Yellow Blankie

I had a pretty large amount of this yellow color, and I couldn't mix it with anything else (100% worsted wool- they don't make it like that anymore), so I decided to use it all and make a smaller blankie. At first I overestimated how much I had, and started working on a super-wide blankie with the basketweave pattern, but ultimately decided to go with something that would allow me more control over the final shape. For the first time, I tried making hexagons instead of squares- mostly successful, I think, except that they definitely curl more than squares; it's a lot harder to get the hexagons to lay flat.

This blankie is a little more than a yard by a yard. If anyone specifically wants this one, I'd greatly appreciate it- if I can give it to someone, I can give them the directions to line dry it (donating requires me to wash and dry it, and for it to be able to be washed and dried, and I'm nervous about just how much this is going to shrink). Please let me know!

Official Blanketeer!

Today I took the first big bag of blankies off the Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, for donation to Project Linus. Fabric and yarn leaves the house, and for good use! Now children spending time in the hospital will be given the blankets that I made, for cuddles and security. This bag includes a couple basketweave baby blankets, a couple granny square blankets, one small quilt, others.

I celebrated my first donation by taking myself out for Caribbean American Bakery. Mmmmm blankies and veggy patties....

Quilt In Progress, Post 1

Approximately 390 to 400 triangles cut, to be sewn into squares, and then put together to make the rectangular quilt top. All in shades of blue, or with shades of blue, to hold the final pattern together.

BREAKING NEWS

My old sewing machine, a Singer 6212, died yesterday. Her motor was shot. RIP, beautiful sewing machine that I got when I was 17.

Today I purchased a new (to me) machine. Montgomery Ward, UHT J1943. Monty's probably about the same age as the Singer, but he actually works.

Now I just have to get used to a totally different machine- side loading bobbins, thread that loads internally, new presser feet, new "buttonholer" foot, new bobbins (though the shop said they would exchange my old ones for me, even after I told Emmanuel I had about 15...).

I'd like to say "this will be easy! a breeze!", but the fact is that I was pretty attached to my old Singer, we'd spent a lot of time together, been at home in several different apartments, and worked on a lot of projects. Frankly, I'm still attached to her. It'll be hard to get used to a whole new machine with a whole new feel.

5 Hats

Five more little hats, waiting to be washed and sent off.

Baby Hats, cont.

Sent a bag full of baby hats off to the UIC Medical Center the other day, felt good, got yarn out of my home, and will feel good for the little babies and their parents. Fun for me, too!

More Babyhats, More Squares

Still working on babyhats- I'm not just limiting myself to the babyweight yarns though, now. I'm using babyhats as a means to finish off little scraps of yarn that I'm probably not going to use elsewhere, and to finish them off quickly! I suppose I could make another scrap square blanket, but that ends up taking a long time, between producing scraps and then piecing them together. 2012! Year of Less Things! Goal is to get the yarn out of my home.

Also to that end, I had most of a skein of a teal-green yarn, which I didn't foresee myself being able to buy more of (I don't know where it came from, and it didn't have a label, so who knows how old it is/what brand it is/where it came from). I made as many squares as that skein would let me, then used a heavier yarn that I had sitting around to edge it.

As before, all goes to charity unless otherwise claimed. The pink hat (center) has been claimed.