The return of the quilter

Can you believe it? I'm posting on the blog.

First, let me say that I do like the cowl you made me, so much! It is a gorgeous color, and so soft, and so perfectly made. I like to wear cowls with big coats, which doesn't match with Houston. But, I have been wearing it here! :D PS, the red scarf was Aunt Nina's, which is part of why it's my favorite.

Second, your other comment makes me realize that I haven't done housekeeping in a long time; I didn't post a photo of the finished quilt (which has actually become a comforter cover with cute buttons) or claim it as a finished project (fixed). I had some baby presents on my 'to-do' list for children who are now ~6 (deleted). I went through my stash the other day and found all kinds of beautiful fabric and yarns that I had forgotten all about, so I need to brainstorm some new projects. And we haven't been keeping stats in nearly two years, though I think we agreed over Christmas that the salsa-sending has lost its urgency?

Third, I have a new project, and I have made lots of progress on it already (sorry for hoarding). In fact, I'm nearly done. My college roommate has a new baby, and I am making a quilt for them. She picked the pattern (11x11 blocks, but it looks like 10x10 because the 11th row and column is all black, so that's how I'm treating it to make it easier) and colors (in general terms; I picked the fabric, mostly out of things I had in the house). I'm feeling clever because I first made long strips of the blocks in one direction:

and then cut them up

  

 and sewed them back together the other way
















so it went quickly. And, because I have decided that getting it done in a timely manner is more important than it being perfect (and anyway, that's how they'll know it's from me and not a store), I'm letting little imperfections go. So, I have 7 of 9 10x10 blocks done (here are 6) and only 9 seams left to go to complete the last two blocks; then I'll sew them together with the black, get some batting and wrap it up! Very exciting.

Time spent:
Sat, Jan 17th: 5 hours
Sun, Jan 18th: 7 hours
Mon, Jan 19th: 5:15 hours
Mon, Jan 26th: 3:50 hours
today: 2:45 hours

Total thus far (and thus the total for this quarter): 23:50 hours.
Catherine

What month? Already?

Well, Christmas has come and gone and now we're into the bleak winter months of January in Houston.  Sigh.  It only got up into the low 70s last weekend, and might barely make into the 60s this weekend.  It's a challenge.  We have had lots of rain and overcast days so we are all missing the sun here.  Should be nice this weekend.

A quick project summary - Our mom liked the cowl I made for her, so now I am almost halfway through the one I was making instead and I find it has no owner.  Maybe I will give it to our mom anyhow, maybe I will keep it, maybe I will give it to our friends who are moving to Calgary this summer.

MyFriend loves his scarf.  I am pleased with it.  Now I am going to make mittens to go with it.  The yarn, although the same source, seems less squishy than last time and I'm not liking it as much.  Curious.  I'm trying to use a pattern from The Knitters Handy Pattern Book (or something like that) and I've ripped back the cuff three times already.  I think I've got it now.  Hopefully the rest will go smoothly.  I'm going to try to put the little cables on it to match the scarf.  Is it good for men to have matchy scarves and mittens?  Hmmm.  I'll have to think about that.  Quickly.  Maybe just ribbed is enough?

I think Catherine likes the cowl I made her.  She likes the colors, but I didn't see her wear it much over Christmas.  She wore this long red scarf all the time.  (sob, you don't like it!)

So now I'm making progress on fixing the Mutant Sweater, I'm working on the mittens and the cowl and I've got a bunch of other things lined up.  I probably should be good and go back to the list of Unfinished Things when I finish one of the knitted projects.  I do have a cross stitch to work on that I think is due soon.  Plus all those other things.

Pictures next time.  Hopefully a before and after of Mutant Sweater!

Margie

January tally (from orthodontist appointments and M's ballroom classes): 11 hours so far.  I'll keep better track going forward.