickie's quilt I can now return to the afghan.

Square 31Twisted Panels

Three kinds of decorative panels are shown in this square: one a braid, one with diagonal stripes and one with V shapes like a Double Cable. Notice that the arrangement of panels is symmetrical in relation to the center, the patterns being worked in opposite ways on the left and right. Even the braids are worked in opposition, one beginning with a twist to the left, the other with a twist to the right. Remember this when you plan a garment or some other project displaying a series of panels. Symmetrical arrangement of designs on each side of a common center gives balance and unity to the finished article.

I will be meeting with the KnitWits this afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 for a session of knitting and socializing. I will take the Petals Vest to knit and will also demo last week's Mystery Project from The Spinster. It should be a fun time for me since I sit and knit alone more often than not. It is only 12:00 now, so I will begin Square 32 - Assorted Mock Cables until it is time to leave for the session.

Time spent with the KnitWits was fun. I met a new member, Libby. She teaches music at a high school in my area. I finished knitting another petal for the Petals Vest. I then just visited because I left the other two completed petals at home, so I couldn't start another petal because the fourth one needed to be attached to the third one - the one left at home. Pat, our hostess, prepared pecan and lemon bars. They were yummy. I think I will fix something for the next gathering next month.

Petal One
Petals Vest Front

I am still knitting the last square of Section IV for the Learn-To-Knit Afghan. This square has many mock cables and uses stitching techniques for knitting in the back of the stitches in order to form the pattern on the right. Very complex. I am used to knitting the cable shifting from the front side of the work. Because the pattern is complex, you must really pay attention to each section. I find it tiring but useful for teaching, so I will persevere.

Square 32
Assorted Mock Cables

In this square, 7 decorative ribs demonstrate 5 kinds of twists, 3 worked from the right side and 2 from the wrong side, giving a good opportunity to compare them. Such decorative ribs look attractive when worked in combination with cables and other patterns.

Now I begin Section V - Cables. Cables are among the most fascinating of knitting patterns. They can be panel or all-over designs, and can produce hundreds of varying types of fabrics. The basic principles of cabling is very simple. It's just a matter of moving some stitches diagonally across other stitches. The cable needle is used to hold one group of stitches while the other group is being worked.

The stitches in front of the crossing, showing on the right side of the fabric, are cable stitches. The stitches in back of the crossing, behind and hidden by the cable stitches, are background stitches. If the background stitches are worked first, while the cable needle holds the cable stitches in front, the result is a Front Cross: the cable stitches travel to the left. If the cable stitches are worked first, while the cable needle holds the background stitches in back, the result is a Back Cross: the cable stitches travel to the right. Grasping this simple principle will help to understand the mechanism of any cable pattern.

Cable stitches are usually knitted on the right side and purled on the wrong side, because a vertical rib worked like this will stand out in relief on the surface of the fabric. Background stitches may be either knitted or purled on the right side. A plain purl background occurs frequently in cable patterns, because it tends to retreat, thus displaying the knit ribs to best advantage. Cables worked in panel arrangements have purl stitches between them, to make the knit ribs stand out.

Instructions for cable crossings almost always tell you to "hold" the cable needle with its stitches in front or in back while working the other stitches. But this doesn't mean that you literally have to hold onto it. You just let go of it and let it hang there. After all, you need both hands to work the other stitches and you can't spare any extra fingers to grip the cable needle, until you are ready to pick it up again and work the stitches from it. There's no need to be afraid that the cable needle will slide out of the stitches in the meantime. To make it do this, you'd have to really try.

Remember also that when the stitches are slipped to the cable needle, they are always slipped purl-wise, as when slipping stitches in any other pattern, so the right-hand sides of the loops will be forward. When working the stitches on the cable needle, hold it and use it as if it were an extra left-hand needle.

Square 33
Simple Cables with Moss Stitch

Notice that the cable made with back crosses twists to the right, while the cable made with front crosses twists to the left. When Simple Cable panels are used in a garment on each side of a common center, they should be worked in opposition, like this, for better symmetry.

