six and a half stitches: IN WHICH YOU GET TO PLAY A STARRING ROLE

The wrap top has been finished. The daylight hours are fading with each new day. We now officially own a block of land with some trees on it. There will be no photos of the wrap top till daylight once again makes an appearnace in my life other than when I am at work. It's cute. Trust me. Imagine cute wrap top....about....here. I started immediately on some socks. And stopped almost as immediately. My siren song is for a baby quilt.

And so came to pass an afternoon of sketching out ideas, coming up with viable sewing alternatives that will work with the fabrics I have so far collected. Needless to say I rearranged the primary fabrics a few times to ensure my new obsessions got more air time. I think the inclusions of the deeper purples, prussian blues and citrus colours will work better, sharper and fresher somewhat (I have Nebo to thank for that obsession) and I have this intense need to use more and more Liberty print fabrics.

Fabric04

Fabric03

The wonderful friend that Di is, offered to go fabric hunting at Patchwork On Central to supplement the collection with new lines. I'm hoping she was successful. I want also to highlight central areas with knitted inserts or squares in different knit patterns, using up spare wool left over from other projects - like the wrap top (how coordinated) and some shibori felting with left over handpaintedyarn.com deep blue/black colourway (Paris Night). The knit and felted pieces will add weight and texture to the soft lightness of the majority of the fabrics. This then, just leaves the choice of pattern to be used:

Quilt01_2 Quilt02_1 Quilt03_1

1. I love the quilt I made for Kate last year. Totally made up pattern with big areas of coordinating fabrics and a large shibori bobble pillow as centre piece. I wanted to follow this idea a little more, even though the patterning is very simple, I think with the right combination of fabric patterns and colours it could be really dynamic. I have to bear in mind I don't know whether I'm having a boy or girl yet, and I can't wait - little miss itchy fingers - to find out before starting.

2. A large collection of log cabin squares. This was the starting point idea. Spurred on by the prolific, beautiful and graphically gorgeous cushions Lisa has been making, I've been smitten for a while with the idea of log cabin. Then Mason-Dixon posted a wee little thing about log cabin quilts (Feb 07), and I was seriously sold. Actually I think the vase in the middle of the bed sold me.

3. A simple square patchwork quilt. The easiest, but least appealing option.

Each option would work with the fabrics chosen, but I'm undecided. Suggestions? 1? 2? 3? Something different? Too many decisions...

And I need help with another, very major, potentially life path critical decision. I've recently been in discussions with a publisher about writing a book. It would be taking the blog and expanding upon it exponentially, opening my life and my loves up completely and taking you much further than I feel able to in a blog. It would focus at times on craftwork, cooking, inspirations and hopefully there will be patterns in there too. All that, amongst other things. A simple decision so one would think. But not, at the same time. You, dear readers, are what makes this possible, so I am calling for your vote of confidence. Yes, or no? Should I do it, and would it appeal? I don't often blatantly appeal for comments, but I'm really interested to hear your comments on this one, and would appreciate any thoughts.

Comments

Re the book, such a personal topic requires a highly personal decision to be made. I'm so reserved that I would never consider writing a blog, let alone a book, so I can hardly urge someone else to do just that. But you can rest assured that, if you do publish, there will be plenty of buyers.

Posted by: Adele | March 31, 2006 at 11:15 AM