|
|
Post by choney2 on Jan 31, 2022 10:39:08 GMT
Good morning and Happy Monday!
All crafters are welcome here as we discuss crafting, life and our weight loss journey. Crafting includes actual hands on crafting, such as crochetting, knitting, sewing, quilting, needlepoint, painting, jewelry making, etc.....plus reading craft catalogs, craft blogs, watching craft you tubes or other crafting videos, chatting here about crafting,chatting with another person about crafting, reading craft emails, thinking about crafting, organizing crafting supplies, going into craft stores or the craft aisle in a store , attending craft fairs,or any other activity that inspires or directs your mind toward a crafting activity- even visiting us here to join in our posts!! There are plenty of days in which the closest we get to crafting is a visit here, so even if you have no time to craft, we would love to hear from you.
We welcome newcomers to our friendly discussion! So glad you are here!! Please feel free to stop in and say hello!!
|
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Jan 31, 2022 10:56:02 GMT
Its a toasty 2 degrees out there (my phone says 1 degree). And they are saying perhaps we will be getting some snow again at the end of the week. I do not think CJ is all that into football and Ruth I only keeps an eye on it- I did watch all the first game and a few minutes of the second (which I fell asleep during). Rather nice to see two underdog teams heading to the Super Bowl.
I hope to trim that play mat in a day or so…..and the mystery quilt I signed up for will be shipping in a few days, which is among one of the reasons why I want to get this play mat done soon!
See ya later.
Ginny
|
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Jan 31, 2022 18:46:14 GMT
I did watch the last half and part of the ffirst half of the first game. I didn't care which team won but when the Bengals started to catch up and then tied I was all for them. And I watched most of the second game.That channel only comes in in my upstairs tv so when it got too cold up there I went down to the winter quarters and watched an hour of it on free streaming on my laptop then had to get the other laptop to watch the next hour. (they only give you one hour). I was surprised I was able to get that second hour even though it was a different device. I am happy that the Rams won because Mathew Stafford was with the Lions so long....definitely not a winning team and now his dream of getting to the Super Bowl has come true.
Yesterday as I was futiley looking for a matching shade of pink I came across a skein of pink that was still attached to a baby blanket I started making with it many years ago so I got that and started working on it again. Of course I didn't know what size hook I was using so I tried two that weren't right and finally the third was the right one.
Ginny, two degrees and, most probably your phone may be right and it was only 1, is very cold. I hope that frigid weather doesn't last. It sounds like you're going to be busy making a new quilt. Will this be one you keep or is it for one of your children?
|
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Jan 31, 2022 22:35:47 GMT
Ruth congrats on getting the right size hook for that baby blanket!!Its pretty incredible that you figured out the right size hook and were able to get back to work on it. Did you still have the directions or were you able to figure out the design just from looking at it? Yes for both teams - the Bengals and the Rams I am glad that they made the SB. Hopefully it is a good game to watch. How funny that you were able to watch the game on 2 different devices.
Yes, I signed up for a PMQ- puzzle mystery quilt from a web site.called cotton cuts. Every month they send you precut ready to sew pieces, with the directions on how to assemble a block. But you do not know what the block is supposed to look like, nor what the quilt is supposed look like. Previous PMQ’s are very pretty…so I am assuming that this one will be also. I did pick out the color scheme I wanted, and that is all I know. The first shipment is sent in a few days, so I want the play mat done before then.
Babysitting was rocky today. Hope the kids are better tomorrow.
G
|
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Feb 1, 2022 20:13:02 GMT
I remember you mentioning that PMQ and I meant to ask what that is. It sounds very interesting.
When I went upstairs this morning it was 25 degrees outside. It's already down to 18 and it's only 1pm right now. Tomorrow is supposed to be the coldest day with high of 7 so it will be much warmer than the day you had yesterday, Ginny.
I made chili yesterday and started chicken soup and bean soup. This morning dh did the finishing of the soups while I cleaned up the kitchen. Now we're all set for the cold day ahead.
