31 March 2021

Wordless Wednesday

30 March 2021

Old Friend

Oh, my gosh, I forgot how much fun my good camera can be! Being stuck at home for the last year, I've resorted to using mostly the camera phone. I've carried the point and shoot more often since elbow/neck problems back in 2017 because it weighs less and doesn't aggravate the owies. The recent snow storms activated our Christmas cacti, and I couldn't get close enough with the iPhone. The macro on the point and shoot is a joke. So I pulled out the Big Gun.

I was so mesmerized by the photos and the ability to get close, I couldn't stop shooting!!! My third indoor tomato is taking off, and our hoya plants can feel the change in seasons. So much to shoot; so little time!!!

29 March 2021

Snowflake Monday

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


2014 Aerial Boulder Flatirons Photo by Lizard

Finished Size: 5.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Boulder Strong Snowflake Instructions

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Popcorn Stitch (pc)

Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 5, 1 sc in 4th ch from hook (loop point made), ch 1] 5 times; pc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting pc, ch 1, 1 dc in top of dc just made to form 6th point. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in loop point directly below, [3 dc in next loop point, ch 3, 3 dc in same loop point] 5 times; 3 dc in next loop point, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th point of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2, (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [1 dc in each of next 6 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 point, ch 3, 3 dc in same point] 5 times; 1 dc in each of next 6 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 point, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th point of Round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

NOTE: All of the non-point/main body stitches in the next Round (2 dc, 2 tr, 2 dtr, then 2 dtr, 2 tr, 2 dc) are worked fp or front post, meaning they are worked around the posts of Round 3 dcs, but each is worked without finishing the last 2 loops, then all remaining 7 loops after 6 st are worked together as a giant leaf-shaped cluster stitch.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [[ [yo and draw up fp loop around next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, [yo 2 times and draw up loop around next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook 2 times] 2 times, [yo 3 times and draw up loop around next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook 3 times] 2 times, yo and draw through all 7 loops on hook (leaf cluster made), ch 5, 1 sc in gap between Round 3 dc just stitched around and next Round 4 dc, ch 5, [yo 3 times and draw up loop around next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook 3 times] 2 times, [yo 2 times and draw up loop around next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook 2 times] 2 times, [yo 2 times and draw up loop around next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook 2 times] 2 times, yo and draw through all 7 loops on hook (leaf cluster made), 1 dc in next ch 3 tip, *ch 3, [yo and draw up loop through 3rd ch from hook, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (dc cluster made), ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch (point tip made), ch 3, 1 dc cluster in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in same *ch 3 tip]] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

I wasn't sure I could write this pattern, so I took photos as I worked the leaf clusters. I hope they help if what I wrote above is nonsensical.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

28 March 2021

25 March 2021

Out of the Pink

(affiliate links to my fabric designs)

It's not from my WIP list, but it's finished, and just in time for the new baby girl neighbor expected in the next few days.

The quilt front is a Spoonflower panel I designed from a photo I snapped of a butterfly on a delphinium in my garden. The borders around the panel are the closest colors I could find in my scrap stash.

The quilt back is made from about half of a pastel layer cake I bought on sale a few years ago to practice free-hand FMQ dinosaur motifs for the second child of my niece but did not use because I was too chicken. I've since become a little braver and used my longarm Ringo to draw free-hand floral scallops on this quilt. Although I'm trying to use up what I have and not buy anything new, I did find a reasonably priced pastel fat quarter bundle I can use to make that dinosaur quilt one day. But not until after I've finished a few more projects on my WIP list.

I used my quilt extenders (which I made from an ugly fabric in my stash) on the edges of the quilt so I could longarm the entire project without doing the edges on the domestic machine. It takes a few extra steps to do it that way, but I'm glad I did. I think the quilting goes faster that way, and it looks better, in my opinion.

I thought the quilt looked pretty darned cool from underneath when I had to change the bobbin in the longarm.

I used white thread on both the top and the bottom for the quilting. When I first bought Ringo, it had to go back to the shop for a few weeks because it was skipping stitches right out of the box. I think I've finished 12 quilts with it now, and I've noticed the past three or so quilts, it's skipping stitches again. I'm not pleased. But I do still love Ringo and hope it can be serviced, perhaps while I work on a hand-quilting project.

When it began skipping stitches again on this quilt, I would backtrack, then continue on, thinking it wouldn't be too difficult to clip the long stitches, unravel a bit, tie knots and weave in the ends. It took two nights to complete this segment of the project, and it doesn't look too bad now, in my opinion.

I didn't have enough of any pink in my stash for the entire binding, so I alternated strips from two different pinks that both matched the Spoonflower panel. When I was ready to put on the binding, I couldn't find a single spool of pink thread anywhere in my house! I was in literal shock! I've made who knows how many pink quilts for my friends and co-workers who have battled breast cancer. I know I have had tons of pink thread!!!

Then it hit me; while I was teaching my little neighbor to quilt, almost everything she made was pink. We used up all my pink thread, and I didn't even know it!

I looked up pink thread at three of my favorite shops with online ordering. I darn near bought a ton of thread just because there were pretty colors. One of the variegated spools of King Tut at Linda's Electric Quilters reminded me of a spool I bought back in about 2019. I dug around one more time and found it. It's dark pink and maroon, perfect for a valentine project. It also turned out to work pretty well on this binding. Without spending money on thread. Yet... (I might still add to my thread stash. One can never have too much thread, right? And I will need pink in the future. I have a pink WIP!)

If I'm able to keep finishing a quilt each month this year, I will improve my longarm skills. My confidence is growing with each finish, and that's a huge step!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Related Posts with Thumbnails