When you can't sit, you don't waste time on the PC. There has to be an upside to a bad back doesn't there? So while I've not read blogs or posted here, I've been trying to stay creative while walking, standing or lying down.
Socks are good for knitting while flat on your back. Fell in love with these tiny needles. Cherry Tree Hill merino and the Knitty Spring Forward pattern. One down and one to go.
This yarn is a little heavy for this pattern, but nice and springy, so these will be good Birk clog socks. I'm also not a big fan of varigated yarn with lace patterns and this is a bit too much big pooling for my taste. Still, already had the yarn and my knitting group was doing a KAL, so here I am. I've had fun so far and now that I know the pattern I think the second will go much faster.
Before my back twanged out I was sewing this Friendship Braid quilt from Jelly Roll Quilts. I had fat quarters from an old Heather Bailey line, but I liked the pattern with these prints so I cut the strips. This will be a housewarming gift for my SIL, so I must finish it in two weeks before we visit her. The backing arrives today so I should finish in time.
Had to put it aside after piecing, so I'll have to re-iron -- that's the only reason I'm letting Miss Raven have her way here.
I'm in a 15" x 15" quiltlet swap group on Flickr and my partner's been very nice about waiting for her quilt. I had the design and fabric organized early in the month, but again had to put it away until I could sit at the machine. The theme was hearts, which I must admit pushed me out of my zone.
Then I got Julie's, which is so colorful and well sewn and quilted that I felt even worse about my lame idea and the delay. I really like how she did a kind of bargello/watercolor effect with the little squares. It glows in natural light, especially a bit of sun. Full sun doesn't photograph well, so you'll have trust me.
Thanks Julie. It's beautiful.
Lately I've been attracted to patterns that use triangles, so I thought this would be a chance to play with traditional blocks in a miniature format. The tic-tac-toe idea just jumped in my head and every block has triangles, so that stuck. I had a little pack of valentine themed fabric from way back. Also wanted to play with my new EQ6 design program, so I searched for X, O and a heart blocks, sized them, built the quilt design and printed cutting guides. When I'd finished piecing the quilt was good in that all the seams were straight, etc, but it was boring. I was happy for the education of cutting and piecing tiny triangles and I took my time learning to handle them. I really enjoyed that process, but didn't want to continue on the safe road with ditch quilting.
Leafing through Cloth/Paper/Scissors and Quilting Arts magazines has left me itching to do something more experimental, so I went out on a limb and did wild, no-mark free-motion quilting. I know I'm not that good at that yet, and to be honest, I'm really not sure I improved the piece and probably to some of you I flat out ruined it, but I did have fun.
I told Julie to feel free to line her pot drawer with it. When I do bed quilts or throws I consider what looks best and will please the user, so I usually stay on the conservative side. I'm a very precise cutter and piecer, so free-motion quilting is still very hard for me because I don't want to "mess up." Trying to break out of my self-sealed box, but that tape is strong! So, what you're reading here are the words of a conflicted artistic perfectionist.
Started this sweater about a month ago, but found I couldn't do cables on my back, so it got put aside. This is Norah Gaughan's Tweedy Aran Cardigan from IK Winter 01/02. I've got the magazine, but they also sell the pattern PDF on line now.
The yarn is Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed that's been stashed forever. Picked it up again this past weekend and am finally getting the rhythm of the cables. No rest for the wicked on this one -- the wrong side has lots of through-the-back-loop stitches to keep you on your toes. I'm thrilled to be making a smaller size because I've finally started to lose weight -- almost 15 lbs since the beginning of July! Because of this I"m rethinking sweater WIPs. More on that as I decide.
Well, time to stand up before I seize up. Still don't like bucket seats (the car's the worst), but have found a lumbar pad helps. We took the girls to the last Padres game this past weekend (horrible season, but beautiful day) and I added to my Lizard Ridge pile. I get the pitch-n-stitch thing now - the knitting covers all the dead time - but I could still skip the baseball part of it.
Look at all the fun that's happening over there--despite the bad back. I don't know what to compliment first. Your braid is VERY, VERY pretty! Hope your back gets better so you can have fun in any position!
Posted by: amy | October 01, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Love that Jelly Roll! It's adorable. I also love the X and O quilt. I'm impressed that you got EQ6 working that well - I struggled with it and haven't been back. Hope your back gets better soon.
Posted by: MichelleB | October 01, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Nancy, I love seeing your posts pop up on my bloglines. You always have such colorful inspiration to share and today's post was no exception.
Hopefully your back will heal quickly. If not you may have to set up your sewing machine at standing height! (I say that half jokingly, but it may really be something to consider.)
Posted by: Toby | October 01, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Hey, good to hear from you again! Sorry to hear about your back, but hopefully you are on the mend. Another amazing quilt. I'm starting to think you have little elves who come out at night.....
Be well,
Marissa
Posted by: marissa | October 01, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Glad to see you're still at it! I love every project you're working on, as usual.