Moss stitch, which forms the side panels int his square, is another classic non-curling knit-purl fabric. Like its close relative, Seed Stitch, it is often used for borders and for filling between panels of other patterns such as cables.

My friend, Sherry, who sometimes sits with me at The Needlers sent this photo. Isn't that a neat way to keep the yarn ball from rolling all over the place. And I love the idea of keeping the yarn in place with the clip. It won't get twisted that way. Thanks to you Sherry for sharing this with me.

June 12, 2013
Today I drove to Kingman, AZ and joined the knitters at The Spinster. Today we started the 3rd Mystery Project. It was an elephant. I didn't want to make an elephant, so I decided to start the crocheted Moebius from the 2nd Mystery Project. I still have lots of single skeins of yarn in my stash. I decided to use a wool blend that is multi-colored called Berries. The pattern is called Flower Infinity Scarf by Kristen Stotlzfus. This scarf is easy to crochet. It is started around a D ring, which is later covered by a cluster of flowers.

I also continued knitting additional petals for the Petals Vest.

I have added the pink and yellow petals.

I am using the remaining cotton yarn in my stash. I have needed to re-arrange my original decisions for yarn-colors placement. As I am now knitting the petals to each other, I decided I didn't want the multi-colored yarns to be directly next to each other. I am hoping I can separate them or at least place them such that they don't create visual conflict. I finished knitting the yellow petal while at The Spinster. I have already started another petal since arriving home. It will be VERY interesting to see if this vest looks decent when I am finished knitting it. At least the experience is beneficial and I do like the petal design.

June 13, 2013
Today is Vickie's 21st Wedding Anniversary with her husband Jim.

I have added the red-multi petal.

I have added the orange petal.

I have added the red petal.

I think I will call this Vickie's Vest of Many Colors. :-)

June 14, 2013

I have finished the multi-blue petal on the third row.

Two rows of petals completed, the third in progress.

The second petal on the third row - the first of two solid blue petals in the back.

I like the color arrangements thus far.

The second blue petal on the third row in the back.

One petal on the third row left to knit - another blue-multi petal like the other one.

The second blue-multi petal is completed. The third row is finished. This photo shows the front view of the Petals Vest thus far.

This is the back view of the Petals Vest thus far. I like the back petals-colors best.

The third row of petals is finished. There is one more row of petals to complete. Then the bodice/back top to finish.

June 15, 2013

I am knitting the fourth row of petals today. I have started the first petal of that row. I am using the last of the red yarn for it. I think I am using this petals design to see how my quilting and knitting can be combined. I have carefully selected colors from my stash that look good next to each other. I didn't want the multi-colors to be next to each other so I placed solid-colors between them. Using only yarn from my stash has been quite a challenge. If I were to go and purchase yarn for this same project, I would chose dark-to-light combinations and probably use the same yarn for the entire row/sections. But the challenge for me with using stash yarn has been to see what I could create with what I already had on hand. I think, with that limitation, I have done a good job of color combinations.

The four rows of petals are complete.

June 16, 2013

Steve informed me that he was coming home tomorrow. So I kicked into high gear determined to finish the vest before he arrived. I didn't want it "hanging over my head". In other words, "I didn't want my attention to be divided between him and the vest!" So I added the connecting lace band and knitted the bodice.

June 20, 2013

Steve has been home for several days now and it sure is nice having him here. He is so busy with projects around the house, that I have been free to work beside him knitting the Petals Vest and finishing the crocheted Flowers Infinity Scarf. They are both now completed except for the hand-sewing - buttons, flowers attachment, loose ends.

Front and Neck edges are finished.
Front View

Back View

The Armholes are now edge finished. Only buttons left to attach.

Back View

Front View

I don't really like this vest now that it is done. Limiting myself to using only the cotton yarns in my stash has created a vest that doesn't appeal to me at all. But I am pleased with the challenge and lessons learned for color placement within the pattern design. If I were to knit this pattern again, I would select a lighter weight yarn. I would choose colors that flowed in value from dark to light or the opposite probably using only one color per row, rather than the random colors I used above. But I did want to use my stash yarns and this pattern helped me do it. It also became a palette of colors for me to experiment with. I am going to send this to Vickie, since I made it in her size. She may not like it either. In that case, it can become a nice gift to someone else that she knows. Or maybe it will go to a thrift store and someone who is more eclectic than me will "snatch it up". <grin>

The vest still needs buttons and I will sew them on tomorrow.

