What are you working on now?

I'm knitting a hooded sweater for a toddler, done in a checkerboard pattern, alternate checks in seed/moss stitch. I've also been quilting a few knitting needle holders for gifts. How about all of you?

I'm knitting a baby blanket using alternating pink and white cable panels. I will make three pink panels using the Lattice Cable pattern on page 51 of The Harmony Guide to Knitting Stitches Volume 2. Between the pink panels will be two wider panels in white using the Stocking Stitch Hearts pattern on page 36 of the same book.

I'm still working on the same feather/fan stitch afghan I started in November. I'm using Germantown wool in 2 shades of green and 3 shades of rose, with a gray thrown in. Sigh. At least it seems to be more than half done. It's one of those projects where I bought a bunch of yarn for the afghan, and I'll be done when I run out of wool.

And I'm embroidering a beautiful Jacobean crewel design that is supposed to be for a footstool cover (can you imagine doing all that work, then putting your feet on it?), but will instead be a pillow. Unless it just goes to join the drawerful of other completed needlework that is supposed to be made into pillows. I think it's more enjoyable to embroider than it is to sew pillows, especially when you have to mess with zippers. My daughter thinks it's weird that I do all that work, then just store my completed needlework in a drawer without turning it into something useful. I guess she just doesn't get it.

I had a bad combination in the house- a meter of 30 cm. wide linen band, and several of Linn Skinner 's reprints, so I'm working on a sampler I've been making up as I go along with all sorts of borders and alphabets from all sorts of books in my library.

I'm also working on two quilts, two other samplers and a bunch of small stuff, but the new sampler gets most of the attention. (Except that I have to sew some shorts for my son this weekend.)

#4 - Hi MarthaJeanne - Are you working your sampler strip in blackwork? Sounds like a great project. I wish I could see it when it's done.

Right now I'm embroidering a small segment of the Bayeux Tapestry that I traced from a book. It's the scene with Halley's Comet, King Harold, and some townspeople. My husband, who's interested in astronomy and history (and lots of other things), has always liked this part of the "tapestry," so I'm stitching it for him. I'm learning how to do laid work, which is how much of the tapestry was embroidered. And, even better, this needlework project has given me a good reason (a good excuse?) to buy more books about the Bayeux Tapestry. Everything always seems to come back to books . . . .

I'm still finishing the hooded sweater (I'm really in no hurry) and have started a quilt with batiks that my daughter has requested to have as a large wallhanging. I forget the name of the pattern but it's very easy - two piece squares - one piece is a quarter circle. These patterns are the equivalent of reading a mystery for me:-)

I'm trying to put sampler updates on my blog - marthajeanne.blogspot.com but the latest one isn't up yet for technical reasons.

Have you seen the Tapestry? It's really super. Much more so than I expected from books. (Books are great, but they aren't perfect.) Speaking of books, I have a book in French Broderie Viking which has designs based on it, with some good stitch information. No, I don't really read French, in spite of living in Geneva for three years, but I buy good stitching books in almost any language. Mostly you can 'read' what you need to. Esp. if there are good diagrams.

#7 - Thanks for letting us know about your blog, MarthaJeanne - it's an excellent blog, and your work is beautiful!

I haven't seen the Tapestry, but it's on my list of things I'd like to do someday. I have several books about it, but the color reproduction is different in each. I'd like to see the work with my own eyes. I doubt that any book can even approach the impact of seeing Tapestry itself.

I've been buying more books about embroidery recently. I especially like the kind of books that explore historical textiles. I only started doing embroidery a couple of years ago, and I love it. I'm trying to learn and to stitch as much as I can, in between taking care of all the other distracting things in my life: kids, husband, laundry. . . .

You'd lkike the book I bought yesterday. I faound a used copy of a book depicting some of the vestments made in the 17th century by Brother Benno Haan at Admont monastary in southern Austria. I think I'm going to try and copy one of the pictures. This book has phots good enough to see the stitching, and I'm just drooling over it.

It's not in my catalog yet, though, because I need to figure out if I can find a way to pay before going to any more work here. Paypal doesn't work for me, and what the banks charge for an international money order isn't funny.

The book called Zum Lobe und zur Ehre Gottes. I did find some picutres of Benno Haan's work on the web, but they weren't anywhere near as good as in the book. Now to get down to Admont to see the real things!

Hi, new member here. I thought I'd join in, as you all seem to work on some interesting items. :)

Right now for knitting, I have a striped beret for a friend, a couple pair of socks for someone else. For counted cross-stitch, I am doing a Celtic Cross by Teresa Wentzler on 18-count ivory Aida and my first attempt at a biscornu on 16-count white Aida. That design is one of my own, also a first. Being a fan of Harry Potter, I have the four Houses on one side (banner with the initial on it) and a large banner with the Houses quartered and a large 'H' in black. So far it is coming out fairly well, but we'll see when I start to put it together.

