Friday, March 30, 2012

Lizzy House Quilt Top & Pillow

I absolutely adore Lizzy House Fabrics.  My favorites by far are the 1001 Peeps and the Castle Peeps.  I hunted and hunted for a good scrappy lot of these prints until I finally found a set of 50 13X8" prints on Etsy!  The set also included some of her wonderful Outfoxed prints.  When they arrived I just sat and looked at them and organized them and looked at them some more.  I was a bit timid about starting a quilt.  I wanted to use up every last scrap of this yummy stuff.  And, I did!!!
I found a pattern in a magazine and used it as a base for my big blocks (some changes were required) then I made up my own borders.  It's about 60" x 50"  It'll be a nice comfy size when I'm done.  I used some flannel that I have on hand for the backing.  Now I just need to layer and quilt it up!
Just look at those yummy fabrics.... drool...... Above is the blocks about to be assembled.  Below is the finished quilt top.  Notice those HST's in the corners of the border.... I've come to learn that I need a LOT more practice matching up points.
With the tiny scraps I had left I made a pillow.  In both the quilt and pillow I used some of the selvages in the seams.  I'm really happy with them both. And, the pillow has already seen cuddle time.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Finished Solstice Star Series Quilt

I finished the top to my Solstice Star Series Quilt Along today.  I posted about 4 of the squares here.  I used a different pattern for the 5th block.  The 5th block from the series I'll make for the back.  I'm loving the top. Very crazy colorful and busy... but you can't help but smile when you look at it.   I found the polka dot rainbow batik at the Puyallup Fabric Show a few weeks ago.  It was a remnant at 52 x 44.  I needed it to be 60 x 44 so I added the rainbow up top.  For the backing I'm using a nice batik and am going to try and keep it very simple.   I'm planning on just straight line quilting it.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Dusting Off My Spinning Wheel

I've been busy the last 2 weeks spinning up tons of the fiber that I have laying around the house.  Some of these beauties will be heading off to my Etsy store.  Others will remain here with me to either be looked at or used.  I was planning on a lengthy post about my love of spinning, but I decided to just skip to the yummy yarn goodness!
First up is an awesome art yarn.  I had a bag of junk from my drum carder.  In the bag was also some random feathers and boa pieces.   I fluffed up the whole bag and put it into a box next to me.  Then I just grabbed pieces and let it spin up as it wanted to.  I'm crazy about how it turned out.  It's already about 3/4 of the way knit into a small bag.  Stats:  Various wools and about 80 yards.

 
 Next is 700 yards of SW BFL goodness.  So far BFL is my favorite to spin.  It spins soo nice and evenly.  I plied this with some cashmere and nylon stretchy lace weight recycled yarn.  It's extremely soft and squooshy.  I'm thinking of making some long arm warmers with it.
 
 This one was spun from my "Earth & Sky" Batt.  It's about 190 yards and I plied it with string and bead with some coils in it.  Mixed wools including bamboo.
 This one is about 50 yards and was just some random junky greens and some funky pieces of dyed corriedale bits.  It's another art yarn.
 
 This one just makes me swoon.  It's 70/30 Merino Silk.  2 Oz and and 210 yards.  I plied it with some thread and matching beads.  The oblong pinkish purple beads are left over from a necklace my hubby made our oldest daughter years ago.  Her favorite color right now is purple so this is destined to be a scarf for her.
 
 I wish I remembered more about what this one is.  I know it's Merino and the colors are soooo much prettier in person.  It spun up very lofty and squooshy.  It's alread a shawl.  I still need to block it and take photos of it.  That'll be another post.  It hink it had about 250 yards... maybe more.
 
 
 I think this one is my favorite. The deep plum is merino and the blue heathery one is merino / silk.  I spun this so I would have long pulls of plum and then long pulls of the blue/plum.  So, it'll stripe.  It's got 238 yards in just 3 oz!  I think this is my best job so far on even fingering - sports weight yarn.  I'm still needing so much work on making fine yarns.  But, I'm thrilled with this one.
 
 
Last but not least is this Merino / Tussah Silk blend two ply.  It's in southwest colors.  Not my favorite, but I'm very happy with my spinning and the finished yarn is extremely soft and very pretty.  4 oz and 225 yards.  I'd say it's a heavy worsted weight.

That's it for now.  I'm off to spin up some thick n thin while the boy sleeps!