Crochet Flower

Learning to crochet a flower is the slow stitching project for today. The knitted cowl is finished, yet it is begging for an embellishment! This pattern by Cheryl Dee Crochet, found on etsy, is exactly what I envisioned.

As mentioned in the last post, I attended a quilt retreat. The excellent lighting and the ambiance of finished quilts hanging is aprreciated. It was an enjoyable retreat with progress made on two UFOs. One UFO is a pumpkin quilt and many stems were completed. Although, it’s too late for Halloween, perhaps the quilt top will be finished by Thanksgiving (in the States) 🤞

On the way to retreat, I drive by a spooky old house. This fall, the morning sun was shining brightly on the structure that qualifies as a Hollywood set.

Jack Frost paid his first visit a few days ago. Fortunately, he was unable to touch the porch protected pots.

Wish me luck as I crochet a flower while linking with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Jill

Slow Knitting

As my usual speed, there is slow progress on a knitting project ~ a cowl done in a simple garter stitch.  Slow, yet enjoyable. Soon I shall be crocheting a flower as an embellishment.  So far it has been a warm autumn, thus the weather has called me outdoors.  

Recently, I picked up a sweet basket at a yard sale without knowing what to put in the basket.  While doing fall yard work, the empty basket pondering was resolved by adding the trimmed hydrangea.

Happy days this past week as there was a charming quilt show in the area! Quilts were made by the "Quilters in Training" guild of Capac, Michigan.  This was my favorite which also won Quilters Choice.  

On display was a wonderful collection of feedsack dresses which once belonged to a local farming family.  

More happy days as next weekend I will be at a quilt retreat in Michigan's thumb.  

While away, I look forward to making progress on two UFO quilts.  Today I have enjoyed joining other kindred slow stitchers at Kathy's Quilts.  

Jill

Fall Knitting

Cooler, crisp weather arrived this week. It puts one in the mood for fall attire, decorations and projects. This week I've began knitting an autumn-colored cowl.  A very simple pattern of which I obtained the idea from a cowl purchased at a craft show pre-Covid.  It's all garter stitched from an ombre/graduated yarn. 

Below is the craft-sale cowl.  It appears to have been made out of an acrylic yarn due to its tendency to pill yet it's very soft and warm.  Rectangle shape, gathered at each end and decorated with a knitted and/or crocheted flower.

Perhaps some of you've seen The Hocus Pocus quilt pattern by The Pattern Basket?  It's a pattern with Fig Tree fabrics that I could not resist.  Here and there, I've been machine piecing the pumpkins. 

As September draws to an end, it's time to say good-bye to the impatiens which were planted along the north side of the garage. They did terrific this summer growing to over 2 feet!

Back to Slow Sunday Stitching with others at Kathy's Quilts.  Have a good week!

Jill

Back to Stitching

Sew Bliss has been neglected far too long. No specific reason other than everyday life seems to interrupt my sewing and stitching.  Thankfully, all has been well.  This Sunday I’m delighted to join Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitchers by picking up where I left off….knitting golf club covers. Two have been completed and today I’ll finish another one. Actually, the knitting has been completed, but I need to add a number to the cover and I do this by using the duplicate stitch method.

Golf club covers are not what one would call a pretty project, yet they are practical and functional.  The color of yarn was chosen to coordinate with the golf bag. During this project, I’ve learned with each cover to improve my knitting, how to duplicate stitch and make pom poms - fun and easy!

A new quilt project is underway also. A Winding Ways quilt.  The blocks were started last spring while I was at a quilt retreat in Michigan’s thumb. 

This week, I have revived the project and have been machine sewing more blocks.   More details in another post.

Michigan is at the end of its blueberry season, yet local blueberries 🫐are still available for purchase. A neighbor shared this cake of which I have since made several times. If interested, click here for the link for Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake by the King Arthur Baking Company. Both the neighbor and myself followed the recipe exactly and used real butter. Unfortunately, not heart healthy. 

During my absence of writing posts, I continued to read and follow many bloggers. Due to technical difficulties on tablet and time constraints, comments were not often made. However, I continued to enjoy all your projects and pretty photographs.  It's fun to rejoin Kathy and her Slow Sunday Stitchers!

Jill

Slow Sunday Knitting

Evidently, I've been bitten by the knitting bug recently as other stitching projects have been put aside. I needed a new set of golf club covers and desired to knit them. After searching the internet for a good pattern of which there are many, I've settled on several. I'll attempt to combine different patterns along with a final design that I have in mind. The outcome will be a bit of a mystery even for myself (fingers crossed). It's not a pretty/cute project, yet functional. The yarn I am using is not an attractive color by itself, but it coordinates nicely with my new golf bag.

When I get to the stockinette section of the cover, I prefer to knit in the round and will use the magic loop method. In the past I've struggled a bit as I don't magic loop often. Therefore, I went to youtube for a brush up. This link by Rox Richardson has been helpful personally and may help others should you want try the magic loop method.

As summer draws to a close, I'd like to share a field of small sunflowers from a nearby field. Two years ago, there were large sunflowers planted. These must be their seedlings. 

Today as I link with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching party, I'll be magic looping!

Until next time,

Jill

Something Old, Something New

Finally, London has returned from the professional finisher! Oh how I had to be patient for four long months. Therefore, I'd like to learn how to do my own finishing. Understandably due to the pandemic, mail has been slow, and the finishers were overwhelmed with many stitched projects.  

