Wool on Sundays...

Once more, joining in with Janine from the Rainbow Hare blog, for her Wool on Sundays. In the last week, I've done a minuscule amount of work on those crocheted squares that I wrote about last week. I think the tally would be 2 squares enlarged by a few rounds :-/

So I thought I would write a post about my 'knitting/crocheting themed fabric collection' instead. 

The fabrics have been bought at various times over a number of years...

This 'knitting sheep' became a favourite and has lots of fussy-cut hexagons cut out of it...

And what did I find last year in a yarn shop in Skagway?? Yes, even when I'm on the other side of the world from home, I check out yarn and fabric shops! Lol.

So plenty more of my 'knitting sheep' fabric to play with! 

I'll finish the post with some photos of how I've used these fabrics...

One year I was matched with a knitter in a Secret Santa Swap, so one of the gifts I made was a fabric basket...

And then filled it with some yarns...

And I've lost count of the times I've made the Judy Newman Dillybag using the themed fabrics for fellow knitters. 

There are useful pockets in the lining too. This fabric was in Spotlight and I only bought a metre. I've just got a tiny bit left now after lining two Dillybags. 

This bag was made in 2014 for my Secret Santa partner in my knitting group...

This is the one I made last year for the Chookyblue SS Swap...

 

And one big hexagon stitched to the front...my partner loves mice! ( The embroidery design is 'Lily Mouse' and is a design by Susan of Threads on My Socks; available from her Etsy shop) 

Next week I may have a new knitting project started; it will be good to be working on something in the evenings again! 

Hexie Swap Update...

Hmmm there's been a bit of slackness around here lately...you know the 'I don't wanna do that!' type of nonsense. So the stitching, though enjoyable was in 'fits and starts' as my mum would say when a task took a bit longer than expected. Procrastination methinks!! 

But I have basically finished stitching 15 pairs of hexie flowers...and I'm so glad! 

I lined the flowers up to take photos to put on Instagram, so if they go missing in the mail, at least there is some sort of proof that I made them.( Did I tell you that in the #Round1 Swap, one envelope of hexie flowers did go missing between being posted by the maker and reaching my place!) 

Photos...

And more photos...

I thought they were all rather nice. Many of the hexies were cut from my 'Amelia' (Moda)  jelly roll, as requests for bright, cheerful and modern fabric hexies abounded in this swap. But I also cut into my 'flower fabrics stash' this time too. 

After I photographed all these flowers I started sealing them up in cello bags, which I had found at a local 'cheap/bargain shop'...then I started addressing the A5 envelopes...then I realised that something was wrong! Those centres are quite 'naked'; there should be writing on them...like this! So out of the cello bags they came and I wrote my details on each flower...

I forgot to take a photo of my ones and they're well and truly on their way to their new homes, so the pic is of a pretty hexie flower that I received. 

There is one pair of hexie flowers which weren't photographed and not mailed...they will be mailed in late January as the recipient will be away OS until then. 

So what now with these hexies? Round 3 Swap sign ups will be in January. I don't think I will sign up...but you've heard that before haven't you! 

Friday Night Sew In...

The third Friday night of the month is that sewing/crafting session in Blogland, known as FNSI. Once again I joined in with fellow bloggers from all around the globe. 

I continued to work on my Instagram  DownunderHexieswap as I have a bit to catch up on as I didnt do much stitching on this project while we were away.

But I'm slowly getting there, as they say :-). Here are some that are ready to be posted to their new owners.

Also last night I wove/stitched in any ends on a blanket I've made from squares; I crocheted a few on the cruise, I also made some donated squares larger by crocheting extra rounds. But the really special donation of squares I received was 12 from my DD1. As I'm seeing her today, I've worked throughout this past week to join all the squares, double crochet around the edge and last night was neatening all those ends.  

My daughter will be thrilled to see her squares included in this blanket which now will go to K4BN.

I found a few more 'ends' when I was arranging the blanket for a photo...so a bit more work to do! Lol

Last Wednesday...

Last Wednesday I stitched most of the day. I wanted to finish the projects that I had been making for an Instagram Christmas in July Swap. Posting date wasn't until July 13 but I wanted to be early for once...

By late Wednesday afternoon the gifts were wrapped. Still 'smarting' 2 years later from paying $27 for postage of 2 mug rugs being sent to a North American address, I kept the parcel as flat as possible. One of the workers at our little local post office had recently told me the 'flat' trick. I had rolled those mug rugs and put them in a tiny post bag...they made a  thick parcel...so expensive postage! 

( the postage on this parcel was a more acceptable $14.50)

So now a little look at what I sent...

Some Christmas iron on labels

Some novelty buttons and some stickers...

A cushion cover...

I didn't do that machine embroidery...a lady on Etsy who embroiders this design on towels, was quite happy to embroider on a piece of homespun instead. I think you may have guessed that the recipient rather likes horses????

And a hexie table centre... The darker green hexies feature little rocking horses! Lol

Still last Wednesday...

On Wednesday night, DH went to the State of Origin Match #3 ( a rugby league match with Queensland vs New South Wales) with DsD2. The ticket had been his birthday present from all the girls and 2 partners. He wore his last year's Christmas gift from DSD2 and her husband...

