I finished the top! No real mistakes yet, so I figured I better find a way to let the devil out. I got comments and emails about that Native American tradition of including a mistake --- one I've never had trouble honoring without effort. I did make one, but it's more in what I didn't do. I'll share next time.
These flowers were at their best over the weekend and a couple of blooms have already shattered, but I couldn't resist photographing them with my quilt top. All my roses are sending up end of the season one-offs, so these are the blooms from five different bushes. I thought of leaving them in the garden, but it was worth it to have the Sunday dinner table so adorned.
The Saturday mail kindly provided a weekend afternoon put-the-feet-up enticement. I love KF's books for the inspiration as much as the patterns. I always see a new way to use Rowan fabric patterns and color combinations and I go back to his books when I'm between projects to get ideas flowing. I really like this cover quilt. This simple box style is all over the quilting flickr groups right now and I love it.
Chevron Scarf is on the final rows. I'll have it blocked next time. Don't think I've got the full length, but it's long enough for my 5'2" self. Made fast work of this with so many appointments over the last two weeks. Eldest girl was doing a BMX move on her non-BMX bike and her teeth met the handlebars to the detriment of the teeth. Now that the fat lip is gone and the tissue has healed the endo has given it a conditionally positive report: no root canal! Yippee! Apparently the nerve can take time to die, but so far it looks good. Now we have to get the gouges filled. Oh, the joys of motherhood.
While working on Chevron I was seduced by this Regal Silk by Artyarns. The color and sheen are simply amazing.
Several times over the last month I picked up Lacy Little Knits when visiting B&N. There are three or four lacy/sexy/lingerie themed knitting books out right now and this was the only one where I saw myself making anything from the book. I admire the mechanics of a knitted bustier, but it's not happening on my needles.
Schreier's patterns are generally soft shapes with open stitches. Many using the scribble technique I was first drawn to in Unexpected Knitting, Debbie New's book from a few years ago, and have always wanted to try it. I got this book for a couple of the sweater patterns, but am not ready to start yet another sweater right now. This simple wrap looked intriguing and fast and I already had the blue Kidsilk Haze in stash. I love the way the texture of the silk and silk/mohair work together. I wanted a solid scarf to go with patterned sweaters. I should point out that all of the patterns use her Artyarns fiber and the yarn cost of some of these designs will be high. I'm hoping to sub some Brooks Farms for at least one pattern, but i haven't done any serious work on that yet.
Back to quilting ... spent some quality time staring at my Flora quilt thinking about ways to quilt the top. All choices involve free-motion quilting, so I figured I'd better get with that program. Installed the darning foot on my machine for the first time Sunday and dropped those dogs. The best analogy for learning free-motion quilting is learning to drive a car. In the beginning you're constantly aware of your hands and feet - don't forget to turn the wheel ... ooops, too far ... press the petal ... ooops too hard ... nope, not hard enough ... now turn the wheel smoothly and press the petal at the perfect rate at the same time ... what??? I have to watch the road too??? relax? you must be kidding! Then one day you realize you're not even thinking about your hands and feet, which are finally working in perfect unison, and you can concentrate on the road.
I'm a fine driver, but I'm not there on the sewing machine yet. Still, I can see the light. I put in six hours at driver's ed yesterday. Got tired of playing with scraps and jumped on the freeway. With sewing the potential wreck is much less deadly, but my sore neck and shoulders would be gold to an ambulance chaser. Something tells me you're not supposed to quilt the entire top in one go. After meandering the blocks and swirling the border, I decided to play with the story blocks a little. No marking and no planning - kind of like a college road trip (to greatly stretch my driving metaphor). Below are some trip snapshots. The blue border around the story blocks is wash-n-fluff chenille. I'll show you how that comes out when I know myself.
Oh Nancy, this post was a real feast for the eyes. The quilt is simply gorgeous. Your fearless colors appeal to me. I want a full peek at your garden, too. And the knitting--that blue-goodness. The sock monkey--adorable. My son would enjoy that!
Have a great day.
Sheree
Posted by: sheree (sheree's alchemy) | October 16, 2007 at 11:54 PM
How very cool. I don't have the stomach yet for free-form quilting. While I'm a pretty decent driver, that is scary! As always, everything is beautiful. Glad Eldest won't need a root canal. Geez. It is always something isn't it. I just got a call from the preschool, the boy bunked his head on the playground and got a new goose-egg for his forehead. Matches the now green one on his sister's forehead!
Posted by: Risa | October 17, 2007 at 09:48 AM
Love the quilt, love the knitting, love the roses and lurve the free form quilting.....and think your free form quilting is far better than mine - now go and treat your neck and shoulders to a massage, they deserve it after 6 hours over a machine. So glad Eldest doesn't need any major work - unlike mine, who has inherited, teeth problems, small teeth and missing teeth.....she is on for her second lot of braces, with implants happening in about 3 years when shes 19/20.....so am trying to stress the importance of finding a husband with too many teeth to balance out her lack of them for their kids.....forget prospects, just ask him how many teeth he has - LOL!!!!!
Posted by: Jules | October 17, 2007 at 08:01 PM
I adore your Funky Monkey Quilt! All of your photography is stunning!
Posted by: Sandra Singh | October 18, 2007 at 06:36 AM
Your quilt top is just gorgeous. The colors are wonderful and so cheery. You did a fantastic job on it. The mistakes are what makes it yours, not that you can see any mistakes, it looks perfect!
Posted by: Sherry | October 18, 2007 at 07:12 AM
Just fabulous! Your free motion quilting is excellent. I remember really enjoying it, maybe I better drop those dogs myself and give it whirl. At least when the weight of the quilt slides out of line it can just be part of the design. LOL.
Really Nancy, all your work is always beautiful. Truly stunning. I am incredibly jealous of your calm, slow and precise work. It really shows in the quality of your sewing. My impatience always costs me in the end. Thank goodness there was no need for a root canal! Having just undergone a crown last week (and I'm still in pain) I highly recommend skipping the joys of major dental work as much as possible.
Posted by: Julie Rappe | October 18, 2007 at 11:41 AM
The driving analogy for the free form was perfect. Very cute little quilt and the chenille thing should be cool.
Posted by: Julia | October 18, 2007 at 01:08 PM
I love the quilt, the colors look amazing together! I love all of your quilts, your blog is very inspiring.
Posted by: Heather | October 19, 2007 at 09:36 AM
this lovely quilt reminds me something sweet and sour, so refreshing, have to cut fabric.....tommorrow. got KF's book last Monday,I like the Frames and floral quilts a lot and his use of traditional blocks. his colours inspire me a - but not his techniques.
my children have braces- all of them, I know where my money goes every month.......the joy of parenthood. Will they invest their income in years coming in my and Dirk's third teeth?
Posted by: Christiane | October 19, 2007 at 01:45 PM
I LOVE the monkey quilt. You're so crafty. :)
Oh, and you've also been tagged on my blog!
Posted by: Steph | October 19, 2007 at 03:54 PM
Wow--those quilts are wonderful! And the roses are unbelievably beautiful David Austins, right? Sigh. Just fabulous. My David Austins are just petering out--and are getting beat up by our rain, wind and hail storms these past few days. The knitting is gorgeous, by the way.
Posted by: Jeanne | October 19, 2007 at 04:50 PM
As usual your posts and pictures are outstanding, but mainly I am wondering how you are with the fires raging in so. california? You came to mind last night as I was watching the news and I thought I'd let you know my prayers are with you. . . Please post if you have a chance. my email: rmcpha(at)gmail(dot)com
Posted by: Ruthanne (in Seattle) | October 23, 2007 at 10:58 AM