Finishes and more...

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. We hosted a large celebration yesterday and have been doing a lot of relaxing today.

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My first finish is a basket liner. Our youngest grandson, age 2,  needed a basket/bin for his music stuff. We couldn't find a bin that looked childish so I made a liner to help this one look like his. 

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Have I mentioned that a friend gifted me her stash? Well, she did! I was able to sort through and only keep what I thought I'd use which was quite a bit! So I'll continue working on my  clean-out-this-stash project...  

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The  grandsons that live nearby came to make cookies right before Christmas. For the first time, we also made a gingerbread house. I 'glued' the house together the day before and they did the rest.

I thought I'd have to help but the 9-year-old did most of the frosting with the 7-year-old helping some. Everyone including the 2-year-old decorated and sampled the candy.

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I have a few knitting finishes. The first is a Cabled Winter Headband. I used Cascade Yarns Cash Vero that I found in my stash. Yes, I have a yarn stash too!

The button is cherry wood.

Next is a hat. When I bought the yarn at Knit Circus in Madison, Wisconsin, the girl said it was enough to make an adult hat with the pattern Barley by Tin Can Knits. I tried making a hat but I didn’t have enough yarn. So I found the recommended pattern and began knitting the adult hat but ran out of yarn. Then I made the child's hat and had just enough. I wonder if my skein was the actual length that it was labelled. In any event, our youngest grandson likes his new hat!

And last is a hat that does fit me. The pattern Chunky Gansey Cap by Bonnie Marie Burns is a fast, easy knit. I used Jagger Spun Mousam Falls yarn and love my Gansey Hat.

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One of my Christmas gifts was the Bernina ruler foot and ruler set. I was able to play for a while today.  One of these days, I'll have another finish to share.

Sweater and Ear Warmer done...

The ear warmer was easy - just a simple knit. I wanted a simple red band. The yarn is Zitron Gobi that was leftover from another project. 

The Horseshoe Cable Headband pattern by Sarah Gettel is free on Ravelry. I didn't have enough yarn to crochet around the edges but it will work fine.

Now Ray's sweater was another story. The knitting was easy - I began it last January and finished knitting in the spring about the time we were leaving on our Northeastern trip. I set it aside - all that was needed was sewing the pieces together, picking up stitches and knitting the crew neck. I decided over a week ago to get it done. 

I reread the directions which were minimal - “Sew sleeve saddles to front and back, adjusting length of back neck saddle strips to fit smoothly into neckline by adding or removing rows as needed.” The saddles on the sleeves were strange and I tried to work them into the back neck - isn't that what the instructions said? They were weird but I persevered. I picked up the neck stitches and finished the sweater.

When Ray tried it on, I hated the fit of the sleeves and the places where the saddles turned to the top of the shoulders were not even. So... I frogged the crew neck and the seams. I had an idea - only because I've been a seamstress for years. This idea did not come from any knitting experience.

I made those funny pieces of the sleeve saddles longer and created a yoke going across the back of the sweater. I used a kitchener stitch to fasten the two together. Then I sewed the seams again - all went together very well. I picked up stitches and knit the crew neck again and finally had a sweater that looked pretty good.

This is the back. The yoke piece is not even an inch wide. Now that right angle that you see on the left matches the one on the front of the sweater.

The pattern is Men's Cabled Pullover by Mona Schmidt. I think I made the sleeves a bit long - I will take care of that. I think if I block this again that all will be well. I can also remove a little of the fullness in the sleeves.

 I used Cascade 220 Superwash yarn which is 100% wool.

As happy as I/we are with the finished sweater, I'm hesitant to recommend this pattern. My experience was frustrating and I think the entire sweater would have been frogged without my seamstress knowledge. The instructions for finishing were rather incomplete. The good part is that I figured it out!

First Scrappy Stars Quilt, Mariner's Daughter Socks are done!

