Weekending + knit + tiny patchwork

It's kinda off the grid week here! I haven't really had time to sit down and sew, sew,sew, but did finished the patchworking that I've been working on early the week.  I was racing with the clock this entire week. oh, then had a little bummer news!

Late Tuesday afternoon, the intercom was buzzed! It was the mail carrier (gotta love that gentleman for the extra effort). The backing fabric for the birthday quilt came (yay)! As I raced downstair to pick up the package then quickly raced to upstair to open up the package and soon realized that it is wrong fabric ( oh, NO!! +catch my breath ) That moment I though I had ordered the wrong print??  Before reached out to the customer service, I had double check on the order mail. Ok, quickly I got on the phone and was able to talked to the customer service. I had described the print received; the design, the colors, and the company. Then the lady who was on the phone told me I could keep the fabric and they will soon mail out a replacement. You know, I had suddenly felt that I am richer by 5 yards of fabric, um.. What to do with them??  Honestly, I didn't know what to do! I waited two days later and made two pillow cases and still have plenty yardage for something else, any suggestions? The replacement will be here, next week and you know where I'll be!

As I though I didn't want or need anything for birthday this year, I actually received my pre-order yarn this week as well. I had placed a pre-order weeks ago and totally forget about this! In back of my mind, I knew I was expecting something, but didn't remember what was it! Gosh, my brain!  These beautiful fingering weighted yarn from House of a la mode is going to become a shawl, someday!  I also ordered a DK weighted to accompanied the other DK weighted yarn. I really love wrapping scarf during the winter season and shawls are just so perfect for me! So far, I really enjoy working with DK weighted yarn!

The Honey Cowl is off the needles last weekend. Right away, I casted on a new cowl, it is alike basket wave. I did knit 5 purl 5, repeat pattern. Not sure if I am doing the right knitting pattern, but I love how it is coming along! It will need few more waves before cast off. I plan on knitting another Honey cowl as soon as the basket wave cowl off needles! It is SO additive and I am getting so comfortable with stitches now!

I have got some new toys needles this week. As I shopped I realized there are so many knitting accessories!!! These needles are for socks knitting! I have been study the socks pattern and though I should jump in rather than study! Oh, the sock pattern I am going for is Rye.  I am actually excited about casting on first sock as I have my eyes on so many pretty yarn and before I dive into yarn-wonderland. I do need to be more skillful for all that prettiness!

I've been knitting a lot lately! These cowls knitting keep me so satisfied! It takes two week to knit one ! Few rows a night and eventually I have them all shape up! I have a list of cowls that I like to knit up and few more shawl patterns to try. I really need to find my time back to sewing once I get that birthday quilt done I should feel so good about it!

Oh, this coming week is going to be a exciting week for me (caught, caught). I will be turning another year old (oh my!) So much to share with you, but would have to wait after blow the candle! For the little celebration, the {Etsy shop} and {Craftsy shop} is marked 30% off on all patterns, no coupon code needed! The promotion will run till October 13th, 9p.m. EST.

more later

October weekending

October is here! Gosh, my favorite month after all! The weather is just so beautiful last few days and finally the AC plug is off the extension box. The sunlight is softer and the temperature is just perfect for 3/4 sleeves shirts and warp around with a shawl! 

It has been such busy week here, for me! Getting things change around in the workroom, sorting through every little tins inside/outside boxes, drawers, and somewhere up and above where I regular forget and lazy to found out; dust everywhere... caught, caught from all the dust..  Still more to discover... 

The fabric stashes are unfolded from comic cardboard now. The wrapping around cardboard system didn't work so well for me since I started nearly 3 years ago. Mainly some of the fabrics are getting shorter the 1/2 yard and needed to be folded instead. So, here are piles of folded fabric and there are nicely wrapped around with cardboard. Soon, it is unorganized and that was just something I didn't anticipated first!  I've spent  few afternoons redo them and sorted them by colors (finally) and soon will mixed in the 30's reproduction as I "think" I am ready to blend them in colors now! 

