Sock finished

Well, I got one finished. I have learned a lot from this sock, 1. I need to use more pegs on my loom, it is a little snug. 2. I think I will try a different cuff next time, I'm not fond of this one. 3. I will sew the toe together differently, this one is a little bulky looking. All in all I am happy with it.

Notice I did shave my legs for this photo shoot, I just forgot to put lotion on afterwards.

This angle isn't very attractive, lol, I have such skinny feet.

Sock Loom Project Progress

So I have gotten past the heel and just have a few more inches to go on the foot, then just the toe left to do. So this may take less than three months to make after all, but still a slow process. But I found I can work on it and sort of watch TV at the same time. I'm am already thinking ahead to my next pair and designing it in my mind, but I haven't even started the second sock yet, I would really just like to make a bunch of different unmatched socks, but that isn't practicable.

Sock Loom Project

Normally I find it difficult to do a project that can be done faster and easier with a machine, but I decided I wanted to try making myself some socks, the sort-of old fashioned way. After doing some research I found that circular sock machines were really popular in the 1800's and early 1900's but they can cost thousands of dollars for a refurbished one, I wasn't planning on making that many socks, as far as I could research (google), I couldn't find anyone manufacturing modern day ones except for the super expensive computerized ones. I didn't even think that there was such a thing as a sock loom, I thought you had to do them with needles and that was out of the question for me, my knitting isn't that great with only 2 needles and for socks it takes like 4-5 needles. But alas, I found this handy little adjustable sock loom, and best of all they had it on sale at Joann's for only $18 and change.

After casting on and doing a few rows I realized I wouldn't be wearing these socks anytime soon, it is a slow process and the yarn is very fine.

I'm finally starting to see some progress, it gives me hope, I have already managed to get two blisters and a sore muscle in my shoulder, but I am determined to get this done.

Felted Purse

I decided I wanted to try and make a felted purse, every felted purse I had ever seen was knitted and my knitting is just so-so, I am a much better crocheter. So I decided to see if I could make a crocheted felted purse. Here is the purse and straps before washing. It was probably 16" across and 18" tall.

Here it is right out of the washing machine, I stuffed a towel in it to help shape it while it dried. It smelled like a wet dog so I also Febreezed it. I stretched the straps out and clamped them onto my table to straighten them out. Now it has shrunk down to about 10" wide and the widest point and 12" tall.

I put a simple cotton lining in it, no pockets or anything.

I like it, it's kinda homely but charming at the same time. I'm glad I decided to add the eyelash yarn at the top, it gives it even more of a rustic look (or something).

My "Had a Dream" purse

Here is a pic of my almost finished purse, I got frustrated with it and moved on to a new one, as you can see in the post just below this post. I just can't seem to find a good balance between too stiff and too soft. Eventually I hope to get it right.

Another purse

So I got my other purse almost finished and then I decided I made some mistakes when constructing it and I got frustrated with it and so I went for attempt #2, back up to JoAnn's for more supplies.

Instead of using upholstery fabric, I just went for plain old cotton, but to make it have more body I quilted it. I just used two layers of Warm & Natural and drew lines every 1/2" with disappearing ink.

Here it is all filled up, I have four inside pockets and my iPad fits perfectly in the middle.

Here it is all zipped up.

I put feet on the bottom and decided to add my initials to the front pocket.

All done, but I am still not completely satisfied with my design, I have a few more flaws to work out in the coming purses.

I had a dream.....

I have been wanting to make a new purse and I dreamed up a pattern for it the other night. I went to JoAnn's today and found the materials I will need to make it. Luckily the Home Decor fabrics are on sale right now for 40% off, they make the best purse fabrics because they have so much body, I also bought a piece of wood for the bottom of my bag for extra support and some purse feet. I am going to attempt to sew "faux leather" (vinyl) on the bottom of my bag as well, I found a remnant for really cheap. Stay tuned for updates, hopefully it will turn out like what I have envisioned.

Accuquilt GO BOM Quilt top finished

I mustered up enough motivation to get my quilt top finished, now it just needs to be quilted and bound. That will probably be next weekends project.

12th Accuquilt BOM finished!