Posted by: Maria | October 01, 2008 at 05:11 PM
I sure did miss reading your blog! But you made well up for it. I love the quilt with the heart on it. Because of all the squares, it softens it up! I'm sorry about your back; that really can be a pain in the.... backside! Hope you'll get better soon; if anything so you can show us more of your lovely work!
Posted by: Anje | October 02, 2008 at 02:48 AM
I sure hope your back gets better to the point where you can function and not be in so much pain. It really cuts into quilting and knitting time when you can't sit, knitting while standing only last so long. I LOVE your quilt! I never in a million years would have thought to quilt the way you did as I am also a perfectionist and this strictly rules my "by the rules" quilting. You have inspired me to try a similar break out of my comfort technique. I would imagine your partner is going to love this particular quilt. Glad to see more lizard ridge squares, I've stalled on mine. It's time to block and piece and I'm just not sure what color I'm going to use to pull everything together. Fall has finally pushed summer aside for a few days with our impending storm in Northern California and the cooler weather with wind has inspired me to start on a long anticipated knitted coat. No cables which I love in your above photo but I will be knitting a ruched (sp?) section on the coat and this is a new technique for me. Have a wonderful day down in So Cal!
Posted by: Alison | October 02, 2008 at 08:17 AM
It is great to hear from you again. I hope the back continues to mend. Congratulations on the 15# too. I really like the freeform quilting; the contrast between the precise pieces and free stitching makes them both more interesting.
Posted by: ellen | October 02, 2008 at 12:27 PM
I'm so sorry to hear that the back flared up again. As always, your quilting is inspiring and photos downright beautiful. Hope the back is better very soon!
Posted by: Risa | October 03, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Your knitting is incredible!
Posted by: Shannon | October 04, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Welcome back! I'm sorry to hear about your back but trust you are well on the way to recovery. I have really missed your blog and beautiful pictures. All the pieces are gorgeous and if my first quilt piece can be half or a quarter as good as yours, I'll be happy. Thanks for all that inspiration you ooze out of your blog spot! Take care.
Posted by: alison uk | October 04, 2008 at 11:33 AM
We like the quilt with your cat sitting on it, my daughter said she would even like to make one, I guess I'll have to find that book or figure it out on my own. All your quilts look wonderful.
Posted by: pam | October 04, 2008 at 12:30 PM
As always, it is great to see you back! Sorry your back is giving you trouble, but lots of crafty goodness is getting done:) I think your heart quilt is very fun. I would hang it on my wall!
Posted by: Jeanie | October 04, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Hey, your back! I just had a feeling it might be your back acting up again. I'm glad you're feeling a bit better and hope you continue to improve. I've missed you and your blog. For starters, I love the free motion heart quilting on the little x o quilt. I think it was just what it needed. The friendship braid quilt top is fantastic, very pretty. I couldn't have done all those pieces, no way. While you lay on your back attempting to knit (how you do that is a mystery to me), I'm trying to figure out how to knit with carpal tunnel hand braces on. Diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel in both wrists, REALLY bad in the right. While I was relieved my numbness wasn't involving my neck vertebrae, it still wasn't good news, as there really isn't a fix other than surgery. Too many years of hard labor. My hand mitts wave hello, and I feel exactly the same about baseball... Get well soon. :o)
Posted by: Julie | October 05, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Sorry to hear about the back - ouch, but even with a bad back you are amazing, that Norah Guaghan cardigan is really pretty - I keep eyeing it up and Jo Sharp is a genius for getting texture and colour exactly right - so the cardigan is going to be delectable
Posted by: juliet | October 05, 2008 at 02:53 PM
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Gosia
Posted by: Gosia | October 07, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Nancy,
Have missed hearing from you - so sorry to learn that it has been your back that has kept you from posting your creative world for the rest of us to enjoy.
As always, everything that you have created through the pain is simply stunning.
You continue to be my artistic inspiration.
Inky Hugs,
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda G | October 08, 2008 at 06:28 AM
I have been away too, too long. You have been sooo busy, knitting, sewing, quilting, gardening, photographing. Your life is so full of beauty that I find myself terribly jealous, but not in a bad way. just yearning for the time and opportunity to immerse myself in some loveliness too. I have gotten so far behind in blogging that I even stopped reading blogs - that's bad. Trying to get back in there. Maybe the season changes will help - the drought has been just awful, and deflating. It was so nice to stop by and get an eyeful of all your energy and spirit on display here. Keep it up, you're an inspiration to me and others I am sure.
Posted by: Julia | October 11, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I hope your back is getting better?! I was at Pannikin the other day (yum) and thought of you:) Hope to "see" you soon.....I am wondering about your Lizard Ridge, it's a beauty.
Posted by: Jeanie | November 03, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Hello. I am hoping you can help me. I want to make the Flower Basket Shawl and am trying to find someone who made it and has the pdf directions. Is there any chance you can help me with a copy of them?
Thankyou for helping.
Posted by: cee kay | December 28, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Are you nancy tweedy from south side of chicago? If so contact
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