I've spent more time in knitting these days. The new Honey Cowl is getting close to finish, another few rows, maybe?  I love the challenge of this pattern and you bet, this is my third try and so close to be mistake free.  I simply love how the stitches created within and the texture of it and elegant look.  

My second shawl is growing so quickly! I've randomly added two extra colors in between. The pattern which is really simple and I am getting fluent in all different knitting stitches these days. It is so nice to have a take with me project during the bus ride, car ride, and a break away from the computer works. 

And that quilt I mentioned last weekend? It is finished! <<yay!!>> I though it would take me a whole week to piecing them together or longer, but it is done! The row piecing went rather quick for this quilt! The trickiest part is matching the points and that did took some time and I used seam ripper to get them right a few times as well! The backing fabric is on its way to me and is a perfect fit for the quilt top! Once the backing arrive it will be a big job to sandwich all pieces together and start endless machine quilting. 

and I would like to start another quilt soon! All the fabrics around here need to be use and that's what they are here for! Sometimes, I have no idea why I am hoarding saving all these fabrics! Maybe just not enough of the time and good plans. Maybe we all need another sew along quilt project together, something simple and fun! Maybe when January comes and things are slower here and I'd love to run a sew along. 

I haven't had time lately, but did pick up a bag of apples from the grocery store on my walk back from the bus stop, since I though I need apples! Since then they are still sitting on the kitchen counter top and I might just turn them into apple sauce or apple crisp. Let's hope the tempurture turns into 40's this coming week and that would be my fairly excuse to stay in the kitchen for making the pie dough (fingers crossed). 

My sadly news is that the last spoon full of Iowa honey is long gone this week.  It was a jar of honey that Julie gave me as a farewell gift last year.  This past week, we've been needed extra lemon honey tea and took generous spoons of honey every time when we made the tea. I'd be searching new honey locally soon and probably will find some delicious honey in the city. 

and my patchwork... is coming soon! Just really slow this time!

more soon...

Oh! Quilt time!

Finally, quilt time! It seemed ages that I work on a new quilt! I really miss the process of planning, piecing, and ironing, more so is a fresh new quilt!  Oh, the new quilt on the tabletop is for me!  I'll be entering last year of the 30's next month (yack)! I have been thinking hard what to make or buy for my last year of 30's. Since I really can't come up with a must to buy item ( too many), I gave up surfing on things that are so pretty, but not really for me at the end.  While going through boxes in  the workroom, I found a box of fabrics that I have never unfolded before. Suddenly the idea of make a bold, saturated, and versatile quilt jump right in.

It is so NOT my colors! I know, but I am loving it! Something different and something will be treasure around here! So far, I have cut 353 triangles and needed more! I probably will get tired of cutting triangles and making all the 1/4" seam allowances in the back by the end of the quilt top making!  So far, it is so nice to sew, sew, sew and see rows come together! Next time, I'll probably have a quilt top to show you!

*** I have been working on some other patchwork pieces and can't wait to show you soon!  But now, I am putting this on the side until they are ready! 

Knitting is growing on me, literary! I have never seen myself felt so hard on a new craft.  I've cast off my very first shawl last week (happy dance)! It took me hours of trying and few weeks practicing and  understanding the whole process. It really made me feel so accomplished as I had set a goal to learn to knit and make a shawl this year! Nothing like good motivation drive and positive energy when there is desire of accomplishing and learning! Something that I haven't felt for a long time. This year, I've been embracing the positive learning and taking time to solid the process on everything. That really have lifted me up again and bring lights in me!

This week, I have received most soft and beautiful yarn in the mail ( the mail carrier kindly buzz the intercom and let me know, you've got a package)! You might not know, but I really really dislike the process of winding yarn into a ball! I've attempted to purchase all the fancy tools for winding yarn into cakes, but after all I knew I am a "part-time" knitter, so probably won't need all that fancy tool.

Google was so helpful, there are a couple ways of winding yarns while researching, but using paper roll winding yarn is so cool.  It didn't took me too long this time to wind all the yarn into cakes! The fancy look of yarn cakes make these yarn so much easy to work with and they actually sit on the table while I knit rather than rolling around, a plus!  

I've been knitting a lot more lately because I've spent time in pinch pain from a procedure finally happened last week! I had three stitches on me for a full week and finally have them removed This week! Knitting gives me an outlet to get distract from that pinch pain, since I need to pay more attention on the knitting stitches rather than stitches on me. Oh, I am doing better, the scar is pretty minor, but still bright red and skin is tender. There will be months of letting the pinkness to go away and good news is the pinch pain has gone by now!

I'll need to find a weekend at some point to go through all sewing supplies and fabrics, as I found 3 same fat quarters in three different pile awhile back ( I must really love that print).  Some sewing needles are missing, but found a box of needle that I was looking.  Zippers need to be sort into same sizes soon I probably need to build or find some boxes for them.  The working table is full with new yarn cakes,  fully packed {travel outbound bag} and the {Boathouse pouch} is fill with sewing tools.
The space needs a little makeover, I say ( so many things so little space)!

Thaaaank you for ordering and loving of the new patterns!!!! Fifi sent me a new Lucky's photo the other day! Gosh, he is pretty darn cute with that little hat on him! He loves his {Lucky Bone}, according to mama that he hides his bones in different hideout spots. He was spotted sleeping on the new toy! We are sooo thankful for Fifi taking care of Lucky for us as we are so far away to take care of him! Lucky definitely has some personality that we always get big kick with daily as we FaceTime him! He always runs to the sound and smiles big because that would be the time he gets a small bacon treat, gotta love that goofy ball!

Fall is slowly coming! On my walk back from the grocery store, the trees are turning colors and the sunset light is turning so soft that the colors are just so lovely! I really miss the Fall season and apple season in Midwest, as I am big fan of Jonathan and Braeburn, sadly I can't find any of these here. I though I still remember the taste of them, but I don't anymore! It seems ages ago I have had them! I should make an apple pie soon!


P.S. The blog posts will be running over the weekends for now. I hope to run weekday posts from time to time.

More later

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Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern

Hello! Today I have two posts over the two really sweet and adorable Patchwork Toy Sewing Patterns, so make sure you check {Bently Fish Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern post}.

Are you ready to make some fun patchwork toys for your furry families and friends? Over the last four years, we have been making toys for our dear Lucky, the boy who gives us all the fun ideas to make little toys for him to play and chew on! Before summer arrived, I've came up with a new and fun toy idea to make. 

I had sketched lots fun objects, but the little bone sketch quickly spoke to me. I had sew and test out drafts of the bone templates before finalized the Lucky Bones outline! These Lucky Bones are really cute and fun to make! It is truly one of a kind handmade toy for our furry families and friends and perfect holiday and birthday gift making for furry families and friends!  Also for you to share your love of patchwork with them! 

These Lucky bones are fun to make and great to boost up the scraps bin and turn them into something fun and playful toys for our beloved furry friends and families!  These are really cute and fun to throw around for the furry friends to chase and catch! 

Of course, I couldn't resist making one for myself!  As the fun factor it is so cute to turn one of these Lucky Bone into a pin cushion! I just had to keep one for myself and didn't send this to Lucky!

Over the summer, I have also made and gifted many Lucky Bones away! My furry friends are so in love with their new toys! According to their mama, they pretty much guarding their Lucky bone whenever and sleep on it! Pretty cute! 

Fifi snapped all the Lucky photos for me while Lucky plays and sleeps on his Lucky Bones.  He gets pretty excited about new toys, always! He knew it is from his "second" sister, who spoiled him overly!

The Lucky Bones seem the best rest pillow for his short snout and just "big" enough for him to hold in his mouth!  He surely knows how to hide his toys as mama consistently finding Lucky's toys in the house and drop them in Lucky's lost and found bucket.

After made dozens of Lucky Bones this early summer! I have made another dozen and ready to gift to my furry friends and saved a couple for Lucky!

Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern comes with 7 pages of step by step instructions and included one template page! 

You'll need: 

-Fabric Scraps

-Batting

-Backing fabric

-Polyester Fill

-Coordinate colored sewing thread

-Permanent Marker

-Scissors

For the first time, I am running a dual pattern listing in both {Etsy} and {Craftsy} Shop.  Within the dual pattern listing you'll received both {Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern} and {Bently Fish Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern}. 

You can also check out as single pattern listing:

Dual Pattern Listing via {Etsy} and {Craftsy} shop

Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern can be find via {Etsy} and {Craftsy} shop. 

Bently Fish Patehwork Toy Sewing Pattern can be find via  {Etsy} and {Craftsy} Shop. 

Yet, I couldn't help myself not to design a patchwork toy pattern for our kitty friends. So I've designed another patchwork toy sewing pattern, Bently Fish for our kitty friends and families! 

Visit the {Bently Fish Preview page here}!

Thank you again for all of your enthusiasm coming here to read about the creations I share with you. I really can't tell you how much I appreciate it! It is truly pleasure create these two patchwork toy sewing patterns and wish you'll love it as well! Something fun and cute! 

Enjoy 

xxc

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Bently Fish Patchwork Sewing Pattern

Hello, Did you get a chance to visit {Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern post}? Today I am running two sweet and fun patchwork toy sewing pattens. 

While designed and created the Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern. I also had made a whale alike patchwork toy and sent to my kitty friends.  It wasn't quite perfect as I knew the pattern could be improved and gave it more fun, playful look and highlight patchwork aspect more. Following weeks, I have done a lot fish drawings and drafted quite a bit before finalized the Bently Fish's shape. 

The Bently Fish is slightly different from Lucky Bone in making.  It has extra cotton twill attached to the Bently Fish. It is for tying a string to wrap around a wood stick.  It also uses two templates instead of one. Around the turning points, they need to take time and slow down to sewing and make it smooth for later.  Other than that it is a pretty sweet Bently Fish Patchwork Toy to gift. 

I've made a dozen of Bently Fish and also couldn't help to save one for myself as a Bently Fish Pin cushion. These are also perfect as little patchwork gift to quilty friends, fun and sweet! 

We have turned these Bently Fish into garland and hanging around the window for the fun! These Bently Fish are not quite in rainbow color scheme, but I had pleasant time sewing and playing in colors.   The finished size is easy for pick up and play around. Another great way boost up scrap bins and turn these into fun and cute little patchwork toys!  These would be perfect for holiday and birthday gift making for the furry friends and families!

Now, a dozen of Bently Fish and a dozen of Lucky Bones are ready to gift for the up coming holiday! I am very excited about all prepared this year for the extra special gifts this year!

Bently Fish Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern comes with 7 pages of step by step instructions and included one template page! 

You'll need: 

-Fabric Scraps

-Batting

-Backing fabric

-Polyester Fill

-Coordinate colored sewing thread

-Permanent Marker

-Scissors

For the first time, I am running a dual pattern listing in both {Etsy} and {Craftsy} Shop.  So you will receive both {Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern} and {Bently Fish Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern}. 

You can also check out as single pattern listing:

Dual Pattern Listing via {Etsy} and {Craftsy} shop

Lucky Bone Patchwork Toy Sewing Pattern can be find via {Etsy} and {Craftsy} shop. 

Bently Fish Patehwork Toy Sewing Pattern can be find via {Etsy} and {Craftsy} Shop. 

Visit the {Lucky Bone Sewing Pattern Preview here}

Thank you again for all of your enthusiasm coming here to read about the creations I share with you. I really can't tell you how much I appreciate it! It is truly pleasure create these two patchwork toy sewing patterns and wish you'll love it as well! Something fun and cute! 

Enjoy 

xxc