I missed last week and don't have too much more this week....but I will forge ahead! The 2nd Hermione's sock is coming along and I am on round 48 of 72 of the leg.........
Remember my Easter mini quilts I was making for my family and me? Well, Easter has come and gone and they are not done....surprise, surprise but I did get some work done on them.....how in the world did I think these were going to be simple?
They're enjoyable to work on but taking me way longer than I expected...per usual! I still have a chicken to embroider, hexies are made but need to be sewn on, a banner and buttons to hang it from and then the backing, the quilting and the binding! Maybe they'll get them next Easter! LOL!
My Hotel of Bees shawl/CAL doesn't even look like I worked on it but I did....I got this part done and then counted the bee 'wings' and there were only 22 and there was supposed to be 23 and counting is important in this project so..........as you can see that required almost completely starting over which I did so now there are 23 and I can move on. Someone in the CAL said this was the most difficult part of the shawl.....it might have been the designer. So, I have mastered the wings and now I'm on to the next section....learning as I go but very satisfying to work on. I think mine is going to be quite small even though I am using the recommended yarn and hook size but I have tight tension in crochet and knitting so it might end up a shawlette or a scarf but that's okay.
I also picked up the book which inspired the design and although it is a Pulitzer Prize Winner it started off very interesting and is proving to be a very good book!
It's really fun to read the book and work on the shawl in a CAL with others. Have a great week everyone!
Happy Trails!
Those Easter quilts are simply adorable!!!! I think they will be worth the wait for next year. I am in awe of your sock making. This pair is especially fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you Miss Merry! I have not done embroidery for years so these little mini's refreshed me on several skills that I needed to brush up on! I love making socks and I totally taught myself with You Tube! I don't think I would have been able to learn how if it had not been for many wonderful tutorials out there.
DeleteYour Happy Easter squares are so fun. I love the colors and how you have the phrase on each of them.
ReplyDeleteThey are fun to make just not with a deadline! LOL!
DeleteYour Easter mini quilts are beautiful, Sandra. Whether you finish them this year or next, their recipients will love them! And your finished Hermione sock is just perfect-looking. Can you believe you were contemplating giving up knitting over this sock?!?
ReplyDeleteI know, I really never ever give up as there is some real Irish stubbornness in my blood! LOL! I do take 'timeouts' though. My Mother used to tell me when I got frustrated with something (usually homework) to walk away for awhile and then come back later and it has served me well except when I was raising children! LOL! I couldn't really walk away although there were times when I wanted to! LOL!
Deletelol Good advice from your mother. So many things that seem too hard, frustrating, annoying to me at first, really just a need a time out and some deep breaths until I can see straight. Oh that I would remember that in the moment...
DeleteThis Easter, next Easter....samey same! Love your work and that book looks very interesting - I will add it to my list. Good for you on getting the right number of bees. Looks very intricate.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how things seem complicated until you master them and then it all seems quite simple and you wonder how you ever thought it was difficult. LOL!
DeleteI was so happy to see you post today. With all the storms in your neck of the woods, I have been concerned. Your Easter quilts ar just adorable. Your family will love them whenever they get them. Doing good on your sock. Glad you got the correc number of bee wings. Adding that book to my ever growing list. Just started "Th Girl On the Train".
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marsha...you are such a good friend! Oh, you will enjoy "The Girl on the Train"...it was hard to put down! You motivate me with your posts for sure and I am very grateful...I love hearing about your daily activities.
DeleteI was so happy to see you post today. With all the storms in your neck of the woods, I have been concerned. Your Easter quilts ar just adorable. Your family will love them whenever they get them. Doing good on your sock. Glad you got the correc number of bee wings. Adding that book to my ever growing list. Just started "Th Girl On the Train".
ReplyDeleteOh, I love your little Easter blocks. They are so pretty! Would be nice to have one for all the major holidays. I have so many unfinished projects but can't decide what to do so I just work on very small things to feel like I've done something. :) Happy May Day!
