Something Old, Something New -- part II (with button and grab code)

Note: This post is almost identical to the information in the tab at the top of this blog so you may have already read it. Please leave a comment if you're thinking of joining the party! ;-)
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Nearly all the crafts-people I know are like me. We all have UFOs that we "should" be working on but the lure of the new beckons us.

In 2014, I want to concentrate on learning new techniques across many of the crafts in which I am involved. However I also want to get some of those UFOs out of my craft room and into use.

Hence: Something Old, Something New. I am challenging myself to finish (at least) one UFO a month and, at the same time, learn (at least) one new technique a month.

How do I define UFO? Any project I haven't worked on in the last three months is a UFO. If I've done some work on it in the last ninety days, it's a WiP and doesn't really qualify! But that's the boundaries I've set myself. You can set any boundaries/rules/guidelines -- whatever works for you!

Maybe you are unlike me and have no UFOs but would like to learn some new techniques.
Or maybe you've dozens of UFOs and no plan (right now) to learn new techniques -- you just want to get those UFOs done!

You've come to the right place.
For me it will be "old" and "new" but for you it might be either "old" or "new".

Won't you please consider joining me for this year's challenge?   
Any craft, any project, any technique is welcome.

I'll put up a linky party on the second day of each month (there are many other linky parties happening on the first of the month! LOL). In that post, I will share my progress from the previous month and list my goals for the month to come.

There will be no prizes, no give-aways; just the joy of sharing and perhaps meeting some new blog friends. 

I'd love you to join me -- parties are much more fun when other people come along! Here's the button for your blog if you accept my invitation!

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<br /><a href="http://2hot2knit.blogspot.com.au/" title="Never too hot to Stitch!"><img src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a607/ellebee57/85d98e30-e984-4b34-925f-027fc19b8dc5_zps40bbf708.jpg" alt="Never too hot to Stitch!" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
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"Grow Your Blog"

Hello

Today I am linking up with a very exciting concept - thanks Vicki (2 Bags Full) for initiating this.

My name is Lynne. I started my blog in January 2007 because my friend had one and it sounded like fun! Unfortunately my friend has been lured away from Blogland by little tweets but I'm still here - six years later.

When I started my blog, it was called "Too Hot to Knit? Never!" I was, and still am, an avid knitter. I knit almost every day, regardless of the weather. My mum, who taught me to knit, considers knitting to be a private, winter-only activity but I must be a bit rebellious -- I knit in public and I knit all year round (even if it is 46.5°C -- 115°F -- outside like it was on Friday 18th January.)

Myrtle Leaf Stole -- knitted for DD's wedding, January 2009

In March 2010, I went to a craft show with my DD and my then three-week-old Older Grandson. One of the sewing machine companies invited people to "make a block for Haiti" -- DD and I both did and we were hooked.

I used to sew my own clothes back in the seventies and eighties and have owned a sewing machine since I was seventeen. It was nice to use one one of these quiet, fast machines. DD has had a machine since she was nineteen but has hardly touched it.


We came home from that craft show so excited and a week later were at the chain store buying fabric for our first quilt -- a floor mat for Older Grandson to protect the carpet from his inevitable spills. We didn't know how much fabric to buy - so we bought one metre of seven colours: that's right -- seven metres of fabric for a one square metre of quilt! We had very little idea of what we were doing but we were enthusiastic -- and cut 2.5" strips with scissors! The top was finished that first weekend but we had no idea what to do next!


Fast forward a year, and another caft show, and we met a lovely quilting teacher called Elizabeth. She invited us to join her "sit and sew" classes -- they were right over the other side of the city, an hour and half's drive away, but did that deter us? Oh no! In the first class, which fortunately went from 10am to 4pm (consdering the time taken to get there and home again), we basted and began quilting that first top! In the next couple of weeks I had the quilting (in the ditch -- very slowly) finished and the binding on -- our first quilt was done!

