This Year

So I have been thinking about what projects I have in mind for this year. I don't really have any firm ideas as I have so little time these days, but it's good to have goals right? So...
 

I really need to finish off the sawtooth star quilt. It's all in strips waiting for me to sew it together. I am putting it off because then I will have to buy wadding and backing which is expensive and then I will have to lay it out somewhere to baste it and the house is so full of boxes and junk that I just can't imagine where. But. I still want to finish it.


I also really want to finish my postage stamp quilt because I need the fabric for other projects afterwards. I am only half way through though and it's fiddly exacting work. I would reeeeeaaaaly like to do more of it though. I know exactly where the project bag lives so I have no excuse not to set it all up. It's just such a lot of work! I really want to do it right. I tried to do one block and nothing matched up because I was rushing it too much.

 

After I finish the postage stamp then I'd really like to start my Posie improv quilt, using all my favourite flowery fabrics. I've been squirrelling bits of fabric away for it for a long time. It's going to be a real stash buster and I really want to be able to sit and think about each and every fabric. Again, though, it's another big quilt. All these quilts are big. Realistically I am far better off doing smaller projects as they come together quicker in the time I have and to be honest, I have none of the small things which I love like a bag or wool pouch.

I do have my MapleO quilt to finish which I recently started. I'm really enjoying this. I just have to do a fiddly bit as my blocks came out different sizes but I am going to try and do this next as it's so nearly done and I'm really into it at the moment. Thangles are ace. I am going to be putting thangles in a lot of new projects. I'd quite like to do a mini bear's paw quilt at some point just because thangles are so much fun, but we'll see. Penelope will be out of sleeping bags at some point next year so a quilt for her cot would be good. Not that she doesn't already have one, but it's rather delicate. I think something a bit more machine made is in order. Bear's paw could be the answer!

So this is the year of the small project. The above might all get shelved until Penelope is a bit older, we'll see. So I need some small project ideas. So I am sniffing some out to make a list of. Pinterest and me have a date.

I managed to totally break my rotary cutter this christmas. Heaven knows what happened to it, but it's busticated. I was gutted. It has served me well though. Mumple gave it to me at the very beginning of all this quilting lark. So my new one arrived from The Quilted Bear today. A Christmas present to myself. A sign that I need to get going again!

The Year Review

This year has been more prolific than I thought. I really thought I had only made two things but it's interesting how the little things all add up. Compared with last year it seems a lot but it's all mostly little projects.

1. Cardy. I was really pleased with this. I wish I had knitted more this year. I might make another cardigan now that I have been given a book of patterns for xmas. I am just so slow.
2. A baby quilt. I enjoyed making this tiny quilt. I wish I had more of the fabric. I love it. I wish I hadn't backed it with pink though. I feel it's a little loud.
3. Tripp Trapp seat. This has been used and abused I can tell you. I think we are finally nearing the end of its use. It has been great though and I have enjoyed its jollyness. Now I just need to recycle it into something else somehow.
4. iPad holder. This was so useful. Our white noise days are over now though and so it's been out of commission for a while. I'd like to make it into something which hangs off the sofa in some way but I haven't worked it out yet.
5. Sewing machine cover. It looks a bit silly as it's short, but it works perfectly. I am annoyed I didn't quilt it properly though. I'd like to make the whole thing again, but properly. And I have since found the special foot you use for piping, that makes everything so much easier!
6. Crochet roll. I love making these. I can't believe I haven't made one for myself yet. It was a good stash buster too. I was never going to use the old Amy Butler fabric otherwise. I am just not into it any more.
7. Taggie. It's hour was short lived, but it was dribbled on for that short time. I should really pass it on to another baby but I can't. I have put it in a small box of Penelope things to remember some of those early days by.
8. Bunting. Ah ha! The bunting that never got used in the end. Hopefully this birthday it will be out in all its glory. I'm still really pleased with the quality and all the bright colours.
9. Dribble bib. Penelope stopped dribbling as soon as I made this. I put it on her anyway though.
10. Behold! The Sally Dress. This has to be my greatest achievement of 2013. I learnt a lot and I am well impressed with myself. I wish she would hurry up and walk though as it's too impractical for her to wear whilst she is crawling, I fear it will be too small by the time she starts walking. Part of me would like to make the whole thing again though, so I can make it better.
11. Teeny Quilt. A great project for a few hours work and a nice use of liberty fabric.
12. Sewing kit. I love this. It's so wonky, but I love it.
13. Cat winter. This coat was so easy to make, a really great pattern.
14. Spring. The bow tie was Simon's idea. Showman cat! I'd love to make some of the trousers for Penelope, but perhaps baggier and without the turnups... and not it gold.
15. Summer. A bit of a cheat but at least I made the cloak.
16. Bike blanket I forgot about this! I made a bike blanket for Penny. It's one of the best things I have made her! We use it everyday and it works brilliantly. It keeps off the rain and protects her in the wind and cold. One of my better ideas.

Oh I totally missed off the car quilt which really does take the top spot in useful things. It's just a bit of Simon's cashmere jumpers sewn together. It's really soft and a perfect size to wrap round her in the car or the buggy. It gets taken everywhere.

Jeez. That's it!

I'd like to keep up with the small projects this year but maybe do a bit more quilting. I'd like to make a bag and do more knitting this year. I am trying to make a quilt at the moment but it's quite hard to fit any progress into the odd hour or two I get. I didn't finish any of last year's unfinished projects so they're all still to do. Courses Those days are just over. Let's face it. I did go to Birmingham though and I'd like to go every year!

Resolutions for 2014 
To use up scraps
To not buy new fabric unless it's for something specific
To make time for sewing
To do more knitting specially a pair of socks!

