Cake and chicken - mmm!

I've been enjoying sewing lately.

For Christmas I gave out sewn birds in pretty fabric. Pictures to come.

I completed another paper-pieced quilt square. The pattern is free from winnowing.com

Right now the cake slice may look strange or elongated at the bottom but all four sides will be covered (sewn over) when the next pieces are joined to it.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have recently joined Pintrest. It can be a great waste of time but I've also found inspiration on the site. I look for cute or interesting projects to do, like the Little Chicken Bean Bags. Super quick, easy and so cute! (I added tail "feathers" embellishment. It's filled with small tapioca.)

Happy crafting!

New pursuits

I am still knitting but lately it's taken a back shelf to sewing. This year I want to expand my creativity and learn new crafting skills.

I've always sewn, but just before Christmas I began to quilt. I started small. Here is my first small quilt (about 14 x 14 inches):

This small quilt is based on V & Co's baby doll quilt. Yes, there are a few mistakes but overall I'm happy with it - maybe it's the bright colours?

Paper piecing sounded intriguing to me and so I started with a free tutorial from Piece By Number (a direct download of the tutorial is here). If I can find the original link from their page I will post it.

Here is mine:

The internet has a lot of free sewing and paper piecing patterns available. Pintrest is a great source for ideas, patterns, and can be a great way to spend your time.

Happy creating!

Val :)

New freebie pattern! - TRUCK

I have finally finished knitting up my latest design:


Click here to get a larger graph.

Enjoy!

TRUCK
Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell (http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com)
Supplies: Cotton yarn and 4mm needles.
Finished size: 9" x 6" long.

Cast on 48 stitches.

Rows 1 to 3: Knit across.
Row 4 and all remaining even-numbered rows: knit across.
Row 5: k3, p42, k3
Row 7: k3, p42, k3
Row 9: k3, p10, k3, p17, k3, p9, k3
Row 11: k3, p9, k2, p1, k2, p15, k2, p1, k2, p8, k3
Row 13: k3, p3, k5, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k13, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k4, p3, k3
Row 15: k3, p4, k5, p1, k3, p1, k15, p1, k3, p1, k4, p4, k3
Row 17: k3, p4, k6, p3, k17, p3, k5, p4, k3
Row 19: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 21: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 23: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 25: k3, p4, k24, p7, k2, p5, k3
Row 27: k3, p4, k24, p6, k2, p6, k3
Row 29: k3, p4, k24, p5, k2, p7, k3
Row 31: k3, p4, k19, p1, k4, p4, k2, p8, k3
Row 33: k3, p4, k19, p1, k9, p9, k3
Row 35: k3, p4, k19, p1, k8, p10, k3
Row 37: k3, p4, k19, p19, k3
Row 39: k3, p4, k19, p19, k3
Row 41: k3, p4, k19, p19, k3
Row 43: k3, p42, k3
Row 45: k3, p42, k3
Rows 46 to 49: Knit across.

Bind off.

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell.
http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com/

Please send me photos if you stitch/knit it up!

More designs to come!

September 15, 2007 - Happy first blog entry!

Hey! Who ever thought that I'd be writing a blog entry?

This blog is going to be a place for me to post photos of my knitting and cross-stitch projects. I taught myself to cross-stitch and have been doing it since November 1995. I only officially began knitting since taking a class in July 2007. Before then I could do the knit stitch, but that was it! Now I can actually do a few things more than just the knit stitch. ;-) I first started with knitting a dishcloth and I am now officially hooked.

This is my first knitted cloth (in Bernat's 100% handicrafter cotton, "Violet Veil Ombre"):

It ain't perfect, but who cares?



I also did the same pattern in Ivory (see photo, right). I think that I really prefer the solid colours to the variagated.


The pattern is called "Knit Eyelet Dishcloth." It can be freely downloaded from here.


My other interests include genealogy, reading, and collecting recipes. I also like to write my own book reviews so that I can remember what I've read. You can see what I have on these subjects on my web page.

Anyway, I plan on posting more photos and uploading some patterns that I've created myself. I LOVE finding free stuff online so I would like to offer up some freebies, too!

Have a great day!

Val