BLOG: Works in Progress

Daily Dot 2020

February 3, 2020

I decided that this is the year I really want to improve my drawing.

I used the Procreate app on my iPad to draw all the motifs in my book (How to Embroider Almost Everything) but that’s just black and white line drawings. I wanted to take it further. I especially wanted to learn how to add color and texture.

I also knew I needed to take small steps. I can’t get better at all the things all at once – so I’m setting my self small daily challenges, a new challenge every month.

I started in January with something really simple.

Dots.

Everyone can draw a dot, right?

So I drew a dot every day in January, and I learned all kinds of new ways to add color and texture in Procreate.

If you’re interested, these are some of the classes I took to help me along.

And here are the results!

I had so much fun!

So this month I’m taking the skills I learned in January and I’m applying them to actual drawings. I’m not drawing anything new.

(Aaack! Too much pressure!)

Instead I’m taking things I’ve already drawn (favorite quilt block patterns) and I’m coloring them in with fun texture. Here are my first two. . .

That’s one of the bears from the Bunches of Bears pattern.

And that’s the Yeti pattern. I’m especially pleased with the shading on his horns. 🙂

I’m posting a new image every day in February. You can follow along on Instagram!

Happy stitching! (And happy drawing!)

A New Version of the Noisy Farm Quilt!

August 10, 2018

Noisy Farm Quilt pattern from Shiny Happy World

I’ve gotten a lot of questions lately asking for suggestions for the background colors of the Noisy Farm quilt pattern.

The cover sample you see above is from before I had fabric bundles in my shop, and most of the fabrics I used are no longer available.

One of the things I love about the way I do fabric bundles now is that you can use any bundle for any quilt. Here’s an example of three quilts that all use the Warm Neutrals fat quarter bundle for the animals – but different bundles for the background colors.

Here are the Playful Puppies made with Solid Rainbow for the background blocks.

And here are the Cuddly Cats with the slightly-more-grownup-but-still-colorful Box of Crayons for the background blocks.

And here is the Bunches of Bears pattern made with the Rainbow Sherbet bundle for the background blocks.

See what a difference?

Changing just the background colors really changes the whole feel of the quilt – and I love them all!

So when people ask for suggestions for background colors for the Noisy Farm pattern – I want to tell them they can use anything! Go totally bright with the Solid Rainbow! Go a little more subdued with Box of Crayons! Go baby sweet with Rainbow Sherbet! Go natural with Green Batiks! Want even more suggestions? Go to the Noisy Farm pattern listing and look at the additional photos. There are a bunch showing finished quilts that other people have made with different fabrics than my samples.

For my new version of the Noisy Farm quilt I used Rainbow Sherbet for the background blocks. I went totally wild with the animals and using the Gingham Play fat quarter bundle. Gingham always says “farm” to me and I can’t wait to make the animals in fantasy colors.

Pastel version of the Noisy Farm quilt pattern

One more change – I made this one a silent farm. 🙂 I left off the half-blocks with animal sounds and added sashing. I get a lot of requests about adding sashing to a Quilt As You Go quilt. There’s a tutorial here showing how you can reset (almost) any of my quilt patterns with added sashing. I even did the math for you for all the sizes. 🙂

If you’ve made any of my quilt patterns using a different color scheme – please share! Seeing all the different versions of my patterns makes me Muppet-arms-flailing happy – and it’s a great resource for your fellow makers out there to see different options. 🙂

Happy stitching!

Best,
Wendi

Have you heard about the Red Scarf Project?

November 17, 2015

This post originally appeared on November 20th, 2013. But it’s such a great cause, I’m reposting it with additional information!

What happens to a child in the foster care system when they turn 18? They’re ‘adults’, and are set out into the world alone, and without a network of family or social resources.

Sad, right?

If those kids are awesome enough to get themselves into college… who sends them care packages? Who do they call if they need an emergency $50 for a surprise textbook?

In most cases, they have no one to turn to.

Makes you sniffle, right?

That’s why I love Foster Care to Success, an organization that supports foster care children who have ‘aged out’ of the system. The organization collects money for emergency funds and runs other great drives to support this often-overlooked population.

I particularly love the Red Scarf Project. I read about it in Craft Activism.

The Red Scarf Project collects scarves from September 1st – December 15th every year, and then distributes them to a foster student on Valentine’s Day.

Isn’t that sweet? Can you imagine how special you’d feel if a handmade scarf with a sweet note showed up on your door? And what a boost that would give to your semester?

That’s why I’m knitting one!

