Redecorating

We decided to hang some of my small quilts on the wall. I was getting tired of shifting them from one surface to another!

I love this pair — The Alley, versions I (on the left) and II (on the right). We decided to hang them in the living room over the sofa.

The Alley, versions I and II, hanging in our living room

You can read more about these quilts here.

And just so you don’t think my living room really looks this spare and cool…

The Alley, versions I and II, hanging in our living room

Basket Yoke Pullover, Revisited

Ever since I made this basket yoke pullover, which came out really big and I have a terrible time keeping on my shoulders, I’ve been wanting to make another one. Well, I managed to get a smaller version finished around the New Year!

Basket Yoke Pullover, version 2

There are more details and photos over on my Ravelry page about this project. This one is actually two sizes smaller than the first one.

Basket Yoke Pullover, version 2

I like this version TONS better. It doesn’t fall off, for starters. And it isn’t super baggy in the back like the other one. Though I have a feeling that the size between the two that I made would probably have been the best size. But, hey, live and learn. I’m just learning about sizing for knitting. I knew I wouldn’t get it right the first time around!

Just for fun, here’s a comparison between the two sweaters. Fortunately, this was really fast and easy to knit!

Basket Yoke Pullover, version 2

Basket Yoke Pullover, version 2

Basket Yoke Pullover, version 2

Bits and Pieces Quilt

Around November I started looking at all of my stuff and thinking that I either needed to “use it or lose it.” That was the beginning of what has turned into a fairly massive clearing out of everything around the house, including my scraps.

I had a pile of scraps that I had saved from trimming up the blocks in my Not So Straight and Narrow Quilts – both the queen-sized one that I had hand quilted (read about this quilt here, here, here, and here) and the throw size (still for sale!) that I made for the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles’ museum shop.

I always thought these scraps were fun and wanted to make something from them, so I thought, “Now’s the time!” So, I started piecing them together. I gave you a sneak peek of this project back on December 1!

Bits and Pieces - blocks in progress

I tried various things, but opted for alternating solid strips with strips that contained little bits of other fabrics.

I ended up with four blocks and then needed to decide if I wanted to shove them all together, or add sashing so I could make a larger quilt, keeping in mind that I wanted this quilt to come entirely from stuff I had lying around. I tried solid sashing – this was the only solid that went that I had enough of.

Bits and Pieces Quilt - testing green sashing

And I tried print sashing, since the blocks were mostly solids.

Bits and Pieces Quilt - testing print sashing

And in the end, I opted to just smoosh them together and make a smaller quilt.

Bits and Pieces - finished quilt top

I’d had some thoughts on how I would like it to be quilted, and realized that not only would it be easier to execute if hand quilted, but that this quilt was actually small enough that such a thing would be feasible.

Bits and Pieces Tan Section

So, I hand quilted.

Bits and Pieces Yellow Section

Bits and Pieces Green Section

Bits and Pieces Gray section

I tried out the idea of pieced binding in an effort to use more of my little scraps, but it just wasn’t working for me.

Bits and Pieces Quilt - Testing pieced binding

I ended up with a solid binding, and I’m really happy with how it turned out!

Bits and Pieces Quilt

And just so you can see how big it is, here it is hanging over our loveseat (fyi – it’s stuck on the wall temporarily with double-sided tape! Kept falling off while I was trying to take the pictures!).

Bits and Pieces Quilt

Not bad, for coming entirely from my stash (including the backing, the binding, and the batting!).

Since I finished the Bits and Pieces quilt I’ve been working on a second scrap/stash quilt – this one made from scraps from my Greek To Me quilt – for which I have the top and the backing assembled, and I’m currently pondering how I want to quilt it before I baste it together. There’s always something else in progress around here.

And the cleaning out progress has been pretty impressive. I managed to whittle my scraps down to probably 1/10 their original amount. I literally wanted to cry when I saw some of the really sad bits I had kept. I do not want to show up on some hoarders show one day!

On Pins & Needles

Little Pins & Needles Books

I have a little zipper pouch that I put my hand sewing bits in to carry around with me, and for the longest time I’ve been needing somewhere to put the couple of needles I’m currently using and a few pins. Instead of just cutting a square of felt, I thought I’d make myself the cute little book from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts.

Little Pins & Needles Books

But it seemed a shame to make just one, so all my crafty friends now have one as well!

FYI – I used the cheapo polyester craft felt I had lying around, not nice wool felt, which I’m sure would have worked better. But I was eager to just do this with what I had on hand!

Amy Crochets a Scarf!

I’m still working on catching you up on some things I finished before Christmas, and I’m super super excited about this project, because it was my first crocheted project!

Treillage Scarf

My friend Dolin wrote this pattern a while back, and I have been completely in love with it ever since I first saw it. It’s the most luscious, smooshy, cushy crocheted thing I’d ever seen, and was part of my motivation for learning to crochet – I wanted to make this scarf so badly!

Treillage Scarf

Back at the end of the summer, the shop where I work had a big yard sale, where people brought in stuff from their stash they wanted to sell (priced themselves), and we sold it for them. They collected their money in the form of gift cards to the store. The only thing I bought at that sale, was one skein of Posh Yarns Laura for $5. This yarn has been discontinued, but it’s so so lovely (it IS 20% cashmere). And it was perfect for this scarf.

Treillage Scarf with my new coat

Even as a beginner this scarf was totally doable, and despite turning out really long (79″ or so after blocking), went really quickly. And it’s so nice to have such a readable pattern, and one that includes both words and a chart.

Treillage Scarf with my new coat

I am totally loving it with the new coat I got for Christmas.

You can now purchase the pattern on Ravelry for a mere $3.95. And it comes highly recommended!

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