CLICKING NEEDLES

Yes, the knitting needles have been clicking away.  This first sweater for a granddaughter's January birthday went really fast as it is a very loose knit.  Not a really easy project.  The sleeves were in the round and I used the magic loop method.  As you can see, I didn't get them very even and I'll have to seam the bottom portion of the right sleeve for them to be the same.  That should be an easy fix, though.  However, no way to change the buttonholes, so they'll just have to stay a bit uneven.  I'm not real pleased with my work here, but my daughter thinks that young Eleni will love it.  Hope so!

I'm quite a bit more pleased with this sweater for her big brother whose 15th birthday is just 2 days later.

And since there is still another sibling, almost 21 yo Juliana, with a birthday 5 days after that (You see why I'm working on these ahead of time!), I've started on this next one.  The yarn is baby alpaca and it is wonderful!

It may be a while before I'm back to show you this finished project as it's knit on #5 needles (and #2 & 3).  The waist line shaping is done by using smaller needles.  Neat idea.

But with those tiny needles, It's going to take a while!

For the COUSINS

Ah, it's been nice the past week getting back to some quilt planning, cutting, and then on to the sewing machine to get these two special quilts made.  I believe that the recipients do not follow my blog, but just in case I wanted to wait until they received them before I posted the photos.  I believe their mother was going to be delivering them today.

The first is for my goddaughter who is expecting her second child, a boy.  When the new little guy's big sister was in the nursery, there was a tree painted on the wall.  I'm hoping that's the room he will be using also, since I found this really nice tree fabric for the focus blocks and backing.  One of the prints in the pinwheels is from the nursery (genderless) linen she used for the little girl.  I'm hoping she's using the same nursery and linen, but if not, I think she'll still be pleased with the quilt.

And, as fate would have it, my goddaughter's sister is also expecting -- but in her case it will be new little girl joining a big brother in their family.  I really like the pink and brown.  The backing is a Robert Kaufman flannel that should be nice and toasty this winter.  (The babies are due in October.)

 And so as not to feel left out, I made myself a little goody too using scraps of drapery fabric and faux suede that was left overs from daughter Eleni's interiors business samples.  I'm finally joining the group of a little more advanced techies.  We're getting a lap top and this will be it's home when not in use.

Now, I'm pretty much concentrating on knitting, so I'll show you some of that next time.

WRAPPED IN LOVE

Admittedly it's been quite a while since I have checked in here.  Much longer than I care to admit.

My life has once again taken some turns, but I must say that part of what keeps me sane through it all (in addition to the prayers and love of dear friends and family) is my hand work.  And you all know that consists mostly of my knitting and quilting.  

I have finally finished the University of Tennessee quilt that is made of fabric from a dear friend who passed away last year.  I will not be able to bundle up with this during this fall's ball games without thinking of dear Jan.  I will feel her loving arms around me.

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with non Hodgkins lymphoma a few years back.  Well, I have had yet another relapse.  I have spent the better part of the last few weeks in Nashville as my medical care has been transferred to Vanderbilt University Hospital.  Luckily our daughter lives in Nashville so I have been able to stay with her while I undergo radiation treatments.
The second week that I was in Nashville, my sister and niece came to visit me there.  It was a wonderful visit.  She brought some old photographs that we poured over with much delight.
Amazingly she also brought this sweater for me that my mom had knit for herself. My sister told me whenever I need a hug, I can just wrap up in it and feel our mother's arms around me.  What a precious gift!

I'm sure I will do just that many times this fall as I await the next step in my treatment plan -- whatever that may be.

I do not intend for this blog to be a format for my medical issues -- just wanted to explain why I had been away for a while.  AND share the photo of that awesome sweater!  You can follow my lymphoma journey at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marylynndemacopoulos if you want.

