Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Three-Year Knitted Quilt

This is the quilt I knitted. I started it more than three years ago, when I was in a knitting group at my church and someone suggested I knit squares for a Warm Up America quilt. The Warm Up America project collects squares knitted by people all over the country (there are collection bins at most Michael's stores) and then puts them together into quilts and gives them to the homeless.

It was a good project for a beginning knitter like me, since the squares didn't have to be perfect and as long as you used the designated type of yarn and size needles, it was all good. I went to town and knitted a few squares. Then I started to get attached to my work and didn't really want to give up my squares to be integrated with others in a quilt that I would never see. So I decided to make my own quilt. It took me so long, I don't even think the Warm Up America project is around anymore. Besides, Cary said she wanted it (once it started looking good) so I gave it to her.

Another thing I liked about this project is that I got to crochet a little bit, too. I crocheted a black border around each square and then crocheted the squares together, also with black yarn.

The only negative is that it's not reversible. The back looks crappy because the crocheted edging only looked good on one side. It also weighs a ton.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Tree ornament

I hang this ornament on our tree every year, and this year when I was taking it down, I looked closely at it and noticed how SMALL the stitches are! Who made these?? I think they were shower gifts for one of Diane's showers, but I can't imagine anyone making dozens of these. Does anyone remember who made these? Twenty-seven years, Diane - Wow!!