OhSewCrafty

2014 WIPocalypse: September update

This past month, I worked a bit on the felt appliqué stocking- I appliquéd and stuffed the entire beard and completed most of the stem stitch lines on the beard.  

Previously:

Now:

The stem stitch is done through all the layers, including the fiberfill, to create a felted appearance- it's cumbersome to embroider through all the bulk, and I'm not enjoying this step very much.  However, this is the largest piece, and I should be in good stead to finish the project when it's complete.  

The cross stitch stocking got some love.  In fact, I'd say this project is around 50% complete, and I think I'll put it away with the intention to finish next year.

Previously:

Now:

 

Perhaps most significantly, I finished my photo book project!  In my possession now are three gorgeous books, with pics and some descriptive text from trips to Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii (2006), Kauai and Oahu (2010) and England (2013).  The 2 Hawaii books are 30 pages each and the England one is around 40 pages.  It was a major project, and I'm so happy to have these records of some really fabulous journeys.

I also did some things I have no photographic evidence of... My son's birth sampler is now framed!  I found a cherry toned smooth wood 8.5 x 11" frame (meant for digital photos) at Michael's.  The rabbet depth is ok (I mount my needlework on foam core so some depth is required), but I had to improvise to attach the backing.  Tape to the rescue!  Who's going to look at the back of the frame anyway?

I started work on the shopping cart cover, if you count cutting out the fabric (I do.  For me, cutting out the pieces is the most onerous part of sewing).  I realized I bought the wrong kind of batting.  I'm not sure what I was thinking... but this project is on hold until I get more.  

The tree of life blanket saw zero action.  It's kind of a problem, since I have a vast yarn collection, but knitting just doesn't appeal to me much anymore.  Oh well, the pendulum will swing back in that direction eventually, I suppose.

For next month, I hope to get a lot done on the felt appliqué stocking.  Plus at least a bit of progress on the baby blanket.  There will be sewing- the car seat cover and hopefully Halloween costumes too.  I have started a new cross stitch project- another one by Mirabilia.  More on that next time.

Knitting in Napa

Proof that I did work on my ravelolympics goals during my vacation... a 10 day journey up the west coast from San Francisco to Seattle.  Along the way we visited the California wine country, among many other places.  

So here I am in Napa, knitting the interminable buttonband of my CPH.  As much fun as it was to go tasting, touring, and just drinking in the gorgeous scenery, a girl might need a little break from the heat at the height of the day- it was over 100 degrees F that day.  

I finished the knitting on CPH as we drove up the redwood highway after leaving the wine country.  It seemed appropriate somehow, working on my forest green CPH as we drove past thousands of trees blanketing the stunning mountain vistas.  Then, I cast on for Indigo Ripples.  Alas, I'm not winning a medal in the skirt event.  I've got about 12 inches of stockinette, but it's got a ways to go.  And that's okay with me.... my knitting progress may have been less than prolific while on vacation, but we did cover about 1200 miles! 

I'm seaming CPH presently, and I will have a FO in the WIPs Wrangling event by noon tomorrow!