As much as I was completely excited about the baby quilt fabrics, and as much as I was inspired by a trip to the Empire Quilt Show with Cassie on Saturday, I have to say I’m not thrilled with my attempts this weekend. I spent all day Sunday and Sunday night working on it. It’s not the piecing itself, which I think I’m doing a fairly good job with, but it’s more the fabrics I chose not really working with each other in the manner I was hoping for. Perhaps it’s the design I chose. But I’m thinking I might buy some solids and see if working those in makes it less of a chaotic pattern (which some may love, but I’m not sure this recipient is one of them) or if I should start over with new fabrics for this gift, and perhaps keep the one in progress for another time. In any case, I think a trip to the quilting store is in order after starting physical therapy tomorrow morning.

I did manage to make another small project last week, a pillow for Michelle’s birthday.

In boring knitting news, I’ve got most of a back of a new Ribby Cardi done, out of the green Cascade 220. This time I’m doing a solid, all over ribbed, with a collar Cardi, rather than the two tone flat knit rolled collar one I made previously. It’ll be a good staple for chilly nights in the park.

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First of all, it was a good tax day. For the first time since entering freelance life, I have overpaid to the point of getting a refund *on top* of the usual refund that gets turned around to my next estimated payment. Baby needs new shoes!

On the health front, MRI results show no tears in my shoulder and thus, no surgery. On the bad side, I need 8 weeks of physical therapy twice a week. This should be fun. After all, I have so much extra time to run to appointments left and right.

Now, I know it’s looking more and more like a sewing blog around here. I hope I’m not disappointing the knitters. There IS knitting going on, but it’s slow, and showing every 3 rows of progress is really boring. So instead, fun sewing purchases for your enjoyment. I know I’m enjoying them.

Fabric for the next quilt. I am so loving this assortment, it makes me happy to look at it.

A dotted silk georgette. I think this will become a drapey tank top.

And this, which made me squeal with glee. It’s the artist in me, you know. I may not need this much thread, but the joy of having all these colors to choose from and hanging on my wall, well, that’s just so fun.

There’s been more sewing, and even some knitting, but I have to leave *something* for tomorrow.

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I’ve been knitting sporadically but not enough to get the Lisette sweater finished. I found that when my shoulder really hurt, knitting was uncomfortable, but machine sewing wasn’t too bad so I’ve been taking advantage of that lately. A couple of small projects I got done this week:

It was Jenn’s birthday and I remembered her saying she wanted an apron some time ago, so how cute is this Nipper colors apron? I had fun with this one. Now I need to make one for myself!

And back when Kennedy first came along, I bought some great Etsuko Furuya fabric at Purl. But I only bought a yard and when I got it home, it didn’t seem enough to really make something useful. So for months now, I’d just been throwing the cut fabric over the cage. I kid you not! This week I finally got over there again and bought another half yard, and pieced this together quickly. It’s 3 sided since the cage is against the wall and I made ties to make sure it didn’t slip off. I’m quite pleased with it, even if it does look a bit sloppy in the photo. (Note: the ibuprofen bottles in the background aren’t a usual display item. Damn shoulder.)

This week I get more quilt fabric to make a baby quilt, and a huge assortment of quilting thread. I’m going to turn my apartment into a sewing studio.

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Front of quilt.

Closeup of not-so-great stitching detail

Quilt back

I love it and can’t wait to make another one.

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