All the Things

This summer, the birds at my feeders have also planted sunflowers -- especially under the feeder in my front yard, where I can watch them flutter and fly around, and have a perfect view of that sunny little impromptu flower bed.  It always makes me smile.

While they've been busy doing their things, I've been doing mine.  Some days there have been more unexpected "things" than I'd like, and other days, I'm the captain of my ship, and get to do that which I like most -- making something out of fabric, fibre or floss.  

"September Startitis" (per my last post) has resulted in some actual starts of new projects, the finishing of a few and the continuation of others.

Let's start with knitting, shall we?  While Mother Nature (or El Nino, or whoever) has brought us some Very Warm Days this week (in the mid-to-high twenties Celsius, or high seventies to almost eighties Fahrenheit), we are in a brrrr month, and in no time, things will cool off again.

So...about that shawl I cast on over the Labour Day weekend: I'm now nearly finished the first section, and it looks like this:

Pattern: "Always Better Together"
Designer: Brenda Brayfield
Yarn: Red - Sirdar Harrap Tweed DK
Natural - Custom Woollen Mills
Mule Spun 2-ply

I think it's going to be very pretty, and a really interesting knit!  

I've knit another inch or so on my "Sea Haven" pullover (JST Designs) but it's not worth a photo at this point!  And I finished the Ross Hat:

Pattern: "Ross"
Designer: Ross Rochester
Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Limbo Mexiko Color
Colour #2583 - "Green White"*

*Yes, I know it looks grey. It's a very dark grey-green!

I thought I was going to be playing yarn chicken with this but I managed to finish it with about 50 metres left!

The hat, of course, is for my Warm Things Box. My practice is to alternate making hats and mittens; so far there are more of the former than the latter, so I think I'll be making at least 3 pair of mittens in a row before I turn the box in to my church for distribution to those who need a Warm Thing.

Thus...I found 2 balls of Schoeller + Stahl Big Print in my stash (colour #7942) -- and cast on another of The World's Simplest Mittens (Tin Can Knits) in an Adult Medium, in hopes of using them all up:

In the Gift Knit department, I've been enjoying a return of my sock 'mojo', and finished the first sock promised to my son.  

Pattern: Blueberry Ribbed Waffle Socks
Designer: Sandy Turner
Yarn: Condon's Yarns 2-ply fine 100% wool
(long discontinued!)

Since this photo was taken, I've not only cast on the second sock, but finished the leg and the heel flap!  I'm aiming to have a pair counted in "Socks from Stash" on Ravelry for the September challenge!

And one more new start...

Since my last post, I went to the Prairie Fibre Festival, 10th Anniversary celebration, in nearby Lacombe (Alberta).  In addition to browsing the wares -- and buying some yarn for my rug-hooking project -- I had a wonderful time meeting up with old friends.  One of our Knit Night companions from the old Crafty Lady yarn/craft shop days, is moving north to Edmonton, so 1/2 dozen or so of us gathered at Anna Maria's cafe (in the same building as the Festival) and had a grand reunion. Many of us hadn't seen each other in five or six years.  

One of the gals showed photos of all she'd been knitting. She's fallen in love with the designs of Caitlin Hunter, aka Boyland Knitworks.  

Well! That inspired me. I knit Ms. Hunter's "Tegna Top" some years ago (finished it in 2021) and enjoyed it.  Around that time I bought the pattern for her "Navelli" top but was a bit intimidated by the colour-work.  No more!  

It took me some time to find just the right yarn in my stash -- and in the end it came down to only two colours.  I decided that would do.  It's going to be a bright and sunny piece, as I'm knitting it in hot pink and cream, with the pink being the colour-work at the bottom.  It's a lot of stitches -- I'm using a 40" ChaioGoo Lace circular needle -- and even doing the first inch of 1:1 ribbing is a challenge (I will not twist the join. I will not twist the join. I will not twist the join!!) but it's going to be a great winter knit with a view to wearing it for Easter in the spring. Here's my wee start:

See what I mean about 
all those stitches?!

In terms of yarn, yes...I bought two skeins of 100% Alpaca 4-ply from Love's Grace Alpacas at their booth at the Festival.  I had a specific purpose: find a dark navy yarn with which to finish the night sky in the piece I've been hooking, "Singing to the Choir".  Love's Grace had just the right colour in the right weight!  

