IHSW check in

This past weekend was International Hermitting and Stitching weekend for the month of July. The goal is to spend as much time stitching as possible. I had the greatest of intentions and did make some great progress but I did spend some time traveling in the car to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. While in the car I did start a new traveling knitting project: The Hitchhiker Shawlette.

I was able to complete 10 points out of 42 for the shawlette. Not bad for some in car progress.  I chose to spend the time I was home on the Dreamcatcher. I was able to finish everything except some backstitching and about 15 stitches of Full Cross.  At my last check in, I was in the bottom right corner.

Progress as of 7/10/2014

At the culmination of this past weekend (7/20/2014), I was on the last corner.

Dreamcatcher - progress as of 7/20/2014

I should hopefully have this one completed by this evening or tomorrow evening at the latest. Then it will be onto working on the Lady and the Flag.

Happy Stitching everyone!

IHSW recap

This past weekend was International Hermitting and Stitching Weekend where one can sign up to hermit with some projects to dedicate set time to getting them done. I focused on 2 projects this weekend. The first being the Winter Mandala by Ink Circles. I put my first stitch in on Friday night and by Sunday evening, this was my progress:

Winter Mandala - Ink Circles
16ct. White AIDA
Called for DMC

I also worked on a Table runner that will be a gift for my mother-in-law. My dear husband picked out the fabric so I spent a lot of saturday determining the design and size of things. I completed piecing together the entire top and intend to quilt it sometime this weekend.

Eagle Table Runner
Progress 4/20/2014

Eagle Table runner, close up of fabric choices.

All in all it was a very productive weekend. My dear husband is going to his cousin's wedding out of town this weekend and I am taking those days off to have a crafting Marathon. Hopefully it will be a productive marathon.

Happy Stitching everyone!

IHSW check-in

This past weekend was International Hermitting and Stitching Weekend. I was able to get the first baby blanket of the year off the needles and I couldn't be happier.  This blanket is for a close friend who had a little girl. She wanted bright colors that were almost beachy in theme.

Beachy Baby Blanket
Caron Simply Soft, 2 strands, size 10 needles
32" x 36"

I really like how it came out. I would like to make a few others in this pattern. From a stash perspective, I finished 6 skiens of yarn with this blanket so it made a dent in my stash for sure this month.

I also spent a little bit of time on the Dream catcher that I have been working on and FINALLY took a progress pic. From previous posts, I was here:

As of 3/23/2014, I have made the following progress:

Dream Catcher Lap blanket redesign
14 ct. AIDA, called for DMC floss
3/23/2014 progress

I have put this one away for now as I was getting bored. I am about a third done with this pattern and it was going rather quickly. The plan for the weekdays this week is to finish the stitching for a Christmas ornament or 2.  I also cast on for another baby blanket for couple who just adopted a beautiful little girl.

This weekend I also picked up my sewing machines from their service appointment. I took both of them in on the 3/15 as I knew I was going out of town. They were completed in just under a week and were returned on Saturday. My DH then took me out for lunch and a quick stroll through Jo-Ann Fabrics. They had a sale and we needed to pick up fabric for a gift for his mother. He bought some wonderful fabric so that I do not need to count it towards my Stitch from my Stash budget. I tried to tell him I had room but he told me to but something I wanted with my budget. He really is too sweet to me. 

Happy stitching this week everyone!

WIPocalypse Check-in and a quilting finish!

For the past 4 days I have been traveling for my every day job so I was not able to check-in with my normal weekly check-in. I am late on the WIPocalypse check-in as well. So first things first, from WIPocalypse, my favorite place to stitch: The corner of my couch with my OTT lite over my shoulder and an end table holding all of my supplies. I also have a tilted TV tray to hold my patterns and charts for reference. I will have to take a picture This weekend when the sun is out. I enjoy knitting in my sewing machine room on a comfy chair and listen to my iPAD radio stations. I totally forgot to take any pictures of these places and it was really dark when I got home.

As for stitching Progress since the last New moon:
1.) Autumn Mandala: COMPLETE

2.) Dream Catcher: I worked a lot on dream catcher but it was still in my suitcase when I woke up this morning so I could not take a recent Picture. The one below is about 12 days old. The one below it shows the stamped lab blanket of the original Kit.

Dream Catcher - transferred to AIDA

Dream Catcher Lap Blanket - Original Design

That was all the stitching progress I have recorded. I do realize as a result of this I need to take more pictures. 

I spent a lot of time finishing my quilt top right before I left. Here is it in its final form.

"Barcelona" Quilt Top
76"X 85"

Close up of the Borders

I used a "Barcelona" Layer Cake by Moda for the center following the Missouri Star Quilt Company's Double Slice pattern. The borders are Ocean Blue Kona Cotton, Chartreuse Kona Cotton, and a Robert Blake Batik with very dark blue with lighter blue swirls on it.  I will be taking it to the long armer sometime soon to get it finished. :)

This weekend is International Hermit and Stitching Weekend. It coincides beautifully with the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament so I will have a lot of background noise for my stitching!