Steve and I needed to go to the laundry mat so I took the Flowers Infinity Scarf with me to crochet while I waited. I find that crochet is a quick craft and was able to almost complete the scarf before returning home after the blankets were finished cleaning and drying. Steve had a pending project that required him to be gone, so I finished the scarf while I waited for his return.

 The flowers are just lying atop the scarf at the moment. I will attach them tomorrow and weave in the loose yarn ends. This scarf is very easy and quick. I used all the yarn for the scarf and didn't have enough on that skein to finish the ruffle and edging. So I used another stash skein that just happened to match the shade in the original yarn and completed the ruffle and top edging with that. I did make the first flower with another yarn that was white, but it was too stark. I didn't like the contrast. So I made the flowers with the edging yarn. They will be attached to the ring.

First flower crocheted from a lacy yarn.

The four flowers crocheted with the edging yarn.

I like the wine flowers best.

Flowers Infinity Scarf

June 21, 2013

Ta-daaah!!!!! The finished scarf.

Ta-daaah!!!! The finished Petals Vest.

Ta-daaah!!! Vickie's Quilt on her bed.

Now that all these projects are completed...on to finishing the squares for the Learn-To-Knit Afghan.  Square 34 and counting....

Vickie's Quilt Is Completed

June 7, 2013

Vickie's quilt is DONE, COMPLETE, FINISHED!!!

I started hemming the binding this morning at 9:00 and stitched the last knot at 3:00. After six hours of labor and I do have the aching neck/shoulder muscle to prove it; Vickie's quilt is now ready to be mailed. That will happen tomorrow hopefully. I will pack it up tonight and have it ready first thing in the morning.

I am hemming on the first side of the quilt. I started at the corner to my right. I'm half-way on that side. I have the quilt laid out on three tables I pushed together in our Craft Room. Makes it much easier to just move around the quilt while I complete each side. No bunching, pulling, wadding, and soiling. It is really convenient.

Three-fourths of the quilt binding has been hemmed. I am ready to start on the far left side of the quilt heading back to the first corner where I began. My shoulders are aching but I'm not gonna stop now.

Mitered Corner

I use hair clips to hold the binding in place. Much easier and quicker to move than pins.

Ta-daaaaa! The quilt is finished. Ready to be mailed. Ready to be received.

Projects, projects, projects. Where do they come from?

June 4, 2013

I finished another square. This is square 30 of the required 63.  Seems I have been knitting squares forever and I'm still not half-way yet. But if I just keep knitting one more square, I will reach the end. I will then be ready for teaching the Learn-to-Knit Afghan pattern this winter. Several ladies have already expressed an interest in learning to knit, so I am encouraged. I still have all the blocks for the crocheted afghan yet pending, too. But not to think about that yet, just keep on knitting.

Square 30
Twisted Lattice

This is the classic Lattice, with simple, clear diagonal lines that add interest to any knitted garment. Variations in the multiple will make the diamond shapes larger or smaller, the twisted ribs closer or farther apart. The background may be purl, garter, or seed stitches as well as knit stitches, which I have used here.

Two more squares and Section IV - Twist-Stitch patterns will be completed. Well I should go ahead and get started. So on to Square 31 "Twisted Panels".

Well, I changed my mind. I decided to use the rest of the blue and white yarns that I used to knit my mother's birthday gift and to knit another Moebius Cowl. I will change the design a little so the two projects aren't exactly the same. I will use all the blue first and then add the white to the edges. I didn't want to keep small amounts of yarn in my stash, so now I am knitting a different project. I don't expect it to take too long. I only needed one day to compete Mother's.

