WOW: Tuscan Crochet Shawl

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

add your own WIP below!

I did say I wasn't going to do any new crochet projects this winter - well, not until I had my WIPs seriously under control. But then I found a crochet WIP (so that's an exception to the rule). I knitted it to be the same size in one hue stronger. When it was finished, just yesterday afternoon, I hung it alongside my favourite shawl in front of my Camellia bush. I simply worked rows of wide shells and narrow shells until I reached my desired length.

I blocked it last night. Now, I have differing thoughts on blocking. Sometimes it can deflate the natural 'loft' in the wool and you can end up with a (still beautiful) but flat work. My last afghan never 'bounced' back after blocking and whilst I still love it, I wouldn't block it again. I thought I might skip the blocking process here, especially because I quite like the 'texture' of natural wool.

Yesterday, I realised that I had to gently block it to stretch the pattern into shape. I simply pinned the shawl straight against a table edge (it was resting on felt, you can use a clean towel or blanket) and pinned the entire 'square' into position. Then I lightly misted with warm water. A blocking trick which has always worked for me, is adding a trusted starch to the warm water - just a little bit. By trusted, I mean a starch that you have used before and know does not flake or stain or chalk your fabric. I always use and can recommend Crisp Spray Starch or the quilter's brand Mary Ellen. What's a little? Well, a very light misting over the warm water misting. I have found that it lightly repels dirt, dust and staining and keeps it's loft and spring better - without feeling or behaving starched at all.

I left it overnight and as the house is warm inside, it set beautifully. This morning I unpinned it carefully and shook it out.  Here it is, folded and ready to wear!

WOW: WIPs On Wednesdays

Do you like my new Kaffee Fasset knit shirt??

It's this week's finished WIP !

This is a light knit jumper that I’ve always liked wearing. It’s a good shade of red…but the white collar and cuffs have never excited me. Just lately I’ve been having a major clear out and stock take of my wardrobe. Buying a few new things….and trying to ‘release’ other things….Well, I love this jumper and decided it just needed a revamp.

before and after shots:

 It’s been a while since I sewed a shirt collar and cuffs, but why let that stop me? I really love Kaffee prints so my eyes instantly went to my Kaffee stash….but then I was distracted by a few other prints…

These red spots on white were a close call, I seriously considered them ...but finally decided they were too close to the old white.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Then I found some larger pastel dots that I really like….but which don’t really work.
 
 
 
 
 
 
I really loved the blue with orange in this, it would have been a bright flash of colour...but perhaps too bright

 

 

 

I just like it and pink with red can work really well...I especially liked the lime accents...

 

 

 

 

I did love the bold lines of this print – but my DD stepped in with a 'No Way', so that was the end of that. Actually, looking at it now in the photo, I'm sure this print would have been fine...

 

 

Then I found this Kaffee bright I had plans for (I have plans for all my fabric) and instantly fell in love with it. 

 

Yes, I knew I’d love wearing this print

and I think it’s very complimentary.

Getting on With It...

A whole week since my last posting! I’ve been caught between doing what I do or blogging about doing what I do – and I find that although blogging looks so quick and easy, if I blog about what I do, then I don’t get very much done. Of course I’m not complaining, I do love blogland…but with my limited skills, it takes me longer than most to share what I’m doing!

I’ve been attempting to catch up on my emails today; it’s almost infeasible how quickly your email inbox becomes 300 unread messages waiting for me to get typing. That’s another reason why I love the Yahoo Group so much – members don’t often have to wait long for an answer, there’s usually someone helpful that answers their question before I’ve even read yesterday’s emails. I do love helpful members!!!

I’ve also been very excited, looking at Hearts Desire Blocks in my Yahoo Bom Group. There’s going to be some spectacular quilts being finished soon. I really do love each colour scheme; they all work in their own way. Today I got my next BOM quilt back from my ‘sample sewer’ and that motivated me to get up to speed with Hearts Desire so I can get stuck into the next quilt. I like to make one along with everyone else taking part…but do think I need to reconsider whether I will be able to keep on doing this as I have got quite a lot on and need to get ahead. Anyway, today I finished the centre block and I really love it.

One less thing to do...

WOW: WIPs On Wednesdays

Well, Volcanic Ash has blotted out my Sydney Show plans this year - with my flight cancelled, I won't be attending. Oh well, there's plenty to do right here at home!

