Cotton Dishcloths

Last summer I purchased some cotton yarn at our local AC Moore to make some dishcloths. I was sick of purchasing paper towels and using them to wipe down the counters. I'm all about reusing. I just throw these into the wash with a load of towels. You can even pre-soak them in white vinegar and water (vinegar is my friend!!) to freshen them up.

I used a large skein of natural along with a skein of sage green and a multi colored yarn. There are so many patterns out there to chose from, but I did my own thing. I chained about 28 stitches and used a single crochet throughout because I wanted the stitches to be dense. When my piece was square I simply made a border by stitching a couple rows of single crochet around the square doing 3 stitches in each corner.

There are so many fun ways to make dishcloths. I've done several different ones but have already gifted them and never took pictures. This was a wonderful project to do while I was watching TV. A very mindless project which I need at the end of the day when my brain feels like mush!

Works in Progress

So I got a bunch of stuff done in August and now that I am almost half way into September and I haven't finished a thing. I have a bunch of things in the works, but nothing complete yet. I even have one of those "mistakes" I need to unravel and start over again. I have been knitting a beanie for my nephew, and it's just too big. I was in denial and just kept knitting hoping foolishly that it would miraculously work. I just hate checking my gauge for knitting and I suffer the consequences! I should know by now but I'm just a rebel!

I'm taking a sock knitting class at my local knitting shop. Yes, I've knitted socks before. I have even posted about them on my blog. The thing is I wanted to push the envelope a little farther and work with actual sock yarn. The yarn I'm using is a gorgous hand dyed wool. The photo doesn't do it justice. I'm so excited to finish them, but it is very slow going.In my quilting world I'm working on a version of "Stacked Coins". I'm modifying it a bit and flying by the seat of my pants. That's usually how I work best. I'm using charm packs of "Chocolate" by Moda. I'm hoping I'll have enough fabric to do a queen sized quilt.

Well, I better get back to work if I want to finish anything this month!

Finished in August

Here is my last entry to "finish it in the month of August". I made 6 Christmas pillow cases for my nieces, nephews, and son. I actually finished these over the weekend but had problems with getting the photos taken so I could post. Always excuses I know! I got the fabric from The Fat Quarter Shop's Christmas Cloth Store. They have an awesome selection and it was so hard to choose. That place is my online "Candy Shop"!!
I'm so glad I got these done ahead of time because they have to be shipped across the pond to Denmark and Germany along with some other handmades. I'm really trying to do another hand made Christmas this year. I have many things to create, and I've got a great start!

So to sum up my August finishes:

1. "Seeing Stars"quilted, binding done, labeled

2. "Kaleidoscope" quilt top complete

3. BOM flying geese sashing strips and borders, quilt top complete

4. "Falling Leaves" wallhanging, wiped off dust bunnies and finished applique...top done

5. "Sew Square Pear" Tablerunner quilted and complete

6. 6 pillowcases made

7. Pink knit socks...I know it's not a quilt but they got done!

8. Something I can't talk about because my sister is reading this!!

Whew!! I'm just amazed at how much I got done. Thanks to Kim for the kick in the pants! Check out her blog Kim's Big Quilting Adventure to see what everyone else has done. There were some very busy girls that completed some amazing projects in August.

Home Stretch

Today I'm in the "Home Stretch" of Kim's Challenge to Finish it in August. This was a very simple table runner that I did for my very own table. I used panels for the centers of the block. I wish I could say it was applique like the BOM I did from a previous post. Yes folks, I took the easy way out. I did get to practice my free motion quilting skills following the lines on the center blocks. Panels are a wonderful way to practice those skills. Then I meandered the rest of the runner with a loopy pattern.
Here is a peak of the fabric I am using to eek out the rest of the August challenge. It is August 31st, so I still have a few hours left.Is this not the cutest Christmas fabric? Check back tomorrow to see what I made!

Fall Is In The Air

It might be 90 degrees outside but inside I'm thinking of fall. I took a class for this wall hanging several years ago and never finished it. I don't even remember the name of the pattern or who designed it. So with Kim's challenge on her blog Kim's Big Quilting Adventure, I pulled this one out of the UFO pile and FINISHED IT! No it's not quilted, but the top is done...yay!

The leaf blocks are made out of prarie points with many different colors of fabric. If you have never tryed prarie points, you can see how there are done here on about.com

There is even a prarie point border.

I cut out eight assorted leaves and appliqued them onto the cream fabric. I used the raw edge method for the applique. I thought about hand stitching the leaves on ...for about a minute! Then I came to my senses and decided to get this done in August.

I used the free motion foot on my machine and did some "drawing with thread" on the leaves and stems. I have to say this was alot of fun. What took me so long?

One more down

Yipee...Yahoo!!!! That's what I have to say. I finally finished this quilt top. It was a BOM offered by my local quilt shop a few years ago. To say I have been moving slow on this is an understatement. I can't tell you the number of times I have put this away to do something else.

It wasn't so much putting each block together but the 1 1/2" border squares and flying geese sashing that got me. I was determined to finish this top in August and I did!

Now for the quilting... any ideas?

Getting busy

Okay, so I entered this challenge on Kim's Big Quilting Adventure Blog to "Finish it in August". Here is my latest project to check off my list.

This quilt called "Kaleidoscope" has been on my to do list for awhile. I made one for my sister a few years ago and had alot of fabric left. When I went to visit her, I got to sleep under it and decided I just had to make one for myself. It still needs to be quilted, but Yay... I got the top done! All the fabric was from my stash except the black border which I will also use for the binding.

I've been madly knitting (happily actually) a pair of slipper socks for my friend's birthday. I used a wonderful wool acrylic blend of yarn that is machine washable. I even crocheted a little picot edging to add to the girly appeal. They are done and she loves them.

Now I'm off to finish my next project...