Toddler's Treasure Bag

I had a pack of rather girlie charm squares in my stash, and a granddaughter who likes her dolls. I put the two together and came up with a doll's quilt and a bag to carry and store the doll's necessities!

I used just 39 squares plus some contrasting fabric. The large pocket is great for keeping essentials handy.
It would be very easy to make a non-doll version with fabrics your toddler would love. You oculd even make it in time for Christmas!
Pattern coming soon
best wishes
Colleen

Summer Squares Suite project

At last, some better photos of my Summer Squares project!

There was a breeze when we were taking the photos, so I eventually had the idea to "go with the wind" and let the shawl take flight.

Knit with almost 3 skeins of KnitPicks Shadow lace yarn, blue heather on size 3.75mm needles.
The border is beaded with size 8 triangle beads in fuscia lined blue. I used a crochet hook to apply the beads as I knitted.....easier than I expected.

Thanks Andrea of BadCatDesigns for a great project:)

best wishes

Colleen

Periwinkle Aeolian Shawl

What an absolute pleasure it was to knit this shawl! It's the "Aeolian Shawl" designed by Elizabeth Freeman and published in Knitty Spring 2009.

What made it so fabulous to knit is the yarn....Luscious Lace yarn from Yarn Addict Anni.

Anni sells lace and sock yarns she has dyed and this is my favourite. The Periwinkle colour is fascinating, appearing blue or lilac depending on the light and the surroundings. I used Matsuma ceylon beads in lilac colour. They gave the shawl just the right amount of drape without being heavy.

I'm still trying to find a willing model for the best photos!
I haven't worked out how to move the photos to where I want them. The first photo is the shawl blocking.

Cheers

Colleen

Renata's progress on the Friendly Jungle Quilt

This is Renata's work in progress. There are 2 small two-block wallhangings here. The blocks just have some details to complete. Meanwhile Renata is placing the colourful squares between the blocks and around the edges. The work is pinned to a sheet hanging from a dowel rod.
Renata has a good eye for putting bright colours together and I'm looking forward to seeing the end result.
Thanks Renata!
cheers
Happy quilting
Colleen

Knitting: A new Shawl of my own design

I can't help myself sometimes. I look at knitting patterns and begin to wonder "what if....?" I had this wonderfully soft Malabrigo lace yarn from Yarn and Kisses in Western Australia that was calling to be made into a rectangular shawl that I can wear as a soft, warm large scarf. I chose a stitch design that appealed to me and was repetative enough for me to fairly mindlessly knit. Beginning with a provisional cast on meant I could add to the shawl at both ends if I wanted to and if the overall design needed it. Not really knowing where I was going, I knit until the first skein ran out. I adapted another stitch pattern to flow from the first design and knitted it to both ends, followed by a border design that also flowed well (the number of stitches in the repeats matched).

I'm really happy with how it turned out.

I will get modelled photos as soon as I find a willing model.

cheers

Colleen

Patchwork Fleamarket Treasures...Lynn's cushions

Well didn't I get a lovely surprise! Lynn sent me photos of the very stylish cushions she made from my "Fleamarket Treasures" pattern. They are for a special friend Kellie who has an excellent business "Beauty in Vogue" in Karratha. Lynn doesn't mess around. I'm sure she only told me about starting them last week! I think she cut them out the day the fabric arrived in the Post Office :)



My original cushions are made from very soft pale florals. The pattern is easy to make from scraps or from a couple of feature fabric fat quarters plus small pieces of complimentary fabrics. Now that I've seen Lynn's frangipani version, I want some in one of those new fabric lines!

thanks Lynn

Colleen

Summer Squares Project, Knitting

Now here's a different way to wear a shawl:) The lacey holes just get in the way of a good play.

While I've been catching up on some patchwork and quilting (making Charlotte's quilt), I've also been relaxing with BadCat's knitalong projects. The first one is finished. I really enjoyed knitting this along with the group.

Made with 2.5 skeins (1207.0m) of Knitpicks Shadow yarn, kindly gifted by Mary.