This company isn't on Ravelry, and their website doesn't show every colour of yarn they supply. I've bought their blended medium worsted before, though, and enjoy hooking with it.  That said, this pure Alpaca yarn was so luscious, I was hesitant to cut it up for hooking so...I wound one skein into a cake and pulled off lengths as needed!  I might hook with the rest...or not...After all, I'm a knitter and have a knitter's heart...😉

So here's what my finished piece looks like, just off the frame:

Pattern: "Singing to the Choir"
Designer: Deanne Fitzpatrick Studios
Kit of the Month Limited Edition
Won as a door prize - March 2026

I've not started a new hooked piece yet, because I want to do a large one on my Cheticamp frame, using input from two of Deanne's classes -- "Working Big" and "Wildflowers in the Glen".  The latter includes a pattern which I may adapt to suit the landscape of the prairies around here.  It's going to take me some time to think through how to design this project and how to create the colour palette I want. Stay tuned!

And yes, there's been a bit of spinning.

I'm a very sporadic spinner.  I particularly like to spin outside, and the weather this summer was just not conducive to doing so.  It was either too cold, wet or windy (sometimes all at once!) or too hot.  However, we did have a few perfect days, and when those occurred and I was home, not doing Yard Work, I took an hour or so to spin.  I'd wanted to participate in the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Summer Spin-in but, alas, it wasn't to be, as I didn't do enough to feel it counted -- and the deadline was Labour Day.

It took until Friday this week -- well past Labour Day -- but I finished a bobbin of single-ply alpaca, part of a braid I won after that Spin-in a few years ago.

It's really more peach -- with a fade to peachy-yellow -- than the orange that's showing in the photo.  I'm not sure what I'll spin up to ply with it (I'm rather fond of two-ply handspun) but that can wait until the next Perfect Spinning Day.

Then, yesterday, a sort of madness came over me.  There I was, innocently knitting on my son's second sock, watching a podcast. I think it was Jen from "The Stash-down Diaries". I'd watched her latest episode and then went back to one she did a year ago, about some of her favourite Canadian yarns.  She mentioned several that she'd used in a Stephen West shawl a few years ago...and that took my mind down a rabbit hole.  I'm not a Stephen West fan, but I've knit his Boneyard Shawl twice, and wouldn't mind doing so again.  I love the look and the texture. And...thinking of texture, I've had the pattern "Architexture" for a long time, hemming and hawing about knitting it, because it's a scarf, and I'm not fond of knitting scarves.  But...all that texture is tempting.  

Both of these patterns are illustrated in a lovely soft grey...such a soothing colour.  Did I have any in my stash? Nope. Not in any weight at all. A single skein of a darker grey that I got in Ontario years ago from a shop that I believe is now long closed.

Sigh.  But wait! I have just the right yarn...in a natural beige:

Filature Lemieux Eco-naturelle
Sport-weight; colour 464 - Lt. Beige

And I have five hundred grams of it -- a total of 945 metres, or just over 1,000 yards.  Beige. Hmmmm....

I've not dyed yarn in a couple of years but I know how, and I had the supplies. A woman possessed, I dug them all out -- including ages-old black dye.  I could do this...but would I get grey or...black?

I did the math for a 1% dye solution and a 0.1% dye solution...and then, in complete madness, used the stronger formula.  Oh well. I now have five skeins of a glorious charcoal black 100% wool yarn, shown here, drying outside yesterday afternoon:

My eyes are such these days that I eschew working with black yarn...but these are calling to be made into something. Maybe that shawl or scarf, or maybe in colourwork? I'm not sure.  I could hook with them (though they're a bit light-weight) but for the moment...I have them ready for when The Right Project comes along.

With September's cool mornings, I've also been back in the quilting sewdio, working on three projects: the "Fun with Bricks!" top from Bonnie Hunter in her Free Patterns collection; the 2026 Block of the Month (BOM) from A Quilting Life; and just now...preparing to sandwich and quilt a top I made last year which has been waiting to be quilted as a gift for just the right person.

My "Bricks" top is moving right along.  The full block consists of four units: two 'all bricks' and two 'bricks-and-squares'. I need 30 full blocks at 12 1/2" (unfinished) to make the top.  Currently, I've finished 10 full blocks, and have enough of both sets of units to make 6 more, so...almost half-way there.

Here's what the some of the first blocks look like, laid out on my "design bed":

And here's what each set of units looks like. (This photo was taken about a month ago; I have many more sets now!)

As you can probably see, the 'bricks-and-blocks' units shown don't have much contrast.  Since this photo was taken, I've mixed up the pieces a bit more and like how that's going.  I'm trying not to be fixated on colour combinations and just let them be really scrappy!

As for the BOM, I surprised myself by finishing the September block on the day it was released.  We had a rainy Labour Day Monday here, so the timing was perfect!

