Knitting, More or Less

Knitting becomes my fiber diversion in the summer.  With small projects in hand, I can knit in the car while travelling or comfortable in my favorite easy chair in front of a fan.

In April, I panicked.  I realized that making 20 pincushions for the quilt camp volunteers would not be the idea for appreciation gifts.  Some of the volunteers really don't sew or quilt much and would have little use for a pincushion.  I went back to my standard gift, 2 hand knit dishcloths, despite an allergy to cotton fibers contributing to itchy eyes, sinus issues, and a chronic cough.  

Since April, more than 100 dishcloths have fallen off the needles.  I have a good start on dishcloths for 2018 quilt camp.

On Again, Off Again

Sitka by the Sea in I Spy with a Twist

This quilt top has been like my blogging efforts of recent years; on again, off again.  It finally made it from cut blocks, to completed blocks, and finally to a completed top in six plus years of contemplation and sewing.

The pattern, I Spy with a Twist, is not difficult.  It just takes some thought and planning.  With labels and folders for organizing, the piecing will be easy and straight forward.  The finished Celtic circles look more complicated than they really are.

With some simple quilting, this top will become a wall quilt that will hang over the Murphy style bed in our guest room.

The guest room is the sight of sewing efforts from earlier this year.  Tab curtains from my mom's house needed longer tabs to fit the handmade wood rods.

A Funky Fowl Pincushion

Click to download FPPFan for block pattern.

Cricket and Sprout at the Market

The Sew Green table at Experience 4-H drew a busy crowd of participants on Saturday.  We had 40 plus make bean bags; no time to visit other vendors and chat.

Sprout, the green Singer 185, is now a member of 4-H. Cricket is Shirl's black Singer Spartan.  Both were once electric machines but are now powered with hand-cranks. Cricket's conversion is simple; remove electric components and solid wheel and then add the spoked wheel and hand-crank.  Sprout's transformation is a bit more complicated.  The wheel guard must undergo surgery to allow the bobbin winder to function.

Ten Girls + Ten Pillowcases + Ten Quilts = One Great Week!

And a great team of volunteers and extension educators made this week another wonderful success! 

Jean's Quilt

Jean's quilt was made in early 2010, after she moved from Kennewick, WA, to El Mirage, AZ.  My husband always wanted to see the Grand Canyon and I didn't want to send the quilt through the mail, so we flew down at the end of April to hand-deliver the quilt to Jean.

We can't hug each other again in this life but I know she is with the Lord and smiling down from heaven.  Fond memories of lunches at Subway, her contagious smiles, funny stories, and just being there for me will warm my heart forever.  I miss you, Jean!

Jean McGrew: December 19, 1930 - January 5, 2014

 

El Mirage, May 2, 2010

Jean McGrew was a best friend and second mother.  She never failed to cheer me up when I was down.  I will miss her smile and funny stories, the hour long phone calls and daily emails.  I was blessed to have Jean as a friend and volunteer in my 4-H classes.  Thanks, Jan and Ann, for sharing her with me.