"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ~ Elizabeth Zimmerman

4/28/16

Layette Set #10 for Knitwits

Another layette set finished.



The blanket.



Pattern: Scallop edging from Lots of Knots blog

Yarn
: Ella Rae Amity Print
Content: 75% Wool/25% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: 220

Yarn: Montgomery Wards Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: Orange

Hook: Size H

Started: April 25, 2016
Finished: April 25, 2016

The cardigan



Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea
Size: 6-12 months

Yarn
: Ella Rae Amity Print
Content: 75% Wool/25% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: 220

Yarn: Montgomery Wards Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: Orange

Needles: Circular size 6 and 8

Started: March 30, 2016
Finished: April 15, 2016

The hat.



PatternJacky's Hat by Courtney Kelley
Size: 3-9 months

Yarn
: Ella Rae Amity Print
Content: 75% Wool/25% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: 220

Yarn: Montgomery Wards Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: Orange

Needles: Circular size 6 and 7

Started: April 13, 2016
Finished: April 14, 2016

Comments: I decided to try something different for the hat this time. I really like this pattern. It's well written and works up very fast. I did make one change. The cuff/ear-flaps are seed stitch in the pattern. I did garter stitch to better match the rest of the set.

The booties.



PatternSeamless Garter Tassel Booties by Karen Strauss
Size: 6-9 months

Yarn
: Ella Rae Amity Print
Content: 75% Wool/25% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: 220

Yarn: Montgomery Wards Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, Worsted weight
Color: Orange

Needles: Circular size 6 and 8

Started: April 21, 2016
Finished: April 24, 2016

Comments: I used a larger size needle for the main part of the booties. I like it much better. Thy booties are just a little bit larger, but not so much they don't fit within the measurements required for this size.



I am very pleased with my workmanship on this set. I'm thinking about entering it in the fair this year.



I have started Layette set #11.



Live long and prosper. \\//

4/27/16

Mini Angora Sweaters

I got my first doll clothing custom order early last week. A gal ordered 4 of my Ellowyne Wilde sweaters with the ruffled collar. She wanted Angora (rabbit), which is unavailable at the weight I would need right now in the U.S. but she found some discontinued yarn at her local yarn shop and bought three colors. She really wanted a white one but that color was not available, so she settled for Mohair, which comes from Angora goats, so technically, it is Angora. Anyway, I got them done and shipped to her. I've taken pics for my own purpose which I post here.



The pink one. These were made with Rowan Angora Haze, which is a fingering weight yarn. As Angora goes, it's very nice yarn.



This one is lavender. It's a shame Angora Haze has been discontinued cuz it makes for lovely doll sweaters. Rabbit Angora sheds a lot when knitting with it though. My clothes would just be covered in hair even just after 10 minutes of knitting with it.



This one is Beige. I used a size 3 needle to knit all of these. I'm not getting into anymore detail cuz I sell these. One thing I have learned is I definitely am not charging enough for my doll outfits. A change is forth coming.



This last one is made using Cascade Yarns Kid Seta which is a lace weight Mohair/Silk/Wool blend. I like this yarn a lot. I hope they don't discontinue it for a long time.



This is not the only finished knitting I've got. I will present another finished project in my next post.

So, you may be wondering how the progress on our garage/shop building is going. It's not. The guys got done preparing the site complete with crushed gravel pounded down to resemble concrete, and then everything came to a complete stop. Why? Because it was discovered that part of said garage was going to be built on the other side of our property line. In fact, our house is 1/3 over our property line. My bedroom is on the property next door. AAAAAARRRGGGH!

Fortunately, we are part owners of the next door. My husband and his siblings own it jointly in a corporation they formed many years ago for reasons I don't want to go into. So, the solution most have agreed to is a like kind property exchange. When my husband was young ,his father gave him 10 acres which is the property we live on. Adjacent to us is a 5 acre triangle piece that is owned by the family. We will exchange 5 of our 10 acres for that 5 acre triangle and that will solve our problem. Unfortunately, this takes time, and money. So no building going on, and now the garage is going to cost a few thousand more. I am not happy about this, but oh well. We start with a property survey. The surveyors were out Monday to figure out exactly where the property lines are. Then there will be a title search. Then paperwork to fill out and file, and hopefully the county will accept the exchange. I am taking comfort in the fact that everyone we've had to deal with so far about this has told me that it happens often and it shouldn't be a problem.

