Ignite, and Beyond

The Ignite quilt top is done. Tuesday evening I finished hand appliquéing bias tape to the edges of the pieced center.

The back is pieced too. In the center is the FPPed message and darker values of yellow prints. The lighter values of yellow solids are intentionally along the sides to prevent the backing from shadowing through to the front.

Sandwiching and basting happen tomorrow so as to begin machine quilting yet this week. Then there's big stitch hand quilting. My self-imposed goal is to complete the quilt by July 31. 

Over the weekend I went through scrap bins to cut pieces for the Modern Maze quilt that Big Cypress Quilters are making as an Along. Blocks are to be made in two different sizes, but we're free to arrange the design however we wish. To use as many of my small scraps as possible, I'm making only the smaller blocks that finish at 5½" X 12".

If my math is correct, 40 blocks pieced with 1"-wide black and white striped sashing will result in a 51" X 58" quilt to donate.

I'll be piecing with Big Cypress Quilters today using my little Janome Derby. (Mine is "Turbo Teal.") I'm so glad I bought the machine in June 2015 (I know this because I blogged about it) for only $55.

Continuing to play with yarn, I've finished a few items. I've memorized the Tiny Dolls round loom knitting pattern, so I work on dolls during occasional evening TV-watching. My goal is to making 20 dolls to give again to the local police department.

Thinking ahead to Christmas, I've begun making Santa hats for my grandchildren. Two of the boys have birthdays before Christmas, so that will be an appropriate occasion to gift them.

I made the Santa hat on the left on a 41-peg round loom. Free pattern here.

This knitted hat is also a free pattern. 

As for knitting for myself... oh my gosh. I've not caught onto it! I'm still working on the Summer Soul Top and twice, because of dropped stitches that I can't figure out how to pick up in spite of watching numberous YouTube videos about it, I've had to remove all the knitted and purled rows (called garter stitching) back to the "lifeline" - a row where a piece of yarn or an extension cord has been inserted, to prevent unstitching beyond that point. 

Gray yarn lifeline is about three rows below the needles.

Following directions, I paused in my knitting to try on the top, to see how it fits. I inserted an extension cord to remove the circular needles, then removed the lifeline. Ergh! See the distinct row of wrong stitching? Good grief. I accidentally knitted (or purled) two rows the same (rather than alternating). 

I'll re-insert a lifeline, unravel to that point, and give it another go.

On Saturday I helped the 4-H Club. Four girls made patriotic Sawtooth Star blocks. Since I don't have permission to share all the pictures I took, here's one of the girls with her finished block. 

Four younger children sewed strips together. This is the club leader with the quilt design laid out on tables. When finished, the quilt will be raffled as a fundraiser. 

Things have been hoppin' at Twistee Treat! I've been there four times now, and each time I count at least eight employees working. Apparently it's a popular place in the evenings too. (I didn't take this picture.)

Sunday was National Ice Cream Da, and the official grand opening. Prizes, games, and cheerleaders made the day special, but I opted to stay home and avoid the crowds. Give me a rainy day and I'll happily stand outside to be at the head of the line!

Oh! And let me share that my Australian friend, Ilka White, is again offering her virtual Braided Rag Rug workshop in two sessions the evenings of Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, for Canadians and Americans. I learned from Ilka and made my first rug in 2020. See my last big rug on our enclosed lanai.

Go here for more info and to register for Ilka's workshop. Linda