TNT: Building a Cat

 

It doesn't look like much at this point but I made a lot of progress putting that Calico together this week. I had started on the blanket it's laying next to but realized a few of my stitches were off so I figured it would be easier to fudge the blanket than the cat so I started putting it together instead. 

I wanted to switch out some blended colors on the needlepoint project so I cannibalized Funky Flower's leftovers and ordered some more colors online. 

I'm starting this block on the Patchwork quilt this week. The weather has been miserable so I should have plenty of stitching time to get it done. It's number 8 in the countdown. 

In my "stuck in the house" boredom yesterday I even got started on block E7 of Dear Jane. She really has it in for me this time around but I'm going to cut some corners again to save my sanity. 

Tying One On

 

The weekend was spent hiding inside from the terrible weather. It was like a steam bath out there. So hot, So humid. It did give me time to get some of those loose ends tied up. All that fiddly threading is over and I'm ready to start weaving. I've decided that even if I find boo boos this time I'm going on with it. This towel is about the process. I need to see it all through to get my confidence back no matter the outcome. 

In the midst of all the misery Mother Nature is throwing at us, we took a very quick walk with the dog early yesterday morning and noticed the coffee shop, aptly named The Novel Bakery, has unveiled its new mural. While the owner is waiting for his permits, he's opened up his food truck in the parking lot and has set up lots of chairs and tables of books to encourage folks to hang out. He had quite a crowd in line for coffee and scones so I'm guessing he's going to do a great business once he's up and running. 

Zigging and Zagging

 

I've only got one more row to add to the Zig Zag quilt before the borders but that one last row has been a hair raising adventure. 

They were really skimpy with that lighter material and I ran out. Luckily, I saved all those dark blue and yellow HSTs that I ripped out because I've had to carefully pick out all those seams to make 10 more blocks to finish the whole thing off. I've also been in short supply of the charm squares so making sure I didn't back myself into a color corner was also a priority. For something that was supposed to be an easy summer project, it's been anything but. All my fault of course. Trying to make improvements over the designer's original plans never works out for me but I never seem to stop trying.

 

The Ladies' Turn

 

Today is le grand depart for the Tour de France Femmes and I'll be pedaling along because I still have things to finish. It's only nine stages so there's not a lot of time for fooling around. 

I finished the blue skein in the pastel gradient group I started during the men's TdF but still have the purple to finish spinning. I want this project over and done with so I can start something new for the Vuelta de Espana which starts at the end of this month.

While I was watching Stage 3 of the Tour of Denmark yesterday I started winding off the year's worth of singles on the support spindle. I really underestimated how much was on there. I should have put it on a regular bobbin because that old TP tube isn't doing the job. 

Friday Felines: The Gangs All Here

 

I wish I could say the birds were waiting patiently for their breakfast of leftover cat food but they really weren't. The babies are like.....well, think puppies with wings. When they've had enough of the waiting they'll start tossing all the things in the recycling bin at the door until I come out with a couple of paper plates and a couple of cans of cat food. I'm starting to worry that these particular babies are never going to leave. They've got it too good. 

Loose Ends

 

That very ugly but very colorful warp that I had started getting on the loom has had a few hiccups. 

Not the kind where you rip it all off and then sit in the corner and cry. It was the kind where I had thought I was ready for the next step but in the process of moving on I found an error that had to be pulled out and re-done. 

The threading error was about in the middle so I have had to re-thread the heddles while also pulling them through the reed which is finicky work. It's probably for the best because it slows me down and makes me re-check my counting several times before I move on. 

In the meantime, I've been putting the rolls of scrap cotton to use by tying up the skeins I was finishing during the TdF. They came in very handy but I'm really looking forward to using them for what they were intended for. 

Wednesday WIPs: It's All About the Color

 

I loved those little pastels minis so much that when I noticed that the darker shades were on sale I had to buy them.

This is what I had in mind for them all. That gradient rainbow Pi shawl might be happening after all.

The Stroll pi shawl looks like this now. It's a lovely lump of mindless knitting in lots of soothing blues and greens.

The Uneek socks have just morphed into the most gorgeous red-violet color. It looks purple in this photo but it's not. 

And I am very happy to say that the Hue Shift has moved away from that dark blue and onto a lighter blue. It's much easier on the eyes.