Monday, April 20, 2015

We all live in a.....

I lost interest in EF 1864 and picked up Blackbird Designs Yellow Submarine.  As many of you know, I'm a big Beatles fan, so the 6 designs based on Beatles songs that Blackbird Designs' Barb Adams released are a must for me.  Yellow Submarine has to be first -- the boy child and I watched that movie endless times.  Here is my progress on the piece so far.


I'm using the called for linen and GAST fibers.  Once again, I'm unhappy with how the GAST colors just aren't the same as what is shown on the model.  GAST and other overdyed cottons just aren't reliable in their colors at all.  And I feel the Lakeside Linen Cedar Plank just makes the colors look muddy.  The picture has lightened up the colors a lot.  (I'm using 40ct linen.)  I'm hoping my Yellow Sub looks good when it's finished.

If you're wondering what that hexagon shaped thing is in the picture -- well, it's my first hexipuff for a hexipuff blanket.  The pattern is from here.  I've made three so far, one not stuffed, one stuffed, and the third stuffed slightly more.


So far, I'm just using the leftover tidbits from my Walking Tour Scarf, Jamieson and Smith Shetland 2 ply Jumper weight.  I'm planning on adding in some Koigu and other yarns too.  And yes, you sew the hexipuffs together to make a blanket.

The weather has been beautiful and warm the past few days.  A certain cat has been enjoying it immensely.  (Mia is an indoor cat.)


Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a great week!


28 comments:

Cari said...

Good morning !! I'm about halfway with my Yellow Submarine. It's a fun stitch and I'll love watching yours grow. I have the pattern for the knitted hexagons too. I haven't started but it sure is a great way to use up bits of yarn. A smaller project too is so easy as a take along to appointments. Have fun with it. And Mia loving your great weather. Love her to pieces. She is such a sweet kitty. Enjoy your week and I'll enjoy reading all about your progress on all of your projects next Monday morning. Hugs

Vera said...

Hi Margaret, great start to Yellow Submarine. I still have no stitching mojo at all. So strange for me. We were away this weekend and I went to both a stitching shop (bought nothing!!) and a yarn shop - Score! Bought some 100% mink yarn - wow, so soft, and a couple other skeins as well. Mia looks so content.

Vickie said...

I had wondered if those patterns were going to grab your attention. :) Madeleine is big into the Beatles also. We are currently into Simon & Garfunkel though. Wow. I have memories of my Dad cranking "Me and Julio" on the stereo in the summer time. Me outside with our little Julio. The silver toy poodle we had, that my Dad named. It is neat to see the kids get interested in the old music, isn't it?

Stitchinowl said...

Nice progress on Yellow Submarine! I agree with you that the GAST and other specialty threads are so inconsistent in color. I get very frustrated with this...DMC is looking better and better.
Carolyn

Melissa said...

A cat in bliss is a joy to behold! :-)

Your start on Yellow Submarine is wonderful. It's too bad that you are finding the colours so different than what's on the cover of the chart. That's so often the case. I hope the submarine turns out to your liking.

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Yes, I agree the GAST are inconsistent! They are inconsistent in their own dye lots my finished product never looks like the colors in the model. GRRRRR

Miss Mia looks so relaxed and she looks like she is enjoying the warm breezes of spring.

Annie said...

The Beatles pieces should be just thing the restore your stitching mojo. Hand-dyed colors and fabrics are always such a pain. I suspect the picture on the pattern probably doesn't even match what the finished model looked like. Cameras add that extra variable.

I love the submarine piece, but I would be bored doing that large expanse of yellow. Hope it has good contrast with your fabric.

The hexies are a great idea. Were you just experimenting with how puffy to make them or do you plan to mix it up? You have so many great yarns to work with.

Linda said...

Great new starts Margaret.

Linda

Ruth said...

Wonderful starts -- you find the very best adventures to go on.... and share with us. Though I suspect you play holy heck with my stash acquisitioning!

Evelyne said...

Great start to Yellow Submarine!
Great idea the hexagon blanket!

have a great week.
Evelyne

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Love Mia in the sun, our two have been lazing in the sun every day recently. The beekeeper quilt is a neat pattern, I look forward to seeing yours grow.
It's not good when threads and fabric don't quite work out the way you want them too - I sometimes think the image on charts is part of the issue.

Karen said...

I have Yellow Submarine and Octopus's Garden in my stash to stitch for DH -- he's a huge Beatles fan. I haven't found the Cedar Plank fabric yet but based on your comments, I may pull the fibers -- or alternate fibers -- and do a floss toss to find an alternate fabric.

