old time knitting

Yes, I have been knitting again.  Don;t you just love this neck warmer?  I saw a girl knitting one just recently and remembered seeing them when I was a kid.  It looks like a bow tie, and has a little slot where you put one side through the other.  I found the pattern on Ravelry.  I adjusted the pattern a little, made it wider and longer, but it is so easy.  This one is for my friend Marilyn.  It is made from an Argentinian wool 75% Merino and 25% nylon.  Very soft.  I made one for myself as well in Aubergine colours.

Now that I have completed my current knitting phase, it is back to applique, and the latest Beyond the Cherry Tree block.  Took a while, but I got there.

Tree of Life

Part of the aging process is that, if you are lucky, as time goes by you accumulate a few lovely friends.  Last week I turned 60 .  No, I can't believe I am that old either! but I am.  I remember having a conversation with a girl in her 30's when I was about to turn 50.  I was sulking about it and she said that she just wanted to be 50, as no woman in her family had achieved that age.  Well, that was a wake up call!  Better to age than to die young don;t you think?  So far I have been blessed with good health and not too much to worry about.

Last night I was given this beautiful collection of Tree of Life blocks by my sewing group.  I have often admired this block, but never attempted it - mainly because of all those tiny half square triangles.  Thanks so much to Erica who organised it all, and the girls who made the blocks- Erica, Raeleen, Irene, Liz, Kim, Janette, Rosemary, Sandy, Vicky, Sharon , Penny,  Julia and Virginia.

While making this block, Sharon managed to sew right through her finger, and landed in hospital to have the needle surgically removed!  Ouch!  how painful.  I have come close, but never actually sewed my finger.

I am now thinking about how to finish off these blocks.  The suggestion was made that they needed green, and I am going to experiment with some green setting fabrics.

Weekend Retreat and Red and White Blocks

 This is the lovely old building where we held our retreat.  this was taken when we were all packed to go home, and waiting for the bus.

 

How about this lovely old house on the hill?   This is so typical of Riverland houses.  This whole area is flood planes - and the river does rise.

My plan for the weekend was to work on my Botch Handle Red and white blocks.  The ones I had made previously were from Block Base.  I liked them, but they were a little complex - lots of different measurements throughout the block.  The blocks from this book - Home on the Planes - were so much easier!  I abandoned the 5 I have made of the old style, and made the new ones.

 There is actually strip piecing instructions, so I could get a few done at a time.

I cut and sewed 5 of them at a time.

 These are the two different blocks side by side.  The one on the left is the one from Block Base and on the Right from the book.  All the strips are cut either 2" or 1 1/2".  So much easier! 

10 Blocks finished for the weekend!  Pretty good I think.  I should be able to finish the rest in a week or so, once my present commitments are behind me.

I have this vision of a black/red/white sashing and/or border.  Have to work on that idea some more.