Finishes and Limitations

 I have found that I will probably be giving up test knitting and test crocheting. It has been a great experience in my life, but I have found that the testing requires something I can no longer do easily, and that is make sense of what the pattern writer wants to say. Even tested patterns don't always make sense to me any longer. I've had to put things aside and wait to see if I can make sense of the instructions days, weeks and even months later. With these limitations, I am considering paring down on my yarn stash and donating some to that local second hand craft shop. Yes, it's sad, but life. Getting older is presenting challenges that I can either remorse over or accept. I choose to accept the challenge and find other things to do.

I'm finding these challenges with reading directions in all aspects of my life. Some things are crystal clear while other things feel like they are in another language and don't make sense. I received a project box and the person sent me an email stating the directions were correct but the fabric cut that was sent was too small. She had a great diagram and everything, but I couldn't wrap my head around it. Was there a problem with her explanation - I seriously doubt it. I'm pretty sure it's my end. I guess I'm finding more limitations to the strokes I've had. Gotta love a good challenge, eh?

So, I am having more fun with the Mrs. Quilty box. I completed project #2. I cut out all the squares, but found that I had issues with the quilt square slipping, even after pressing down hard - so I put it all aside, did an order on Amazon and got some anti-slip dots to put on the back of the rulers/squares. The arrived yesterday and OH WOW does it make a difference after putting them on the square! I trimmed up my poorly cut squares and completed the potholder. It's far from perfect, but will be useful all the same!

Mrs. Quilty Project #2 - Potholder

I also completed a jar opener which was the small project from Open Gate Quilts Subscription Box. I was chugging along until I hit the explanation for the mitered corners. I've never seen them done this way before and I just couldn't for the life of me, get how they were done. I spent hours searching youtube for grippy jar openers but came up with nothing dealing with this type of miter. Well, to wind down I was watching different tutorials when I accidently came across a placemat video that had the technique! I was doing everything correct, but missing one vital step that I should have known, but... Now my gripper is done and I'm quite happy with it!

Open Gate Quilts - Jar Gripper

I have never used the gripper type fabric before, so I did find that because it grips (and grips well), my foot would not allow me to sew over it. I took a thin napkin and laid over the top of it, sewed over it and then tore the napkin away. I didn't get my "X" perfect but I know how I should do the second one in the kit now.

I never  had the patience for the precise cutting and even less for the precise sewing when I was younger. I have some kits and even a year of Sew Sampler boxes that I never used. I would look at them, say maybe next month, and then never touch them. Until now. I'm using some of the notions, threads, and needles, and as I get a little more practice under my belt, I'll be using the jelly rolls, charms, etc. that came in each box. By letting my perfection attitude go, I'm getting really excited about trying things! And I'm not setting myself up for failure by choosing an advance pattern when I'm just a beginner. Yes, making potholders, grippers, etc. seem insignificant, but they are great for skill builders and useful at the same time!

First Quilt Block & Snow

 Well, the Mrs. Quilty box has arrived and after a while of hoping to set up my machine and tools in the guest room, I have given up and again, am sewing on the kitchen table. The guest room is occupied at the moment, so, kitchen it is. I really hate lugging everything to the table and then cleaning it all up again, plus I'm on a time frame of meals, so if I really get into something, I have to quit in the middle of it. Well, that shouldn't be forever. Just a little inconvenience now. Besides - I love having guests!

I finally have my first square finished! I did a little hand quilting back more than 50 years ago, but that's all I was ever exposed to. Mrs. Quilty wrote everything out as well as had illustrations and some very helpful videos to guide the beginner and believe it or not, I actually got my first quilt block done! It took me hours and I measured many times before I cut, ironed and followed ALL instructions and it actually looks a lot like the example! Well, there are a few mistakes that make it my own, and my perfectionist personality wanted to take it out - but I left it there so that I could remember my mistakes and how I improved (or didn't) as time goes on.

Box1 - Project 1

So, it's far from perfect and the square needs a good pressing yet. I did a preliminary one while sewing and see some areas that I stretched the fabric wonky. But it is finished. 

I sat down to do the second project yesterday - but decided to do a jar gripper instead. I had a little kit here and wanted to make a badly needed one. I got all the lines drawn and pressed and was so excited to have something quick done, but for the life of me, I couldn't understand how the directions were written to miter the corners from the opposite side, turn and then slip the grippy material in. I'm hoping I'll find a tutorial for it. I've done a search on jar grippies, but none are done like this. Yes, I could just do it like a quilt, folding the backing over the grippy material then sewing, but I really want to try this new way of doing the grippy. I finally put it aside and cut out the fabric for my next project, a scrappy type potholder. I found when cutting the small squares, that I had and awful time with the ruler slipping, so I went online and bought some non-slip grips to put on back of the ruler. They should be here tomorrow. That will make life easier, I hope!

We are again getting snow - the flakes are big and coming down gently. I love big snowflakes - they are gorgeous and makes everything look so appealing and snowglobe like. I need to enjoy this snow for next week temps go up to the 50s and rain is in the forecast for the end of next week. 

You might be able to see the snowflakes in front of the evergreens.

Not much else to report from the needles. No other finishes or exciting starts. How is your month going so far?