FO's

 I did quite a bit of crafting during March and April. It helped with the stress and anxiety that's been going on in my life. Today I'm sharing two of them. 

My daughters birthday was near the end of April and I decided to sew her a market bag. 

It's a very large bag. I found the pattern for free on the blog iThinksew. The name of the pattern is Martha's Market Bag. As I've said before, my daughter is a huge My Little Pony fan, even though she's 40. I found the Pinky Pie fabric on Ebay. It was just a yard, but thankfully it was enough. I got the aqua fabric from an online fabric store, whos' name escapes me. The project was challenging because I don't have much experience making bags. I used to sew a lot of clothing when I was younger. Especially after I got married because my husband is very tall (6'5"). Regular pants and long sleeve shirts don't fit him. We had to shop at specialty stores that sold clothing for Big and Tall guys, and they were very expensive. We couldn't afford to shop there. So I sewed his clothing for him. Making bags is a relatively new thing for me.

I used heavy interfacing in the bag so it would stand up on its own. I really wrestled with it too. I was so glad when it was done. Sarah loves the bag and wouldn't be adverse to me making her some more. I call that a win.

I also finished Choo Choo Santa for my daughter-in-law. 

Her birthday was last January, so I sent it to her as a belated birthday gift in the same package the bag went in. I worked on this a lot. It was a very intense project with over 100 pieces to stitch together. 

I've taken close up photos of the stocking from top to bottom starting with the hanger loop, which I modified. It was supposed to be just a piece of red felt but I fancied it up some. 

I recently joined a Facebook group devoted to making Bucilla felt applique kits. I was inspired by photos of some of the members hanging loops they've modified. The group has been great, and I've learned quite a bit that has improved my skills, such as taking a small stitch on the back, after each sequin is done. This helps to keep it firmly sewn to the fabric.

This is the top with my daughter-in-laws name on it. The first train car shows too. 

You may be wondering how I got the name to look so nice. Usually I use my MS Word program to create the name, then print it out, pin it to the stocking, and embroider right through the paper. When I'm done, I carefully tear the paper off, leaving just the stitching. This time I did a little something different. An alphabet comes with the directions on how to make the stocking. I got a piece of tissue paper, traced the required letters, then pinned that to the stocking for embroidery. It worked great. I liked it better than what I usually do. It's a lot easier to stitch through tissue paper than regular printer paper.

Doing it with tissue paper got me to thinking. I wonder if there's tracing paper that can be put through printer. Then I could use my word program like I usually do and print it on the tracing paper. Lo and behold, I found some on Amazon. I'm looking forward to trying it out on the next stocking, which I've already started, by the way.

This is a close up of a couple of the cars. That bear turned out so cute!

This is the engine with Santa. I made a change here. Instead of using the clear beads with the sequins on Santa, and the beads on the Christmas tree, I used some white pearl seed beads from my huge collection of Miyuki size 11 seed beads. The other white pieces have the clear beads that came with the kit.

One of the things I learned from the Facebook Bucilla group is how to mark the stocking with my signature, so to speak. I never thought about doing that on my stockings. I do it to all my Cross Stitch projects! It's a logical thing to do, so I cut out this little blue heart, did some really bad embroidery of my initials and the year I finished it, and sewed it onto the back of the stocking. I wish I'd had more time, I would have redone it until it was decent. It was 1:00 am when I was done with this one. I had to put it in the mail in the morning. I decided it would have to do. I was just too tired. I went to bed.

As usual, I made a lining for the stocking. It turned out so beautiful. The stitching at the top where I sewed it in is so even and neat and the lining fit perfectly. I'm quite proud of it.

Since the theme of the stocking was a train, which is something my daughter-in-law is very enthusiastic about, (She even has an extensive electric train set.) I bought fabric with trains on it. Here is a close up of one of the trains.

I finished my Feather and Fan blanket too but haven't had a chance to photograph it yet. I did take a picture when I was blocking it though. I used my bed because it's so nice and big, being a California King and all.

I'm planning to take pics tomorrow, so stay tuned.

I am also planning to do a WIP post on Wednesday. Until then...

Live long and prosper.\\//

WIP Wednesday On a Friday

 

I finished the front of Andoa, as well as the back. The next step is blocking these two pieces before I put the shoulders together. I'm going to do that with 3-needle bind off. Can't start the sleeves until I do, so I'm motivated to get it done quickly.

Good things have happened since my last post. Finally---I HAVE MEDICARE! I got the notice yesterday. I have to say thank you to Senator Crapo's employees for fixing the problem. He has a whole squad who's job it is to help people having these kinds of problems. I am so relieved!

I got the cat mittens in the mail to my daughter. Hopefully, she will get them tomorrow.

My flowering plum is starting to bloom. My daffodils are blooming, and the Bleeding Heart and Peonies have sprouted. It's Spring! Looking forward to pink tree time.

I have fabric for a sewing project. My Namaste circular needle case is over-stuffed. I can barely close it. I found a sewing pattern for the exact type of case on Etsy. I'm going to sew myself a new needle case.

The cats is a lightweight upholstery fabric. I will use that for the outside. The other two are for pockets and lining. I need some 20 gauge clear plastic fabric for the tabs, but Joann's is fresh out. I looked around on the web for some, but I only need about half a yard. Most places have a minimum of 3 yards, and it's pricey. I'm going to come up with some other plan.

