Suture for a Living

More Knitted Hats

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:31:00 PST

I've completed a few more hats. These are adolescent or adult size. These first two I am donating along with these previous ones to my father-in-law’s Church’s homeless ministry.

This one is knit using Marsan Watchcap by Staceyjoy Elkin. The yarn is Vanna’s Choice.

This one is a slouch hat knit using Intuitive by Julia Zahle. The yarn is Paton’s Classic wool.

This one is adolescent size. I may give it to one of my nieces or nephews. It is knit using Lucky Seven by Robin Melanson. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers.

This one is adult size knit using Noro spiral one-skein hat by Manuèle Ducret. The yarn is Vanna’s Choice. I may give it to one of my nieces.

Scrappy Wonky Log Cabin Baby Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 04:25:00 PST

I made this baby quilt for my friend @gastromom's first grandchild. Her son and daughter-in-law are expecting their first baby this coming spring. I used the scrappy wonky log cabin block, trimming the blocks to 10.5 in square. The finished quilt measures 33 in X 44 in. It is machine pieced and quilted.

This next photos show some of the interesting items to be found in the quilt fabrics. This one shows the Arkansas fabric, flowers, trees, a steamboat, and lots of colors (pink, yellow, green, blue, red).

In this one you can find dogs, trees, strips, plaids, Oklahoma, a blue steer.

This one has more dogs, a cat, signs, and a car.

In this one you can find an owl, another car, stars, flowers, and leaves.

Baby Surprise Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 04:25:00 PST

I made this BSJ for a grand-niece. It is the second I've made (you can see my first one here). The pattern is Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket. This one uses some sock yarn whose label I had lost and Lion Brand LB 1878 fingering in a dark red.

Here is the back view

I used heart buttons

I've started a new jacket in a toddler size for a niece. I’m using Baby Bee Sweet Delight Baby in Meema’s Blue.

Preemie Garments

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 04:25:00 PST

I had trouble finding preemie garments at the local stores to give to my niece for her twin girls so I decided to try my hand at making a few. I found a great source for patterns for preemies here.

They are not perfect as I am not used to machine sewing such small garments. Also, my I broke my serger several months ago and never replaced it. The edges of the garments would be much easier to finish with a serger rather than bias tape or hand embroidery blanket stitch. Anyway, here they are.

These two are made from a soft flannel I happened to have using the preemie serger gown pattern. I used bias binding to finish the edges and Velcro for closures.

These two are from the same pattern using some fun cotton print fabric.

These two are made from flannel fabric using preemie shirt pattern. I finished the edges by hand using embroidery thread and a blanket stitch.

Toddler Surprise Jacket and Cupcake Hat

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:35:00 PST

I finished the toddler surprise jacket which is just a toddler size version of the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. The yarn is Baby Bee Sweet Delight Baby in Meema’s Blue. I gave this to a 6 yo niece for Christmas. The color is not a bright as this photo suggest.

Here is a closer view of the buttons.

Now for the cupcake hat. It was sent to me by an old friend (she was an OR nurse at Lahey Clinic when I rotated through there during my plastic surgery residency) who made the hat. She also sent me a copy of the pattern so I can make more. I gave this one to a 2.5 yo niece for Christmas.

Two Hats and a Dog Sweater

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 04:24:00 PST

Here are two more hats I managed to get knitted for Christmas gifts and a dog sweater. This first one I made for a 10 yr old nephew. He loves the hats I knit for him (which makes me happy). It is made using Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers yarn in a brown. The pattern is Beanie No. 212 by Bernhard Ulmann.

This hat was made for an adult nephew who has admired the hats I have knit in the past for the kids. I finally made him one. It uses the same yarn as the one above in a litter brown. The pattern is Palindrome Hat by Kristin Bellehumeur.

Now for the dog sweater. My husband urged me to make this for our dog Rusty when we lost power Christmas evening and for the next two days. It was rather cold and we were all grateful when the power/ heat came back on. God bless the utility workers who toiled in the bad weather to restore the power. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Solids, Twists, Heathers in claret. The pattern is The Ozzie large dog sweater by Jenna Greer. It fits him really well, but should have been just bit longer along the back.

