Let the Games Begin!

Yet another week of wandering and playing and not really finishing - but planning for sure!

This is another practice block and was remarkably easy and fast.  This is Ricky Tims' "Convergance" pattern and is made from four 15" blocks.   This took three hours start to finish and has only 24 seams. 

I want to make two more of these -- one in just two colors and another with a yard of the most gorgeous and colorful hand-dyed fabric I've ever seen.  It's a generous gift from Ms LogCabinQuilts when she went to hear Ricky and I wanted to make sure I knew how the fabrics would be playing together before I cut into any more fabric.  These are not-so-great fabrics that continue to multiply in the dark and may never disappear from my stash.  I had planned to work on the two color version this week but haven't had the spirit to do it. So, I'll wait. 

I did manage to get the blocks for RRCB assembled.  They went together well and it's just been too hot to take it outside for a picture. So, here's a snippet.  I've gone as far as I can until the borders are done.

And -- here's what awaits on the border.  172 of these little parallelograms must be assembled into the pieced border.  I was pretty far ahead on these and only need to put the final triangle on most of them.  That's the easy part and can be a leaders/enders project.

What's much less exciting is assembling them as you see here for the borders.  I'll plug along at it but certainly do not feel motivated to get this done.  The tote that had this quilt it in is almost empty which helps justify starting another project, don't you think?

That leads us to this little log cabin block and the pile of boxer shorts below.  These were "gifted" by a friend whose sons are 29 and 32 years old -- and these are shorts they outgrew in high school.  How lucky for me!  While boxers don't provide nearly as much fabric as a shirt, there's enough to make a quilt.  It's easy enough to toss the soiled or worn parts and only use the best fabric and not have a lot left over.  No emotional ties here.

So, I made another practice block to see if I like it and I do.  This will finish at 7" and has 1" logs.  I'm thinking 64 blocks set at 8 x 8 will make a decent size snuggle quilt and my goal will be to have it done by Christmas. We'll see -- and that's what leads us to the Olympics.

I think I'll make these log cabins my Olympic event for the next two weeks.  You see an incredible organization on Ravelry with various knitting events that start when the opening ceremonies begin.  I won't be quite so structured, but I'll work on them when I'm watching from my sewing room and we'll see where I am by August 9th when we leave on vacation.  I'm sure I'll play in other areas -- based on the last two weeks anyway -- but I hope to concentrate on cutting and sewing this pile of free fabric!

When I think about the Olympics, I consider this to be two weeks of some of the best our world has to offer!  It is my hope that they will be peaceful and embody the Olympic spirit - both in London and around the world.  If only we could hold on to it after the flame is extinguished.  

What about you, is there an Olympic event in your future?  Whatever the next two weeks bring, I hope it is peaceful and creative!  Jan

Detour -- or avoidance

I'm not sure if I've actually taken a detour or I'm actively avoiding all the binding I need to finish sewing down.  I suspect the latter!

With the help of You Tube, I taught myself to knit socks in the last month.  Isn't this just the greatest yarn?  My sister is always knitting; and my-niece-the-quilter has taken up knitting in the last year or so and I have to say, her small projects are intriguing.  In another life and another dimension, I knit all the time and could do any pattern you put in front of me.  Over time, quilting became more important and left wrist pain made knitting less than comfortable.  I've always loved yarns/fibers and slowly the idea of trying to learn to knit socks kept creeping in my thoughts.

In that situation -- what does one do?  Well first you buy great yarn that you know is good quality (Austermanns) and then you start searching You Tube for instructions on how to do this.  I was lucky enough to come across verypinknits and her tutorials.  They are incredible.   I watched every step all the way through, borrowed size 2 (US) needles from my sister and searched Ravelry for a pattern that was free and rated easy.

Then it was a matter of casting on and watching a step, completing that step, watching the next step, and on and on.  This was a breeze.  I learned a lot and made more mistakes than I care to discuss in public.  But the first one fit and that made it easier to do the second one and try to fix some of the errors along the way.  Amazingly, holding the size 2 needles does not cause pain in my wrist -- even though holding a size 7 for a bit does.  Hurray for small miracles.

I've learned these are called "fraternal twin" socks since I didn't bother to start each sock in the same place with this color striping yarn.  I actually like them and will not be bothered by different color stripes, toes, and heels.  I started another one last nite -- same pattern, different Austermann color way/pattern, and off we go.  I do like that these are so portable and do not involve needles/pins/scissors like my hexagons do.  We'll be traveling some this summer and I can knit without getting queasy which is not always the case with sewing.  And there is no risk that I'll be leaving a needle behind for my grandson to find.

So -- I've learned a lot and have a lot to learn.  The more I read the scarier socks become; thank goodness for beginner's luck.  I've ordered needles to try something called "magic loop" knitting which people either adore or hate.  No middle of the road comments out there.  As an aside, if you have never checked out Ravelry, you should.  Whoever had the vision to create a master forum for all things knitting and crochet was brilliant.  It's easy to use, monitored so all topics are relevant and knitters are like quilters -- always ready to help.  I can't imagine that  you would ever need another forum or website for help.  The ability to build your own library of patterns and hints, create your inventory of yarn, track your projects, trade, see patterns made in the same yarn you are considering, ask any question you may have, etc. is amazing.  I so wish there were a similar resource for quilters.  Check it out -- it's wonderful to have everything at your fingertips.

I hope you're finding time to be productive and not avoiding your quilting chores like some of us!!!  Jan