He had a wonderful time...all the atmosphere and a very exciting game which saw Qld the winner 52-6!!!

And I had a lovely quiet night at home :-)

Chooky Blue's Party...

Once again I've joined in this event; like the majority of participants who signed up here, I did not actually travel to the Chookshed! All of us, by signing up, agreed to spend as much time as possible over this last weekend, working on craft projects...and eating yummy food was also on the agenda :-)
Friday night, I didn't get much crafting done, but instead went out with some family members to celebrate DH's birthday. The food at our chosen local restaurant was delightful, so that requirement can be ticked :-). (when we came home I did manage to work on some crocheted granny squares)

A closer look at the birthday cake that DsD2 made for her dad...a chocolate torte made with a recipe from a Diabetic website :-)

Saturday was really about preparation for projects that I wanted to work on. I spent lots of time, cutting out hexagons...it seemed like lots and lots of hexagons! One lot of hexies were out of Christmas fabrics for a Christmas in July Swap. The other lot of hexagons that I cut out were the 42 that I needed for the Liberty Rainbow Hexie Swap. The colours I was allocated were blue and purple. 

For this swap we have to use a glue pen(specifically a Sewline) to baste the hexies over the papers. I spoiled myself and bought some precut papers. I was a bit hesitant to use glue, being a stitching baster from the 1970s, but of course had to abide by the rules of the Swap. I was pleasantly surprised how easy the glueing was...a lot better with the heavier commercial papers as opposed to my homemade copy paper ones I'd tried years ago. 

On Saturday I also cut some more 2 inch squares for my Trip Around the World quilt; and marked the quarter inch line on 2 sides.

Also on Saturday, I sewed some more squares of Liberty fabrics for the blocks in my Liberty Postage Stamp Quilt block swap.

And to have a break from all that cutting, I grabbed the crochet hook and yarn and my pile of 10 inch crocheted squares grew by a few more.

Sunday was the May meet for the Sunday Stitchers and what better way to continue to work on stitching projects, surrounded by dear friends? 

It was also the group's Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for Cancer research. So that yummy food comes into play again! lol.

As well as eating, chatting and laughing at Sunday Stitchers, I basted those Christmas themed hexies on my homemade copy paper papers....just about got all my pile done...

A great weekend!
Congratulations to Chooky on another very successful birthday weekend. And here's that link again if you would like to 'visit' some of the other 'partygoers' to see how they celebrated.

The Santa Sack Swap...

Yesterday I opened all but one of the gifts that I received from my partner, Alison. I've left the largest parcel until Christmas day to open. I am absolutely thrilled with the goodies that Alison sent me...
The parcels in the postpac box...

 The cutest Santa Sack! And look at the little bells stitched on the peaks...gorgeous!

Some more beautiful fabric that Alison has used...

And a very festive tea towel with beautiful applique...

 And the sweetest tissues' holder made from Xmas fabric...

And a lovely fabric bon bon filled with treats...

And a Christmas tree decoration...the photo doesn't do it justice.

And one more parcel to open on Wednesday!

Thank you so much Alison! I feel very blessed to have been your partner in this swap!

What if...?

Ever since my friend Kath, drafted up some templates using long hexagons with the central squares on point, and gave me a copy in 2011, I've been stitching away every now and then on projects using them.
The first project I made using Kath's pattern was in the 2011 Red and White Kris Kringle Swap organised by Jodie over at the Haby Goddess. Sadly, my swap buddy never sent an acknowledgement of whether she even got my parcel...but I do hope that she did.

Table centre made with long hexies with squares

Then this year, I got that 'hexie bug' again and used long hexagons to make a cushion for a swap. This time I didn't put the squares on point as I used some fabric that had squares of the 'Keep Calm...' series.

And then a little while later I got those 'sewing notions' fabrics out again and made a pin cushion for another swap...

In September this year I started another long hexie project...a Christmas runner. I haven't finished this yet but it was sitting on my table 'taunting' me as it sat there languishing,unfinished and unloved even...

Then I started my 'what if..?' conversation with my self...
What if, I arranged the hexagons so they formed a type of border? What shape would I have left inside that border? What if I stitched a Christmas design on cream/off-white fabric for that 'middle bit'? What if I chose just the one main colour for those border hexies?

When I sorted out the answers to those questions and a few more logistical issues, I got started on this new project with a renewed enthusiasm...I handstitched over a few days and the project came together quite quickly...and yet my runner project had completely stalled... :-/
The stitchery design I chose is one from  Michelle of Rag Tag Stitchin'. I knew that I would never be able to make her latest design in time for Christmas this year (maybe next year?), but I could stitch just a couple of the designs and incorporate them into gifts this year instead.

And this is the completed project; a mini quilt that I gave to Tatyana on Sunday as I was her Secret Santa.

Plus some fabric bunting that I also love to make...especially when I cut out lots of triangles when I first came out of hospital and had to take it easy. lol

And some fabric iron on labels that Blogger insists must be uploaded with the photo on its side...

Next year I plan to start using my long hexagons in some different layouts. There are quite a few different layouts I can try and maybe some more 'What if?' projects to come as well! :-)