Cy - And another block bites the dust

Work on the crazy quilt is ongoing.

Trying hard to catch-up and get the last couple of blocks completed during the first half of January, so that I can then stitch them together into my wall hanging before the end of January.

Progress has been made on the October block over the last two days.

Here is where I am at the moment - almost complete. 

Freestyle Rhodes Stitch

Dice - inspiration for this came from the silver dice that was in my Christmas cracker.

The Crochet piece for this block. With a row of Chain Stitch at the base.

An Invented Stitch - probably been invented before I created it, but it is not in any book of instructions that I know of. Starts as a 'sort of' ladder stitch but with a knot on each side that 'pulls the stitch into a 'blocky' looking zig-zag.

Cast-On Stitch in a variegated mercerized cotton.

Royal blue ribbon couched down with thinner black ribbon. (beads have been added since this photo).

The central butterfly needs finishing. Then on to the next block. 

I'm hoping to get one block a week done now until I catch up, so you should expect to see a block reveal for each of the next two weeks.

Got to give myself this goal so that I can bite away at it and finish along with the rest of you here.

Here are the (almost) complete block pics.

I might add a little more bling after I've done the next two blocks.

Wahoo! the end is in sight now.

Happy Stitching

Carolynn update

Still working along on my Family piece! I'm making progress toward the due date: June 12!

Here is the whole project so far:

Some new details:  the center motif is started, and in the lower right, you can see a piece of crochet work I've added, held down by ribbon and with a ribbon and French knot flower in the middle:

I've used the wheatear stitch as a motif:

And added another button motif:

When I finish the border motifs, I'll attach batting and a back, and then sew on beads and buttons in various places as a way to do the "quilting."  I'll stitch in the ditch with clear thread around each block at the border, and hope that will be enough to keep the piece from sagging.  So I'm seeing the end in sight!

Debra-TAST: French Knots

I worked alot this week on my block & made some serious progress.  But, I'm only going to show you what pertains to this week's TAST lesson!  (Yea, I'm mean like that!)

I was thoroughly embarassed by my stem stitch example of last week so worked a few new ones.  My problem was that I didn't have the slant down right.  These are much better.  I also worked a tied herringbone section that reminds me of smocking which is a good thing since this is a sewing themed book.  Lots of french knots and I did a filled spider wheel but like the whipped wheel better.

That's my story and I'm stitching to it!