Sampler Afghan

Another project I can pronounce finally done! I started it 5 months ago..... The squares came together quite quickly. Then we moved, and it sat. Finally I stitched the squares together, which only took a few sittings. Then it sat. And then today I finally did the dreaded weaving in of the strings and gave it a final single crochet around the edge.
 
Lessons learned for a sampler afghan:
Choose either to do lots of colors, or lots of patterns, but not both. I was doing this to use up scraps, but also picked almost all different patterns. I wish I had stuck with one or two.  But it will still keep toes warm, and help the lid fit back onto my yarn bin again, so I call it a success!

Front

Back

Rag quilt letters

I made a set of cotton letters for my niece Ella's first birthday.  I followed this tutorial from a blog called Happy Together.

I just grabbed a bunch of cotton scraps and made each letter a different fabric, the same front and back.  For the middle layer I used Warm and Natural batting.  I thought it "ragged" the best after a few washings.  I decided not to quilt the letters, like she did on the tutorial.  I tried one with quilting and one without, and liked them the same, so went with the easier style!  For the letters I used the font Ariel Black in size 500.  (Set them to "outline" style so you don't use up so much ink.)

Happy birthday, sweet Ella!