From A - Nearly Wordless Wednesday

A series of WiPs in my ongoing obsession with Fall.

On my ironing board, wool and Liberty. My two great loves destined to become a lap duvet.

On the go, a Halloween themed cross stitch.

In my sewing machine, Posy baby quilt do-over.

What's on your list?

 

Linking up to WiP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

From A - Scarf Season

Fall is one of my favourite times of year. Although it doesn't look much like the kind of Fall that I'm used to here in California, I still feel myself reaching for my knitting and dreaming up all kinds of warm things to wrap the ones I love in this winter.

This little scarf is the first manifestation of this impulse. Something simple in every way, using an old version my all-time favourite Nani Iro print and a tiny bit of trim from Mokuba.

 

I followed this tutorial exactly and even bought the same trim. No creativity in this one but as the days get shorter and we brace for another winter, I am glad to have this colourful scarf to brighten up my wardrobe.

From K - Finished Salt Water Swoon Quilt

This past weekend when I was home for Thanksgiving, I gifted one of my favourite quilts to someone I am especially thankful for. This Salt Water Swoon Quilt was made specifically with my grandma in mind and I was so excited to finally share it with her.

For as long as I can remember, my grandma has had an extensive sea shell collection. Meticulously selected, each shell represents a place, an experience, a trip she has taken with my grandpa. When I spotted Tula Pink's Salt Water line, I knew it was exactly the line I had been waiting for.

She married my grandfather in a time and place when raising four kids and managing a family farm was the rule and not the exception. While I see my grandmother as strong, proud and grateful for the beautiful life she created, my mind often goes back to a conversation we had a few years back...

...my grandma loves to garden and more than anything, she loves flowers. She once told me me that had she been born in another time, she would have simply loved to arrange floral bouquets. Knowing that, Thimble Blossoms' Swoon Pattern seemed like an obvious choice when deciding what to whip up with the Salt Water bundles I ordered.

This is the first top that I have made that I didn't quilt myself. Instead I opted to send this to a local long arm quilter, who also happens to know my grandma. She did a fabulous job I think it reflects my grandma's aesthetic perfectly. Swirls, flowers and hearts all over.

 

For the backing I chose to feature the seashell print in the blue colourway, as that just so happens to be one of my grandma's favourite colours. I decided to bind it in a darker blue print from the same line to help ground the linen background of the quilt top.

Final Quilt Details:

• Quilt Name: Salt Water Swoon Quilt
• Finished Size: queen sized (80" x 80")
• Fabric: Salt Water by Tula Pink (flowers, backing and binding) and a mystery linen from my LQS that looks just like sand (background)
• Pattern: Swoon by Thimble Blossoms
• Quilting: a long arm quilter from my home town

My goal for this quilt was to make it fit her taste and aesthetic, but also I wanted to ensure it was something really wonderful to snuggle under. Although the linen background made for quite a challenge at times, I am thrilled with how soft to the touch it is, and I may just be tempted to work with linen again.

This is my first completed project for the Q4 2013 Finish A-Long - read more about my other goals here.

Linking up to TGIFF and Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts.