Quilt Show

This past weekend was the local guild's quilt show. When we first lived in Ann Arbor I was a member  and librarian for several years but haven't gone to a meeting since we moved back 2 years ago.  My daughter and the little guy went with me and we had a good time. Below are some of the quilts we saw and enjoyed.

This really reminded me of my sister's Liberated Churn Dash pattern but didn't credit her. It wasn't specifically in the show. They displayed some of the quilts that members have made to be donated to charity and this was one of them. 

Floyd smiled at this quilt so he got his picture taken with it.

My daughter picked this as her favourite.

One of the more traditional quilts on display.

Inspired by Mondrian.

I voted for this one as my favourite. I kept coming back to it.

This was the first quilt I saw with this pattern (it will reappear later) and I really like it.

There was part of a special exhibit by one of the guild's quilt groups. It won first place in the American Quilting Society's Ultimate Guild Challenge 2013.

More bugs.

My daughter and I both liked the ladybug the best.

The next four quilts were part of another special exhibit by the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild. I would have liked to take more pictures but their members kept standing in front of the quilts chatting. It took two trips to visit the exhibit to get these pictures.

Edited to Add: The AAMQG just did a blog post about their exhibit with pictures of every quilt and a bit about each quilt. Go here to read more and see the rest of their quilts.

An adorable owl.

Owl compared to a lap quilt beside it.

Here is that pattern again. I liked this one a bit better due to the fabric it used - Charley Harper fabrics. They're beautiful but expensive.

I just liked this one.

Back to the Guild's show.

My daughter liked both of these.

Very beady.

Close-up of all the beads. It must have taken a very long time to make this one.

There were several quilts with this pattern as the designer had come to the guild to do a lecture and workshop.

Close-up. I like the log cabin clamshells. Would take some planning before cutting and sewing.

My daughter said I had to take a picture of this one. The leaves are so me, she said. I have to agree with her.

These are the fabrics my daughter picked out (the shop even gave her one free since she was a young quilter).

And these are the fabrics I picked out. No plans yet.

Books I read in July

So Reading/ Writing Wednesday will be going through some changes. The last Wednesday of every month I'll review what I read that month, while the first Wednesday of every month will highlight some of what I hope to read or my latest borrowings from the library. Here is July's round-up.

"The Amazing Thing About the Way It Goes" by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

I actually finished this at the very end of June but never got around to blogging about it. I have read all her other books which were mainly about knitting while this one deals with the rest of her life. Knitting of course makes an appearance but it really deals with other events in her life. It was an enjoyable read but I admit to liking her other books better. This was still good and I'd recommend it but if you're a knitter, I'd recommend her other books first. There were a couple essays that were amazing - I think the last one in particular was really well written.

"The Creative Compass" by Dan Millman and Sierra Prasada.

A book about writing. It was alright but reminded me that I should really stop reading books about how to write and just write. It was interesting in that it was written by a father and daughter and had some good advice. They really, really like putting in quotes for inspiration.

"The Stone Gods" by Jeanette Winterson.

I love Jeanette. I love everything I have read of her work. This book is no exception. However, this book isn't for everyone. It is Science Fiction, which usually I don't enjoy but I loved this book. I don't want to give away too much... basically it wrestles with the idea of what if humans keep getting a redo. A chance to start over but we always end up doing the exact same thing - destroying our planet. 

When I tell my husband about a good book I'm reading he always asks how many robots are in it. It was nice to tell him there are actual robots in this novel. It made him look up from his computer. However the main robot in this book is female and has sex with both men and a woman, so if that kind of thing might offend you, feel free to skip this book. But the robot sex with humans is such a minor, minor part of the book, it's the humans and what they do that matters.

"We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves" by Karen Joy Fowler.

I finished reading this novel Monday evening. I think my mom would really like this book. It's another book that I don't want to say too much about. The book unravels into a wonderful tale and I really didn't know how it was going to end. I highly recommend it.

This book was nominated for the Man Booker Prize which is how I discovered it. The local library tweeted a list of all the nominees they had available at the library. I ended up requesting all them. This is the first one that I read. I have one more here and am waiting on the others. I also requested the book that won last year. To see this year's list go here. They all look so good.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Patterns I could knit again and again

I've been reading Carole's blog for some time and have been tempted several times to participate in her Ten on Tuesday's before but haven't. For today's topic I had ten right away... actually 13. So here are the first ten I found pictures of for 10 Patterns You Could Knit Again and Again.

Top Down Baby Cardigan. I have knit this twice already and plan to make at least one more. Above is the one I made for my son. Ravelry pattern here. My project pages here and here.

Easy Peasy Newborn Hat. I've made several of these for my youngest and for others. 

Ravelry pattern here. Also found online here. My project page here.

Irish Hiking Hat. I think I've made at least 3 of these as gifts. Work up really quick. 

Ravelry pattern here. Also found online here. My project pages here and here.

Plain vanilla socks. The pair above were for a gift but I've made several for myself as well. I mainly use Ann Budd's book as a reference. Project page for the above pair can be found here.

