It’s Raining Cats and Dogs Quilt – Block 4

Knitting has gone by the wayside really. I did a few rows of my boyfriend’s socks when I was at his house last weekend and I knitted a swatch in Zealana Heron yarn, which is a new yarn we’re stocking in the shop. (It’s lush by the way!). But other than, knitting hasn’t really happened. I’m just waiting for some of the new pattern books to arrive in the shop as I’ve spotted a few that I really want to do. I’m sure that will get my knitting mojo back.

But I’ve not been idle. Last night I finished Block 4 of my Raining Cats and Dogs Quilt and started Block 5!

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs Quilt – Block 3

My boyfriend, my Dad and a friend went out on Friday night for a boys night, so that left me, Mum and friend’s wife at home for a crafting night.

I did well and block 3 is now finished with the house and roof of block 4 done too!

Last night I didn’t get any sewing on the quilt done though. I had to take up the hem on a new pair of jeans!

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs Quilt – Block 2

There’s not really a lot of knitting going on at the moment. The possum yarn jumper is going slowly, mainly because I’m scared it’s going to be too small and I’m avoiding the problem by not knitting it. On Saturday I cast on for a pair of socks for my boyfriend. The idea of knitting socks astounded him really, so I said I’d knit him a pair. He finds wool itchy generally, but I’m using Rico Superba Bamboo sock yarn which is 50% merino, 25% bamboo and 25% acrylic so it feels soft and a little bit silky so I hope that it won’t irritate him. It’s a small project that I will keep at his house for the weekends that I’m visiting him. He was amazed as he watched me handling the 4 DPNs 🙂

However I have been doing a lot of sewing recently and block 2 of the It’s Raining Cats and Dogs quilt has been complete, with block 3 well underway too.

I’m also really keen to get on with another quilt. I’m dying to do a sampler quilt with fabric from Moda’s Etchings collection. I have a fat quarter bundle and charm pack which I’d like to use. But I can only do one quilt at a time. Hopefully this will give me the incentive to get on quickly with the cats and dogs quilt.

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs Quilt – Block 1

It’s been ages since I last blogged. Life is good though.. very good 🙂 I’ve met a wonderful man but he lives about 150 miles away so we only get to see each other for weekends and have to Skype or FaceTime during the week. This doesn’t leave much time for crafting, but I’m not complaining. He’s very supportive of my knitting, sewing and weaving interests as his sister and mother love crafting too, although they concentrate on paper crafts and jewellery making. He’s used to the obsessions that crafters can have!

Anyway, I’ve made the first block of the It’s Raining Cats and Dogs Quilt by Bunny Hill Designs, that I’m running as a Block of the Month and I started the second block a couple of nights ago. My customers are on Block 4, so I’m a bit behind!

This is the first quilt I’ve ever made and there is a LOT of appliqué on each block. It takes a while to cut out all the pieces and then sew them on. The background pieces are done on a machine though, to speed things up slightly. I’m finding the appliqué is very relaxing to do though and Mum reckons that I’m doing it very neatly.

I haven’t done the bits of embroidery on the block yet (there’s some writing to go on the shop window and the dogs need eyes etc), but it is virtually done!

If you want to make this quilt, you can buy the pattern here.

I do also have some knitting on the go – a jumper using my possum yarn that was in my stash and a pattern from Interweave Knits, but I’ll blog about that another time.