Here you will be following my knitting and quilting.  And yes, I have my grandson's sweater almost finished and have purchased the fabrics for my goddaughter's new baby's quilt.  So there's much more to come.  Oh, and I just received yarn in the mail yesterday for another January birthday sweater.  I guess I'd better get busy!

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

OFF (and ON) the NEEDLES . . .

Been a while since I've checked in, I guess.  

I've not been doing much quilting, but I have been moving right along with my knitting needles.

I finished this cowl for myself a couple weeks ago and finally got it blocked today.

I've made these wash cloths while in waiting rooms.  (Seems I've been doing a lot of that lately.)

And using the same wash cloth pattern--only with double yarn and many more rows--have finished a baby blanket.

Currently I'm working on this sweater for my grandson's 15th (How can that be?) birthday in January.
I'll continue as soon as I have measurements.  If I keep going before binding off for the armholes, it will be down to his knees!

 

I've also almost finished a sweater for my almost 9 year old granddaughter.  Just need to add the buttons.  And because it's a very loose knit, I'm going to add fabric to the back of the button and buttonhole band.  Should be interesting. . . . I'll let you know how it turns out.

QUILTS & SWEATERS

It's been a while since I've been around to give you an update on the status of all that University of Tennessee fabric that I "inherited" from my friend Jan.  Well, here it is.  These are the 6 quilts that went to Project Linus a couple weeks ago.  With the exception of one "baby/toddler size", they will be perfect for pre-teens or teens.  It's my understanding that's the size that the charity needs most.

And while I wasn't sewing the quilts, I spent my evening TV time completing this sweater that will be a an October birthday gift for one of my granddaughters.  I know, I'm really ahead this year.  I'm working on a January birthday one right now and have a pattern chosen and swatch completed for another January birthday.  Also working on a mindless baby quilt that I can easily knit while watching the Olympics these next few days.

And when I'm not glued to the TV cheering on the US athletes, I might just be in the sewing room trying my hand at  free motion quilting on the UT quilt I'm keeping for myself.  (I love the backing fabric I found for this quilt -- designed by my daughter's friend Denise Sdhmidt for Quilt Traditions.)

I'll check back and let you know when the quilting and binding is finished.

HOLIDAY + FAMILY = GOOD TIMES

Oh my, could our summer holiday time have come and gone already?  Well, I guess so.  

Our son and family from NY arrived on Saturday evening to be joined by his sisters and their families from South Carolina and Nashville on Sunday.

Yesterday morning before they all headed out (son will spend a couple days with his SC sis and family before returning to NY) we were able to get some family photos snapped -- much to the consternation of some of the cousins, but they very nicely humored their Nani.

So here we are:

And here are all of the "grands" pretty much in order of age:

Oh, and almost everyone did have a Nani quilt for bed time.  And all the summer time birthday celebrants who got a new Nani knitted sweater, scarf, or cowl were quite happy with them.

Hooray!

I'VE BEEN BUSY . . .

Well, I guess it's been a while since I checked in with all of you.  I've been pretty busy in the quilting and knitting world.  (I'll just show you the quilting stuff for now, though,  as the knitting is for upcoming birthday gifts.  Oh, I must remember to wrap all those gifts before the family --yep all 18 or them-- start arriving tomorrow for our summer-time picnic weekend .

When I was last here I was working on the University of TN quilts.  I thought I had finished with all the useable pieces of fabric, but had these scraps left and just COULD NOT let it go to waste.

So I was able to come up with this small quilt (about 36x36).  I will have to get some backing for it.  My friend Jan had enough fabric to back the other 6.  (They were all about 40x54.)

 I'll get back to that sandwiching and quilting in a few days.

But in the meantime I wanted to finish these quilts so the older girls that end up sleeping on couches this week end will have something special to make the couch sleeping a bit more fun.

You may remember that these have been in the works for a while.  They are finally finished!

I'm calling this one Buttons and Bows:

And this one Tiptoe Through the Tulips:

Just right for girls' nightie time at Nani's house, right?