ReplyDeleteOh, it is May Day...same to you! I was thinking the same thing about making them for the different holidays....what? It will take me 6 months to get these done what am I saying? LOL! They are fun to work on though. I think we all need to do some small projects to feel like we're accomplishing something. I'm thinking I need to cast on some dish cloths here pretty soon! LOL!
DeleteThose Easter mini quilts were a very ambitious project on a very short timeline, but you've done a tremendous amount of work and they're looking great already! Now try to avoid the mistake that I would make: leaving them to finish at the very last minute next year :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see your Hermoine's coming along so well. I feel like you overcame a great deal of frustration with this pattern. Funny isn't, how sometimes a pattern can be your nemesis and then all of a sudden it's smooth sailing?
The shawl pattern is beautiful! The KAL looks like fun. I'm sure you'll enjoy the book. I loved it!
Usually knitting/crocheting is very calming for me but at the time I was stressed about my son (still am but I'm not in shock like I was then and things are looking up)....so I know my mind was not on those socks at all and I kept 'drifting off' into "worryland". I can handle anything given the time to get used to it so once the shock wore off I was good to go on the socks again. It was never the pattern..it was all me all the time! LOL!
DeleteI usually steer clear of 'prize winning' books and that is why I hadn't read it as they usually disappoint me but this one is really good so far! Glad you thought so too.
I laughed about leaving them to finish until the last minute! Are you sure we're not sisters separated at birth! I needed that reminder....you know me so well! LOL!
I have been looking for that book. I hope to get a copy of it soon. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mutual inspiration society around here! You inspire me too.
DeleteHi Sam :)) Your socks look great! And so do the mini quilts. Better late than never lol...It's going to be raining here all week long, and hopefully the pain-killing cream for my hands will arrive today or tomorrow, if so, I might try knitting again! Seeing your posts always make me want to get back to the needlework.
ReplyDeleteIt might be good for your hands too and you can join our group on Ravelry and post your progress and get all kinds of 'applause' for whatever you do ....our group is for people who have blogs...on Ravelry it is the Come Blog Along group and I really enjoy it. I've been in for 4 years now, I think or 5....we usually start a fresh year in July where we post our project plans for the next year. Of course, I always go 'off the rails' from my original list but it is fun and supportive and very encouraging and motivating. I hope the cream works and I'm sure the rain and dampness (and all that gardening you did in one day! lol!) doesn't help your hands. Dampness and air conditioning seem to aggravate mine but the knitting and crocheting and typing here seems to keep them limber. Take care!
DeleteThanks Sam :)) I can't seem to find your group on Ravelry though. I looked up Come Blog Along, but nothing came up? Do you have a link? Maybe I'll lurk for a while! :)
DeleteI think those mini quilts are going to be very loved by the people who receive them. How wonderful that you don't give up, you just keep plugging away. And I'm so happy that you persevered on the socks. Although I would've made them for you if you would have liked me to. Your shawl is amazing. It will be interesting to watch it's progress. I hope you have a lovely week my friend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Betsy
Pinch,punch first of the Month to you. I have that book in my bedside pile but I'm heavily into Sue Miller's 'The Senator's Wife' at the moment and it's a great read. I hadn't heard of her before this book and have the next one 'The Lake Shore Limited' lined up already. Loving those socks.
ReplyDeleteGreat projects!
ReplyDeleteLovely little quilts, and I should imagine that they will be warmly received, no matter when they are finished.
I read that book, last fall. It's a good one,
Have a great rest of your week.
~K.
Any progress is good progress, and I would say you have made good progress on quite a few projects. The bees CAL is intriguing, and I shall keep a lookout for the book that goes with it.
ReplyDeleteAww I love your squares ..they so pretty .
ReplyDeleteYou my sweetest fairy friend
Love you dear soulmate x
Thank you for linking up and joining in with Yarning Along, I'd love if you could include a link to my page so others can join in / see the other links.
ReplyDeleteYour socks are coming along a treat - I love that colourway. And the Easter blocks are gorgeous, well done on completing those. I read that book a while ago, I can't remember the detail, but I remember enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteHousewares Cupcake Makers
ReplyDelete