Last Sunday of May 2010

Wow... Can't believe that it's almost the end of May already.

I have been knitting a bit again this week. I made this dishcloth from a pattern I found by Dave at Criminy Jickets. I was a bit disappointed after it was done, but not because of the pattern. There were some knots in the ball of cotton I used and it seems that, each time I came to a knot, it was a different dye lot. I didn't notice the differences until it was done. Why do yarn companies do that?? Also, I found the cast on edge to be not so nice. I later found an alternate way to begin this pattern at Tinker Tots. I'm going to try it again with this alternate start.

My evenings watching television have produced 4 more blocks for my Joseph's Coat quilt.

Most of my hand stitching time has been spent making Klosjes, 14 of them so far.  Each block finishes at 3 inches. I have another 30 or so cut out and ready to sew once I get the match points marked on them all.

It seems that this week, I am sitting perilously close to the brink of going into the 'gain' side of stash usage, or should I say stash gainage? Not only that, but I am way behind on my PhD's for the challenge. Fabric in those is already counted as used unless I need to add something like borders to one of the UFO's so, finishes don't count towards the stash report totals.

I've been in a bit of a slump here again. Some days, it is difficult for me do accomplish anything as I seem to have no drive to do much at all. The past week has mostly been dreary and dark accompanied by lots of rain. All I know is, I could REALLY use a good dose of HAPPY!

My fabric purchase this was 4 M of plain white for backgrounds plus 4 FQ's of mottled brights. Perhaps I need a cheery quilt to work on? Or, maybe the purchase was just to get that bit of a 'fabric happy' when you are in a quilt store looking at all the wonderful things they have there. I know my purchase will not be a waste as it will be used at some time.

I've been looking at a lot of simple quilts using just plain white muslin as a background and then cheerful bright colors in squares or zig-zags etc. Here are links to a few I really like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/redpepperquilts/3648528058/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theblueberrymoon/4214469628/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67604797@N00/4362916659/ 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67604797@N00/4231949740/ 


I know I shouldn't be thinking about starting something else when I have so much not finished. Not sure how others manage to keep themselves on one project until it is completely done...



WEEK 22 STASH REPORT
Used this week: .5 M (for Klosjes)
Used Year to Date: 18.3M
Added this week: 5 M
Added Year to Date: 17.07M
Net used for 2010: 1.23 M

The Latest Virus

Klosje Fever started in Holland where many have been afflicted over the years. It seems that now, due to the internet, it is spreading swiftly throughout the world. I have seen reports of the fever affecting those in all parts of  Europe, Austrailia, United States and Canada.

Many seem to be affected more on one particular day known as Zaterdag in Dutch. On this day, people, the majority of whom seem to be women, are compelled to devote their day to making Klosjes. The effect of Klosje Fever causes you to forget all your promises and resolutions about starting new things. Your fingers begin to itch. You find yourself digging through your supplies and, before you know it, you have one in your hands. One Klosje leads to another and another.

It seems that I have also been afflicted by Klosje Fever. Those cute little Klosjes find their way into your brain, your heart and very quickly, your hands. Before I knew it, I too was spending my Saturday working on them.

For more information regarding Klosjes, go to  Valentina's Corner.

My stash report for Week 21:

Used this week: .25 M (for Klosjes)
Used Year to Date: 17.8 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 12.07M
Net used for 2010: 5.73 M

Check Judy's blog to see what everyone else has reported this week.

Checkerboard Dish Cloth Pattern

This is a pattern I made up for my granddaughter so she could practice this prior to making a bigger blanket. If you try this pattern, please let me know if you find the instructions easy to understand.

Checkerboard Dish Cloth

with Seed Stitch Border

 by Edna @ Needling Things

1 50g ball Worsted Weight 100% Cotton (such as Lily Sugar 'n Cream)

1 pair size 4.0 mm knitting needles (US #6)

Two stitch markers

Large eye darning needle

Cast on 42 sts loosely

Row 1 – *K1, P1 repeat from * across row.

Row 2 – *P1, K1 repeat from * across row.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 three more times for a total of 8 rows of seed stitch.

(For ease of knitting, place a marker after the first six seed stitches and before the last six seed stitches on the next row. On all following rows, slip the markers from one needle to the other to keep them in place.)

Row 9 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) marker, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6 across to last 6 stitches, marker then 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) to end.

Row 10 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) up to marker, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6 across to marker then work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) to end.

Row 11 to 16, repeat rows 9 and 10.

Row 17 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) up to marker, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6 repeat across up to marker then work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) to end.

Row 18 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) up to marker, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6 repeat across up to marker then work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) to end.

Row 19 to 24, repeat rows 17 and 18.

Row 25 to 32, repeat rows 9 to 16

Row 33 to 40, repeat rows 17 to 24

Row 41 to 48, repeat rows 9 to 16

Row 49 to 56, repeat rows 17 to 24

Row 57 to 64, work seed stitch as in rows 1 to 8. (Stitch markers can be removed on row 57 as they will no longer be needed.)

Cast off and weave thread tails in using large eyed needle.

I hope you enjoy using or gifting this washcloth!

    

Copyright 2010 by Edna McFall. Permission is granted to make and sell items from this pattern provided that credit is given to me as the designer. Permission is not granted to reproduce the actual pattern, or post it, or distribute it, without my express permission.

