Joy's Sweater

This sweater is for a grand-niece.  It  was knit using pattern Silver Cardigan by Kristiina Temin.  The yarn for the main sweater is Debbie Bliss Cotton DK.  The yarn for the trim is Adriafil Knitcol.

The colors in the sweater are more like those in this next photo than the others.

I chose simple buttons, feeling they worked better than the others I looked at.

Fingerless Mitts and Beaded Headbands

These fingerless mitts are going to one of my sisters.  The pattern is Cafe au Lait Mitts by Paula McKeever.  I’m not sure what the yarn is.  It’s some leftover in my stash.

These headbands are for a niece.  She doesn't like hats much but maybe these will keep her ears warm while she looks like the princess she is.  The pattern is Beads and Bows by Christine Marie Chen. 

Kristin's Slouch Hat

My friend/colleague asked me to knit her a slouch hat.  I showed her several patterns on Ravelry and we chose Spinster Slouch by Valérie Miller.  The yarn is Trendsetter Yarns Tonalita.  She loves it.

Zach's Hat

I literally knit this hat twice.  The first time it turned out huge, so I "frogged" (unraveled) it and reknit it with fewer cast on stitches so it would be a more normal head size.  As you can see from this first photo, the hat overlying the first attempt shows how much larger it was than a more normal size hat.

The pattern used is David's Hat by Kenny Chua.  The yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in two colors (black, gold).   The pattern called for casting on 110 stitches which resulted in a very large hat.  I reknit it casting on only 90 stitched for a much better size.

This next photo is of me modeling the first knit (large size).     

This last photo is of me modeling the reknit (more normal size).

Blue Nalu Fingerless Mitts

I enjoy knitting fingerless mitts.  These are knitted using yarn given to me, so I'm not sure of the exact fiber content.  I suspect the yarn is a wool blend.  The pattern is Nalu Mitts by Leila Raabe.

Cheerful Leftovers Quilt

I had trouble naming this quilt.  It is made using leftover blocks and fabrics.  The overall effect for me is cheerfulness.  Hence, the name.  The quilt is machine pieced and quilted.  It measures 56 in square.  I have plans to give this to a young child.  The back fabric is the same as the border fabric.

 

These next few photos just show the difference fabrics/blocks.

 

I love the polka dot stashes.

Lace Tranquility Mobius Scarf

This mobius scarf is knitted using leftover yarn from an earlier project.  The pattern is Lace Tranquility Moebius by Iris Schreier.  I cast on 140 stitches rather than 70 so it would be longer.  I plan to gift it to a niece.

When "double" wrapped it fits more like a cowl around the neck.

Purple Bubble Shawl

This is a delicate triangle shawl, knitted from Artyarns Silk Mohair using the pattern Bubble Shawl Kit by Iris Schreier.  The yarn color is a deep purple. I am willing to "sell" it to anyone who will make a donation of at least $100 dollars to the Alzheimer Association.  You can either pay me directly and I will make the donation or you can make the donation and send me a copy of your receipt.  Contact me at rlbatesmd at gmail DOT com.  You may want to contact me before you make your donation to be sure the scarf is still available.  Update:  scarf has been taken.

The scarf measures 47 in x 19 in

"May I Offer You a Drink?" Quilt

This small quilt is 8.5 in X 9.5 in.  The design is drawn/colored using the techniques I learned at the Drapplique workshop given by instructor Pam Holland I attended this summer.  The quilt was then machine quilted.

 

Here is a detail photo showing the eyeball.  You can see the metallic thread used around the martini glass to add a bit of sparkle.

 

Here is a view of the back.  I used the folded triangle method to facilitate hanging the quilt.

 

Happy Halloween!

Blue Silk Wisp Scarf

I think the wisp scarf pattern (Wisp by Cheryl Niamat) has become a fall back pattern for me.  I've knit it with many different yarns now and it has never let me down.  This one is knit using leftover yarn from a previous scarf.  The yarn is Blue Ridge Yarns Silk Shimmer Lace.  The previous scarf can be seen at this post from two years ago.  The scarf measures approx 10 in X 66 in.  The true color is closer to that in the second photo rather than the first.

