Bye Bye Blog

I am going to stop posting here as I think I have about 3 readers and I pretty much forget to blog on here. I have a personal blog where I will share any crafty stuff so if I you still want to keep up with me, email me at blackcatmimi (at) btinternet (dot) com as the other blog is password protected.

Finished Socks :)

I can't believe I actually finished something! I got the other sock done this morning so now I can start another pair. My Mom asked for these socks so I will give them to her next week when I see her. They are a tad bright but it makes sense as the yarn color is "Crazy Electra" by Regia.

Finished one sock....

Have already started the other one before I lose interest. Can't wait to work with some of my nicer yarns though! Next pair after these will be with one of my soft merino blends!

Socks!

I realize I need another pursuit about as much as I need a hole in my head. I decided I want to knit socks. Turns out it's a good time of the year to start; my feet are cold tonight for the first time in a long time. Last week I ordered some mainstream/cheap sock yarn to practice with. Before I managed to get started though, I went to visit a yarn store near where I live called Socktopus. Thanks to Cat who told me about it! I am already turning into a yarn snob. I didn't realize stuff like this existed and I also never thought I would keep knitting in the long term. It's something I taught myself to do (thanks youtube!) when I was pregnant with Noemie and I figured once I was done knitting stuff for the kids, that would be the end of it. Now I am learning about socks, lace scarves and I'd bet it's just the tip of the iceberg! Anyway, this afternoon I started on a sock using my cheap yarn. It felt soft last week when I got it but having felt some really yummy soft yarns in the past few days, the cheap stuff feels scratchy, and well, cheap. But it's good for practicing on and I do love the colors so it's not totally bad. I am doing a very basic sock which I found online here with lots of photos and so far, idiot proof directions. It's fun so far.

Here is a photo of my new yummy yarns. I went on Thursday and got the bright red skein and the Socks that Rock skein. I went back the next day and got the others. The pink one is so luxurious: cashmere and silk. It's so soft. If I could marry it, I would. The blue one is amazing as well. I love that they are not mass produced. I don't even mind how expensive they are, so totally well worth it. I can see this is going to be my new addiction. Socktopus has a knit group once a week which I want to go to and I might treat myself to a skein each visit :)

I better go knit some more before I go to bed. Hopefully I don't end up only making one sock and then losing interest!

Block 2

Finally finished my second block in a quilt I am making using the Moda Soiree Jelly Roll. I had gotten as far as stitching stuff and just needed to cut and iron stuff so I cast it aside for a while. Glad it's done and only 10 more blocks to go. I used my lovely new sewing machine I purchased on Friday. Had been looking at several ranging from inexpensive to pricey. I was considering the Bernina 440QE, Janome 6600P, several other Janome quilters edition machines and then the one I ended up with, the Janome DC3050. It was the least expensive on my list but does what I need it to do. In a few years I can always get a higher end machine but for now I chose not to as I was worried too much machine would make me nervous and I wouldn't use it. Baby steps.

Going to quilt group tomorrow so will continue plodding along on my coin quilt. Have now finished hand quilting 4 of the colored rows, 3 of the white so have a bit more to go... will get there eventually :)

Some Cards

I went to my monthly crop today and made cards rather than layouts. I didn't get my act together early enough to make up page kits to take with me so I decided cards would be easier! I have another card nearly finished so will hope to get that done this week. I'll be more organized for next month's crop so I can get some more pages done. I used various stamps from Hero Arts, Kelly Panacci and Papertrey Ink. It was a nice change from all the sewing I have been doing lately.

No photos of quilts to share though I have been working on them a ton since I last updated this neglected blog. I'd say I am about 1/3rd done with Noemie's coin quilt which has been fun to work on though slow going as it's hand quilted. I brought out my old sewing machine to practice piecing with it and it's SO MUCH FASTER! I am now looking for a new machine and might go look on Friday as there is a machine store near me in Battersea. I've got my eye on 3 models at the moment but want to try them all out as they are 3 very different level machines. Hope I make the right choice!

Kitten Tales Block 5

Finally sat down and did the embroidery on block 5 today and it took all of 2 hours to get it done. Not too bad! Just one block behind now but considering it's the 24th today and we're having a family week for the next week, I doubt I'll get much crafting done. We'll see. I don't mind being one block behind but more than that and I get antsy.

I'm also taking part in a nine patch quilt along and today is day 5. I'm pleased to say I've kept up and have 5 finished blocks. I have cut fabric for 2 more days and think I'll cut a bit more tonight so that I don't fall too far behind next week. I'm just using scraps up for this one. Will share photos again soon.