My New Look

I have spent some time today playing with my blog. Hope you like the changes and don't be surprised if more show up in the near future. There are now tabs at the top of the page and I'll be adding more as I gather information that I want to put in them.

To my surprise, I discovered today that I have DOUBLE DIGIT followers!! Thank you all so much for choosing to follow my blog. You have made my day!

Just for fun, I created a new Wordle Cloud from my blog. I just wished I knew how to make it appear bigger here but you can click on it to see it larger.

Stash Report for this week

All of my quilting time this week has been spent on finishing more blocks for my Joseph's Coat quilt. All of the fabric I used has already been reported. The picture above is a few of my finished blocks laid out to show how they will (eventually) look when they're all joined together.

Due to the sudden arrival of warm weather here, I have been spending much of my time getting lawns done and flowerbeds ready for planting. It's hard to believe that two weeks ago, we had some major snow and now today it is 25C, flowers and trees are blooming! Both of my neighbors are already running their air conditioning units. I've enjoyed sitting outside in the evening this week working on my applique for my Joseph's Coat.

My projects to finish for the PhD Challenge are falling behind. In order to meet the number I committed to, I will need to do at least 2 this month and 2 in June. I'm not sure if that is possible but will hopefully I can find a bit more time now to work on those.

My Pink Lemonade quilt is still hanging on the design wall. How long does it take for a project to switch from being a WIP (Work In Progress) to a PhD (Project half Done) to a UFO (Un-Finished Object)?? Is there a guideline somewhere? I've also fallen behind by two whole blocks on the Hazels Diary Quilt-along. I guess I'd better get off of here and go work on something!


WEEK 20 Stash Report
Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 17.55 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 12.07 M
Net used for 2010: 5.48 M

Check out how everyone else is doing with their stash busting efforts on Judy's blog.

Mother's Day Stash Report

Another week has slipped away somehow.  Thanks to the generosity of my sister, my special little companion dog was able to have some much needed surgery this week so I have been playing nurse to her. She's feeling a lot better by today and almost back to her 'normal' self - doing her best at bossing me around.

While she was at the Vet's, I was able to spend about 4 hours in one of my favorite places - Deanna's Quilted Garden in Brooks, AB. Although Deanna was not in, Shirley kept me company between the many customers as I worked on my Joseph's Coat blocks in the classroom. Most of those customers wandered back to chat with me and find out what I was doing. It was great to visit in person with other quilters again!
Of course, when you are in a quilt store for numerous hours, it's pretty hard to leave without buying anything! I did my best to resist but still ended up with a couple of FQ's and a few other smaller remnants that I thought would go well into either my Joseph's Coat or my Diamond Stars paper pieced project. Somehow, just bringing those little bits of fabric home prolongs the feeling of the wonderful day I had on Monday.


WEEK 19 STASH REPORT

Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 17.55 M
Added this week: 1.17 M
Added Year to Date: 12.07 M
Net used for 2010: 5.48 M 

See how everyone else is doing with their stash busting efforts on Judy's blog. 

Sunday Stash Update and Fun on the Farm

Just in case all you really want to know is how I'm doing in my efforts at stash reduction, here is my report that covers three weeks this time. (I'll explain how that happened again farther down for those who might be interested...)

Unfortunately, not a lot of stitching has been happening. I've done a few more blocks for the Joseph's Coat quilt but still have lots to do. I have 14 of the 48 done now and have another 8 blocks prepared so I can continue on. My progress is really slow but at least it's progress!

Week 16, 17 & 18 STASH Report

Used this week: .8 M
Used Year to Date: 17.55 M
Added this week: 3 M
Added Year to Date: 10.90 M
Net used for 2010: 6.55 M

Not a lot compared to some others but I am happy with what I am using up and enjoying my (slow) progress on my projects!

Check out what everyone else has done this week at Judy's site.

NOW... about the last few weeks....   
My sister had asked me several weeks ago if I would be able to come to her home to care for her husband while she attended a conference. I was more than happy to do that. I was to be there on Thursday... BUT, on Monday, this area of Southern Alberta was hit with a huge snow storm.

There was more than a foot of really heavy, wet snow and then the wind picked up. The result was many downed power lines and even power poles that were snapped right off at the ground. Most of this devastation happened within 10 miles of where my sister and her husband live in a rural area. As a result, they were without power starting late Monday. When I arrived on Thursday, there was still no power. Since my brother-in-law is on oxygen all the time, they had a generator set up to run the oxygen machine and the furnace fan. Even though the furnace is gas (propane actually), it needs electricity for the fan to work or you still don't get heat.

She also has 3 deep freezes and, of course the fridge in the kitchen. Too many items to have plugged into the generator simultaneously. As a result, I was continually changing what was plugged in to try to keep everything cold or frozen.... and, at the same time... hauling gas to keep the generator going. It was very hard work until the power finally came back on late Saturday.

My sister also had another commitment this weekend so I've been here again since Wednesday. Fortunately, there is power although there was yet ANOTHER snow storm in Southern Alberta! Luckily, the worst missed us here and we mostly just experienced very strong winds (up to 90 km) and rain with a bit of intermittent sleet. I think we are getting March weather in April and May this year. Last week, everyone was out cutting lawns and doing yard work.... gotta love it!