Thursday, December 31, 2015

A Year End Knitting Update and 2015 Quilt Favorites

Loden Shawl - A Pattern by Irina Dmitrieva | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

On this the last day of 2015 I thought it might be a good idea to update my knitting projects for the year. I have been knitting although it comes spurts and starts - frenetic knitting sometimes followed by frogging and long bouts of inactivity. Eventually a project comes off the needles and I wonder what took so long ...

Loden Shawl - A Pattern by Irina Dmitrieva | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Loden Shawl - A Pattern by Irina Dmitrieva | Red Pepper Quilts 2015


My most recent finished knit is  Loden Shawl, a pattern by Irina Dmitrieva.  This shawl is a relatively easy project although it looks deceptively difficult! This shawl is worked from the edge up with botanical motifs and openwork. The pattern is charted which I prefer and involves active knitting that requires attention to the pattern detail; there’s always something happening on right-side rows, while wrong-side rows let you catch your breath.

Loden Shawl - A Pattern by Irina Dmitrieva | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

The Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal in Snowdrift

This tweed yarn is perfect for this shawl. It is soft with subtle and complementary tweed flecks which adds a rustic feel to an otherwise delicate looking lace pattern. As always, blocking my knitted project is the secret to the amazing stitch/lace definition! I use blocking wires and blocking pins to block my knitted projects.

Loden Shawl - A Pattern by Irina Dmitrieva | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Loden Shawl - A Pattern by Irina Dmitrieva | Red Pepper Quilts 2015
Click on any image for a larger view.
Also off the needles and freshly blocked is my Peak Color Shawl which I made over a two month period of stop / start knitting from October to December:

Peak Color Shawl - A Pattern by Plucky Knitter | Red Pepper Quilts


This eye catching asymmetrical triangle is worked from side to side in Plucky Bello yarn. I purchased this project as a kit with set colors but I have substituted a skein of bright pink yarn for orange ~ a color I am more likely to wear. The orange yarn is Malabrigo Sock Yarn in Terracotta. Each section brings in a new color and a new stitch pattern.

Peak Color Shawl - A Pattern by Plucky Knitter | Red Pepper Quilts
Peak Color Shawl - A Pattern by Plucky Knitter | Red Pepper Quilts

The Yarn: Plucky Bello by The Plucky Knitter

This was a great easy knitting pattern - perfect for a confident beginner knitter wanting to try different stitch patterns. The pattern includes written and charted instructions and once you have established the pattern for each new stitch  quickly becomes intuitive although I did count rows and tick off charts as I progressed.

Peak Color Shawl - A Pattern by Plucky Knitter | Red Pepper Quilts

For more photos and all the details including links to the patterns and yarn please check my Ravelry page:

Goodbye 2015!

I have made 38 quilts this year - it has been a huge year! And considering that I spent at least 7 weeks away from my sewing machine/traveling overseas that makes it almost one quilt a week. Choosing my 2015 quilt favorites is hard for a little piece of my heart and soul are stitched into each and every quilt. These "favorites" have been chosen not only for their color, the fabric, and the design, but also for the process, the season, and the memories associated with that time... 

Favorites ~ Finished Quilts 2015 | Red Pepper Quilts
Click on any image for a larger view.
From left to right and top to bottom:
1.   Quarter Log Cabin Scrap Quilt
2.   Memories Quilt (pattern available)
3.   An Autumn Quilt 
4.   Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt (tutorial available)
5.   Fields and Furrows Log Cabin Quilt
6.   Kona Color Wheel Quilt (tutorial and templates available)
7.   Pickle Dish Variation Quilt (tutorial and templates available)
8.  The Fall Quilt - A Checker Board Quilt (tutorial available)
9.   Single Irish Chain Scrap Quilt 
10. Scrappy Quarter Log Cabin Quilt (tutorial available)
11. Worn and Washed Strip Quilt
12. Scrappy Bear Paw Quilt (tutorial available)
See all 2015 Finished Quilts HERE.

As always I am grateful for your support and encouragement, and for stopping by!

With warmest wishes for all things bright and wonderful for 2016.
Rita

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25 comments:

  1. A great round up of your creative year Rita, you know I admire your knitting as much as your quiltmaking. The Peak Colour Shawl is totally awesome. I hope we get to catch up in 2016.

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  2. Your knitting is beautiful. I love your quilts and even made the checkerboard quilt. I had bought a few charm packs and cut them up into fourths with Kona white and it's lovely. I'm always amazed at the variety of your neutrals and have now acquired some interesting fabrics myself. Thank you for such a wonderful year of quilts.

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  3. Wonderful work - love your knitting!

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  4. Beautiful Rita! What a creative year!

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  5. What beautiful knitting!! Also love your favorite quilts. Maybe in 2016 I will attack some of my bigger scrap boxes and make myself a Scrappy Bear Paw Quilt (thank you again, for your tutorial) and a Fields and Furrows quilt....and maybe a single Irish chain quilt :)!

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  6. WOW - your knitting is incredible! Love it all. Thanks for sharing and Happy 2016.

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  7. Ahhhh all are so lovely... What a year! The knitting is so beautiful... Can't wait to see what 2016 brings!!

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  8. The knit items are gorgeous! Don't know when you would have had time to do that - maybe on the plane. A VERY productive year and can't wait to see what 2016 brings. All the very best to you!
    Ellie
    elliefpw@sbcglobal.net

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  9. Thanks for all the inspiration this year. I look forward to more in 2016.

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  10. Thank you for a year of beautiful posts and inspiration. Love your knitting too. You are amazing!!

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  11. And you KNIT beautiful things, too?! I'd have a really hard time choosing my favorite quilts of yours. Happy 2016, Rita, and thanks for all the wonderful quilts.

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  12. Thank you for sharing your beautiful quilts and knits. Where do you buy you yarn fir knitting?

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  13. It's always a treat to visit your site but today it's incredible. Your knitting is so pretty and I love seeing your gorgeous quilts again. Thank you! Happy New Year to you and your family from Southern California, USA!

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  14. Rita, what a year! I can see how it would be hard to choose, every single quilt is beautiful! Happy New Year!

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  15. Fantastic. Each and every one unique and so very beautiful. You are an inspiration.

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  16. So many times I stop by, fuel for inspiration and moveon without a word. Now, seeing all your 2015 quilt beauties, I want to thank you for all y our good ideas and tutorials. When will you list all your knitted beauties? Have a great 2016!

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  17. Looks like its been a great year!

    Happy New Year!

    May 2016 be even better!

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  18. I love your beautiful new shawl, very delicate. Happy New Year. x

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  19. Happy New Year, Rita.
    Your knitting is sensational. I do not knit. Your creations are just lovely.
    And those quilts... They just make me happy.
    Best wishes for a snappy fun filled 2016

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  20. The knitted shawl ist really beautiful. Happy New Year from Austria!

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  21. Your knitting is as incredible as you quilting.

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  22. The Loden shawl is beautiful. And I love your quilt finishes. Just wonderful!

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  23. I really LOVE the peak color shawl. I might even be able to attempt that one. It's just beautiful. And your 2015 collage has such beautiful quilts. Such inspiration. Happy new year to you and your family.

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  24. I love to knit also - your shawls are always inspirational!

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