I used 3.75mm needles

If you'd like to join in, it's not too late. The projects will continue for a few more weeks:)

I'm very behind with the second and third projects, but that's ok because I'm slowly working on some quilting projects.

cheers

Colleen

Bev's quilt in progress

Bev's moving along quite quickly with her Candlewick quilt. This is a close-up picture of Bev's favourite block, the butterfly. Here's how it looks set out on a bed. The middle of the quilt is now all asembled...the blocks sewn together and the lace sewn oner the seams. Just the borders to go! Bev will attach the borders, sew the lace over the joins then quilt something beautiful all around.

Hope you are all enjoying your projects!

cheers

Colleen

The Tuesday Quilters' projects

I'd like to show you the Tuesday Quilting class hard at work:)

Renata is trialling my pattern "The Friendly Jungle". She's changing it around a bit, making two wallhangings using the applique shapes. There will be small squares, assorted colours, between the blocks..will look lovely. She has a great sense of colour for cheery children's quilts. Renata leaves the ends of the embroidery threads until all the embroidery is finished, then she takes them through to the wrong side and secures them.

Anthea is making her sixth, or is it the tenth baby quilt. The original pattern was designed and made by Elaine Rose and called "I Spy Sophie Rose". It was published in Express Publications magazine, Patchwork and Stitching Vol 5 No 10. Anthea makes her quilts a little larger than the original, and always has squares on hand for the next baby in the "family" (which definitely includes her Church family). She has the happy knack of finding the right colours for the lattices and name strips to bring all the squares together in a way that appeals to the children. These quilts seem to find their way all over the world.

Now this is another of Bev's masterpieces. The candlewicked blocks (amazing in themselves)were quilted individually, and Bev is now sewing the rows of blocks together. Sorry the next photo is sideways...how do I fix it?

Bev is working on the back of the quilt now, working herringbone to join the batting pieces, and then very neatly sewing the backing squares together.

I tried to get a close-up of some of the embroidery work..it's exceptional. The varied stitches and threads give it a real depth.

So that's what's going on in the Tuesday quilting class this term.

Hope you are enjoying your quilting/ knitting/scrapbooking etc

cheers

Colleen

Climbing Leaves Shawl

The Climbing Leaves Shawl designed by Karen Walker is at last blocking. This is just a glimpse of some of the details. Knit with Penny Rose zephyr lace yarn (merino and silk) on 3.75mm needles. It's interesting to knit, having changes of stitch patterns throughout the length. Once again I used Sullivans bamboo circular needles which I find great. They have a good balance between grip and slip:). Also they are very light weight, great for arthritic hands. The price is right too.
Why a circular needle? The weight of the knitting falls on the cord rather than the actual needles and this weight is on my lap rather than on my hands.
There will be a modelled shot as soon as I can find a willing model.

cheers, Colleen

Summer Squares Suite Part two

I'm working on the second week's project from Badcat designs. I've picked up the stitches around the edge of the square and I'm knitting the border. This is where the first skein of yarn ran out. The yarn is lovely to work with and the pattern is easy to remember..so all in all it's a relaxing and enjoyable knit!
cheers, Colleen

The Summer Squares Suite, knitting

I've started knitting the new "Summer Squares Suite". I love joining in with the friendly and encouraging group Badcat has created with her knit-alongs. This one lasts all our winter (her summer). Each week Badcat publishes one square plus either an edging or a border to make a blanket, shawl etc. This is the first square and I will continue to knit a border then an edge to make a square shawl. Oh, and this one is beaded through the edging (when we get that far).

A delightful "friend" I met through the group sent me the Knitpicks shadow yarn for this shawl...aren't I lucky?
You can find out more about this group at Badcat's blog

cheers

Colleen

A new quilt on the way

This is a photo showing my progress on the "Allspice Tapestry" Jelly Roll quilt. As you can see it has some applique and a little broderie perse. I'm quilting around the motifs by hand and enjoying it very much. Just the binding to slipstitch, the pattern to tweak, a good photo session and the pattern will be ready for sale.

cheers, Colleen

The Useful Quilt

The original "Useful Quilt"
Very snuggly flannel quilt using 9 blocks

The girly "useful quilt"

Some of you would know that I've been trying to get "The Useful Quilt" finished, including the pattern. Well a bit at a time the girly version is done. This one is obviously Madison's quilt, finished in time for her 6th Birthday.
It features twelve 12-patch blocks, applique hearts, yo-yo's, buttons and ric-rac braid.

