Saturday Something

Sometimes you just have to do things old school!  Such as this little Christmas quilt I'm working on. 

Usually I would fire up EQ and have it mapped out in a flash. But today we watched a movie and the doodles just came out. 

I can't wait to start cutting fabric and getting lost in this new project.  I hope you are all enjoying this weekend as much as I am!

Sunday Something

Well I tried to get this up yesterday but it just didn't happen. In reality not a lot happened yesterday!  The morning was pretty lazy and the night ended with selling concessions at our county fair. I don't want to look at another hamburger for awhile!  

Now the this week is beginning and the rush will begin again!  I'm hoping to get the borders put on this little beauty before Tuesday!  

It has 3 borders and they really should be mitered. Eeekk!  I've never attempted anything mitered before. I've always been too nervous.  After reading a dozen tutorials I'm ready to tackle this challenge!

 The background of this quilt is not what I'm accustomed to using but I absolutely love it. I can't wait to see the final project!  If only I had more time in a day. A girl can dream right?

Halloween Hangin' Around

Hey hey!  I just wanted to let you know one of my designs is featured on Fort Worth Fabric Studio's blog today!  This little wall hanging tutorial finishes about 44" square and is a quick project!  Head on over there and check it out as well as all the other fantastic projects they have going on.  

Saturday Something

Hello everyone! I know it has been forever since I posted anything. I would love to get back into blogging and this is just the time I should!  

Just a few updates since last January!  Holy cow it has been a long time.  Here is the short version!

*  I did graduate with a Master's degree!  Wahoo!!  It got intense at the end but I'm finished!

*  My kids are doing great!  Big L just turned 14, Big K is 10 and Little A is almost 7.  It is crazy how fast the time has flew by.  They are amazing kids and I'm blessed to be their mom.  

*  Let's talk about school.  I just recently moved to a 4th grade position.  Yup, no more wiping noses and tying shoes.  We have been in class 2 days and I'm amazed at how wonderful my class is.  In some ways I'm sad to not be with little kids but this is going to be a wonderful adventure.  

*  Still on the school note, my husband went back to school this past year.  He has handled everything with so much patience and a level head.  Right now he is planning on getting his RN and working as a nurse after he retires from his present job.  He is on a 20 year retirement and will be able to retire in about 8 years.  That makes me sound really old, thinking about his retirement!   

*  I'm still quilting and knitting sometimes.  Not a lot of knitting going on, but more quilting.  It seems I go in spurts!  Right now quilting is on my mind.  I recently bought a Sweet Sixteen quilting machine and have been in heaven quilting my own quilts.  

My plans for this blog are to keep it up and post more often.  Please check back soon!  I will be sharing my latest creation on Fort Worth Fabric Studio's blog next week!  I'm seriously excited and honored to be a guest on their blog.  Check out their website too!  They have such cute fabric!  

Well I've gotta run!  Life is busy but I'm so excited to be committed to blogging again and hopefully catching up with all of you!  

On The Needles 1-17-14

I am famous for starting projects, not liking the progress and then just stopping.  Or I don't know what to do next so I just put it away.  I'm afraid this is happening with my sweater progress.  I need some advice.  

I have never knitted a sweater before so I made some swatches, thought I had my gauge right, started the sweater and happily knitted away.  Put in a life line, tried it on, felt good about it and kept going.  Put in a second life line, tried it on and now I'm not so sure.  I chose the pattern Ease because it looked comfy and easy to wear.  It is supposed to have 3-4 inches of positive ease for a more baggy look.  I am not getting that look so far!  I measured myself and everything pointed to a medium.  The pattern called for size 10 needle, I got my gauge on a size 8.  Here is what I have so far, disregard the white line!

And the back.

I know it is really hard to tell when it is not finished but if I need to start over again I would rather do it now than when I get 5 more inches.  Here are my observations.  My gauge should be 18 stitches / 4 inches.  Right now it is about 20.  The shoulders fit well, I will pick up stitches to finish the neckline.  The underarm area is in the right place, but not too baggy.  It doesn't pull open at the bust, doesn't stretch it to the extreme but definitely looks different underneath the bust.  I don't have a large chest so I am not used to anything gaping in that area (or looking different at all).  It doesn't look bad on me, just different than what I was expecting. Do I keep going, rip it out, change needle size.  I'm open to any suggestions.  What would you do?

Okay, light up my inbox!  I don't want this to become an unfinished project!  Until then, I will mosey on over to Patchwork Times and find some inspiration there!  

On the Needles 1-10-14

Hello again!  I am excited to share what I started yesterday, dun, dun, dun . . . a sweater!!  Have I told you I love knitting!

