Summer Lovin'

I can't believe I have posted anything new since December...well, I can believe it. School is school, BUT it is almost over, so that is a big plus. With school, ballroom, work, guitar, etc. I haven't been able to touch any of my projects (I did get Christmas gifts done, don't worry!), but I have plans for the summer, so I'm not worried at all.

But first things first:

Christmas Gifts for Friends

Gift #1 (Male friend): Slouch Hat

Sorry! The pictures not so great.

I based the colors off of his converse, which are dark grey with red laces. The picture doesn't do the hat justice. It really looked great on him and he loved it. He told me very often how much he wore it and how warm it was.

Gift #2 (Male Friend/ Dance Partner): Diagonal Scarf

I gave him the scarf during our first real dance practice together. Man, looking back I never would have thought our friendship would have ended up like it did. He is one of my best friends (if not the BEST!) and I love him to death, even if he drives me crazy some times. I was extremely happy with how the scarf turned out and at times I wanted to keep it for myself.

Gift #3 (Female Friend): Puckered Scarf

This scarf look a while to complete, with the thinner yarn, smaller needles, and different technique. But the look of it is not anything like I have done before, but it is still extremely beautiful. My friend was so suprised when I gave it to her. And she apparently told multiple people about it as well.

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Crafty Plans for the Future:

Quilts!

Since I spent a lot of the winter knitting, I need to get my quilting fix in.

Quilts of Valor: I NEED to get my QOV quilts done. I have to just put the binding on the first QOV quilt and I'm in the middle of the second quilt. I hope to get the first two done this summer and start on the third quilt. I'm planning on making the third quilt a hook and eye quilt, but I haven't really gotten any farther than that with planning.

Birthdays: Thankfully, all my best friend's birthdays are at the end of the summer. So I will be able to actually make nice things for them.

 The biggest project I'm planning on doing is making a quilt for my dance partner, whose birthday is in September. I'm totally stuck on what to do, but I know I want it to be a modern style quilt, that is big enough to wrap around him and maybe another person... *wink, wink*

For my friend/ guitar teacher (November), I'm going to make him a guitar strap for him. I'm unsure of colors (probably something bright), but I know I want it to have diagonal pieceing and maybe I will embroider his name on it

The last thing is I going to make a simple drawstring bag, in leopard print, for my female friend (August) for her ballroom shoes.

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I just can't wait for school to end so I can start being crafty again!

Cheshire Stripes

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas (I sure did)!

The first gift I've gotten done was my sister's Striped Glass Mitts. I decided to use some of my Red Heart Multi in Plum Pudding and I bought a skein on Red Heart in Lavender to give them the perfect colors of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.

She loves how they turned out and so do I. This is the first project I've ever had to put thumbs in and, suprisingly, they were pretty easy. I may have to make myself some at some point.

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The project I'm working on now is my dance partner's Sweeney Todd Scarf. I'm probably about 80% done with it. I'm in love with the yarn I'm using too, Waverly by Bernat in Classic Navy. It's super soft for this type of yarn. I can't wait to have it done.

Where did that hiatus come from?!

 It's all school's fault! The fault is not on me!

I have been so busy with school I haven't even looked at any of my quilting stuff and haven't done a darn thing other than that. Anyway...

I did make one thing while I was "away". October 14 was "I Love Yarn" Day 2011 and I decided to celebrate by knitting something up. So I went through my yarn stash and found some super pretty off-white yarn I had bought when I was making a hat before (which never turned out). I wanted to do something simple (because I only really had a day to work on it), but I wanted something that could catch your eye. I, ultimately, chose to do a cowl in a basketweave stitch.

Basketweave Cowl for "I Love Yarn" Day

It's so warm and soft. I wear it almost everyday, especially now that it's getting cold.

I'm also in the process of making a pair of above-the-knee legwarmers. I'm probably around half way through with one of them so far. These are definitely going to be heavily worked on over my winter break.