And then...there's the pending quilt.  A close acquaintance of mine will be losing her job at the end of November, as the company whose store she manages is closing the branch of that store.  I just figured she needed a bit of comfort, so I went into my collection of quilt tops and found this one, which I call "Batik Stars".  Yesterday I pieced together the backing, which is from the same fabric as the background of the top, and laid it out to ensure it was large enough:

Pattern: "Jewels & Jumbles" 
Designer: Laurie J. Shifrin
Source: "Batik Beauties: 18
Stunning Quilts" - published by
Martingale Co., 2001

In the next few weeks I'll quilt, bind and wash it, in order to have it ready to give to my friend some time in early November.  😢

And yes, last but certainly not least, there's been cross-stitch. Since my last post, I've made progress on all three of the projects I mentioned for Sampler September, including a new start.  Only dear Emeline Hotchkiss has been left waiting in the wings.  It's just not her turn to dance yet, but there's still time.

Priority has been given to these three, the first being my Birthday Stitch from (I think) 2022: "Memories of the Past" from Hands Across the Sea, which I chose to mark my 70th birthday.  I thought I might finish it this month but no -- there's far more stitching involved than I'd remembered. Still, I am making progress and enjoying it very much, as the colours are so beautiful.

I just love that little strip of vine/flowers along the bottom.  There's more of it to go, but I've decided to go back up to the top and extend the piece farther to the right first.  Thus far, I've stitched it only in September each year -- my birth month -- but I might have to begin to take this up again in March, to mark the half year and get it finished more quickly!

As for the "Blackbird Academy", I'm moving right along with this month's "subject" -- a Black Bird Design that includes birds:

"Keepsakes of Spring" from the
"Heart and Home Patchwork" pattern
Source: "A Heart Remembers"
from Black Bird Designs (c) 2022

This is on 28-count fabric, so is a bit faster to stitch, using 2 threads of floss over 2 fabric threads.

A relatively new start, mentioned in my last post, is 'The Swans at River House' from Maximum Cross Stitch (Ellen Reid), which I started recently as an anniversary gift for some dear cousins of mine. I've finished more of the left border, plus the large star/snowflake motif in the upper left, and have started the roof of the large house:

It's a very pretty design but the counting is a challenge, as the hand-dyed linen is very soft, with threads of uneven thickness. Still, I will persist!

And then, though Emeline is waiting, I've started another new Canadian sampler: Isabella Carter MaClean - 1799.  This was reproduced by Margriet of The Essemplaire, located here in Alberta -- in Red Deer, just an hour's drive southwest of here.  

Sadly, a few days ago my stitching this piece was given another purpose. Not only am I stitching it because the original was stitched long ago, in what was Lower Canada, before Confederation, but also, now, I am stitching it in memory of the talented Canadian woman who reproduced it: Margriet Adriana Johanna Bekker-Hogue.

Her family posted on the Essemplaire's Facebook page that Margriet passed away on the morning of September 14th. The stitching world has lost a teacher, a lover of antique samplers, and a fine stitcher, sampler historian and reproductionist. You can read her family's announcement on the Facebook page HERE. 😢

So I've begun the bones of the border on a 40-count mystery fabric, using DMC floss, 1 strand over 2 fabric threads:

Rest in peace, Margriet. May your memory live on as a blessing through the work of our hands.

And so that is a bitter-sweet note on which to end this long litany of all the things I've worked on in the last couple of weeks. In the wake of Magriet's passing, it's occurred to me that our creativity, our seeking peace and light in our making, is what lives on through the work we leave behind us, whatever form that work may take. Thus it's important that we constantly bring to mind the value and worth of those labours of love -- affirming that as Nina-Marie suggests in her Off the Wall Friday post this week.

I leave you with a link to that post, with wishes for a week that finds you well, safe and creating beauty every day. A bientot, Gentle Readers. A bientot!

A Serious Case of "September Startitis"

 

Here's to September -- so why is this photo of cosmos part of my intro?!  Well...they're late bloomers this year, and I love them, so as they've started to go to seed (about 3 days after I took the photo), I've deadheaded them and thrown the seed heads into the flower bed nearby this original plant.  

Yes...already planning ahead for next summer!

That said, I'm very aware that we are heading quickly into autumn here in central Alberta.  Though very few leaves have begun to turn, there are some, and our rainy summer (a surprise in itself here on the prairies) is turning into a rainy fall, with rather cool temps.  Sweater Weather.  Wool socks (even if worn with sandals). No gloves and toques (hats) quite yet but...not far away.

All that means it's tricky to plan the fall yard-work, which is hard to do in the rain -- and at the same time, I'm still watching my growing zucchini and ripening cherry tomatoes, and still fresh leaf lettuce.  It's all entirely weird!

