I like to hoard. I call it “collecting” and that seems to justify it. But I also love to use up my stash so I can start fresh. I also like quilts. I start planning them twice a year, as the weather dictates. In the fall, as temperatures drop, I start thinking about the quilt that I will snuggle with each night. In the spring, I’m thinking of a quilt to take to the beach and on picnics. Of course, they rarely get past the imagination phase…until recently.

After finally finishing my first quilt this past winter (the top had been done for over a year), I have made a second, and (almost) a third. Below is my new “Spring Cleaning Quilt.” A chance to use up my leftover fabric scraps that I couldn’t part with (the purple floral in the center front leftover from the backing of my first quilt). It was quick, simple and fun – just the way I like my crafting!

Here is my simple “recipe” (I like it better than pattern) for the Spring Cleaning Quilt. I cut my fabrics into 5″x5″ squares and sorted them by color: white, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow. I then arranged them by color on the diagonal, in the order listed above. I made my quilt 12 blocks wide and 18 blocks long. So…216 blocks (hmm…it didn’t feel like that many!). I sewed them together in strips with a 1/4″ seam allowance. When I was done, I sewed the strips together. (Pressing inbetween, though I don’t always…)

I cut a two inch wide strip of fabric for the borders and attached them with the 1/4″ seam allowance. I attached the top and bottom borders first and then the two sides. I think I could have finished the quilt yesterday if it hadn’t been for the backing! I was planning on using the coral trim fabric because, all folded, it was heavy enough to indicate some serious yardage. Unfortunately, there was another piece of fabric folded inside…alas, not enough! So…I’m off to the store today to pick up something for the back, and then I’ll tie and finish! (Not tonight, though. I’m taking the husband to the Black Sheep Bistro for a birthday dinner!)

Happy Spring Crafting!

Here is a pattern for the wrist warmers I just knit for my Dad. I used the Shearer’s wool, which is a worsted weight.

Needles: US #7 and #8 (or size needed to obtain gauge)
Gauge (on smaller needles): 5sts=1″

With smaller needles, CO 40 sts.
Rnds 1-13: Work in K2 P2 ribbing.
Rnd 14: Working in K2 P2 ribbing, decrease 4 sts evenly in the P sts.
Rnds 15-19: Work in K2 P2 ribbing, EXCEPT where you worked P2tog, and there only work 1 P st.
Rnd 20: Working in ribbing, decrease 4 sts evenly in P sts.
Change to larger needles.
Rnd 21-25: K all sts.
Rnd 26: K all sts, increasing 4 sts evenly.
Rnds 27-35: K all sts.
Thumb opening:
Rnd 36: K 4, BO 5, K to end of rnd.
Rnd 37: K 4 sts off needle #1. Turn work and P across all rem sts, starting and ending with the sts on needle #1.
Rnd 38: Turn work. K across all sts.
Rnds 39-40: Repeat rnds 37 and 38 once more.
Resume work in rnd.
Rnd 41: K 4, CO 5, K to end of rnd.
Rnds 42-47: K all sts.
Rnds 48-54: Change to smaller needles. Work K2 P2 ribbing.
BO all sts.
Weave in loose ends.

Repeat above for second wrist warmer.
Give to dad/husband/brother/boyfriend/son/friend.
Enjoy looks of admiration and appreication.