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Toe Up Sock Construction

Jan 16th, 2012 by

I decided it was time for a new sock knitting challenge (obviously not a pair a month because I failed that one!). I’ve never made toe up socks and so I decided it was time. I watched the DVD that came with the Sock Masterclass, which made it look extremely easy (of course) plus I liked the idea of being able to stop when you’ve had enough (once you’re on the leg).

 I found a series of lessons here and I’m giving it a go – I’m pleasantly surprised so far. I think I only had to try casting on twice and I found instructions on symmetrical increases in the Sock Masterclass book – now I just have to work out the heel and gusset bits.

The yarn is just a patons classic 8 ply.

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Posted in Knitting, Sock Knitting | 1 Comment »

Dino Quilt Backing

Jan 13th, 2012 by

 

I made this backing for the dinosaur quilt. All the fabric is from my stash.

I thought Miss P might not be so keen on dinosaurs when she is a bit older. So now she can flip the quilt over and have a more grown up side.

I still have to pin it and quilt it, but I don’t have enough wadding and a trip to the fabric store with two girls is very unappealing, so I will wait until school goes back.

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Posted in Fabric Stash, Quilting | No Comments »

First Finished Object for 2012 – Socks

Jan 12th, 2012 by

I started these socks in September – the actual knitting time was quite small, but I had a huge delay because I needed Miss P around to work out when to start decreasing for the toe and when she was around I would forget to do it!

This is a really basic sock – I knitted a tension square to determine my tension, measured her leg circumference and cast on the appropriate amount (40), which is just tension multiplied by leg circumference, and then knitted in stocking stitch.

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Posted in Knitting, Sock Knitting | No Comments »

Sewwitty’s 2011

Jan 11th, 2012 by

Where did 2011 go?

Last year I made

  • Four pairs of socks (I was aiming for 12)
  • Two quilts and a quilt top
  • Two dolls
  • A skirt
  • Finally finished Miss A’s birth sampler
  • Embroidered and Appliqued four T-Shirts
  • Finished knitting my scarf
  • Made an apron for the school fete.
  • Made fourteen hair clips
  • Two cushions
  • Knitted a jumper for Miss P (although it was too small)
  • One set of quilted coasters.
  • Machine Embroidered cards
  • Designed 4 machine embroidery foundation pieced quilt blocks

When I look back over the year I am pleasantly surprised by how much I achieved. I would have liked to have done more, but at the time I felt like I wasn’t achieving anything.

I meet almost all of my 2011 goals (see here).

2012 is going to be the year of finishing things – I have the dinosaur quilt to finish, an applique dinosaur cushion to start (bit of a dinosaur theme) and I’ve just started a pair of toe up socks (but more of that later).

I’m going to keep working on my machine embroidery designs, challenge myself with my knitting and try to use the stuff in my stash!

 

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Posted in Inspiration, miscellaneous | No Comments »

Pinwheel Block – Machine Embroidery

Dec 15th, 2011 by

A pinwheel block – foundation pieced using an embroidery machine. This one is done in four pieces and then joined together.

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Flying Geese Block – Foundation Pieced with Embroidery Machine

Dec 9th, 2011 by

I finished testing my flying geese block – it took three attempts.

I made this block using foundation (or paper) piecing on my embroidery machine. I digitised the design using Embird Studio.

The final design size is 138.4 mm by 139.6 mm.

Read this if you’re interested in using your embroidery machine to foundation piece – it does make for very accurate piecing, but your limited by the size of the embroidery hoop.

 

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Posted in Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Software | No Comments »

Log Cabin Cushion – Machine Embroidered

Dec 8th, 2011 by

I made these blocks into a cushion cover. I just added borders until it was big enough -the back has an envelope closure (no zip!)

Next time I must remember to finish the edges of the construction seams – it’s not something you do when quilting (because the raw edges will be inside the quilt sandwich) – and it didn’t occur to me until it was too late to finish some of the border seams.

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Posted in Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery | No Comments »

Embroidered Tree – Teachers presents

Dec 6th, 2011 by

We made the teachers felt Christmas tree ornaments. This is one of the designs I used for my Advent Calendar – the back has the girls’ names and the year.

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Posted in Christmas Decorations, Machine Embroidery | No Comments »

Another Christmas Card

Nov 29th, 2011 by

This is my final card. The design is from here.

Just adding the design rather than trying to cover the front with fabric seemed to work better – not as crinkly.

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Posted in Applique, Machine Embroidery | No Comments »

Machine Embroidery Design – Log Cabin block

Nov 16th, 2011 by

 

I’ve been using my embroidery machine to make foundation pieced quilt blocks. This makes for greater accuracy. I wrote a tutorial about it a few years ago – you can find it here. There are also a few free designs available for download (hour glass, snail trail, water lily and picture frame).

I digitised the log cabin myself. In the past I have used Thred as my digitising software – it’s free and they’re heaps of tutorials on how to use it. However, the limited number of colour changes meant that I had outgrown it. So I purchased Embird Studio, which is the digitising plug-in for the Embird package. I’ve been using Embird for years to convert, rezize, merge, etc designs, so I feel confident that Studio will meet my needs.

I’m finding it increasingly difficult to find designs that I like – most are frumpy, over-filled, too sentimental and just boring, so I mean to design my own.

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Posted in Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Software | 1 Comment »

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