When I can't be out in the yard and garden, though, I've revelled in the cooler weather for all things textile crafty!

As you know, Gentle Readers, knitting never really stops -- but with the advent of cooler weather, I've turned my attention to some of the projects I mentioned in my last post: shawls and sweaters. 

It's early days for photos, though, so you'll have to stay tuned. All I'll tell you is that I've cast on a new shawl -- the "Always Better Together" Shawl from Brenda Brayfield -- using stash yarn: Sirdar Harrap Tweed DK in colour #105  and some natural 2-ply mule-spinner yarn from Alberta's own Custom Woollen Mills.

As for sweaters...no new ones yet, but I'm plugging away at my Sea Haven pullover from Jennifer Sheils Toland. I have about 2" left before I get to the bottom border, which I've decided to do in the fancy edging rather than plain old ribbing. It's so lovely -- why opt for the mundane! 😉

And of course there are still items in progress for my Warm Things Box, which I'll take to my church in early November for distribution to those in need.  Our local parish is a satellite of the main church in Camrose, Alberta, which has the ability to distribute these donations.

So...since my last post I've finished those mittens I mentioned:

More of The World's Simplest Mittens
Designer: Tin Can Knits (Ravelry)
Yarn: stash fingering-weight yarn
Size: Adult Small

And I started another hat -- a simple pattern, new to me, introduced by Cathy W. of the Yarn With Heart YouTube podcast: the Ross Hat -- named for its creator. It's a simple one and really not all that different from the others I make, but I'm enjoying the knit. Here's a photo of my tiny start -- 1 1/2" of K3, P2 ribbing, followed by round-and-round knitting.

Yarn from Stash: Schoeller & Stahl
"Limbo Mexiko Color" in #2583 - Green-white
(which looks more like a dark grey-green and white)
And yes -- it's discontinued!

As September proceeds, after this hat, I'm hoping to knit up at least one more pair of mittens (probably of adult size) and maybe one more hat before I turn the box over to my parish church to distribute.

Why? Well...because there's at least one 'gift knit' on the needles: a pair of boot socks for my son, using the Blueberry Ribbed Waffle Socks pattern. I'm making these out of a DK-weight 100% old-fashioned 100% Canadian wool -- Condon's Two-ply Fine, loooong discontinued, but bought for me for Xmas 2023 by my daughter.  It's proven to be a great, slightly rustic, sturdy yarn for assorted items!

I've decided to use this yarn and this pattern for the September 2026 challenge from Socks from Stash on Ravelry -- for popular patterns -- and I'm loving it.  I won't guarantee it's restored my languishing sock mojo, but...so far, so good!

That's pretty much for the knitting at the moment.

Now then...As the weather cools, I can get back into my "Sewdio" -- aka my quilting studio.  I've finally caught up with assorted projects...

First, the 2026 AQL (A Quilting Life) BOM (Block of the Month).  This is a  star-spangled pattern from a talented American designer. I've been enjoying her BOM projects for a few years now...but...well...I'm Canadian so...Gentle Readers...if you have been paying attention, you'll likely realize that's...um...not my "vibe".  

Long before things got...ahem...shall we say...a bit 'contentious'...I decided I'd do my pieces in only two colours -- red and white.  That's been a bit of a challenge, but I've enjoyed it, so here are the posts from July and August, which I've only recently completed:

July Block - Canadian colours
Design: A Quilting Life

August Block - Canadian Colours
Design: A Quilting Life

In other quilting...well...yes...there are a couple of other projects.  The first is another one of Bonnie Hunter's.  This is one of her freebies -- "Fun With Bricks!"  

NOTE: Should you go looking for it (it's one of her freebies) and have difficulty finding it, please note that recently she's been revamping her web page due to ...let's just say, "extenuating circumstances" so...be patient. All will soon be restored! 

This pattern consists of 12" (finished) blocks made up of four "units", and I've been enjoying constructing them, as I'm putting this top together for an Xmas gift for a fellow/neighbour who's been particularly helpful with snow removal (snow-blowing out my short, single-car driveway) and tree pruning in the last 9 months. 

I posted photos of the units in my last post.  Now, though, I have over 20 of one set of units, and almost 20 of the other -- so that's coming along.

At the same time, I've been sewing 2" x 7" strips together for another series of 16-patch blocks.  Not for a "postage stamp" quilt (I've made 2 of those) but for something different.  Yesterday I decided to add up how many strip-sets I had and...well...enough to nake 50 (count 'em!!) 16-patch blocks!!!  I've been looking for options for setting them into a top, and have decided to simply sash them with corner stones and a simple border.

