String Quilt Times Two

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think too much about finding the perfect solution to a problem or the “right” way to finish a quilt. There really can be many good solutions. When I couldn’t decide which layout I liked best for these string pieced blocks, I made two different quilts. And you know what, I like BOTH of them. It is easy to get bogged down in finding the best path forward and forget that any path will keep us moving and making new discoveries. .

I have successfully used up the bright, colorful solid scraps! Whoop! I am looking at what’s left and I can tell you that pile is not my favorite. It’s mostly browns, greys, and some dusty rose. They do, however, all fit in my mom’s old train case so that’s progress.

My home sewing room is next to the kitchen and does not have a door that closes. Sometimes I like that I feel a part of what’s going on in the rest of the house, sometimes I want uninterrupted concentration time. I guess this is why I have sound canceling head phones.

Design wall Doings Part 2

There are endless possibilities for these string pieced blocks.

String Piecing and March Workshops

I've really gotten into the sewing groove the last few weeks and I’m deep into string piecing a couple of different projects. Technically they are very similar, but I have different guidelines that I think about when working on each of them. This one is now at the studio in town because it outgrew my home design wall. I’m aiming for a queen size quilt with this one.

I am trying to create a “minimal” look by making blocks with few strings, and setting them with alternate blocks of a single fabric. The alternate blocks are grouped together to create color clumps in the final quilt. I’m sure it will change a bit as I progress but those are the main ideas guiding my process.

If you are interested in my learning my string piecing process, you can take my String Theory class next month. I also have another workshop for Licorice Allsorts on the calendar. You can sign up for classes through my shop.

Winter Wonderland

We are enjoying quite the winter wonderland this year. I love all the snow even if I don’t get out in it much.

The photos above and below were taken from our front porch. The top photo was taken in the afternoon, the bottom photo was taken in the morning. I love how the changing light changes the look.

Little Mittens

These cute little mittens for my two year old grandson are knit from leftover balls of two different handspun yarns from a few years back. OK a LOT of years back. The yarn predates my blog, and Ravelry. I’m pretty sure they predate my daughter! I have no record of it but I KNOW I spun it. Hahaha.

The mittens are project number 50 in my LynnStash100 project. I’m halfway to my goal of 100 items knit from stash or leftover yarn!

What's on Your Design Wall

I love the look of these blocks when they are placed right next to each other with the strips all lined up the same way. I also like the look of them with a plain setting block between them as you can see at the bottom of the photo. Sometimes the decisions are really hard.

Red and White Strippy Quilt

Valentines weekend seems like a good time to share this red and white quilt I finished last spring. I love the spikey strips. The jagged edges of the strips, combined with the intense contrast in color, create an effect that is very high energy.

This was one of my few finishes of 2020. As soon as I finished this I dove in to making stacks of string pieced units, and have finished a couple of tops as well as piles of blocks to sew together.

Finished size 40” by 50”

Little Lowly Worm

My two year old grandson is a big fan of Richard Scarry’s Lowly Worm. He’s started saying: “Lowly, Lowly, Lowly!” It’s too cute, so I searched the web and found this blog post. It includes scans of a pattern from a vintage Richard Scarry activity book, for making Lowly Worm out of felt.

I purchased these tiny buttons more than 25 years ago. I must have known that one day I would need them for something tiny and cute! I’m glad I finally got to use them, and I’m equally glad I was able to find them in my sewing room.

This lonely little shoe slays me.

He’s also poseable, because I omitted stuffing him, and braided some pipe-cleaners to slip in instead.

After I gave it to him my daughter-in-law showed me that she had found and purchased the same activity book. The pattern in the book as drawn will make lowly a bit larger. The scan that I printed was smaller than the page in her book. I like the smaller size though. His body is just the right size to fit in a small fist. He is also the perfect size for driving my grandson’s toy tractors.

Kishie Shawl Update

In the evenings I enjoy settling into a comfy seat and doing handwork. I’m almost caught up on my mending and have been knitting almost every night lately. Since we are not out and about these days I’m taking advantage of the time to focus and work on and finish things that require a bit more attention than my usual crew sock knitting.

According to my Ravelry notes, I started this Kishie Shawl in November 2018. I worked hard on it for a few months and then slowed down. It later sat off in a corner by itself for more than a year and I picked it up again a few weeks ago. I’m at the point where one pattern row takes about 45 minutes - longer if we are watching a movie. Since I don’t want to put the project down mid row, I have to gauge how much time is left in our show to know whether I have time to start another row. I am really close (only a few really long rows) from starting the chart for the edging at the bottom of the shawl.

I am hoping to finish some long languishing projects this year but also seem to be starting a lot of new projects. We shall see how this plays out.

Design wall play

Playing with the layout is just as much fun as making the blocks!