And from the side

Scrappy Baby Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 04:15:00 PST

This scrappy baby quilt was done in sort of a round robin fashion. I began with the robot square and added yellow fabric with cat related words. The next round was completed using strips of “route 66” fabric. I slipped a thin strip of "spool" fabric in as the next round so that the sunflower round would take full advantage of the flowers.

I decided that I wanted the quilt to be rectangular rather than square so the next round is uneven with 2 in squares sewn together one row deep on the sides and two rows deep on the top/bottom. The squares feature buttons, owls, dogs, cats, space, and more route 66.

In the spirit of using scrap fabric or fabric in my stashes as I'm trying to use what is available before simply buying more, the last round is a 5 in border of "ugly" fabric which seemed to tie it all together. The quilt is machine pieced and quilted. It measures 35 in X 39 in.

Here is another detail photo which shows the spools, a car, a horse, some of the words, and the robot.

The back is an ecru print. This photo hopefully shows off some of the quilting.

I gave this quilt to a niece who is pregnant with her second baby.

200 Yard Scarf and More Hats

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:18:00 PST

This beautiful scarf I made for @k . It was made using Artyarns Rhapsody Light as part of the 200 Yard Scarf Knitalong by Iris Schreier. The yarn is a silk/mohair blend, so very soft, so nice to the touch. Finished and blocked, this scarf measures 60 in along the top edge and 9 in at the widest point.

Here is a closer photo to show some of the detail

Here is a photo of me modeling the scarf

These two hats were made for my neighbors great-grandsons. They were made using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Solids, Twists, Heathers. The pattern is Knit Family Toques by Bernat Design Studio. I chose to knit the hats in the round rather than seamed as the pattern is written.

Scrappy Log Cabin Squares

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:25:00 PST

These scrappy log cabin squares are 11 in square (10.5 in plus the seam allowances). I have 10 squares finished. I’ll probably only make 2 more and then set them together for a child-size quilt.

Here’s some close up photos to show the fun details in a few of the squares. This one has a birdbath, flowers, and peacock feather.

This one has a girl checking her mailbox and a car.

This one has a Santa Claus X 3, snowmen, a steamboat, and some leaves.

Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt -- WIP

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:25:00 PST

I finished two additional scrappy log cabin squares for a total of 12. Here they are. I love the little cowgirl on her tricycle, the red convertible, the ladybugs, the thread, the planet.

This one has a blue car, flowers, lemons, and lots of colors.

I decided to set the squares with a simple sashing and border. The cream fabric sashing is 1.25 in wide (1.75 in with seam allowances). I used some left-over 2 in green squares which I recut. Then added a 3 in (2.75 in without seam allowance) blue border with orange square in the corners. The quilt top (prior to doing the quilting) measures 42 in X 53.75 in.

So now I have to put the top together with the batting and backing and quilt it.

Thinking of You Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:26:00 PST

I love the way this scarf turned out. Finished in time to share for Valentine's. The pattern I used is Thinking of You Scarf by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer. The sale of the pattern raises money for WomenHeart, the organization devoted to improving the quality of life and healthcare for women living with heart disease.

The yarn is Fyberspates Scrumptious DK in cherry red. It measures 6 in X 60 in.

Here is a photo of the two ends lain out side by side. The hearts go up one side to just about a third of the length.

And here is a close up of the hearts

Also, check out this recent post over at Quilt Alliance blog. It features some of my quilts.

Finished the Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 04:34:00 PST

Here is the finished scrappy log cabin quilt. I have given it to a colleague to use for his grandchildren. The quilt measures 41.5 in X 53.25 in. It is machine pieced and quilted.

Here is are a few photos to show some of the points of interest. This one has a cat, a dog, flowers, a moon, and cat-related words.

This one had a cowgirl, a car, a planet, a ladybug, and more.

And this one a squash, an oil well, Winnie the Pooh, and more dogs.

The back is a blue print.

