Knitting Socks

I love to knit! I have done it on and off for the past X decades. 

Socks are a favorite too. They are fast and portable. I have no idea how many pairs of socks I have knitted. 

This yarn was a gift from a friend. I love it! The yarn is very colorful and I have chosen a simple basket weave pattern just to add a little texture because nothing else will show.

The yarn is "Tofutsies" It has: superwash wool, soysilk, cotton and "Chitin." Chitin, according to the label is "fiber from shrimp, and crab shells! It's naturally antibacterial."

Love it so far; but the best part is that I am very allergic to shrimp. But I can knit with it fine. It will be a pleasure to step on it when these socks are done.

The pattern for the basket weave sstitch is from the knitting pattern calendar (September 2, if you have the calendar):

Multiple of 4+3 stitches

Row 1&3 (right side) knit

Row 2 *k3, p1 rep from* to last 3 st k3

Row 4 k1,*p1, k3; rep from * to last 2 st p1,k1

repeat 4 rows.

BUT as you can see I use 2 circular knitting needles to knit in a circle and for that reason, you just mark where your row start and knit to the end of that row. The information after the * is redundant.

When you get to the end of that row (back to your marker), just move on to the next row on the pattern.

More Beyond the Cherry Trees Blocks

Block 6

I have finished the applique on 3 more blocks for the "Beyond the Cherry Trees" quilt. I am also learning some new skills for my computer photo editing. Not always successfully in my endeavors as you can attest. But moving on, I am learning. Hopefully I will improve soon.

Block 11

Block 8

I am not making the blocks in the order of publication; but these are the block numbers as published by Sentimental Stitches.

Blocks 10, 14, 13

These last 3 blocks are prepared to be appliqued on the following airports: NC, NJ, Lisbon, London, Seoul, Paris, Lisbon, DC, NC (in this order of stops.) I am lucky to be able to travel and to have some fun while waiting for the next adventure. Now to load the kindle.

Fibonacci quilt

Fibonacci Quilt

I made this quilt as a graduation gift. I wanted a throw size quilt. The kind you wrap around yourself on a cold day and read a good book or watch anything electronic. The finish size is 66" by 46 1/2."
I have been seen a lot of strip quilts on various Modern Quilt sites and was inspired to make one. I took my graphic paper and drew my pattern. Than back to Fibonacci for the dimensions. I used the sequence 4,8,12,20,32,52... for this quilt. I also used 2 as the "sashing" between strips. The seam allowance is 1/4" (1/4 inch), so I added 1/2" to all the dimensions.

Fabric requirement:
1 1/2 yards of central panel (light blue).
1 yard each of 2 other colors (medium and dark blues).
1 yard of  the blue border
2 yards of background (1/2 yard more for binding).
Batting : 76" by 56" This is a 80/20 cotton blend.

Cutting:
Light Blue: 1 piece 52 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches

Dark Blue: 2 pieces 32 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches
               
Medium Blue: 2 pieces 20 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches

Blue Border  2 pieces 54 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches
                    2 pieces 39 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches * I did piece these out of 6 strips of blue, so I did cut 6 strips that were 36 by 2 1/2 inches sew the short ends and cut the desired length for my borders out of this long strip.

Background:
For borders: 2 pieces 40 by 4 1/2 inches  **Cut these pieces first than cut the next pieces listed.

                    2 pieces 60 by 4 1/2 inches  ***Cut these pieces on the length of the fabric

6 pieces 55 by 2 1/2 inches  ***Cut these pieces on the length of the fabric.
4 pieces 18 by 4 1/2 inches
4 pieces 12 by 4 1/2 inches
2 pieces 8 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches

Sewing:
Sew the background pieces to the corresponding short sides of the "blues". Such as the 8 1/2" by 2 1/2" to the 52 1/2 " by 8 1/2." To make a piece that is 54 1/2" by 8 1/2". Than the shorter medium blue pieces to the longer background pieces and so on. The goal is for all to measure 54 1/2" in length.
Add the  background  55" by 2 1/2" strip to the pieces above (yes, I did cut it longer and trim at the end.)
I added one of the background strip to the right of each pieced blue strip and than the last one to the left of the one I chose to be the first from left to right. But that is just me. This work well if your fabric is directional.
Add the medium blue border starting with the side pieces (54 1/2"). Than the top and bottom borders.
Add the last border starting with the top and bottom borders (40" background pieces.); and the sides last.

I did piece the back with the leftover fabric. BUT I did add another fabric in the center. If  you know about Duke and UNC (University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill), you understand the central Duke panel (GO DUKE!).
If you want a pieced back with the leftover blues from the front, you will need 1 more fabric than listed above. About 15 by 42 inches should do.

Note: I do square off the top and back as I go; and also at the end. So the quilt will be square and easier to construct.
I have made blocks with more seams than this whole top. It was an easy and fast quilt to complete (2 afternoons).
The awesome quilting was done by Francine Blouin.
The photo was taken on my stair banister and thequilt was pinned to a hanger; but it is really nice and flat when it is on the bed. Just thought you needed to know that.
Hope you enjoy making this quilt as I did.

back

detail of the back

Australian bits- Qantas and Jet Star

The flight from Melbourne to Sydney is about 40 minutes long. This is the snack we got on this Qantas flight (no extra charge).

It is organic vegetable crackers with just vegetables pressed as a cracker and some hummus as dip. Yes, it is good wine too. Who new that food was still available in short flights. And good food nonetheless.

Now, so we did not get too shocked, on the same flight operated by Jet Star (co shared with Qantas), we had to pay for water. Really? "Jet Star, really?" Pay for water? I hope the US airlines don't get any ideas about water charges.

Just had to share.

Sydney Quilt Guild -March 2012

The Quilt Guild of New South Wales in Sydney has a wonderful tradition of display the work of one of its members for a month in their office on Pitt Street. The month of March of 2012, Kathy Doughty of Material Obssession fame, displayed some of her quilts. I was not fortunate enough to be there when she did her presentation; but was able to see the quilts as they hang it the office. My pictures are not the best as always. But her work is so lovely that I just had to share some of the pictures.

Kathy has a new quilting book to be release this April. I can't wait to see it. I am sure it will be a treat.

detail from the quilt pictured below.

Good sense of humor

As DH and I walked around the Arts Center Building in Melbourne Australia, we came across this sign on the window. I thought it was the best. As we continued around the building we came to the door sign pictured  below. We had to giggle.

Disclaimer: I did NOT check to see if the toilets were really there.

Linda Jackson- Bush Couture at NGV

Linda Jackson is a designer from Sydney, Australia. Her beautiful outfits pictured here are at the National Gallery of Victoria (Ian Porter one), in Melbourne. I had the pleasure to spend a couple of hours admiring her work. The photos were taken without flash; but you can see the beauty of the pieces. This last one is one of the first patchwork pieces that she designed. I could not pick a favorite. I just imagine wearing one of this outfits. How cool, indeed.