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

12/27/17

Newsy Stuff

I had a wonderful Christmas. Everything went so well. I got the gifts bought/made and wrapped early, got all the Christmas baking done a couple days early, and got to have a very relaxing time on the actual day. Yay me!

We had Christmas Eve dinner at my brother-in-laws house with family. My nephew cooked the Prime Rib and it was unbelievably good. Best I've ever had in my life. The young man has a good talent for cooking. It was a very relaxing evening. I enjoyed it so much.

On Christmas day we went to my best friends house for dinner and played cards until the wee hours of the morning. Lots and lots of delicious food and fun was had by all.

I have been a busy bee though.

This year I made 8 loaves of Italian Christmas Bread for gifts. They turned out beautiful!


My arms and shoulders ached the next day from so much dough kneeding. Fun times!

I also baked several dozen dog cookies for all the dogs in the family.



Zoey was my official tester. I did 2 different recipes, both of which she loved. I made Peanut Butter, which had all of 4 ingredients and were super easy to make, and Pumpkin, which is a rolled cookie dough and there's a bacon glaze to put on top. My friend, Barb, gave me a cookie cutter for Christmas, so I made good use of it. I did not put the glaze on, though. It was going to make things too messy for my taste.

I've been working on my Mini Star Trek cross stitch. Got the 4th character done.



I blocked the dog sweater.


It's all sewn together too. Just have to do the leg ribbing. I tried it on Zoey and it's going to fit perfectly.

I'm almost done with the cardigan for another layette set too. This cardigan (no pics yet) will also serve as the model for a baby cardigan knitting pattern I've written. The pattern has been test knitted. I just need this sweater to be done so I can take pics for the pattern.

Christmas morning I got up and this was standing next to the tree.



Sweet Hubby made me an end table for the living room. It's made of cedar and this picture does not do it justice. It's absolutely gorgeous! It was a wonderful surprise.

I also got an eyeshadow kit (ooo-so many colors!),



and a box of 12 various pink nail polishes (they glitter!)



I wanted them, so I'm very happy. I got a couple books on French beaded flowers too.

The weather has been frigid the last few days. Super cold temps at night, and not much warmer in the day. Today it's also snowing, though at this rate, it won't amount to much by the end of the day. Rumor has it in a couple days the temps will raise into the 30's. It will be shorts and t-shirt wearing weather.

I got Zoey's picture taken with Santa this year. It was a fund raiser for the local Humane Society. I got Zoey from them and they do a wonderful job of finding homes for hundreds of animals every year. I love the picture.



I wish you, my readers, a very Happy New Year. Here's to it being better than 2017, which, all in all, despite hubby losing his job, was pretty good.

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/21/17

Happy Winter Solstice

Happy Solstice everyone! Spring is on the way. Hurray!



Live long and prosper. \\//

12/6/17

More Mittens for KnitWits


I've finished another pair of child size mittens.




Pattern: Classic Mittens No. 615 by Bernhard Ulmann Co.

Made For: KnitWits

Size: Childs 5-7

Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love
Content: 100% Acrylic
Color: Light green

Needles: Circular size 5

Started: November 26, 2017
Finished: December 2, 2017

Comment: I tried a new stitch pattern on this pair. It's named Seersucker Stitch. A nice subtle diamond pattern. You can find it here:  Seersucker Stitch in the Round.



Zoey paused for a picture, though her tail was flapping like crazy. She's 17 months old now, but still very much a puppy.



I started a sweater for her yesterday. 



As I was working on it, I realized she doesn't have a Christmas stocking for me to put it in when it's done. I need to fix that.

It has been fridgidly cold this week. A high pressure system has moved in giving us daytime temps that don't get above freezing. The sky is clear and the sun is shining, but it's not warming anything up much. I was able to see the super moon a couple nights ago. It was gorgeous.

The cold prompted me. I dug out the sweaters I'd made Morgan and Tommy and tried a couple on Zoey just to see if they might fit--ha ha, what was I thinking? She's somewhat larger than they were. However, much to my surprise, they fit fine in the chest and neck, but they are way too short in length. So, in a pinch, she can wear them. She'd be better off having sweaters that fit properly. I took her measurements and she's a long dog for her height.  That basset hound in her shows.

It's kind of funny. I think she knows this sweater is for her. She gets excited when I sit down to work on it.