Hello Demiguise. This is a fairly quiet board, so it's nice to see a new message here once in awhile.

I posted back in February about a cable knitted baby blanket I was working on. Since then I've knitted an adorable hooded poncho for a toddler, several cotton dishcloths, and I'm now working on a shawl to keep me cozy this winter.

Since you're a Harry Potter fan, have you seen the book Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter? I confesss I'm not a Potter fan myself, but I thought the book looked fun for someone who is.

Hello, joy2bme.

The poncho sounds too cute. Dishcloths are always nice to have on hand, either for yourself or as gifts, don't you think?

Actually , I do have that book. The beret I've been working on (set aside for the moment as the deadline for the socks approaches) is adapted from the book. Some of the items are a bit on the silly side, but others are actually cute/nice and things I will be putting on my 'to-do' list. :)

I always have several projects going :)

I am working on my first quilt project (it is on the quilt thread here), and I have 3 counted cross stitch projects going (one is posted on the counted cross stitch thread - a little boy with his toys). My sister is trying to get me to knit felted mittens - but I don't think I can do one more thing right now *laughs*

As reported on the quilting thread, I'm piecing three quilt simultaneously. I suppose I'm a bit of a nutter...

Thank you for the invitation, amandameale.

Inspired by several LTers, I've started a needlepoint project. Not sure whether it will be framed or made into a pillow. The design is from Ehrman Tapestry

I am knitting a vest called Simply Garter, a pattern in Folk Vests




and also a pair of socks for my son. I really want to knit the Sakiori I vest in this book, but haven't been able to find the right yarn yet.

I'm working on a counted cross stitch which will frame a fabric photograph. I'm also doing a Spanish style piece which consists of cross stitch, back stitch and satin stitch. Will post photos one day soon.

>15 Klimt tapestry

Funny! I'm doing another of the Ehrman Klimt tapestries (the taupe) and have another (silver grey) waiting to start. But aren't those curly bits a pain to do!

I finished Squares by Kaffe Fasset and intend to copy the pattern onto a longer piece to recover an old paino stool.

What, apart from cushions, do you do with this stuff, though? I'm not a big fan of 'useless' stuff, and all I can think of is cushions or chair seats...

Pillows seem to be about the best use I've found so far, though I do have some pieces I'd like to frame (eventually). I've used small pieces of embroidery to make sachets and needlebooks. Sometime, I'd like to make a book jacket, but haven't found the inspiration yet. I don't think I'd go so far as to turn an Ehrman piece into a tote bag, but I suppose that could be another use for a piece of needlework. I have a number of finished pieces that live in a dresser drawer till I can think of something to use them for; I do take them out and admire (or squint critically at) them now and then, though.

Right now, I'm really, really trying to finish knitting a baby blanket for a baby shower that is NEXT WEEK! I don't think I'm going to finish it in time, and I'm bored with it. As I knit, I've been thinking about new embroidery and quilting projects.

#18 - This is my first project in a very long time and I'm still far from those curly bits! I promise to tell you of my adventures with them.

I like the idea of chair seats and tote bags. I'm partial to pillows though I might make it into a wall hanging.

*shhh* I'm sneaking online while I'm at work! It's so pleasant to read these messages and ignore the mess on my desk.

bleuroses that needlepoint tapestry is to die for!

marise I also have Folk Vests but have not had the courage to attempt anything from it.

I started with the easiest one, XenaBallerina!!!

I'm posting this for amandameale:

See cross stitch thread for above.

at the moment I am inbetween projects, having just finished that quilt. I did make a quick quilted drawstring bag to put a large book gift into, but beyond that I can't quite decide what's next (I have some small painting and decoupage projects to keep me busy in the meantime),

I'm knitting a third one of these in teal. The yarn I'm using will make it look, well, artisinal.

I love that pattern! I am putting it into my queue. What yarn are you using?

I'm using Manos del Uruguay in color #36, which is somewhere between peacock blue and teal, depending on the light. Picture below linkage.

The Ravelry links:
My notebook: project, yarn
General: pattern, yarn

Thanks! That color is beautiful! Hope you will post a photo of the finished hat, too.

Will do soon. I'm nearly done with it (I spent a lot of time running around the city this evening).

Finished!

Wow!

Thank you!

The pattern's easy once you get the hang of it. That's the third I've done, so the only tricky bit is at the beginning, when there are still eight stitches on as many points' worth of DPN's.

