For both awards (the Libster Blog and the Versitle Blogger) I am supposed to tell you some things you might not know about me. So here we go!

1. I love to go fast in cars. Ok, anyone who knows me personally definitely already knows this. Just this past weekend I was in SC at a performance driving school. And I may have beat my hubby on the timed laps. As my friend Jason said, “Hmmm ~7B people in the world and you’re likely the only one who creates knitting rolls one day and burns the wheels off a BMW with your hubby the next. ”.

2. I am very self conscious about the amount that I talk. Have always been, likely will always be. I think it is from years of being told I talked to much as a kid/teen.

3. I used to play lacrosse on a University (and high school) level. With the Queen’s University team we won the provincial championship twice. I was faaaar from a star player, but I did enjoy it a lot for the five years I played. (I also played field hockey for a couple of years)

4. I am making big plans for the year I turn 34 (next year). 34 was my Dad’s number in high school as well as mine throughout my sports career.  So I figure I am going to do a bunch of stuff I have always talked about doing but have put off.

5. I have a double major degree in Biology and Chemistry. And even though I don’t specifically use it every day (I did work in pharma for a while) it is the best decision I ever made. I loved what I learned (most of the time) and finishing university has given me many opportunities that would have been harder to come by without that piece of paper. I think about going back some day, but this time for a textile degree. (Opposite ends of the spectrum much?)

I won’t specifically tag people, because I don’t want anyone to feel that they have to participate, but here are some of my favourite blogs (tried to pick blogs that, like me, don’t have 3 million people reading them a day):

Jackie – Jackie is a seriously talented artist. I love reading her blog when she posts about her artist in residence events and when she works on her vessels.

Jen – I love her writing style, her kids are adorable, she is a great artist and really active in her community (I met Jen back when I lived in TO)

Lindsay – Ok, Lindsay probably has 3 million hits a day, but she has a fabulous blog (and she is a fabulous person!) so I don’t want to miss passing her blog along to anyone that doesn’t read it already. Great photography and honest writing. And pretty crafting!

Thanks again to Robin and Lynne for the tag! (Check out both of their blogs if you haven’t already – I have been reading Lynne’s blog since 2004!)

Pattern: Thermis
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Tweedy Cashmere
Needles: US 7

My gauge was a little bigger than the pattern called for, so I got somewhere between the small and large size. It was a simple, well written pattern that was perfect for a car ride.

It’s too bad this yarn is discontinued. It is really soft, but not pilly at all (at least not yet) and it was easy to work with. There is a small seam on the inside where the button band is, and the yarn didn’t pull apart or fray. I am guessing it was probably discontinued due to price. I think the little 50g ball had an $11 tag on it. I bought it from a friend, so it was much more cost effective.

Another scarf/cowl/neck item to add to the ever growing pile. I have been using a sweater cubby like this one to hold them all, and I am starting to outgrow it. I think I have a problem.

Pattern: Mint Julep by Baby Cocktails
Yarn: Cascade Eco Wool, Col 8025
Needles: US 9
Buttons: Jul Silver

I only made a couple of small modifications to this pattern. One (as always) was to lengthen the arms by 2″. That is pretty standard for anything that I knit or sew. Patterns just are not written for someone who is 5’9″ and has arms that belong on someone even taller. The other mod is that I did not knit buttonholes. I knew I wanted to use my Jul Silver Pedestal Buttons for this one. The are basically a screw on button that you can put anywhere you want. Which is great, because if you want the sweater open, no holes. If you want a couple of buttons at the bust, done. If you want the entire sweater buttoned up, Bob’s your uncle.

The back of the sweater has very pretty ribbing that gives a nice lengthening effect. Right above the waist there is a set of cables, which gives a great shape to the back.

It has been so hard to take pictures lately. Dark and WINDY! Roanoke is crazy for wind all spring, and since I am on a mountain and lot with no trees, we get a ton.

