my first knit socks.

 

I finished my first pair of knit socks last week!  I loved knitting these up.  They are a very basic sock, just a simple 2x2 ribbing, and they are so soft and cozy. 

 

I just learned to knit this past October while at the Sewing Summit, so this is by far the most advanced knitting project I've done.  And to tell you the truth, it wasn't bad at all!  Knittinghelp.com is really helpful, it had a great video for turning the heel and picking up stitches for the gusset.  The other tutorial that was helpful for me was one for the kitchener stitch by Knitty that I used to close up the toes.

Madelinetosh sock is the nicest yarn, and I am a big fan of the oxblood color.  The yarn is really squishy and easy to work with.  I am looking forward to experimenting with other sock yarns. Any recommendations?

So yes, I think I have have a new obsession.  Since I've finished these, I've casted on another pair and am halfway done.  Knitting is the perfect hobby for me right now.  Finley is such a busy little 18 month old, and sewing is hard to do right now.  But this is just perfect.  I see lots of socks in my near future.

Ravelled here.

xo, Angela

Swoon

I finished my Swoon quilt last fall sometime, so I thought it was about time to share it here.  I loved making this quilt, every single block.  When Camille first came out with pattern, I was drawn to the huge blocks, and I knew that Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks line would be perfect.  I had been looking for the perfect pattern for these large scale prints, and I think this is it.

I picked a light gray solid for the background, I think it goes nicely with the bright prints.  The quilt is backed in my favorite yellow print, which is from Denyse Schmidt's Picnic and Fairground line.  The binding is a coordinating dark purple-y/brown Kona.

I had Sharon of Sweetland of Quilts professionally quilt this on her longarm.  This is the first time I sent out a top to be quilted, and I am so happy I did.  Sharon is a nationally awarded longarm quilter and teacher.  She is talented and helpful, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the finished result.  If you are looking for a quilter, you have to check Sharon out!

quilt stats

quilt top - Good Folks by Anna Maria Horner and Kona Ash

backing - Picnic and Fairgrounds by DS Quilts

binding - Kona Raisin

pattern - Swoon by Camille Roskelley, 80 in x 80 in

pieced and bound by me

professionally quilted by Sharon of Sweetland of Quilts

Sold, thank you!  This quilt is available for sale in my etsy shop.  If you want more details, the listing is here.  It was a joy to make, and I am looking forward to sending it to a new home.

xo, Angela

week 28 - FWQAL

Hi there!  I hope you had a nice weekend.  We spent most of ours home sick.  Not the best thing ever, but we got through it.  Yesterday we all felt much better, and today I'm glad to say that we are back to normal.  I meant to post these blocks earlier, but blogging while sick is just no fun.  But sock knitting while sick, now that is another story!

So here are my most recent FW blocks.  I actually sewed them way back in December, right before we decided to take our farming break. 

54 Kitchen Woodbox - favorite of the batch, I love this fabric combo

66 Periwinkle

71 Puss in Corner - don't love this, may redo

81 Snowball

85 Square Dance - LOVE the Heather Ross seagulls, thrilled to use in a FW block!

Thanks so much for all of the kind comments on my last post about my 53 FW blocks, and on flickr too.  I am really proud of these blocks.  It has been quite the journey so far; I've learned a lot and have really been challenged.

Hope you have a great Monday!

xo, Angela

This post is part of the Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long, please feel free to jump in at any time! 

More information and previous posts can be found HERE.

53.

The Farmer's Wife quilt-along is up and running again this week.  Amanda and I decided to take December and January off.  It seemed like everyone was starting to fall behind due to the holidays, and I know that I was feeling a little burned out.  As much as I love making these little 6 inch blocks, I was ready for a break.  Now I am so excited to be working on them again!  Here are my blocks so far.  My goal was to have 56, which is the halfway mark, so I am just three blocks behind.  Not too bad!  I'll try for 3 a week until I'm all caught up.

It took awhile, but I layed out all of my blocks today.  It has been a long time since I did that, and I am so happy to see them all together.  Many many hours have been put into these blocks.  Some have just a few pieces, but some have close to 60.  Kinda nuts, right?  I am glad that I went scrappy, I love all of the bits and pieces of my favorite fabrics all in the same place.

I'll be back soon with my most recent blocks, I have 5 to share.  Make sure you head over to Amanda's blog to check our her blocks so far, they are wonderful.

xo, Angela

This post is part of the Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long, please feel free to jump in at any time!  More information and previous posts can be found HERE.

January.

Hey!  Oh, January went fast, didn't it?  It was a really good month.  When Amanda and I decided to take the holidays off of the Farmer's Wife quilt-along, I decided I was going to take a break from all things crafty... sewing, knitting, and blogging.  Sometimes a break is good, you know?  I sew, knit, and blog because it is fun.  I love it.  But it was too much of a good thing for me, and it was starting to feel like work.  So a break was needed.  I'm not sure how quickly I will jump back into this sewing/bloggy world that we share, but I am happy to be here again.  So how about a little recap?

1.  I made a new bag last week.  I finally felt like firing up the Janome, it had been well over a month since I had turned it on.  I needed a new bag, so I pulled out some Loulouthi yardage that I had bought a few months ago.  I bought it with plans to make pillowcases, but Steve wasn't much of a fan, so I tucked them away.  I rediscovered them the other day while I was raiding my stash for suitable bag fabrics.  I remembered my friend Amanda's Loulouthi birdie sling (pattern by Amy Butler) at the Sewing Summit this fall, and I knew that it was perfect!  I loved it so much, and now I have my own.  It was a quick project that came together in a day, and it is so pretty and big and roomy.

2. I finished the first month of my 365 photo a day project.  I am doing it on my iPad with an app, so it is super quick and easy to do.  The app I am using is called "365 Photo Pro", for those of you who asked me on Instagram.

 

3.  I knit a sock!  I am so proud of myself.  It went so smoothly, and it is so pretty and it actually fits!  It was really fun, and I just started the second sock yesterday.  I am completely obsessed with this color yarn.  It is Oxblood from Madeline Tosh.  I think it would be so pretty as a sweater.  Which is my next knitting goal.  Yes, I am ambitious, aren't I?

Okay, I'm out of here.  Time for some sock knitting and Psych season 4.  I love that show.

xo, Angela

PS - I'll be back soon... the Farmer's Wife quilt-along starts back up this Wednesday!!