I am working on a counted cross stitch of the four seasons. There is a different view of the same house and yard in each panel along with a little quote about the respective season.

While I'm waiting on my afghan to finish blocking, I just started knitting what will be a felted saddle blanket for my sister for Christmas. It's from the pattern in Greetings from Knit Cafe. I also just got in the mail a kit for a Peter Rabbit birth sampler that I'll probably start on today. We're decorating the nursery with a Peter Rabbit theme, so I'm excited to get going on this one!

Great hat, AnnaClaire! We'll want to see all those projects, scaifea:-)

I'm actually on hiatus from needlework this week; doing some painting and polyurethaning though.

Here's the bag I mentioned back in message 25.

I have always liked the idea of quilting, but every time I have sewn something in my life, and I mean every, it has ended up off somehow. That is really pretty! What a fun bag!

I made a swatch this weekend. It's a sample of the "Little Lace Diamonds pattern from the Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns, using the Manos del Uruguay yarn left over from the hat illustrated in post 31.

Photos:


I've also cast on a swatch for the "Larkspurs" pattern in the same book. Here's the Ravelry link, until I get a photo up.

Interesting patterns. I haven't done any knitting for a while, but appreciate the complexity of what you are doing. I love the little lace diamonds pattern!

Actually, that one isn't so bad. I had some trouble on some of the other swatches I tried. Even gave up on a few of them.

Wow! Such talent! And great pictures!

I've been working on the same counted cross stitch angel Christmas stocking for over 10 years. Actually, I haven’t picked it up in at least 5 years, but I still consider it a work-in-progress despite the lack of progress.

I am also actively working on what started out as a needlepoint belt for my sister. But I took it into the needlepoint shop last week to get some more wool, and the woman there told me that it is to wide to make into a belt (great -- there goes four years of stitching!).

So my revised plan is to finish the "belt" by attaching it to a very wide, like 6", pretty ribbon (probably velvet) and using that piece around a decorative pillow.

The goal is to have it finished for her birthday in June, but that is unlikely. Christmas is probably a better bet.

ggchickapee- Your post reminds me of a humorous family anecdote. My mother thought all women should do needlework, so she diligently used to start needlepoint pieces (even took a class). On a regular basis, when I went to visit her in Michigan, she would give me a half finished piece and ask me to complete it for her. After she passed away, I burst out in a fit of affectionate laughter when in her closet I found about half a dozen unfinished pieces. I have now finished all but one. I may hang onto it unfinished in memory of her.

hemlokgang -- Glad I made you smile. Your anecdote reminded me that, to my limited needlework credit, I did finish a crossstitch family tree that my grandmother started but never finished. I finished it, framed it, and gave it to my mother. It is a treasure to her.

Meanwhile . . . . my work basket overflows with my own unfinished projects . . .

ggchickapee, I am abysmally slow with my needlework as well. I like it very much, but it takes a back seat to work, family, reading (of course), and just the routine stuff of life that needs to get done. So I finish very little. I am most productive on vacation, but I've just realized that my current piece is large, and on a frame, and can't easily be taken with me. I may have to pick something out of the pile ...

I'm doing a woolfelt table runner with a picture of a watering can filled with flowers. I'm going to the craft store today to get some DMC floss- in my whole stash I don't have *any* of the necessary colors, except black!

I hope you will be able to post a picture of it when you are done!

An undersized scarf. Here's part of a half:

46: bostonbibliophile wrote, in my whole stash I don't have *any* of the necessary colors, except black!

Isn't that always the case? I have a substantial thread collection but each project always requires new colors!

Ditto!

annaclaire, how lovely, but how can that be half?

Actually, I called that part of a half. I've got the half fully done (cooked?). I measured it at not quite a foot, and have worked on it since then. And as I said, it's a miniature scarf: sort of a neckwarmer in the shape of a scarf, rather than of a neck-turtle, if you can follow that.

I've got 2 cross stitch projects going: a baby announcement for Charlie's room (Peter Rabbit-themed) and a bookmark for a friend (I'm almost finished with this one). I'm also knitting two projects: a baby sweater (again, for Charlie) and a felted saddle blanket for my sister for Christmas.

Here's what I've got so far on the sweater and the blanket (not much, clearly):

Those look so pretty. The pattern and the colors are great!

I am working on a counted cross stitch of books on a shelf with a sweet tiger kitty curled up among them. The books all have titles relating to cats, such as, "Kitty Tails", and "Tale of Two Kitties".

hemlokgang: I think I've seen that pattern before and it's very pretty - I'd love to see a picture when you're finished!

I love seeing your pictures, scaifea.

