Yes, I am home

No, I haven't been at the beach all this time; don't I wish. It was a wonderful, though short trip. Some beautiful scenery (Check out my daughter's photos on her 7/21 posting.), and a wonderful time watching the 11 grandchildren enjoy the beach.

I have been doing a bit of knitting since we got home. I just put the sweater fronts on my blocking pad this afternoon and you can see the completed back and the sleeves-in-progress.


The quilting has sort of taken a back seat for now as I've been doing some other sewing. However, I'm hoping to get my Janome back on the kitchen table soon and work on my machine quilting project. Hmm, I thought I had a photo of that set up from a couple weeks ago, but can't seem to find it. I guess I'll just have to take you another one. Until then, keep on knittin' and quiltin'.

OFF TO THE BEACH

Hooray, we're off to the beach for a couple days.
I'm taking knitting with me, but not sure I'll have the sweater done for my granddaughter before we return home. I made a mistake in the pattern yesterday, didn't have it in me at the end of the day to figure it out, so the mistake is still on the needles! It is a long drive, though, so just maybe.
We shall see and I'll let you know. Meantime SC beach, here we come!

The best thing since . . .

sliced bread. I think that's the expression, anyway isn't it? Oh, and since I'm about to talk about "sandwiching", I guess the sliced bread reference fits!

Well, my daughter, Anna Maria, let me in on the secret a couple weeks ago about taping my quilt to the floor for sandwiching it, then basting it right there where it stays put and nice and taut. Wow, what a treat!


I used a curved needle to do the basting, but I have heard others recommend the very long (but straight) "doll" needles.


So it's all basted now and just waiting for me to have the nerve to try stitch in the ditch machine quilting on it. (It's 72 x 72.) I think I'll do that on a day when I can use my kitchen table instead of my little sewing machine cabinet. So, that's where I am in the quilting world.

As for my knitting world projects: yes, I'm still working on the pretty lavendar sweater for my granddaughter. No, I didn't get it done it time for her birthday, but she was here last weekend and tried on what I have finished and it FITS and SHE LIKES IT. Whew, that's awesome, considering she just hit the teen years.

And when I have her sweater done, I'm making something fun for ME.


My daughter got me this book

a couple years ago and I think it's about time that I have fun with it. (I'm sure hoping that referencing and giving the title info, etc., is keeping me from breaking any copyright laws.)
Hopefully if you don't hear from me for a few days, it's 'cause I'm busy knitting and quilting, or enjoying myself with all the children and grandchildren at the SC beach for a couple days.