I bought this quilt as a kit a number of years ago. The flannels in the kit caught my eye - I loved the colors. So at a retreat this fall, I finally made the top. Now the quilt is finished! The pattern is Kwik Scrappy Star.

It is not very big - just 37" X 45" but very snuggly. The batting is Dream Cotton and the top and back are both flannel. 

I used Aurifil thread to piece and quilt this donation quilt. I attempted to free motion the Jester Hat motif. I'm almost dyslexic with that design - I'm not sure why. Sometimes it looked okay!

While working on my  clean-out-this-stash project, I decide to make another larger quilt with this pattern. The pattern is pieced like Buggy Barn patterns - not my favorite way of piecing but  I liked the outcome. The other quilt is in the pile of 15 waiting to be pinned and quilted. They quietly wait for me which I greatly appreciate!

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I also finished my Mariner's Daughter Socks. I used Ann Budd's Knitting Socks book and am happy with the results. 

The yarn is Lichen and Lace 80/20 sock yarn from New Brunswick. I purchased the yarn at The Mariner's Daughter in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on our trip last spring/summer.

I am blocking a sweater for Ray and a headband/earwarmer fro me. I'll take pictures when they are done. 

A pair of socks and an idea

Another pair of hand knit socks. These feel so good - I can't wait to wear them! This yarn comes from Halifax, Nova Scotia, but I think it is available in the US.  I bought it last spring in Baddeck, NS. 

The yarn is Fleece Artist Cottage Socks in the color Forge Fire. 

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Things are moving slow around here. We are both sick with colds or maybe it is something else. It kind of comes and goes but doesn't go away. We have physicals next week and decided to wait to see the doctor until then. Hope that wasn't a mistake.

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During one of my good hours, I put this quilt on the wall and it just seemed too plain. Of course, I'm not a green person but it really needs something.

So I have an idea... stay tuned!

Finishes and many WIPs

I finished a quilt last night and washed it today. It is one of the clean-out-this-stash donation quilts. It's really cute but it doesn't look great on the brown carpet. The middle is flannel including the inner dark blue border.

The quilt is 50" by 43" with Dream Cotton batting. I used Aurifil thread for the piecing and the quilting.

The back is brushed cotton. I quilted this in a new-to-me design that I recently learned. It's large loops in a rather controlled design.

I really am serious about my clean-out-this-stash project. I'm going through fabric and pulling out quilts. It's kind of fun! Here are some WIPs (works-in-progress):

blue and yellow jelly roll race quilt waiting for a binding

red lasagna quilt top

red lasagna with sunlight quilt top

red, white, and blue lasagna quilt top

I think I have 13 quilts or more cut and kitted. There definitely will be more!

Here are some peeks at the design wall as I'm figuring out what I want to do.

sailboat quilt

pink pepto quilt

circus quilt

I hope to have a few more tops sewn together soon - I have a 3 1/2 day retreat next week. 

Today I decided to cut a scrappy Trip Around the World quilt. As I was looking for some strips to sew, I pulled out almost enough blocks-in-progress for the quilt. It is now a kit waiting for attention. 

I'm trying to make easy quilts because I'd like to get them done. I am enjoying this whole process though and I AM MAKING PROGRESS! 

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I also finished a summer sweater - I know it's a little late or maybe very early! I made a sweater early in the summer with the same bamboo yarn. After wearing it, I found that the bamboo has a tendency to stretch. This sweater was already started so I decided to finish it. I probably won't wear either sweater vey much but it's there if I want it.

It's hard to get a good picture of a sweater laying flat!

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This past Tuesday, the 18th, was the 50th anniversary of my 18th birthday. We were gone much of the day but I was able to sew while Ray fixed a delicious dinner. One stop during our day was at my favorite quilt shop. I bought batting but NO fabric! 

A couple of knitting finishes and more

I've been keeping busy and I just don't seem to get around to blogging! 