I didn’t think it was possible, but this sweater is making me love Eco Wool even more. Warm, lofty, and just the right amount of texture. And so inexpensive! This is the same lot that I used to make my Owls sweater (and I still have almost a full ball left). The stuff just goes forever.

Thanks Thea for another great pattern!

To celebrate, I am having a sale through the weekend – enter the code ANNIVERSARY upon checkout in the shop and receive 15% off your purchase.

Thank you all for making this year so amazing that it flew by!

I can’t quite believe I made this. I made cloth! I have done it before, but this was such fine yarn that it really feels like I made…cloth!

As I mentioned, this was my grandfather’s tartan, Cameron. I remember him having a similar scarf that he used as a table runner on his dresser. It’s nice to think of him when I am wearing it.

I can definitely say that I will be weaving more tartans. There is something about those diagonals that is so addictive.

It’s just really pleasing to the eye I think. I used 2/18 wool for this one, but I would like to try making a shawl out of wool-silk. There was a sample in the class that had been made with the wool-silk, and it was a beautiful feeling piece. I do love the 100% wool though, it seems very traditional. It also feels like it will last for a very very long time.

Hee hee. Cloth!

Quilting:

DWR – I have the pieces sewn together in pairs, now I need to put those pairs together to make curves of 6 pieces each. I plan on working on this at my Sew-In for the Modern Quilt Guild on March 3rd.

I also have the plans drawn up for a quilt for my living room, and all of the fabric in house. I don’t think this one will take long, so I am going to work on this next week. I would like to get it finished before I host part of a progressive dinner at my house on March 10th.

Cross Stitch:

I finished my sewing machine cross stitch!

I framed it and used some fabric from my stash as a matte. I cut strips to fit each side, and then folded them in half, using some spray starch. Then I attached them to the actual cross stitch with some double sided tape.

I did this last year for an interior design client and liked how it looked, so I thought I would try it for this too. I am pleased with how it came out. I even got it hung up!

That leaves me with just the Dessert of the Month, which I am looking forward to seeing on March 1st.

Weaving:

You saw yesterday that I did get my warp done and on the loom. What I didn’t tell you is that I actually wove a scarf off that warp too! I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, so I thought I would wait to tell you so that I could hide it in a deep dark corner never to see the light of day again if it was terrible. It actually turned out ok! I will take some pics this weekend and post them next week.

As for the scarf exchange, I have picked my pattern finally. I need to measure my warp first thing next week and get it on the loom. It is due March 11th.

Knitting:

Mint Julep is coming right along. I had lots of time in the evenings after class this past weekend to work on it. The back and both fronts are done, and I am just about done one sleeve. A friend of mine is coming over to knit this afternoon so hopefully I can get started on the second sleeve.

I finished the socks I was working on, and have started a little test knit. I need different needles for that though, so we will see how far I get.

Thanks everyone for helping me really pair down the stash. I feel a lot better about what is down there now. I have a goal in mind for the end of this year as to how much yarn I will have in the stash. I am hoping to stick to it, but no stress if I don’t. Mainly I want to shop the stash first before I buy anything new. The same should be said for fabric, but I am not very good at that.

This weekend I am going to Ikea for some more storage pieces, so I will show you what I have done to update the organization in my studio sometime next week.

The course was hosted by a guild in Purceville VA, and we met at one member’s new work space, the Barefoot Weavers Studio. There were 14 people in the class, and the style was round robin. This meant that we got to weave 14 different tartans (and try to get used to 14 different looms!).

My maternal Grandpa was a Cameron, so that is of course the tartan that I warped on my loom. (Actually, not my loom, but the loom of my kind friend Beth who saved me from having to use a table loom! Thanks Beth!)

All ready for class

We started the day at our own loom, weaving our own tartan. I was so stoked to see the pattern start to appear on the loom.

We used Jaggerspun 2/18 Superfine Merino (my colours were Emerald Green, Chrome Yellow and Garnet Red). This was my first time using a temple (the red thing up there – it keeps the weaving spread to the full width at the reed. Helps to keep your edges looking good).

