Dish cloth - Knit (2 and 2)

I like this dish cloth.  Easy to make.  Don't need to count or follow a pattern closely.  Going to try it out as I am not a fan of the crochet one for myself.  Everyone else seems to like them though!  I have been making a ton of the crochet ones.  The knit ones take me longer to make, so the yarn will last longer :)  And the main reason I am doing these is to keep my hands busy while I am watching TV.  

Pattern:

Cast on 36 stitches.

Row 1 and 2:  K2 P2

Row 3 and 4:  P2 K2

Repeat 4 rows until desired length.  Cast off knit wise on Row 4.

Dish Cloth - Knit Seed Stitch

Trying out some knit dish cloths.  Going through the crocheted ones too fast!  Takes me about 4 times as long to do a knit one.  And as the purpose of making these is to keep my hands busy, it doesn't matter that it takes longer to make one.

This one is called a seed stitch.  Liked the result but didn't like changing between knit and purl on every stitch.

Size 6.5 needles

Cast on 33 stitches

Row 1 thru 3:  Knit

Row 4:  Knit 3, (Purl1 Knit1) repeat to last 4 stitches, Purl 1, Knit 3

Row 5 thru 44 (or until desired length):  Repeat Row 4  

Row 45 thru 47:  Knit

Row 48:  Bind off

Gnomes

Made this set of placemats and napkins for my good friend Carol.  She is into making gnomes so thought she would enjoy these.  The napkins are my 'paperless' paper towels.  Both the napkins and the placemats are done out of flannel.

It is fun making things for my friends and family.  I think of them while I am doing the sewing and it brings a smile to my face.  Brings lots of good memories while I am sewing.

Log Cabin QAYG

Single bed size quilt (50 x 70) as you go log cabin.  Made from my box of 1 1/2" strips.  The box of strips barely went down!  Guess I have a few more strip quilts in my future.  

I think the next QAYG I make will have different colors on the back, to make more of a reversible quilt.  I used 1" strips for the back binding and 1 1/2" strips for the front binding.  Unfortunately, I did put one block in wrong :(  But didn't notice it until I took the picture of the quilt.  So I guess it stays.

Have really been enjoying doing these quilts.  And is a great way to use up scraps.  But the strips don't really seem to be going down.  Think they are propagating when I am not looking!  lol 

Plaid Quilt

Simple plaid quilt.  Even though the sashing looks blue, it is actually teal.  Daughter-in-law wanted a teal plaid quilt but could not find teal plaid any where.  So had to go with a regular plaid and use teal for the sashing.  Used a grey blanket from Costco for the backing.  Nice and soft.  

So that family has all new quilts from me this year.  The kids got the Hugs and Kisses and Calgary Flames quilts.  Keeping my family warm one quilt at a time :)  I like making quilts when I know who is getting them, rather than just making a quilt and then wondering what to do with it.

Blue Bock of the Month

Another UFO done!  Is nice to take a break from sewing masks for a couple of days.  We are now at around 500 masks done!  

I picked up this package at a garage sale.  Came with all the fabrics (well, except the backing).  Had to add some fabric of my own as I screwed up cutting the setting squares.  

If is now off to be quilted by Lori at the Quilt Studio.  She does all my quilts and does an awesome job.  

Update:  Quilting has been finished.  The pattern is flowers and butterflies.  It really makes those large blue squares look awesome.  Wasn't a fan of the quilt before it got quilted, but now I love it.  Amazing what can be done with the quilting.  I think the pattern she used was called Picnic.  Perfect choice for it.

Now ... what am I going to do with this quilt?  That seems to always be my dilemma.   I love making the quilts, but I have too many to use.

September 5, 2021 - today I gifted the quilt to Kim (Jaye's mom).  She loved it.  She has moved into an apartment in OK Falls and has a new bed, so I thought she needed a new quilt to put on it.

  

Paperless Paper Towels

These have got to be the most useful items I have ever made.  They are made out of flannel and are 10 x 10".   Zigzagged the edging as I don't have a serger (I do, but my daughter is using it).  Zigzag works just as good :)  And cheap to make.  You get 16 out of 1.1 meters of fabric or 28 out of 2 meters. 

They take the place of paper towels (except I don't use them for greasy items).  And in place of plates for such things as apples, treats, sandwiches, etc.   They act as a plate and a napkin all in one and wash up very well.  Great for napkins as well, especially as they are soft and just the right size.  Add a little water and wipe the kids faces and hands.  Or as a wipe for your hands when cooking.  The uses are endless.   Saving the planet a little at a time.

I have separate ones that I use during the Christmas season.  And BBQ themed ones for the summer.  Would be easy to do themes for other times of the year - Halloween, Easter, Canada Day, camping (for the trailer),  Or if you have a favorite team.  The possibilities are endless!!!!

Dresden Plate

Made this quilt for a good friend of ours.  She liked the pattern and as I have not done a Dresden Plate before, had fun learning how to do it.  Easier than I thought.  I decided to do a quilt as you go, but as you can see, the last row did not line up very good :(  Overall though, I really like how it turned out.  Used a sheet for the white background - much cheaper as I got it on sale, and it worked very well.  Was a good quality cotton.  Back of quilt is done is a paisley.  

The quilt label is because this lady loves to hug :)  Thought it very appropriate.  The quilt is being well loved on their bed.  

I love it when quilts I make are used every day.  They are not meant to be put away in a closet.  I made a beautiful quilt for my mom and it spent 20 years in her closet because it was 'too good' to use.  Also did an amazing quilt for my daughter, and it is in her closet as well.  Quilts are meant to be used and enjoyed.