Greetings Unravelers!
Last week… I finished no books… this week, I have little to nothing to show for my making!
First up… I had high hopes to be done with my Hitch on the Move… but I am at the portion of knitting where the rows are LONG… so long. I have roughly 20 more long-assed rows and 20 very short rows to go to and then bind off. I am persevering and trying to get a long row or two done a day…trying but not always succeeding!
I have gotten a couple more mitered squares done (thanks to morning time on the porch!) But this is not a race to the finish, but rather an exercise in the joy of stitching. And it is all kinds of joy!
My big project this week has been all about the appliqué… I have watched the first two lessons and have started. I paid less attention to the “color picking” lesson – as I am using a couple of charm packs which all coordinate. I have watched the second lesson on the actual appliqué process twice and I started on a “block”… whew. That one square took me over an hour to stitch. I feel very much like I did when I started watercolor lessons… you know, that doing-something-new-is-not-at-all-easy feeling. I picked the “easiest” shape… and boy was it hard! Yes you can see my stitches, but by the last bit, they were better… not great but better. At this rate, I will have enough “blocks” to make a Happy Hour table runner by Christmas! LOL But!! I like it… very much. It is absolutely portable. It is very engaging and I think that soon… it just might be relaxing as well! Ha!
One down… a lot more to go!
The reading this week… so, so, so good! In my ears I am listening to Master Slave Husband Wife. I will likely finish it today and it is just so good. If you like history, you will love this story. At night, I am reading The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons, another in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, this time by Karin Smirnoff. It’s good and probably not a wise choice to read before bed, but there you go.
That is all I have for today… what about you? What are you making progress on?
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That slow struggle of trying something new can be annoying for those of us who are experienced in something else, but it’s so good for your brain! I wish you perseverance with the long-ass rows of your shawl (listening to a good audiobook while you knit is a great way to get through them!).
Oh my that fabric pairing, swoon!! Looks like you are in a creative flow with your projects. I am on the last hitchhiker of the summer but I have lots of fall knitting in my mind that I would like to start soon.
You have only a bit of lavender yarn left, so I’m guessing you are quite close to finishing your Hitch on the Move. And I love your mitered squares and applique! I’ve read several articles touting the learning of a new skill as being good for your brain and staving off age-related changes, so your applique is both lovely and healthy for you!
Those long rows will get you every time! But even half a row a day will get you there in the end. Mitred squares look gorgeous.
“Not a race, but an exercise in the joy of stitching” – well said Kat – love that and will keep that in mind (especially as I work on my Shakerag Skirt – LOL). Gosh your fabrics for applique are wonderful – fun stuff. I bet it does not take long for you to get comfortable with this…after all, you’ve done other stitching. Again, the key is to enjoy what you are doing. A happy hour table runner sounds perfect! I’m itching to start my Hitch on the Move…but I’m in the midst of so many things…still I may add this to the fray!!
The little appliques are adorable.
Learning something new is SO GOOD for us — and I can’t wait to see your applique skills grow and develop. What a FUN little project you’ve got going!!! I don’t know what it is about long-ass rows . . . but they just wear on me. So I get it . . . and now I’m already dreading my own Hitch on the Move decision. (I am casting on today!) Love your mitered squares. They are such a fun little (addictive) thing to have on the back-burner! XO
Those mitered squares are lovely (as are the colors, and the background…). And the coordinating fabrics for your applique project are so much fun–the idea of them all stitched together would be pretty darn motivating! With something good in your ears and that afternoon porch time blocked, I’ll bet it will be done before Christmas :).
I’m trying to finish up a shawl I’m gifting so that I can start Linc’s sweater…but I’m a few ounces short on yarn. Grr. Which totally didn’t happen with the first one I made, with the same amount! So I’m going to try to get creative with that so I can…MOVE ON.
As much as I love quilting, applique has never been something I’ve enjoyed so I do it only by machine. Knowing you, I predict you will improve quickly with this and really like it. Those squares are awesome and go great together, too.
Learning something new always feels a little awkward but I love that “aha” moment when it all begins to click into place. The fun fabrics look like they will keep you going- they look whimsical to me.
Oh, I do so love a mitered square!! 😉
Much respect for the applique ! To me it looks really neat. Doesn’t handstitching always take that long ? I have only given it a short try once, but decided I lack the patience..