Despite feeling under the weather (or maybe cause I was under the weather), I have managed to get some projects moving forward.
The first, and one that had a definite deadline, was my block for the January Bee Hive Swap.
I made two blocks, one to send, one to keep. Mine, I sewed together and used the less than perfect blocks for it. This way I will have a second quilt top by the time the swap is over at the end of the year. One that is all my blocks and another one block from each month I sent out. I love the deadline requirement and the color requirements the other "Queens" will come up with.
My shadow is involved with the picture and I was too sick to care. My center block is a dark blue batik with the words 'create', 'imagine', among others on it. Then the dark points are a purple/blue batik. The light points are a blue/grey batik. I wanted/needed to do six blocks for the quilt and I ran out of the light blue and subbed a darker blue on one block. This was a fun block to put together once I got the measurements right. Now I need more white background fabric for next month. And I want to make another block with the white a dark color and the blues a light fabric in color. In other words, swapping the light/dark in the block to see what it looks like. May this week.
Another item I am working on for my goals for this month is this piece of knitting which I started, abandoned and have picked up to finish up in January. I now have one sock finished and the second one started.
The picture of the sock on my foot is the true color of the yarn. It's a worseted weight yarn and the pattern is Railroad Rib Sock by Fiber Trends and was recommended by my LYS in Great Falls as a go-to sock. The pattern, so far, has been fast and easy, even finishing off the toe with a Kitchener Stitch which I have not done before. Texter thinks the yarn is too stiff for her, which means I might be able to keep them for myself. They will make a good pair to wear around the house to keep my feet warm.
While I hadn't planned on adding to my stash, I did pick up a hat to knit this weekend. It's going to be a fun knit, and hopefully, a quick one. At the yarn store they had some of the Plymouth Yarnimals which are super cute and I can knit it in an adult size.
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It comes with the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and ties already made. All you have to do is knit the hat. Can't wait to get started on it. They also have an owl one, but Lady K wanted the monkey.
Another fun thing coming up is I have a couple of friends who want to learn to knit and have asked me to get them started. Can't wait! More people speaking my language of fibers and needles. I need to round up the rest of my needles I have
The Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt is still in pieces. Pieces being combined to become larger pieces. I am so tired of pressing and trimming and trimming and pressing. Since I feel like I want to 'get it done', I have set it aside for a couple of days and then push forward again. Hopefully, this week I can mark it off my to-do list and move it to the next stage of 'needing border fabric'.
Another thing I can't wait for and I will be lending a hand on (so I can take advantage of it), is my friend Kathleen is setting up a studio. A studio! For Quilting! And a large design wall! And access to it! And to her expertise! And a possible long arm quilter in the future! It's like saying I have access to Aladdin's Cave. But I have at least one quilt I need a large design wall to set out the pieces on and ask for suggestions on how to get the pieces 'together'. My Geisha Garden Walk quilt I have designed for Savvy has the background fabric being cut on the bias and panels set into it. A bit tricky on that part and will need some guidance and a large design wall to put it up on to mark and view.
Also, this week starts the Modern HST QAL. Hosted by Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts, who is also the host of the Bee Hive Swaps. I have a lot of this owl fabric collection and will use it for the QAL. I will probably need to buy some solid background fabric, but can't wait to get started.
So are, 10 days into January, I am pleased with how my fabric and fiber tasks are being accomplished. And I'm having fun doing it, they are not just things to check off a list. The end of the month should be fun recounting where I am with my goals in this category.