This Week’s Progress

Lots of projects started recently, so, how about an update?
I started to read a Quilting for Dummies book and decided to try a simple traditional quilt block since all of my quilt tops have been basic variations of the jelly roll quilt.
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This is my first attempt at a Double Nine Patch quilt block. I know the materials don’t match a traditional color set up, this was just practice. I might quilt this by itself and use it as a table mat on my night stand or something.

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This will eventually be a blanket for Mini’s bed. He chose the verigated yarn. The pattern will be 8 rows verigated, 8 gray, 8 verigated, 8 aqua, 8 verigated, 8 light gray, 8 verigated, 8 light blue.

And my final project this week….
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This is my first basket style crochet project. When it is finished I will be using it to hold my hair accessories. Hopefully the finished product matches what I am trying to do, lol.

Newest Quilt Top

Finished the MLP quilt top the other day! One of these days, I will eventually save up to buy a long arm machine to do the quilting a little easier.

The first picture is the middle of the quilt. Its a lap size quilt. The second picture is adding the 2″ by 2″ blocks to the border. I added those all around to the edging of the quilt. It will be backed in white, I think, and the quilting will be done with purple thread.

Temperature Blanket

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This is the idea picture for the temperature blanket. I am going to tweak the colors and temperature ranges a bit to fit the climate in my area, though. I will probably use this post to keep updates going on the blanket. I like the idea of doing it with the shells so it is not as boring, plus, at least to me, shells are a bit easier to work than just straight stitches.
A variation I saw also adds an additional row on days something important happens. One example I saw, a woman started one on the day her grand daughter was born, starting with a pink row to symbolize the birth, then adding an additional row on milestone days, such as first word, first tooth, first holiday, etc. She gave it to her daughter on her grand daughter’s first birthday to commemorate the child’s first year. I think adding that is a great variation to this blanket. I am not sure if I will be adding a special occasion row or not, but we will see.
So, the temperature ranges I will be using are:
Under 39 degrees F will be white
40-49 degrees F will be red
50-59 Degrees F will be black
60-69 degrees F will be purple
70-79 degrees F will be blue
80-89 degrees F will be orange
90-99 degrees F will be green
Over 100 degrees F will be yellow.
I will be starting this today once we hit our high for the day. I challenge everyone to make one of these. I can’t wait to see how they all look at the end of the year!

Projects to Start The New Year

Some of the projects I am working on as this new year begins.
For Christmas I got some fat quarter packs from my Mother for quilting as well as a new rotary cutting tool and mat, so, one of the first projects I have for the new year is a quilted scarf using those quarters. I am not exactly sure what pattern I will be using, but I want to do something different, so probably something with triangles.
I am also working on a purple and white square afghan done in rounds. This is a project I started a while ago and put down. I don’t even remember what stitch I was using. It looks like a half-double-crochet so that is what I am going with, using a 5mm hook.
Another idea I saw that I think will be really cook is one I challenged my mom and one of her best friends to do along with me. It is a temperature blanket where you do a row a day with the color based on the high temperature that day. I need to figure out the colors I want to use and the temperature ranges for each color.
I also have a circle afghan I am working on in shades of purple, including a verigated pallet. This one will probably be the one I do not work on to much.
I am also working on a My Little Pony; Friendship Is Magic themed quilt. This one will be a jellyroll style quilt. I need to cut the strips for the jellyroll this week. I have 3 fat quarters of MLP material and a few fat quarters to represent each of the main ponies. I am not sure how big this quilt will be, it just all depends on how large the material I have will allow me to make it. Since all three people in my family enjoy MLP, I might actually use the material to make a few tablet pouches and computer pouches for everyone instead of a blanket.
What is everyone else working on as the new year begins?

2017

I know, I know, I have not been very good about posting here in the last few months. Part of my 2017 promises is to actually post here more often.
How about a little update on my little family before we begin the new year. Cowboy is no longer driving a big truck. He has hung up his CB Radio and now has a job where he is home daily, working in a casino in town as a surveillance agent. He enjoys what he does so I am happy for him.
Mini is doing well as a seventh grader. It is like we were hit with all the wonderful things about being a teenage boy all at once. Eating us out of house and home, voice breaking, body odor changing, hormones, acne, everything! He is now taller than I am and is finally filling out.
I am still working at the thrift store and doing well. I have a ton of different crafting projects started. Hopefully I will finish at least some of them this year.