Once I was finished with my little sample, I moved around the room doing 13 other tartans over 3 days. Here are a few of the others I worked on.

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I had a little more warp to play with when I got home, so I made a couple more samples.

I can’t wait to make myself a full sized project. I think I am going to make a stole, maybe out of wool/silk. Mmmmm, silk.

This weekend has really made me want to do more family research. Not a lot of history is known in my family – maybe I should be the one to start it?

Over the last couple of weeks I have made a number of little zippy pouches to help me get organized. I had a sad little old box bag for my notions, so I decided I needed a new one. And my sock in progress seemed to always be getting tangled up with stuff in my purse, so I decided I needed a bag for those too. And since I have been doing a lot of cross stitch this year, I made an addition hoop bag too.

One of the nice things about ordering fabric for a business, it that you can pick fabrics for your own projects from a bit wider range (of immediately available choices anyway). These three bags have been put into solid use since I made them last week.

Then, since it was my friend Lindsay’s birthday, I thought I would make her a little zippy for her cross stitch too.

I can’t get enough of that toaster fabric. (Actually, I am almost out of it now, at least in the blue colourway, so I am going to have to get over the love affair). This little bag will hold an 8″ hoop along with your threads, scissors, pattern, etc. I also made a little card to go with it.

White is a new ink colour for me, so I have been trying it out on a bunch of different cardstocks.

Later this week I am going to post an update to last week’s list, just to keep myself on track. For now though, I am off to warp my loom!

Quilting:

I went downstairs yesterday and got all of the pieces cut out for my DWR quilt. All 696 wedges and 140 corner squares. Yes, 836 pieces. Not exaggerating.

This afternoon I worked on sewing them together in pairs, which is taking a very long time. I am going to try to work on this for an hour or so a day, just to keep it moving.

I also have all the fabric on order for my living room quilt. This is going to be a very quick quilt top to put together, so I am hoping to knock it out pretty much as soon as the fabric comes.

Cross Stitch:

My dessert of the month for February is done! This is really going to be a cute sampler.

My sewing machine pattern though has not been touched since Florida. I am going to try to do a bit of that each night on the couch while TJ and I chat.

Weaving:

I am taking a class next weekend, and I need to measure out a 7.5 yard warp with almost 400 ends. That has to happen in the week coming up or I can’t do the class. I picked up a loaner loom yesterday, so I will get started on that this weekend.

I also have a scarf swap coming up that I need to get started on. I have picked my pattern, so now I need to do the planning and measuring and what not.

Knitting:

I am almost done the back of my Mint Julep. It is going pretty quickly when I do sit down and work on it because I am doing it in Eco Wool. I am hoping to get that well on it’s way to being finished by the end of the month.

I also (as always) have a pair of socks in progress. One of the pair is done and the other is halfway through the foot.

I did a huge knitting stash clean out and organization yesterday, and I have realized that a lot of my stash needs to go on to better homes. I am not knitting as much as I used to, because of my other ongoing crafts, so I want this stuff to go on to someone that will use it! I have some stuff up for sale on Rav if you are interested. Everything on the left hand column is for sale, plus more that I have moved over since I took this pic.

It is nice to get things organized, but I hope the frustrated feeling passes soon. One of the main things I need to do is craft instead of spending so much time with the computer on my lap. I am so bad for that!

While it worked great, I was worried about my scissors either banging around inside the bag or poking through the side. So I decided to make a little roll to keep them (and me) safe.

The outside fabric is the same as the box bag, and folded up it actually fits right in the bag as well.

Unfolded it has lots of pockets for all my sharp stuff. Rotary cutters, snippers, scissors, seam ripper etc. It worked really well to keep everything in one place, and actually helped me to keep things sorted on my table in the class too. I felt a bit like a chef with a knife roll! Except, you know, less tasty.