Buffalo Plaid In Beads

 I finished this Christmas ornament some weeks ago, except for the little gold crown. Finally got that done last week, and some pictures today.

I have been on a Buffalo Plaid kick lately, so when I saw this pattern, I had to make it.

The pattern is Cozy Plaid 21PBL024 from ladylunarcat.com. This is made by making a series of 20 triangles and then sewing them together. It calls for 3 colors of Miyuki size 11 Delica beads. I stuffed it with chips of memory foam, available in the craft department of Amazon.com.

This particular pattern includes instructions for making a little crown for hanging it on a Christmas tree, or display stand as the case may be. I liked it so much I made some for the other two balls I finished too.

I had a lot of fun making it. The pattern is pretty easy to follow. There are lots of pictures, and there's both colored graphs and word chart. I'm looking forward to putting this little beauty on my tree next Christmas.

This designer has this plaid in a 3D Star ornament pattern too, which I have. I don't have enough beads in the colors required to start it, so I'm going to have to wait until I can order more.

Last weekend was a busy one for the Park family. We held a memorial service for Sue, my sister-in-law, who passed away last November from cancer. It was held at her husband, Dan's, house. When we all get together it's amazing how much we can do. We cleaned up Dan's yard, obtained tents, tables, table cloths, chairs, flowers, and made tons of food, set it all up, and took it all down afterward. About 80 people showed up. Lots of family came from out of town and it was so good seeing each other. Sue's workmates came too. We all told stories about Sue. The whole thing was wonderful. It was exactly what Sue would have wanted.

The weather has been gorgeous. It was perfect for Sue's memorial, and I've been spending lots of time out on the deck enjoying it. We did have one day of rain last week, and we were glad to get it.

I need to do a WIP post. I've got some projects going.

Live long and prosper. \\//

The New Carrollton Hat

 Here is the last hat I finished for KnitWits. 

Pattern: New Carrollton Hat by Mat Kladney

Size: Medium Adult

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Content: 100%  Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Royal Blue

Yarn: Joann's Big Twist
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Pale Yellow

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: May 25, 2023
Finished: June 3, 20223

Comments: This was a very fun knit! It's a Mosaic pattern with some cabling added to it. 

Mosaic is a type of stitch pattern where you knit with one color across and slip the stitches with the second color, then knit with the second color and slip the first color. It's actually pretty easy to do, but is not a speedy knit since you're knitting each row twice.

This particular hat has Garter Stitch Mosaic with the cabling raised above it. It makes for a very stretchy hat. Mosaic done in stockinette doesn't have the same quality.

By the way, this is not a free pattern. I got it on Ravelry for a mere $3.00. Worth the price too.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Random Stuff

Just a short post to share some pics.

Even though I haven't finished framing Bicycle yet, I felt the need to get a new cross stitch project going. It is going to be a much smaller and quicker project. I am a member in a couple of Facebook Cross Stitch groups and recently one of them discussed gridding their fabric. Never heard of such a thing. I decided I'm going to try it because it supposedly makes stitching a project a lot easier to count, and also somewhat faster to stitch. That makes sense. After stitching the project, you pull the threads out. So I spent some time graphing this.

The grid is hard to see because I used yellow thread. It is very visible in person. I watched a YouTube video to find out how to do it. You sew thread creating 10 by 10 stitch squares. After showing this to the groups I found out I could have used fishing line, which a needle can't pierce making it easier to pull out. I wish I'd known that sooner. Oh well. Next time.

My Peonies are blooming. I have 6 Peonies that I planted a few years ago and this year they've outdone themselves. I've picked a few and brought them into the house. Oh my goodness, they make the whole house smell so good. The dark pink ones are huge!

I'm going to have the house to myself later today. Ruth is going on an outing with some young people. YAY! They're going to the Gorge (A concert venue about 150 miles from here on the Columbia river.) to see a concert. It's been ages since she has done anything with people her own age. 

Doug is going over to Dan's house to help him install a couple of railings on the front porch. Dan has been remodeling the front porch. He found the original railings that used to be on it and has fixed them up and painted them. They'll look really good. His house was originally a school house over 100 years ago. It will look more like it originally did when he's done.

Took a picture of Zoey last night. She was just getting settled to take a wee nap.

I have finished the body of the bee cardigan. I need to block it before I start the sleeves. Gonna try and squeeze that in today.

Gotta finish framing Bicycle, so signing off.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Quick Ombre Hat 2 for KnitWits

 After finishing the layette set, I made this hat. I really like this pattern. It's a fun knit.

Pattern: Quick Ombré Hat by Emily Dormier
Size: Medium Adult

Yarn: American Thread Company Dawn Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Dupont Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Bluebell

Yarn: Unknown acrylic (Probably Red Heart based on my experience.)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Bright Pink

Needles: Circular size 8

Started: May 19, 2023
Finished: May 23, 20223

Comments: Trying to use up some of the leftovers from the last two layette sets. I still have enough to do another hat or two

The crown is gathered.

The colors go good together.

It was so hot yesterday and today. Got up in the 90's. About 3 this afternoon, though, the heat spell broke. We got a real rip roaring thunder storm for about 2 hours. After that it just rained for the rest of the day. Supposed to rain during the night too. We needed it, so I'm happy.

Bicycle is washed and dried. All the dirt came out. Even the coffee stain. Waiting for the weekend. I think I can find time to frame it then. Keeping my fingers crossed.