Happy Stitching Everyone!

IHSW checkin and 2 Happy Dances!

Last weekend was International Hermitting and Stitching Weekend and I managed to get some stitching done in a variety of forms! (if you want info on IHSW, check out the button on the right hand side).

First, I completed a small Cross Stitch project called "Thanks Clip" By Cherry Wood Design Studios that I picked up at my LNS sometime last year. I didn't have the Weeks Dye Works fabric in Guacamole so I used a Piece of 30ct. WDW in Cappucino instead. I think it looks good with that color as well. It was a Kit that came with Dinky Dyes Silk floss. It was my first time using the silk and I loved it!

Here is a picture of the overall design so that you can see the finishing with the provided clip includes the word Thanks.

Second, I also did some stitching work on the Dream Catcher Lap Blanket. This was a stamped lap blanket kit that my dear MIL bought me to make for my FIL. Unfortunately, I was punching holes in my fingers trying to use the kit as it. So on Saturday morning, I began putting a grid on the paper pattern that came in the kit so that I could transfer the design to a large piece of 14ct. Cream AIDA that I have in my stash. I was bale to put about 200 stitches into the Project over the rest of the weekend so all was not lost. When I make some more progress, I will post some pictures on here. I will say the transfer to AIDA has my hands thanking me. :)

Finally, I was able to finish a Quilt Project this weekend (Finally).

The table runner for my mom is about 54" long with 4 panels running down the center that have black sashing vertically between them and wine cork and purple square borders horizontally above and below them. I can actually say, I am really happy how this one came out. The binding was worrying me but I chose black and machine binded it so that she can wash it in her washing machine. I did some straight-line quilting along the sashing. Hopefully she likes it.

I also finally made Sidney the penguin into a pillow for the spare room bed for now. He may make it into my room before you know it.

I used some spare Batik Fat quarters and a spare 12" pillow form I had lying around. All from my stash :)

This week I am hoping to make some headway on the Baby Blanket that is due in the next month because there are 2 more coming in the next 2 months.

Happy Stitching everyone!

IHSW check-in

I spent the weekend working on 2 cross stitch projects and one knitting project:

1.) Autumn Mandala by Ink Circles: starting on Friday I had about 200 stitches and this is my progress now.

2.) I Finished a Christmas ornament. It is the Summer House Stitche Works design from the 2013 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue.

Quilt Ornament
Summer House Stitch Works - Just Cross Stitch 2013 Ornament Issue
14 Ct. AIDA, 2 over 2
Gentler Arts floss.

One of my goals for 2014 was to learn how to knit socks. The picture below shows my first attempt.

 Hopefully the rest of the sock goes well.

The goal for this week is to finish the Mandala and with the weather trending towards the freezing, I think it is possible. I would also like to finish sewing the binding on the Table runner I am quilting for my mom.



Happy stitching everyone!

WIPocalypse 2014 #1 + IHSW this weekend

WIPocalypse is a stitch-a-long hosted by Measi at Measi's Musings. For the first check-in we are to introduce ourselves and our projects. So First, a little about me.

 My name is Katie. I am a full-time engineer and a part time crafter. I have been married to my wonderful husband for almost 7 years. We met while I was in grad school getting my doctorate in mechanical engineering. To escape my high stress job in the corporate world and have a creative outlet, I craft including cross-stitching, knitting, crocheting, and most recently quilting. I have been cross-stitching the longest and have been doing so since I was about 16 so18 years or so.  Knitting came along in grad school by way of my mother-in-law. I taught my self to crochet by YouTube this past year and picked up quilting around that time as well.

I have also set some broad goals for 2014:

1.) Adhere to stitch from my stash SAL. see link in my sidebar
2.) Complete "The Lady and the Flag", the ABCs of family, 2 other mandalas, and my adaptation of the Dreamcatcher lap blanket.3.) Complete ornaments for the whole family (7).4.) start 2 bigger projects: Noah's submarine and Brigid's shamrock.5.) finish/finish the advent calendar.6.) complete piecing together 2 quilt tops, 4 sets of placemats and coasters, and 1 Christmas table runner.7.) 3 knitted baby blankets: (1 already assigned)8.) learn to knit socks.


As for cross - stitching, which is the target of WIPocalypse, I have both small and large projects on my list and have made progress on three of them.

1.) "The Lady and the Flag," -

Progress at WIPocalypse check-in #1 1/16/2014

2.) Pinocchio: I didn't have a starting photo but here is his progress as of 1/10/14.

3.) I did also start the black outline of the "Fall Mandala" by Ink Circles. I manages to put in about 200 stitches

International Hermitting and Stitching Weekend is also this weekend which happens to coincide with having Monday off from Work :). I cannot wait to make some head way on the fall Mandala and maybe get some quilting done as well.

