It's really been three weeks

I think I figured out why I couldn't decide what to pick for my goals this month because no matter what I was going to pick it would all get completely throw out the window.

Even as I type I have a one year old attacking my face for kisses, which also contributes to why I can hardly write anymore. Glad for that distraction though!!

Grand sewing plans, yea right.

A project for a cute little bundle of joy on its way had a drastic deadline change, so instead of just chugging along with it it got pushed to the front burner.

I mean, everything came off the design wall and put into a pile. Everything.

Though, I did finish up one of the items on my list of goals for this month (I did have to wait for the backing to ship for the urgent one).

I quilted the tie-died quilt that was made by my friend's daughter. It was her first quilt, and I think she did an awesome job!

Hopefully she loves the quilting! I didn't want to compete with the boldness of her fabric, and I think I succeeded.

Here's the backing for the new project, as well as some matrishka doll fabric I've been googly eyed over for quite some time!

Since I just got this lovely bundle of fabric today, it'll be about a week till I show you the beauty that became urgent. I LOVE it! I need to make one for me too. (doesn't that always seem to happen??)

May Goals

What to do, what to do...

I've been thinking the last week or so about which goal(s) I'm going to set this month.

First, I was thinking about how this summer will most likely be insane, so moving the easier goals to June through August would probably be good.

Then, I thought about how I really wanted to stick with the projects I worked on in April so I could really eliminate some UFOs completely.

Then, thoughts of starting a whole new project have been popping up. I mean seriously, my list of quilts I want to make seems to have a few more added on each time I open my internet browser. Am I the only one that has this problem??



Geta Grama


I know that the third option really isn't sticking with the whole idea of actually finishing things, so that one should be crossed off the list. But, just look at that quilt by Geta Gramma! I bought the pattern immediately!!

Ok, back to reality... (I mean, that is paper pieced, and I currently have 5 kids ages 10 and under...)

With that off the table, I think the best thing to do would be to finish the projects I've been working on. Even though quilting the tops I've finished would be a easier project to keep up with through our summer schedule, I think I'd rather break up the quilting so I don't end up doing nothing but that for a few months straight.

Here is 'the goal' then:
- Quilt and bind my 'Double Stuffed' quilt
- Quilt tie-die quilt that is my friend's daughter's first quilt
- Quilt my first quilt (still unnamed, maybe I should call it: Took Me Forever. haha)

There it is, 'Took Me Forever', it's gonna be DONE soon!!! Yes!

Linked up with:

Earflap Hat for 18inch Doll - Free Pattern

For any of you that have an 18 inch doll in your life than this pattern is for you!

Since Kit has become a part of our family, my daughter and I have been working on a few things to add to her ever growing wardrobe.

Who knew a doll could need so many accessories?!

Since it does get rather cold (only sometimes) around these parts, naturally Kit needed an earflap hat just like her 'big sisters' have.

This is a very quick project, and a pretty good one for a beginner also (or a good incentive to learn to crochet).

Pattern:

Materials:

- Ball of worsted weight yarn
- Small ball of contrast yarn worsted weight (optional)
- Size G hook
- scissors


Directions:

Using US terms.

Hat:

• Ch 3, join to make loop
• Round 1: Ch 2. 9 dc into loop. Join to top of ch 2. (10 sts)
• Round 2: Ch 2, 1 dc in same space. 2 dc in each st of previous round. Join to top of ch 2 from this round. (20 sts)
• Round 3: Ch 2. 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in nest st, 2 dc in next st.* repeat to end of round. Join to top of ch 2 from this round (30 sts)
• Round 4: Ch 2. 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st.* repeat to end of round. Join to top of ch 2 from this round (40 sts)
• Round 5: Ch 2. 1 dc in next 6 sts. 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st.* repeat to end of round. Join to top of ch 2 from this round (45 sts)
• Rounds 6-9: Ch 2. 1 dc in each st till end of round. Join to top of ch 2 from this round (45 sts)
• Cut yarn leaving about 5 inches from hook. Ch 1 and pull tail through. (tie off)

Earflaps:

• Count 7 stitches to the right from where you just tied off. Attach yarn and sc in next 6 sts. Ch 1, turn. (6 sts)
• Sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 2 sts, sc 2 tog. Ch 1, turn. (4 sts)
• Sc in each st (4 sts)
• Sc 2 tog, twice. (2 sts) Tie off again.

