by Sarah

Quilt Along Update...

My quilt along progress continues slowly as I am excited to get my sweater done.  My sister inspired me to do a couple more blocks by sewing something of her own.

Below are my #6 blocks all completed.  I did all of the #6 to see how they look, but I am going to go back and finish up the rest of the blocks I have to sew in sets.

And below are the D blocks.  Please notice how square my corners are on these blocks.  I did SO MUCH better on these than the C blocks I did before I read the quilt along directions.

I am waiting til the end to square everything off. 

I am learning so many things with Elizabeth's tutorials on Oh, Fransson! and the flickr pool for this project is awesome.  Its definitely not too late to join if you want to make your own Mod Sampler Lap Quilt!!

One sleeve down...

I finished the first sleeve:

And found some buttons I got on sale at Joann in a drawer - they match really well:

I have about 20 more rows to go on the second sleeve, but I managed to add 8 rows of green above the stripes when I ripped out the other day, and I put all the stripes back too:

Now I just have to ply up some more yarn for the bottom. (Singles are all spun up.)  All in all, I am please with my progress.

Handspun sweater update...

The sleeves are just a mere 20 rows from being done (yes, I have been knitting both sleeves this week).

For the body, I think I have enough green for about 6-10 more rows, and since I took the time to spin all the yarn myself I am going to incorporate it all where I want to - ABOVE the first stripe.  So, I am going to be ripping back the body to right above that first brown stripe.  Plus, I am hoping to finish this baby soon, and I think ripping might even inspire its completion rather than hinder it.

some potential realized...

This weekend's projects...
I made this new spring bag out of the Margaret Sling Bag Free Pattern on Oh, Fransson!  It is pictured here with my sister modeling it, since Jody asked.  I made the handle half way between the long and short versions, cause that's how long I wanted it.

When I was looking at the inside today, I realized the pattern is really reversible, it just needs a button on the inside.  (A good thing to note if you are thinking of making one).

And speaking of buttons - doesn't this one match PERFECT?  I love it!

I also finished piecing a baby quilt kit from Joann Fabrics.  I substituted some of my own yellows and oranges for some of the pieces they provided, but overall, I just love the rubber duckies!  I made this to practice some of my machine quilting and walking foot skills.  More on that when I actually get around to quilting it!

And I made a little cotton beaded/crocheted bag.  The colors are brown with bubblegum pink glass beads:

I particularly like the polka dot lining I picked:

Still busy at work, so that may be all of my crafting for this week...but you'll be the first to know if I make something else.

Potential...

Still no crafting here, but I do have a trunk full of potential for my trip to the Cape this weekend.
I'll show you what I managed to accomplish when I get back.

In the meantime, here's a couple of pictures of the bag I made my sister for her birthday:

The pattern is the Margaret Sling Bag from Oh, Fransson!  A great free pattern I did up in just a few hour from cut to final stitches.  The Fabric is Floragraphix by Jason Yenter - 2007, and I purchased it at the Seminole Sampler in Catonsville, MD.

working...

this week I have been working a lot more than crafting - evenings too.
don't worry, I haven't been lonely.
this guy is sitting under my desk, keeping my feets warm.

he was sleeping peacefully with the blanket and toys he dragged under there, but he jumped up to see what was going on when I took out my camera.

Weekend In Review...

This weekend I went on a great fabric store crawl with a friend (no pics), to my spinning guild meeting (no pics), and did lots of chores (no pics).

At the guild meeting, I was working on spinning some more brown coopworth yarn for the bottom of this sweater:

So far, the sleeves are done to the point where they will be solid brown, and I just have a few more stripes in the body of the sweater til it will be all brown too.  I am so happy with the way this sweater is coming out.  Every time I look at it, I think.  I EVEN MADE THE YARN!!!  Its fabulous.

First 12 Squares...

I love the way my colors are coming together!

And a bonus picture of the dogs helping me work today:

For quilt along info - go here.

A skirt, a tiny bit too small.

Last night I sewed Simplicity Pattern 4706 view E to wear with a great shirt I got for a wedding in a couple of weeks.  My only modification to the pattern was to shorten it, and I did a lining, as I used a sheer fabric.  It came out perfect, except, a touch too tight.

So this version is being gifted to a friend (after I hem it).  Isn't the split cute?

I will be sewing Version 2 this weekend, as I don't have enough lining for a second one on hand.
Then, hemming them both at the same time, using this great rolled hem foot tutorial as a guide.

Quilt Along Cutting Complete

The quilt along continues with me FINISHING all of my cutting.
I cut all 12 colors of fabric, and stacked them neatly into 6 recycled manila folders.

 

  

Quilt-along details here if you want to join.

I also managed to get a birthday present all put together and wrapped up for mailing. 
More details after it is received, but dont you just love the wrapping paper?  The inside is wrapped up with teal tissue - I am totally on a teal kick this week!