Question about the hexipuffs...they are so darn cute! Are they fairly easy? Could a beginning knitter such as myself do them without too much frustration and swearing?

Rugs and Pugs said...

Me thinks YS looks lovely :)
Mia is such a doll.
Hooray for spring.
Hugs :)
Lauren

Linda said...

I thought about making thos hexapuff thingies. But then I thought again - LOL!
Lovely Mia...in the sun...
My cat has been enjoying the open windows lately!

Linda in VA

Jackie's Stitches said...

I have the chart and the linen for YS. Like you, I have the 40 count. It's much darker than your photo but it sounds like yours is too.

The color variations are to be expected, however, not in the wide range that I've seen. I generally only find it frustrating but when I buy Belle Soie, it really makes me more than frustrated. At that price, I'll probably quit buying them unless I can see them in person (which isn't going to happen in my town).

Mary said...

Wow Margaret, you've been dabbling with a lot of cool projects this week! Love the hexipuffs - they look like the perfect way to use up all those odd bits of yarn one accumulates. Revel in that lovely weather!

marly said...

So you like the Beatles? Who knew??? LOL! I am leery of getting overdyed online, been very disappointed more then once.

P.J. said...

I fell in love with Octopus Garden when I saw it. On my wish list; will be perfect for the bathroom. So many music memories with The Beatles. Your start looks good...hope it finishes to your satisfaction. The hexi puffs are sooo cool! What an awesome, snuggly blanket. Betting I know who will lay claim to it when your finished. Cat naps in the sun are the best!!

Brigitte said...

As you are a Beatles fan it's no wonder that you prefer stitching on these fantastic BBDs rather than on your sampler. I think these are an absolute must for fans. And knitted hexies? I great idea for a blanket. I have to click the link that you gave and see what it will look like. Sounds veeeeery interesting.

Dawn said...

Oh, the puff hexies look so interesting - look forward to watching them come together. fun when a new project takes hold and the stitching begins!

woolwoman said...

well I looked hard at those BBD Beatles tributes but I resisted, I am TRYING to do better but I'm glad to see you are stitching one of your faves. I'm sure it will come out adorable. OMG - someone even gifted me that Hexipuff pattern and I still haven't made a single one. Sounds like a good thing to use up leftovers though - I just can't make time for much else. Glad Ms Mia is enjoying the sunny days on her perch, you too I hope - Mel

Merry Wind Farm said...

Hi, Margaret,
Haha, I looked at that purple hexagon and though, that doesn't look like a yellow submarine!! They read further on. Pretty things!
Melinda

Melody said...

What a great start! I am looking forward to seeing your yellow submarine piece grow. The knitted hexis will make a pretty throw. It will be warm too. Our warm weather has reverted back to chilly temps for this week. A blanket on your lap sounds pretty good right now.

Beth said...

Sunshine and Kitties go hand in hand. I hope your Yellow Submarine really pops for you.

Carol said...

A hexi puff blanket! Now, that's a new one on me--I can't wait to see it grow :)

I totally agree with you on the overdyed thread differences. I'm finding myself changing more and more colors each time I stitch a chart that uses them. I'm sure your Yellow Submarine will look fabulous when finished...

Hugs to Miss Mia (does she know she's an online star??!!)...

Kaisievic said...

Margaret, you are such an enabler! Now I want to make a hexie puffy quilt! I have the BBD Beatles patterns, too - they are all so gorgeous, aren't they? Great start on Yellow Submarine.

Anonymous said...

Like everyone else, I'm with you on the frustration on how inconsistent the dye lots are with the GAST fibers. It would be fabulous if we lived places where we could actually hand pick the flosses, wouldn't it? LOL. But this is such a fun design and you've made a great start on it. :)

Melanie said...

Are the threads inconsistent....or are the photo editors (be they the designers themselves or hired help) working some Photoshop magic on the samples to make them look their very best? I can't decide but I run into this issue all the time as well. Even on simpler designs, like Lizzie Kate. (Though hers are better, IMHO, than the sampler style designers.) Honestly, it could just be that a professional photographer knows how to take the very best picture of something, which is probably not going to translate well to a project that is being worked inside the house, at night, even under a stitching light. In that case, if they take a real life photo, then the sample looks drab and no one will want to buy it. I guess you can't win but it is frustrating because sometimes these combinations seem really RIDICULOUS when you kit them up. You can't figure how ANYONE got THAT sample from what you have in front of you. :(

Blah, blah, blah. Yellow Submarine was my favorite in that series. :)