Small diversions.

It has to be said that at the present time I go to bed and see patchwork projects when I close my eyes - hexagons, squares, octagons, paper templates, colour combinations, threads, wadding, backing sheets. And I keep hatching more ideas....but I shouldn't complain because it's a wonderful thing to feel inspired and to be able to make lovely things.
From time to time though I do need a little break from large-scale works and during one such sabbatical I knocked up these phone pouches. Quick, easy and way too tempting to keep making in all kinds of cotton prints......

I have a slight obsession with the USA cycling team strip - the ' Captain America ' suit as some cycling pundits keep calling it. So, when I saw this print, it reminded me of the suit and I had to have it....

Then I made this cute one for my other half - he is a grown up, sophisticated person, honestly. But he fell for this print whilst I was looking at fabrics online in Thailand so I ordered it as a surprise.

And this one is for my friend Kath - a huge Leeds Rhinos rugby fan. I found this small piece of cotton at the Skep in Farsley, one of my favourite shops. If I see anything blue and yellow I am programmed ( sadly! ) to think of Kath and rugby - and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

The Big Knit 2012

This year I've contributed again to the Big Knit, whereby money raised through the initiative goes to help make winter warmer for older people. During winter months, bobble-hat wearing Innocent smoothies appear in selected stores. For each one of these sold, Innocent donates 25p to Age UK.

They're good fun to make and don't take long. So, this is what I've been up to for the past few weeks.....Very special thanks to my friend Kath for contributing lots of lovely yarn.

Blue and white quilt blocks

The blue and white quilt blocks which I began working on last month are really beginning to grow in number now. I have enough for 3 rows of the lap quilt. I am lucky in that all of the fabric I've had to hand in my stash, which makes for quick work. And I've just acquired some lovely, high-quality cast-off shirts from my sweetheart, and they will make the quilt even more special.

Each row will be approx. 49 inches ( 117cm ) across, minus borders.

The blocks are all hand-stitched. Progress so far...the blocks are in no particular order.