Farmer's Market Bag

I ran across a couple of skeins of cotton yarn in my stash and though they might make a nice market bag.  The pattern  (Farmers Market Bag by Kathryn Ashley-Wright) looked like a good one to use.  My bag measures 13 in tall by 15 in wide  though I have no doubt it will "stretch" and be deeper when used over time.   The true color of the blue is darker than shows here.

Here you can see the stitch detail .

Christmas Blooming Nine-Patch Quilt

I made this quilt using fabric I bought at an estate sale more than 10 years ago.  The pattern is blooming nine-patch which I've used before to make a few quilts.  I enjoy the way the colors shift with this pattern.  The quilt is machine pieced and quilted.  It measures 58.5 in x 67.5 in.

 

Here you can see the three fabrics a little better.

 

I used a brown thread in the bobbin so the quilting would show on the back.

 

Here’s the border quilting.

Other quilts using this pattern:

Rainbow Blooming Nine Patch

Blooming Nine Patch Child’s Quilt

Autumn Blooming 9-Patch Quilt

Pink Felted Slippers

This is my first attempt at felting slippers.  I think they turned out fairly well.  Not sure what my learning curve will be so that I can accurately predict the finished slipper size.  The shoe length is just over 6 in.  I think they will fit one of my younger nieces (my nieces ages range from 4 to 39, great nieces from newborn to 7).  The pattern is Felted Slippers (toddler/child to women sizes) by Crystal Lybrink.  The yarn is Plymouth Yarn Galway Worsted.

I’ll add an anti-skid to the sole as I did with these non-felted slippers.

Pink Baby Felted Slippers

These baby slippers were knit using the patternFelted Slip Ons #90080AD by Lion Brand Yarn.  The pink yarn is Plymouth Yarn Galway Worsted.  The white yarn is leftovers from my scarf basket.

I treated the bottom so the slippers are anti-skid.  In hindsight, I'm not sure baby slipper need the treatment as they usually aren't walking at this size. Still, just in case.

Fingerless Mitts and Felted Slippers

These felted slippers were made using the pattern is Non-felted Slippers by Yuko Nakamura.  The yarn is Bernat Pebblespun.  Though this pattern isn't actually intended to be felted, the slipper were slightly large and I had felted a bag using this yarn.  After two rounds through the washing cycle (hot water), the slippers are a nice size 8 women's.

The anti-skid treatment is done.

I had just enough of the yarn left for some fingerless mitts.  The mitts are a shortened version of the pattern Slim and Funky Fingerless Gloves by Mindy Antonchak.  I put them through a regular laundry load (warm wash/cold rinse).

Mobius Scarves

I aborted an attempt to do a mobius scarf earlier this summer.  It turned out I needed a much longer circular needle than the 36 in I had.  I bought a 45 in needle and have now completed two mobius scarves using the pattern Long Mobius Cowl by Haley Waxberg .  The blue one uses Cascade Yarns Pacific® Chunky yarn.

The black one uses Berroco Ultra® Alpaca Chunky

Drapplique Workshop and GAQS3

A couple of weeks ago a attended a daylong Drapplique workshop given by instructor Pam Holland.  It was one of the workshops associated with the Great Arkansas Quilt Show 3.  Had I known the techniques I learned, my quilt entry for the GAQS would have been a better quilt (assuming I had achieved some measure of skill with the techniques).  Here is my small quilt from the workshop.  It measures 11.75 in x 12.25 in.

As you can tell from the roots in this photos I am currently better at coloring than drawing/shading in colors.  I hope to improve with time and practice.

I don't have good photos from the quilt show, but would encourage anyone living in  or coming through the Little Rock area over the next several months to attend the show.  There are some gorgeous quilts!  My entry is my quilt "Fantasy Footwear."

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More Fabric Postcards

Here are more fabric postcards done this summer.  This first one features an "orphan" rushed rose which didn't make it into a quilt.  It measures 5 in x 7 in.  I mailed it to my roommate from college.

This one might have been improved using the shading techniques learned at the Drapplique workshop, but it works well as a redwork piece.  It measures 5 in x 7.5 in.  I mailed it to a longtime friend for her birthday.

This one definitely could have been better using the techniques from the Drapplique workshop.  I may have to try another version of it.  It measure 7.5 in x 6 in.  I may mail it to someone as a Halloween card.