During that first class we also worked on a layout of blocks we had made following instructions on Elizabeth Hartman's Oh Fransson website. The quilt was called "Modern Sampler", the link will take you to the updated pattern. This quilt was made from the same seven fabrics (with the addition of five more for added interest; you'll notice we left the two yellows out of the final quilt).

We even had enough fabric to piece the backing! I am still using scraps of that fabric in my scrappy quilts.

And so it came to pass, that my blog became "Never Too Hot to Stitch". I also dabble in embroidery, hand-stitching (paper piecing), counted cross-stitch and crochet. As my blog description says, I am an "Australian knitter who is learning to make quilts". I've also been known to talk about my family, in particular WM (Wonderful Man -- my husband to whom I have been married for 35 years), our only child (DD) and our two grandsons. 

Older Grandson will be three next month

Younger Grandson is now eighteen months

If you're new here, welcome -- feel free to look around. 
And if you're already a regular visitor -- welcome back. I'm really honoured that you would visit my blog.
To all of my followers, thank you. I really appreciate each and every one of you.

Pull up a chair, let's take some time to stitch and chat!

2013 – “the Year of the Finished Project” UFO Challenge

As you may know, I have decided that 2013 will be the Year of the Finished Project.

I even had some fun creating a button and writing some html code for it (thanks to Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts for the great tutorials).

The butterflies are a reminder that some things can, and should, be transformed!

My plan is to finish two projects for every new project started.

I am going to set up a linky party on the first Thursday of the month for anyone who wants to join me.

The only rule is that you must finish at least one UFO or WIP before you start a new project! Don’t worry, I’m not going to haunt your blog to see if you are following the rules.

The party is open to any form of stitching: knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, dress-making, embroidery, applique, cross-stitch, etc.

Participation is simple:

• On the first Thursday of the month, nominate a project (or projects) that you are going to concentrate on and see finished. Tell us a little about the project/s, where you’re up to, why it stalled, etc.
  
• In the same post, give us a progress report on the project/s you undertook in the previous month/s.
  
• Include the button above on each post. The code is under the tab “2013 – The Year of the Finished Project” at the top of my blog.
  
• Link back to this blog with the URL of your blog post, not your full blog. People want to read about progress, not spend time searching for the relevant post.
  
• Read and comment on some other blogs that link to this party!
  
• You don’t have to get your project/s finished in one month, some bigger projects take longer, and sometimes life just interferes with our stitching!
  
• You can finish one project in one craft and start another in a different craft if you wish. For example, you may finish a cross stitch and start a quilted table runner.

I've never hosted a linky party before so if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to suggest or ask. Please make sure you leave a contact email address so I can get back to you!

gathering for Wrap With Love

For about an hour and a half yesterday afternoon, WM and I enjoyed the company of other craftspeople at the WSI Institute of TAFE Director's office.


Representatives of our seven campuses and other interested parties had gathered to hear the final tally of blankets knitted or crocheted for Wrap With Love.

I'll let the photos do the talking! (All photos taken and used with permission of the Institute Director.)

Squares being made into blankets at the "eleventh hour".

knitting - mitred squares

Crochet was the star of the day.

And this beauty was by far the most popular item of the day.

Is it still called "Aran" style if it's crochet?

Final tally (drum roll please)

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181

(sixty-three more than last year).

Well done colleagues and students!

Australian Inland Mission

The Australian Inland Mission was formed by John Flynn, the same person who started what is now known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Australian Inland Mission is now known as the Presbyterian Inland Mission.

I was the contact point for warm clothing and accessories donated to this organisation through the members and friends of Knit4Charities during the month of April. The items will be distributed to Aboriginal communities, mostly in remote regions of the Northern Territory.

This year we received 510 wonderful donations. Thanks to everybody who contributed.

These pictures are a desperate attempt by DD and I to photograph all the items.

