Knitting UFO

Uh oh, the UFO's in my house are not limited to my quilting... we also have a knitting UFO stash.

About 2 weeks ago, I came acros some beautiful yarn and enlisted my DD to knit me a scarf. 'Sure' she said 'no problem'. The only problem it turns out, is that the yarn cannot be worked in crochet and she doesnt like knitting. I knit and crochet so I really couldn't see an issue, but she assured me, you're one or the other. She persisted on needles for 2 rows before giving up. Going through the wool box, I found the yarn I had selected for last year's scarf and predictably... two rows knitted and abandoned. But that's not all. There is plenty of abandoned crochet work in there too. Half spirals, assorted flowers or as she likes to refer to it all : 'samples'.

Yes, I have passed on my bad habits.

Lone Star

This is my Lone Star. It's been in the wings for a few years. Now I've found it, I'm set on finishing it. It was a 'nice suprise' finding it cut out and bundled.

I was going for an autumnal color feel and I still like the tones I chose, it will all come together when it's finished. I will definitely be posting that proud moment as soon as I get to it.

Another week, another quilt (hopefully)

I'm hopeful. I have the Quilts That Must Be Finished draped over the ledge awaiting action. There's 4 there on the ready right now - so I have no excuses.

Those shirts you see on the side - they are what I should be doing with my time ( some ironing!). Unfortunately, I am not a shining example of applied house husbandry!

Although I have plenty to do, I have to admit that I am feeling totally uninspired today! So far I have been meandering and doing everything and anything except what I planned on doing...so...I am going to just sit down and do it. Get through the boring bits so I can move on. Soonish. Probably.

Getting it together for the week ahead

As a rule, I don't usually sew on the weekends. But sometimes, if it's just that kind of day, I potter around and line things up for the week ahead.

That's what I am doing today. I have fiddly things to do...and outstanding bits that I am stitching together so that during the week I can zip through my projects in chunks, rather than having to stop and work over those important but time consuming details. I can't believe it, I sound almost organised!

Rain!

Finally, it's raining. It's been quite heavy this morning, which is nice, I can practically hear my shrubs and neglected flower beds sighing with relief - it's been a very dry season. Even during drought, you can't help but expect rain and renewal, even if you should know better. Singed grass and heat struck gardens are such a sad sight.

I'm having a productive day in my room. There's suprisingly good sunlight and I have a heap of quilts on my sewing table to be finished. This is the kind of day that brings out the knitter in me... but I have managed to resist. I don't need TWO hobbies, my house isn't big enough!

Although, Last week when I was looking for some thread, I came across and purchased some lovely bitsy netted yarn and enlisted my DD to whip me up a scarf. The yarn refused to work with her crochet hook so she started with the needles, but has lost interest after two rows! I'm afraid she may have a bit too much of my own work ethic already! The whole lot is back in the yarn bag. She says she can't 'muster enthusiasm' for needles, which is a very interesting excuse. I say, knitting is knitting, isn't it? She says no - you're either a crocheter or a knitter...what do YOU think?

Busy

I'm flat out at the moment. Finishing off some designs. I have a few that I just had to pull out and complete as they are great 'stash users' and anything to lighten my shelves is getting a high priority mark.

My quilt to do list has also just increased with a wedding quilt added (family friend) so I will be starting a 'new thing' however that will be my exception this month. I will post details as they take shape.

My DD's have started collecting the 'nests' of journals and sketchbooks that I leave around the house (OK, guilty) and depositing them in my sewing room at the end of each day, so there is no chance of me lapsing into my former bad habits. There simply aren't enough surfaces in the house.

I will yet be a well organised, efficient quilter with finished quilts to show for my labors...rather than a keeper of bundles of projects on the go...

New Habits

In the morning, my sewing room is a beautiful place to be - light floods in and it's very inspiring ( I blame the position of this room for my desire to 'start' so many things...). When my cat hears me making my morning coffee, she gallops across the house and leaps onto the ironing board with a gusto. This is one of her favourite past times.

She likes to take position there because she knows that -I- will need the ironing board and she likes to wrestle me for it. If there are fiddly bits of fabric that need to be stuck down - that is even better, she really enjoys pushing bits off the board, or re-positioning herself and sitting on them and looking innocent while I hunt around and convince myself I forgot to cut them in the first place.

In the last few weeks though, she has been a bit disappointed, as I have been clearing up, organising myself and generally 'tidying' or finally finishing work on my sewing machine, so she is a bit miffed with me and has started making sure I know she is ignoring me.

How is my studio looking? Ah, still a work in progress. However, I am getting there slowly. I feel a sense of urgency in getting all these projects under control ASAP as my daughter's are starting to take a keen interest in quilting themselves and I would like to instill in them a sense of ONE PROJECT AT A TIME. However it's hard to take the high ground when you have to beat a way to your own design table.