Digit has a mate. He is not as trusting as she is, so I have named him Skit - because he is skittish. He comes to the feeder, too, but will not perch. I saw him several times this morning while sitting on the deck knitting. I thought it was Digit because Skit, too, is so small; but I was wrong. I discovered the mistake when Digit came to the feeder, perched and then began chattering until I looked up and paid attention to her. She sat quietly while I recognized her and chatted with her. Then Skit arrived and I knew that I had mistaken him for her. When he left after feeding, she joined him. She returns alone and chats but he only feeds. It will be fun and entertaining this summer to watch the two interact. I am really enjoying this.

I finished the second Moebius just before going to bed. Now I have one to display with the pattern and to take to The Spinster for demonstration of the Mystery Project. I don't like this one as much as the one I did for Mom. It is also smaller. I cast-on 24 additional stitches for Mom's gift and only 80 (the required amount the pattern called for) on the second one. I also used a third yarn for the trim.

Some projects I really like when completed and others I don't. I enjoyed knitting this and really expected it to be more stunning than it actually is. I'm disappointed. Oh well.

June 5, 2013
Today I allowed Horizon Air to fix my air conditioner. The temps are over 100 degrees each day and the air conditioner stopped working about three days ago. Steve installed a swamp cooler previously and it has been keeping the temp inside around 80-83 degrees, which is fine. Feels good to walk inside and the temp is 20 degrees cooler. I found that during the night the temp drops so much outside in the desert that I was actually cold in the mornings when rising. But all that is fixed now.

I also finished another petal for the Petals Vest pattern.

The petals are attached at the center points. I am using stash cotton yarn and that is the last of that skein. But now I have a dilemma. Those two petals are one side of the vest. One is on the front while the other is in the back. Two additional petals will join those two to finish the back and the other front. The way I have them now means that the color scheme will be skewed. So I have decided to make these two petals the back and knit the other two in a color that matches for the other side of the front. Criminey! It would be so much better if I figured things like this ahead of time, especially before doing all the knitting. But then again, how else does one learn? And since I've never made this pattern before, how could I know? Well...I could have studied the pattern a little more closely. A lesson to pay attention to, for sure!

June 6, 2013

I began the third petal and I like the color real well. It blends with the other two nicely. I won't include a photo of it until I am finished with it.

I went to the Guild today and started combining the pieces needed to form the blocks for the Stacks quilt. Lots more to do with it. I will include a photo of that when that task is done.

After quilting, I drove to Hilda's because she called me yesterday informing me that Vickie's quilt had been quilted. She said it was gorgeous so I couldn't wait to go and get it. It is pretty as the photos show. All I need to do now is hem the binding in place and mail it to Vickie.

The finished quilting done. Hilda is holding the quilt so I can take a photo. The outer red/white border is the binding that still needs to be hand-sewn in place.

Hilda explaining to me how to trim the binding when I  hem to allow for enough batting to puff it appropriately. The binding is to be flush, not flat.

Hilda admiring my work. She was so complimentary. She does such lovely work herself, as a quilter, that I really appreciate her encouragement to me. 

Hilda recommended red thread for the quilting. I agreed. Notice how pretty the red thread looks on the purple. The blending is wonderful, I think.

The quilting pattern, which shows up real nice on the back. Such a good balance matching the swirls in the fabric on the front.

Well, since I set aside Thursday and Friday for quilting, I think I will set up my work space and continue where I finished at the Guild. I won't start hemming Vickie's quilt until tomorrow when I go over to the craft room where I can move tables together and spread the quilt over them. This is much easier for me to handle than trying to hem with the quilt bunched in my lap at home. Until later.....

June is busy and it's only three days in!

June 1, 2013

Hooray!!!!! Vickie's quilt is ready for the quilter. I finished the binding strip and purchased a Queen-size flat sheet for the backing. I have an appointment with Hilda, the quilter, tomorrow. She will put the pieces together and quilt everything with her long-arm quilting machine. I'm grinning from ear to ear.

165 inches of red 2.5" strip for binding the quilt

The Queen-size flat sheet for the backing and the binding strip folded for easy attachment

June 2, 2013
Today my mother celebrated her 80th birthday. She and I talked on the phone for an hour or so with her telling me all about her party that was held yesterday for her and other home news. My sister, Sharon, gave her a wonderful party, which three of her five children were able to attend.

