365 Days Handmade

Making life a better place, one day at a time


3 Comments

Day 334/365: The Shabby Chic Quilt, aka My Favorite Quilt

This morning, Facebook reminded me that I shared this photo on my timeline a year ago today.

11.31.2015

This is the third quilt that I made after I took a beginner’s quilting class last year.  I’d pulled the pink striped fabric and the green gingham print from my fabric stash, but it took me a few weeks of searching various fabric shops until I came across that perfect accompanying print of flowers against a yellow background.

For the backing, I used a flannel print that I’d purchased around 2003-2004, when we’d just moved to Ventura.

11.30.2015b

I love the color combination of this quilt, and the flannel backing is so soft and comfy.  I use it all the time when I’m lounging on the couch.  The only problem is that it’s not very large, so my feet stick out from underneath if I pull it up to my chin.  I think about making another quilt with a flannel backing, but I’ve got so many other projects I’d like to complete.  So many projects, so little time!  I am glad to see among my fellow bloggers that this is a perfectly common feeling.

Advertisement


4 Comments

Day 322/365: Mitered Squares… Pillowcase?

11.18.2015

So here is my progress on the knitted mitered squares blanket.  It currently measures 23″ by 15″.  I have to be honest with you– I’m not sure where I’m going with this thing.  Should I just turn it into a slip-on cover for a throw pillow?  Make it a baby blanket?  Set it aside and work on something else?

I am really trying to resist starting a new project since part of the reason I started this blog was to get myself to finish all of my works-in-progress by the end of the year.  There are only about 43 days left in 2015…


Leave a comment

Day 316/365: Mitered Squares Blanket in Progress

Last December, I made a sort-of New Year’s resolution that I would complete all of my knitted and crocheted projects in 2015 and put an end to the assorted WIPs cluttering my home.  The problem is that I didn’t resolve not to start any new projects in 2015.  And a couple of weeks ago I took a class in knitting mitered squares and couldn’t resist starting a new project.

So here it is, less than 50 days away from the end of the year, and I wonder how many squares I will be able to knit and whether I will have a baby blanket or an adult-sized afghan to bring into 2016.

11.12.2015


3 Comments

Day 307/365: New Project

Remember the tangled mess from my memory blanket class?

I decided to set that aside and start a proper blanket of mitered squares.  I went into the yarn stash and saw that I had this bundle of yarn that I’d purchased some time ago to make the granny stripe blanket designed by Lucy of Attic 24.

11.3.2015

I thought, You know what?  I’m going to use these to make a colorful knitted blanket of patchwork squares, instead.

So I got started.

11.3.2015a

There are a few advantages to making a knitted afghan this way.  Each square goes by fairly quickly and the process involves decreases, so you’re not just knitting back and forth lengthwise and getting bored.  You can switch to a different color when you start a new square, so your eyes don’t get tired of looking at the same color yarn throughout the whole project.

There is one drawback that I can see, though.

11.3.2015b

There are a lot of loose ends to be woven in.

 


Leave a comment

Day 306/365: The Strawberry Patchwork Quilt

Facebook does this thing where it will notify you of photos that you posted three years ago, two years ago, a year ago.  This morning it reminded me that one year ago, I shared this photo:

strawberryA

This is a patchwork quilt that I finished last October, using a combination of newly purchased fabric and a pink strawberry print that I’d been saving for years.  The back of the quilt is made with a Strawberry Shortcake cotton fabric that a friend of mine had given me several years ago.

strawberryB

The quilt is sitting on a shelf in the linen closet and I’d forgotten about it until today when Facebook reminded me.  Now that the weather is cooling down, I’ll have to bring it out of storage and enjoy it.

strawberryC


3 Comments

Day 299/365: Memory Blanket Class

10.26.2015a

This evening my good friend Pat and I attended a knitting class to learn how to make a modular blanket out of mitered squares.

Here is my first square that I finished in class:

10.26.2015b

Here is the instructor’s sample:

10.26.2015c

As you can see, it’s a great way to use up scrap yarn.  Also, the work in progress resembles a patchwork quilt, and I do love patchwork quilts.

I am already thinking of the design possibilities and feeling very excited about this new addition to my knitting repertoire.