Thursday, February 03, 2011

Knitting-Shopping Day


I have missed my knitting friends so much due to weather, so I was eager to see everyone and get my needles clicking again. Here's my friend Ellen, inspiring the heck out of me again. Love this cute little vest. I have the pattern and it is on my 'to do' list. Miters are ME.


And then I just had to shop a bit...and do a few returns at Joann's Fabrics.  To say I am shocked at my own purchases is an understatement. I wanted this 60 degree template for more patchwork-I-have-feared. Eek. I am committed now. To make templates, instead of buying template plastic I bought this clear plastic placemat for half the price. It has non-slip ridges underneath  and will be easy for me to cut needed shapes. (Wal-Mart).
I was going to buy new blades, having changed my rotary cutter and discovered the joy of a sharp blade (!!!) but a set of 5 at Joann's was $31 and I didn't have a coupon, but at Wal-Mart they were like $17, so now I have them.
I thumbed through quilting books and was stopped by this simple design. At first I thought it was just another log cabin, but no...Sets of three strips, sewn around a dark constant square, in that tricky leave-part-of -a seam-open technique, intrigued me. I may have to play around with this simple yet effective design.
 
In all the QAWM excitement I forgot to mention that my living room curtain batik from Equilter.com arrived, so quickly, and I found a better quilt to hang in the bathroom. Any minute now our downstairs painting will have been completed and I can have Dave paint my new upstairs bedroom....PINK!

Join our QAWM at the Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/groups/qawm2011/pool/

15 comments:

  1. Here's where I've been buying my rotary cutter blades for years (about 15 to be exact): http://www.lpsharp.com/
    Excellent prices and delivery.

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  2. Looks like you had fun in town and I can't wait to see what kind of curtains you make. The fabric is really beautiful!

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  3. I don´t know the first thing about patchwork, or even the difference between the back and front of a sewing machine for that matter. but, I love to follow your blog because of your wonderful sense of colour, and of course the knitting. could you possibly post a link to this vest pattern? although probably if I can figure out how to enlarge the photos of Ellen I could figure it out, but hey, I´m lazy that way.
    best wishes from Iceland
    Frida

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  4. I have to make that vest! What's the pattern?

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  5. I love the vest!!! The style is flattering and the color is gorgeous!! If only I wore vests like the good ole days when I worked and had to dress "non-casual". We had a dress code and I think everyone not only looked better but worked better. Beautiful vest. I bet you get requests for this one :)

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  6. Anonymous9:54 AM

    Love the vest too. That Ellen looks so good in those vests! If it would only flatter me as well as it does her. I too would like to know the pattern. I am afraid when it comes to knitting I can follow patterns, but haven't a clue as how to make or alter a knitting pattern. Quilting, however, I can figure out by just looking at a photo.

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  7. Judy from Northport10:42 AM

    LOVE the new quilt for the bathroom...

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  8. That vest is gorgeous. Glad you got out to visit. I've got cabin fever...

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  9. Hi Melody, Can you tell me what book the quilt pattern you've shown is in? The one with the 3 sets of strips. I'm intrigued and think I'd like to try that. Thanks much!

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  10. I love the vest too...in fact I'd love to knit it in just those colours, but with sleeves...then it would be the perfect jacket!! The 'tricky' quilt looks great too, as doesy your own shown hanging on your pale aqua wall!

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  11. Anonymous2:48 PM

    Hi Melody,
    I love the new color you are painting your rooms. The new quilt in the bathroom is great. The half seams around the square is sewn just half way but that gives you a straight side the sew the other parts on and then finish your first seams. I bet utube has a lesson on that. I love seeing Chumley the only way I get to enjoy a dog. Roberta

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  12. Anonymous4:12 PM

    Here's another request for the vest pattern. And if you can only give the name, I'd love to check out Ravelry to see it in other yarns and colors.

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  13. Don't you just love Equilter.com? They have the best website online. I love to use their design board to see how the fabric will look together. Your fabric for drapes is gorgeous (you are so brave!) Can't wait to see how they look in the room!

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  14. Hi Melody, I just wanted to thank you for all the time and effort you put into your blog. I'm a lurker who gets a lot out of it! So inspiring and I love your color sense. I'm also interested in the vest pattern:)

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  15. I made that Karla Alexander quilt last summer (she taught at Sister's during Quilt Show week). I did mine in orange and green with black fabric with different sized white dots. Kind of a bold fabric choice for me, but it was a fun quilt to do, kind of no rules, but with a little y seam. Have fun!

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com