Slow Stitching Sunday ~ More Crochet Squares

 

This is the layout idea for my 

20 Plus Crochet Squares Sampler

After making for of these cute 5 inch blocks from the

Granny Flower Granny Square Free Pattern @ Lullaby Lodge

I had these four blocks made with the small balls of yarn left from my 12" blocks.

These blocks look relatively square and the same size,

I still pinned them to my blocking board and sprayed them with water.

The uniform sides and sharp corners will be much better for joining later.

My crochet kitty inspector has approved this plan.

We will use the light gray yarn to add any borders 

needed to fill in the gaps to fit these blocks together 

and we will be adding a gray outer border to the afghan.

Since this is a sampler quilt, we will be using other granny squares patterns

 to make more 5 inch blocks to add to out setting layout.

This is the second small block pattern.

I will post the free pattern links tomorrow.

Linking up today with 

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

What have you been stitching this weekend? 

Slow Sunday Stitching ~ Wave Stitch Crochet Square

 

It has been a cold and snowy weekend, 

a good time to stay in and stitch with a cuddly lap cat. 

We had 8-9 inches of snow on Friday and it has not melted much

 due to freezing temperatures.

 Outside right now we are having a "snow squall." If you are from a warm climate and do not know what this is, it means that there will not be much snow but it is falling fast and furiously and the wind is blowing it around so that visibility is very low. If we were driving, it would be best to find a safe place to pull over and wait for the snow to let up.  Driving in a blinding snow can be dangerous because you cannot see the outlines of the road or a car that might be stopped in front of you,

or a pedestrian trying to get out of the storm. 

So being able to stay warm and snug inside is a blessing.

Nutmeg and I are working on the first block in the

Squares Crochet Along Pattern 8 @ The Inspired Wren

This is a wave stitch pattern that is done in multiples of 5 stitches

and there are 35 stitches in each row.

I admit that I had some difficulty following the written instructions for this pattern stitch.  It is written correctly, but I kept messing up on alternating the rows correctly and had to pull out a few rows more than once. 

I am a visual learner so I found the following video tutorial for this stitch very helpful:

Wave Stitch Video Tutorial @ Stitchorama

I love the striped waves in the video 

and have plans to make my second block in three colors. 

I started by making a Foundation Single Crochet (FSC) of 35 stitches. 

Click on the link below if you would like to learn how to start with this stitch:

Foundation Single Crochet (FSC) ~ Video Tutorial 

~ Hooked by Robin

Then I chained 1 and turned and started my first pattern row, 

and in the back loop of my foundation row as called for in the pattern,

I alternated 5 slip stitches (Sl St)  with 5 half double crochet (HDC) stitches.

My second row repeated this row.

These two rows were followed by two rows which started with a chain 2 and repeats of 5 HDC followed by 5 Sl St across. 

After four rows the wave pattern stitch started to emerge.

Here is my block 15 progress.

Linking up tonight with

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

I hope to put in a few more rows before sleep. 

Sweet stitching dreams! 

Slow Stitching Crochet Blocks

 

I am slowly working on Basketweave Block #2 for my 

 Squares Sampler Afghan ~ Started Here. 

I have not made much progress with the second block as I am having a day when my health issues are troubling and I have been resting when I have not been sitting with Mr Scrapatch. and watching the football playoffs.  I will get it done when I get it done.  This is a no-stress activity for me.

I do have one of my previous squares on the blocking board. This block was definitely smaller than the first of its kind.  I do have a tendency to crochet more tightly as my stitching goes on. Blocking helps to even out my work.

I have also been perusing this new purchase, 

Crochet Stitch Dictionary by Sarah Hazell

It is a colorful and comprehensive book showing how to do each stitch in a photos and how to read a crochet chart for each stitch. 

For more of a glimpse inside this book click on the link below:

Crochet Stitch Dictionary ~ Preview on Google Books

As much as I am learning from videos online,

I like a good book on hand for reference.

I am thinking that after I complete the  squares for my

Crochet Sampler Crochet Along @ The Inspired Wren

that I may want to make another sampler squares or stripes quilt using this book.

That is thinking far to the future, though.

For now I am taking it one stitch at a time.

Linking up today with 

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Happy Slow Stitching!

Stitching Weekend ~ Day 2

 

Stitchy Weekend ~ Part 2

This weekend I have been able to stitch the daily block and one of the blocks that I need to complete to catch up with the daily posts for the 

 October Halloween Stitch Along @ Pine Needles

I am really enjoying this stitch along.

Today's block was this 

Ghastly ~ Day 17

I decided to add black cross stitch eyes to the ghost

and add a few stars to the sky to add some sparkle to the blank space.

Today I also stitched the 

Boo ~ Day 9

where I decided not to extend the witch's broom.

I made colorful letters as I  had decided to stitch the white ghosty next to it's "Boo" and did not want two white motifs next to each other.

Looking forward to tomorrow's block!

