Yin and Yang Bolero

Another UFO is finished. I started this sweater while I was in Maine a couple of years ago. If you are ever in the area of Ellsworth, you just have to drive a little bit up the coast to Hancock where Shirley's yarn shop is. It is a wonderful place. The pattern, by Knit One Crochet Too, suggests a cotton yarn called Ty-Dy but I fell in love with a yarn called Kathmandu DK from the Queensland Collection. It is 85% Merino Wool, 10% Silk and 5% Cashmere. The pattern starts at the bottom and works up over the shoulder and down the back so you only have side seams to stitch when it is done. I know you can't see the button but it actually is really beautiful and in the same colors as I chose for the sweater. The fit is really cute and I intend to wear it in the fall and winter with a solid color turtle neck. It is really too bad that I didn't get this done earlier in the year because we are now having daily temperatures in the 80s and 90s. So it has been carefully stored away and will come out again in November. I'm looking forward to it!

A Bear is Born...

...And another UFO is finished. I have named this little bear Harmony. She was just a finished shell and had been waiting in my UFO pile for a very long time. Finally, I got her stuffed and the ends tucked in. Then I sewed on the eyes, nose and mouth. I'm not sure where she will end up but I hope that she will be loved. Teddies are so much fun to knit and don't take very much leftover yarn. I have made this pattern several times so I think it is time to try a new pattern. I have several to choose from and lots of leftover yarn to make it with. A nice little project to carry with you in the car.

Bunnies

These are the bunny blocks. After much thought, trial and error, I decided their placement in the quilt. Here they are just waiting to be put together with the sashing. I actually have done that but don't have a new picture yet. I have been machine quilting them and have been having a problem with my outdated walking foot. It must be 30 years old. I think I will have to purchase a walking foot for my newer sewing machine if I'm going to do much more machine quilting. It shouldn't be such a battle. I used a very nice pink fabric for the sashing and it sets off the blocks perfectly. Very "Easter Bunny" looking. When the quilting is done, I will embroider tiny pink noses on all of the bunnies. This has been a fun project and I wish it had not been a UFO for so long. I'll add another picture of the finished quilt before too long.

Birthday Socks

I finally have a picture of the socks I made for my sister. Her birthday was in February and I forgot to take a picture before I gave them to her. It has taken these last couple of months (you know how it is ... camera problems, computer problems) for her to take a picture for me to post. If I remember correctly, these were knitted from Knit Picks wool yarn. It is very soft and oh so nice to work with. I'm sure that they will be keeping her feet warm for a good long time. And again, Happy Birthday sweet sister. You are the best!

No Bunny Quilt Yet .....

Easter was not the weekend for me to get my bunny quilt finished. But I was able to start and finish a toddler size sweater vest. This is a pattern that came in a kit from the NY Fiber Festival in Rhinebeck a few years ago and this is the second one that I have made. It is knitted in one piece and sewn together at the shoulders. I made it with leftover Lion Brand Wool-ease. It doesn't take much. I know I could have done the edges a little better and I may take them out and do them again later. For now, it is done and goes into my "Charity Knitting" box.


I did make a couple of Easter baskets for the first time in years. This basket I filled each year for my son as he was growing up. I decided to fill it one more time and let him take it home with him. I think he liked it.

A finished UFO

Finally, I have finished a santa ornament that I must have started at least three years ago. I really had most of it done. Even so, the part that was "undone" was the most time consuming. The beads are sewn on one at a time and the cross-stitch thread goes through the bead twice. I finished it up by sticking it to some "sticky felt" and then cut around it. I have already put it safely away with Christmas things for next year.

Now, on to the next UFO. I will be sewing bunny eyes and noses and a couple of buttons onto nine finished quilt blocks. I would really love to get this quilt done before Easter. Wish me luck!

Lilacs

Look at my lilacs. I have this little bush in a huge pot on my back porch and I'm happy to see it blooming. My GIANT lilac bush is way out off the end of our property and when it blooms, I can cut blossoms to bring inside for weeks. But it is just starting to produce tiny buds and it will be a while before I get any big blooms. This year, I plan to dig up as many suckers as I can from the giant bush to see if I can get them started. I'd love to have a whole hedge row of lilac bushes.

I have used the random number generator and it has chosen number 6 who happens to be Heatherly. Thanks to all of you for responding to my give away. It is nice to know that this project will NOT end up in my closet and might quite possible get finished.