When the best laid plans go pear shaped...

It is 100 degrees outside today, no kidding, there is a storm coming but I don't think it's actually going to rain, and quilting was an epic failure. I just could not get comfortable with this mini and then my machine made noises I associate with "bad things brewing" and then I just couldn't handle it anymore. I quit, yes I am walking away from this for now, well, not right now, since I have about 1000 stitches to pull and then I think I might do some handwork on it, but I put it down to write this article and finish the knitting projects.

Just noticed the photo bomb...

First up, the Nixie Shawl from KnitScene, Spring 2012 issue. This pretty, simple shawl is jazzed up with the addition of a ruffled tail on one end. I did mine in Dark Arts Teal from A Stash Addict and limited edition Bliss from Fabric Bliss here in Denver. Both are sock weight yarns and I think they went together beautifully. Though I enjoyed knitting this and the yarns I used, I am not in love with this shawl, so it will be going into the kBear Crafts Etsy Shop sometime soon.

 Next is Wingspan from designer Maylin of Tricot Treat. Ok, this one has been out there for a while and many many people have done it. I decided to do mine out of Metallico Flint from Blue Sky Alpacas and Plie Bridgetown Brown from tilli tomas. These yarns both contain silk, either entirely [tilli tomas] or partially [Blue Sky Alpaca] so they were not the easiest of yarns to knit with, and both are sock weight. Boy are they soft though, and I just know I am going to adore wearing this shawl come this fall.

 
Finally, I cast on the Mambu Shawlette from Custom Knit Accessories by Wendy Bernard. I am using Hopper on a Flower from Expression Fiber Arts [one of my favorite people to get yarn from], which is a 4-ply Merino DK weight yarn. It is more robust than I was expecting, and though the pattern calls for yarn of this type, I think my reverse knitting style has it turning out a little denser than shown in the pattern photos. No worries, even though I have just started knitting, this is one of those keepers. If it turns out I don't need the other two skeins of this yarn for the shawlette, I'll make extras and post them for sale.

That's it for now. I am off to rip stitches out of my quilt and then I have my Adventure Block Swap to make for the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild meeting this Saturday at Treelotta at 10:00 A.M. If you're in the area stop by! We love new people in the guild or just to come say "hey".

Cheers

How wingspan looks on.

This is folded on the right side of the picture, it is actually a HST with the ruffle at one end.

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Not a Real Post

I do not have time at this moment to upload pictures and compose interesting text for this post but I promise to update it soon with all the above. Mostly I just wanted to get it out there that things have been super busy in the kBear studio and two projects have come to near completion.

The Wingspan shawl I started in January is on the floor blocking and then I will weave it's ends and those of the Nixie Shawl that I completed about two weeks back. And my Scrappy Trip mini quilt is done! It is backed and the quilting is commencing today but we used it last night [kind of, since it is a small quilt] and the super goofy crushed velvet backing is such a hoot. I cannot hardly wait to post a real blog article and show you all the final pictures. It's awesome!

Until then, I hear my child calling, have a great Sunday! Cheers.

Mini-Quilt Invasion

So after years of following blogs and reading blogs and hearing about blogs, it's time for my own.  And this first ever post is Mini-Quilts!  I have become addicted to Mini-Quilts; they are everywhere in my studio right now from the mini pictured below to a larger quilt that could probably count as a lap quilt [which I will review another time in a Scrappy Trip Along post].

It's just so fun to try new blocks or fabrics or quilting techniques, and have something that is done in an afternoon and not a week or month [or year].  This mini is from a stack of six inch squares sent to me by the fabulous @brooketyler2002 [IG]; do I know the designer? Nope.  Do I know the line? Nope. Is it super adorable and perfect for me since I live with two guys and blue is everyone's favorite color? Yes, yes, and oh you better believe it, yes! And the two guys are my husband and son... [geeze, people, clean minds!]

The construction of this is super easy too. Just cut 8, 6"x6" squares of patterned fabric, then cut those in 1/2 creating 16 rectangles. Next cut 7, 6"x6" squares of white and repeat the process so you have 14 rectangles. For the first and last rectangles, I cut one each blue and orange, 3"x6". Next arrange to your liking in four rows, alternating print and solid, and sew together with a 1/4" seam allowance. I alternated the direction I pressed the seams so that they nested together but you can press them open too. Sew the rows together and press those seams open. Quilt and bind to finish. See? Easy!

Also on the Mini-Quilt to do list is the monthly Fresh Mini Quilt Club from the fabulous Megan Bohr of Canoe Ridge Creations which has four quilts in it now.  I have some yummy fabric lined up for each of these!

So, as blog posts go I think this is a pretty good first one. Time to get back to this mini so that the binding can get on and it can get into the wash.  I love the freshly laundered feel of quilts, no matter how big or small!

Cheers!

All finished and ready to wash.