selvedge log cabin

I don't know if I've ever said as much here, but I don't sew a whole lot. Mostly I knit. But for me sewing is kind of cathartic. The rat tat tat of the machine, the alone time in the basement where it is cooler than the rest of the house, with usually just me and the radio, soothes me when I am stressed. In the days leading up to my grandmother's death--when we knew this was "it" I quilted a double bed sized quilt, just for the comfort of the rat tat tat.

I've been sewing nearly every day these days. It is cooler in the basement, and I can lose my thoughts in the fabric.



I've been doing these selvedge log cabins--throwing on scraps and making something (hopefully beautiful) from them. The pattern calls for 36. I have 10. I have no idea what I'm going to do with this when I am done. I don't need another quilt, especially of that size (the blocks are 9.5 inches).

selvedge

And now for something completely different:



My MIL has given me 6 bags of selvedge edges ever since I saw a book about quilting with them. Now I guess is the time to do something with them....

Central Park Hoodie!

Last Monday as the temperatures soared into the upper 70s, I finished my all wool Central Park hoodie.

I did get a chance to wear it for a few hours at work, where the air conditioner made it comfy. but I didn't really get a good picture until Sunday when the temps went back down into the 50s.



It fits! And I have one skein of the beautiful Lark (in leek!) from Quince and Company left. I can not recommend this yarn enough. And when I had to get more (I would have been one short in my original), Pam Allen was gracious enough to make sure I had the right dyelot. It is so sproingy and was such fun to work with.

I was going to say, I can't wait to wear it, but I am really looking forward to summer. Instead I'll say--I'll be taking every opportunity to wear it. Or maybe I'll just have it out this week. At any rate, I loved knitting with this yarn so much I bought the pattern Estelle and enough yarn to make it (for my birthday).

perfect storm

About a year ago, I got fed up with this shrug I was making. In the picture you might be able to see why:


I had the left front nearly done before I realized that the arm hole decrease was about 1.5 inches shorter than the ones I'd made for the back. And it was lace, and I just couldn't focus enough to rip it back. So I put it away and moved on to other projects.

Until Saturday.

Saturday a perfect storm occurred. The day was sunny and warm, but it wasn't the first sunny warm day. My kids were happy to play outside and didn't seem to need anything. My husband was off at a work function and the dishes were clean.

In the end, I ripped back row by row, backwards counting on my counter. Thankfully, the lace pattern is easy to read and so I realized I was only a row or two off in my rough counting. Soon, I had the yarn wound up and had knitted a few new rows. Since then, I've done most of the sleeve decreases. I'm going to finish this, and in time to wear this summer too.