Feathers And Patchwork: My Christmas Quilt

Happy Sunday, I hope you are enjoying the holidays. I had a wonderful Christmas. As it is our tradition we spend Christmas Eve with our extended family. Then my husband and I spend Christmas day at home watching movies and relaxing. And this year was not the exception; we watched all the movies we had been 'saving up',  and ate way too much popcorn and candy. But this year I added something new to our tradition: a new quilt to snuggle under while watching our movies. As you might remember I started working on my Christmas quilt at the beginning of December (you can read more about it here). I wasn't sure I was going to able to finish it. The piecing is very simple and the quilt top came together in no time, but the quilting is another story. I decided to quilt it with straight lines about 3/4" apart. The quilting was slowly progressing when my machine decided to act up (now I need to take it in for service). Luckily I have another machine: a vintage Kenmore that a friend gave a while back and I had never used. Well, the little machine came through: it sews beautifully and I finished my quilt in time. 

I'm so happy with how this quilt turned up. I love the random patchwork. If feels very homemade and the flannel backing feels so warm and cozy. It has quickly become a family favorite.

Have a wonderful week and see you next year!

XX

Martha.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you for all your support and lovely comments throughout the year. I wish you the best this holiday season.

XX

Martha 

Hello Feather

With all the things I have to do this month I decided to add one more to my list. I decided to start a new quilt. I've been admiring Ana Maria Horner's Feather Quilt for quite some time. It is aboslutely fabulous. However, as much as I love the original design I'm not going to do a whole feather quilt. I'm  just making a few blocks to use as accents for a simple patchwork quilt. The plan is to have it finished for Christmas. We have a tradition of spending Christmas Day watching movies all day and I thought it would be nice to have a new quilt to snuggle under. Maybe this will be the start of a new tradition: A new quilt for Christmas every year...
I hope you are having a lovely week!

XX
Martha. 

Getting Ready For The Holidays

Hello everyone! I hope you had a lovely weekend. And for all of you in the US happy belated Thanksgiving.  Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time to start getting ready  for Christmas.

Last week I finished this table runner. I actually started it last year hopping to finish it in time for the holidays. But sadly that didn't happen so I put it away and forgot about it for most of this year. Until last month. I picked it up again and decided to finally finish it and put it to use. Now I'm glad I 'waited' to finish it. Last year I had planned to leave all  the negative space around the stars un-quilted, except for the hand quilting around the stars. However, that turned out to be a bit of a problem. It looked puffy as if the layers needed to be secured better. So I decided to quilt all that negative space with a pebble pattern; something I would never had tried last year (I was terrified of free motion quilting).  It feels really good to finally check this project of my list.

Have a great week!

XX

Martha.

Yay! Started a Honey Cowl

Hello everyone, I hope you had a lovely weekend. I had such a busy weekend, but I made some time to work on a couple of projects I've been meaning to finish for a while. But more on that later... let me tell you about the new knitting project I started. For a while I had been admiring the very popular Honey Cowl, and I finally started one. I'm really enjoying working on this project. I have to confess though, it took me a while to understand how to make the stitch. I must to have read the stitch instructions about twenty times trying to figure it out until it finally clicked in my head :) The stitch is lovely I just love how "puffy" it looks and now that I understand how it works it is actually very easy to knit. I'm really looking forward to finishing this one.

*Linking up to Wool Sundays at Rainbow Hare Quilts and New to Me in 2013 at Celtic Thistle Stitches*

XX

Martha.

Improv Little Stars

I started this quilt a few weeks ago. I had no plan of pattern in mind; I just wanted to sew something. So I pulled some fabrics from my stash and began cutting and piecing. I love the freedom of improv piecing. You never know where it is going to take you. It feels like a little surprise every time you add one more piece to the puzzle. And this time improv piecing didn't disappoint: I'm so in love with how this quilt turned out. It is on the smaller side as it only measures about 30 inches by 40 inches. But even though it is small, I think it the randomness of the piecing gives it so much character. I decided to quilt it with simple loops all over to complement the random piecing. The backing is a cozy super soft flannel I found a my local Jo-Ann. Oh there is something about polka dots... I just can get enough of them 

Now on to start making some Christmas presents. How about you, are you planning a handmade Christmas?