In the meantime, I want to do a small cross stitch project, since the last 4 have been pretty intense. Something that will take a lot less than 2-3 years to complete. Found a wonderful pattern that is a knitting sampler. It requires 4 shades of Pink. I'm gonna do Purples. I am chuffed! Both crafts in one project. Can't ask for better than that. 

I'm using 14 count cotton Aida and got the fabric cut and the edges sealed so they don't unravel today. I used Fray Check this time. It's a fabric glue/sealer designed specifically for this purpose. It's clear, but a little stiff when it dries. Doesn't bother me though. It works very well. 

I zigzagged the edges on Bicycle. I think I did that because I couldn't find my Fray Check. I knew exactly where it was today. My swiss cheese brain at work.

I have decided to try gridding my fabric. It would make it a lot easier to count if I do that so, hopefully, less mistakes. I'm gonna look up some YouTube videos on the various ways to do it and pick the one I think will work best for me. I'm always good for learning new skills to make my crafting better.

I've heard that a person can purchase pre-gridded fabric. I will have to look into that.

Live long and prosper. \\//

WIP Wednesday June 7, 2023

 Earlier this week I started another layette set. I have some fleece with bees on it. This cardigan will go with it. I'm kind of winging this one (no pun intended) as I go. I picked three colors from the fabric and chose this stripe pattern, which I am liking very much.

That, and the bicycle cross stitch project are what's being worked on this week. I've finished the stitching. This is, by far, the dirtiest piece of fabric I've every had at the end of a project. There's even coffee spilled on one corner.

So I've washed it.

I wash my cross stitch by soaking in a sink of hot water with some Oxyclean in it. After it's soaked a few minutes or so, I swish it around a bit. Then I rinse it a couple times in a sink full of cool water. I squeeze it in a huge towel, then lay flat to dry somewhere safe from the cats.

Before I could wash Bicycle, though, I had to test the beads to make sure they were washable. Something I didn't think of before choosing the beads I would use. Not all bead colors are alike. Some beads are dyed, or painted inside, and can lose their color in water. Fortunately, all the colors I chose turned out to be waterproof. I am so relieved! I don't know what I'd have done if any of them weren't. Dry clean, I suppose. Next time, I test the beads before stitching.

Now that it's washed, I will frame it. I ordered a white frame and a beige mat. It arrived about 2 weeks ago, so I've got everything I need to do that. It's been awhile since I've framed a project, so I will look up some videos to remind me how to do it.

Weather has now turned hot. Just for a couple days. It's supposed to cool back down to the 70's later this week.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Layette Set #59 for KnitWits

 I have 4 finished projects to share, 3 knit and 1 beaded. I'll spread the posts out rather than doing them all in one post. Today is Layette set 59 for KnitWits. I love the way this set turned out. It's so cheerful. I've used the last piece of fleece with the bathing duckling.

Cardigan

Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist Value by Joann's
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight 
Color: PaleYellow

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Bright Pink

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Light Pink

Needles: Circular size 8

Started: April 30, 2023
Finished: May 12, 20223

Comments: I decided to use the Super Natural Stripes pattern again, but I put two buttons on it just for funs. Here's the back side. Not much to see.

These are the buttons I ended up using. Not what I wanted, but it's what I could find in the stash

The Hat

Pattern: My own pattern.

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist Value by Joann's
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight 
Color: PaleYellow

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Bright Pink

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Light Pink

Needles: Circular size 8

Started: May 13, 2023

Finished: May 19, 20223

Booties

Pattern: Seamless Garter Tassel Booties by Karen Strauss

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist Value by Joann's
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight 
Color: PaleYellow

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Bright Pink

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Light Pink

Needles: Circular size 8

Started: May 8, 2023

Finished: May 11, 20223

Comments: I made modifications to this pattern, as usual. I put in an eyelet row for the tie, ribbing, and a garter stitch cuff. This is the way I usually make it.

Blanket

Pattern: The usual Shell stitch.
Size: 30 by 36 inches

Yarn: Big Twist Value by Joann's
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight 
Color: PaleYellow

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Bright Pink

Hook: Size G

Started: May 6, 2023

Completed: May 7, 2023

Enough of that.

Lovely weather this week, and the pine pollen has gone away so I've been enjoying the deck. I've taken to having my morning coffee out there while reading a book. 

A couple days ago I finished the book The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American by Andrew L. Seidel. It was a very educational and interesting book with a lot of very good evidence to support the title. I've always known that it's a lie that our country was founded on Christianity. It's a lie started in the 1950's when America was afraid of Russia and communists. 

Our founding fathers founded this country on secularism. They specifically said they did not want government mixed with religion right in the very first Amendment. Thomas Jefferson, in the 11th Article of the Treaty of Tripoli said: “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religious or tranquility of Musselmen, and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” 

Jefferson is the one who coined the phrase Separation of Church and State. In a letter to the Baptist church Jefferson wrote, “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,'

thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."

Our founding fathers wrote a lot of books and letters about what they meant by that too. They wrote about what they meant on all the Constitution. You just have to read it.

Now I'm reading Preparing For War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism and What Comes Next by Bradley B Onishi. If you want to know why Trumps followers attacked the Capital building and tried to stop the election, this book will tell you.

Well, that's it for today.

Live long and prosper. \\//