Next up: cross-stitch: I've tucked away the "Quilter's Dream" project until November, when I'll pick it up again in memory of my hubby, as that's his birthday month.  As for Jacob's Fast Frisian SAL -- that little piece was fun to do, and is now finished:

"Fast Frisian" sampler
Designer: Modern Folk Embroidery
Fabric: 36-count 'Wren' from
Picture this Plus
Floss: "Maritimes" by Roxy Floss

It's a rather funky piece, isn't it?  I thought I'd try that highly variegated floss, and I'll admit, I'm of two minds about its effectiveness on that fabric.  If I use it again, I think I'd use an antique white background instead!

This month, being both "Sampler September" and my birthday month, I'll be returning to an old favourite -- my birthday sampler from 2022: "Memories of the Past" from Hands Across the Sea".  Here's where I left it last year:

There's still quite a bit to do, but I feel a finish coming close, and definitely want to aim for that if I can.  Stay tuned for my progress!

At the same time, I've joined in with the group, "Black Bird Academy", on Facebook.  The leaders of this stitch-along have a 'syllabus' that follows the American school year, from August through May (here in Canada it's September through June).  I didn't join until this month -- and the 'chapter' for September is a Black Bird Design featuring birds.  I knew I had just the thing: my rendering of the "Heart and Home Patchwork" pattern from the book entitled A Heart Remembers.

I started this some years ago, on a single piece of 28-count fabric from my stash, using DMC floss.  The piece has five sections, but I've only room for four -- three of which I completed by October last year:

I'm now determined to finish the last section -- "Keepsakes of Spring" -- this month, and so have begun:

And yes, this fourth section is full of black birds -- nine in all!

I've a second new start this month as well: "The Swans at River House" from Ellen Reid of Maximum Cross Stitch.  This wasn't expected, but I discovered that a dear couple I know have had a Big Anniversary this year, and so I decided to splurge and do this up for them -- in the called-for fabric and floss!  The supplies arrived just this past week and I've made a tiny start:

The fabric is 36-count "Cat Nap" from Roxy Floss, and I'm using a single strand of the called for Roxy Floss package for this pattern.  While not an especially dark fabric, I'll admit I find it rather slow going...but as the intended recipients have no idea about it, I'll take my time. It's not a large piece but there is a lot of stitching, so whether or not it will be done by year end, is anyone's guess!

I've not forgotten my other plans for Sampler September either -- returning to "Emeline Hotchkiss" and starting at least one new reproduction sampler, as mentioned in my last post. The month is new, so those will come along in time!

As for rug-hooking -- I've returned to the Makers' Meet-up at Deanne Fitzpatrick Studio, and it's fun to be back with my "peeps" there on Zoom.  The program has changed a bit -- as it's been merged with the Inspiration Sessions under that title -- but it's still many of the familiar faces from its initial membership, and a few new faces too.  

After a slow summer with little hooking, I've returned to "Singing to the Choir" and am working on the last bit: the night sky.

It doesn't look like much, but with all that yarn in the foreground, it'll be finished soon!

And there you have it, Gentle Readers -- my September 2026 starts and plans.  The month has begun cool and rainy, putting the kybosh on most outdoor work in the yard and garden, but making it possible for me to enjoy a taste of all these projects almost every day!

I hope that whatever this month brings you, it's full of creative pursuits, soothing for your hands, hearts and minds.  Linking -- late as usual! -- to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday and until next time...a bientot!

Spring Startitis!

 

Living up here in Canada -- a good day's drive NORTH of the border with Montana -- I always feel like Spring arrives on March 1, even if Mother Nature disagrees.  This year, She has been undecided, and has sent mixed messages.

Today's been rather grey with that wonderful thing known as "mixed precipitation", and some fog, and Totally Grey Skies -- so I've spent it inside with all my favourite 'makes' and thought I'd catch you up on all things creative around here.  My objective is to Take Your Mind Off All the World's Foolishness...and just share some colour, beauty and art/craft goodness.  One day at a time, Gentle Readers; one day at a time! 🩷

Over at Deanne Fitzpatrick Studios, we're still in the throes of "March is for Makers".  I say "we" because every week day at 2 p.m. Atlantic Time, (rug) hookers from all over the place gather on Zoom -- via DFS -- to meet, greet, hook on our mats and share ideas with each other.  

Even those of us who are rather introverted and prone to Zoom Fatigue have participated.  

Alas, this was a Special Event and isn't a regular thing for the Whole Wide World.  We've been having a great deal of fun -- found friends who live near us (surprise!) or whom we've met at conferences/retreats.  A place where Canadians, Americans, and folks from the UK (rarely farther afield at the moment) can gather, laugh, tell stories, share our backgrounds and our love of the rug-hooking craft -- as well as our love of knitting, spinning, quilting and stitching because, of course, most of us are 'multi-craftual'.  None of us want this to end, so...we'll see what sort of challenge this poses the Studio for the future!