Hurricane Hat. I've only made this once so far but it was a fun pattern. Thinking of making it into a cowl for myself - saw someone else did that. Ravelry pattern page here. My project page here.

Basic Newborn Cardigan and hat. Knit for my son last year. Being modeled by him at 2 weeks old. I had to make two hats as the first one, following the pattern, came out way too big. He was able to wear it at around 6 months of age. Ravelry pattern page here.  Also found online here. My project page here with mods.

Elfe. I knit this last July for my Camp Loopy project. Pattern was great and I'd love to knit it again with several different colour combos or with a variegated yarn. Ravelry page here. My project page here.

Boneyard shawl. I've made this 3 times already and would love to make more. Ravelry pattern page here. My project pages here, here and here.

Pixie hat. Fun knit. Every kid should have one. Ravelry page here. Project page here.

Butterfly hat. Very quick knit that's fun to make. I'd like to make one for myself, this one was a gift. Ravelry page here. Project page here.

Honourable mentions because I love them so much.

1. Brick Sweater. I just finished knitting an XS for my daughter on the weekend and have bought yarn to make one for myself. Blogged here. Project page here.

2. Zuzu's Petals cowl. Have made it twice already. Fun knit. Project page here.

3. Liquid Amber Cowl. Only made it once but was fun to knit and I have plans on making on for myself. Someday. Project page here.

Linking up on Carole's blog. 

Camp Loopy project 2 complete!

This weekend I finished my July Camp Loopy project. A sweater for Calliope. She loved it and wore until supper on Saturday when I made her take it off - I didn't want her to get spaghetti sauce on it. I have yet to wash and dry it but it will some time this week. Thrilled that it fits and that she likes it so much. She's a little disappointed that she might have to wait until Christmas to officially receive it.

Back. This turned out so well I am tempted to make one for myself for my August Camp Loopy project. I have until Friday to decide but I'm thinking I'll start both the sweater for me and the afghan for my brother's family. It will be nice to have two projects to work on instead of focusing on just one. Eventually I'll have to pick one to finish by the end of August.

While I am waiting for August I'll be working on this Reading shawl which is also a gift. I was able to get 8 rows knit yesterday (2 pattern repeats) and am about halfway done the body of the shawl.

Camp Loopy Progress

Making progress on the sweater for my daughter. This is my July project for Camp Loopy. I took this picture over a week ago planning to do a blog post but never got around to it.

Here it is as of Wednesday morning. First sleeve done and almost 40 rows into the second. These sleeves are working up quickly which makes me very happy. I did the collar after I was done the first sleeve. I'm thrilled with how this sweater is coming along. It is the Brick pattern which can be found here.

Of course I had to order my yarn for the third and final project to be made in August. The project needed to be a pattern that required 800 yards. I was torn between making a Brick sweater for myself or crochet an afghan for my brother's family for Christmas. 

I couldn't decide so I ordered both. The orange on the left is for the Brick sweater for me. The pink and yellow are for the afghan. I think I am going to do the afghan as my project but will probably start both. I'm a little afraid I'll suffer from sweater burnout if I attempt to do 2 sweaters in a row and there are other sweaters I should be working on, right mom?

I had some green in my stash, also from The Loopy Ewe to go with the afghan. The pattern can be found here. I plan on making it look like a big flower, yellow centre, with lots of pink and then the green border. I might need to order more yarn as I'll be making the afghan bigger than the pattern since it is baby size.

Then this magazine arrived at my door and I got tempted again.

Perhaps the orange could be used for this tunic... but I'd have to order more yarn. But I probably need to order more yarn of the afghan anyway so that's not a big deal.

Or perhaps this vest?

Think I'm still making the afghan just not sure what the orange yarn will become.

With this order I reached the first level rewards group and received these little cards to gift along with finishes. They are very nice and should get used this December.

Hats for Charity

Jen at Knitting Like Crazy held a KAL/CAL for 5 weeks in June and July for hats to be donated to Halos of Hope in honor of her father now being cancer free. You can read more about it here. I knew I had some yarn I could spare but not necessarily a lot of time so I gave myself the goal of completing 3 hats. I met my goal and mailed them to Jen a few days before the deadline. 

I first knit a plain hat. Didn't use any particular pattern. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn for all three which I've often used for hats so I knew roughly how many stitches to cast on.

Modeled by Floyd.

Floyd modeling the second hat.

Ugh. Took picture of side where ends are woven in. Oh well. This pattern is reversible and crocheted. I loved it. It's a free download on ravelry.

Here is the other side which I preferred.

Floyd modeling it again.

Got to love that face.

Third hat is the same pattern. Made in 2 and a half hours in one day. I think I see several of these as gifts in my future. And perhaps one for myself.

Floyd modeling, of course.

He didn't like wearing this one and kept taking it off.

And grabbed it when I tried to get a picture of the other side.

All 3 stacked and ready to be mailed.

One more picture. 

Surprise, surprise, here comes Floyd. For some reason he thinks the hats are for him.

"I like this one, Mama. Can I keep it?"