Since last week I finished the first gray cable sock and cast on this Ease sweater.  I have been eyeing this sweater for a few months and my sweet husband (and inlaws) gave me a gift certificate for yarn as a Christmas gift.  I happily bought enough for this sweater.

The color is a heathery purple.  It doesn't look like much yet but I'm going slow because I have no idea what I am doing!  But I figure if I follow the pattern, which is well written and pretty easy, I should be okay.  And if not I can always take it out and try again.

I like a good challenge, and honestly learning how to knit has been really good for me while I am in my master's program.  I actually had to bribe myself to finish the class I was working on before I cast this on.  I am glad to say that I have finished it and now I am enjoying this knit before I have start on the next class.

Head over to Patchwork Times to see what everyone else is working on!

Back in the Game?

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well.  I haven't posted for so long probably no one checks my blog anymore.  I apologize in advance if this post gets really long.  There is so much to catch up on, if you just want to get to the knitting projects just skip to the bottom portion!

First, we are all doing well.  All of the girls are back in school, and doing well.  In fact our year is half over and I can't believe it has gone by so quickly.  I have a wonderful class this year I am thoroughly enjoying every day.  It is such a joy to be teaching Kindergarten, I learn so much from the kids I am supposed to be teaching.  They make me a better person and teacher.  

Second, I am halfway through my master's degree.  Wahoo! I usually don't toot my own horn but it has been really hard to get back into college thinking again, and I'm looking forward to being finished.  I am going through Western Governor's University, which is an online college and it has been hard to be self motivated and force myself to do homework every week.  But, it will be a good thing once I am finished, a better pay check and personal satisfaction that it is finished!  Hopefully I am finished by June, but I'll just have to see how it goes.  Wish me luck!  

Third, and most exciting thing is I'm a knitter!  I am been a long time follower of Judy at Patchwork Times.  She always shares the most amazing knitting projects and while I have crocheted stuff I have never knitted.  So I gave it a try in August.  I started with a dishcloth, which I did a little post about, and the first attempt was a total failure.  I didn't know you turned the work like crochet so I taught myself how to knit right handed and left handed.  It was really hard and I almost gave up.  Thankfully I didn't.  Next, I moved onto making a few scarves.  

This one is a long skinny scarf for my sister.  I should have taken a better picture before I gave it to her. It is made from Berroco Vintage, with a slight lacey feel.  She loves it and it fits her personality perfectly.  

I also became addicted to Ravelry!  I probably spend more time on there than Pinterest.  Anyway, this eternity scarf is Arbutus.  It was really fun to make, but I found I don't like short rows and it is a good thing the variegated yarn hides a lot of the mistakes!  It is made from Cascade Eco Highland Duo in Zebra.  It is so fluffy and warm I would wear it every day if I could.  

The real reason I wanted to learn how to knit was because I wanted a pair of knitted socks.  They looked really hard so I had to get a few projects under my belt before I attempted a pair.  

This is my first pair, yea, clap for me!  I was really excited to have a pair and I love them, except they are a bit loose and I like a little tighter sock.  I think it was the ribbing on the leg.  It did take a few hours for my feet to get used to the different feel they have.  I love the way they look and I can't wait to have enough so I can wear a pair every day of the week.  

This is my fourth pair, weird to go from the first pair to the fourth but I didn't get pics of the 2nd and 3rd.  The second pair was given to a friend because they didn't fit me, and the third pair didn't get a picture taken before they were taken over by my daughter!  We have the same shoe size and she believes I made them just for her.  Once they are washed they just might be hidden in my drawer where she will not find them!  Hehe I am so sneaky!  I really like the lower "no show" sock design they are just right to wear around the house and they work up pretty fast.  

These socks are my second attempt at a higher leg sock, and I wanted to put a little more detail in them. This is the right sox, with one cable on the outside edge, the left sock will have the cable on the outside as well.  It will run to the toe and then stop.  

It is still pretty fast but more interesting than straight stockinette stitch.  The more I work on them the more they look like a pair of old man socks.  I still like them and maybe the color choice will make it less likely Big L will leave them alone!  

This final picture is our first knitting accident.  I have learned my lesson to not leave my projects sitting on the floor.  Little A jumped off the couch and stepped right on a needle.  It went in pretty far at an angle.  You can see how far with the little arrow on the picture.  Poor girl cried and walked around with a wash cloth on her foot for most of the night.  Hopefully it will feel better in the morning.  It's only the third day of the year and I have already lost the mother of the year award.  

I know that was super long post, but I thought it best to get caught up all at once.  Check out Judy's blog for other knitting projects and check back soon to see what else is going on!