As for hooking, well...I've been focusing on what one of my friends calls a "Dreamscape".  I mentioned it in my last post in which I showed my initial sketch and a tiny start of the hooking.  Since then I took it to this:

And then, joining the 'hook-ins' almost daily...well...today, it's finished, though still on the frame:

Pussy Willows, Cat Tails
(c) 2026

I confess I'm not sure about framing it and putting it up for sale -- would it have any takers?  I've been accepted into the local Encore! Art Show & Sale in mid-April...any thoughts?

I've also purchased two online classes from Deanne -- one on 'Working Big' and one that's a "Sea Garden Abstract".  Both, I think, will be valuable -- though my 'Sea Garden' will have morphed into a prairie...Stay tuned for more!

Of course, aside from hooking, I continue to Knit Every Day.  It's tough to break a 65-year-long habit! 😉

I continue to enjoy my 'Train Knitting' and the Sylph Cowl is slowly getting longer.  My Spring Start-itis began when in my last post I showed you my cast on for the Sea Haven Pullover, a pattern by Jennifer Shiels Toland that I won from the "Recreational Knitting" podcast (thanks, Karen!)  I continue to love this pattern!  I'm now past the yoke patterning and finished the short rows yesterday -- my first attempt at German Short Rows.  Not hard to do but a bit challenging in that they are less visible than the "wrap-and-turn" version. 

Here's a couple of progress photos taken earlier today:

The wee red marker identifies the front...and indicates that from there, I have to knit 1 1/4" before I can split for the sleeves.

See the blue arrow? That's the German short row section I accomplished this morning (my first experience with those).

Having mentioned that I have Spring Startitis, I must let you know that today I also cast on stitches for a cardigan -- a pattern I've had in mind for a Very Long Time: the Shades of Spring Cardigan from Sara Louise Greer.  I apologize, as it's no longer readily available.  That just shows you how long I've had it in mind. Sigh...

I've decided to knit it in a rather colourful variegated yarn from deep stash, and even made a swatch (!?! Who? Me?!?).  So far...I've just cast on for the back so there's really nothing to show you.  Stay tuned for further reports!

In my quilting studio, I satisfied some of the 'Spring Staritis' by making the March Block from A Quilting Life.  You'll recall that I'm trying to stretch my Canada 150 fabric for a red-and-white version.  This is what the March block looks like:

Methinks I'm going to be even better at making points match -- in stars or elsewhere -- once this BOM is over! 😉

Speaking of 'matching points' well...Bonnie Hunter.  I swear, having made her mystery quilts (and some of her "Addicted to Scraps" blocks and "Leaders and Enders" projects) -- she is pretty much single-handedly responsible for my ability to make (most of) my points match in any given pieced quilt!

And yes, I'm on the last part of this year's 2026 Mystery quilt, aka "Lupines and Laughter".  This design was inspired by Bonnie's trip to Iceland in 2025 -- where, it seems, lupines are found in abundance.  I don't have to go that far north.  They are among my favourites spreading through my meadow/flower beds.  This was a natural for me and I've enjoyed every minute.  And yes, all fabrics have come from my stash.  

Quilt top, inner border, 1st outer border

Close-up of 1st border, attached to top

As I'm making this top at 75% of the called-for size, it took a bit of...adjusting...but it worked!

This is going to be an "almost 40" gift for my son's partner -- her birthday is in August -- so I'm hoping all will continue to proceed accordingly between now and then!

And then there's stitching -- where the Spring Startitis is really taking hold!

My work on the "Little Acorns SAL" from Modern Folk Embroidery continues...but I've started a slight move away from Jacob's recommended sections.  I'm on the third section from the top -- but according to the pattern, it's supposed to include two parts - the one on which I'm stitching and a second that's a good 80+ rows down in the charts.  Seriously?!  Neither my brain nor my 73-year-old eyes is prepared to do that. So...I will finish the current section this month and move forward in an Orderly Fashion! Ahem! 😉

I've set that aside for just a bit, though, given the State Of The World, and have turned again to "Disagree" from Rebel Stitcher.  I showed this in my last post, and have made significant progress thus far, as it's been almost a focus piece.

BUT

Last evening I discovered A Problem.  It's taken me close to the finishing point of this piece to discover that I may have (inadvertenly!) stitched it the wrong way on my fabric.  OOOOOOPS!!!

