July 10th, 2009
I went to MD last month to help my daughter move and to visit with my two favorite girls and apparently that is when my blog vacation started.
So while I have been slacking off in the blogging department, at least I have been accomplishing a few things around here. I made a tote bag for Alexis using the tutorial found here.
And I made a little short set for Addision. The pattern is New Look 6689. As usual, I learned a lot on this one. For instance while I like the way ruffles look, I didn’t really care for doing them by hand. I think a ruffler foot may be in my future. These were also my first button holes. Like a good doobie, I made practice ones on scrap fabric first and they came out great. When it came time to make the real ones, my machine jammed, the needle broke and trying to rip it out without ripping the fabric was not fun. But it all worked out in the end.
I finished up my plain vanilla socks.
Pattern: Plain vanilla socks over 64 stitches
Yarn: Trekking #125
Needles: 2.25 mm
Started: 5/1/09
Finished: 6/10/09
This week I made some raspberry jam and next week blueberry jam is on the schedule.
I started a new pair of Ampersand socks when I left for MD last month and this is where they are at right now. As you can see, I haven’t been knitting much. I guess I need a little vacation from knitting too.
I also started working again on the quilt I started last year.
This week I added the border and started the quilting. This is my first quilt, so it’s slow going. I started doing stitch in the ditch quilting and frankly, I stink at it. I have to assume that I’ll get better with practice so I am sticking with it.
Well that’s all I have for now. I have some spinning to post about too, but I didn’t want this entry to be any bigger than it already is. Have a great weekend!
Tags: Ampersand 3, first quilt, New Look 6689 short set, Raspberry jam, Tote bag, Trekking 125 socks
Posted in Knitting, Sewing | 15 Comments »
July 7th, 2009
Apparently I have been on a blog vacation. I didn’t plan on it but here we are at almost 4 weeks since my last post. So I thought I’d see if a Ten on Tuesday post might help to get me back in the swing of things. I always have a hard time getting back into blogging after taking a break.
This weeks topic is 10 Things That Turn You Off About People.
1. People that are bossy and controlling.
2. People that think they are better than you.
3. People that are mean.
4. People that lie all the time and think other people don’t know it.
5. People that belittle others.
6. People that think they know everything.
7. People that think that their way is the only right way.
8. People that are two-faced.
9. People that get in your face.
10. People that are too lazy to bring their shopping cart to the collection corral.
I could have went on and on with this one!
Tags: Ten on Tuesday
Posted in Ten on Tuesday | 5 Comments »
June 9th, 2009
This weeks topic for Ten on Tuesday is 10 Favorite Things to do during “Me” time.
1. Get a pedicure.
2. Run.
3. Knit.
4. Sew.
5. Spin.
6. To have control of the TV remote.
7. Nap.
8. Browse a bookstore.
9. Read.
10. Take a walk.
What is your favorite “Me” thing to do?
Happy Tuesday!
Tags: Ten on Tuesday
Posted in Ten on Tuesday | 12 Comments »
June 8th, 2009
Fiber: Crosspatch Creations
Source: Rhinebeck 2008
Colorway: Blue/Multi
Yardage: 268 yards
Weight: 4.2 oz.
Ply: 2
WPI: 13
I finished this yarn up a few weeks ago but I am behind in my spinning posts so I’m just getting around to blogging about it.
This is the second time I have spun Crosspatch Creations and I just love spinning this stuff! It’s nice to just spin and not strive for consistency like I usually do. Instead, I realize I’m not going to spin “perfect” yarn and enjoy the spinning, the feel of the bumps and nubs slipping through my fingers. It’s wonderful. And it makes wonderful yarn too.
This is what I am working on now. It is the Alpaca and wool blend I picked up at this years CTS&W. I loved the mix of red and brown together and couldn’t wait to start on this. It does have a lot of vm in it though that I didn’t see when I bought it and that has taken a lot of the fun out of spinning it. It’s not much fun to have to stop spinning every minute or so to pick stuff out. I will finish it, but it won’t be soon enough for me.
I joined the Nutmeg Spinners Guild and went to my first meeting on Saturday. The meeting was on creating balanced plied yarns and this is the result of my time at the meeting.
It is a 3 ply and I only ended up with about 50 or 60 yards but I like how it came out and will find a use for it sooner or later. I drove up with Marcia and had a fun day, although she kept making me eat the delicious cookies she made and I think I gained about 5 pounds.
Hope you had a great weekend!
Tags: crosspatch creations, handspun, Spinning
Posted in Spinning | 11 Comments »
June 3rd, 2009
I haven’t been posting much because about a week and a half ago I fell from the third step of a ladder and landed flat on my back on the tile floor. Luckily I didn’t break anything this time but I have definitely been sore. I am actually more sore now than I was the first few days after I did it. Yes, I am a klutz. And I haven’t been running either. I tried once and it wasn’t good so I figured I better wait for a bit. All this makes me cranky and therefore I do not post. Who feels like posting when you’re cranky? Also, it kills my tailbone if I sit for long and that surely cuts down on the time I spend at the computer. It has greatly increased the spring cleaning going on around here though. One can get a lot of cleaning done while standing, which is the most comfortable right now.
The plain vanilla socks are finally past the gusset decreases. I really like this Trekking colorway!
I made a pair of mittens from some handpsun that has been in my yarn cabinet forever. The handspun is a Rambouillet and Angora blend and the mittens feel heavenly when on your hands. I have decided I need to make a better effort to knit up all this handspun, so you’ll be seeing a lot more handspun projects.
Pattern: Made Up
Yarn: Ranbouillet/Angora handspun
Needles: US size 6 & 8
Started: 5/24/09
Finished: 5/31/09
The car seat organizer is finished and in use in Michael’s truck. He likes it quite a bit. I originally got the pattern to make this for my car, but I made one for him first and now I don’t feel like making it again for myself. Maybe in a month or so I’ll feel like it.
Pattern: Simplicity 3731 Car Organizer
Material: Patriots from Joann’s
I finished the pajama pants too. I like these quite a bit but they are a little big. I will make one size down the next time I make them, and there will be a next time for sure.
Pattern: Apartment Pants from Betsy Ross Patterns
Material: Fun skull pattern from Joann’s
My goals for this week….. to have my tailbone stop hurting!
Happy Wednesday!
Tags: Apartment Pants, Car Seat Organizer, handspun mittens, Trekking 125 socks
Posted in WIP Wednesday | 24 Comments »