Resolutions from last year 
To continue finishing things off instead of starting big new projects - didn't do so well on that but I haven't started anything huge. I nearly have, but luckily I couldn't even manage that!

To not buy new fabric - I didn't do too well with that, specially at Birmingham. D'oh. But I think I have cut down.

To get back into sewing now that Penelope is a bit more independent. I think I have done really well!

To do more knitting and crochet so I don't forget. Not so good on that point.

The Year Review

So let's compare this time last year with now.

Things I made this year
1. Crochet snood. I made two of these in the end one large, one small just so I could perfect the stitch. Otherwise my crochet has been poor this year.
2. A Sewing machine mat for Rachel's birthday.
3. The Swoon quilt. This was a huge project. It's the biggest quilt I have ever made. I won't be making such a monster for a while, but I am glad I did it.
4. The Swoon offset quilt. Technically it's not quite finished as I have to sew a bit of the binding but it was so close and I have so little to show for 2012 that I thought I would include it. I'm glad I managed to use up all my leftovers as the Swoon is quite wasteful.
5. The elephant mobile for Penelope.
6. The appliqué moses basket quilt. A hit! it's been washed loads and is all nice and soft now.
7. Pen's hexagon diamond paper pieced quilt. Although small, this was epic in terms of man hours invested in it. I am really pleased with it.
8. A pincushion. It didn't take very long which made it good fun. I am quite surprised how much I enjoyed log cabin. I can feel a new project brewing.

Unfinished projects from 2011
1. The Sawtooth Star Quilt. I have done loads on it. I just need to finish sewing the top together. I don't have the space to baste it though so it might have to wait until I have got rid of all our boxes of stuff we still haven't unpacked.

2. The rainbow Hexagon quilt. It just needs tacking together but I have no space to lie it flat on. It's not that big so I will have to see it can make space somewhere.

3. The postage stamp quilt. it's a whole heap of work still left to do unless I make it a bit smaller which I might well do.

New projects
1. I'd like to make this scrap quilt, but I think it is the fabrics which make it so I need to think long and hard about them. I like these and these fabrics.

2. Car quilt. We need a warm blanket for the car seat, something soft that tucks in. It occurred to me that I have kept a pile of old cashmere jumpers somewhere which I could layer together to make a super warm, soft mini quilt. I could crochet the edges like this. I even have some wool for it.

3. My Petra Prins kit still waiting for a rainy day. I think it's time to crack it out this year!

4. I'd like to make this little Maggie Wise quilt. Mum bought me the material and pattern for my birthday.

5. I'd like to make an Irish chain quilt like this or this or this.

Courses
None! Boooo. I have been kind of busy though so I thought I would give myself a break. I am all about learning from books these days.

Resolutions for 2013
To continue finishing things off instead of starting big new projects
To not buy new fabric
To get back into sewing now that Penelope is a bit more independent
To do more knitting and crochet so I don't forget

Resolutions from last year
Slim down my project cupboard - I think I did pretty well on that score.
Sift out any fabric that isn't in my a list - haven't got very far with this.
Finish the hexagon quilt so I can put it away and have a break from these technicolour projects I seem to keep doing. Time for some subtle colours. - I think my Liberty fabric quilts are much more subtle and less 'modern'.
Keep up with the crochet. So I don't forget what I learn. - I need to get back this, especially now that Jess has put me to shame with this!


That's it!

The Year Review

So let's compare this time last year with now.

Things I made this year

1. A silver necklace. I've never worn it. It just didn't float my boat in the end.
2. A sewing case. I use them all the time!
3. The second speaker quilt
4. A knitted monster for Arthur
5. The crazy quilt which was an unfinished project last year
6. The The Stripey old sheet quilt which keeps me warm on the sofa
7. The yellow quilt I made in a weekend
8. The iPad case like mums
9. The pincusion organiser for Rachel
10. The crochet cowl I made on the course
11. The crochet roll for Sam

Unfinished projects from 2011
1. My cable knitting practice squares
2. My Petra Prins kit still waiting for a rainy day
3. The Sawtooth Star Quilt which I haven't even started so it sort of doesn't count
4. The Hexagon quilt. It just sits at my feet waiting for one last row
5. The Swoon Quilt. This is a new project unstarted so it doesn't count yet
6. The Worn & Washed quilt I started on Kim's course
7. My postage stamp quilt. it's a whole heap of work!

Courses
I did Kim's quilting course
Made do and mend's crochet course
Rebecca's silver pendant course

so I feel good about that.

Resolutions for 2011
To finish things off instead of starting big new projects - I reckon getting 11 projects finished this last year is pretty good on that score

To improve my knitting - I learnt to circular knit and I am much much better at crochet so I feel good about that

Resolutions for 2012
I'd really like to slim down my project cupboard mostly by finishing things off, but I think I might also need to sift out any fabric that isn't in my a list.
I'd like to finish this hexagon quilt so I can put it away and have a break from these technicolour projects I seem to keep doing. Time for some subtle colours.
Keep up with the crochet. So I don't forget what I learn.

That's it! Phew

Review of the Year

So as the New Shiny year approaches I thought I would do some tidying up and reviewing of the previous year. I am very impressed with how many blog posts I have put up. All in all I feel quite creative with my output. I remembered that last year I had resolved to knit and I feel that I've come along way from that first small scarf. I plan to keep on going and maybe embark upon a crochet course just to get me back into the swng of it.

In other news, I have been archiving all my pictures off my computer which I do every year and I found a few things I hadn't posted, or if I have, then I can't find them. So behold, here is an old one I dredged up which was a birthday invite I letterpress printed using very very transparent ink so that really all you saw was the embossing which I acheived by deampening very bulky watercolour paper. I was very pleased with the results.