255 beanies/hats:






54 scarves

19 pairs mitts and gloves (there are also five scarves in this picture)

9 blankets and 2 baby wraps

10 teddies, 2 sunhats, 2 pairs slippers, five pouches and two pairs jeans (new)

9 neckwarmers and headbands, 27 pairs of socks/booties/slippers

10 ponchos/vests

99 jumpers/cardigans/vests (sweaters)

wavy crochet

After spending several months in hibernation, my crocheted blanket (afghan) for Wrap With Love is finally finished.

My skills at crochet are very basic. My grandmother taught me to wield a hook when I was a teenager but I didn't use those skills for nearly thirty years. Now, I occasionally crochet just to use different muscles from knitting.

Since I don't really like sewing squares together (my mattress stitch never looks tidy), I decided to crochet a blanket in "one piece". First I crocheted two 30" squares then crocheted them together. Then I crocheted a five inch border all around.


Sounds simple, doesn't it? But things didn't work out as I had planned. Firstly, my squares were not square! I didn't realise that until much later. Secondly, the tension (gauge) in the two squares was slightly different so even though I had done the same number of rounds for both squares, they were not exactly the same size! Nevertheless, I persisted.

I began crocheting the border. After several rounds, with more than 750 stitches in each, I lay my blanket out to be measured. It would not lie flat! I pulled and I tugged but, being 100% acrylic, it had no give. I set it aside.

I wanted to rip it all out and start again but WM said that human bodies are not flat so what did it matter? Finally I took it to someone I know who does beautiful (and fast) crochet work. She told me my tension (gauge) was too tight and suggested I try using a larger hook for my work. I still wanted to rip it out but my "expert" told me there was no need. I listened carefully and, several months later, finally got around to buying a larger hook.

But, those of you who do fibre/textile crafts would know, when you add a larger piece to a smaller piece, you either have to gather it or you get a ruffle! So, now my non-flat blanket has a wavy (not quite ruffled) edge.

You thought I was going to show you the wavy edge, didn't you?

And you know what? I'm going to leave it like that! I didn't make it for accolades. I'm not going to enter it in a competition or exhibition. There are too many needy people out there for me to worry that my blanket isn’t perfectly rectangular or doesn't lie flat. At 9.3 kg (just over twenty pounds), it's thick and heavy and will keep a non-flat body warm this winter.

Isn't that what it's all about?

the last birthday books

Now, my crochet library has enough books and we're back to a wishlist of knitting books!

Thanks WM for caring enough to buy what you thought I'd like and not asking me to buy my own gifts!

two more books came yesterday

My extended birthday continues:

Aren't the colours in that bedspread amazing?

An Australian book which will require a few hours of reading followed by a few more hours of playing!!

birthday gifts 2009

It was my birthday on Saturday and WM was a bit disappointed. He had been late in ordering books from the Book Depository in the United Kingdom and only one had arrived.

I think I'd like to make the wrap in the top left corner. It's done in filet crochet [a technique I've never tried]. You can see a bigger picture here; look under the "book" for the word copyright and click, you should get the page with the wrap.

Apparently I have three more books to wait for - my birthday will extend over several days I think!

Something new

My self confidence in knitting lace is slowly returning; I'm more than half way through the centre panel.

Instead of letting it get to me [which is easy when things are going well as they are now] I've decided to focus on other things I can do!

You'll remember that WM gave me this book for Christmas; on Boxing Day I managed - after four rip outs - to complete this. this was the first time I had followed a crochet pattern so I'm pretty happy with it as a first attempt. I'm not sure of its destiny yet - at the moment is a test swatch but it could become part of a panel in something larger.

There's more than one way to make lace!! LOL

2008 "firsts" in knitting and crocheting

So, the end of another year. What have I achieved, apart from my list of FOs which can be seen in the side bar?

