Scarves

Seems crazy to knitting scarves over here...while everyone in Melbourne and Sydney are sweating it out with tempretures over 35, and breathing in smoke from the bushfires.
But here I am knitting scarves while the tempreture plummets to single digit numbers, and we are wearing coats, gloves and hats.
So, here are the ones I have finished so far...with 2 to go. The rainbow coloured scarf is a belated birthday present for my friend, Michelle. The other one in the photo is a teacher present. Then there is Cameron with his new green scarf. His friend Bradley has one in the same wool, and he wanted one too....but green! I had enough wool left over to make Simba and Cheetah a scarf too.
Trying hard to finish the other teacher scarf, and Alexander has put in an order for a red scarf out of the same wool for him...and left over wool, a scarf for Stitch and Koala....

Question for knitters....how do I take a decent photo of a scarf when I do not have the person to model it? I laid these ones on the floor...any other ideas?

Floral Bouquet #2 progress

Back from Disneyland, kids back at school, Phil off to Malaysia. TIme for me to get stuck into the current UFO....this floral thing. At least it is stitching up quickly, and no backstitch. Above is the photo of where I am up to at the moment Below is a photo of where I was up to before we went to Disneyland

#8 Angel - Peace

I put the final stitches in this one the night before Disneyland, and forgot to post it....was a tad busy getting packed!



Here are all 8 so far...4 more to go.


Now I am working on the 9th one....

Only 4 left to do....these are really lovely to stitch.

The current scarf is coming along nicely too. I try and knit while the boys do their nightly reading to me..I can get at least 10 rows done each night (see I am not a quick knitter! LOL).


My new German friend, Inga, introduced me to circular knitting needles. They are a bit easier to use while I sit on the couch. The boys can sit next to me to do their reading, without being poked by a needle.

Floral Bouquet #2 progress

I am working on this picture 2 nights a week. Monday and Tuesday. This is 2 weeks progress, so I am pleased with how it is going. I think seeing how quick it can stitch up, gives me a bit of a boost to keep at it...I wonder if it can be done by Xmas??  Almost 1/4 of the way through! 

Floral Bouquet #2 progress

Very slowly I am working on this picture. It has been about 4 months since I stitched on it. But now I am making an effort to work on it every Monday night...in the hope that it will get finished one day soon... I am currently working on the top right half of the picture. My saving grace is that there is no backstitching to this picture. It is not my favourite piece....but I am determined to get it finished. I have no idea what I will do with it once it is completed, I do not like it very much. I won it in a competition, and I just want it to be crossed off my "things to do" list!

Knit 1 Purl 1

Here is the current status of the scarf I am knitting for ********* (can't say the name..just in case) It is for a man, and mum says it is better to knit one, purl one, knit one, purl one. Th wool is from Australia, and a friend of my brothers hand dyes the wool, it is lovely to knit with. Wow, this is taking a long time to knit up. I am using size 4 needles? maybe 5 at the most..... Normally I make scarves with fluffy wool on size 8-10 needles. They knit up really quickly. I can whip up a fluffy scarf in 2 nights. In an evening, I can knit about 3 inches of this current scarf if I am lucky! I hope I can get it finished by Xmas. 

#7 Angel - Wisdom and Q Snaps

This one came all the way to Australia with me, and I only got half of her done. Last night, I put the last french knots in and she is now complete. Here is the entire piece so far.... Working on Number 8 now, and then 4 more to go. Some one asked me about QSnaps frames the other day, here is a picture of what they look like......I love using them, the tension is perfect every time you put them on.   

720 triangle quilt

Here is the beginning of the next quilt to be sewn. This afternoon I cut all 720 triangles. Next week, I hope to start sewing them up. the colouring in of the pattern was fun, I hope the quilt will live up to my colouring in! Stay tuned.....

Maureen's Quilt

Here is a quilt I made for my friend Maureen. The quilt is a simple strip quilt with lots of different pink fabrics. I got the idea from Amy's blog..(see Calico Cat). Amy did a great "green brick quilt" - See 2nd May for Amy's quilt. Maureen loves pink, so I made it mainly in pinks. Over the past 18 months we have had a lot of coffee together, and I just had to add in the black border with lots of coffee related pictures in it. Maureen will need this quilt, when she is sitting at home during those cold England afternoons and evenings. Maureen was the first Mum I met from school. On the boys first day of school, Maureen met me at the school front desk, and took Alexander and I to Alexander's classroom. Then drove Cameron and I up to Lower School to get him settled. Then it was off to the Wiener Cafe to meet some of the other school Mums. Maureen has been a fabulous friend since we arrived 18 months ago. She has a heart of gold, and helps whenever, where ever she can! I wanted to make Maureen a quilt to say "thank you", for all the advice she has given me, lifts in the car, laughter and stories shared, her honesty, and our ability to agree to disagree, and drink coffee afterwards! We have shared many coffee mornings over the past 18 months, and I will miss her greatly! If it wasn't for Maureen's friendliness, I think my experience in Berlin could have been quite lonely! Good Luck in England Maureen, I hope you, Steve, Bobby and Katie, all settle back in at home after your 4 years in Berlin. I wonder which city we will drink our next Milch Kaffee and Cappuccino together! (((BIG HUGS)) (Maureen drawing the country names out of the football handbag for our World Cup Sweep)

