Aeolian Shawl

I started the Aeolian Shawl (the Purple Shoulderette version) project about a year and half ago with Malabrigo lace yarn and tiny white pearls. This was my first attempt working with beads and a size 0.05 crochet hook. I got this project idea from a knitter who was also taking a sweater design class at Stitches that year. She was wearing a finished Aeolian Shawl, and it looked so beautiful and elegant. I immediately picked up all of the supplies I needed from the knitting convention and started this project. However, I gave up after ten rows. It was so complicated and required my 140% concentration! Something changed last weekend... I really needed that nice Addi Turbo lace weight circular needle, so I was encouraged to finish this Aeolian Shawl and free up my lovely knitting needle!

I am only a few rows away from finishing this! Wohoo!

I will try to take better pictures of this when it's finished because the color is just so lovely. I wish you could see it in person! 

Baby Quilt

Can I just tell you how excited I am that I finished the baby quilt!? I spent a good amount of time today cutting out the fabric for the binding, preparing the quilt, and hand sewing the binding onto the quilt. The stripy fabric was not easy to work with; the stripes kind of made me dizzy!? I can't wait to take some good pictures tomorrow and post them! 

Finishing off the quilt! 

Live Oak Shawlette

My husband and I had brunch at Stack's in Campbell this weekend; the spinach and cheese omelette I ordered was simply delicious. I liked that restaurant so much I am definitely going back very soon! Apparently the entire downtown was turned into a farmers' market, which we enjoyed. We picked up these beautiful flowers from the market.

Dahlias - my favorite

Given we were in Campbell, I had to visit Green Planet Yarn! Ok, maybe I had the entire day planned around the yarn shop, but still... I came across this beautiful Live Oak Shawlette. This pattern is available in the latest issue of the KnitScence (Fall 2011) magazine. I purchased MadelineTosh sock yarn that the pattern called for; this yarn is hand-dyed and made of 100% superwash merino wool.

I am so excited to start this project!

I have very few unfinished knitting projects, and three of them are shawls of some sort. I hope this pattern is easy enough for me to finally finish a shawl and doesn't become another "unfinished projects!" 

More Hand Quilting

Gosh, thank goodness it's Friday; it has been a long and tough week. Not sure why, maybe the stock market just made everyone super stressed? I am looking forward to two days of relaxation. 

I started a baby quilt about a year ago for my nephew. At that time, he was super into trains, cars, and airplanes (I think he still is), so I designed a quilt with his favorite things. Somehow the joy of finishing a queen size quilt for my mom really got me into the mood for more hand quilting. I am about 80% done hand quilting it using these super cute circular patterns! I have the perfect binding fabric selected as well. 

What's a baby quilt without apple trees, right!? 

By the way, the quilt I finished last weekend for my mom went through the washer and dryer with no problem! I actually love the way it looks after it's washed and dried. It shrank about 3" on each side, but don't you worry, it's not that noticeable! 

Maybe I can finish this quilt this weekend? What are your plans? 

Mom's Quilt - All Finished!

Today was a very good day, I spent most of the day finishing off a quilt that I started last November. The fabric bundle was purchased from PIQF last year in October. I completed the top layer shortly after the purchase, but the decision to hand quilt something this large intimidated me. It also wasn't easy to find a table large enough to allow me to sandwich the quilt, but thank goodness for a local quilt shop. Not sure why, but it just took me a long time to finish hand quilting this. Today, I show you my completed quilt!

Queen Size Bed Quilt

Pattern: Stepping Up by Tracey Brookshier

Fabric Used: 2222 Bee Knees

Backing Fabric Used: Barnyard Buddies by Amy Brandley

Batting: Quilters Dream Cotton Batting

Finished Size: 75" x 60" 

This is the biggest quilt that I have ever made, the binding strip itself was about 300" long! Here is good video tutorial on how to bind a quilt.

Wrapped the binding around a spool of thread to keep it under control. 

My dog is definitely enjoying this new quilt!

This new quilt is on my mom's bed as we speak; we "sampled' it by snuggling together under this quilt earlier today. I hope my mom enjoys it so much as I enjoyed making it for her :)