Now I'm going to crochet and watch people crocheting on youtube. There are good videos and bad on there as I'm sure you all know.
|
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Feb 1, 2022 22:25:09 GMT
Hello  Ginny - I hope you got the play mat done so you are ready for the quilt along. I look forward to seeing your blocks Hope the kids were better today. Ruth - I'm sure the chili and soups are good to eat when it's so cold. I'm glad you figured out the correct hook to use for that project. Phyl and Sue - Hope you are well. It's still been cold here and I started having problems with my furnace again yesterday! The service person came today and replaced a koupler, so hopefully that will solve the problem, but the house has been very cold yesterday and today. It's just taking the furnace a long time to heat since it doesn't run long before cutting off. The technicians all say this is normal, but I just don't believe that. Until the last year, the furnace would run for a hour or so to heat up the house and not only run a few minutes. Since it was so cold downstairs I spent the morning upstairs in my sewing room and I was able to get all the blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for February done. I might have chose too many things because I had so many red scraps for January. I didn't have nearly as many Aqua/Teal scraps (color for February) so I had to pull some from my fat quarters - but it's good to use them too. I am happy with how the blocks turned out, see pictures below. I think I like that little brick block the best and I'd like to make a larger quilt of those blocks. I was going to try to make some string blocks, but I really am not interested in doing them. I have a bag full of 1.5-2.0 strips ready to use, but I put them away again because I figure there is no point in working on something I don't enjoy. The new blocks for Pat Sloan's Sweet Dreams quilt along comes out tomorrow and I really want to get back to that other quilt I've had started since November. So I hope I can get to it this week. Take care     |
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 1, 2022 23:21:07 GMT
Good evening!
CJ- thanks for posting those pretty blocks-i really like the teal/sea foam colors…and the log cabin quilt variations. The brick block is cute too!!! And I completely agree with your decision not to make the string blocks. Gotta say that is not my favorite design either, and if that pattern does not make you happy then do not make it!! Thought that the idea here was to make projects that are either gifts or make us happy. Figure out something else to do with those strips. Have you ever thought about making a rug from your fabric strips?
Ruth, 25 degrees is still cold.- and a daytime high of 7 degrees is very very cold. Absolutely a good day to crochet!!! Glad you made a pot of bean soup (tastes amazing and smells so good!!). What kind of beans do you use? Did you see anything good on youtube to make??
The kids were much better today. DGS#3 had a much better day- I brought my stroller into DD’s house and used it to keep DGS#3 in when he became irritable. He took his naps in there also (his naps are so short), but it allowed a real quality of life improvement. He got the sleep he needed and the other two grandkids had a much more sane grandma. As much as I love them, I am very glad I am done babysitting for the week.
Think I will trim the play mat shortly and then figure out how to approach the binding.
Ginny
|
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Feb 2, 2022 1:41:51 GMT
CJ, is the top block the brick block? That one and the third one are my favorites but they are all great. And I agree, don't do the string oe if you don't like the idea of making it. I keep saying that I want to use my yarn leftovers but then I tell my self that at my age I don't have a really long time to go so I may as well use the ones I like best and the better yarns.Do either of you have fabric you're saving for a special project but don't know what that project is? well that's me. Or I pull out some yarn and say, "do I really want to use this nice yarn for this project? What if I find a project later that I think would have been better and I've already used this"
And CJ, I'm sorry to hear about your furnace. It has to be frustrating to know it's not working right but then not be able to convince the repair people of that.
Ginny, I'm glad you found a way to keep the youngest a little happier.Children can really wear out a person. YOu ask if I found a pattern on Youtube...yes I did, Several in fact. Now to just get busy and get some of these things done!
|
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 2, 2022 11:57:23 GMT
CJ- (and thanks to Ruth for reminding me!) Hope that the furnace issue can be resolved quickly and finally. So frustrating not knowing if the person who has made the repair actually knows what they are doing. Is the house coming up to temperature? Is the thermostat responding quickly enough so that it does not become too cold before the furnace comes back on? Honestly from an engineering standpoint you do not want a unit (heat or air) running too long to get to temperature. Hope it all works out for you and you can feel comfortable with your heating system.