Party attendees are singing happy birthday to  Mom

I also delivered Vickie's quilt to the quilter. Soon I will be sending her the finished project. I had hoped to take a photo of Hilda, the quilter, but I forgot. Didn't think about it again until I arrived home. Drats!

I bought a new knitting pattern last Wednesday while at The Spinster called Petals Vest. I liked the unusual pattern design and can use the cotton yarn I have been storing for some time.  There are 18 petals that surround the body starting at the front, rotating around the back and then joining at the front on the other side.

Petal 1 of 18 completed

I also finished another square for the Learn-to-Knit Afghan.

Square 29
Leaning Stripe

This striped fabric is very dense, as you can tell by the relatively large number of stitches required to make the square, so it is good for knitting warm and windproof garments. I personally don't like this pattern. I didn't enjoy knitting this square and was very glad to be done with it.

June 3, 2013

Hot outside today but windy making it okay to sit on the deck and knit. I am currently knitting Square 30. While I was sitting and knitting, a hummingbird decided to visit me. She is only 2-inches long from her long beak tip to the end of her tail feathers. So I named her Digit. She was very curious about what I was doing and hovered around in front of me checking out my activity. Then she began chattering and finally went to the feeder and ate. She perched on the railing next to the feeder and proceeded to watch me further while chattering. I talked to her and told her I was happy she was feeding from my feeder and that I was happy she wanted to visit. She left but returned and repeated the process again. I think I have a new friend.

This is Digit.

She is only 2-inches long.

Instead of leaving like the other hummingbirds do, she has decided to visit for a while by perching on the wire next to the feeder and inside the awning over the deck.

She sat watching me and then started chattering. She flew under the awning and around where I was sitting to observe what I was doing. I couldn't capture any photos because she moved too fast and the focus was too dark.

She decided to feed again.

Then she flew back to her perch rather than fly to another place.

Again she is watching me and chattering. Smile!

A close up of Digit. She really let me get closer to her than I would have thought. 

Cute isn't she? So now I have a dog, Christy and a bird, Digit to keep me company while I work on my projects. I love it.

May ends and Projects completed...busy, busy, busy

May 28, 2013

Steve's visit home was wonderful. We spent quality time together celebrating being together by visiting his parents, watching a movie, and shopping and dining. We also got all his laundry finished in the short time we had together, too. But most important to me was how he helped me to design my "Stacks" quilt pieces into a pattern where the darker colors flowed nicely into the lighter colors. I was struggling with making the pieces fit into a "planned" design rather than random pieces scattered throughout the top. I finally decided to "stack" the colors on top of each other and let the white separate the "stacks". See what you think...

Colors arranged in color as originally purchased.

Quilt pieces arranged in color sequence

I am attempting to take the colors and STACK them. I am using the white to highlight that design by making the colors "pop" visually. Steve and I arranged and rearranged the pieces again and again trying to find the best design. I think I like this one the best. But I am considering another design, which I haven't photographed yet. I need to decide soon because the pieces need to be sewn together shortly in order to finish the top within the time schedule. 

I went to The Needlers meeting and found myself alone, so I worked on the optional design. I graphed it and will layout the pieces on Friday to determine if I like this design better.

Graphed design of Stacks

I returned home and finished pitting the rest of the cherries left to prepare for freezing. While I was busy with that task, Karen came by the house to see if I would help her learn to knit. She has completed her crocheted dishcloth and made three more. I found a pattern that would give her some good experience and we began. She was "all thumbs" with using two needles after working with only one crochet hook, but she gave it her best and before she left had mastered casting on and knitting one row. I'm very proud of her efforts. She is doing a swell job. I started knitting the same dishcloth pattern with her to complete a sample for future use and to help her see how the techniques are done. I am half finished with mine as of now. I will probably finish it tomorrow. But I need to get back to my squares for the afghan, too. I can't fall behind on those or I won't be ready for teaching in the Fall.

May 29, 2013

I finished knitting the dishcloth this morning before driving to Kingman to meet with The Needlers.

