Wyoming Breezes

Sixteen-patch Lattice 60 x 73 inches Quilt of Valor #238 Half of the sixteen-patch blocks I made from 2.5” scraps were used to make this QOV. No pattern was used: the star blocks finish at 16 inches.  This QOV was a scrap buster. 

Cheyenne National Cemetery  Cheyenne, WY Wyoming’s first national cemetery was dedicated in October 2020

May 2023 This month I’ve been focused on fabric scraps and stash knitting because I hope to get both under control. Since April, I’ve knit four pair of socks - all knit with Patons Kroy Socks, so that’s EIGHT balls of yarn (a pair of socks requires two 50 gram balls) out of my yarn stash.  This pair used Brown Rose Marl (#55017) and I had 28 grams remaining (13 grams for one sock and 15 grams for the other). I love the colors and of course, I love the stripes! 

Last week I tackled the 2.5” scrap bin. I pulled all the smaller pieces and short strips and began making strip sets to be cut into two-patch units and then sewed into four-patch units. After two days of sewing, pressing and trimming, I had 180 four-patches — enough to begin assembling a Quilt of Valor kit started at Marilyn’s earlier this month.  Unfortunately, all this sewing barely made a dent in the scrap bin. 

Recently, I finished a pair of socks for my sister knit with Patons Kroy Socks yarn. I had 36 grams (out of 100 grams) remaining. I just finished another pair of socks knit with Patons Kroy Socks, using the same pattern, same number of stitches, same size, and the same needles. I had 9 grams (out of 100 grams) remaining. I finished another pair in April and had 28 grams remaining.  Why the difference? I’m uncertain, but the yarn for the most recent pair (the Grey Marl) does seem to have more “ body or bulk” to it.  I’ve never run out of yarn when knitting socks for my size 10 feet, but this time, one ball was pretty close.  Of all the sock yarn I’ve knit, Patons Kroy produces the more substantial product, and it wears extremely well.      Yarn :  Patons Kroy Socks (two balls — 100 grams total)              Grey Marl  #55045 Needles :  US size 2 — 64 stitches Remaining Yarn :  9 grams total              7 grams from one ball              2 grams from the other ball I know some of you

ten 12.5 inch star blocks April 2023 The Stacked Stars quilt posted on Monday required ten star blocks, and the pattern introduced me to a “new” technique to make quick and accurate flying geese with minimal waste. I’m sure others are familiar with this method, but it’s the first time I’ve made such accurate and easy flying geese. I took photos of the process, and I’ll link the instructions at the end of this post.  It seemed odd to begin with two different sized squares. Once I marked the diagonal lines on the squares, I sewed on the stitch line and cut down the middle. The resulting HSTs were pressed with the seam toward the larger triangle.  The pressed HSTs were placed on top of each other and marked again on the diagonal and stitched, Note that the seams DO NOT nest on these HSTs. Once sewn, the pieces are cut apart.  I snipped to the stitch line so the units can be pressed.  The snipped seam allows the units to swivel, so the seams can be pressed AWAY from the flying geese.  The

Stacked Stars 61 x 72 inches Quilt of Valor #237 Stacked Stars was made using Lisa Sutherland’s Huzzah #4 pattern. I used a cheater fabric for the center column instead of piecing the red/white stripes called for in the pattern. A lot of the fabric used in this quilt was donated by Ann D. in February of this year. Thank you, Ann for making this QOV possible. 

Marilyn’s socks  size 8 April 2023 I worked on these socks at Marilyn’s during the evening Colorado Avalanche (hockey) playoff games and the Denver Nuggets (basketball) playoff games.  You’ll notice that they are fraternal twins since the balls of yarn were wound backwards of each other. I considered making the socks match, but it would have required “wasting” a lot of yarn to get to the correct color repeat.  Yarn : Patons Kroy Socks (two balls). 100 grams total           Grey Brown Marl #55048 Needles : US size 2 — 64 stitches Remaining Yarn :  36 grams total            19 grams from one ball            17 grams from the other ball

Remembering Bert Quilt of Valor #236 April 2023  This Quilt of Valor is in memory of my good friend, Bert O. Bert taught Physical Education, and we worked together for many years. We served as class sponsors and supervised class trips. Bert gave me a motorcycle ride down Main Street at my 50th birthday party with an entourage following with honking horns. Bert and I were born on the same day but not the same year: we were birthday buddies.  Bert, his wife Sue, and I have been close friends for forty years. In recent years, I accompanied them on several poker runs where Bert rode his bike, and Sue and I followed in a vehicle.  Sadly Bert left this earth in 2022 after years of dealing with health issues. Bert and Sue donated this panel and several others for QOVs, so it is fitting that this quilt is named after my friend and birthday buddy.