Have a lovely week!

XX

Martha. 

Lately

My knitting craze continues... I finished another beanie for my husband. It is very similar to the one I finished for him two weeks ago (you can see the other one here). However I used a different technique for shaping the crown; I followed this pattern from the Purl Bee. Which results on a cross pattern on the crown instead of swirl. Although, I still can't decide which one I like best...

The yarn is Dark Gray from Lion Brand, it almost looks black but it has these gray speckles that give it a very nice shine and it feels very warm and fussy. 

I've been having a lot of fun knitting, but I've missed quilting too. Today I worked on a little quilt I started a few weeks ago. It is almost finished and I can't wait to show it to you.

I hope you have a lovely week!

XX

Martha.

Mending

This jeans are almost falling apart. But they are one of my favorite ones; I love wearing them around the house. They are super comfy, the denim is so soft from being so worn out. My husband insists I should get rid of them but I can't seem to part ways with them. So I decided a little mending would keep them from falling into pieces. One of the back pockets was in serious need of attention. Thus, I made some patches with a pretty flowery fabric and Heat'n Bond. Then added some stitches with embroidery floss to make the patch a bit more fun.
I think with this little mending my jeans got a new life and will hold up some more wear.


XX

Martha.

Knitting Finish: Beanie

Hello friends, how was your weekend? Mine was lovely. I finished the hat/beanie that I began knitting for my husband last week. It was quite the adventure knitting the crown for the hat. I thought that I could get away from using double pointed needles (DPN); they just looked way too intimidating and very difficult to use. But as I started reducing to create the crown it became more and more difficult to knit with with the circular needles. So on Friday I rushed to the store after work and bought a set of DPN. Determined to finished the hat I researched how to use them and found this amazing tutorial from the Purl Bee it explains so clearly how to use them. Anyway, after figuring out how to use the DPN finishing the hat was very easy and enjoyable.  I love watching TV while knitting so I watched a few episodes of Sex and the City while knitting the last rows; I hadn't watch it in a while. It was the episodes when Carrie goes to Paris (the last of the series) and I think my favorite ones. 

I really love the way it turned out and my husband does too. Today was a bit chilly and he decided he was going to start wearing it. It is so soft and cozy. The pattern for the hat is called Regular Guy Beanie and you can download it for free from Raverly. I basically followed the pattern without making any changes expect I made the ribbing a few rows bigger. 

XX

Martha. 

I Think I Got The Knitting Bug

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Around here we have been enjoying the last warm days of the season before the cold weather arrives. But despite the warm weather there is something in the air that feels like fall; the deep colors of the foliage, pumpkins everywhere you look and wanting to knit petty things with cozy warm yarn. I had so much fun knitting the cowl I finished last week (you can see it here), that I decided to start a new knitting project. On Saturday I began knitting a hat for my husband. This a very simple pattern, but it is certainly and exciting one since this is my first time knitting on the round.  I thought it was going to be more difficult, but it is progressing rather quickly. I think I'm going to finish it sooner than I thought.

Have a lovely week!

XX

 Martha.

Knitting Adventures: A new Cowl

What is the difference between an infinity scarf and a cowl? I'm not really sure. I'm  calling this one my Seed Stitch Cowl. It didn't start off as a cowl. Last winter I wanted to start knitting again, so on one of  my trips to Joan's I bought a few sequins of Lion Brand yarn and some bamboo knitting needles. With no pattern in mind I cast off what I thought was going to be a simple scarf maybe with some pompoms on each end and I started knitting and knitting; mostly while watching TV. Knitting is just so relaxing. However, as the scarf started to grow I began to have doubts about the scarf plan I had initially planned. So I decided to take a break until I figured out what to do with it. Well that break was about three  or four months (crazy how time files). Anyway, I decided to finally finish it and make it into a cowl/infinity scarf by joining the ends together. I used a crochet hook to join the ends and the seam is hardly noticeable.
I'm so happy with the way it turned out. I love the yarn and how the color changes depending on the background and lighting. I think I'm ready for winter with my new cowl and maybe to start a new knitting project.
By the way, Mr. Weekend Doings was the photographer for the photo of me modeling the cowl. I think he is a natural with the camera, don't you agree?

Have a wonderful week!

