On and Under the Needles

It's been busy around here lately.   There are four quilts that needed sleeves and labels as I will be entering them into our local quilt guild's show at the end of this month.  Since I will be leaving for a quilt retreat early next week, I had to get these done now.

I stitched on temporary (out of muslin) sleeves to each of these quilts just for the show.  Those sleeves will be removed after the show.  Normally, I make sleeves that match the backing of the quilt, but I have found that rarely do I hang any of my large quilts in my home....so temporary is the way I decided to go this time around.

For the first time, I have tried the June Taylor iron on labels.  Printed them up and ironed them onto the backs of the quilt, but still did a stitch around the outside just for extra measure. 

Those quilts are now ready to go.  

Also.....I got carried away and made another dumpling bag.  

I couldn't resist.  This fabric was purchased BEFORE I had even seen these little knitting bags.  I just knew with all the knitting that I have been doing lately, that I would find some use for this cute "sheep wearing sweaters" fabric......which takes me to what is "on" the needles.

I say that I don't usually have more than one project going at once when it comes to knitting, but this sweater has been in the works for some time.  I have been procrastinating on the sleeves for some reason.

It's so close to being done that I just have to get back to it.

Also, my sister-in-law and I are doing another shawl pattern together called Doo Wop.  I started it when we went to Pittsburgh recently.

There's no rush for this, but I do love working with this Shibui yarn.  (the blue and white are Shibui).

Also, one of the kits that I picked up in Pittsburgh which I thought would be easy and mindless got started with the intent of working on it while I sat in the waiting room while my husband had some tests.  

I cast it on and before I knew it, one skein (doubled up with  another yarn) was used up.

Oh heck..... .this was so easy and the yarn was so luscious to work on, I ended up finishing it long before I had to sit at the hospital.

It's double thickness, so soft and so very warm.  

Fortunately, (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it) it's still freezing here in Michigan, so maybe I will get to wear it a time or two before Spring arrives....that is if it ever does.  

So, that's it.  It's a good thing I had been planning my projects for the quilt retreat weeks ago or I would really be pressed for time.  

Knitting and sewing.....

While at my getaway to Pittsburgh last week (yarn shopping), I did pick up a couple of cute wool related fabrics.  With those in mind, I drafted a pattern and then made myself a couple of little bags.

These are called mini dump bags, dumpling bag or Japanese knot bags.  I looked and looked for a pattern on YouTube, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted so drafted my own pattern out on freezer paper this morning.  I wanted one with a flat bottom so that it would stand on its own.

These are little wristlet bags that hold a skein (ball) of yarn that you hang from your wrist while you knit away.  You can take them anywhere without the risk of having your ball roll away from you, getting tangled, getting dirty or unwinding itself.  

My sister-in-law bought a beautiful one at the show we attended and there was only one other one, but I didn't want to get the exact same one as hers.  They were reasonably priced, too; but you know.....sometimes when you "sew", you say...."I can do that".  Well,  I spent more time drafting that darn pattern than what it took to make it, so I guess in the long run it was worth it.  We did see these in a local quilt shop and they were priced quite high ($36.00).  They were made from a heavier fabric (kind of like canvas), but still.....I thought that was kind of expensive for what they are.  

Anyways, they are reversible, too.  The llama one above has a peachy interior with white/peach and pink dots.  Found that in my stash and thought it went well with this one.

The other one I made was with the sheep fabric I bought while there, also.

For this one I used a fusible interfacing and it stands up on its own a little better.  

Here you can see my skein of yarn inside.

Here's the reverse side.  

I am just in love with these little bags.

My next attempt will probably be making one that will hold two balls.  I may use a fleece interfacing or maybe batting and quilt it, too.  The possibilities are endless.  

That's it for today.  Gotta get back to the knitting so I can justify buying all that yarn last weekend.