November Schnibbles

How can anyone not love prairie points? They are just so sweet.


I thought they would be perfect for the border of my November Schnibbles quilt. This pattern is called Picnic and it was just that. So fun to make!

My only regret is the red, which is my favorite color, but I am not loving it in this quilt. And I seriously do not know how the only two red baskets ended up right next to each other when that was not part of the layout. Something happened between the living room floor and the sewing machine. So I have decided that I am going to embrace the red and put a red binding on the quilt to (hopefully) make it look like the red wasn't a huge mistake.

My mom and I have been having a fun visit. There hasn't been a lot of sewing/knitting time so I am definitely behind on getting my UFOs done, but it has been worth it. She goes to my sister's house in a few days so I will get back to work then. For now I want to spend all my time with her until she leaves.

UFO #1 done!

Yay! I finished one of my UFO's for Jacquie's Joy In The New Year! I started this pair of socks for someone special as a Christmas present back in the beginning of October. I am feeling pretty good with a Christmas present and UFO done all in one finish. Yay!


So onto the next pair of socks for Christmas...

This sock (there is only one so far) is for my daughter who told me a while ago how much she would like a pair of knee high socks in her school colors. It took me a while to find a yarn that worked but when I finally saw one I snatched it up. I am writing this pattern as I knit based on the measurements I took of her foot and leg. Oh yeah, one day I walked around the house measuring every one's feet and legs. Now I am prepared to knit my family socks! That funny bump you see on the sock for my daughter is calf shaping, so yes it is supposed to be there. I think the hardest thing about knitting socks for my family is that I can't try the socks on them as I knit them. So I am going to be really nervous Christmas morning when they unwrap them and try them on.



Do you remember this quilt? Well it has sat for a while because I could not find a border fabric that worked.

I was so excited when I was shopping after my block of the month class and came across this great fabric from the new Simple Abundance fabric line. I didn't even need the quilt with me, I knew it was perfect. I was even more excited when I brought it home and laid it next to the quilt. Kismet! Looks like another UFO will be a FO real soon.


I've been in basket heaven since November 1st.

Yep, I am working on my Schnibbles quilt for November. I am really enjoying it and I am glad I picked the '30s fabric. It is happy fabric that casts a ray of sunshine on what have been a lot of gray, rainy days here in the Pacific Northwest.

I should get lots of knitting done in the near future because my mom is coming for a visit and we like to sit and knit together. She is bringing an afghan that she is working on and I can't wait to see it. She will be here for Thanksgiving which will be a real treat. I am happy for my kids that they are going to get some grandma time. They are so excited.

Hooray for hand knit socks!

I finished my mystery socks! The pattern is by Kirsten Kapur from Through the Loops. You can find the complete pattern here.



I can't get over how gorgeous this pattern is. I love how the pattern shifts from the side of the leg to the top of the foot. And what a gorgeous cuff!

I thought about giving these as a gift for Christmas but it is Koigu which is not a machine washable yarn and I am not sure a non-knitter cares to hand wash their socks. So I started a pair of socks about halfway through this pair that will definitely be a Christmas gift.

I am excited about November's Shnibbles pattern for A Year of Schnibbles. It is called Picnic and it is filled with cute basket blocks. So far these patterns have been talking to me (very strange) and this month's told me that it had to be made in 1930's repro fabrics. I am going to the stash again this month.

So I joined Jacquie's finish those UFOs challenge. A little reluctantly because I hope I am not setting myself up for failure. I have so many UFOs it is ridiculous and there is no way I could finish them all. So I picked 13 (a very lucky number in my family) UFOs. Some are knitting some are quilting. Some have to be done for Christmas so that will help. I am excited about the challenge it is just that the timing may be tricky with the holidays. We will see!

I will not bore you with a list but when I finish each one (wasn't that a positive statement), I will reveal that it was on my list.

October Schnibble

Here is my finished quilt for A Year of Schnibbles! When I first saw the pattern for October I just knew I had to make it red, white, and blue. I love this color combination and I am often drawn to quilts made in almost any variation of those colors.



I did a very simple straight line diamond pattern for the quilting. I wanted to enhance that diamond shape that the red stars all make together.

I was delighted to find that I already had a label printed that matched my quilt.

This quilt was a true stash buster. It is made 100% from scraps in my stash and the backing was a piece of fabric I had left over from this quilt. I wondered as I was making it if that cream with colored stars background fabric I used would end up being too busy with all the other prints but I think it turned out great in the end.

I had to get a funny picture of the quilt with the fall leaves since the quilt is more suited for the 4th of July. (notice that leaf that fell just in time for the picture!) Looks like I am way ahead of schedule for next summer!

Debbie Macomber

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to read. It is rare for me not to be in the middle of a book and I go through them rather quickly. Now, that doesn't mean that I am a fast reader, just that I spend a good amount of time reading. One of my favorite authors is Debbie Macomber. The first book I read of hers was The Shop On Blossom Street about a woman who opens a yarn shop. I was drawn to it because of the knitting aspect but continued to read the series because of the characters and the relationships that Debbie creates in her books. When I finished that series I went online to see if she wrote anything else. I found out that she has been writing for a long time and has written SO many books. I love her series books the best. The Cedar Cover series is based on her home town of Port Orchard, Washington which isn't far from where I live. I also like the Promise, Texas series and Dakota series. She also writes Christmas books too, which are fun to read during the holiday season. My wonderful mom reads her too and buys her books and sends them to me after she reads them. I have bought a few too but usually I don't even know there is another one until I get one in the mail.


So when I found out that Debbie was going to be at a local yarn shop to visit and sign books I was so excited. I didn't think I was going to get to go because she was visiting right when my kids get out of school and then we have soccer practice. But my husband, aka my knight in shining armor, worked from home so I was able to go see her!!

She was so nice and so funny and such a joy to meet. You guys would have been so proud of me, I didn't act like an idiot or forget how to speak or anything. I think it helped that I sat and listened to her speak for a bit so I got used to being in the same room with her.

She signed my copy of Summer on Blossom Street, the latest book in the Blossom Street series. I forgot to mention that she is a knitter too and has pattern books that go with that series. I have the yarn all picked out to make Alix's prayer shawl.

Debbie is so generous. She brought a gift for everyone of her latest newsletter, a bookmark, and recipe cards with some delicious looking recipes. I can't wait to try them!

Lists

Do you, as I do, feel that making lists helps you clear your head and make your seemingly unachievable amount of tasks seem manageable? I have been in a frenzy of list making lately as not to feel overwhelmed. Before I put pen to paper I can get a little stressed out but once I write down what I need to accomplish I will often look at my so called unachievable list and I will think, is that all? Funny how that is...


So Christmas is (a very short) two months away and since I have decided this will be a "hand made Christmas" as much as possible, I have much to do. I am currently matching up project ideas with recipients. Lists again. Do you ever worry that all the love and time you put into a hand made gift won't be appreciated? I do. Maybe I should buy some of these gift tags to go with the gifts.


So...I am loving the mystery sock I am working on. This weeks clue was the foot of the sock. It is turning out very beautiful and I am very happy with the yarn I chose. Maybe these will be a Christmas gift...we'll see.



Here is a sneak peek my October Schnibble. I have a few borders to add before I layer, quilt, and bind it.

I am dragging my feet a little getting it done. The knitting has taken over!

schnibbles win & a mystery sock

Are you enjoying the Quilt Festival? I am! It is going to take me a while to get through the whole list but it has been worth it so far. Some of the stories about the quilts are so touching. I updated my quilt festival post to include a link to my sister's quilt festival post. She picked a quilt we made together and talked about our sister quilts. She even has pictures of us together. You should check out how short my hair used to be!!


I am having so much fun participating in A Year of Schnibbles. The patterns are fun and I am loving having (and will continue to have) a cute finished quilt every month. I was so surprised to have won one of the giveaways the first month! And from the quilter who designs the Schnibbles patterns no less! The very talented Carrie sent me this incredible gift.



Thank you, Carrie!! And for this month's Schnibble we are making Cindy Lou Who. When I saw this it just sang, make me in one of your favorite color combos, patriotic!! So red, white, and blue it will be.

I am very excited to be participating in Through the Loops mystery sock pattern for Soctoberfest. Every Thursday she puts up a new clue. I am not likely to have the leg of the socks by tomorrow so I am a touch behind but I am sure I can catch up.

I am using some precious Koigu sockyarn for these socks. After discovering how pretty the cuffs were, I can't wait to see what the leg will look like.