Quilting Time--Alfred's Quilt

I'm loving my knitting, but it's time to put some quilting time in. This is a quilt that I've been working on for over 2 years. I finally finished the top this Spring and vowed I'd get it onto the longarm for topstitching. I've loaded some pictures of the quilt on the longarm so you can get an idea of what this machine set up is like.

This first picture shows a side view of the quilt on the machine. You can see the backing is red. The white stuff behind the quilt top is the batting, and of course the black & grey design on the top there is the quilt. The pattern is from the book Strips and Strings.

This is a close up of some of the stitch work I'm doing on this particular quilt. I'm using the Circle Lord to get those nice accurate spirals. It works much like a Spirograph (if you remember playing with those as a kid). You plug a stylus that is attached to the machine into a template and it maintains the arches while you move the machine. Great ingenious device.


These spirals are all over the place. There is no pattern involved, I'm just stitching and turning the quilt a few feet and adding another spiral here and there. I love the way it's coming out. I'm using a red thread, which you can't see here. It's really hard to get any relief shots on this dark fabric.

Socks and Fiddle Faddle

This is what I've been working on in between the lace. The stars and trees are from EZ's Knitters Almanac August projects. Fiddle Faddle is what she calls it. I kind of feel like Sam's friend in Green Eggs and Ham about it, I don't like it Sam-I-Am, but in the end I like it, I like it Sam-I-Am.

This is an almost completed Woodsman's Sock from EZ's Knitting Around. I'm using the SHP Sheepswool which is the bulkiest yarn I've ever knit with. And it seems so after the lace weight I've been working with. The little spool in the middle is the nylon reinforcement that I'm knitting in to the heel (and the toe when I get there). I've never knit a sock fast in my life! The best part is that Alfred loves it and says it makes his foot fell all hugged. Isn't that the sweetest thing!

The Real Deal

My package arrived from Schoolhouse Press. I bought some bulky Sheepswool for socks and a skein of Unspun Icelandic. What I bought that for I don't remember. I think I just wanted to feel it. I'd read so much about it in Elizabeth Zimmermann's knitting books that I just needed to fondle it. I need to keep notes! Hmm, maybe it was a knit mobeus! Yeah, I think that might have been it. I was figuring I'd just to a simple lace pattern and when it ran out end it and graft it together. More like a wimple size. The dark brownish black is for Shean's winter Tam. Those are the Inox needles (regulars-grey enamel over steel) that I've fallen in love with.

Now this is what I call Sock Yarn!

Well, it's August and time to start the Winter gift projects if I plan to get anything finished before the Solstice or New Year! This is the Sheepswool from Schoolhouse Press. EZ recommended it for socks, and I'm planning on knitting Alfred a pair of winter socks with this stuff. Can you believe the size of that ball! This will be so much faster than sportweight or sock weight yarn! Talk about a relaxing knit.

Progressing Pi R

Another section completed. I really like this simple lace design, but I can't figure out how to center it with the first one after the increases. It is simple math, but my brain won't wrap itself around it.

Gauge Swatch

Pi R 2
This is the gauge swatch I started with the Inox needles from Schoolhouse Press.
I love these needles they are very lightweight and they have just a bit of drag to them which helps to keep the fiber from slipping off too easily. The tips pick up the yarn easier than any other needles I've used in the past, including bamboo.
The bottom pic: I've pulled out the stitching to see how it will look when it's blocked or dressed as they say.
This is the size #8 needle, but I'm working it not as loosly as I usually do. I'm thinking a size #6 might be just the ticket.

Swift, Dude!

This is the new oak yarn swift I bought on Ebay from TheKnitStore. Simple design, good craftsmanship and...it works like a charm. That cashmere/silk knit tank I recycled the yarn from went on this first. I put the ball of yarn I'd wound into a large jar and then attached one end of the yarn to one of the pegs and started winding. Here is the swift with a hank of Campfire laceweight on it. You can see the ball winder in the distance.

Campfire

This is the Shadow lace weight yarn in "Camfire". It's luscious and lovely! This is going to be an EZimmerman Pi R Square Shawl. On the left is the skein as it comes from Knit Picks, the right is after I've made it into a ball with my ball winder. Click on the pic to enlarge.