XX

Martha. 

Half Square Triangles and Summer Colors

Happy Sunday! I hope you had a lovely weekend.  I finished this quilt last week; it was a birthday gift for my sister-in-law, so I had to hold off showing it to you until I gave it to her (I didn't want to ruin the surprise). As you know inspiration comes from many places and for this quilt it all started with this photo; the colors feel very fresh and summery and when paired with the white cotton they really stand out. I have been wanting to make a quilt using half  square triangles and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try... and I love it. Half square triangles are so versatile and I have the feeling this won't be the last quilt I make using them.
For the quilting I just did straight lines highlighting the half square triangles. I really like how the quilting shows on the back of the quilt.
I love how this quilt turned out: so fresh and simple... my little summer crush :)

XX

Martha.

Color Inspiration

The weather is starting to change around here. The air feels crisp and some trees are starting to show the colors of fall; the summer flowers are slowly fading away. I took this photo of one of my favorite roses in the garden a couple of weeks ago. I absolutely love how the  bright pink rose looks against the different shades of green I thought this was the perfect color palette for my next project.... I finished it last weekend and I can't wait to share it with you.

Linking  up to Plum and June: Quilt Photography Workshop

XX

Martha

A Small Finish

After a busy week it feels good to finish a little something. I started working on the patchwork detail for this pouch two weeks ago and it feels good to finally see it finished. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Specially because I made it for a dear friend. She lives faraway and I don't get to see her often, but every once and a while I like to send her little handmade gifts. I think it so wonderful  to find an unexpected package or a letter in your mailbox  from a friend who lives faraway or that you haven't seen in a while. It really makes your day, don't you agree?  I hope she likes this one.

Have a wonderful week!

XX

Martha.

Patchwork Progress

Currently on my table... a tiny patchwork (1" squares) project I started last Sunday with  some hand quilting and linen my absolute favorite fabric. 

I hope you are having a lovely week.

*Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced*

XX

Martha.

Little Skirt

This weekend I tried my hand at garment sewing. I made this cute little skirt for my  3 year old goddaughter. I was inspired by the skirts shown in the book 1,2,3 Sew. And I used the measurements given on the book for a size 4.  It was such a fun project and I think I would like one for myself.  I love the idea of making my own clothes and one day I would like to have a wardrobe of mostly handmade pieces. Handmade clothes are the best I think. When I was growing up my mom made most of my clothes; she was super talented and  even created her own patterns. So I always I had very unique pieces (and every time I wore them I felt super special). 

I'm currently working on a tutorial for this skirt and I hope to share it with you soon.

Have a great week!

Martha.

Patchwork Frames Quilt: Finished

Happy Labor Day! I hope you had a nice weekend and enjoyed the holiday. It was nice to stay home one extra day and catch up on things around the house. I finished my Patchwork Frames Quilt. The pattern is by the very talented Beth @ Plum and June. You can find her tutorial for the block and the quilt pattern here. It is a beautiful pattern and it comes together really easy. And they fussy cut in the center of each block is a great opportunity to showcase pieces of your most treasured fabric pieces. I used some of my beloved Alexander Henry Paris Flea Market. I have been saving it for something special and I thought this was it. Specially because I decided that this quilt was going to be for me. lol.

While the quilt top came together quite fast it felt like it took me a while to finish this quilt. The quilting really took me a long time. I decided to do Free Motion Quilting all over and  I hit a few bumps along the way. One time I forgot to set the stitch length to zero and the thread kept breaking and I had to do a lot of unpicking (not fun). I checked and checked and everything seemed right with my machine, but the thread kept breaking. I was so frustrated (I even cursed my machine a few times), and when I was ready to give up I realized that "little detail" about the stitch length. I felt so silly afterwards. But after that incident the quilting was a smooth sail. And the whole experience made me feel more confident about FMQ.  I really love the way it turned out with lots of crinkles all over. I backed the quilt with flannel. This is my fist time I use flannel for a quilt backing: it feels so soft and cozy! 

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 54.5"X74"

Fabrics: Alexander Henry, Glimma Kite Tail, Glimma Trees, Moda Comma, Kona Steel, Legacy Studio Natural and Joann's Quilter's Showcase.

Quilted by me.

XX

Martha.