Laowai

I'm always making things or thinking of making things. Here's what I've been doing lately.

In my never ending quest to use up fabric scraps I've been working on a quilt. Using mostly 2 inch squares that I've been cutting up – along with bands of dark turquoise fabric.

At first I thought I was going to make the turquoise strips go horizontally all the way down the quilt but I didn't like it so I began cutting the striped panels up into squares and turning them before sewing them back together. Now it's much more busy and random but I think it's more interesting.

At this point I have to admit that I will never use up all my scraps – I keep getting new fabric and whenever I make something there is always leftover fabric. Oh well.

I was thinking of donating this quilt because I really don't need another quilt and I like the idea of giving it away. I recently learned about Hawaiian quilting traditions and heard that after a quilt is finished it is customary to sleep under the quilt for one night before you give it away. I guess sleeping under it adds a little more of yourself to the quilt. I like that idea.

I've also been working on this scarf – I was drawn in by a sample at the yarn store. I normally don't like variegated yarn so much – or maybe I just don't know how to use. But this scarf is so simple to make and I had to try it.

The pattern uses two different skeins of variegated yarn and as you go along it's a wonderful surprise to see what colors are going to be combined next. And the result is reminiscent of Missoni fabrics. Can't wait to wear it!

Here's a homey lavender sachet that I finished this week.

I've been reading a book about Grant Wood and after looking at these aprons that his sister and mother wore as models – I want to make something with rickrack along the edge. I like how it hovers along the edge of the fabric making little void shapes.

And now, even though it is still February, it is feeling like spring. Temps are warm and all our snow has melted. I walked around my garden and noticed daffodils coming up. And inside I have some dogwood branches blooming.