I drove to Kingman today to join the group in starting the "mystery project". It is a Moebius Cowl. I have chosen two pretty colors and will knit it for my Mother for her 80th birthday, which is only a few days away. It seems simple enough and I think I can finish it in time to send to her by that day. If not, then she will get it later. But here goes with the hopes of finishing it by then...

Pattern Photo of Moebius Cowl

I completed the casting on and four pattern rows before leaving The Spinster. When I arrived home, I tinked all my stitches and started over again. I decided that I would like to use a cobalt blue yarn for the knit rows and a pretty lacy white yarn for the lace pattern rows. So I completed the casting on, the original knit row and the first lace row before going to bed. I like the two color combinations, but not sure I like them together in this pattern. I will complete a few more rows tomorrow before deciding if I will keep this design.

May 30, 2013

I have been knitting ALL day and finished the Moebius Shawl/Cowl. I did decide to keep the lacy white yarn for the inside pattern but chose to use only the blue for the lacy trim. I have a photo to share now but will take it with me to the quilter's meeting tomorrow and see if a volunteer will allow me to photograph it being worn.

I will not be able to mail the shawl until tomorrow because I finished too late today. This will require overnight delivery to guarantee the gift arrives in time for the party on Sunday. Not sure I will do this, but will decide tomorrow.

I'm tired. Calling it a night.

May 30, 2013

Today I joined Sherry to quilt. I asked her to model the Moebius so I could send photos to my mom so she would know how to wear the Shawl/Cowl. I think Sherry makes a beautiful model. Don't you?

I mailed the gifts (yes there was something else in the box) today. Mom should get the package on Monday, the day after her birthday. I wrote her a special letter explaining why I was late and the meaning of the gift. The Moebius has no beginning or end thus representing eternity. The pattern shows ups and downs but always coming back to center. The white represents her white hairs due to her 80 years. So I hope she likes it

Before Sherry arrived to quilt, I arranged all my Stack quilt pieces in my graph paper design and took a picture of it. Now I need to choose which I like best before I can stitch the white sections to the colored ones. Which one do I like BEST?

This is the first design. The pieces are arranged so that the top and bottom have a solid border. In order to make this pattern, some of the blocks in the center are arranged differently.

This is the second design Each block is the same but the rows are different. Notice how the pattern runs from top to bottom and the back to the top, etc.

I have asked Steve for his opinion and Sherry already told me that she liked version 2 the best. I am leaning that way, too.

I put that quilt away and began stitching the borders on Vickie's quilt. I added the block-border first and then the final purple border. See what I did?

Isn't that just gorgeous? And there is still another border to add.

The original quilt that was completed in 2008 included everything with the first purple border. Then I received the pieces and scraps last week. I then spent one day cutting and sewing the red/purple squares stitching them into a long border. Today I stitched that border to the rest of the quilt top. I think it really looks striking - very eye catching.

Then I took the remainder of the purple fabric and cut eight 5"x44" strips. I used every last bit of the remnant. I had just enough, but that works for me. I then stitched the 8 strips end-to-end and had one long strip. I began stitching it as the last border to the quilt. I sewed the two long sides first, then the top and bottom. When I was stitching the top border, I was almost half finished when I discovered I had the purple strip facing wrong side to right side. I removed all the stitching and started over making sure the fabric was facing right sides together this time. Finally the task was completed and the quilt top was done.

The extra purple gives this quilt finesse. The colors are so deep and royal. See how pretty the patterns in the middle swirl?

I love the colors and how the pattern "pops". I know Vickie will be thrilled to FINALLY receive her quilt that was started so long ago. I can hardly wait to see her receive it.

I bought a red king-size flat sheet to be used as the backing for this quilt. I will let the quilter use the cotton batting they order wholesale to be applied to the quilt when the machine does the quilting. All I have left to do now is to cut and sew the 2.5" fabric strips for the binding. And the quilter will sew that in place, too. That will leave me with the task of hand-sewing the final hem in place. I bought Vickie a set of sheets/pillow cases to match. This is going to make a very lovely bedroom.