Finally finished my first quilt

At last I have finally finished my first quilt!

I started this quilt in 2008, it was made for my daughter M's 18th birthday that year. I managed to keep it a complete surprise for her and she really loved it and all the colours and fabric used. However, I was so rushed to keep the deadline that I didn't really finish it properly but promised that I would when I had time. So over the last Christmas break when she came home (with the quilt) I got around to adding more lines of quilting and re doing the binding, the only thing I need to add now is a label!

Now I look back it was really quite ambitious for a first quilt, well size wise anyway as it was for a double bed, but the actual patchwork top was fairly traditional with 9 inch squares. It was made using mainly Kaffe Fassett material with a few plain patches added in and then backed with Kaffe Fassett with a plain blue binding.

I have since made other quilt, a double for my other daughter C for her 18th birthday. Again, fairly traditional with 6 inch squares this time in blues and pinks with a boarder and backed with a spotty blue fabric. C came with me to choose the materials so it wasn't the big surprise that her sister had, but she was really delighted with the finished quilt.

I think for my next quilt I will try something a little more adventurous and try making a few blocks out of all the scraps I have left over. Perhaps make a lap quilt, so I can wrap up warm while reading or knitting!

Socks

Last summer I taught myself how to knit socks. I had knitted jumpers and scarfs since my early teens, and when the children were babies I made a few cardigans for them, but really didn't have time to do much more. However, I decided I wanted to knit again - and what I wanted to knit was socks. I had been to Woolfest 2011 in Cockermouth and seen fantastic wool and hand crafted woollen socks for sale, but at that time I didn't realise that I wanted to knit again or learn to knit socks, it looked too difficult having to use double ended needles. It was a few weeks later when I found some magic wool, that knitted itself into a pattern, that I thought about it again.  The wool I found was by Regia, and the shop had sample socks knitted up in the various self patterned wool. They looked so inspiring, so I bought the jacquard wool las vegas for my first pair and bamboo double pointed needles, a simple sock pattern was thrown in - so I was all set. 

Armed with the pattern and watching tutorials on you tube to help me turn the heel, I managed to complete my first pair of socks! 

Daughter C loved them so much that I gave them to her, and then made myself another pair. M said she would like a pair, so I made a pair to go in her Christmas stocking using Regia brasil salvador - well I managed to complete one sock in the run up to Christmas which went in her stocking and then completed the other over the holidays.

It really is quite addictive. I've started another pair again using Regia wool, this time using crazy colour in blues and greens.

Then for my next pair I think I'll try a different pattern......

Birthday boy

Today is our dogs birthday, he is seven years old! To celebrated we had a walk together around the fields this afternoon. Although still very cold here with frost on the ground, there was a beautiful blue sky. This is such a lovely change from the terrible grey, wet days we had over the Christmas and New Year break.

Birthday boy 

Blue sky! even a shadow

and signs of spring!

 Although it is quite a while ago now, just a few photos of Christmas...

We had friends and neighbours around for drinks on Christmas Eve which was a lovely relaxed evening - well, once the rush of getting everything ready was over - mulled wine, lots of nibbles and plenty of chat - set the tone for the rest of the break!

I think apart from taking the dog for a walk we didn't venture outside. On boxing day we all went for a local walk with the dog, and the next day went across to the NE to visit relations.

Over the break M wanted to eat apple pie, so she made a pie which turned out to be a fantastic work of art as well as really yummy. The filling was apple and cinnamon, so very festive. Not sure where she got the recipe from, but hope she can remember as I would like to make it again.