I didn’t feel like I had the time: the Kit Club packages, hosting Thanksgiving dinner, planning for the holidays… and then I told myself “Balarky! You can make the time! These college students don’t have families!”

And surprise… I’m finding the time!

Join in!

Can you spare the time?

Nothing fancy is required, just a simple red knitted or crocheted scarf. Check out the guidelines, here.

This link tells you where to mail the scarves, as well as the not-too-hard guidelines (basically is red, gender neutral and about 60″ long). Pattern suggestions, too!

Sweet extras, such as a hand-written note, are welcome!

Rainbow Star Afghan!

January 23, 2015

I have something very exciting to show you… I finished my Rainbow Star Afghan!

I just love how it turned out! You know I’m a sucker for rainbows!

I’m planning on writing a little tutorial on the color changes sometime in the future… but you know, time is a little sparse right now!

I couldn’t be more pleased with the results!

Chevron Bead Crochet Necklace

December 12, 2014

Do you want to see what I just finished?

It’s a bead crochet necklace!

I’m super-excited about this one, because it features 2 firsts for me. It’s the first time I’ve followed a pattern in bead crochet, and it’s also the first time I’ve added a glue-on clasp:

It’s magnetic!

Isn’t that so cool?

And… more beading!

Since I’ve been feeling really into beads recently, I decided to take a class at my local bead shop. Check out this necklace I made:

The main technique I learned was wire wrapping (to attach the dangling sea glass beads onto the chain), and it was really fun!

Fair Isle

And… I finished knitting a fair isle hat!

It’s from a kit by Cleckheaton Superfine.

WIP: Star Afghan begins!

November 26, 2014

Remember last week when I asked you to vote on my next afghan using these great rainbow colors?

I was floored by all of the responses! And while the winner wasn’t clear-cut… the star pattern got oodles of votes!

The Pattern

After looking at lots of star patterns, I was really inspired by stablewoman’s version of the Lyn’s Round Ripple Afghan pattern.

I’ve gotten started:

What do you think?

It’s a 12 point star, and even though the pattern isn’t terribly well-written, I’ve gotten the hang of it and I’m really enjoying it!

And some bead crochet…

I’ve also been into doing some bead crochet… here’s a little progress photo:

I’m hoping to show you some finished items, soon!

That’s what I’ve been up to this week… how about you? I hope you have an awesome Wednesday, and get some great knitting/crocheting done this week!

If you want to check out more Work-In-Progress posts, please check out Tami’s Ami’s Blog, who’s been organizing a great WIP Wednesday blog theme! And, don’t forget to come back for FO (Finished Object) Friday!

Do you knit two at a time?

November 6, 2013

Have you ever knit two at a time?

I originally learned to knit two socks at a time using Antje Gillingham’s book Knitting Circles around Socks: Knit Two at a Time on Circular Needles… but now I use the technique for all kinds of things!

What does it mean to knit two at a time?

It’s just what it sounds like! Using two separate balls of yarn, you’ll knit round one of the first sock, then round one of the second sock. Then, you’ll move onto round two of the second sock…

It’s a great technique for ensuring that two pieces are exactly the same!

Once I got the hang of socks, I moved onto knitting other pieces this way, like these monster arms:

knitting monster arms two at a time

And now…

Do you remember when I told you I’d started knitting a Charleston Tee?

When it came time to knit the sleeves, I thought, ‘hey! I should do them both at once!’

knitting sleeves two at a time

(I apologize for the late-at-night photo… I’m busy knitting!)

This way, the sleeves would be exactly identical, and I’d only have to read through the directions once! Hooray!

Because the sleeves are knitted flat (instead of in the round), I only need one needle instead of two.

It’s almost finished… fingers crossed it’s ready for me to wear at Stitches East!

That’s what I’ve been up to this week… how about you? I hope you have an awesome Wednesday, and get some great knitting/crocheting done this week!

My Derecho!

August 16, 2013

Remember how I frogged my Color Affection and then started Derecho? And kept working on it?

Now it’s done… and I couldn’t be happier! It’s beautiful!

The lime green yarn from Candy Skein really makes the whole project pop, don’t you think?

I had such a blast knitting this… and the best part is that it’s totally wearable. You can even still see the design when I’m wearing it! Love that.

This one’s a keeper!

Thanks for stopping by and reading!

If you want to see more great finished items… make sure to visit Tami’s Amis blog, the organizer of this great FO Friday theme!

I hope you have an awesome and craft-filled weekend!

My mom and step-father are visiting this weekend, so I’m going to be getting into some semi-crafty house updating projects!