Fingerless Gloves - A Finish

- This is a finishalong post -
If you want to see an overview of all my finishes (and non-finishes) in the first quarter of 2016, see my overview post.
My original goal setting post can be found HERE.

In January I posted a not so flattering image of the fingerless gloves I had in progress. I was entering it in the Finishalong, with the aim of getting it finished in the first three months of the year... and I did!

I had never managed to knit an item in the round before, though I tried a few times. This time was different.

First of all I came across a mention of "Continental knitting". After some investigation (see this post from Sarah of Crafts from the Cwtch for a comprehensive explanation and more links) I found that I was an English knitter. Who knew?! I started knitting the Continental way, and my hands and wrists can cope so much better with this technique and I have a lot more control. No matter that I am still quite a slow knitter, I put that down to my inexperience...

Secondly, I found very short flexible needles. The length is just right for knitting socks or - you guess it - gloves and wrist warmers. No more struggle to keep control of four double pointed knitting needles!

Then I read Lynz' post on Susie Rogers' Reading Mitts and I decided I wanted to make a pair. All set with some wool and the flexible needle(s) I started in December 2015.

Then in January, after the mention of this project in the Finishalong goal setting post, I got a date for an operation on my hand. Knowing that I would not fit my hand into ordinary gloves while being bandaged up, I had an extra incentive to finish these. I'd be needing them to keep my hands warm!

And so they did:

I knitted them in a thinner wool than the pattern called for (I used what I had), which suited the needles better, too. To make up for it I knitted the largest size, though I think I could have gotten away with the middle size. I am a rather loose knitter... I also added two extra stitches when starting the rows for the thumb and this was a good choice.
I used the flexible needle for the main glove, the thumbs had to be knitted with DPNs, but since there were so few stitches for that it was not really a problem.
The edging turns out lovely and was very easy to do.

I could even see myself making another pair in thicker wool, to keep my hands even toastier next winter!

Linking up with #2016FAL:

Sandra

Charity Quilt - A finish

- This is a finishalong post -
If you want to see an overview of all my finishes (and non-finishes) in the first quarter of 2016, see my overview post.
My original goal setting post can be found HERE.

My second finish is this quilt:

Taking the opportunity for photographs while the sun shines

The quilt has been a collaborative effort of members of the Library Quilters, the same group holding an exhibition at the end of February. And yes, this quilt was part of that exhibition. After it was decided that the quilt should be in the exhibition, I finally speeded up my needle and thread and finished it.
It seems I need strong incentives to finish a project. Even when all that's needed was hand stitching down the binding...

But, in the end only the result counts! And this has turned out to be a lovely quilt if I can say so myself.
The 12" blocks have been made by the different members in fabrics and a pattern of their own choosing. The only requirement was to use (some) blue, and some of us used a piece of the same blue-grey fabric. In the end there were enough blocks for two quilts, so I divided the blocks between the two for the most pleasing combination. The fabrics for sashing, backing and binding have also been donated by different members, and the wadding was "found" in my own shelves.

As you can see most blocks are pieced, but each quilt has one appliqué block. The blocks were cut to a uniform size or marked up to the same size in the case of a hand stitched block. I attached the solid cream sashing to the blocks according to this tutorial for a smooth finish to the quilt.

After I stabilised the quilt by machine quilting in straight lines around the blocks, the quilt was passed around the group to add their hand quilting to it. Each chose a block or two and quilted it as they liked.

an example of the hand quilting

It is surprising how well blocks from different makers with different ideas can come together into a cohesive quilt with only a couple of predetermined "rules".
The binding was made from a check fabric and to get the diagonal effect of the print I cut it on the bias contrary to what I usually do. I attached the binding (method here), then trimmed the quilt and, as mentioned in my goal-setting post, I hand stitched the binding to the back.
To complete the project I attached a label to the quilt (made according to this tutorial) in anticipation of its purpose to bring in money for charity.

quilt label, and the lovely diagonal check binding

I also attached a sleeve to the quilt, but I removed it again after the exhibition.

Tadaa!

Linking up with #2016FAL:

Sandra

First quarter finishes - an overview

Early January I linked up a list of unfinished projects with the aim to get them finished in the first three months of the year.
Well, the three months are up and how did it go?

1. Hearty
In January: "This quilt top is sewn together, but several plain squares still need sashiko stitching in them. Then it needs a backing, and quilting and binding. Not sure I'll get it done, but worth a try."
Now: The sashiko is done. All plain navy linen squares and rectangles in the alternate improv blocks have been stitched with images taken from the "(More) Hearty Good Wishes" fabric line (designed by Janet Clare for Moda).

Aren't these lovely?!

I decided I will add a border around the top as it is now, so even the top is not yet complete. But at least I have been working on it.
* NOT FINISHED

2. Oakshott
In January: "This quilt has been around since at least 2011!!! I loved designing and sewing this quilt in those lovely Oakshott fabrics (the picture does not do them any justice at all), but then made the decision to hand quilt it in a very labour intensive way. Let's just say I got fed up with it. However it's more than half quilted, and I still love the quilt, so it NEEDS to be done!"

Now: I have made some progress...
* NOT FINISHED

3. Charity quilt no. 1
In January: "Ah yes, come on! Just the binding to be stitched down, no-brainer!"

in January

Now: The blocks for this quilt were made by our local quilt group, and it was decided that we should include it in the exhibition we held a few weeks ago (see my earlier post about the exhibition). So yes, the binding was stitched down. I even added a sleeve to hang it, and a label (which led to a tutorial on labelling your quilts...). Now the sleeve has been removed again, and the quilt is ready to be handed over to a local charity soon.
* FINISHED - see link up post

4. Charity quilt no.2
In January: "A collection of 12 blocks, some sashing already stitched on. While I may not get this finished since the others involved may decide to hand quilt it between them, putting it here may at least push me to get the top together. I know that may mean I can not link it up as a finish in three months time, but as long as I am making good progress, I'm happy."
Now: Well, not happy then! No progress at all...
*NOT FINISHED

5. Knitted wrist warmers
In January: "An atrocious picture, I know! I don't do much knitting, but ever since reading Lynz' post on Susie Rogers' Reading Mitts I wanted to make some. The first one is knitted, the second one has not much more knitting to do. Let's just say I got distracted, but with the weather now turned decidedly chilly I will need them and soon! So I will finish the knitting, then finishing them off to give me toasty hands (hopefully)."

Now: The knitting progressed steadily, and they were finished before I had a bandaged finger and could not wear any other type of gloves.
* FINISHED - see link up post

6. Cubes quilt
In January: "Started in summer 2013 from my own design, this needs its machine quilting finished. Again, it'll be worth finishing!"
Now: No progress, not even looked at!
*NOT FINISHED

Sandra