Small Americana Flannel Flag Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:39:00 PST

A friend is getting married this spring. No registry anywhere. This friend and her fiancé live in South Carolina so I thought a small quilt featuring Americana might make a nice token gift. The quilt is made using an 8.5 in X 10.5 in flannel flag. Flannel flags were used as tobacco premiums. [see my earlier post] The practice of inserting advertising in tobacco products and packaging began about 1870 and continued throughout the late 19th Century into the first decades of the 20th Century.

The above premium features an American flag in the center with 48 stars. As Arizona became the 48th state on Feb 14, 1912, this one had to be made after that date. The other flags (from top left, close wise) are Costa Rica, Peru, Cuba, Hayti, and San Domingo.

Here is a photo to show the hand quilting

Here is the back. I used the “fast finish triangle” method to allow easy hanging. See the wooden skewer used as a rod. This allows using a simple picture hanger hook to hand the quilt.

Another close view to show some of the quilting. The back fabric is closer to the tan color to the above photo than this one. I signed and dated the back before mailing it.

Some Reference:s:

Textile Tobacco Inserts and Premiums used in American Quilts, and Related Household Articles; By Laurette Carroll, Quilt Maker,
Quilt Collector and Quilt Historian

"Better Choose Me: Addictions to Tobacco, Collecting, and Quilting, 1880-1920"; Ethel Ewart Abrahams and Racheal K. Pannabecker from Uncoverings 2000

America's Quilting History; Tobacco Premium Quilt History: Silks, Ribbons & Flannels -- womenfolk.com

A Flag Quilt Launches a Search into the Past; Merikay Waldvogel; Quilting Today, Issue 68, pp 26-28

Museums & Quilts; Attic Treasures for Everybody at the Bowers

Museum of Cultural Art; Carter Houck; Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, Jan/Feb 1995, No 269, pp 40-41

Sunburst --- WIP

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:25:00 PST

This small quilt is for the Quilt Alliance Twenty contest. It is their 7th annual quilt contest. This year in honor of their 20th Anniversary they chose a broad theme that celebrates TWENTY: the numeral, the concept, the quantity, the word.

I started by looking through my quilt books and found this one called Golden Splendor in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. Check out her blog here.

I drafted the above pattern out on freezer paper with 20 triangles in the circle area and minus the feathers on the outer star points. I wasn’t happy with the outer 8 points and changed them to 20 points. So my pattern now had 20 inner points/rays and 20 outer points/rays. Over the next week I played with laying out fabrics trying to decide on the color palette.

I carefully numbered each piece prior to cutting them out. This small quilt I hand pieced to try to make sure the points were as sharp as possible.

Here is the hand-pieced quilt top. I plan to machine quilt it.

Baby Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 04:39:00 PST

This baby jacket is for a friend's first grandbaby. The baby shower is this Sunday. It is made using this garment with traditional embroidery from India that her daughter (the aunt-to-be) gave to me to use in a quilt or something. Here is the front and sides which would wrap towards the back laid out flat.

And this is the back or as you see the inside of the garment (the back is really open).

I folded the garment in half long-wise. Then using the Simplicity pattern 2900 I laid out the one pattern piece. The jacket is lined with white cotton flannel. I used bias binding along the sleeves and around the jacket to add a “pop” back. Believe me it looks much better with the red binding than without it.

Here is the back. I love how it turned out.

I think the baby's mother and grandmother will like the jacket.

Sunburst Finished!

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:14:01 PDT

I finished my entry for the Quilt Alliance Twenty contest.and mailed it off. Here it is. It is hand pieced and machine quilted, measures 20 in square.

Here's a closer view to show the quilting in the center.

The back before I added the sleeve and label. It is easier to see that I used orange thread to quilt some areas and white to quilt others.

Another view of the back

Step Baby Quilt --- WIP

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:27:00 PDT

This quilt top will become a baby quilt for my yoga instructor. I've been going to free classes at the local library on Saturday mornings since November. She announced recently she and her family are adopting a baby due early June. This will be my way of "paying" her for the free lessons.

For this quilt top I used the step pattern from block lotto blog. The top is machine pieced. It measures 42 in square.

