The Queen's List

Yikes, I discovered via an email from a friend that I am now #16 (probably even less today) on the Stashbuster's Queen' List - not quite within the ladies-in-waiting range, but definitely close enough. Thus I needed to pull out an unfinished Row by Row from the pile; one that is definitely close to finishing. They all need the quilting part which is time consuming.

My one finish that I have had is DS#1's quilt top and it is just a flimsie, ready to make the trip to the longarmer.

 I am very pleased with this top and truly. Put my heart into the making of it. If DS#1 doesn't really like it, then DH is truly hoping that he can have it. How many quilts can he really use? Guess we can rotate them. LOL

Out came the first of the RxR rows that are unfinished. Psych' ready to go to work, being that it is Easter Sunday and all.

Oh, HAPPY EASTER everyone

This is one that is for us, no questions about that. It is a cute one and will be flourescent once finished quilting and bound. I grapple through all the spools of thread, know down deep that I really don't have the right colour of thread - purple is not a favorite of mine. I tried one that was variegated but alas, not dark enough. So I will have to put it aside til Monday when I can find a store to get some while we are on the road.

So, I pick up the socks. They are to the point of sewing the end together and the floating free lengths of yarn into the knitting. Ta dah! Finished Happy Easter my love.

what surprise, he was thinking that they were for me.

Now, what else can I do?  So how about the trial for the new wool that I recently acquired?

. Yes I can make another toque. That will be a good test for the sizing and feel: A sleepless night and it is finished,sans the pom-pom.  I also trailed another yarn that I had.Unfortunately it was of a lesser weight and the size of needles was too big for it. So smaller ones will suffice for the project for this yarn. We are on the move again today, leaving me with nothing left to do in the passenger's seat.

I still have a needlework project in the final throes of completion so that is a possibility as is another pair of socks to finish the last skein of rainbow yarn. Or maybe a pair of fingerless gloves? Hmmmm that is an idea.

Whatever is started, it will be put aside in favor of completing the row for an UFO finish in the next couple of days.

Photos to go up when I get my computer back ... It is visiting the repair shop for a seized spacer key.

Definition? ... glutton

What is the definition of glutton, as in "a glutton for extra work"? I use the word and often wonder if I have the definition correct in my mind. So I decided to look it up. According to   http://www.dictionary.com/browse/glutton?o=1

glutton:
    noun
    1. a person who eats and drinks excessively or voraciously
    2. a person with a remarkably great desire or capacity for something: a glutton for work; a glutton for punishment

So "no" for #1 but a definite "yes" for #2. I am a glutton for adding extra projects and starting something new.

With that said, a few days ago I joined another online quilting group, the Birthday Exchange. I thought to myself, this is manageable. I can do single blocks for only 9 people over the year, all to be sewn in an effort to reduce stash. Besides, I will learn new blocks, blocks that I have never sewn before. Is that rationalizing or what? LOL  Of course as fortunes would have it, there is a block due in 10 days (that means received by birthday)

The first block is called Broken Wheel  and is desired to be done in colours of the individual's choice on a neutral background.

As we traveled by bus back from Mexico, I constantly rolled what little stash I have over in my mind. The neutral background is where I was stymied. Then last evening, I had an epiphany - I have the whole set of Fossil Fern FQs that I bought! Yes, I bet I will find a neutral with coordinators in that. And I did and immediately pulled them for my sewing session tomorrow:

 The dark is actually a darker version of the medium lilac.

Traveling places on public transportation leaves one with a lot of time on your hands - you can only look out the window so long. I took my donation scarf with me to knit. I got it finished

(long enough to wrap around one's neck or sew together to make a cowl) and looked around for what else can I do, I still have 2 skeins of yarn left? Ah hah! How about I learn how to turn a sock heel using this yarn and make a surprise pair of socks for DH. Looked up tutorials and found what I needed and got started.

Getting the heel started was no problem. The frustration came in when it became time to turn the heel. The instructions sounded backwards and Mr Rippet [photo] came to visit a couple of times. (Sometimes he likes to visit a lot, and other times, he is content to sit and watch) Finally it looked somewhat right. Then on to the gusset. A gusset, in a stocking? This took a couple of tries as well. But it was finally accomplished (wished I had take photos along the way - will on the pair to this one) and then on the way back to the US I kept knitting. Upon reading the instructions for shaping the toe when I was back in the carro-casa, I realized I was supposed to fit it to my foot to ensure a proper fit in the shaping. Oh well, Mr Rippet can come to visit again! With trepidation I tried it on with needles dangling precariously and discovered a perfect fit. If it fits me then it will fit him, no problem. Onward to the shaping of the toe once it is long enough for his foot.

As for the Magic Cube quilt for DS#1, it is coming together quite nicely. Almost finished the piecing of the focal point of the quilt.

From this 

I went to this Now I am ready to put on the sides in plain black. I believe that it will be called "Can You See Them?" referring to the illusions.

And lastly, what about friends who live out of 2 suitcases? Would they be able to haul a small lap quilt around I wonder? Have one just for them but ......

What does one do when ...

When one's home is in the shop and one is staying in a hotel with limited space, what does one do?

Knit for starters: Finished up the second mitten and started the scarf.

I had a bit of trouble with the mittens as I really didn't have a pattern and I was relying on memory and the combining of patterns. Not a good idea. Then I was not using a row counter and was relying on my visualized counting. Again, not the best idea I have ever had. Still, they are now finished and I have a much better pattern from my mother. These little gems took far less yarn than I had anticipated so if the same is for the scarf, I am going to have yarn left over - not something that I wanted.

You drive an hour to go to a quilt store only to buy 1 piece of 1 yard fabric because you could not find anything further that you either needed or liked.    This will be a better mix for the NYB that needs to be cut out.

 

Then you eat ice cream on the way back to town.

You make a trip to the RV to get a bag with another project that is in need of cutting of pieces. After gathering up all the necessary items to do this and returning to the hotel, you sit back and say, "You know, I am really tired and I am thinking that I will go to bed early tonight." Then you proceed to order pizza and pull out the computer and decide to write in your blog, after ordering more fabric online because you found something that you simply couldn't live without!

And what did you do with your day today?