I Made a Quilt, and I Liked It.

A new hobby!

I spent some time with my grandma (aka quilter extraordinaire) on vacation, and I made a quilt, in like 4 days. We started the quilt last August, and I pretty much let it languish when I returned home. I had some of the cutting already done, but the project went so fast once we got started again. It has been my experience (my "sick" days spent sewing with Hilary in med school) that sewing is much more enjoyable if you have a buddy. And it really helps if that buddy knows what they are doing and can give you helpful tips throughout your project.



Details:
Pattern: Beefcake Fat Quarter Quilt by Two Sisters at Squirrel Hollow
Material: Amy Butler fat quarters and various other stuff from my stash
Size: 66x80 inches

I sent the quilt top and backing off in the mail to a woman that does machine quilting. I should have it back in about 6 weeks. I thought about quilting it on my sewing machine (via stitching in the ditch) and quickly realized that this would take far too long, cause me many headaches and would likely result in the quilt never being finished. It's good to have help in life, especially it if saves you hours of time and headaches.

This quilt was made in my continued theme of baby fever. I think it's a little larger than twin-sized. The day is fast approaching when our schedules will be such that we could actually seriously think about having a baby. And babies grow up right? And he/she will need a colorful quilt for their twin-sized bed. Yes, I am insane. And I (and Raul) like it that way.

Yummy part II!

I joined a fiber club a few months ago, and every so often, I get some fiber in the mail. I've been spinning some of it (like here) and some has been going in the stash.

Here is the stash that has gathered thus far:


I have eight ounces of colorways 'sleepy hollow' merino and 'smokestack' merino and four ounces each of 'pet rat' merino and 'smokestack' corriedale cross. What shall I make?? The possibilities are limitless!

Hey Pretty Lady

I have a grandma that hearts hearts. I heart knitting. And my grandma. The sweetheart vest from Interweave Knits was designed with us in mind, I'm pretty sure.

I originally planned to finish it for my grandma's birthday in September. Well, that came and went, as did Christmas. But now it's finished and ready for me to hand deliver of my vacation!

Here is a photo on my table:


Here is a modeled shot by my lovely grandma:


Project details:
Pattern: Sweetheart Vest by Theresa Schabes from Interweave Knits, Fall 2007
Yarn: Plymouth Galeway chunky #722 tan heather, #16 red, #91 orange, #142 pink, and #712 dark brown heather
Size: Medium?
Needles: size 10 circs

Comments: I slipped stitches on edges. Note to self - never do that again. Other than that, I am happy with the pattern and fit and colorwork!

Yummy!

Yesterday was my birthday. Yay! And it was also the first day of a two week vacation, so I have time to blog. Also, yay!

As a pre-birthday present, we went to a local spinning and weaving shop to buy some goodies. I bought a little less than a pound of washed and picked fleece (wool shorn from the sheep that has been minimally processed.) I am blending it with some hand-dyed merino roving from my stash and make a vest for Raul (aka best husband ever.)

Here is a photo of roving + fleece:

Dee-licious.

I also bought some hand carders. You use these to separate the raw fleece and blend it with the roving to make it ready for spinning. That thing at the top is a rolag (the wool after carding), and it's ready for spinning!


Here is a shot of what I have spun so far. Very excited!