Work in Progress Wednesday 03/30/2011

I was diligently working on the quilting for the zigzag quilt when I ran out of thread. UGH! I wanted to start a small project that I could finish while I waited to get some more thread. I was going through my stuff and decided to pick up this unfinished quilt. I'd done the embroidery literally years ago. Sometime last year I put the top together. I even bought the cute striped sheet at Wal-Mart for the backing. I had batting exactly the right size. OK. Let's finish it up. I was quilting along and RAN OUT OF THREAD AGAIN! Who runs out of white thread? I gave up on sewing then and knitted for the rest of the weekend!

I did go to the store and get new white and blue thread, so I'm making progress again. Noah's ark is all quilted. I used wavy lines to quilt the horizontal stripes and I stippled around the large picture in the middle. I've never really done it before except just messing around, and I really like how it turned out.

I have the binding made and pinned on. I just have to get it sewn on. I'm very excited to see this project finished after so long!

I also threw this together for my little girl. She plays ballerina in the living room almost everyday, so I thought she would love it. It's just a panel from Hancock Fabric. I just wrapped it around her and sewed it up. Ribbons for straps. Done. She likes it and can't wait to wear it with her hair in ballerina bun!

Be sure to check out everyone else's work at Freshly Pieced!

Work In Progress Wednesday 03/23/2011

I've been working hard on my zig-zag quilt, hoping to get it done by Friday. I think I'll be able to know for sure if that's realistic after I work on it tonight. I've decided that I would rather take my time and have it nicely finished than rush to get it done by Friday. I LOVE the way it looks so far.



I've also worked a little on this project. It's good to just pick up for a few minutes. Other people may think I'm crazy, but I find the embroidery very relaxing.


No progress on anything else, sewing wise. I do have a bit of my garden planted and my flower beds fixed up nicely! I had to take advantage of the beautiful weather to be outside.

Don't forget to visit Freshly Pieced to see what others are creating!

Knitting 101

A few weeks ago I took at knitting class at Jo-Ann's with my mom. It was about 2 and a half hours long. We learned how to get started, how to knit and perl, and how to bind off. I'm really enjoying it so far, but I'm just learning. I am really good at just perling. The motion is more natural to me. I also like the texture it produces:


Below is my first finished-ish project. It's a scarf, obviously. However it's about a 9 inches wide and too short. Last night I unravelled the end and started redoing it, this time, skinnier! I really like the way the yarn feels and I hated to just waste it. I couldn't think of anything else to do with it, so I started it again.

I'm not really sure why it has a big bump on the side...

I guess it would have worked for someone with an UNUSUALLY long neck!

I found the class very infomative. I had wanted to learn to knit for a while. I know there are youtube videos, but I wasn't sure how to get started or what I would even need. Even if I don't continue with it right now, I at least know how to walk into the craft store and pick out what I need to get started again. The class was $35, but they were having an open house so it was half price. That included a large bag, a pair of knitting needles, and some Vanna White yarn. I'm thinking about taking the crochet class next...

WIP Wednesday 03/16/2011

I have worked on something almost every night, but I don't really have a lot of finished projects to show for it lately! I did finish the March block for Birdie Stitches.


I really like this little bird.

I am only using the colors in the fabric so my rainbow has brown instead of purple and I left out that top line. I obviously haven't washed it yet, so you can still see the blue lines. I am really happy that I decided to participate in this. It's is easy to make the blocks. the embroidery designs are cute and I can finish them quickly. I'm excited to keep working on it. I haven't given up the idea of making another one for a Christmas gift, but still haven't started it.

I have learned a new skill: knitting. I'll share about that in the next few days, but it's probably the reason I don't have much finished!

I also started a project using Cuckoo! from Wild Olive. Mollie is starting a great series on embroidery basics if you want to check it out and learn something new!

I'm still working on the zigzag quilt (or it's still on the design wall anyway!). My local quilt shop is having a party for HST projects, so I'm going to try to finish it up and take it to that next Friday. No progress on the fairy quilt. It seems to be stalled!

Another thing I'm working on is a monthly sewing "group" with my friends from college. We are all going to try to get together once a month to sew/craft for a few hours. I'm very excited about it coming together. I think there are going to be about 8 of us. We are going to start with a baby quilt. Not sure if we are going to continue making the same thing every month or if we are all just going to bring something we are working on. We have several different talents in the group, so I think we are going to teach each other some different things. Do you have any group that you create with? Do you have any idea or suggestions that would be fun? Is this something you would like to hear about? Wanna start your own group? I'll be sharing ideas and suggestions based on how things go with us!

To check out what other people are working on the week, be sure to check out Freshly Pieced.

Work in Progress Wednesday 03/02/2011

I haven't made alot of progress this week with my ongoing projects. I'm almost finished with the Fairy top. I don't love it, but that's the way things go sometime. I've lost most of my motivation but I want to be finished with it.

I'm still working on my zigzag quilt. It's going to end up being a large lap quilt. The top is just about finished. I'm sure when it is, I'll be ready to finish it up!

I think I'm going to do some small projects after these two quilts. I need some instant gratification. I have several bags I'd like to make. Maybe an Easter Bunny for my daughter. Maybe a spring skirt...

I did finish my Sew Fresh Fabrics scrap bee block this week, so I have been sewing! A little at a time, right?!?

Be sure to check out what everyone else is doing to help find your motivation!

Little Big Boy

My daughter wanted to help me make something this weekend, so we whipped up this little onesie for Baby Brother. A piece of Wonder Under and scrap of fabric became this cute little tie shirt. I've never appliqued and it turned out to be really easy.


I think it makes my little baby look like a big boy. He seemed to like it. I think the pearls are a nice accessory!