Today’s WIP is one Work In Progress that will likely take years. I am teaching my DD to paint. There is just no fast track around these lessons; they take years of time, patience and practice. It’s very gloomy in the photo because we were seated in front of her bedroom window for natural light. So no room lights were turned in. You can’t find tone with light globes interfering. We were very lucky that there was an ample stream coming in through the window. I have several painting WIPs (of course I do) and she has just started her own, so I was talking her through one of my own pieces before she carries on with her own.

With quilting being so much on my mind, I have purposefully neglected painting – I just feel that there isn’t room for both. Well I know there is no room to do both. Unless I win the lottery and can purchase another house to store all my things in. Then I would just need more time...

See You In Sydney (flight permitting)

I'm hoping to make it to The Sydney Show tomorrow (volcanic ash permitting!). It doesn't look good on the fly out front, but I will remain hopeful until the last minute. If you don't see me at the show, you know why.

Hearts Desire Part 5

Guess What?

Block 5 is (finally) launched

Mr. Toshiba is back in action– I’m not 100% satisfied with his recovery, but the fine tuning is next week’s problem. He got back on his feet long enough to allow me to launch Part 5. Let’s just say – I love Warranties…

Back to Hearts Desire. Yes, we’re nearly at the end. I do feel like a strict task master each month with this BOM which refuses to slow down. But I do feel it’s worth it, and hopefully next month, when the last block is launched and the end is in sight, you will too.

 

You didn’t think Hearts Desire would get easier as the months passed by, did you??

 

This month is all about the main border surrounding the inner square and, being a Hearts Desire, it’s a flourishing border with just enough room to show off your beautiful quilting when you reach that stage.

There are: 4 flower heads, 4 baskets and a picket row of leaves to fence it in. The border itself is rippled. Now that Block 5 is here, the strongest sense of direction has arrived and you can finally get a real sense of how your finished quilt will look. Yes, there is 1 month yet to go, but this month moves everything towards the design’s final placement.

Looking through the BOM Blocks so many of you have listed in the Yahoo Group is nothing short of breathtaking. I love browsing through your unique colour palettes and although I am always saying it – it’s true, I do live a little through each and every interpretation that is being quilted. I love seeing quilters make designs their own, and I definitely feel this when viewing the photos posted in the group.

 

A note on this month’s pattern: please read the pattern carefully before starting. I have included a layout guide and I have gone ahead and reversed some key pages for you to save you the additional trouble. This means that you are ready to print without requiring a photocopier yourselves, but please do measure your blocks against the pattern.

 

While gluing the pages together, it is easy to lose 1/8th of an inch and over 12 pages this adds up!

Be accurate and double check your measurements at the end.

 

 

 You can find  my BOM on my website or in my YahooGroup

How I Mitre Corners

Draw a line on both borders

 Fold and press the edges with an iron

 Position the pressed edge on top of the 2nd mitred line,

then apply a tiny amount of Elmer’s Glue along

the inside edge and press flat

Leave open a 1/4 of an inch from the edge. The pin indicates where 1/4 inch is .You leave this 1/4 inch open to attach the centre of the quilt top later on (blocks)

Stitch the seam with a slightly smaller stitch making sure that the tension does not stretch or warp during stitching

Cut away the excess fabric making sure

that you leave a 1/2 inch seam allowance

Gently release the glue by tugging the seam open and press flat

Turn to the right side and check that everything is positioned correctly and is nice and flat

For those of you making Block 5 of my BOM Hearts Desire, continue reading: We are now referring to the curvy applique detail which was added to the base border and was left pinned back during mitre-ing. I purposefully did not mitre the applique with the seam because it creates too much bulk if you do. For absolute precision, I prefer to mitre overlay appliqué separately.

Follow the pics below for a visual on how I do this

Notice how the applique is pinned back? Now that you have mitred the border fabric, go ahead and mitre the applique too

Remember to leave a 1/4 inch seam allowance just as you did with with backgrounbd border fabric- you will need it when adding the centre quilt

Mitre the background border fabric

Mitre the applique 'overlay' next and when both are neatly mitred, then you are able to position the applique basket over the mitred seam. And your corners will all look something like this.