I've got KnitWits today. It's the distribution meeting. I'm looking forward to it. A reporter from the Coeur d'Alene Press is coming to interview us.

Live long and prosper. \\//



11/29/17

Doll Knitting

I've been knitting doll clothes. Mostly to fit my Iplehouse JID dolls. I've made a couple sweaters that don't look like much in these pics.



However, they fit my dolls perfectly. I'll be taking pictures of them wearing these eventually.



I've made some hats too. Getting closer to putting some new things in my Etsy store.



I've also started a cross stitch project. I'm not sure what it is, but at this time of year I get a hankering for cross stitch. A couple of years ago I found an awesome set of free cross stitch patterns on a blog called Mini Star Trek. I am working on something using them. Mine will have 19 characters from the original series. I've finished the first two. Can you guess who they are?



We got some snow last night. Just an inch. It spent the day melting. Winter weather is in the forcast.

I don't think I've been blogging about my hot tub woes. In October, as a matter of routine, I emptied the hot tub to clean it, and the filter. I got it all done, refilled the tub, and started it up. The next day I went out to use it and the water level was down a good inch and a half. It had leaked the water overnight. I discovered a leak on the pump and told sweet hubby about it. He fixed it the following day. I filled the tub up again. It still leaked. A third of the water had leaked out overnight. I was quite upset about it. Instead of getting better, it was getting worse. We couldn't figure out where the leak was.

Sweet hubby went on Google and discovered Fix a Leak. It's for fixing pool and hot
tub leaks. You pour it in the water with the filter removed and circulate the water. The stuff fills up the leaks. It will plug leaks up to an eighth of an inch wide. You let it cure for a few days before you can use the pool. We decided to try it. It WORKED! My tub doesn't leak anymore! I am SO happy. Now I can use my tub again.

I got our Christmas tree up today with the lights on. I haven't put the star or ornaments on it yet. I can't remember where I put the star last year after I took it down. I'll do a little search later this week.

Tomorrow I have Yarnies. I'm working on another pair of kids mittens. I probably will take that project with me.

I started another baby cardigan too. I've been working on writing up the pattern for the little letterman jacket style sweater I designed. The pattern is being tested on Ravelry. I'm going to knit up a model to photograph for the pattern. It's coming along nicely. Should be done by the end of the year.

Well, that's the news for now.

Live long and prosper. \\//

11/28/17

Mittens for KnitWits

A couple weeks ago or so I went over to Jan's house to help her with the job of getting the KnitWits items sorted out and bagged for our next meeting. The distribution meeting. When I walked in the door of her house I saw mittens and hats and scarves and afghans all over the place. Stacked on tables, lined up on the floor in several rooms. We've made a lot of things. In the course of working on the task at hand, Jan mentioned we are 80 pairs short on child size mittens. In other words-we received requests for 80 pairs more than we actually have. We have 44 baby layette sets, and need 80.

This happens every year, of course. It is impossible for us to make enough to fill the needs of our county. It leaves a person feeling overwhelmed and somewhat frustrated because we want to help everyone, but we can't. I went home that day feeling a great need to make some more mittens in size Child 5-7 before our next meeting. Here's the first pair.



Pattern: Classic Mittens No. 615 by Bernhard Ulmann Co.

Made For: KnitWits

Size: Childs 5-7

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic
Color: Aran

Needles: Circular size 5

Started: November 10, 2017
Finished: November 16, 2017

Comment: I am getting bored with stockinette stitch. So I did some Little Garter Check on this pair.




Now, I have a confession to make.



Last Sunday evening, I was working on my computer and got so engrossed in what I was doing I neglected to keep attention on Zoey. She managed to get the mittens down off the dining room table. She chewed the thumb off of one of them. Urg. So the above left mitten no longer exists. I have made a replacement though. Did almost all of it last night. Just need to finish up the thumb. I'll be so glad when Zoey grows out of her puppy mentality.

Live long and prosper. \\//

11/11/17

Forced To Change

About 3 weeks or so ago I started getting messages and emails from people who were visiting my patterns blog complaining that the links to the pdf files weren't working. They were getting a "Not found" message. I checked it out and I sometimes got the message, but most of the time I had no problems.

