More quilts

So, I've been quilting. Yes, I still knit. Yes, I still make jewelry, but I have this quilting bug.

This is my first pieced top quilt. I started this in March doing a class through Des Moines Adult Education, but I got mono so I had to quit. One night in June I just pieced it all together and that was that. I did not quilt this one myself - I send it to my cousin Barbie to quilt on her awesome machine.
The block is called the Children's Delight Block. The actual block is uneven, so I've outlined it below in black. Traditional stitch-the-ditch quilting. I didn't know what to do with it when it was done as it's a crib size and I don't know anyone with a baby girl. My 5-year-old niece saw it and claimed it for her own, so it has a loving new home.
I love this thing - but I would have changed one thing - I would have made the bubble fabric on the front a solid brown - I think that would have made the paisley stick out more. I used the same bubble fabric on that back, but it looks great there! Other than that, it's awesome, I quick quilt and I can't wait to make another!

She Quilts!

For a recent baby shower, I decided to make a baby quilt. I used two panels so I didn't have to piece the top (cheater, I know!) Lilly (the mom-to-be) grew up with a giant Atlas on the wall of her bedroom, so I knew she would like the world panel. The other side was just fun little animals - including a cute sheep!
I machine quilted this myself, using the grid lines on the backside as a guide. I did not sew the binding on - I had my cousin do that for me. After watching how she does it, I'm much more confident in my binding skills - it's pretty easy!!
Lilly loved the quilt and I'm proud to have made something really functional that will stand up to any wear and tear a baby gives it! I want it to be loved and falling apart one day, not stuffed into a closet for later!

FO: Trendy Dog

Or should I write, Angry Trendy Dog? He looks so peeved in the above photo! This one is a little better...it's amazing what a little dog treat can do.

Pattern: A heavily modified Penny from Knitty. My Ravelry page with additional photos.

Yarn: (these are ravelry links, sorry if you're not in yet...) Black section - Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted in black, striped section, Patons Soy Wool Stripes in Natural Navy. The switch in yarn sizes did not effect my pattern at all.

Pattern mods: I wanted a turtleneck, so I did the neck ribbing for an additional 6 inches to fold it over. The sweater was going to fit the dog just fine at Thanksgiving, but when I went back at Christmas, the little porker had gained weight (he's like 12 pounds total), so I was forced to add the panels underneath to make it a tiny bit bigger. The grainy photo above shows the panels. I also knit until I ran out of yarn and ran decreases for the back earlier than the pattern reccomended to accomodate the manly bits. Because the turtle neck would no longer fit, it just became a big collar.

Comments: Decent project. The Knitty pattern is full of errors so be sure to e-mail the author and ask for a modified pattern. I was pleased with my ability to make modifications - it's the first time I've really deviated from a pattern to make it look very differnet from what the pattern intended. Also, I learned that I need to have more patience and learn to be a better finisher.

Welcome to my world

I'm blogging again -but this time, it's about more than just knitting because I don't think I knit enough to maintain a blog only about that subject.

This is going to be a little bit about everything - knitting, quilting, jewelrymaking, baking, gardening, exercising, playing and whatever else I can think of.

Welcome to my world!