Kirk and Bradley Travel Round

My favorites are the Buckingham Palace Guard and Big Ben.

I am happy to say that the slow snowman cross stitching is done. Until he's either mounted, framed or made into an ornament, I don't consider him totally complete. I hope to learn the finishing process myself as mentioned above in sending needlework projects out to be finished.  

A design by Sugar Stitches on etsy

These past two weeks the household was been discombobulated due to a bathroom remodel. My normal calm nerves were a bit frazzled with the pounding and hammering. This photo of the old bathroom sums it up.

Hope the neighbors didn't mind looking at this dumpster.

This Sunday I have two projects regarding my favorite interests while I slow stitch with the nicest group of people at Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching linky party.

Decisions, decisions. I enjoy playing and watching golf, and there is a skater in the family which is why I was drawn to these needlepoint canvases.

Take care,

Jill

Slow Snowman & Lavender

It's been a busy week. Not as much snowman stitching as I would have liked, but that's okay. At this rate, he'll be lucky if he's done by Christmas. 

Some progress was made on his lower half. As you can see, not all the words are stitched.  Can any guess what the phrase will read? If you are thinking "Let It Snow," you are correct. Although, I certainly don't want to think about the white stuff in July. 

Here are just a few photos from last weekend's lavender outing. I feel fortunate to have such a charming place within an hour's drive from my home. A link to farm, which is only five years old, will be at end of post.  Perhaps you can imagine the pleasant lavender fragrance that sweetly drifts between the many rows.

Indigo Lavender Farms, Imlay City, Michigan

Niece & Great Niece :-)

These plants are only three years old.

Variety is Phenonemal which produces long elegant stems.

There are thousands of lavender plants!

Don't get too close ;-) 

Munstead variety ~ Fragrant

I hope to add a few more stitches to the Slow Snowman,

today on Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy and her kindred stitchers.

Indigo Lavender Farms

May you enjoy your Sunday and have a good week!

Jill

P.S. My new favorite color is purple!

Cross Stitch Snowman

Cross stitching on the snowman continues.  During the past week, I was able to finish the garland header.  Admittedly, it was fiddly work and a few green and/or white stitches may have been transposed. Oh well and lol!

The pattern was designed by Sugar Stitches which I purchased on etsy. The last I looked the snowman chart was no longer available. She offers many other cute charts.

We had a 10-day stretch of 90 degree + (32+ celsius) weather which made for stitching small hand-held projects quite appealing. Our patio faces west which makes it too sunny for afternoon & early evening stitching. Yet it was lovely for sewing in the morning shade. One hot, muggy morning I sat outside for a couple hours  enjoying the freshness of a new day.  

While nearby neighbors were on vacation, 

I tended to their lone yet cheerful sunflower!

On the last couple posts I had written and showed photos of the lavender in my garden. Today, I will be visiting a u-pick lavender farm with other girls in the family. Yay! We visited the farm last year.  Since it is an outdoor activity, it is still open to the public. With so many things being cancelled this year, I am looking forward to this outing. 

Later in the day I shall be sewing at the Slow Sunday Stitching linky party with Kathy and friends.

Have a good week!

Jill

 

 

Snowman Progress

Good progress was made this week on my snowman cross stitch project.  He's gained personality with the addition of his face and accessories if I say so myself.

  

As the lavender plants did well this year, I cut/harvest some for sachet making and a bouquet to give away.  

In the basket you will see the lavender is separated into two different groups. One are the buds which are best for sachet making as buds have the most fragrance.  The other bunch have opened more to a blossom. They still have a lovely scent, and I shall find a use for them. 

How do I dry my lavender?  As I don't have a fancy peg hook or wood spice drying rack, I do the best I can and use what's on hand. The two bunches are rubber band bound, tied with a ribbon and then clipped on a plain old skirt hanger. It is recommended that lavender be hung in a cool dark spot which is my closet. The hanger works perfectly.

While joining Slow Sunday Stitching with Kathy and friends, I hope to add a few more snowman stitches.  For those living in North America, please stay cool this upcoming week!

Take care,

Jill

Welcomed comments will be answered with a friendly email.

Slow Sunday Snowman

Hope this post comes through as I am encouraging myself to learn the new, updated and improved (so they say) Blogger platform. This week I have a good start on my next hand stitching project: a cute snowman stitched on blue and white gingham 28 count linen. 

A couple of weeks ago when I originally posted this project, I discovered I had the wrong gingham linen, therefore, there was a delay in starting the snowman until the correct fabric arrived. It was worth the wait!

There is an oriole feeder in our backyard which can be viewed from the kitchen.  A storm came through and the little orange feeding (jelly) dish was blown away.  What to do? What else could be used? 

Fortunately, I had some garage-sale find dessert dishes made of vintage pressed glass. One fit perfectly and now the birds have the fanciest feeding dish in the neighborhood!

The three lavender plants in my garden are in full bloom and smell heavenly! A local farmer told me the Munstead variety has the best Michigan winter survival rate. 

In person church services with social distancing procedures resume this week. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend due to recovering from an allergic reaction to an insect bite obtained sitting on the patio while hand sewing. Ugh. I must have been concentrating too hard on the stitches. No worries as the antibiotics are working well!

To my Canadian readers and friends, have a Happy Canada Day on Wednesday!

Take care,

Jill

Linking with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitchers!

Welcomed comments will be answered with a friendly email.