I figured out that if I was logged into Box.net, the web site where I store my patterns for sharing, it worked. If I logged out, the downloads didn't work. Box has made some changes, and even though the links are supposed to be open to the public without registration, it doesn't seem to be working that way and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. I had to find an alternative solution.

I decided to open a store on Ravelry and upload the knitting patterns there.



They allow you to have a store with all free patterns in it. So many times I've been asked by someone to do that. Well, now it seems a good idea. I uploaded them all and I've updated the links on the patterns blog. You do not have to have a Ravelry account to access them. I think this will work out pretty good.

Check out my new Ravelry Shop

There are two patterns that I could not put on Ravelry, the beaded Christmas ornament cover pattern, and the Aran Baby Set that I have linked to here on this blog. I don't know what I'm going to do about that yet.

But, at least you can access the rest of them.

Live long and prosper. \\//

11/6/17

The Simple Woman's Daybook for November 6, 2017



Outside my window...
Snow. Tons and tons of snow! It started snowing on Friday and did not stop until this morning. We've got about 8 or 9 inches.

I am thinking...
It's too early to be getting this much snow. Winter is not fooling around. It came with a bang.

I am thankful for...
The new roof. The snow is sliding right off just like it's supposed to. Hopefully there will be no shoveling of snow off our roof ever again.

From the kitchen...
Making meatloaf tonight. Yum! My meatloaf recipe consists of ground beef, a package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix, an egg, a couple slices of stale bread crumbled, and ketchup. It's good. I can't decide if I want Potatoes Au Gratin, or baked potatoes, with it.

I am wearing...
Jeans and a black and red print button down blouse with 3/4 sleeves.

I am creating...
I had to accompany my husband to the North Idaho Dermatology for a small surgery to remove some skin cancer this morning. I took my knitting bag with me and started another doll skirt. Testing out a pattern I've written for my JID dolls. I'm using a lovely Aqua Cascade Sunseeker yarn. I really like this yarn. It's nice. Husbands surgery went fine and all the cancer is gone.

I am going...
to knitting at the Rathdrum Library tomorrow, and Yarnies on Thursday. That's assuming Runge's doesn't decide to deliver the new furniture during those times.

I am reading...
The Lost City by Clive Cussler.  I'm enjoying it very much. I've never read this guys stuff before. However, I've seen the movie Sahara starring Mathew McConaughey. It's one of my favorites. I did not know that story was written by Clive Cussler until my friend, Barb, told me last week. Our library is having a $1 a bag book sale. I filled my bag with several Clive Cussler novels, and an original edition of A Wrinkle In Time. As a side note- A Wrinkle in Time and it's sequels were my favorite scifi novels when I was in elementary school.

I am hearing...
the pitter patter of my husbands feet as he hobbles to the kitchen. Poor guy is feeling poorly. The anesthesia has worn off.

Around the house...
the lights are already on because it's dark and it's only 4:15 pm as I write this. I hate winter.

One of my favorite things...
Spring- which I am ready for.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
I hope to finish the little aqua skirt and get a couple new outfits up in my Etsy shop this week. I need something new for it. I haven't paid much attention to it during the fall.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...
This morning.



If you want to join the Simple Woman's Daybook, click here.

Live long and prosper. \\//

11/4/17

Mittens for Knitwits

Finished a pair of mittens sized for children ages 4-6. Originaly I was going to make these blue and brown striped. Changed my mind. I can do that. Change my mind, that is.



Pattern: Classic Mittens No. 615 by Bernhard Ulmann Co.

Made For: KnitWits

Size: Childs 4-6

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash
Content: 100% Superwash Wool
Color: Turquoise

Needles: Circular size 5

Started: May 15, 2017
Finished: November 2, 2017




So, we got snow. Our first sticking snow of the winter. 2 inches on Thursday night and 2 inches last night. Winter is here.

Yesterday I dragged Sweet Hubby out of the house and we went furniture shopping. Our couch is broken and I've never liked that couch anyway. I've been shopping for months trying to find one I like to replace it. Well, I found it, at Runge's Fuirnture. I love this couch.



It's a Stanton. Lifetime warranty, good quality. Has two recliners in it. They're controlled electronically, plus there's 2 USB ports in the thing. Ain't technology wonderful? It is so comfortable. Way better than the Hug. It's also on sale, plus I got an extra 6% taken off for bringing a bag of non-perishable food items for their food drive. I decided to get the matching love seat too.


