Robots and Quilts

I got a couple of new quilt templates. The apple core one is fiddly but not difficult. It's easier to sew the curved seams on the machine than I expected.

I don't know what I'll do with the template yet- this is just a sample block from leftover 5" pieces. Evidently, every couple of years, I feel the need to buy precut collections whose colors are very similar...

The half-hex is also fiddly, but it works pretty well (ignore the far right row- it got off somehow). I do like how this goes together though. I'm intrigued. This is a sample block too- both of these will go in a jumble quilt eventually.

This herringbone pattern went together quickly- these are all leftover fabrics. I guess I have a pink and green phase every couple of years too.

And I'm still working on the robot embroidery. It's such fun.

Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!

They're spaced so that the embroidered part can be an 8" block, which I will sash with rainbow colored strips.

Year Enders

I imagine I'll have some snowish pictures come daylight (and even more as the day goes on, since we're slated for another 10+" today, and we're smack in the center of another Blizzard Warning). But in the meantime, here are a few last pics of 2010.

 I can finally post pics of my sister Terri's Christmas presents. I designed some personalized knitting fabric in her favorite color through Spoonflower. I made her a pair of slippers, a zipper box, and a roll-up knitting needle case. Terri reads the blog (she signs herself as #4 in the comments), so I had to wait to show them off.

 Super Hero Boy (who might be Skateboard Boy, or Pokemon Boy by now- he's in transition), finished coloring the large robot of his cut-color-sew set (designed through Spoonflower). I got it sewn and stuffed and it's ready to send back to him.

 Frog Girl got the vest and bag colored from her Spoonflower doll set, so I sewed them together for her.

 She still has to finish the skirt. Bee Girl and Ladybug Girl are almost done with their vests. I love the Op Art look of their coloring (I opted for solid colors on my set- how boring).

 Speaking of Grandgirls- they decorated a Gingerbread house yesterday. Pretty good, if I say so myself.

 And I finished another pair of leftover socks for the Big Tub 'O Knitted Things.

I think these are my favorites so far.

Spoonflower!

Two of my current Spoonflower orders arrived, and I am thrilled!

1 yard each of the Color Cut and Sew 18" Doll Outfit, and Color Cut and Sew Robots (which works out to 4 complete sets of each design).

Each of the girls gets a doll outfit to color, and SuperHero Boy gets a robot. I am going to color, cut and sew one of the robot sets myself, so I can take pics. Actually, I'm sure I'll get to take pics of all of the finished items since I'll be doing the assembly, but I want to make one myself anyway, because I am a Big Kid. But you all knew that already. I tinkered with the Robots file to space the smaller ones out a bit so there's more room for the seam allowance.

I am especially thrilled with the Dolly 'n Me Child and Doll Sized Aprons. I love how they came out- the outlines are so crisp and sharp. Only problem is that the red on the crayons, scissors handles, brush handles, and paints came out orange. And the upper left doll-sized tie border cut off. Neither of those things matters in the long run. Or even the short run. I've ammended the fabric description so that anyone interested in the aprons is warned in advance.

It's too bad that I absolutely don't have time to sew any of these things together this afternoon. I still have packing and cleaning and organizing to do (I did get the mowing done).

Oh- if you are interested, these fabrics are now listed as *for sale* at Spoonflower. My designer name is GrammaK (and I don't make actual money from sales, just a discount on future orders).

Sweater Sets and Robots

Short-repeat self-patterning yarns don't lend themselves very well to back and forth knitting. The patterning changes too quickly, so that the beginnings and the ends of the rows (which in this case, mean the fronts of the sweater because the body is knit in one piece) don't match at all. But it's still cute. I do believe that I'll write this pattern (sweater and doll-size fingerless mittens) up and post it this week, for the first Freebie Friday in a very long time.

The whole set includes fingerless mittens for the Girl, a v-neck cardigan and fingerless mittens for the doll. All 3 knit from 100 gr of sock yarn (there wasn't enough left over for a doll hat. I always forget how much yarn these 18" doll sweaters take).

are these cute, or what?

And here's the latest installment in the Spoonflower Obsession: a set of 3 color/cut/sew Robots. I've ordered a sample, and it should be here soon. If the robots go together properly, I'll offer this one through Spoonflower too. I was tickled to discover that someone already ordered the Skirt/Vest/Bag color/cut/sew fat quarter. I'm about halfway done with a Cheater Quilt design (quilt in a yard) for another Spoonflower contest. I haven't tackled the Nautical Theme design yet.

Yeah, I said *obsession*, and I meant it.