From K - Moroccan Tea and Knitting

This past week I spent 100% of my downtime laid out with a spring cold. In my world, this typically equates to spending far too much time browsing Ravelry, shopping for wool online and a whole lot of tea drinking!

Since visiting Morocco last fall, I prefer my mint tea extra sweet. Wonderful, delicious, Moroccan tea *sigh (here's a shot I took last September while bartering over some treasures in the medina).

When I was able to pull myself away from Ravelry, I made some progress on a pair of socks that I intend to gift soon. One sock down, one more to go!

Since I can't seem to shake Ravelry from my mind, and because I'm always interested, what have you been adding to your project list lately? I'm thinking it might be time for me to venture beyond the world of socks; maybe a scarf, shawl or cowl - your suggestions are welcome! If you feel so enclined, feel free to check out what Amanda and I have been drooling over on our accounts here and here.

I'm off to sip more tea, browse more patterns, and finish that second sock. Wish me luck!

From A - Little Pieces Everywhere

I've been taking a hand piecing class on Saturday mornings for the last few weeks. We're making a small throw sized star sampler quilt. A photo of the projected finished product is here.

Lovely, don't you think? I decided to use a palette of aqua, yellow, cream, and navy. A bit of a departure for me but I was trying to push outside of my comfort zone a bit.

Every week, I go to class, cut out and mark the pieces for each block and work on sewing a few together. Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to work on it between classes. While heading into week 7 of the class, I've only finished the first (and simplest block): the Lemoyne Star.

This has created a veritable confetti of tiny, (mostly) bias cut pieces. These are the pieces for only three of the six blocks.

Aside from  my endless paranoia that I'll loose a piece or stretch a bias edge beyond recognition, I'm really enjoying slowly piecing all those little bits together to make something beautiful.

From A - Decisions, Decisions

I've been slowly working away on my Lone Star Quilt behind the scenes. I've managed to finish making all eight of the star blades. Now comes the part where I need to decide on a layout (excuse the moving blanket and general chaos in these photos. We've been painting, packing and cleaning for the last three weeks, trying to get our condo ready to list).

Up first we have the dark center layout

Up next is the alternating layout

 

Lastly, is the light center layout.

I'm really amazed at how much the relationship between the fabric changes as I play with these layout options. I've been mostly partial to the second and third options but I need to decide if I'm ever going to make any progress with this one.

Thnoughts?