I love this time of the year :-) The Christmas deccies come down, the weather heats up ready for New Years Eve and the summer hols unofficially start!
I made this quilt a few years ago from a pattern in Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine, called 'Between the Flags'...I can't remember the name of the person who designed it, but when I find the mag, I'll edit this post to add her name. I think that the pattern version was made by machine sewing/rotary cutting , but as ever(!), I made it different. I hand-pieced it using the English paper piecing method, and hand-quilted it.
.....From a summer quilt to winter sleeves...this sweater is knitting up really fast, and already I've cast on for the body. The decreases on the sleeves are looking a bit 'obvious' at the moment, but I'm hoping that with some washing and blocking, this won't bother me so much...I think it should be ok, coz I've made a top down raglan sweater in this yarn before (with lots of increases and decreases) and that one looks fine....here's hoping :-D
** 'Between the Flags' was designed by Gita Barlow and published in AP & Q in 3 parts .... Volume 10 #2,3 and 4**
Since knitting my last EZ sweater, I've been itching to make more :-)
The design for this one is based on a few different sweaters that I like...how good is
it that you can take the best features of several patterns, and knit them into one!?! A big inspiration was Knitty's Tubey (which I did start to knit a few weeks back, but abandoned because the wool was too scratchy for such a close fitting top). This time I'm using Lang Filo on size 7mm needles and I'm making it less fitted. So far (this could change!!), it has bell sleeves, a semi fitted body, raglan shaping, and a scoop neck, possibly in randomish stripes.
The 'modelled' photo shows the shaping good, but the 'carpet shot' shows the colours better.
It's finally finished and ready to post off to Millie :-)
I ended up using a straight stitch applique for the letters, and quilted it in a 'wobbly' grid on the machine - both really quick and easy!
Now for some wrapping and I'm off to Auspost :-)
....the other side of Millie's quilt :-)Now for some speedy machine applique and quilting, and it'll be done!
I've been trying out a few different ideas for Millie's quilt, and so far, I think that this is more than likely going to be the one that I go for. I also decided to make the quilt double sided to make it more practical for baby use. The back is planned for later today...I really like the fabric used in the corner blocks, so to keep both sides of the quilt 'in theme', I thought I would use that fabric as the background with 'hugs and kisses' appliqued on top...again, the fabric is really busy, so I like the idea of the applique being basic.
I'm gonna try hard this weekend (really, I am!) to get this quilt finished and sent off....
...hopefully, I'll be back with 'side two' very soon :-D
Baby Millie's new blanket :-)
Yay, finished at last!
I'm really happy with the way it turned out...I really wasn't sure about it until I added the polar fleece backing...but it gave it heaps more 'body', and helped it to stay in shape...(it also makes it more 'baby friendly' because it's so soft).
Hopefully now, I can quickly finish her quilt, and get it sent off, with the blanket and jacket, to the UK for her to use before she gets too big :-D
With the temperature being 41'C (106'F) here in Adelaide over the weekend, not much knitting got done!..(actually, in that heat, not much of anything got done!!). I did manage to finish a few more hearts, ready to applique onto Millie's blanket...just one purple one left now to finish. I decided against using the blue ones..they were going to go onto the border, but I thought it might look too much....
....so, what to do with surplus Elizabeth Zimmermann hearts?...they are just so cool that my brain has been in overdrive....I thought that these 4 spares would make 
great mug coasters
....but really, the list of possibilities is endless
....the pattern (found on page 155 of EZ's Knitting Workshop) is for a heart hat or elbow patch. The pattern is written for whatever size you choose, so here are just some of the knitting ideas that will probably go on to my 'to do' list...
dishcloths, washcloths, coasters, place mats, pot holders, cushions, baby blankets, bath mats, pockets, pin cushions...
...ok so I like hearts :-) a rag rug style bath mat is sounding really good!
It's sometimes a good idea NOT to mix knitting with watching Lateline...in between hearing about the coup crisis in Fiji, and the re-shuffling of the Labor leadership, I swear I was told to s1, k2tog, psso...in the WRONG place!...Really, Tony Jones may know how to head a news team, but his knitting is WAY off!!!!! ;-D (sorry Tony, I guess maybe the knitting mistake might have been down to me!)...maybe I'll watch SBS news tonight, and hope that Anton Enus is a better knitter!?!
...but really, by 'started', I actually mean that I've been thinking about it more than doing it!
I'm reluctant to cut up the blue/ flowery/ butterfly (!) fabric, so instead, I thought I would use it as a background base and do some cut'n'paste applique on the top.
Sooo.... starting with the date, this is my progress so far. I figured that with such a busy background, I should keep the applique pretty basic.
...ok , I'm off to write 'Millie' :-)
...time for the Christmas advents to come out :-) I made these quilted advent calendars about 10 years ago, one each for my girls, and another 'aussie themed' gum leaf one for my mum and dad. The squares with the numbers on are actually pockets which usually contain choccy and lollies...I've been a bit slow to fill them this year, but it will be done (and backdated!)...mmmmmm, maybe fun size mars and snickers :-D ....ok. so they usually melt as our aussie summer officially starts on december 1st, but I haven't heard too many complaints yet! I didn't think that I'd still be filling these now that my kids are not kids anymore...but hey, I guess when it comes to choccy, age just don't count!!!!!!!
I love this time of the year :-) The Christmas deccies come down, the weather heats up ready for New Years Eve and the summer hols unofficially start!