Linking up with 

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

where there is always beautiful inspiration in the links. 

A Slow Stitch October Weekend

 

The calendar grid is done for my 

 October Halloween Stitch Along @ Pine Needles

This has been a time consuming design change for me

as I am a slow stitcher but I am very happy with how this is working up.

I have figured out how to add the word "October" 

in the extra space in the bottom row

and am stitching that now.

I will probably fill in this space with a few more spooky stitches. 

I have gotten a few days behind on the cute little daily blocks

but they are quick and fun so I am hoping I will catch up with the 

stitch along soon.

 

Linking up tonight with

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts 

What have you been working on this weekend?

Slow Stitching Sunday ~ Binding My Bats & Boos Quilt

 

My Bats & Boos Quilt, clipped and ready to bind. 

Today I added this bright check binding to my quilt and am slowly hand stitching the binding to the back of the quilt.

As always, Katniss is my faithful quilty kitty inspector for this part of the process.

This is one of my favorite parts of making a quilt.

I love sitting and hand stitching.

My favorite moment is taking that last stitch on the back and turning over my beautiful finished quilt. 

Hopefully, that will be sometime tomorrow.

Linking up tonight with 

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

where there is always a lot of wonderful inspiration in the links.

Happy Stitching!

Slow Stitching Sunday ~ Fall Leaves Time of Year

Every year at this time, we add some fall mums to our garden 

and I pull out this quilt and do some very slow stitching.

Here is this quilt on August 15, 2020

This is the quilt before I started the embroidered leaves:

There are 64 background squares in this Schnibbles quilt top

completed Here in August, 2012. 

I have been slowly embroidering free form leaves since then.

I add a few more embroidered leaves every year.

Linking up again this year with 

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

One year I will be finished.

Perhaps this will be the year. 

Happy Stitching! 

Slow Stitching Sunday ~ Binding My Quilt

 

Today, I am slowly stitching my binding to the back of my quilt. 

Of course, I have a lot of kitty help with this.

Katniss is snoopervising.

Nutmeg thought my beewax thread conditioner was a toy 

so I put it tried to put it away in the little tin. 

Nutmeg is helping me by taking it back out. 

With such good help, I hope to be done soon.

Linking up tonight with 

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Are you Slow Stitching Today? 

Hazy and Lazy Slow Stitching Sunday

Another nice day of slow stitching on my covered deck;

another embroidered leaf almost done.

It is hot and hazy and I am feeling lazy

but I am slowly stitching.

There are 64 background squares in this Schnibbles quilt top

completed Here in August, 2012. 

I have been slowly embroidering free form leaves since then.

Every year I take it out in August and add a few more leaves.

Then I get distracted by other projects or the weather turns to winter

and I put it away for another year.

Some year I will finish the embroidery and then quilt it.

I am hoping it will be this year.

I am getting very distracted by this wonderful new slow stitch along that I found last week...

Spellbound Mystery Sew-A-Long

There is a new free pattern every Sunday!

Join this Spellbinding Sew-A-Long Group Here

Click on the link above for Group Info and the link to the Week 1 Pattern.

I have printed 

Week 2 ~ Merry Juggler by Kathy @ Heart To Hand

and am still choosing fabrics, some from my stash and some new to me.

Kathy @ Heart To Hand

 has also generously offered a  free

"Wool Applique ~ Beginner's Guide"

with lots of tips and tricks

and a  free

Christmas Sampler Mini Quilt Pattern

for more slow stitching fun.

Linking up today with the lovely stitching
@



Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Happy Slow Stitching Sunday! 

Last Slow Sunday Stitching of January 2020

Onto Row 3 for my ... 

Quilty Love Cross Stitch

My sewing and stitching have all been slow this weekend 

and my naps have been long.

On Friday I decided it was time to take my fatigue and congestion to the doctor

and I was put on antibiotics for a sinus infection.

Infections of this type are not all that unusual for me in winter

when my indoor allergies fester with the house closed up. 

I am starting to feel better 

and hope to catch up on my quilty commitments 

this week. 

Linking up with the lovely slow stitching in progress at

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Happy Stitching! 

Slow Stitch Sunday in Texas

Row 1 is done!

It was a beautiful sunny day today.

I spent much of the day slow stitching.

Mostly outside or in a sunny window.

This photo was taken at the end of the day

after darkness fell and the soft lights were on inside.

Mr Scrapatch added the tent roof to the tower

and the Little Miss enjoyed the sunshade.

He also added the monkey bars but I forgot to take photos today.

I like the gingerbread house in the Christmas colors I have chosen.

I will add the button details after all the stitching is done.

This is the original pattern colors ...

Vintage Christmas Cross Stitch Pattern

I like the original but I am enjoying playing with the pattern ...

I love the snowman.

The striped scarf is my own variation.

I also made a larger carrot nose.

Linking up tonight with all the pretty projects 

@

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Happy Sunday ... :-)