100 Stash Projects - 6, 7, 8

Finished 3 more projects.  One Starshower cowl, One Bankhead hat out of my handspun, one crocheted Sunday Shawl. 8/92

100 Stash Projects -5

The best finish yet!  A late Christmas gift for my husband.  I may have had a holiday meltdown when I realized it wouldn't be done in time. Took way longer than I expected.  Glad to be done and happy with the results.  I feel like a seaming genius now.

100 Stash Projects - 3, 4

Finished two more things on New Year's Day. A hat and one christmas dishcloth.  4/96

100 Stash Projects - 2

Just finished this sockhead hat. I had started it back in October on the way to Rhinebeck. First finish of the year. May have some more finishes today!
2/98

100 Stash Projects - 1

Project 1 is complete. Mittens from leftover Mission Falls. The sweater I made out of this yarn pilled like crazy. Hoping the tighter gauge helps these last longer.

1/99

It's been a while

Almost two years since I've posted anything on the blog.  Since then a zillion things have happened I'm sure. I'm starting fresh.

I want to use stash and I wanted somewhere to log the projects I do as I do them.  I want to make 100 projects from stash (or mostly stash depending on what it is). The final goal is to use things up and feel free with less clutter and supplies being neglected.  Also a pull to actually finish or start those projects that I've wanted to do forever and already have the supplies to do!!

We'll see how it goes. 

I'll be back with my first finish of this project soon.

A Lovely Year or Finishes - January

I stumbled across a Flickr group today called A Lovely Year of Finishes. Basically you post your challenge at the beginning of the month and your finish at the end. The goal is 12 finishes. I've been wanting to finish things, so this find is perfect. Also there are prizes which makes things even more fun.

My January challenge is to finish this NYC quilt top. I may even aim to finish the whole thing. We'll see how ambitious I am. This is a quilt commemorating our wedding in NYC. Our 5th anniversary is January 26th, so wouldn't that be an awesome finish this month. Here's how it looked in November. Not much has been done. I think I'll I've done is sew that bit in the photo together.

I promised you a knitting update

Hi friends,

Ok so I promised a knitting update and there will be knitting in this post. Not the knitting I had planned to show, and really this knitting makes me feel boring. But it will be here I promise. And if I can ever find some more energy to weave ends and go take some decent photos, there will be a lot more for you to see.

First though, I wanted to talk about hooping. I just bought a hoop! You are probably thinking that hooping is only for kids, but not true. It is super fun and while it does reinforce the fact that I am 1. Clumsy, 2. Rhythm Challenged, 3. Rhythm Challenged. It is really fun and a workout at the same time!

In order to not destroy the pixie travel hoop that I purchased from Pixie Hoops in Vancouver (Yay Canada!), I have devised a rather high tech way of protecting it from the wood floor. Blankets!  



I will go outside at some point. But I'd like to have a bit of skill before that happens. Being an adult hula hooping would draw enough attention, without the fact that I am currently pretty awful at it. I'm hoping that the hooping will help me with some much needed trimming down. Also started walking. My current loop is about 6.5km.

On to knitting...

Dishcloths!



While these aren't my usual knitting, and I feel like I should be knitting them in secret as not to destroy my knitting street cred (if there is such a thing). I am enjoying working on these between projects, and they are perfect for tv watching. I started these because our current cloths look terrible and we don't have a dishwasher, so they get a lot of use. We were also starting to watch Dexter which I had never seen and it was creeping me out a bit. These provided that little bit of distraction. Now of course I'm addicted to Dexter and the fact that he kills people doesn't bother me at all. It would bother me if he was a real person.

The top cloths are from PDX Knitterati. It was actually an afghan square. I've been playing around with the striping. Also I've tried making some that start at the tip and work bigger in order to use up teeny scraps.

The bottom one is the standard granny dishcloth from here.

Rainbow Etsy Update

Just wanted to quickly pop in and let you know that I've added some more Patchy Box Bags to my byneedleandthread etsy shop. A whole rainbow's worth in fact.



Love them all together!

Since I'm here I might as well fill you in on a little secret. I love rainbows! And anything in rainbow colour order. Pencil crayons, yarn, Box bags, everything! So this update was super fun to work on.

I'm hoping to always have one of each colour available, so you can get your colour fix.
Also, new this time is Black & White, and of course RAINBOW!



