Hexagon Update

I am moving right along with my hexagons for my scrappy English Paper Pieced quilt.  I have 450 basted hexagons now!  I don't know for sure how many I will need for a lap quilt, but I'm guessing 1500-2000.  I don't think that's going to be an issue.  This began as a way to use up quilting scraps and I was inspired by the Buttonbox Throw blanket that I finished at the first of the year.  I had so much fun using up leftover sock yarn scraps, I decided to start another scrap sock yarn blanket (the Virus blanket), and decided to start this English Paper Piecing quilt to put a dent in my quilting fabric scraps.

Initially my plan was to get some hexagons basted (they're basted around die cut, cardstock hexagons so they're all the same size), and then sew them together, and then baste some more, and so on.  I realized that that would mean the different fabrics wouldn't be scattered around the quilt if I did it that way.  So the current plan is to keep basting until I run out of scraps (I have a tote filled with them and I'm just cutting them in batches as I go).  Once they're all basted, I'll toss them into a bag or something and mix them all up before I start sewing them together.  I'm stacking them in a plastic organizer box in rows of 150 in the meantime.  I'm not fussy cutting any of the scraps, but I did end up with a bear on one of them! 

It's Getting Bigger!

My little Virus Blanket made of scraps is moving right along!  It's just eating up these leftovers and I'm really happy with the way it looks.  Working in fingering weight scraps means it's not growing very quickly, but this wasn't started as a project I need to finish quickly.  I started it to get sock leftovers under control and have something pretty when I'm done.  The pattern is easy to work (the video included with the free pattern is very helpful for clearing up anything that isn't quite clear in the written pattern), and easy to memorize.  Since I'm working with leftovers, I just join the next color wherever the previous color runs out.  As I've got kind of a fade going, it's not super obvious where I switch, and I'm able to use every inch of my yarns. 

Since I last blogged about this project, I've added Three Irish Girls Adorn Luxe in My Cherie Amour and I'm now crocheting with Farmer's Daughter Fibers Rocky Mountain Purls in Strawberry Shortcake. I've got two more yarns planned for this, and I might or might not use a darker color for the very end, just so the edges aren't white, but I haven't decided yet.

Have a great weekend, and stay hydrated! 

Look! Socks!

I kind of dropped off the radar a bit there, but I hadn't realized it had been over a month!  Oops!

We're all good here, and I've finished a pair of socks!  These are the Shell Cottage Socks knit in Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in Bubble Wand, with the very top edge worked in the same yarn in Melon from the Party of Five Botanica Set. This was a great pattern to knit - it was easily memorized and quick to work even when I was watching TV and not giving it my full attention.

I usually cast on another sock as soon as I finish one, but I think I'm going to do another small project instead this time.  First, however, I'm going to weave in more ends on my Mystery MusiKAL shawl (yes, I'm still weaving in ends), and maybe put in some time on my Kuffel pullover.  I started it for the ESK Q2 Craft A Long, but I've got just over two weeks to finish it for that, and the odds are not looking good.  Of course, if I actually sat down and knit on it, I might make some progress.

I hope to be back later this week!  Have a great summer! 

Still Crocheting Away Here

I've gotten into some color changes on my crochet,scrap blanket now!  As the blanket gets bigger and bigger, it eats yarn faster and faster.  It's about 18-20 inches square right now (maybe, I haven't measured and I'm not looking at it right now so this is from memory).  As before, I don't have a definite size in mind for this, I'll just quit when I run out of yarn that works with the colors I've chosen.

I started with Malabrigo Ultimate Sock in Sabiduria, followed by Dream in Color Smooshy in My Fair Lady, Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in Mink, and Madelinetosh Twist Light in Kitten (which is photographing much lighter than it is in person).  I'm not really doing anything special when I run out of a color.  When I get to the last six inches or so of what I'm using, I start the next color and crochet over the ends.  There's no thought or planning as to where I change colors, it just happens when I run out.  If I was only using two or three colors that might look weird, but I think with as many colors as I have pulled out for this blanket, and the fact that they blend into a fade of some kind, it's going to work.  Fingers crossed!

Socks!

I've started a new pair of socks!  These are the Shell Cottage Socks, from the Handmade Sock Society, Season 2.  I didn't participate in this season, but I really liked the patterns and decided to go back and buy the set.  I'm knitting these in Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in Bubble Wand.  I'm also using a tiny bit of Melon from the Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock Party of Five in Botanica.  I cast on with the Melon and then worked the first two rounds before switching to the Bubble Wand.  I like the way this works just to give a little bit of an accent to the edge.

Also, yes, Formula 1 is back to racing and I've gotten the first leg finished and have just barely started the heel flap.  This is a very easy stitch pattern to memorize, and doesn't need too much attention.  

Have a great week, and May the Fourth Be With You! 

Round and Round

I've gotten through the second colorwork section on my Kuffel pullover!  This is already too big for my longest circular needles, so it looks smushed up and gathered, because it is.  It's moving along nicely and the simple colorwork is easy enough to keep track of while I watch TV.  When this is finished, it's going to be a big, snuggly sweater.  

I am approaching the point where the body divides from the sleeves, and that will make the rounds shorter and a little faster.  This is fun to knit, but because of the size, it completely takes over my lap and can be a bit warm.  I am questioning exactly how much wear I'll get out of it, but that's a problem for future me! 

Using More Scraps!

Clearly, I'm on a Using Scraps kick.  I don't know how long this will last, but I'm going to go with it while I can.  So I've made one blanket from yarn scraps, and started another one, but my scraps aren't just yarn.  I don't blog about it much because I haven't been doing very much lately, but in addition to knitting, crochet, spinning, and sewing, I also quilt.  Quilting uses small pieces of fabric, but it also makes them.  Lots of them.  Of course, I look at them and know they're usable pieces of fabric, and sometimes I use them in small bags or as fly facings or pocket linings, but most of them sit there and stare at me. 

When I started using up yarn scraps, the fabric scraps started whining about how they were being neglected and why didn't I use them up too?  So I am.  I'm making a hexagon quilt with my fabric scraps.  A piece of fabric 2-1/2" x 2-1/4" will do one, 1 inch hexagon.  (The die cut, cardstock hexagons are sized by the measurement of one side.)  I baste the fabric around the hexagon (not through it, that wears them out faster), and then I will sew them together.  

I've got a little case (it's a Hot Wheels car case from Amazon) where I keep all my supplies, and I put the finished hexagons in the other side.  I can store 150 easily in this case, and then I've got a bigger box to keep them in so I can keep on working.  

I don't know how big this will be when I'm finished, and I probably won't get all my hexagons basted before I start sewing them together, but I'll just work on it here and there.  Right now I'm in a basting mood, but at some point I'll start sewing them together.

If anyone is interested in more details, search English Paper Piecing, Hexagons and that should keep you busy for a while.  If you have specific questions, ask in the comments and I'll add more information!  Gotta run!  Have a great weekend!