Little Red Cardigan

A finish from quite a while ago, Easter actually, I had just simply forgotten all about sharing the finish.

A red cardigan, for my niece, for her birthday.  My sister chose the colour, so I knew it would be the right choice.

There were 3 different patterns of knitting throughout the body and sleeves; it didn't get boring because the stitches were changing regularly.

This photo below, shows off the bands and part of the main body.

This next photo shows the lovely rib detail around the yoke and shoulders.

An absolute delight to knit and it's a pattern I'll definitely make again.

Pattern:  Was in a magazine, designed by Sirdar.
Knitted:   Size 6-7 girls in 8ply merino magic by heirloom yarns.

Dresden Plates, Lace and Red

There's something very nice about Table Runners, especially those made with red!  Somehow a well set table can be transformed into a stunning table with the addition of nice runner.  Here are two for show'n'tell.

First - is made up of 4 Dresden Plates.  This is a pattern torn from a magazine, Creating Country Threads - Vol 11 No 12 and is called Beautifully Blush by Leanne Pitman

Each block was a delight to make and I am very pleased with the result.  Simply quilted in the ditch and around the plate center and petals with rayon thread.

And... I have to show you the fabric on the back - it's a map of Paris.

A perfect house-warming gift, along with a bottle of Chandon Champagne!


My second piece of show'n'tell was super easy to make and very effective.  Made completely from stash, including the lace, I was able to practice some fancy quilting in the outer strips.  This table runner was also from a pattern torn out of a magazine, (have no idea the name or issue - oops!) and was designed by Cheryl Filby.

A nice finish on the edges of the runner

 And, I can't resist showing off the backing where you can see the variegated thread from the quilting.

I love a beautifully set table - and seeing a nice centre piece such as runner, when you can't have fresh flowers is always satisfying.  :)

Daylesford

 Each project needs its own time to shine - even if it was started way back in 2007!  I do firmly believe that each project seems to know when it needs to be completed.  Daylesford is a case in point.  I showed a photo of this quilt, (not quilted) to a shop and they loved it and wanted to know when it could be delivered to hang on their wall for a while - so a finish it became!

I have named this quilt Daylesford, because I received a small gift of the star fabrics at the now defunct 6-12 group retreat in October 2006.  We were staying in Daylesford for the weekend and it was our first time away together.  It was the wonderful friendship of that group and the continuing life-long friendships with those girls which made it easy to choose the "friendship star" block.

Here's a block close up:

Corner detail - yes there are 2 different shades of sashing/border print.  There was not enough on the bolt of either colourway, so I used both as best as I could.

Then, in another shop, they wanted a sample to showcase some newer, more 'modern' fabrics. 

Daylesford is a quilt which is truly full of happy memories and I am very pleased that it is now completed after all this time to give love and joy.