Take care friends and please check out my shop. Bonus points for buying something. :P

Now to have a shower and run off to knitting group! My next post will be about the zillions of knitting projects I've been working on.

Etsy Shop Update!! and Giveaway!

Hi All,

Did you miss me? I've been sewing away working on new items for my etsy shop byneedleandthread.etsy.com. There are knitting box bags, and pouches for knitting accessories or really anything like makeup, change, bank cards, you name it.

I am also doing a giveaway (!) on The Knitgirllls video podcast! It is their second year podcastiversary and they will be doing giveaways all month! If you haven't watched, you are really missing out. They are fantastic!! I am giving away one Patchy Box Bag. It should be on the next episode. It will be winner's choice. They can either choose a bag from the shop, or choose colours and I will make them their very own with their choice of colours! Super fun!

Ok...so I am less than impressed with the new photo editing software tied with Flickr. It just started a few minutes ago. Sadly right before I decided to make these lovely mosaics for you to tell you about the new stuff in the shop. So you'll have to forgive the amazing graphics, and just look at the pretty bags. Deal?

If you click on the name, it will take you to that section of the shop.

We have...

Patchy Box Bags


Patchy Pouches


Patchy Mini Pouches


I hope you all love these as much as I do! They are super fun to make, and I hope that they will sell well, so that I can make a zillion more. Tell all your friends!

byneedleandthread.etsy.com

I'm back!

I've always been here, just not blogging. Sorry friends. Not much to say when you are job hunting and pretty much staying in all the time.

Quick update:

We moved to Burlington. It is very nice here. I have a sewing room again! yay! And I am looking for a job. (please cross your fingers and toes for me)

I've been doing lots of knitting, sewing etc. Most have been posted on my Ravelry and Flickr accounts.

I'm going to get my Etsy shop going again, so stay tuned for that. I promise I'll stay in touch.

I'll leave you with a photo of two new bee quilts. The first (at the top) is the quilt of awesome from my Bee FF buddies that we all worked on in 2010. I plan to add some hand quilting to jazz it up. I love this quilt so much!

Second is my house quilt from AQB1 back from 2009! I asked for wonky houses in whatever size. The problem with that was figuring out how to assemble them all together! But it worked out great and I love it too. This quilt is my extra quilt on the bed. To protect me from a blanket hog..ahem.

Take care friends and I will update again soon.

Moving. Again.

So it seems only about a year ago that we were moving from Ottawa to Whitby. (It was). We are moving further South/West to Burlington.

This seems like it may become a familiar sight once again.

Things will be a bit quiet around here. Possibly more so than it is now.

Moving at the beginning of the year. Must start packing.

Road to Rhinebeck

This time last year I was a Rhinebeck Newbie and had no idea of the wonders I was about to see, and famous (knitting) people I would meet. It was awesome. So much so, that I only took two photos. You may remember...

Louise and I meeting Ysolda!


and..

The chicken pot pie. (Sadly they will not be there this year)


I can't make any promises but, maybe this year I'll take a few more photos. Or I'll be so caught up in everything and not. We will see.

Have a great weekend friends! It's going to be a great one!!!! I'm so excited that I can hardly wait to get there!!! I'm hoping for cool-ish weather so we can all wear our fab knitwear! Fingers crossed!

Lots of !!! sorry. :P

New Hat

Just a quick pop in to say that I finished a hat. and almost a Leaflet sweater too. 4 ends left to weave in, and needs to be blocked!

Going to Rhinebeck on Friday for the NY Sheep and Wool Festival!!!! I can't wait! and may have been telling everyone I know, who then look at me like I may need to be committed for being so excited about a sheep festival.

Fun times!

The hat is Wild is the Wind pattern by Lee Meredith of leethal fame. I did pattern testing for her. This hat is pattern is now for sale in the Remixed E-book, and awesome!! So if you like it, I say go for it and buy the book!!

Greetings

Well, I don't have much to say for myself. One minute it's May and then all of a sudden it's become the end of August.

Wasn't planning to stay away for so long. Just got caught up in other things. I've also not been doing much sewing, so not many photos to show. Knitting has been progressing, but as you knitters know, unless I'm making simple one skein projects, knitting takes time and doesn't have much to show for itself until it's done.

