new quarter - new list

So, what I'd like to finish this quarter? Let's see:

1. The quilt for my godfather, rolled over from Q2 - it only needs binding and thread burying.
I can't wait to see it finished, I'm quite proud of it even now.

2. A hopefully-still-surprise quilt - this I really need to finish as soon as possible. Both the top and the back are ready and I even have an idea about the quilting.

3. Mittens for my friend Malwinka

4. The denim skirt you've already seen - not a must, but it would be nice to finish it

5. The medallion quilt for my friend - even if I won't finish it this quarter I'd still like to work on it a bit, at least.

6. The corduroy skirt - more as a reminder than a real hope to finish, but I do hope to discover a way to make it wearable.

I'm sure there will be other projects in the meantime, I can already think of at least two more, but let's stop here, to make the list even partly realistic.
Of course this list is for:

Is it a pass?

Time to sum up my Q2 makes:

1. Euro siblings together quilt - done.

2. A quilt for my godfather - almost there, but it still needs binding and thread burying, so it's moving to the next quarter.

3. A potential skirt disaster - done, although it finished as a top not a skirt.

4. A denim skirt - not done, I haven't even touched it, maybe next quarter.

5. Gilbert's scarf  for my brother-in-law - done.

6. Anne's sweater for me - done.

7. In-fashion-again medallion quilt for my friend - not done, fortunately my friend is very patient.

8. Corduroy skirt - not done, I haven't touched it and I still have no clue how to make something wearable from it.

4 out of 8 - not brilliant, but better than Q1, so I'm quite happy.
Are you happy with your Q2 finishes, too?

catching up - knitting time too

The last finish (from the list) that I can show you this quarter is again a knitting project - this time a scarf for my brother-in-law.

It took me a bit long to knit it, as I did it on the train only and I'm a slow knitter, but the pattern is super easy and relaxing and still makes an interesting texture.

right side  --------------------------------------------------------wrong side

And to add some colour, I couldn't resist to take a photo against my beautiful cushion from Susan.

catching up - sewing time

My sewing hopes from the Q2 FAL list have been fulfilled in 1/3 only, and required a certain twist.
If you remember, I was going to finish a skirt, although I was afraid I wouldn't look good in it.
As it was half sewn already:

I kept trying it on, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see myself wearing it even at home. The pattern, lovely as it is to sew, was completely not me in this fabric colour and weight, and I was beginning to feel I would just use the cotton for quilting, when inspiration struck.
So I measure things a bit, pulled out a certain pattern I used once already, pulled a bit more fabric so that the pattern pieces would fit and made a pieced:

 Wiksten tank top

I didn't have enough fabric to make bias tape for the armholes and the neck, so I lined it instead.
The lining part was fun, because I was sure there was a way to do it so that all the seams were hidden between the lining and the outer fabric, but despite watching and reading several tutorials, I just couldn't get my head around the trick. You can picture me doubled up with laughter after the fifth time I turned everything inside out through one opening only to get a strange one armed garment with half of the fabric hidden somewhere between the layers... I couldn't even get frustrated because it was so funny. In the end I gave up and just stitched the top seams normally.
Still it's finished and I even wear it to work (OK, with a cardi, it is cut a bit low).

I hope it still can be counted as a proper FAL finish, even if I started with a skirt and finished with a top, so I'm linking it to the Finish Along party.

catching up - knitting time

Despite the silence on my blog I actually managed to have some more finishes this quarter, although I'm afraid the improv trees from the previous post are in only quilty finish.

Anyway, if you're still interested, here is the first knitting one in action:

It might not be too clear from the above photo, so maybe here:

Although I have to say I'm most comfortable with this kind of photos:

(* all photos in this post courtesy of my sis)
 So yes, I've knitted my first sweater! And contrary to my predictions (see item 6 on my Q2 FAL list) I finished it long before Christmas.

I think it was quite a beginner friendly pattern, knit top down and practically seamless, with no tricky stitches, just needing a bit of patience. Of course my fit could be better and the sleeves could be shorter (I should have followed the order of the pattern and made the collar before I started the sleeves - it's a bit tricky to judge the length of the sleeves if you start with them instead) but I love it anyway and I'm proudly linking it to: