if you aren't knitting.. then what the heck are you doing??

[purlewe]

Well, I've been quiet mostly b'c I've not exactly been knitting. I've let my knitting languish while I work on other holiday projects. But first I should show you the knitting I did do while up in NY.



That is the sock before I completed the cuff. I finished the cuff last Thursday nite at LOW bar with the phillyknitters. I've re-done the BO 3 times and I haven't gotten it the way I like. So I ask you sock knitters out there.. How do you bind off loosely for the cuff?? I did ok the first time but it was a smidge too tight.. so I went up 2 needles sizes.. it was even tighter!!! so I went up 4 needle sizes and its still a smidge too tight. Suggestions???

So what have I been working on? Over the weekend in the Poconos (which was beautiful weather btw.. why I stayed inside to use the machine is anyones guess) I completed all 24 squares for the christmas quilt for Sue and I. Since I did them in batches of 12 I present them twice (they are the same colors, so NO you are not seeing double.)





I really like the quilt pieces so far. I hope that the quilt turns out as nice as the squares.

Lastly I have been going back to cross stitching. I'm working on a 12 part CS that will have hardanger in between them. I have 1 completed and have started working on number 2!!

Comments

[frog-lady.livejournal.com]

Well, phooey. I can't see any pictures...

[purlewe.livejournal.com]

they are back now.. don't know why they were so wacko before.. try it again.

[frog-lady.livejournal.com]

nope. still question marks. I'll keep trying, though.

[frog-lady.livejournal.com]

okay... I switched to explorer (instead of safari or netscape) and now they show up. Gorgeous colors on the quilting! Re. a bindoff for toe-up socks, people have been talking about EZ's sewn castoff. It's in at least one book I have, so if you can't find it, I could copy it for you.

[purlewe.livejournal.com]

hmmm... would love to read up on this sewn castoff.. must google now!

i love the colors.. so does sue.. good thing its for us!

[purlewe.livejournal.com]

found it online.. also found this which sounds good and has a handy diagram
http://flor.trix.net/tips5.htm

[eustella.livejournal.com]

wow, really lovely colors on the quilt!

[purlewe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so do I I got them from Keepsake Quilting's catalogue. one is called Cleopatra's Batiks and the other Bali Batiks. Theya re basically the 6 colors of the rainbow with a few variations. I'm erally happy with the colors. I think they will brighten me up on a winter's day.

[astuce.livejournal.com]

a: those colours are so vibrant! really lovely. How does it get
quilted? are you tying it, is there a pattern or are you
ditch stitching?

b: that sock needs some googly eyes. Are you binding off in the
rib pattern (I apologize if I've insulted you with the question,
but I hadda ask)? if so, then the only solution (in my experience)is
just that you need to bind off more loosely.

[purlewe.livejournal.com]

a: well as it is my first full bed sized quilt I am ditch stitching. but I should ask you your opinion... After getting all of the blocks done I realized I don't want to lose my down comforter for winter. Is there a way I could turn this into a quilted duvet cover? or am I making things up as I go along (not rare believe me) I'm thinking a thin thin batting and back, in the ditch quilting it, then attaching another backing to be the duvet.. what do you think sewing goddess?

b: if I AM binding off loosely (and yes I did the ribbing as part of the binding.. no worries) are there more ways to bind off that are more stretchy.. back to the books!

[(Anonymous)]

I knit too tightly and for a sock I frequently have to go up as many as 5 (!!!) needle sizes to bind off. I've never actually confessed that before, so shhhh don't tell anyone!

-Christine
http://www.christinesflowers.com/blog