Stitch Adventures

What is blocking?

If you could learn a technique that would even-out your knitting stitches, would you want to learn it?  If you found that there was a way to make the edges on your crocheted afghan lay flat, would you do it?  If the squares that you got back from your weaving group were all different sizes, and they weren't supposed to be, would you know how to fix them?

I'm asking these questions because many fiber hobbyists don't seem to know what the one answer is for all of these problems.  Blocking!

Blocking is the final shaping of your finished or nearly finished garment, afghan, purse, etc.  It fixes all the little "oops" problems, straightens edges, gives you the right size, and evens your stitches.  It definitely makes your item look finished and professional.

Last week, I was a judge at the county fair, and only one crocheted afghan had been blocked - it was wool, so presumably the stitcher knew that it should be blocked, and the finishing showed.  I gave the afghan a first place ribbon.

The other 35 crocheted afghans that I looked at had curled corners, or unstraight edges, or bubbles and uneven stitches.  If the stitchers who worked so hard on their afghans had taken just one more step - and blocked their afghans, none of these distracting results would have remained. 

It doesn't take much time to block your item, except drying time. 

For lightweight items, you can spray with water, then shape to the desired size.  For heavier items, like afghans, submerge in water to get completely wet, roll in several towels to blot excess water, and shape onto a flat surface like a bed, couch, or dry towel covered floor. 

In both cases, hold the desired shape with pins that won't rust (alot of people use flower pins for this) and let dry flat.  Depending upon the weather and temperature, this could take awhile - a day or two. 

Here's a crocheted baby vest that my daughter just made - her first!  She used rust proof pins to block the sweater to shape, then let it dry on her ironing board - for a day.

 

For small items, you can steam with an iron on your ironing board, making sure to hold the iron ABOVE the item, not on the item.  You definitely don't want to flatten your stitches.  Again, pin and let dry completely - just because it's not hot, doesn't mean it's dry.

Don't hang or drape the item!  That will stretch it out of shape.

There are a lot of great videos online that talk about blocking.  Here's a simple set of knit blocking instructions that I think are good:  Blocking tutorial. 

Whether you are knitting, crocheting, weaving or embroidering, you really should consider blocking as your final step.  Without it, your item is just not complete!

 

 

Ventura County Fair

A big part of my summer each year anticipating and volunteering at the Ventura County Fair.  It's in full swing now, - you can smell the fair food as you drive by on Hwy 101, and you also get a pretty good view of the bungee jumping.

Here's a great picture of the mascot at the "Ride a Sheep" contest:

 

Last week,  I spent two days exploring the fair, and working at the quilt demo for my local "Quilters Anonymous" group in the Home Arts building.  It's fun to watch the people who have entered something in the various competition come to look for their entries - and look to see if they received an award! 

In year's past I've been the judge for weaving, spinning, knitting, rug making, and fine crochet.  This year, I was the judge for crocheted afghans. 

A judge is looking for technique - (was it difficult to make, or easy and well executed?); appropriate use of materials (i.e. using chunky yarn to make a baby afghan which will weigh a lot isn't a great idea); and design (colors and combinations that go with the pattern chosen). 

It's not easy being a Fair judge - you've got to hold back on your opinions (like colors and fibers you might prefer), and be careful to look at all the characteristics of the finished items - even if it's something you wouldn't make or own yourself.  I know very well how much time and effort goes into making something, and how scary it is to actually enter something to be judged.

There were quite a few entries in the crocheted afghan categories this year.  I tried to write comments on every afghan that I judged.  I always compliment the good, and sometimes offer suggestions for improvement. This is for the contestant eyes only - once the items are displayed, the public doesn't get to see any negative comments. 

My biggest complaint - contestants who bring in hand made items that are dirty, stained, covered in pet hair, or so obviously much used that the yarn is worn out.  How can a judge overlook such lack of pride?  A few years back, I remember looking at an exquisite and very finely crocheted table runner that appeared to be tea-dyed.  But once I touched it, I discovered it was actually greasy and dirty  - brown from dirt.  Argh!  What a shame. 

And yes, this year was no different.  There were some afghans that should not have been entered because they were dirty or too well worn.  But there were also some very well made, and very modern design afghans. 