There will still be a a giveaway of a pouch, I am in the process of making more stock for the etsy shop. I have really just been selling them locally because when I started this, the Canada Post strike was just happening. There are plans to add some to the shop though, and some of the other project bags with the button and ribbon loop. You'll be the first to know when the giveaway happens. It'll be pretty low key, but will be rewarding those who have stuck by.

I went to PEI for two weeks at the end of May to visit my parents at their Bed and Breakfast. We did lots of renovations!

I will leave you with a funny photo of my dad. It was taken in 2009 when we visited PEI to look at the Bed and Breakfast they ended up buying. it cracks me up.

Take care friends.

New Items for my Etsy Shop

I feel like I've finally found my 'thing'. That sounds weird so I will clarify. I really wanted to make things to sell in my etsy shop, but I'd start and then get bored with the process. This week I came up with a design for pouches that you can use to tote around just about anything. And it just hit me! These are fun to make, and they are quilty and they are super bright, and useful. And I may finally be over my fear of zippers! Cue the snazzy enlightened music and the stars aligning. :)

So here they are in my Byneedleandthread Etsy Shop


The Medium GG Pouch $26



The Small GG Pouch $20



And since you're reading my blog, I'll let you in on a little secret. Ok two little secrets. One, I made most of these while watching Gilmore Girls, so I named them GG Pouch after that. Silly I know, but then I realized that would also work as Grab & Go, which is perfect for the concept of the bag.



Second secret, once I get more made, I will be giving one away. So stay tuned for that.

You may wonder why there is a heap of them in the photo, but I don't have any on hand, well they are now available for purchase at the Kniterary in Whitby, they are having a studio tour this weekend, and my bags are hanging out with other wonderful knitted pieces, sculptures, beaded jwewlery. Lots of nice things to see!



And if you love the look of the pouches and think they would work well for your needs, I'd love if you'd order one up from my etsy shop. :)

Thanks friends!

Quilt for Japan and the Easter Bunnies

Just thought I'd share a little of what I've been working on.



First up, this is the quilt I made to donate for Quilts for Japan. There is still time to make one if you are interested. Here is the info for Canadians and Equilter is collecting and has additional info for Americans.

Happy Easter!



Here are some bunnies I knit using the Bunny Nugget pattern and embellished in a class at the Kniterary. This was my first go at needle felting, and it was really fun. I'll be doing it again!



Sewing, sewing...I tried out the block for the Japanese + and x quilt along. This is starting in June, but the instructions are up, so I thought I'd give it a go. The good thing is that the small squares are 2" so that means I can use up small scraps as long as there is enough to cut the required amount. Should be fun.

Have a great weekend friends!

Wordless Wednesday

Bee FF March - Lucinda, a photo by byneedleandthread on Flickr.

I finished some socks...

..in March..

Here they are.

Blue Monkeys for my Mom


The pattern is Monkey. It is a free pattern from Cookie A. Super popular! (it has been logged on Ravelry as knit 14,135 times) It's very easy and the socks are fun. I need to make another pair of these.

Pi Socks for me.


The striping on these is based on the 3.141...math thing. Notice I don't sound like I know what I'm talking about. Well that's because it's true. I just googled it to get the number sequence after seeing a pair on Ravelry.

I've started some other knitting projects too. Socks for my friend Chantale. Hers will also be a Cookie A. pattern. I also started the Candelia cardigan by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. I love her patterns! If I had a zillion dollars for yarn, and 10 arms, I would knit tonnes of her patterns! So far this is my first one of hers. I lied. The scarves/cowls I knit from New England Knits were also her pattern. Love her!

Applique, I missed you

This past weekend I went to my Annual crafty retreat. As always, I brought too many projects. I did bring less than last year though.

Mostly I started and finished the applique blocks for Tia in our Bee FF group. It was fun.



The red bird is from the Piece O' Cake book Applique Outside the Lines. Love them and their books!!!



I tried to draw a bird and it looked like an Easter peep. Then I found this bird in the book but facing the other way. This prompted a whole group giggle fit, when my friend Chantale innocently suggested 'just flip the bird'. Hehehehe. Yes we are 8 years old. :P



The venus fly trap was a midnight suggestion that was still fun in the morning so I went with it. Sleep deprivation and quilting is fun. Just stay away from the rotary cutter!



I love handwork. All those tiny stitches. Fun, fun!



I am thinking of getting out the applique project that I put aways a while ago.