Dreambird Progress

I was planning on starting this knit next week, but couldn't resist the pull of the yarn anymore. The fact that so many find this pattern to be troublesome was also making me curious to start. I'm off and running and finished these two feathers between last night and this morning. Very easy, breezy, I think. I love creating items that look challenging but really aren't.


I'm on the first day of my four day weekend and looking forward to getting lots done around the house. Happy Labor Day weekend to my fellow Americans!

Linking up with Patchwork Times for her On the Needles linky.

Drunkard's Path Quilt Top

So, I finished this top last December. Yep, I am so terribly behind in sharing the projects I have been working on and have a huge pile of others to come.


This quilt was started as a part of a QAL last year (I think?). I wanted to create something to celebrate my favorite season: fall. I used an old charm pack in typical fall colors and paired it with a bold purple, which is another color present in fall where I live.




Chad also loves this top but doesn't like the backing fabric I bought for it. I picked it out a year ago and don't feel as strongly about using it, so I've been looking for another option. In addition to that, I'm still not sure how I want to quilt it, so finishing this will wait until I decide on that. I am content just being a 'topper' this year and will hit it hard quilting the tops I'm accumulating in the new year.


I'm linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday and will be back soon with more projects to share.

Two Upcoming Projects

I do have more that two new projects planned to start soon, but want to share some yarn and a prepared background for some art.

I'm using this yarn to knit a Dreambird shawl. The yarn is from The Unique Sheep. I picked a base with some silk for the feathers and 100% wool for the background. I'm hoping this brings out the feathers from the background.


Here's an example of this shawl. I've had this in my queue to knit since it came out, but it took me a long time to decide on colors.

There is a KAL going on for this pattern at Patchwork Times, if you are interested in joining in.

My other project is of the mixed media persuasion. I prepped a background intending to create a specific piece of art, but after I saw how the tissue paper went down, I changed my mind. I've been working on it and have a little more tweaking to do before I will share the finished piece. I've missed getting messy in this way and will be spending more time making art.


Short and sweet today. I did take some photos of a quilt top I finished back in December and will be sharing that this week. Hope you have a great week!

Project Setbacks

While it happens from time to time, I don't usually post about project failures. This one is a bit different for me because of all the time I have spend working on it so far. Many projects that I have to start over or readjust are in early stages.

If you have been following my (few, lately) posts, you may have noticed I have switched cross stitch projects. I'm now working on the Dessert of the Month pattern instead of the Woodland Sampler. I wasn't planning on this but got to a point where I have to start over with the Woodland Sampler.


Yep. Completely fresh. That means many stitches to cut out if I want to reuse the linen I have been stitching on, or just start fresh with a different base fabric. The latter option came to light when I realized how much I will have left of the base fabric I'm using for the Desserts. If it works, I will just stitch Woodland on new fabric and probably throw the other away. That's how pissed I am about it (no fault of the pattern designers though!).

Ok, so now that I have rambled on, shall I show you why this project has to be started over?


You can see where my stitches will end up; right at the edge of the linen. It's a little close for comfort, but could have worked if it wasn't for the fabric being cut at an angle. This is sort of visible on the righthand side of the photo, but it gets worse. The top line of green thread is where I feel comfortable with the margins.

I spent time marking out the space the design would take and it would be tight if I still used this linen.


How about some beauty shots of my progress on it?








On a positive note, I am happily stitching away on the Desserts. I am glad to have a different project to work on so I can have some time away from my frustation. I'm hoping to pick the Woodland Sampler up again in September, fresh and ready to finish before the end of the year!

Have you ever needed some time away from a frustrating project?

To Do First: August

After taking a couple months off of posting a to-do list, I am back with a more defined version. July was a very introspective month for me, and one of the things I determined was that I needed concrete goals. It's all good that I list projects to focus on, but it can be a bit overwhelming if I go into the month with the mindset to finish all of them. It's obvious by now that I don't make short lists.

I do have a bit to catch up on with posting. Once the routine is gone, it's hard for me to get back. But I have photos that need words and drafts written that need photos. Of course, those items don't align with each other. I also have enough FOs to last me at least a month, if I posted one a day. I haven't decided how to tackle them as far as sharing, but by the end of the year I will be current.

So without further rambling, I present my goals for this month.

1. Alluvia - this is a felted tote that I'm knitting for the last project of Camp Loopy. This is the only must finish this month.


2. Irene Adler - a large lace-weight shawl that I just want to start.

3. Altocumulus - a worsted-weight shawl that I would like to finish. I have a good start already.


4. Ennoble - a beaded scarf that I would like to start and finish.

5. Allis - another shawl that I want to start. It's for a KAL that doesn't start until mid-month.

6. Moulin Rouge - a single skein shawl that I want to start and finish.

7. Ranrike - a shawl I started last year. I want to get about halfway, which would be finishing the border.

8. Driftwood - another shawl that I started last year. I would also like to get halfway with this one, which means finishing up one of two skeins.

9. Sugar Block Club - I have blocks done through March and would like to catch up.

10. Forest QAL - my original plan for the link up will not get finished. I will still be sewing it up, but want to finish a smaller project to submit.

11. Road to Round Rock - I have some of the blocks done on this one. I would like to finish them.

12. Handstitched mini - another project from last year. I have one block done and want to finish two more.

13. Art quilt - I just want to start so I can see my vision come to life.

14. Dog dish mat - a short project that I just keep putting off. I want to start and finish it this month.

15. Honeycomb mini - I would like to finish the top and transfer the embroidery design.

16. Dessert of the Month - this is my new lunchtime project. I finished January over a few days in July and would like to get through June.


17. Garden tote - I want to finally finish the embroidery.

18. East Gable Shawl - I'm about halfway and would like to finish.


What do you have planned for the month of August?

WIP Wednesday

I'm hitting it hard on my WIPs, either by trying to finish or scrapping them altogether. More will come on the latter soon, but for today I have some progress to share on two projects.

First, I'm in the home stretch on my second sock. It's hard to want to knit this now with how warm it is outside, but I'm determined to get this off the needles. This will hopefully be finished by the end of the month.


I have come to a setback with this mitt, however. I was knitting the large size, based on the measurements in the pattern, and it is too big. I was so close to getting this one finished but instead, ripped it out this morning. I will start over with the small size and even if it's a little tight, I know when I wash them they will grow a bit. The yarn I'm using is known for that.


Despite having to start over, I'm going to try to finish these this month too.

Knitting WIPs

One week I will actually post this on Wednesday, like I used to. Since I'm still on a making bender, my blogging schedule was thrown out the window. As such, I decided to do away with my monthly to-do list for the time being. I just keep adding projects and not really sharing progress. I am working on getting my in-progress projects finished before starting new things (with a few exceptions) and really need to get FO photos taken. It's been so hot and humid lately that the throught of modeling wool items is not at the top of my list, however.

Anyway.

Camp Loopy is on it's second month. I'm knitting a cute little cardigan called Hey, Teach! out of Madelinetosh Vintage. The colorway is called Badlands and I picked it as an homage to western North Dakota. So far, I have finished the back and one sleeve (not pictured) I have the other sleeve on the needles and am hoping to finish it and the two fronts over the weekend.


I also started a laceweight shawl for a KAL on Ravelry. This is a pattern called Tiong Bahru and is knit with Sundara Silk Lace. It's an intermediate pattern and I'm not sure how fast it will progress.


Lastly, I've been chipping away at this sock. With the heat, I hate the idea of socks in general, but really want this off the needles. The pair will just have to get tucked away until fall.


What are you working on?