Beginner Scarf Finished!

I'm on a roll! This is the second project finished in the Joy in the New Year Challenge. I actually finished this last week, but I'm just getting around to taking photos of it.

I started this scarf last February. Yes, I'm ashamed to admit it, but it really has been that long. I'm just glad that I finally got it finished. It really only took, me a couple of hours to finish this once I sat down and decided to finish it. Amazing how that happens!
I used three skeins of Patons SWS in the Natural Geranium. I love this yarn! It is a little bit scratchy but I think it works great for a scarf, and is super warm.
I didn't have a pattern for this, I just cast on (I think) 45 stitches, and then knit across. The next row, I knit three and purl to the last three stitches where I knit three. Simple. Easy.Great for practicing and beginners. I think I did about ten rows of garter stitch to start and end. That's it! I love the way it turned out and really want to start another one, but I think I might try to finish a few more UFO's before starting a new project.

One Down...

I finished one project for the Joy in the New Year Challenge. Yes, I realize that I started with the simplest one (it really only took me 20 minutes to finish) but it is done and that is one more thing off my UFO list! And it frees up the knitting needles so that I can start another one, only after I finish all these other UFO's first, of course.Yipee! One down, 8 more to go.

Joy In the New Year Challenge

Jacquie is hosting a Challenge - Joy in the New Year. At first, I really wasn't going to join, mostly because I was scared to count all of my unfinished projects. Then I decided that it was better to take on the challenge and hopefully get one UFO finished rather than none at all.

So I took stock of all my UFO's (at least the ones I can think of- I didn't actually hunt them down) and I have 9 unfinished projects that I would like to get done before next year. NINE! That is a lot considering I only have a couple of months to get them finished, but I am hopeful. I did include one project that I actually haven't even started yet but it must be finished by the end of the year. But I also included one project that I can get finished in an hour. Something to give me a boost to keep going when I need it. Wish me luck!
Go here if you'd also like to join.

Soiree Charm Square Quilt

I finished another quilt. This one is also a quilt that I will be keeping for me! Now I have two quilts that were made especially for me by me! I'm so spoiled, I know!
I really liked this pattern from when I made it the first time, and decided that I'd also like I quilt for me. So I used two charm square packs of Soiree by Moda and whipped this quilt out in no time. It went super fast since I already knew how big I wanted it and did a lot of chain piecing which made the process faster. The final quilt measures 58x80 approximately (I actually think it shrunk up quite a bit after washing.)

For the backing, I used a light green Kona Cotton. Plain. Very plain. I had two charm squares left over, so I threw them in the mix to add a little something. And I kinda like it!

Since I normally end by saying "I LOVE IT", I should probably confess that I didn't love this quilt. After I got the top pieced and the quilt basted, I wasn't sure if I was totally in love with it. I decided to quilt it anyway. I did a basic stippling since I just did a straight line quilting on my last quilt and wanted to mix it up a little. I got about 25% through the quilting and decided I really didn't like it at all. In fact I didn't like it! I set it aside for a few days and debated weather to become best friends with the seam ripper or just keep going. After a few more days, I decided to just finish it and at least get some use out of it. I think I decided it was the colors, they just weren't working for me. So I finished it...pouting the whole time, and I threw it in the washer and dryer. As I pulled it out of the dryer, I just started to smile because I was so very happy with what I was seeing. I laid it out on the floor and just sat and stared at it for ever. I LOVE IT!!

My conclusion - the best part of quilting-- the crinkle goodness! It can change a quilt!