The other versions are a very simple flannel 9 block quilt and the original 6 block quilt.

There is another version not shown here, which is a cot quilt/toddler's quilt featuring cats and butterflies.

I promise the pattern will be ready one day....

cheers

Colleen

Knitted Aeolian Shawl

It's finished at last!

I used some beautiful yarn from Yarn Addict Anni called Luscious lace...it truely is luscious. With silk and cashmere it has to be soft and drapey.

The pattern is designed by Elizabeth Freeman and presented on Knitty.

I used size 8/0 Miyuki Triangle S/Beads - Color/Lined Amethyst/Rose (30g,1150 beads approx.) and size 3.75mm needles.

Thanks to models Kate and Sally :)

cheers and happy quilting and knitting!

Colleen

Cottage Chic Cushions

Lynn made these four lovely cushions from my pattern Cottage Chic Cushions.


My original ones are in an assortment of pale florals, checks and stripes so this is a delightful change. thanks Lynn. I love the green backgrounds behind the applique flowers. It really makes the flowers shine out, and matches the floral prints in the centres of the other two cushions.

Maybe a quilt to match would be good?

cheers
Colleen

Lynn's winning quilting project

At last, I can show you the photo of Lynn's patchwork table runner, which won first place in the Moonta quilting group challenge during Kernewek Lowender (the world's largest Cornish festival in the Copper Coast of South Australia).

The little yo-yo's really complete the design. Well done Lynn.

Oh, and her cat appreciates it too:)

Mystic Roses knitted lace shawl

These pictures show a lace shawl project that I made. Anna Dalvi designs shawls and presents them as mystery shawls over 4 weeks. I must confess that it takes me quite a bit longer than 4 weeks to make them :). It's great fun and a good learning experience as we all share our progress. This one's made from Malabrigo Lace yarn in colour Garnet.

She has a new one starting today . Information is at http://knitandknag.blogspot.com/

cheers

Colleen

Lynn's lovely quilts

Well aren't these two wallhangings wonderful?

My sister Lynn Ausburn designed and made these for her lovely historical house.

While she was making these she was also making a table runner which she entered into the challenge for her quilting group during the Cornish Festival. Good news, she won the challenge! well done Lynn :)

I'm glad someone in the family is making quilts. My body still won't let me sew. Frustrating but it's the way it is. I can knit as long as the yarn is thin and the needles light and skinny...I;'m thankful for that.

best wishes and happy stitching

Colleen

American Beauty Shawl

Time to show my latest shawl, another mystery shawl from Badcat http://badcatdesigns.blogspot.com/.

Andrea designed this beauty and shared it on her blog over a few weeks. I used Kaalund Enchante yarn in Poinsettia colourway. It's a lace weight silk yarn. The photos aren't really good . They show the shawl blocking, detail of the bottom of the shawl, and back view on a willing model . It's beaded which was a lot of fun. If you're a member of Ravelry http://ravelry.com you can see more details there (I'm Piecepatcher).

I want to tell you about the great patchwork/quilting my sister Lynn is revelling in. She's taken to designing and the ideas are coming faster than she can create...and the creations are wonderful :) It will have to wait till next time though!

Antique Flower Basket Quilt

Wow, I love this Antique Flower Basket Quilt that Glenice Jones made for her Son Cliff and his bride Kim for their wedding in September 2008 Glenice joined the Pattern of the Month Program last year. Each month for 6 months those in the program receive a part of the pattern for this quilt plus another pattern for a smaller project. That's a total of 7 patterns. The bonus patterns are bags, table toppers, small quilts etc.

The program is now available as a full set rather than having to wait for each month's package to arrive.

Thanks Glenice for sharing this fabulous quilt with us. Happy quilting!

Colleen

Congratulations, Glenice, this is a superb quilt!