Here is one of my favorites -

 

Looks like I'll have to start making granny squares again to try this one out!  I just love the way the afghan looked like a grass field with flowers in it.  I would love to get a pattern for this, but haven't been able to find one online, so let me know if you know where it is available.

 

 

 

 

Hawaiian applique quilt blocks

In July, it was my turn to choose a block design and fabrics for others in my local quilt guild to make for me. I was driving a quilt friend to LAX airport - and since she was on her way to a 2-week vacation to Hawaii, I was inspired to honor her by having everyone in my group make a Hawaiian needle turn applique block.

I was already in Los Angeles. Since I don't take driving trips there too often - I wanted to do something besides a tuck and roll at the airport.  (That's my husbands term, kind of picturesque, isn't it?)  So, I decided to go to the LA Fabric Mart, and find some interesting fabrics for the quilt-to-be.   I went to a store I've been hearing about for years - Michael Levine's. 

Ever been to Michael Levine's?  I don't know what to compare this fabric shop with.  Maybe right up there with the Fabric Depot in Portland.  I go to Portland just for that fabric store.  But if you don't want to make the trip, their online stores are great too!

Traditional Hawaiian applique quilts are done in solid colored fabric.  But I wanted to try something a little more modern, so I chose red and green prints and a white background for the blocks for my group.

I have a book, Hawaiian Quilt Masterpieces, that serves as inspiration, because it explains the meaning of each design.  For my project, I chose 12 designs, and cut out all the "snowflakes".

Cutting out designs is kind of fun - just like when you were a kid, and cut out snowflake patterns from a folded paper. Only now you fold fabric and cut out the design. 

 There are lots of places online that show and tell how to do needle turn applique. But in short form, you center the cut design on your background fabric and baste it down 1/4" from all edges.  This picture is from a different project, but you can see the basting. 

Very time consuming, because the designs are very intricate.  This is a completed block that I did several years ago.

 

Once the block is basted down, then you hand applique the edges down, turning the edges under about 1/8" - up to the basting. 

I tried several different kind of needles, and finally found one that actually helped me get the edges turned under as I stitched - a size 9 applique needle. It even helped in the corners, where I had to take several stitches to keep the fabric from raveling. 

I also ended up sewing a machine zig zag stitch around the edges of the background fabric, because it was starting to fray from all the handling and turning.

This is a great handwork project for in front of the tv.  Not quick though, because of the intricacy. 

Here's a picture of the finished block that I made as a sample to show my quilt group members, who will all be working on different designs, but similar fabric and colors that I chose.

And here's a picture of the backside - you can see how close together the stitches need to be to make sure the design edges are all caught underneath.

Looks like a lot of work, but just like the crazy quilt block that I did last month, it will help my friends try out a technique they haven't done in awhile. 

And once I get the blocks back, I hope to make a full size quilt, with the addition of a few more.  I can always hope!

 

 

Quilt block exchange

Each month, since March, eight members of my local handquilting group have been making quilt blocks for each other.  The members who wanted to participate each chose a month, a project block, and their own colors.  When it's your month, you bring in enough materials and the directions, so that each member can make a block for you.  My month is July - there will be pictures and details in the next post.

So far, for other members, I've made some interesting blocks.  Interesting in that I learned a new piecing technique or tried different colors.  And great because I only have to make one per month!  Now that I can accomplish.

Last month I made a crazy quilt block, and I was able to play with the fancy stitches on my Bernina.  But I now know I don't want to make a whole crazy quilt myself.  Maybe it's named that way for a reason.

My favorite month so far, was in May.  The quilter brought in a pattern called Girls Favorite, which looked simple enough. 

 

She asked each of us to pick our own blue and yellow fabric, as that would add lots of different fabrics to the final quilt, when she put all the different blocks together.  The quilt was for her boy scout troop, so we were requested to not add too many flowery patterns.

I love the end result, and loved the color combinations that I chose.

However, I should have watched the direction of the striped blue pattern - and that way the stripes would have all been going in the same direction! 

All the people who made the block had difficulty with the way the pattern was written.  The person who wrote the directions for the block (the designer) didn't have the right dimensions of some squares and triangles, and didn't have the correct number of fabric squares to cut.  Something to keep in mind when downloading patterns from the internet.

Next: My quilt block of the month - Hawaiian needle turn applique.