bestitched

the quilt...she is done

Finally, after many, many mistakes (please don't look too closely), the quilt is finished.

I didn't use a pattern. Is there a name for this pattern?


The small squares are 4" and the strips are all 1-1/2" wide. The finished product is large enough to fit on our queen-size bed.

I used Sturbridge Village reproduction fabric, some vintage fabric, and some odds and ends I had lying around. The back is robins egg blue  and the binding is grass green. 

I hand-sewed the binding. Look, this one corner is perfect!

I have other quilts in mind but on a much, much smaller scale!

Little purses

How the purlbee inspires me! Here are some cute purses I made for a couple of my nieces using the Molly's Little Purses tutorial.

Sewing on the little handles was painful (I think I need a thimble), but the result is so cute!

zakka pouches

Made using Nora's fabulous tutorial

Destined for some  sweet friends.

crabby pants

Friday morning started off with a root canal. Ooof. My tooth still hurts. It makes me crabby. So very crabby.

I started the Spiral Boot Socks from the Summer Interweave. I'm using Cascade Fixation, which is fine but I'd love a little more stitch definition. I'm going to have to renew my search for a non-wool sock yarn. I hear Berroco is coming out with one this spring. And speaking of Berroco, have you seen the new Norah Gaughan booklet? I'm in love with this pattern.

Another thing I'm crabby about is my ugly bedspread. It's time for something new.

I'm just winging it. Wish me luck.

git yer roy g. biv on

When I told BL yesterday that I needed to make one last gift for LL, he responded, "Seek professional help."

Hmpf.

Ooo, so pretty! What is it, you ask.

That's right, a take-along crayon roll for my budding little artist. Inspired by thimblewinder's awesome little rolls and   made according to the directions in Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts (could I possibly love this book more?).

Super fun project! I loved matching the crayons and the cloth. True to their estimate, the project took between 2- to 4-hours. (Sorry Nova!)

Now. back to some knitting for me!

giving and receiving

  I was so excited to give JMB her Christmas gift this year.

I used the box bag tutorial from here and some great tattoo fabric from Alexander Henry.

Here's what was inside. A sewing kit!

Let's break it down.

Needle book pattern from Last Minute  Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I picked up the supercute little patch from a booth at Bazaar Bizarre.

A pincushion made from the tutorial over at paper.string.cloth

 

And then some thread, vintage buttons and band-aids (just in case!).

The moment of exchange

Success! Yay!

And what did I receive in return? An amazing crocheted scarf!

Isn't it amazing?

Success! Yay! Merry Christmas friend!

pics from the trip

A few days in DC

::taken from the balcony of a Senator's office::

::the sky after a long day of meetings::

And then a few days on the outskirts of Philly visiting with the family

::My Ma takes her cookies seriously. Here she is constructing a platter from 13 varieties::

::My big brother celebrated a birthday. We played Guitar Hero + it was awesome::

::I did a little yarn shopping + got some cotton  for yet another pair of fingerless mitts and colorful yarn to make something for LL::

I spent a lot of time grading papers + writing on the train, but managed to sneak in just a little knitting. All my shots of knitting turned out like crap, so these need to wait for another day. But I did manage to finish a handmade gift just before leaving on the trip.

::Here's the log cabin pillow destined for a kind friend. My walking foot kicks some serious ass::

My Black Friday

Two  recent book purchases had me thinking about my childhood. It wasn't what was contained inside the covers, rather the image on the exterior of little red shoes triggered some memories. Specifically, wearing my own little red shoes (made for me by my grandfather) sitting at the kitchen table leisurely eating pastina. 

Sigh. 

So I made some pastina for the kid.

And we played on the stairs

And I made some handmade gifts for the holiday.

And I was grateful that I wasn't in megalomart with a  swarm of other frantic shoppers buying crappy holiday gifts.

  Hope your Black Friday was just as peaceful.

and, now, a quiet weekend

BL + LL flew to Pennsylvania for some quality time with the grandparents, leaving me along to stay in my pajamas, watch crappy movies and get some knitting done.

I'm still working on the back of Roam. Slow going there. All seed stitch. Gah.

I'm making glacial progress on the  buncha panties blanket. Five squares done and 25 more to  go. It's possible I may be done with this project before next winter. Hah!

And a quick shopping trip last night resulted in this lovely grouping of fabric. I just need some inspiration to turn it into the perfect throw-sized quilt.

And since I didn't have LL as my shopping partner today, I headed over to an antique store that I've been meaning to check out. Jeezus! I've never been in a store that utilized that much air freshener. Why, why, why do this to your customers? I came home smelly and itchy. And with no purchases.

Done

Pattern: A Buncha Squares from Denyse Schmidt's Quilts

Fabrics: Kona Cotton in Butter, Turquoise and Salmon, Heather Ross Tadpoles and Heather Bailey florals.

Yarn for tying:  Tahki Cotton Classic in Turquoise

  I learned a lot about making quilts, or rather my limitations in doing so. I am not precise and the quilt is as quirky as my finishing techniques. I made the back piece too small and had to tack in some more fabric at the end. And I now understand the importance of thimbles, especially when hand sewing a binding.

The good news for me is that sewing a quilt isn't that hard after all. But the biggest payoff? She loves it. And I can't think of any greater reward.