Start Less, Finish More

Waaay back on May 21st of last year, I made a list of unfinished projects that needed some attention. Here's what's left to do:

1. Pink/White class quilt binding
2. Bee hexagon quilt
3. Buttercup quilt - need to cut more strips

Strips cut for the Buttercup Quilt

4. Broken Blues quilt - Very first quilt top I ever pieced.
5. Red/Brown squares quilt
6. Welcome Home cross stitch
7. Tomato Crate Label cross stitch - which is farther along than I remember!

Tomato Crate Label

8. Sublime Stitching ABC
9. Emily's yellow rug - I really will finish them some day, Emily.
10. Emily's blue rug
11. Blue table runner - needs quilting and binding
12. Red/White/Blue table runner - top is finished


All of the above projects are in some stage of completion, as you can see from the photos.

These projects were actually finished:

1. Art Beat Yarn Bomb

Mine wasn't her favorite, but she was nice enough to pose by mine anyway.

2. Sarah's purple and green quilt binding
3. Practice piece binding
4. Nana book bag
5. Hand Made Gift Exchange pin cushion
6. Jessica and Nick beach glass heart

I must really like them to give away my beach glass.

7. Charlotte's Strip and Flip Quilt
8. "Sarah" pillow


And these projects have been abandoned for various reasons:

1. Sarah's purple sweater
2. Sublime Stitching frame for Jessica and Nick
3. Julie cuff bracelet for myself
4. Snake amigurumi

And of course, more projects have been added to the list for finishing:

1. Aidan's birthday gift - finished 1/19/13
2. Tara's birthday gift
3. Fruit Punch afghan

As hard as I try, I know I will start more projects. It's just what I do. But, the plan is to finish what I have, and use supplies I already own to make any new projects that do pop up.

Well, that's the plan anyway...

Friday Night Cowl

I bought this totally awesome yarn at the South Bend Museum of Art. It's made by Elizabeth Zapf of ZabeZapf Handspun. It. Is. Gorgeous.

This is the first yarn I've purchased that wasn't cheap and isn't acrylic. Now I understand why yarn snobs exist. This yarn works up beautifully, the stitches lay perfectly, and it doesn't split while you're working with it. 

Since I only had 138 yards to work with I decided to make a cowl or a scarf. It's my first cowl and I've decided I love it. It's a rather stretchy fabric so I can stretch it to three times around my neck if I get cold. 

Here's the pattern I used:

Chain 202 stitches.

Row 1: Single crochet in 3 chain from hook. Single crochet in each chain stitch across. Chain 2 and turn.

Row 2: Double crochet in each single crochet. Chain 3 and turn.

Row 3: Triple crochet in each double crochet. Chain 2 and turn.

Row 4: Double crochet in each triple crochet. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 5: Single crochet in each double crochet. 

Place both ends together and single crochet a seam to attach.

Weave in ends and enjoy your beautiful handiwork!

This may be simple but I love it. Let me know if you make one, too!

Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #5

Flowers in the Snow Project

Just a quick update today. I've finished 168/192 of the circles for the Flowers in the Snow Project. I'm taking a short break from this so that I can work on my first knit sweater (below).

Knitting Pure & Simple

Children's V Neck Down Pullover

I decided to take a class at my local yarn store to learn how to make this "top down" sweater. I must say that I'm really proud of myself that it's already actually looking like a sweater. And, I was actually able to  "divide for the sleeves" all by myself! 

Check out everyone's year of project updates.

Year of Projects Series
Initial Post
Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #1
Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #2
Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #3

Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #4

Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #3

This is what I've been up to lately. I am taking a break from my squares to learn something new. I've never made a ripple blanket before so I wanted to learn. I used a pattern from Vanna's Choice Color It Beautiful Afghans (Leisure Arts #4432) for this first one. I am also using Vanna's Choice yarn for the first time. 

I've decided I really like the yarn and need to start watching for it to go on sale. The thing I always find out when making a new pattern is that it's never as difficult as it looks. I am totally loving the ripples and watching how the colors work together as the blanket takes shape. 

After I finish this I plan to get back to my squares from the 200 Blocks book. I might change direction a bit and choose the ones I like the best and start making them in different colors to get the project moving along again. 

I hope you'll check out others year of projects updates. 

Ravelry Blog A Long Update #1

Ravelry Blog A Long Update #2

As usual, the product links above are affiliate links. I thank you for clicking and making a purchase.

Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #2

Hey Friends! Thanks for stopping by from the Blog-A-Long. I'm really having fun visiting everyone's blogs to see the projects you're all working on, too. If you're not involved in the blog-a-long yet, I hope you'll go to the Ravelry page and visit some of the others.

I'm glad to have finished eight blocks this week. Since I have over 150 to make if I want the blanket to fit my bed, I really want to get them done as quickly as I can. However, second from the bottom on the right you can see that the gauge is horrible and the "square" looks ruffled. Nowhere near flat. I'll be re-making some of them before I can use them in any kind of an afghan. Oh well, that's part of the fun, right?

There are quite a few blocks in the book that I've skipped just because of the intricacy of the pattern. If I can't pick it up right away, I can't really get it done while I'm watching television or while the kids are around. I'm thinking these blocks are going to have to wait until the kids go back to school in a few weeks. Nothing like leaving the hard part for the end, eh?

Thanks for stopping by. What are you working on?

The Blog-A-Long Series

Initial Post

Update #1