Teacher Gifts

I made this quilt for Cameron's teacher this end of year (I can't get used to finishing school in July). Mrs Jackson taught Alexander last year, and Cameron this year. This quilt was a thank you for all the hard work she has done with the kids. Phil and I have been so impressed with the boys progress, and the boys have really enjoyed having Mrs Jackson as their teacher. I finished this quilt a few weeks ago, and had it ready to go. On Wednesday afternoon, I remembered that I had not made anything else for Alexander's teacher, Miss Shield, or for the 2 teacher's assistants, Mrs Sheppherd and Mrs Lembke. Thank goodness I can sew up a table runner really quickly. Wednesday night I sewed 2 and then Thursday morning I sewed the other 2. All stitched, ironed, wrapped, and was able to give these out to the teachers on Thursday afternoon! Phew! It has been hot and humid in Berlin the past few weeks. These 'Summer" table runners can be used inside or on the garden tables. I know my quilting friends will say "WOW, they are not colours Nicole normally works with", but I had these fabrics in my stash, and thought this would be a great way to use them. I think the colours work quite nicely...and the teachers loved them!

#6 Angel - Happiness

Horray....now I am up to date with my angels...so far.
I have finished the 6th angel, now need to wait for the next issue of the World of Cross Stitch to arrive so I can start on numbers 7,8,9. Hopefully they will arrive before we head to Australia, and I can take them with me!


Here is a picture of the 6 completed so far!

2 UFO quilts and a World Map panel quilt

YIPPEE here are the 2 quilts I finished this week. The green border on this fabric is great, but it was hard to stitch with, I kept going cross eyed! Those little nine patches are 2 1/2 inch squares, with 9 x 3/4" squares...what was I thinking?? I love the quilting on this with the multi coloured thread! This one is being donated as a raffle prize for school. We have our Summerfest (school fete) next Saturday. I was panicked that I would not get it finished in time, but yesterday I worked really hard on it! I love the backing of this one, a panel I bought back in Australia. As we are at an International School, I thought this was really appropriate. I quilted "in the ditch" on the front, and then just to add a personal touch, I quilted around the map of Australia! (it probably not easy to see in this picture...but I did it in yellow thread. Why not, it's my quilt! :)

#5 Angel - Faith

Number 5 angel complete. A bit slow going this week...with so much football fever, late nights watching games on the German TV (my German is getting better), early mornings, not much stitching done in the evenings!
now...onto Number 6..She is called Happiness.

3 UFO's to complete

I am determined to finish these 3 quilts in the next few weeks. This one is 1997 I made it originally for the side of a bag to carry my quilting cutting mat. But I didn't like it, so I dismantled it, and it has sat like this for many years. It just needs a backing and binding, and I think it will make a good table runner! The psychedelic quilt top is from May 2001.  
The bright triangle quilt top is from 2004. I can almost see the bottom of the UFO box! YIPPEE!! Stay tuned on the progress....

#4 Angel - Hope

These are stitching up really nicely and I am enjoying doing them almost every evening! Next one is Happiness and Faith....stay tuned!

Purple Tumbler Block - Quilt Top

Here is a picture of the top of the quilt I have been working on for the past 2 weeks. I am really pleased with how it looks...single size quilt, with a lot of overhang on the end! Busy trying to make the backing with some of the scraps and other pieces of purple fabric that I have left over from other backings. So far it looks quite good.....just a bit more to add for the back to get the width. This one was a tricky one to photograph..only being 5'2" (and a half), makes it hard to photograph quilts that are lying on the floor. So I stand on a chair Attempt number 1. Me standing on a chair trying to fit the whole quilt into the digital screen.

Purple Tumblers backing

Here is the backing sewn together for the Purple Tumbler Quilt. I love the idea of using up the last pieces of leftover fabrics sewn creatively in the backing.

#3 Angel - Love

Here is the 3rd angel in the series..."Love", and I have started on the 4th "Hope". These are really nice to be stitching on. I am using lots of thread, because it is a large count..no idea what size fabric, it was something I pulled out the stash. So I am using 3 strands of cotton. Phil cannot believe I actually ran out of a few colours (I have 2 of almost every DMC colour). So, he was a bit shocked when I said I needed to buy some more! :) mmm...DMC have released some new colours...may have to do a bit more shopping! I get a lot of stitching done on Sunday and Tuesday nights, when we stay up until 11 to start watching the latest episode of 24 and Lost. So I need to do something to keep me awake! well...