These are my firsts for this year [in no particular order]:

• learnt to do entrelac - both straight and bias
• learnt to knit and purl 'backwards' - i.e. left to right
• learnt how to do invisible cast-on
• knitted several teddies with shaped heads
• made my first garment from Elizabeth Zimmerman - a pair of mittens
• knitted and completed a Tomten
• inserted my first zipper
• knitted a Baby Surprise Jacket
• completed a beret
• knitted a spiral scarf
• knitted toe-up socks
• knitted with Knitpicks Options circular needles
• knitted with Knitpicks double pointed needles - "slippery little suckers"
• knitted with Knitpicks Harmony circular needles
• knitted with lace weight
• used a lifeline
• designed and knitted several ponchos on circular needles
• designed an adult's cardigan which was then knitted sideways
• bought my first wool winder - it's in constant use
• dyed acrylic yarn - about three kilograms all up
• went to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show
• went to Australian Country Spinners Mill Shop
• went to Bendigo Woollen Mill shop
• went to Nundle Woollen Mill - twice
• bought something at Tapestry Craft [now Morris and Sons]
• coordinated a Charity of the Month [CotM] for Knit4Charities
• taught my first workshop at the Knitters' Guild - intarsia
• taught DD to purl
• taught DD to read a knitting pattern
• taught my WM to knit
• crocheted a rug in one piece
• crocheted a blanket made entirely of granny squares
• crocheted a picot edge
• crocheted a shell edge
• followed a crochet pattern
• crocheted a lace square
• crocheted a hexagon
• crocheted motifs together 'as I went'
• 'wrote' a theme song

Not to mention several ways I found that things didn't work!

What are your achievements this year?

On the fourth day of Christmas...

It's amazing how the rapidly approaching New Year [and the less frenetic pace of life after the Christmas festivities] gives rise to a desire - nay, a need - to finish things!

So, here are two I prepared earlier - a crocheted knee rug with scalloped edge approx. 80cm [32in] square...


...and a crocheted blanket [approx. 175cm x 100cm - 70in x 40in] made with alternative squares of my variegated hand-dyed yarns and a commercial pink yarn. Both of these items are charity knitting.

I also sewed in the ends of the baby blanket and blocked it [photos when it dries] and completely frogged the Online cotton socks because I didn't like the shape of the toes!

Am I avoiding that wedding stole? I think I might be! LOL

On the first day of Christmas...

...my family gave to me:













Ain't I the lucky one? LOL

poor sad neglected blog

It's not just this blog that's been neglected - I have 318 unread postings on Bloglines! Life has been hectic with end of year assessments [created and marked] and administration plus last minute preparations for Christmas and the wedding not to mention just plain dogged tiredness or, should I say, near-exhaustion?

The wedding stole [thanks for asking Bells] has not progressed in six weeks - I'm too tired to concentrate. I am however close to completing another crocheted blanket [2.1m x 1m; 70"x40"]. The squares have all been crocheted together, the border has been done and there's only the ends to be sewn in. I have also commenced a lapghan which is now about 90cm [36"] across. This one is based on a modified version of the Crocheted Pi Shawl in the latest Yarn magazine - except mine is square not round.

We had Christmas dinner last night with SIL2B - he has to work on Christmas Day. The pudding was as good as it looks, if I do say so myself!

A special thanks to Sally for emailing me to make sure I was okay - I am fine, just tired and busy, thanks. We're off to Tamworth today to spend Christmas with my family and we'll be back on Friday so WM can work on Saturday. Hopefully I'll then be able to keep up with all my blog friends more regularly.

Remember...

crochet blanket

As I said in my last post, crochet is faster than knitting. There's no way I could have knitted a whole blanket [70in x 40in] and finished it in less than two weeks! That's the advantage; the disadvantage is that it uses up a lot more yarn and is therefore heavier [a minus when putting it together in warm weather]. Of course, that's a plus for the recipient on a cold night. This blanket, like most of its predecessors, will go to Wrap With Love.

And so, I present for your viewing pleasure, the [unblocked] crochet blanket.