The Parkarosa--never a dull moment.

Live long and prosper. \\//

4/22/16

Ellowyne Hats

I have produced some hats for Ellowyne dolls to go with outfits I've made to sell in my Etsy shop. These first three I made last Christmas, with intent to sell Christmas themed outfits, but life got too busy so that plan never got finished, so I have 'remodelled' them for current outfits about to go in the shop.



This hat is made of wool. I used scraps of fabric from the skirt it will go with to make the embellishment. I  think I need to tighten up that ribbon a bit. It seems to be a little loose.






This hat was made with a Lionbrand yarn that has a silver thread running through it. Again, I used scraps of fabric so it matches the skirt it will go with.



The next hat is made with a cotton/acrylic blend.



The outfit this hat will go with has a skirt made of purple fabric with sparkly gold in it.



These next two hats are newly knit. I decided to try Knitpicks Cotlin DK, which is a cotton and linen blend. It comes in lots of scrumptious colors.



I like it very much. It's nice to work with and looks great in a hat. It also takes spray starch well, which is good because I spray starch the hats to give them just a tiny bit of stiffness.



I gave myself a class in making pretty bows (I love the internet) and went on a shopping trip for ribbon.



Of all of these hats, this one is my favorite.



Live long and prosper. \\//

4/21/16

More Luna

Luna and I went on a little shopping spree and got her some new clothes. Here's pics.

This first one is a dress I asked me sister Jodie, of Jodiecreations, to make for us. She makes clothes for Kaye Wiggs dolls and they just happen to fit Luna perfectly.



This next one I got from Martha Boers of Antique Lilac. Martha sews costumes for dolls that are unbelievable in detail and workmanship. I consider us quite lucky that we were able to purchase this dress from her.



The hair bows were included.



These last two outfits were purchased from Fantasy Frocks Designs on Etsy.



 I love the bonnet in this blue outfit.



There is no way we could see this purple outfit and not want it. It has a pair of pantaloons, but they don't show in the pic.



Close up of hat.



She is a well dressed little girl. I need to get knitting for her. I'm just about finished with the doll sweater custom order. I think I'll work something up for Luna after that.

Live long and prosper. \\//

4/20/16

It's Begun

Life has been rather hectic around here lately. Mostly with getting ready for the construction of our new garage building. Last weekend we moved the building we call the shop cuz that's what it is. Sweet Hubby's little work shop. He and his brother moved it with their two tractors.



Doug pulled and Dan pushed. It was not easy to move, but they managed it. They wanted to turn it so the door faced the house after this but it couldn't be done without serious damage. So it's been left where it is. We also had to take down quite a few trees and whatnot. We had to have it done by Monday for certain cuz Tuesday the guys doing the prep work of the ground were scheduled to come. This is how it looked after we got both buildings out of the way, and the trees taken down. The front steps to the house are on the right.



Tuesday the excavators showed up on time and got to work.



They removed the top soil and leveled the ground. Today they are returning to lay gravel on the area.

Molly is having a bit of difficulty dealing with the chaos, but I'm using it as a training opportunity. I really am so happy with this dog, despite her problems. She is responding to training so very well. A week ago I couldn't go out any door without her trying to bolt out it. Within just a couple days she learned to stay back and sit until I go out the door. No more bolting. And the staying! I've never had a dog learn to stay as quickly as she has. She is so very smart.

She has an excessive barking problem, which I knew when I took her home. I did some research on the internet and learned how to teach her to stop that. I started two days ago. She's already improved quite a bit. Having men coming and going while they work on the garage is providing a wonderful opportunity to help her learn to not bark uncontrollably any more.

One thing Mollie has that had me completely overwhelmed for a few days is what is called leash aggression. She hates being on the leash. She can get very frustrated with it, especially if she wants to take off, and starts barking and growling like she's gonna attack. I've learned how to deal with it, though. I've been putting her in situations where she'll get that way and teaching her to calm down. I think we'll have this licked in no time. She's responding very well to the training.

