Springtime?

It snowed again last night. Are we ever going to see spring? I need some warm weather and sunshine to boost my energy level. Right now I just want to sit around doing nothing.This dreary weather has made me dreary-feeling. I need a pick-me-up.
I have been doing some knitting. I finished a pair of socks, and have a couple more pairs on the needles.

Online Supersocke 6 ply - color Chilly ( to be a christmas present for a granddaughter)

Oldfield Creek Sock Yarn - color Panda

The Loopy Ewe Seasonings Series - color Loopy Lodge

I also finished another pair of mittens

MacAusland's 100% Wool

On the needles, a shawlette/scarf. The pattern is a free one from Ravelry called Pimpelliese, and I am using KnitPicks Stroll Hand-Painted yarn in the color Lullaby

Not a lot going on in the quilting/sewing room, but I did make some string blocks for a swap-bot exchange, a few 6" 1930's blocks, and one more barn block.

String blocks

6" 1930's blocks

Barn block

On My Needles

Here is what is on my needles this week. I have been having problems with DeQuervain's tendonitis in my wrist, so haven't been able to knit much, but it seems easier to knit with the thicker yarn and larger needles, so I'm trying to stay away from the sock yarn for awhile. Not easy, when I just got 3 new orders of sock yarn, one from Knit Picks, one from Hot Yarns, and one from The Loopy Ewe. All that sock yarn goodness and I can't play with it!

Honeycomb Mittens in progress

Boot socks in progress

 On the sewing front, this is what I made this afternoon. Isn't it cute!

It's Giveaway Day!

Beat the Winter Blues – Quilters’ Blog Hop Party

Today is the first day of the blog hop party being hosted by Michele at QUILTING GALLERY . I know I am ready for winter to be over and spring to arrive! To celebrate the soon-to-be arrival of spring, I have a little giveaway for you. All you need to do is leave me a comment, any old comment will do, but I do love to hear where you're from if you'd like to share. If you would like a second chance at winning, follow my blog, and leave a second comment telling me you are a follower. What am I giving away? How about these 5 fat quarters of Get a Clue With Nancy Drew by Simon & Schuster for Moda Fabrics.

Giveaway will remain open until March 14, and is open to everyone, no matter where in the world you may live. Good luck to you all!

Update: We have a winner! Mr. Random Number Generator has picked the number 123, Cherilyn from Ohio

CherilynMarch 11, 2013 at 6:30 PM

Hi from Ohio!! Great give away I loved reading Nancy Drew when I was younger! I think it would make an amazing library tote! Thanks for the chance!

Mug Rugs

I finally finished my 2 mug rugs for the mug rug swap over at Quilting Gallery. I learned a few things making these mug rugs....I don't really enjoy applique and I don't really enjoy hand stitching. I think the main reason I didn't enjoy these things is because of the small pieces. Anyway, they are done and will soon be on their way to their new home.

I have started quilting on my Starburst quilt. This is a picture of it all pin basted and ready to quilt.

While I was making my morning coffee this morning, I looked out the patio door and saw this cute little squirrel in the bird feeder. He let me walk right up to him to take this picture, and I thought maybe he was stuck in there, but as soon as I walked back in the house he ran off!

Another pair of socks finished

These ones are for me! Yarn is Panda Wool - 46% Bamboo, 43% wool, and 11% Nylon. Color is called Circus. I knit these on size 2.25mm needles and cast on 64 sts. Did a K3P1 ribbing on the leg, with plain stockinette on the foot.

Snow Day

While it has been storming outside, I have been busy inside. I roasted a chicken for supper on Friday, and Saturday morning I got busy making and canning chicken soup. One jar didn't seal, and hubby had it for lunch today.

Chicken Soup

I finished another pair of socks. They had been hibernating since last year sometime, with only 2/3 of one sock left to finish, so I got to work and finished them. The yarn is Stahl Socka, bought off Ebay, and is a bit thicker than the sock yarn I usually knit with. Made these for hubby, using size 2.75mm needles and casting on 66 sts. They were knit with a rib stitch of K3P1.

  

 

 

Depression Blocks

Bowtie block and Churn Dash Blocks

I also spent some time making quilt blocks for a few swaps I am participating in on Swap-Bot. I really like the depression blocks, but they are time consuming to make......16 half square triangles per block. I still have 3 more to make for the swap.


This afternoon I decided to try making some wool dryer balls. They are very easy to make, just roll some 100% wool yarn into balls, felt them in the washer, dry them, and you're done. A good tutorial can be found HERE
I'll let you know how they work.

 

Sewing Updates

I am making good progress on the Starburst Quilt Along. I have my first 2 blocks sewn together.

First block laid out and ready to sew

All sewn together

2 blocks done

 I also have 2 more blocks done for the My Favorite Block Quilt Along

Scrappy Churn Dash

Reflection

 

 

Last but definitely not least, I have finished piecing together my Easy Street Mystery Quilt. It still needs borders, and I have decided on a 1 inch dark purple inner border and a 5 inch turquoise outer border. I am excited to get this one quilted. It will be the biggest quilt I have ever attempted to quilt on my Bernina 44QE. The biggest obstacle will be finding a big enough floor space to get it sandwiched together and basted.