There's been lots of dehydrating: onions, potatoes, dill, cucumbers, zucchini, bananas, brown rice, tomatoes, more tomatoes, and whatever else I find.  I will use many of the tomatoes for tomato powder and the zucchini for zucchini powder. The tomato powder can be reconstituted into tomato paste, sauce, puree, and juice. The zucchini powder will be used in smoothies. Some zucchini will be reconstituted for baked goods. I finally tried reconstituting bananas we've always just eaten the banana chips and it worked great for baking. 

I roasted some garlic and made garlic butter - roasted garlic mixed with butter, basil, and a little lemon juice. I also made one 'stick' with oregano instead of basil. Everything is mushed together then put into a block and it's stored in the freezer. It's pretty good! 

I've been playing with my new Instant Pot - some successes and some opportunities to improve. There is a learning curve and I am climbing it! The tapioca pudding was quite runny but good. The yogurt really didn't set up. I guess two opportunities to improve isn't too bad. Everything else I've tried has been great.

I finished a scarf that I began knitting a while ago. It's made with Zauberball; I love the color and the pattern Girl's Best Friend.

I'll wear this around my neck as a scarf not a shawl. It should look great with a dark shirt.

I bought some Wooly Wonka yarn; the color is White Birch. I thought it would be great to use with some other yarn for socks. Well, it wound up loosely and then I decided to use it from both ends. What was I thinking??? I ended up with a mess! 

I cleaned up the tangled mess it took a while. The socks are now done and they look great. I used the leftovers from my Baddeck Socks and the leftovers from my scarf (above). The socks match except for the foot part.  I was hoping to get the tops to match so I'm happy. I used Dorothy's Slip Stitch Spiral Knit Socks pattern.

I have been quilting for 15 minutes most days and will have a finish soon. 

Baddeck Socks or Baadeck Socks

My Baddeck Socks are done! I bought the yarn at Baadeck Yarns in Baddeck, Nova Scotia in June. I thought it was only fitting to name these My Baddeck Socks or should I call them My Baadeck Socks?

I love the yarn - Turtlepurl Yarns Striped softshell turtle toes. The skein came in two pieces so I could easily make matching socks. The name of my color is What does it Mean? My socks are super soft.  

I used Ann Norling's Adult Basic Sock pattern. I probably won't use the pattern again as there are other patterns that I like better.

One thing I learned from the owner of Baadeck Yarns is to knit the first row in top down socks. I have always started the ribbing immediately. Knitting the first row is easier and the socks look and feel better.

Updates: 
Quilting - I'm making progress on the two tops I began at the retreat.
Dehydrating - Cucumber chips are good!
Poison Ivy - It's still with me - seems to be a little more severe than I originally thought. The first steroid treatment will end tomorrow. I think it's improving but looks like I still have a ways to go...

A Summer Sweater

I wanted this sweater done before our trip - I had plenty of time...BUT I had a problem with the pattern. I did the first six inches of the sweater over and over and over and even more! Finally I decided to wing it and rewrite the pattern. All I used was the design - 14 rows of stockinette stitch and 16 rows of the lace pattern. I guess I took this picture sideways but you can still see the lace pattern and the stockinette (plain) stitches.

The construction details are all mine and amazingly it worked!!!

The pattern is from LoveKnitting.com and it did say to use their yarn. I didn't although I was knitting right on gauge. Go figure! My yarn does stretch a little and that could be part of the problem.

I used Bamboo Pop which is half cotton and half bamboo and so very soft. I knit the ribbing, the lace part, and the neck with size 3 needles. I used size 6 needles for the stockinette stitch part. My first variation from the pattern was to knit this in the round.

It's done! It fits! I like it! What more could I want?! 

A New Knitted Cowl

I finished this cowl in early January. It took me a long time to take a photo and then I forgot about posting!

The color is denim. The yarn is HiKoo Simpliworsted and very soft and cozy. It is perfect for the cold weather we've been having.