Yep!  See that blue arrow?  And the gap near the right side of the hoop?  There's only about an inch (!!) of fabric to the edge.  Sigh...

The lettering will work out fine; the motifs I'll adjust accordingly...and it will likely become a small hanging or a pillow or go into a project bag.  It's only for me -- not a gift.  I've never let perfection get in the way of 'Good Enough'!

And what about stitchy Spring Startitis? 

Yes; there is some!  First, I finished the "Winter" section of the Seasons from the long-ago pattern from Elsa Williams, so I am ready to start "Spring" -- because I'm doing it all on one piece of aida -- it's a kit from when dinos roamed the earth...

Back-stitch, etc. -
I'm rather chuffed!

And then...well...my Newbie of Choice is inspired by the hue and cry that went up in my home town (southwest Quebec) and family back in the day, and still (for me) marks the Actual First Day of Spring:

The robins are here! The robins are here!

The Robins are Here! -- Brenda Gervais

I confess, I got such a kick out of this that I had to kit it up and I'm ready to stitch -- even though the weather is still a bit too cold and so The Robins have yet to arrive here. It will be my Spring Start this weekend!

There's pretty much no waterfront to cover, Gentle Readers, as it's too early to spin outside and there's no gardening happening up here for some time.

Over at Nina Marie's, she's making a gift for a friend, which has required her to dust off her sewing/quilting skills.  Have any of you been challenged by that?  You might just go over and give her al hug.

Meanwhile, I light a candle for our troubled world and hope all involved in assorted conflicts will find That Eternal Light SOON.

A bientot!

All the Things

Well, Friends...My annual bout of New Year's Startitis is still in high pitch.  I've been trying to tame the Beast by sticking to a certain routine - Making My Bed, as it were -- and so far, I'm Getting Things Done and Holding the Fort -- to use a variety of time-worn cliches! 😉

So here's the gist of it, with my loosey-goosey "goals-that-aren't-carved-in-stone":

Hooked Art

As I mentioned in my last post, I've applied for a spot at the local art show/sale again this year (won't know for about a month), and I've been working toward that a bit with a new hooked landscape or two.  

I finished the first -- 12" square -- which is the one I think I'll donate to the silent auction fundraiser at the local performing arts centre:

"Under a January Moon" (c)
Finished Feb. 2026

I have to thank my cyber-friend, artist Holly Maclean of New Brunswick, for permission to use her painting of a deciduous tree as inspiration for mine. 😊

On the same piece of burlap, I drew out another 12" square piece, modelled after a long-finished art quilt from 2012.  This hooked piece will be the third iteration of this idea.  The first was "Trio" -- the art quilt I made as my final exam piece for my London City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in 'Creative Techniques: Quilting' (with everlasting thanks to my tutor, the great Linda Kemshall):

Trio - (c) 2012

The second iteration: in June 2019 a long-time friend commissioned me to turn this piece into a bed-sized quilt -- she wanted to buy it for herself for her 99th birthday in October!  I agreed, gave her a price, and proceeded to get to work, creating this, with the help of Katie Pasquini Masopust's book, "Artful Log Cabins":

"Prairie Quintet" (c) 2019

I had to add 2 trees to make it the right size!  I finished it in time, and can still here her voice mail message of thanks.  She used it for several months -- never sleeping under it.  She put it on her bed only when it was made up, and took it off each night!  Alas, she died of heart failure in May 2020, a few months shy of her centenary. I miss her still.  I only hope someone in her family has kept that quilt.

So now...a third iteration: as a hooked piece!  I'm now working on the last bit of it -- that blue sky:

"Duo" in progress - Feb. 6, 2026

It's only 12" x 12", so I've put in only 2 trees, and gave them a slightly different look.  I'll show you the finish in the next post.

Quilting

I'm still moving right along on the 2026 Bonnie Hunter mystery, "Lupines and Laughter".  It's so darned pretty!  

In my last post, I'd just started Clue 6.  Now I've only a few units left to make for that clue, before I move on to Clue 7 (more units!!)  Here's a progress photo:

Stacks and stacks!

And of course I couldn't miss the BOM for February, from "A Quilting Life" -- which I'm doing in "Canadiana" colours:

Something tells me I'm going to be very good at making those stars when this is finished! 😉

As a sort of "leaders and enders" project at the moment, I've returned to making crumb "sections" and scrappy, wonky log cabin blocks, which will end up going to those in need -- eventually.

Knitting

This is where starts and finishes line up for me at the moment.  I've finished a hat, and started a pair of socks, and am nearing a finish on a blanket.

First, the hat -- the "Melt the ICE" hat -- from Needle and Skein via Ravelry.  YES, I paid for it in CAD, even at the 30% exchange rate. It's a worthy cause!