Ooh, very pretty, scaifea, especially the pink ripple stitch. My daughter would love that yarn.

AnnaClaire - what sort of yarn are you using on your scarf? It's a lovely pattern.

Right now I'm embroidering the last couple of patches for my crazy quilt, then I'll be ready to start basting all the pieces to the foundation. Maybe it'll be done by Christmas!

Have also revived an old project that my 11-year old and I started a while back: a patchwork afghan made with knitted rectangles of various sizes and patterns. The idea was that she would knit some of the patches, but so far she has done only 2, and I've made about a dozen. No hurry though. The plan is to complete it in time for her to take it off to college with her.

Also knitting a quick (I hope) Eros scarf for a friend. I recently had the great luck to buy about 20 balls of Eros at $1 apiece (!!!) from a yarn shop having a going-out-of-business-due-to-retirement sale.

I joined Ravelry recently, and managed to get about 50 yarns entered into my stash. Then I got all tired out thinking about hauling out all the rest of my yarn, taking lots of pictures, fooling around with flickr, and getting the rest of it onto Ravelry. I think I'd rather spend the time knitting!

Thanks avaland & MaggieO - I can't wait to felt it to see how it comes out!

The scarf in my last post (which is finished, but doesn't fit well because I had neither a pattern nor much of a plan) is an alpaca/silk blend from Blue Sky Alpacas. Will look up specifics, and find linkages for the current stuff.

I have four projects currently active. One's only barely so, so I'll talk about it when I at least have a picture. The other three:

I'm running my knitting circle's first KAL -- by popular vote, Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. I have a blog post about it from right around when I was starting it, and a photo from an earlier stage of indeterminate completion (below). See also, the Ravelry link.


I've also cast on a pair of Alexandra Tinsley's "Salad Wristers" in Cascade 220. They're my "subway project" when I'm not getting up to speed for my circle's next meeting. (Ravelry link)


I also have a striped feather and fan scarf that's in semi-hibernation while I get over all the ends -- of which are sickening number, even when you weave in as you go. It's knit in Cascade 220 again. There's a blog post about it and a Ravelry link to it.


Edited to counteract Photobucket's insistence on using the largest possible image size.

I particularly like your choice of colors, AnnaClaire. Very pretty!

I haven't been here for ages. It's so nice to return and see these lovely projects.

>61
Thank you!

I've been thinking about writing up the scarf pattern (the striping really -- the stitch pattern is easy enough to find) and bundling copies of it with two skeins of yarn as a kit and selling them on Etsy.

I'd like to say that I've gotten back to something...anything...but except for altering a bridesmaid dress for my daughter, i've been too much otherwise occupied.

Two cross stitches. I'm having trouble with the second one because it requires satin stitch, and mine isn't good enough.

But what a beautiful design! Persevere, it's worth it!

Gorgeous!

Beautiful designs, amandameale! They couldn't be more different in style, but I like them both. I especially admire the intricacy of the second one.

I'm not very good at satin stitch either (it looks so simple to do, but my edges are never even, and the stitches never lie smoothly enough). I expect that you are a more experienced stitcher than I am, so you should of course ignore this or give it a try, whatever you choose. Occasionally I use the variation that Erica Wilson calls slanting satin stitch; it helps sometimes if the area is relatively small and the stitches can be worked on a slant First she split-stitches around the outline, then satin stitches over the entire shape, being careful to insert the needle just at the outer edges of the split stitches, working on a downward slant.

I've often removed satin stitched bits over and over because I'm never happy with them. Maybe when I'm an old lady (well, older than I am now), I'll be better at satin stitching :)

I hope you'll post photos of the finished designs so we can admire them in all their glory!

Thanks for the advice Maggie, but I fear someone else will have to do my satin stitch. I've already pulled it apart twice.

Wow, Amanda, those are both incredible. I would never have the patience to do such things!

Having gotten the first Slow Bee Shawl off the needles, I'm now concentrating on the second. And also on my Komon sweater from Knit Kimono. In my spare minutes, I'm still crocheting millions of granny squares for charity afghans. I'm about to cast on a Nancy Bush Estonian shawl (to use up the leftover lace yarn from the first Slow Bee project), and a pair of socks (because it's been months and I need to knit socks).

Lovely lace LeesyLou!!!

Whoa - that's gorgeous, LeesyLou!

I've been contemplating knitting something from Knit Kimono, too. Maybe in the fall.

I'm still working on my crazy quilt. The top is nearly done - hooray!

Marise, if you want to see lace, check my posting on the Knitters Inc. group. Or see my my blog posts yesterday. But thanks to you and MaggieO for the kind words.