As far as I know they haven't released the pattern yet, but I saw it in one of their photo's of the finished quilt, it wasn't hard to figure out.

Here they are all ready to get sewn together and quilted. Hopefully I will get motivated enough to do it this weekend.

11 of my 12 Accuquilt Go BOM's

Double Cross Block

Hourglass Block

Louisiana Block

Magic Pinwheel

Magic Triangles

Pinwheel

Dutchman Block

Spinner

Starboard

Triangles&Squares

Windmill Block

Block Exchange

I got my blocks sewn up for my block exchange. I honestly can't remember where or when I signed up for this, but apparently I did. I love doing exchanges because it inspires me to get moving and do something. We could choose any block we wanted, this is called "Spinner", it had to be mainly navy blue and white and if you had more than two colors then red would be next and then gold, I obviously just have 3 colors, it also has to be 12 1/2" unfinished. I laid them out to see what they would look like as a quilt, I like it, I may have to make an entire quilt with these. We were to make 13, 12 for the exchange and 1 for someone that wasn't able to participate, basically we are donating our 13th block to this person so they can make a quilt too. I will get back 12 different blocks when all said and done. Should be interesting.

I used my Accuquilt GO to make my block, the block is from their BOM patterns. Look how perfect my points are, the GO makes it so much easier, I love my GO. I also got my latest block done for Ebony's GO Quilt-Along today. Here is a link to pictures of the blocks I have done so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59766037@N08/with/5619847251

 

2011 Golden Quilter Awards Winners!

Drum roll..........

The envelopes are opened and SewCalGal has announced the official winners of the 2011 Golden Quilter Awards.

Best DesignerAnne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs

Best Teacher/Instructor Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville


Best AuthorEleanor Burns, of Quilt In A Day

Best Quilt Store (Physical) Mary Jo's in Gastonia NC

Best Quilt Store (online)Fat Quarter Shop


Best Long Arm QuilterJudi Madsen - Green Fairy Quilts

Most Innovative product (physical item)AccuQuilt Go! Fabric Cutter

Most Innovated product (software item)EQ7, by The Electric Quilt Company

Most influential person in the world of quilting to-date, aka "Lifetime Achievement"Eleanor Burns, Quilt in a Day

10) Best Quilt RetreatTwo Wacky Woman (Southern California)


The sponsors for the 2011 Golden Quilter Awards and giveaway are:

• CT Publishing
• Dragon Threads, Extraordinary Textile Art Books 
• The Electric Quilt Company 
• Fabric.com
• Fat Quarter Shop 
• Fairfield Processing   .
• Martingale & Company, Home of That Patchwork Place
• FabricWorm
• Margaret Bucklew, of Patterns 2 Quilt and Chiseled in Cloth 
• Prairie Moon Quilts 
• QuiltAlbum
• Stitch in the Ditch  .
• Sew Fun Quilts and Judy's ETSY store.

Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to all of the sponsers and SewCalGal for hosting!

Rocknquilts: 100th post GIVE AWAY!

Another great giveaway, today's the last day to enter!

Rocknquilts: 100th post GIVE AWAY!: "In honor of my 100th post on my blog, I am offering a give away! 'So, what do I get if I'm the winner?!?' FOUR beautiful fat quarters an..."

Quilting Ranny: Moda Charm Pack Giveaway

Quilting Ranny: Moda Charm Pack Giveaway: "As promised, here is our Moda giveaway that was generously supplied to me by Linda owner of Abbi Mays fabric and quilting shop. Isn't she ju..."

Sewing Machine Cover

Well I actually got something done today, I sewed up my sewing machine cover. I used the embroidery that I digitized earlier in the week. I just used a bunch of my scrap fabric to make it.

I figured out approximately how big a piece of fabric I would need to make it and I made a little scrappy quilt, then washed it and dried it and then cut out my pieces.

I got to use a few of my new toys that I recently bought at the Sew Expo, the Curvemaster foot and my Simplicity bias binding machine. I love the Curvemaster, sewing the curve on this was a piece of cake and I used the bias maker for finishing off the bottom.

Next I need to make one for my serger and my embroidery machine.