Each block features something of interest -- a robot, a dog, a cat, a girl, etc.

Now I have to do the quilting.

Progress Notes -- WIPs

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 04:26:00 PDT

Still working on the Steps baby quilt which I have decided to name "Baby Steps." My current knitting project is a scarf/shawl using pattern Claire by Lynn Anne Banks. The yarn is Lana Gatto Silk Mohair in a pale pink.

I've also started planning and piecing my next quilt. I'm using fabrics that a friend from Boston sent me mixed with left-over fabrics from past projects. The center is a pillow panel from my friend. There were two of them, so there will be two similar quilts eventually. When finished the quilts will be donated the the Alzheimer's Quilt Study Group. As you can (sort of ) see, the center "pillow" medallion is in the center of a sunshine and shadows quilt layout.

Baby Steps Finished

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:24:00 PDT

The baby steps quilt is now finished. I love the way it turned out. As mentioned previously, I used the step pattern from block lotto blog. It is machine pieced and quilted. It measures 42 in square.

Here are a few shots to show the fun details. Holly Lobby checking her mail old style (which I still love to do).

And here are two friends sharing secrets and a robot (trying to listen in).

And here is another robot, a dog, a parrot, and Winnie the Pooh.

And here is a view of the back fabric (from the stash my Boston friend sent to me).

C's Baby Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:25:00 PDT

Christine is a work colleague. She is having her first baby. I some how missed that she was pregnant until the baby shower was announced (well, in fairness to me, we work in different parts of the building and rarely see each other), so I didn't have time to make a baby quilt for the shower which was earlier this week. I decided to knit this cute jacket in brick red (or Razorback red).

The jacket was knitted using Laura Edwards’ Lillie Baby Cardigan pattern and Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Tweed. I’m really pleased with how it turned out.

Small Whole Cloth Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:25:00 PDT

I bought this pre-printed Batik whole cloth quilt top a few years ago (I think 2007 Nashville quilt show) from The Stencil Company. I finally got around to hand quilting it. The quilt pattern is Queen’s crown. Finished, it measures 16 in square. The quilting is difficult to see in my photos of the front. Here is the full quilt.

Here is a photo of one corner which shows the quilting just a bit better.

The quilting is much easier to see from the back

I now need to add a sleeve for hanging and a label.

Charity Dog Bed

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:25:00 PDT

This dog bed is made using an old towel, an old pillow, and some canvas fabric. I'll be giving it to the local humane society where they can use it for either a dog or a cat. I measured the pillow (20 in X 24 in), added a seam allowance and an extra quarter inch on each side so I could top-stitch from the each edge to help strengthen the seams. Here is the towel side.

And here is the back

Sunshine and Shadow Medallion Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:25:00 PDT

I mentioned this as a WIP (work in progress) a few weeks ago. It is simply a pillow print used as a medallion in the center of a sunshine and shadows layout. It is machine pieced and quilted. It measures 42 in square. I donated the finished quilt to the Alzheimer's Quilt Study Group.

Here is a closer view of the center piece

And here you can see the fabrics used in the sunshine and shadows area better

Here is the fabric used for the back

iPad Cover

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:23:00 PDT

A month or two ago I happened to see Clover’s Trace ‘n Create templates for E-tablet Keepers and the companion Keeper Shapers on one of my trips to Hobby Lobby to buy thread or batting or whatever else I might have needed. I don't own an iPad myself, but one of my sisters does. It was an impulse buy.

Here’s my result

Here’s the inside (sans iPad)

Here is a YouTube video by Nancy Zieman showing how to make the E-tablet keeper.

Kite Tails Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (rlbates) — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:14:00 PDT

This small quilt was made using 2.5 in squares (including seam allowance) of fabric left-over from other projects. The pattern is kite tails. It is machine pieced and quilted. The back is the same white fabric as the front.

The quilt has three shades of blue (a medium, a dark, and a light), three shades of pink/mauves (a medium, a dark, and a light), and two shades of purple (a medium and a dark).

I haven't decided what I'll do with this quilt yet. I may put it back as a reserve baby quilt.