A Beautiful Mess

After completing the bowl cosies and taking up some trousers, I cleaned my sewing machine to pretty much packed her away until next year.  Well, I think I will have to clean her again……Here’s why.

I wasn’t sure if Betty was going to release a new quilt block this month, but she has.  This time we were given instructions to make 16 scrappy blocks.  The brief was to make a four patch, finished size of two inches, and then add scraps in an uneven courthouse block design.  No rules, just go with the flow. There are eight colours and we are to make one version in rich colours and a second version in pale colours.

They aren’t due until February, so I wasn’t going to start yet……..then I changed my mind.

On Thursday, while looking for something else, I found some baggies of cut scraps that had come in a destash.  They included a little baggy of one and half inch squares.  

Perfect!  Yesterday, they became the starting point. There was also a baggy of two and half inch by two inch pieces.  Perfect for the first addition.  I was able to come up with quite a few of the colours I needed.

Then I played in my scrap tubs….. and that is where things got messy…..in a beautiful way.  The commonsense method would have been to work with one colour at a time, but as I was initially working from size rather than colour that is how I continued.

Chooky had a Zoom session this morning, so it was the ideal time to keep working on the blocks.  By lunch time they were all done.  They look wonky, but that was the brief.  Once they had reached the requisite size, don’t trim them.  Betty and Co will do that when they make them into quilts.

After I had finished, the mess was even worse than yesterday.

Now, all is relatively calm again and I’m ready to start playing with something else.

So much for not starting anything more.

Keeping My Pinkies Warm

Something that I have needed to make for myself was a pair of fingerless gloves, particularly for taking photos with my phone in cold weather.

Time was of the essence, so I decided that it would be quicker to crochet a pair.  I found a couple of suitable patterns and bought some nice merino wool.

When it came to starting them, I really didn’t like crocheting into the back of the stitch using a tiny crochet hook with this wool, as it was quite splitty.

Mmmm!  Plan B was required, but I really wanted this to be a quick, simple project.  Let’s look at knitting some.

Most patterns are knitted in the round on four needles, which I find rather cumbersome.  The solution is to use magic loop with a long circular needle, but it isn’t something I have done yet, so now was not the time to start to learn.  

That left knitting in the flat, but many patterns were just a rectangle stitched up with a hole in the seam for your thumb.  I did want a little more fit than that.

I finally found a suitable pattern and got started while chatting with the Chookshed Stitchers in Zoom yesterday.

By lunch time I had one knitted, ready to stitch up.  The second was worked in the afternoon and before long they were stitched up and ready to wear.

They are not flash.  They are not perfect.  They do fit.  They are warm.  I can wear them while taking photos with my phone.  They will do.

I’m one happy camper.

I think I will make a better pair in 4 ply next winter and use it as a learning exercise.

Another Job Ticked Off the List

As I have previously mentioned, I made some bowl cosies in September and had a further four half made.  

This time there was no pressure to get them finished, but it would be very good to get them done……but…..

There is always a reason while a project gets parked.  This time it was the fact that I really don’t like stitching through the very thick edges when doing the final construction and top stitching.

I decided to put my big girl pants on and finished them yesterday.

Two in bluey greens - more suitable for a fellow.

Two in florals.

They are not perfect, but are done and will be given to the Hospital Auxiliary  to sell in their kiosk.

I don’t think I will make any more, as I think my machine may be playing up a little since finishing them. It didn’t like sewing through the edges, despite using a walking foot and jeans needle. Hopefully, it will sort itself out.

Bathurst Open Gardens

Last weekend was the annual open gardens and like every year we went to have a look with my friend Lisa.  Always a lovely day to catch up.

We opted to go on Sunday, as the weather was forecast to be better than Saturday and it was a very good decision.  We had the perfect spring day and could start the day with the O’Connell Artisan Markets.  Win, win.

The markets are held in the grounds of the Anglican Church.  The old Rectory is now a beautiful shop featuring local produce and gorgeous homewares, both new and vintage.  This was the first time we have had a chance to visit and will keep it in mind for future.

From there we visited a lovely country garden, just out of O’Connell, which features a flower garden.  It was the pick of the gardens we visited.  The position is well off the road with sweeping views of the surrounding area.

Just the spot for an outside bath, heated by a wood fire.

From there it was on to another lovely garden at O’Connell, just beside the river.  The house dates back to the mid 1800s.  We have visited this garden previously.

The next one was open for the first time this year.  It is another historic garden.  Part of the house dates back to the 1830s, with an 1880s addition.  It is now used as a guest house and had recent additions out the back that work well. The above photo shows the 1880s section.

The circular drive is a wonderful entrance, featuring an impressive sculpture in the centre. The section of the house on the right is the earlier section.

At the rear of the house there is a walled garden.  In the centre there is a Lorraine Lee rose that dates back to the 1830s.  The base is huge.

By then it was time for lunch, before visiting some town gardens.  Let’s have a quick look, so I don’t bore you.

At the last garden we visited there was a lovely, healthy blue tongue lizard sunning itself in amongst the plants.

What we did notice this year was the lack of bees.   The varroa mite is definitely having an effect. We were delighted to see quite a few on one lavender hedge.

As always, there were a wide variety of styles and sizes.  We have to thank all the owners for taking the trouble to have their gardens prepared for visitors.  It would be a huge task.

One Monthly Wish Met

My Main Wish for this month was to complete the final Rainbow Scrap Challenge Quilt.  I’m happy to report that it has been done.

I pieced the backing and loaded it on the quilting frame on Monday, ready to go.

It was quilted on Tuesday, using the swirly pattern.

Finally, it was bound yesterday.

The backing was made up from a piece of batik that has been sitting in the stash for years.  I initially planned to make some PJ pants with it, but obviously, I never got around to it.  I was able to use the entire piece with the addition of some more colourful scraps to tie in with rainbow theme.

This quilt will be donated.

It feels good to have all three of these quilts completed within the same year as they were started.

I had started making the crumb blocks a couple of years ago and still have a few more pink ones, so I will continue to make some when then mood strikes and come up with another project in the future. They are great fun to piece.

QUILT INFORMATION

Measurements - 59" high x 51" wide

Pattern - Inspiration from a photo seen on Pinterest.

Fabrics - Stash for the scraps and Spotlight for the greys.

Quilting Design - Swirling Wide by Leah Day for QCT6

Batting - Cotton/Poly

Backing and Binding - Fabric from stash and the same grey as the background.

Thread - Glide - Mint Green