Speaking of training, you may be wondering how the dog obedience class went. Well, it didn't. We got kicked out before class even got started. Mollie was fine with the other dogs, and the people, but she did not want to be on the leash, got frustrated, and threw quite a fit about it-getting very loud and was lunging trying to get off. We were unceremoniously rejected.

Actually, the trainer was extremely rude about it. She totally humiliated me in front of everyone. Without any warning she appeared shouting at me "NO! Not happening!", grabbed Mollies leash and dragged us outside. She then demanded to know if Mollie had ever been around humans. Of course she has. She loves people. She said my dog was too aggressive and can not take the class. I said "But that's why we're here! She needs training." She them demanded "Where did you get her?" I explained I got her from the humane society. She then asked me if I could still take the dog back. That's when I started to get angry. She saw Mollie all of 30 seconds and had the gall to say that to me! She offered me private lessons at $115 a pop. I went home in a rage.

After some discussion, we've decided to learn how to deal with Mollie's issued ourselves. I've been reading and watching videos on the internet, and I've bought a book and a dvd that should teach me a lot. I've already learned a lot as it is. Dogs are quite remarkable creatures.



Last Saturday the family had a little party at my nieces house. We took Mollie with us to introduce her to everyone. She did fairly well. Still exhibited some leash aggression and barked way too much. But she loved everyone and enjoyed the attention. She got along with my nieces old Labrador, Gracie, wonderfully.

While all this training is happening, Mollie has bonded to me. I realized it a week or so ago when I woke up in the middle of the night to find her head on my chest. She was sound asleep. I started crying with joy. I love this girl so much.

I have been knitting quite a bit. I've got the layette cardigan and hat knit, but not blocked yet. I put the project aside for a few days cuz I got an order for 4 doll sweaters.



The customer supplied 3 skeins of Angora yarn and I used my own mohair for the white one. It's been years since I've knit with Angora. I'd forgotten how much it sheds. I am very excited about this order. I'm starting to get a good reputation among the doll people. I will finish up the sweaters today.

The weather has been awesome the last few days. Sunshine and warmth. It actually got up to 81F degrees here yesterday, in April! All the flowering trees are in bloom in the area. My flowering plum blossoms opened up yesterday and the air smells so wonderful. I shall be doing some deck knitting today.

Live long and prosper. \\//


4/5/16

Bright Mittens

I had a skein of the Amity print I used for the last layette set left over, so I made a pair of mens mittens.


Mens Mittens #17 (for Knitwits)

Pattern: Modified my Seed Stitch Striped Mittens pattern .
Size: Mens Large

Yarn: Ella Rae Amity Print
Content:
 75% Superwash wool/25% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color:
 205

Needles:
 Circulars size 5.

Cast on:
 March 13, 2016
Completed: March 31, 2016


Comments:  Did stockinette stitch for the whole hand part. They sure are colorful.



I also finished a few doll things. I did this hat.



I cut some fabric squares from leftover fabric of a skirt I've made, bunched them together with a few pieces of blue ribbon, and sewed them on the hat.

I have also made 2 little sweaters, Ellowyne Wilde size. This first one is made with red Mohair. I put the lace pattern at the hem as well as at the neck.



This gold one is made with an Alpaca/Rayon blend. It was nice to work with.



We had beautiful weather this past weekend. On Saturday we unloaded the storage shed we call The Closet, then Doug and his brother moved it to a new location in the yard.



After that we put everything back in it. We did that because it was sitting right where the new garage is going. There's Dougs workshop that needs to be moved too. You can see a corner of it in the above pic. That is going to be the BIG job. It's quite a bit larger, and nothing inside is boxed up like it was in The Closet. I'm not looking forward to it, but it must be done. We will also have to take down the two large Grand Firs and the plum tree to make room for the garage. We have 3-4 weeks to get it done before the building materials are delivered. Then it will be garage building time.

Tonight Mollie and I have our first Dog Obedience class. I'm a little nervous and excited. I'm nervous about how she will behave when we get there with other dogs. I'm excited cuz I'm going to learn new stuff.

I took Mollie for a walk along the road this morning. This was the second time and it was so much nicer than the first time. She didn't pull on the leash hardly at all. I actually enjoyed walking with her. She is learning, and that is reassuring to me.

Live long and prosper. \\//