Bleeding

Last Friday, there was a discussion around the quilt frame about washing fabric. I suggested that it is always a good idea to wash fabrics with intense colours.

I usually try to wash my fabric as soon as it comes in the door, these days. However, when I first started my fabric collection, I was not so careful.

I finished my bag front yesterday, and this morning was looking for something to use for the back of the bag.

Since I used royal blue for the border on the front, I wanted some more royal blue.

I came up with a batik fat quarter in the same royal blue. However, it obviously hadn't been washed, so I threw it in a sink of hot water.

This is what happened as soon as I dropped it in. The water is a great match for the fabric on the front. I think I may need to rinse this, a few more times to get all the excess dye out. I will then iron it dry to heat set the colour.

So for those that asked, I always wash my fabric.

Looking for Some Brightness

The weather person tells me that winter is about half over, but it has been a very gloomy week. On the up side, it is light until nearly 5 PM now. I was looking for something to brighten my blog.

First up, my indoor plants have decided it is spring.

The amaryllis is blooming in the kitchen.

The azalea that lives in the sunroom all summer, is now blooming in the dining room. I have had this plant for about 15 years and I can't believe it still loves me enough to flower. You can see the snow behind it in the backyard.

A gerbera, that we found still alive in an outdoor planter after a significant frost, decided to brighten our lives, this week, too. It isn't even in a pot, just stuck in a convenient takeout tray.

Of course, there is this little day brightener.

Since she thought she should wake me up this morning, I thought I would wake her up to take her picture while the light is passable. She is making sure I wash those aprons before I use them again.

I am teaching a class on making a tote bag, and have been less then successful at getting my sample made and my supply list done. It must be done this week. I did make a block for the front of the tote.

Nice and bright! It was kind of an improv block using some scraps I liked. Now I need to find the rest of the fabric.

I was auditioning these fabrics, and I am not sure any of them work. Odd that with those fabrics, the hot pink looks coral. I will pull more fabric. I am determined to buy nothing!

Meanwhile, I am still working on my Advent scarf, that I started in November.

Only about 366 rows to go!

Because Cute Baby Hat

No other excuse for it. If your grandmother knits you are doomed to a lifetime of silly hats. Here is the latest.

A fox hat is being modeled by Bear.  Bear thinks it is pretty silly I am trying to turn him into a fox.

Same hat as the Pikachu, but knit in fingering on smaller needles.

The weather has been up and down. On Tuesday, I noticed this.

The water off the neighbours flat roofed garage has formed an ice column.

So, it is time for spring flowers, indoors.

Nancy, our current foster, had to give them a closer look.

Nancy is quite a girl. She was fascinated with the baby's bouncer, pushing on it while he was in it. We lifted him out, and here is what happened next.

Simple Gifts

I managed to get the Christmas decorations put away, finally. As I was packing them up, I just had to take a picture of this.

These happy little guys and girls are my Christmas tree stuffed animals. A number of years ago, my sweetie gave me a set of 12 teddy bears for the tree. My son informed me that teddies don't like to hang from their heads, so they sat on the branches, fair game for the cats to toss on the floor.

Over time, my dear ones and friends have added to my collection. This year I received 12 more. The box is full, but it is a happy, cheery box. I expect they are downstairs on the shelf, resting up for next year's frivolity. However, they might need a bigger bin next year.

I went looking for a box of baby bedding that I knew I had packed away (the risk of living in the same house too long, you know it is there, but where?). It turned up under some computer equipment, of course, because where else would you put baby bedding? In the box, I found this treasure.

It is a quilt, made for my oldest, by my mother's dearest friend.  I didn't even remember having it. It has been much used, it is lovely and soft. I guess in the years that my own babies were tiny, it just became part of the baby's stuff.

I am looking at it now with new eyes, the eyes of a quilter.

Look at the stitching! Tiny, and even, and entirely done by hand. I can hand quilt, but nothing like this. This was made by the woman who taught me to sew. Knowing her, I think she would be pleased that the quilt has been well used, and loved. This week, I will mend the worn binding. I will add a label to the back, so the next generation will know where it came from. And I will wrap the next generation in it, and tell him about the lovely lady who made it. Thank you, Ann. I am sorry you aren't around to meet my little boy.

My First Finish

We woke up this morning to see heavy snow had fallen, over night. My white pine decided it was all too much.

There were branches all over the driveway. The contractor that clears our driveway used his bobcat to move them over to the side, so we could get the car out. The temperature is currently at 0 C, and we keep having snow blow through, while what is already on the trees and the ground is melting. It is kind of strange. It is expected to freeze overnight, which should cause a lovely mess.

Obviously, it is lovely weather for knitting. Because Jett doesn't have enough hats, I made him one more.

The lengths of yarn on the points are for attaching bells. I just need to figure out where I have put my bells, and some jump rings to attach them with.

It is a bit big for him, yet, but we have a lot of winter left. I used this pattern.