On the Needles Friday - July 27th

Linking up with Judy of Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday. Today is moving day for us so I've been working on this post all week as I worked on things. Hopefully I'll have time to link up before we start loading the truck.

Finished the body of the Berkshire pullover from the book "Weekend Knitting". Just need to do the sleeves - in Michigan.

Finished the first Faux Cable socks. I altered the pattern from 3 cables going down the centre to having 8 go around the leg and 4 down the foot. I love it. The second sock will be made after the Ravellenic Games - in Michigan.

Side view and picture that is closest to the actual yarn colour

Yarn for the Take a Hike socks I'm making for the Ravellenic games. I had to buy this yarn.

Yarn for the Aullwood shawl I'm making for the Ravellenic games. From my stash.

Ok. Now it is almost 11 at night on Friday. Moving truck is packed and there is other knitting to share but it can wait for another day. I'll come back and add links later. Glad I wrote this post in advance.

Last Idaho Quilt post

Here is the last quilt project I finished here in Idaho. I got the hanging sleeve sewn down and was able to get it hung on the wall for a picture before packing it. I was able to baste my July UFO but that's it. It's also packed and will have to wait until Michigan to be finished.

On the Needles Friday - July 20th

Linking up at Judy's Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday.

I made a lot of progress on the Ardara cardigan last weekend. I finished the front.

And I am almost done the back. Still have a lot to do but I'd love to get this done by next Friday. It's probably wishful thinking. This time next week we'll be loading the moving truck and there's still a bit of packing and a bunch of cleaning do before then. And my parents are going to visit. And it's been so hot in the evenings that the last thing I want to do is sit with a cardigan on my lap.

This is the sock I cast on last Thursday. It's the Faux Cable sock pattern I used to make socks for my mom in February. The pattern has only 3 cables going down the centre of the sock but while I was knitting my mother's I kept thinking about changing the pattern to make the cables go all around the leg. I couldn't get the idea out of my head and here they are. I need to finish the first sock since I need these needles for the socks I am doing for the ravellenic games.

Love the cables going all the way around. Very happy with it. Have about 4 inches left for the foot and then the toe. I should be able to get these done by next Friday.

Friday Night Sew-In

For someone who didn't now what she was going to work on last night for Friday Night Sew-In, I was able to get 3 hours at my sewing machine and 2 projects finished. It helps that 2 weeks from today we start the journey from Idaho to Michigan and I've packed almost all my quilting stuff except a few projects. Without a lot of different WIP's to choose from I was able to focus and get some stuff done.

Made to pillow slipcovers. I've had the tops done for a few weeks, just sitting on my quilt table. Last night I was able to quilt them, cut out the backing and finished them.

Both pillows have the same backing. I found it in the remnant bin at JoAnn's a while ago and since there was almost a full yard there was enough for both. I've tried to use this fabric on projects I knew I was going to give away but I just couldn't. Glad I get to keep it.

I also finished the quilt from the Fat Quarter Stars QAL with Moose on the Porch Quilts. I only made 10 of the 12 blocks (the 10th is on the back). I was able to quilt it, get the binding on and attach the hanging sleeve. All that is left is to hand-sew the hanging sleeve down but I consider this complete.

I wasn't sure how I was going to quilt it. Finally decided on stippling on all the yellow and stitch-in-the-ditch along the sashing and border. 

And the back. It was nice to use up a lot of smaller pieces that I wasn't willing to part with.

Go to Heidi's blog to see what everyone else did last night.

On the Needles Friday - July 13th

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday. Today I have 2 finishes to share. The only other thing I've worked on this week is a pair of socks I cast on yesterday. Since I've only done 2 rows, I didn't bother to take a picture. We are moving in two weeks and that has really controlled me casting on a bunch of projects and helped me to focus. I have also packed all my yarn except for 2 current WIP's and the yarn I plan on using on our trip - moving from Idaho to Michigan means a lot of knitting time, I hope.

Finish #1 - the dress for my niece. It will be a little late as her birthday was the 5th, but it is in the mail and should arrive in a week or so.

I also knit this dress for her sister who turned 2 in June. The only change I made was adding two buttons on the side to make it easier to get over her head.

Finish #2 -  the "Sarah" shawl. It's so colourful I think it is meant for my sister, Sarah.

I liked that it had a little crocheted scallop on the edge. I still need to block it.

I bit the bullet and decided to join the ravellenic games. I wasn't going to, since we are moving but when I realized the two projects I plan on knitting in the van are by the same designer who has a team participating, I joined. I'm on teamklc, and I'll be working on the Aullwood shawl and Take a Hike Socks by Jen of Knitting Like Crazy. Not sure if I'll get them done but it should be great motivation.

Also tonight is Friday Night Sew-In. Go to Heidi's blog to sign-up. Not sure what I'll be working on tonight.

Another finished quilt?

Look! I actually finished another quilt. This has been on my UFO list for the past two years and I am so happy that it is done. I am linking up to Judy's UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times. I will be sending it to Utah to be donated to those who lost their homes in the wildfires. If you are interested in sending a quilt, go here to find out more information. Others mentioned it awhile ago as Operation Wood Hollow but it is now called Phoenix Quilts: Rising from the Ashes.

I started this quilt almost 3 years ago and it was meant for the woman who taught preschool to both of my kids. Obviously I didn't get it done in time and I think she would be happy that it will be donated.

I eliminated 2 of the 4 borders. I was just done with this quilt. It covers a full size bed but doesn't really have enough extra to tuck in. 

The back.

I love how the quilting looks on the back.

I used my free-motion foot for all the quilting. None of it is perfect but I like the overall look.

This is my UFO for July (#3). I finished 3 of the 4 blocks, pieced them together and added the white border before the end of June, not knowing its number would be picked. I've set aside and ironed backing fabric but it's been too hot for me to want to work on a quilt.

This is what my living room looked like this afternoon. We are moving on the 27th of this month - going back to Michigan - and most of my time has been set aside for packing or taking the kids to the pool. I've packed most of my fabric and yarn only keeping out what I think I might use before we leave (or knit while traveling). Should be interesting to see if I can get the UFO finished or not.

You may have noticed a few changes on the blog, including a new title. I also added a new page, Monthly Word Count. This was added to keep me accountable to myself as I try to focus more on writing. I signed up for NaNoWriMo's summer camp and wrote a novel in June and signed up to write one in August as well. Have an idea for the August one but it might have to wait until November if I can't find the time with moving. 

This Friday is Friday Night Sew-In. Go to Heidi's blog to sign up.

On the Needles - July 6th

Linking up at Judy's Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday.

I finished the pair of basic socks I've been working on the past few weeks.

Pictures by my daughter. These socks are for me.

And after 182 days, I finally bought yarn this year - still haven't bought any fabric:). Sunday I bought 2 skeins for this bulky sweater. I am now finished the body and have divided the front and back to work the armholes. 

When I finished the socks, for some reason I cast on this shawl. I thought I might give it to my sister since the pattern shares her name, "Sarah" but I might kept it. She's probably getting the Pinkerton shawl I knit earlier this year. I had to buy 2 skeins for this shawl as well.

This was what I wanted to finish this week. The dress for my niece who turned 4 yesterday. Oops. So close. Just have the left arm/neck to finish on the front, the neck and arm bands and sew seams. Should be done this weekend and in the mail on Monday.