I'm in the midst of Christmas gift-making, which is proceeding well, but this year has involved a few new challenges that I want to crow about (at least, a little bit).
"A Winter's Night", the exhibit, launched last week but the weather kept me from the Opening Reception, so I dropped by when in town on Tuesday and took this photo of my piece in situ, as it were:
(Photos taken with permission of the Gallery staff.)
Here it is, a bit closer -- the one at the top:
I've not got anything new on my rug-hooking frame yet, but that will come -- probably after Christmas.
In quilting, I finished quilting, binding and washing that comfort throw quilt for the folks I mentioned in my last post -- the ones who'd had a house fire.
The backing gave me some challenges, as it was a softer fabric than the top, and I had to wrestle with its tendency to want to pleat as it was being quilted, no matter how closely I'd pin-basted it. The quilting was simple -- in the 'ditch' around each square -- but it was fussy!
When I gave it to Pastor Bev to take to the family in question, she was delighted, and said they had just moved in to a new place so she'd be taking it to them soon.
Once that was done, I moved on to make a smaller gift: a table runner for friends who are about to celebrate their 50th anniversary. They're a Jewish couple, so I used a pattern designed for Hanukkah and/or Passover celebrations:
It's been a long time since I've done fused applique, but I took my time and I think the stars turned out well. To be on the safe side, I sealed each one with 'Fray-Stop' before I washed it and much to my relief, it survived with no problems! It's in the mail now, and they should get it well in time for their Dec. 7th anniversary. 🥰
The next quilting challenge was more applique -- in the November block for the 2025 BOM at A Quilting Life. And...it involved templates, which, as I mentioned in my last post, I tend to avoid!
I decided to make the templates out of freezer paper, and it worked a treat. Here's the finished block, wearing it's current "position number" for what might be the eventual lay-out:
And here it is in its place...for now -- waiting for the last block, which will be revealed on December 1:
I have a feeling I'll be doing some rearranging, as I'm not sure I want to concentrate the reds or the blues. The challenge is dealing with the blocks that have a directional centre, as I've got a 'thing' about them being 'right way up'!
I've got a bit of time now to sort the scraps in the studio, before starting on Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery project. For the time being, I'm just collecting clues, and will see where it leads. I'm determined -- as usual -- to use only fabric from stash, with the exception of the backing if need be.
Speaking of stash...I'm doing that with my knitting and stitching too.
In the knitting department, my son's Xmas gloves are finished, washed and ready to wrap. I also finally put thumbs on a pair of child-sized mittens for my Warm Things box:
I'm using the same yarn for the "Lawn Bowling Mitts" I mentioned in my last post -- and I've finished the first one -- but alas, no photo to share yet. I'm a bit concerned I'll be playing "Yarn Chicken" with the second one, so haven't done the thumb on the first one yet.
I've set aside those projects in order to make a pair of house socks for the teen in my son's household. I'm using Bravo 'Crazy Color' from deep stash. Yes, I know it's 100% Acrylic -- and I don't usually use that for socks -- but these need to be easy to launder and hard-wearing! I've finished the first one and am about 2" into the 6" leg on the second:
I know I could probably get by without a pattern -- they're just a basic ribbed sock, after all -- but I like to have something to refer to for sizes. I've taken a guess at foot length, but they're for a gangly almost-16-years-old boy so I don't think I'll be too far off!
This simple knitting has given my brain a rest in between challenges, as in the quilting (above) and my stitching projects.
I'm still working on "A Quilter's Dream" from Modern Folk Embroidery, my focus piece for this month, and I'll update that with a photo in my next post.
Meanwhile, though, I finished my latest "Sunday Stitch" -- the "Hope" pattern from Carolyn Manning's "One Color Wonders" series:
And then yesterday, as the title to this post says, "I did a thing!"
Carol and Jennifer, the Two Tall Stitchers on YouTube, put out a challenge a while back, which they call their "Big Girl Pants" -- or BGP -- challenge. They're daring their viewers to dig out those projects -- knitting, crochet, quilting, stitching, you name it! -- that have been set aside because we just don't want to face Fully Finishing them.
Well...yeah. I have a few in the stitching department. At least six --but yesterday I Fully Finished two of those!
First, I turned this stitch from Hinzeit Designs into a notions pouch -- lined, and with a top zipper, no less!
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| Pouch front |
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| Pouch lining, seen from the front |
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| Pouch lining, seen from the back |
And then I made my first-ever true 'pin pillow', filled with crushed walnut shells -- and I didn't make a mess! 😆
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| Front view |
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| Back view |
Will wonders ever cease?!
What about the other four projects? Well...two will be small pillows, which I've done before, stuffed with wool. No real challenges there; I just don't like fully finishing things! LOL! And the other two...the "Coffee" stitch -- another Hinzeit design -- will likely be a hanging. Or a pillow. Again, not that challenging. But the last one is a biscornu -- and it's a Christmas gift, so I'd best get on it. Pullin' up those Big Girl Pants..
What about you, Gentle Readers? I know I'm not the Lone Procrastinator out there... 😉
I'll leave you for now to ponder the possibility of procrastination, with a wish for a creative, joyous weekend and a link to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday. As my American friends and family celebrate Thanksgiving, here in snowy central Alberta I remain thankful for her regular connection the crafting community, and as always, I'm thankful for you, too, Gentle Readers.
And so...a bientot!
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