Ruth- this is not an age thing, its just me speaking of how unexpected changes in life can be. Use those really lovely yarns you like if you can find a project worthy of them!!! Glad you found some new neat patterns on youtube!!!! Enjoy using them.
Got the play mat trimmed….will start on the binding today or tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Feb 2, 2022 21:28:20 GMT
Good afternoon. As predicted it is cold but it is winter so it's to be expected. That doesn't mean I like it though.
Well I got my doll blanket done. It's the size of a small baby blanket about 28x28. Now on to the next project. I'm not sure what the next project is but will decide in a few minutes.
|
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Feb 2, 2022 23:44:57 GMT
Hello Ruth - I'm glad you finished the blanket, it sounds like a nice size for a baby. I do have lots of fabric that I've been holding for just the right project  Yes the brick block is the first picture. It's a fun block to make and I may try it with a jelly roll. The third blocks are from the Jelly Roll Rock pattern that I purchased, and I'd like to use a jelly roll to make one of these sometime too. Ginny - I'm glad you finished the mat, hope you get it all done so you are ready for your quilt along. Thanks for your comments on my furnace. I think the technicians have all been good but each one has changed something different and my furnace is still not working the way it did last year and before. And you are right, they all say it's normal for a furnace to cut off and on constantly. Well, it never did that before. It would run until it reached the temperature I set it to on the thermostat and then it would cut off. Now it doesn't even make it up to the temperature on the thermostat. As an example, it was 71 degrees last night on the first floor when I went upstairs. I left the furnace set at 74, hoping to warm the first floor up overnight. When I came downstairs this morning, the temperature was 66! That isn't right, it should have been warmer, so I'm not sure what the furnace did all night. So the first floor of the house is colder, but the top floor is so hot. It has to be at least 15 degrees hotter. And of course, that's where my bedroom is! I barely slept last night it was so hot. I had the window open for awhile and then I turned the fan on. It's just frustrating and miserable. At least it is warming the downstairs a bit better today. I went out earlier and took care of some errands and shopping, so I haven't worked on any quilting today, hopefully I can get it some the next few days. I'm looking forward to watching The Amazing Race tonight, I enjoy that show. And then the Olympics starts and I enjoy some of those events, so I hope to watch some of those. Take care |
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 3, 2022 0:51:47 GMT
Oh, CJ- I am so very disappointed to hear that your heating issues are still present. Do you have a single heating zone? (Wondering if a thermostat is suspect). And I would be upset too if I went downstairs and the lower level was 66 degrees. This has to be so frustrating for you- do you know what your next step will be? Glad you got some shopping and errands done, always nice to get them out of the way. Enjoy your show tonight !!! Do you have anything special you want to view during the Winter Olympics?? I do - I love all those snow and ice sports- as I am a klutz and would break every bone in my body if I attempted any of that fun stuff but its so neat to watch.
Ruth, I am laughing…..that is awesome that you finished the baby blanket- or it is a doll blanket…but with all the stuff you have /want to make you will just sort of jump into another project. Love how spontaneous the process is for you. You simply look at a ball of yarn and a new project is conceived! Spring is coming…..sooner or later. Did the ground hog see his shadow today? Not that that matters….
Got the binding strips cut and hope to start to get them assembled tomorrow and this play mat done.
We are in for rain- then rain and ice. I have to head to the store tomorrow and hope that it is not inundated with snow babies who must go to the store if snow is predicted. I seriously am out of bread and bananas and would have gone today to the store If I were not tired and feeling lazy (I worked this am).
