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?

Another Goal Off The Bucket List

 My stitching for the month of January was very successful - putting hands on over 20 WIPs. Each one received more than 2 hours of stitching time, not much, but more than they had before. That's more than a work week of stitching progress! Plus, I had one finish. Another WIP down. Now I need to turn items into FFO! My issue has been that I'm not good at crafting and finishing has always been a talent that I have never conquered. This year that is going to change along with my bucket list of things to do.

I have always wanted to learn how to quilt. Yes, I did do a 9-patch quilted pot holder all stitched by hand and cut out with scissors, plus quilted by hand, but that was when I was 18 or 19. Unfortunately, that is no longer around, but was given away. I remember how proud I was of it and how the recipient tossed it aside because it was just a pot holder and not something I did by hand. Ah well, I had put a little experience under my belt, but I really never quilted anything again. 

I was talking to my hubby the other day and said to him that one of these days I really want to learn how to quilt. He said we were in our 60's now, so there's not much time left to put things off any more. No time like the present. So, being "dumb", I ordered a Mrs. Quilty box. I so so many reviews before ordering it - some positive and some not so positive. Those that weren't came from very experienced quilters that were complaining about the quality of the fabric not being the best. Seriously - I don't want the best. I want to be able to cut into it and not worrying about destroying expensive fabric. The more experience quilters that have comment on the quality, and were not fabric snobs, said the quality was about like JoAnn's fabric - and better than Walmart's. Well, heck, I'm definitely fine with that - so that was what solidified my decision. 

Today, I am supposed to get my first box. I cannot wait. From my understanding of how this works, the box comes in 10 teaching shipments - and each builds on the other. Hopefully, when I'm done with the 10 boxes, I'll have learned how to quilt - not perfectly - but better than what I can do now. I have seen where the boxes go on longer than the 10 teaching ones and saw that if you pay the year up front, there a discount plus no shipping charges. We'll see how the first few boxes go before making my decision to make a year commitment. Either way, I'm doing this. I need a push and a guide to get started. We'll see what happens after the box is received!

How Do You Stitch Mill Hill Kits?

 I love Mill Hill kits! They are gorgeous when finished and unique for using the perforated paper to stitch on. That is a plus for how they look, but a minus for me when it comes to holding and stitching. I used to hold mine in hand, but that limits me as to when I can stitch because my hands tend to sweat when it's hot and humid. When the weather is cooler, I still find that the paper ends up feeling a little softer and gets a little worn looking. Yes, I know you are to cut the paper off for ornaments, but what about the Buttons & Beads kits? I saw a few videos telling about the new magnetic frames but when I priced them - ummmm- nope. Then I saw a woman that put hers on 6" stretcher bars and secured them with tacks. She said the needleworkers tacks (tarnish resistant) go through the holes with no problems and secures the paper without marring it. 

After comparing costs, I decided that I would try the stretcher bars. I found some on Amazon and ordered some tacks with puller. The stretcher bars came in a pack of 20, so I could have 5 small items or Mill Hill kits on the go all at once. And the best part was the cost of all of this was less then one magnetic frame! Everything arrived yesterday and last night, the #22 for Brringo was called. That was my Mill Hill Cappuccino kit - and it was a roll the dice to see how many stitches were to be put in. A roll of one required 100 stitches, a roll of 2 required 200, etc. Hubby rolled a 2 so I was required 200 stitches. Now was the time to put the stretcher bars to the test and see if I liked them.

Well - this was my progress. I began with the 2 hour start on the 2nd and finished with this: 

I passed my 200 stitches and found that the stretcher bars work quite well. Much better than holding in hand and worrying that I'm going to crinkle or do something awful to the paper. This method is still not perfect but a whole heck of a lot better to stitch!

Hummingbird Garden

 Today's Magazine Monthly Group Brringo call was #3 which for me is the Hummingbird Garden by Crossed Wing Collection. This is such a pretty piece, but man, talk about confetti stitches! My back looks far from neat - but the flowers are pretty. I had copied the pattern chart so that I could mark off my stitches. Only after all these years, did I realize I cut the chart off. I hate opening the pattern because it is folded and I don't want to rip it - but I had no choice. I'm not printing it again for 10 rows.  Here's where I was at the start of this morning:

Started before 2005
Last worked on - Jan. 24, 2024

Because of an injury, I was able to put 3 hours in stitching it, so here's where it is at now:

There is a bit of noticeable progress. I will definitely add this to my rotation. I want to see it finished and framed. Every time I see it, it makes me smile, but with all the confetti stitches, it takes so long and so easy to make mistakes. But it is so pretty...

First Finish Of The Year & Brringo Update

YEAH! My first finish of the year and now I can mark my first WIP off the list!! I know it's not a big piece, but it was something that has been on the list since 2023. This is Dimension's "Laundry Day" and even though I love the piece, I didn't enjoy stitching it - especially the outlining. The lines were strange and certainly not the old style of backstitching. That's ok - now I know what I like and don't like when I'm buying a kit. Anyhow, without any more blabbing, here's my finish:

First finish of the year

Before - not a whole lot to go.

Live Simply was a kit that was on Herrschner's site for just a couple of bucks on sale. I had not stitched in years and this piece begged me to let it come home with the yarn that was in my cart. I listened and here it is, languishing in the WIP pile with all the others. It's a cute piece that I really need to put more time into. Just a few rotations and it would be finished. This is #1 for today's Brringo call. I haven't worked on it since that last Brringo in 2024. 

Here it stands after a bit over 2 hours of stitching:

Overall, it was a great stitching day!!!

2 More Numbers Called

 I can't believe it is already the 7th! Time is moving quickly and the more I touch these old WIPs, the more I want to finish them. 

Yesterday's number was a project with variegated floss. I chose DT's Spot of Winter for my project and I haven't looked at it in a long time. I was totally shocked at how much wasn't done of this piece. I started it in 2004 and must have put a few stitches in it and then put it aside for probably a model or gift stitch. Well, I am pretty much ashamed to post the beginning photo here:

It is being worked on 36 count Edinborough linen in Rue Green using DMC and WDW threads stitching 1 over 2. There are a number of specialty stitches in the piece and when you add all that together - it's really slow going for me. I'm double and triple counting and really putting my eyes to the test. This is what 2 hours of absolute concentration produced:

The next call was #14 which is a gift that you are stitching for someone. It is called My Husband and is a piece by Linda Myers. It is being stitched on 14 count Fiddler's cloth and I am using all the called for DMC threads.

And here it is after 3 hours:

I finished the grass and am now working on the tree. The pattern has hand-drawn symbols and there are times I really had to concentrate to tell the difference. The last time this surfaced was Brringo 2024.