It also has 2 recliners in it. We're moving the Hug and my husbands current recliner, which is slightly broken and uncomfortable to him, into the sun room. (I'm going to make a little reading place in there.) The love seat will be inhabited by me, and there's plenty of room for the dog.

I love the fabric. It looks like suede, but it's microfiber. Super soft, easy to take care of. The two pieces will be delivered next week. I'm excited.

Live long and prosper. \\//

10/30/17

A Pink Outfit for Sierra

After much casting on, frogging, and starting over, I've finally finished this outfit for Sierra, and it fits properly.



I hope I kept proper notes so I can do it again. I've also knit this mint top.



I was hoping it would fit her, but it's way too tight, so I'm going to have to try again. It fits Ellowyne, though, so I'm not frogging it. The yarn for this little thing came from China.

I was looking on Ebay for lace or fingering weight affordable Angora yarn. I'm talking rabbit Angora. This one claimed to be that, but as it turns out, it's goat Angora, which technically is Mohair. I guess it lost something in translation. I wish I could find what I'm looking for. Oh well. I'll just have to manage with what I can get.

We've had fabulous weather the last few days. It's been sunny and even warm enough to sit out on the deck. I've been winterizing the yard. Friday I put all the deck furniture cushions away and stacked the furniture. I swept the leaves and pine needles off the deck. I've taken some occassions to just sit in the sun and enjoy too.

Did I say I cleaned the hot tub? Twice a year I empty it, clean the filter, scrub out the inside to shining, and then refill it. Well, I don't know what happened but it leaks like a sieve now. We thought the pump was the source of the leak. Some things had come loose and water was coming out of it. Doug fixed it, but the darn tub is still leaking. I'm so tired of this thing breaking down and needing repairs. Ugh.

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day. Winter is coming soon. The weather guru's are saying snow next weekend. I better get out there and enjoy the sun while I can.

Live long and prosper. \\//


10/29/17

Layette Set 26

I put the finishing touches on this layette set, number 26, yesterday. It's the last one for this year. The next ones I make will be for 2018.



The Cardigan




Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea

Size: 0-6 months

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerald

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Blue

Needles: Circular size 5 and 7

Started: September 14, 2017
Finished: October 3, 2017



Close up of the button. It came from my collection of old vintage buttons.



The Hat



Pattern: Chibi Striped Baby Hat by Chiaki Hayashi

Size made: 6 months

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerald

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Blue

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: October 4, 2017
Finished: October 5, 2017

The booties



Pattern: Seamless Garter Tassel Booties by Karen Strauss

Size made: 6 months


Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerald

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Blue

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: October 5, 2017
Finished: October 10, 2017



The blanket




Pattern: Two rnds of (sc1, ch1) all the way around, join rnd with sl st in MC, then one rnd of (1hc in sc, ch1) all the way around in CC, join with sl st.

Size made: 36 by 30 inches



There is no more of this fabric, so I'm done with this colorway.



Live long and prosper. \\//

10/21/17

Silver Rope

I have a new silver rope necklace. Finished it this week. It's just a simple piece done in Spiral Rope stitch. 



I used matte black for the core,



and silver lined crystal and nickel seed beads for the spiral.



It has a simple toggle clasp.



Nice to have it finished.



Hmm, I think I'll start a Christmas ornament cover next.

Layette set #26 is just about done. I just have to block it and sew a button on the cardigan.

We're getting lots of rain. It has cut back on the wild fires around here. I'm glad about that. More rain is expected for the next few days. As long as it isn't snow, I'm happy.

Live long and prosper. \\//

10/16/17

Autumn Gold

I have finished a beading project! I've made a necklace with pale amber matte superduos and gold plated size 11 seed beads. I used size 6 Fireline for my thread. It's a net stitch tubular rope. Instructions here:  Superduo tubular rope. The tutorial is in Russian, but Google does a good job of translating.

I put bead caps on the ends and attached a toggle clasp. It's a total of 19 inches long. I love this necklace. I see myself wearing it a lot!

I took tons of pics using different colors of scrapbook paper as backgrounds and various small props. I've posted my favorites. Click on them to embiggen.












Live long and prosper. \\//