Make another earflap the same way, counting 7 stitches in the other direction from the tie off of the hat.

Finishing:

• Starting near the hat tie off, attach contrasting yarn and sc around entire hat and both earflaps. Tie off.
• Cut 6 pieces of contrasting yarn about 12 inches in length. These will be your ties, they will be about 5 inches in length.
• Take 3 pieces and fold in half. Take the looped end and put it through one earflap, from the outside in, and pull the tails through the loop. Braid the ties, and knot. (make 2)

Enjoy!

Ravelry page.

Just a reminder, my patterns are for your personal use and enjoyment only. These are not to be produced for profit of any kind. If you have any questions please email me at lyannaanderson@gmail.com.

This Month

Ahh, these past few weeks have been pretty great.

The weather has been spot on. I even got out my clothesline! Mostly to photograph this:

But, I plan to hang some clothes out in a few days (Mondays are my big laundry conquering days). Gotta love the smell!

My goal was to finish this quilt top and the back so it would be ready for quilting, and with only 2 seams to go on the back (which I am doing later today) I would say I DID IT! WooHoo! Taking a photo of said back and blogging about it anytime soon is a completely different thing, pcht.

It always feels so good to get another UFO finished and out of the sewing area. Thanks to the Lovely Year of Finishes I have had a lot more UFOs finished than usual. Here's my goal setting and mid-month for April.

At times I feel like my sewing space feels so empty, then I remember I'm being productive and cleaning things up. Did I say it feels great yet? It really does.

There have also been quite a few beach days, oh how I love the beach!

We've been going with Oma most days and it's so great to be hanging out with my Mom more.

We frequent Rehoboth Beach, it's only about an hour for us, and we like it. My Mom introduced me to Greenman Juice Bar & Bistro the last time we went, oh it was good.

In the midst of all this I was also able to finally pull all the weeds out of my garden on the side of the house. I bought some daylilys to put among my nandinas, can't wait to plant them.

Why is it that the weeds seem to do so well in my garden on that side??

It's just not fair I tell ya.

Another thing I whipped up last week was this wreath:

I saw something similar on pinterest, but I love me some hydrangeas so they were substituted. I also added a shovel, I liked the shiny in with it all.

Hopefully there will be some realy hydrangeas to grace my front garden this year too!

Is there anything you're hoping to plant this spring?

April Check In

Have I said yet that I am loving this Lovely Year of Finishes thing??

Cause I really am.

I feel super productive, and I'm actually doing instead of organizing.

You see, I have COD (yes, they spelled OCD wrong. Didn't you know??? ha ha ha) and sometimes just a touch of ADD. So, I start off sewing on a current project, then I see something that just needs to be put away. Right then! Then, while I'm putting said thing away, there is something else that just shouldn't be where it is. While that item is being return to it's needed location I find some fabric that I was in the middle of cutting the last time I was 'sewing'.

Do you see how this process goes??? It can make me insane sometimes. I feel like I have to put on blinders just so I can focus on what I'm working on, and this Lovely Year of Finishes seems to be just the 'blinders' I need.

Without further distraction...

(Sorry for the horrible picture, my sewing area is in the basement)

This is the progress I have made on my BYG quilt. The big block that is in the upper left actually has about 3 more strips sewn onto in since this photo was taken, and it's only got about 3 more 'til it's done. So excited to finsh up this one!

The back is in progress now too. I'm planning to use up the scraps in different width strips, and some of these are done/partially done. I just need to figure out which fabric I want to use as the main one on the back.

This quilt will be pieced and ready for quilting this month!! Yay!

Here's my April goal setting.