I used an unlabelled stash yarn, which the 'match test' revealed was mostly -- if not 100% -- wool. I enjoyed the knit, but could have done without the tassel. Full disclosure: I don't like tassels, pom-poms or bobbles on the things I knit!  I used only 100 sts, but it fit my small-medium (22") head just fine.  However, if I make it again, I'll go up to 108 sts, and leave off the tassel.  This one -- and future ones -- will end up in my Warm Things box, for indeed they would be Warm Things.

As for socks, I'm trying again to revive my sock mojo.  This month it's with a pair of textured socks from a vintage pattern (1947), which satisfies the criterion for the February 2026 challenge in the Socks from Stash group on Ravelry -- something they're calling "Ultra-unappreciated patterns".  In other words, patterns with very few projects recorded on Ravelry.  Mine is #3! 

Yes...this is the source -- and I have the book. It was my mother's -- or maybe her mother's! -- and it's in a page protector in my collection of knitting patterns.  I've made other socks from it, but not recently.

Anyway, the one I selected is called "Fancy Rib Socks", and I've been thankful for another Ravelry member -- a Canuck living in B.C., to boot! -- for the notes she made when she knit these.  It's not every day you try a pattern that someone else has knit, and you become cyber-friends with that person! 

I've only recently cast them on, and adapted the pattern (with the above-mentioned help) to 64 sts (from 80 as called for) -- so this is what they look like as of this morning:

Yarn: Estelle Highland Alpaca Fine
Colour: "Lagoon"

I think I'm going to enjoy knitting these, but whether or not they'll be enough to restore my lack-lustre sock mojo remains to be seen!

While the Sylph Cowl is still in the queue, it's become my 'train knitting' -- carried with me in the car in the event I'm stopped at the local train crossing, which is not just for trains passing through. It's a switch-point for CN Rail, which means I can sit there for 15-20 minutes, depending on the day and my timing!

However, I'm working hard on my January Blanket, started in 2024...and closing in on a finish. This was a photo taken a month ago; it's now longer -- I've finished 24 of a called-for 35 pattern repeats, and am on the 8th of 10 balls of yarn.  I thought I might try to use up all 10, but that would make it far longer than called for, so I'm just going to stick with the pattern as written!

I've done nothing more on my red-and-white cowl, or on my Bernie sweater -- just focusing on the above-mentioned projects for now.

And then there's Cross-stitch

I'm pleased to say that I finished the (recommended by Jacob) January section of the "Little Acorns" SAL from Modern Folk Embroidery -- at 8:30 p.m. on January 31! 

I then took a few days "off" but yesterday evening I started the February section (again, recommended by Jacob in his pattern notes).  Here's how it looked at the end of the evening:

NOTE: the border on the left isn't really skewed; it's just that the linen in the hoop has been pulled off grain!! It's really a straight line, and would look that way if I took it out of the hoop!!

Of course, I've been distracted by other things, as one is.  I've not done any more on the Elsa Williams "Winter" piece, or on "Disagree" by Rebel Stitcher, but I did have a new start.

Being February -- the month in which I was engaged in 1975 -- I've returned to "A Quilter's Dream" (also Modern Folk Embroidery) and have made a bit more progress on that:

Yes, it's only one teen motif, but each one is a mini-accomplishment, eh?! 😁

As for my "squirrel" moment? Well...again, given what's still going on in the world, I downloaded this new free pattern from Ellen Reid of Maximum Cross Stitch, and made a start:

It's entitled "Go Show Love", and is available in both Canadian and American versions re: the -- ahem! -- spelling of "neighboUr". 😉 

I found a large piece of 22-count white evenweave in my stash (I believe I inherited it from a dear friend who died in 2020 -- heart, not Covid) and I'm using the called-for DMC, 2 strands over 2 fabric threads.  Because I messed up on the colour instructions, I'm using black for both the 1st and 2nd inner borders, but I'm okay with that.  It's the perfect counter-part to stitching 1 strand over 2 on 40-count as I'm doing with "Little Acorns" and "A Quilter's Dream".

That's really all the news that's fit to print for this post, Gentle Readers.  My heart goes out to those in Eastern Canada, the Maritimes and all down the east coast of the US into places not as used to snow as we are, as they experience really overwhelming dumps of the stuff.  We out here on the Canadian prairies could use some more, as without it we're likely to remain in drought territory this spring and summer...not good.  Sigh...

And I continue to hope and pray for better days for all my US readers...

So I leave you with those wishes, and my usual link to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday.  This week, she has the Great Reveal of her Studio Reset -- it's a WOW!  

And until next time...a bientot!