The baby jacket I mentioned in post 60 is now fully knitted. I just have to find out how to seam perpendicular garter stitch.

I ended up pulling out the partial sleeve I'd done (the Salad Wrister) because the cast-on was too tight. Started over with a different cast-on using larger needles. I've just finished the first one, and boy is the ruffle ruffley (photo soon)!

LeesyLou: That is beautiful. Is it wool or cotton?

#76, neither--it's tencel. In character, this makes it almost like a mix of silk and linen. It has some "crunchiness" while it's worked and you can easily see what you're doing, even with cobweb, but once it's washed, all you have is drape and sheen. I love tencel as a lace yarn.

Well thank you. It does look silky and light.

A member of my knitting circle showed me how to do a slip-stitch crochet seam last week. The seams are done on the BSJ, leaving only adding the buttons and weaving in the ends. That's done enough for me to call the project "done" on Ravelry.

Speaking of "done"-ness, I'm doing some unofficial WIP-dog trials (like sheepdog trials, but herding projects towards finished) as training for the Ravelympics. I'm doing the Hat Dash for Team Brooklyn, of which I seem to have become the de facto manager. I may add a second event, but this is supposed to be a challenge, not an impossiblity. My plate may be a little too full with a new knit-along coming up on top of the Hat Dash (and management).

Beautiful, LeesyLou!

I'm still working on the hooded cape for my daughter's wedding. I've managed to get one hem done (by hand) and still have the lining to do. Then I will tackle the fur around the collar.

I have so many projects in my head at any one time that sometimes it's hard to get moving (not to mention I have painting projects and I read a lot!)

I do like to come in here and see what you all are doing. It's inspiring at times when I sometimes need a little inspiration.

Working on some washcloths for my mom's birthday -

fleela: I love those colors together - very pretty!

fleela, how very practical! I have a crocheted scrub pad around here somewhere. It's made with some kind of scratchy yarn.

>65 Amandameale, how is the 2nd cross stitch coming along.

I still have a few little handsewing jobs to do. I have to bustle my daughter's wedding dress, move a few hook & eyes over, possibly adjust my other daughter's dress and maybe alter my son's pants. THEN I can get to do something fun.

#84 2nd cross stitch still the same. I have a couple of projects going so will post photos later in the month.

The cross stitch bug has got me again. I worked on this design over the weekend in Pattern Maker and am going to buy the materials on Monday at the local cross stitch store.

Fleela...I sooo need that pattern ....my SO loves that game in fact bought him the collector's lunchbox for his birthday...he is not allowed to see that pattern :)
so much fun

on a different note....I'm back in the swing and working on an ancient and tiny project I started ages ago :) I will finish those damn soldiers I will...

>87
I can email the file to you, but you would need Pattern Maker to open it. Alternatively, I can export the pattern as an image file and send it to you that way.

I have Pattern Maker on my Amazon wishlist - is it easy to use?

I'm working on a cross stitch bookmark (it has penguins on it - v. cute), and I'm knitting a hat for Charlie and a pair of socks for The Husband.

It's very easy.

I just looked at that pattern maker program on amazon....very nifty

I have actually been knitting some plain scarves on large needles with lovely yarn. I'm pretty sure my carpal tunnel would act up with smaller needles. I have a wonderful project I need to finish sometime that is on smaller needles so I guess we'll see what happens then.

I have big plans for 2009 (and I'm getting a new sewing machine!).

I got an invitation to a baby shower a few weeks ago (it's been decades, I think!) and I thought I might whip together a quick, colorful baby quilt using the 4" squares I've been accumulating (I cut the smaller scraps into various sized squares or strips for future scrap projects). I started this Saturday. All was going well when i realized I had underestimated the amount of fabric needed for the backing. Instead of going out to buy more (I am trying to use some of my stash), I decided to make a pieced backing out of 10" squares. Will post a picture when finished.

*The new sewing machine is a dream.

Hi, I'm Cheli.
I've joined the group hoping that you all will push me to getting my projects back on track.
I currently have 7 projects on my to do list and one for my new grandson (due Feb 27th) is due by the end of the month so I need to get started!

I have a birth sampler for Jackson to do (that's my grandson) and a wedding sampler about half done for a neice and nephew. I was hoping to finish the wedding sampler before I started the birth announcement but I think I have to shelve that and get started on Jackson's sampler.

Hi Cheli! Push! Push! Push! Is it working yet?

We are waiting for pictures, so you must get to them!:-)

Yes, Grandma, get the lead out! It's...checking...February 5th.
Hope that counts as a push.

Okay, I sat down with a book on CD and started the birth announcementfor Jackson. Keep pushing! Thanks!