Purple Tumblers - change of plans

Change of plans with my Tumbler blocks. After cutting 200 light and 200 dark blocks, I sewed them up into groups of 8, then ended up with this formation. Then after looking at is for awhile, I think I would like to make it into a single size quilt (no idea who it is for) So, back to the cutting board for about 150 more light and 150 darks, and see what theat looks like! At least I am using lots of my purple strips and fat quarters that I had no idea what to do with! (I already have an idea for my pink scraps...but am going to try and be good and finish this one first!)

Purple Tumblers

Here is the next work in progress, using lots of purple scraps.
Here are all the purple strips and fat quarters I have...smallest strip 4 1/2 inches.



I cut out 200 light and 200 dark, this is how I have started to arrange them, just the lights laid out first! It will be about the size of a lap quilt.
Now to sew....to be continued

Dylan's 10th birthday quilt

Sorry Dylan, this is so late in coming.....but it is finally all finished! xxx Happy 10th Birthday!

Lizzie Kate Xmas Stocking

Yippe, it is done..only 5 months late! Charlotte, please forgive me!

#2 Angel - Friendship.

Second Joan Elliott angel completed.  I ran out of White DMC, and had to go into the city to the only shop I have seen here in Berlin that stocks DMC....other places have Anchor..but I prefer DMC. Got lots done last Tuesday night when the second series of LOST began....at 11pm...then the TV station decided to do a double....It was 1am when we finally got to bed. Needless to say, there was a lot of stitching done before hand to ensure I stayed awake! Phil went to Media Markt (kind of like Dick Smiths) and finally got the adaptor we needed to link the sky box to the video...so at least we can tape the shows now, and watch them at a reasonable time of day! I can't get the french knots right for the eyes. So I think once the whole thing is finished, I will cheat. I will remove the french knots, and use mill hill black beads! That will be better! :)

#1 Angel - Kindness.

This year's big cross stitch project will be a series of 12 angels. They are being published in the World of Cross Stitch magazine throughout the year. They are designed by Joan Elliot, the designer who did the Angel of Cross Stitch many years ago. Cross stitch friends may remember that was the design that used all the DMC range to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of DMC threads...of course I did that pattern when it came out, just for the challenge of using every single colour! ;) 

The design was to be stitched on an afghan blanket, but I am working them on a piece of evenweave that was in the stash...so far stitching up quite quickly! We have borrowed the 1st series of LOST DVD's from a friend.....so this gives me lots of stitching time each evening! This is where I am up to at the moment.

Here is the 1st angel completed.

Wadding has arrived

I ordered this wadding in November from a quilt shop in Berlin. It is a 30 metre roll, so it should keep me going for awhile! :) They don't carry this brand in Germany. So the quilt shop here in Berlin ordered it from America for me. I have no idea why it took so long to get here. It has been really frustrating, as I have really wanted to get into my quilting again, but have been reluctant to start new things, as I don't want to end up with heaps of UFO's. So I have a few things I must get done......mainly Dylan's 10th b'day quilt....sorry Dylan it is so late....but it will be finished now!

Scissor Keeper for Sonia

Here is the finished scissor keeper that I began on the train down to Munich last week. This design is a freebie from the Drawn Thread company. My friend Sonia, has got the itch to do some cross stitching, and bought a frame from England. She has a couple of kits and is going to begin soon. So I thought I would make her this to put on her scissors. She loves snowmen, so I think she will like this one. She comes back from a holiday in Egypt on Wednesday, so I will give it to her then!

Lizzie Kate March and more

Well, if I put a positive spin on it, I am 11 months ahead for next year! Here is the March series of cross stitch that I am doing. The first 3 are from Lizzie Kate, the next 2 are from Rainbow Gallery and the last one is Bent Creek designs. These one took a bit longer to do that I thought (with Munich and Legoland in between). Still I am happy with how they turned out!

Lizzie Kate Angel Stocking

Finally finished the Xmas Stocking I had hoped to have finished for Christmas 2005! Only 3 months behind.

Now I have to sew it into a stocking, which I hope to do this week sometime. I like these Lizzie Kate designs, they stitch up quite quickly once you start them! This was part of my Commonwealth Games challenge with one of my cross stitch groups, and I have managed to finish this one before the flame is put out...just! Now to concentrate on some more Flip Its!

Floral Bouquet #1

Horray!! It is finally finished! I am so glad to get this one over and done with! Help, it has a partner too. I won these 2 designs in a competition....the saving grace of these patterns by Lauren Tucker is they have no backstitching! I have some other stitching to do and will work on some Lizzie Kate stuff, then think about doing the second picture to this one in the second part of the year! I have no idea what I will actually do with this finished picture, but at least I can cross it off my "Things to Do list"

Lizzie Kate January

This afternoon I put in the last stitches of the January Cross Stitches that I had been working on. I will work on the March designs next, in the hope that I can finish them before March actually begins! The first 3 are Lizzie Kate designs. The last 2 are Rainbow Gallery designs. I used the same colours in the Rainbow Gallery design as I did for the Lizzie Kate designs for continuity, rather than use the colours suggested. These will eventually be sewn up into bell pulls to change over each month. I am waiting for a couple of Bent Creek designs to complete the bell pull. Now onto the March designs. To be continued...