Hi to Sue and Phyl…
|
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Feb 3, 2022 1:38:57 GMT
CJ, it would be great if your whole house reached a happy medium. I'm glad I don't have a furnace because of all the issues with them. I always had one before we moved here and there always seemed to be hotter spots. Can you close the vents on the ducts to divert the heat from the upstairs to the downstairs? I was thinking the same as Ginny that it might be a thermostat issue. I'm glad you were able to get your errands done. Ginny, it sounds like you're nearly done with that playmat.It will be a relief for you to have it done and mailed. Well if you have flour and yeast you could always throw it in the bread machine. Bananas are a whole different story. Right now I'm working on an earwarmer/headband that I saw a pattern for today. It looked easy and fast so I started it but it really is not fast at all. It is, however nice and thick and would be quite warm so I'll make a bunch of these to donate. I could use up a bunch of leftover yarn making these.I think I'll get started on the doll outfit requested from the older of the two grands that wanted doll clothing after I make a couple more rows on this earwarmer.I did get a whole skein of Bernat Baby sport yarn used up...now only a thousand more to go  . This Bernat was an old skein I had that was from when they put a lot of yardage on a skein. See you all tomorrow. Sleep well. |
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 3, 2022 19:06:32 GMT
Ruth, you bring up an interesting point have you seen a decrease in the amount of yarn in a skein? I have heard of packages of food items shrinking, but of course that will translate into craft supplies. Stinks because if you were used to a certain project needing a whole skein of yarn- well now you might have to break out a second skein. Rather stinks, doesn’t it? But you cannot mess with a yard of fabric….unless they shrink a yard stick. Sorry that the earwarmer project is not working up as quickly as you hoped, but it must be a nice pattern or you would have abandoned it already.
|
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Feb 3, 2022 21:37:24 GMT
Hello Ruth - The ear warmer sounds nice. Good luck using up that yarn stash Ginny - Hope you were able to pick up your groceries with no problems. Were there a lot of people out? I hope you don't get any ice, I hate that more than snow. We're just getting rain here. I have an oil furnace with radiators, so I can't really control the heat in the rooms, in depends on the furnace working and the radiators heating. Someone did mention to me I could cut off the heat coming into the radiator, but this house is so old and I don't think it's ever been done and I'd be worried I'd break the turn off knob  I did bleed all the radiators this morning and some had air in them. So far today the furnace has worked well enough to get it around 75 downstairs. I can tolerate that with some layering of clothes. I'm sure it's really hot upstairs and that's the problem for sleeping. I'm just going to "stick it out" and make this work for me for the next few months. Wish me luck I picked, starched and pressed fabrics for 5 quilt blocks this morning - Pat Sloan's Sweet Dreams (2 blocks), Pat Sloan's Secret Lives of Color (2 blocks) and A Quilting Life's BOM with the churn dash pattern. So now I just need to cut the individual pieces so I can get them made. I'm finding the most difficult thing is picking the fabrics, especially for these projects that go on for months. Just trying to make sure all the blocks coordinate together is a bit painful. After I get through these, I really should stick to quilt along that are easier to pick the fabrics for the blocks. That's why I buy kits sometimes, it takes away the choices. I've spent awhile today going down a rabbit hole looking at quilts made with civil war reproduction fabrics. For some reason that is my current obsession. If I can find a good kit somewhere I'll order it. I did see some fabric that I'd love to buy (this is what started me off this morning ): www.fatquartershop.com/cheddar-and-coal-pam-buda-marcus-brothers-fabrics-2-5-inch-stripsI have this strong desire to make a cheddar quilt. I also saw some pretty 3 yard quilts at Fabric Cafe that have some civil war reproduction fabric. I bought a turkey tenderloin yesterday when I went to the store, so I'm baking it now and hope to enjoy some for dinner and over the next few days. Hope you are all having good weather and that you get to do some crafting today. Take care |
|
. This Bernat was an old skein I had that was from when they put a lot of yardage on a skein.