Calculations

I did run into a problem when I started making them though. I did some basic calculations so I could figure out how much stitching I would need. That all went out the window when I actually strted making them. So I'm doing a little bit at a time and then trying them on and going from there.

What I have so far...

 As far as Christmas goes, I originally planned not to make anything this year, so that I could have a break, but...I can't help myself. Two of my friends and my little sister will be recieving a knitted gift from me. (Yes, I am on a kntting kick. Thanks for asking.)

- Friend #1 (male): Flurries Slouch Hat (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flurries-slouch-hat), scarf unknown (Matrix: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/matrix-2 or Sweeney Todd Scarf: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweeney-todd-scarf)

- Friend #2 (female): Gathered Scarf (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gathered-scarf) [Hopefully, I can find some super nice yarn for it.]

- Little Sister: Striped Glass Scarf (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/striped-glass-mitts) [I have 3 skeins of Red Heart: Plum Pudding that I plan on using. I'm not sure what I'll use for the darker stripes yet, maybe a dark purple.]

My friends' gifts don't have to be done by Christmas, so I'm not too worried about those. But I would like to get my sister's done by then. We'll see...

Starry-Eyed

Last night, my first Quilts of Valor quilt was returned to me...quilted! This is actually my first quilt ever that has been quilted using a longarm. And it turned out so beautiful! I would like to thank my quilter, because she did a fantastic job.

1st QOV quilt with star stitching

As you can see in the picture, my quilt got some star stitching which matches my pattern very well. For more info on the picture see blog post: The Ol' Red, White, and Blue. All I have to do now to put on a binding and a label.


Also, like I said, I started on my second QOV quilt.


2nd QOV Quilt

I was going for more of a patchwork look this time. I think the patchwork style make it look more home-y. I have more done than what is shown in this picture, but not by much. But since I have a break this weekend I plan on working on various projects, so there will likely be more done soon.

Starting Early

 This year, I've decided to start working on my Christmas gifts/ projects early. I always same to have so much to do near the end. I need more time spaced out. Anyway, I've made up a list already of what I what to make for everyone.

Mom - Pillows (to replace ones I made a while ago)

Dad - Airplane Quilt (once I find all the fabric for this, I'll be sure to post)

Sister #1 - Thick yarned scarf, Pygmy Puff (Originally, I was going to make her a tea cozy, but she told me she wanted a scarf. If I have time I might try to tackle the tea cozy)

Sister #2 - Coral Necklace (Hopefully the necklace will work out. I have never made anything close to this before)

Nephew - A CATS tail; in the style of a tiger

Niece - Baby Quilt (I really need to finish this. And I'm so close too!)

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On another note, I have made up my list of Christmas movie marathon. I'm very excited to dive head first into the movies. The first movie of the season is...."It's a Wonderful Life". It will kick off the first week of October. I haven't seen this movie in a while so I figured it would be a good start for me.
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NOTE: I've been working on my second Quilts of Valor quilt, so I will have pictures of that soon hopefully.

And on to the Next One

 I have finally finished my first Quilts of Valor quilt! Yay! Now it is on its way to being quilted and then once I get it back I'll bind it. I'll update with pictures then.

Quilts of Valor #1 Quilt Top

I have also designed my second Quilts of Valor in the process. I wanted to have a much easier quilt for my second one so I can really push it out. But I think it will have the same impact and be just as beautiful.

Quilts of Valor #2 Design

Sneak Peek #1

 Here is a sneak peek of my first Quilts of Valor quilt. I feel like I'm taking forever on it, but I'm super happy on how it is coming out.

Sneak Peek #1

Originally, I decided on only making 12 blocks and then putting maybe 2 borders around them, but now that I have finished the blocks it doesn't seem like enough. So I'm going to put on another column and row. I love how it is coming out, but I'm definitely going to do a simpler pattern for my next one.

Also this week, I'm going to my first Quilt Show. I'm super excited. The bad thing is I'm going to be working there, but hopefully I'll get some time to work around. But really either way, I'd be happy. I'll take pictures!