IHSW update: Sewing finishes and some Some stitching progress!

My main cross stitching project recently has been "The Lady and the Flag." I have not had time to make a huge amount of progress but I am going to try to work on her through the 26th and then move onto something else.

My last progress report on her was dated 10/6/2013 and looked like this:

I has spent the last few sessions prior to the October progress report on her upper body. I decided that I would work on the lower portion of her dress and the Liberty banner.

I apologize for the lighting picture but it is quite dreary here.  I have decided she is going on my WIPocalypse list for 2014. She is too beautiful to not be completed already.

I also completed some placemats as well.

These are some patriotic placements that I finished for my inlaws. My FIL spent a lot of time in the military and I know they will love them.

Then I also worked on a set for myself. I wanted a fun geometric pattern so I found these fabrics that I enjoyed. the first one has corners that are a little messed up but by the second one, I mastered Mitered corners. I am sooo excited. It will make the Table runner I am making for my mom so much easier.

I also wanted to explore English paper piecing. So I took a few fat quarters I had sitting around and start that process. I made about 21 hexagons sitting in front of the TV on friday night watching the movie "Miracle" about the 1980 US hockey team.

Here's My progress thus far:

Finally, my dear husband loves to latch hook and has completed a wonderful Santa that I felt deserved it's time to shine too:

Happy stitching and for those of you that celebrate the holidays - Happy Holidays!

Finish to Share

I  completed the Cowl I was knitting for my aunt the night before last and remembered to take pics of it last night.

I used Beautiful Fantasy Naturelle Yarn from Plymouth yarns in a purple and a variegated blue, purple, and Green (#1560 and #1314). The Pattern was called Calm Seas cowl and was a free download on Ravelry.

This weekend is also the last International Hermitting and Stitching weekend. I wish you all happy stitching and Happy Holidays!

Progress Report!

November has been a month of much stash addition but not as much stitching. Here is my progress report for the month thus far post IHSW:

1.) 2 dishrags complete out of the target of 4. I used some random cotton I had for the one on the upper left and the bottom right used some Bernat Handicrafter.

2 Dishrags complete - 11/18/2013

2.) Summer Mandala: Completed all of the Black outline and started filling in the color.

3.) MOD coasters: The entire cross stitch is complete on this one and I started the back stitch. This one is part of my WIPocalypse projects.

MOD Coasters - Progress as of 11/18/2013

I was just informed that my friend who is having twins is having her C-section today. So I will be moving the completion of the second baby blanket for her twins to the top of my list. hopefully my hands will hold up :)

I am treating this upcoming weekend as another IHSW as well cause I can…and then I am off the entire American Thanksgiving week. So that will be prime crafting time for me.


Happy Stitching Everyone!

Late IHSW report

I apologize profusely for the lateness of my IHSW progress. I at least took the pictures on Sunday but couldn't find the time to upload until today :(

So….First-I finished the first baby blanket for the set of twins that we will be blessing my next store neighbors in December.

The mom chose Cranberry and Beige for the little girl. The little boy will have Blue and Chocolate for his colors. I am tossing around the idea of using the same pattern for both kids but to be frank…I wasn't a huge fan of this pattern so I am on the fence deciding on the pattern. After I finished this one…I cast on for a blanket for my brother. Ever since I made blankets for the births of his children he has been begging for one. The only problem is he wants one in a specific color scheme that is large enough for him ---He's 6'2" tall. I decided that I am going to do it in spurts as I value my sanity.

I also finished the Ink Circles Christmas ornament from the 2013 ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch.

Ink Circles Ornament
2013 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue
16ct AIDA
Random DMC floss in colors of my choosing

It was a relatively quick stitch and I love Her designs at Ink Circles. This love translated into my starting the Summer Mandala which is shown below:

Summer Mandala - Ink Circles
Started 10/20/2013
18 ct. AIDA and recommended DMC Floss

I also finished a few receiving blankets for any future children that enter my world either my own or those that bless my friends.

I apologize for the darkness of the picture as it was a rather gloomy day here in Cincinnati on Sunday. 

Goals for the upcoming week are to finish the black outline on the Summer Mandala and hopefully finish another ornament. Happy Stitching Everyone!

IHSW Check-in

My Goals for the weekend were:

1.) Cast on for one of the 3 blankets on my to-do list: Did not complete, but I did cast on and start 2 dishrags that I need to complete.

2.) Finish 1 set of wristlets: I finished one and started the other.

progress as of 9/22/2013

3.) Make some progress on another WIP - MOD Coasters

Progress as of 9/22/2013

start of the weekend status

4.) Make some progress on 'The Lady and the Flag"

At the start of the weekend

Progress as of 9/23/2013 - I added some more to the flag & her arm.

All in all the weekend was a productive one :) Goal for this week is to finish the dish rags and wristlet.

Happy stitching everyone