Today it's supposed to rain. Hoping it does. We could use it. I think I'll cut the pieces for my needle case as well as block Andoa.

Live long and prosper. \\//

A Knitting Bag For Phyllis

 I made it through Christmas! Hurray! It was actually quite pleasant. On Christmas Eve I cooked a dinner of boneless leg of Lamb with side dishes. It was delicious. We love lamb, but it's horribly expensive. When I splurge for it, I get it at Costco. Their lamb is excellent.

On Christmas morning I found a small flashlight in my stocking, and a few chocolate kisses I'd put there. Sweet Hubby and I failed each other in the stocking department. Our daughter, Ruth, had a properly filled stocking. I don't know. The last couple months have been so incredibly stressful, and sad, and depressing. It was very hard for me to get excited for Christmas. I didn't put the tree up until 2 weeks before. I did get some nice presents. Chocolates (Yum!) and some Television series DVD sets- The Closer and Major Crimes. Those should get me through the rest of winter knitting.

I got my sweet hubby a flannel shirt. Originally I was going to make him one, but I couldn't find a fabric I liked so I shopped at my favorite internet tall mens shop. Maybe I'll sew one next year, for our anniversary, or something. I also got him a folding level. Great for using in corners. It's kind of cool, and very well made. I'd never seen one before, so I got excited when I stumbled across it.

Later in the day we went to my best friends house for dinner and cards. I had such a wonderful time. I think it's the first time I've really relaxed since Sue got sick. The meal was excellent. I made dessert, which was a Raspberry Victoria cake. 

It's my favorite. I tried stabilizing the whipped cream this time, which worked beautifully. Recipe for the cake and whipped cream are here: Victoria Cake  Stabilized Whipped Cream

Enough about Christmas day. I have some completed projects I couldn't blog about because I didn't want the receivers to see then before Christmas.

I did some sewing for my friend Phyllis. I made her a knitting bag.

I've used this pattern before. It's called Charm Pack Tote Bag. It's fun to sew. It uses a charm pack, or fat quarters that you can cut into 5 inch squares. There's a bit of gathering (red polka dot line) and quilting. It's a good beginners project.

I found a fat quarter bundle on Etsy, or was it Ebay, that had all knitting themed fabric. If you look up close, you will see it. There are knitting chickens and sheep. and 4 of the squares are knitting stitches. 

The bottom fabric is pink sheep knitting on a black background. It's a Timeless Treasures quilting fabric. I love their fabrics.

I used a polka dotted fabric (from Joann's) for the button loop and the ruffled line. I found the button in my stash. It's an old antique one.

This is the back.

I put a pocket inside too, and I used light beige fabric for the lining. I hate black lining in purses and bags. You can't see anything when it's black inside.

Phyllis was very surprised, and pleased. She made me a Christmas present too. She knit me a purple tam. It goes with my purple fur coat perfectly, and fits good. It's so wonderful when someone knits something for me.

Last week the weather was abysmal. We had dangerously cold temperatures for about 3 days. One day the high was 9F, and the low was -13F. Our poor furnace could not keep up so it was cold in the house. Sweaters were worn, and blankets wrapped around us, and a lot more coffee brewed than usual. This week started with a huge change. It's been in the upper 30's and low 40's, and lots of rain. It's a crazy winter!

That's all for today. More later. I've been beading!

Live long and prosper. \\//

Knitting Chickens Tote

I have been sharing my knitting time. I took some sewing time this past week, after finishing the kep. I've been wanting to get this done since Thanksgiving. I have a friend who knits who doesn't have a knitting bag. She carries her knitting in a pink plastic shopping bag. She did something sweet for me last year and I've been wanting to make her a bag ever since. Originally I was going to use a pattern and a collection of fat quarters that I bought in a shop in Leavenworth, Washington. She was with me at the time and loved the colors so much. Then, after we got back from Mexico, I saw this fabric. Totally different colorway, but I couldn't resist knitting chickens, for my bagless friend has chickens. The pattern I used is a free one here on the internet. So, here's the bag I made.

The Knitting Chickens Tote

Pattern: Fat Quarter Tote Bag by Lindsay Wilkes

Fabric: Timeless Treasures Knitting Chickens Grey (Quilting Cotton), an assortment of cotton Fat Quarters, and a Knit Stitch print that I can't remember where I got it because it's been years.

Buttons: Dress It Up 8295 Buttons, Hen House

Started: February 23, 2022

Finished: February 26, 2022

Comments: I made 2 changes in this pattern. First, I put interfacing on the knitting chicken fabric. It was going to be so limp without it. Second, I put a fabric yo-yo with chicken button on both sides. I wish I'd put interfacing on the black polka dot fabric too. Not sure why I didn't.

So, here's a close up of that wonderful Chickens Knitting fabric.

I noticed some of them are wearing black and white polka dot pants. So I had to use black and white polka dot fabric for the top.

One button with a yo-yo flower embellishment. I've never made the yoyo's before. So I learned something new. This one is the front side.

This one is on the back side. I found the buttons at my local Jo-anns. They have them on Amazon though. Just click on the link up above.

This is the lining fabric.

For the life of me, I can't remember where I got it. A Google search did not produce it either, so it's obviously out of print. I'm an obsessed knitter, so I glom on to stuff like this when I run across it.

My sewing skills are improving. I managed to sew straight lines throughout the whole project and even when doing the top stitching. In fact, when I top stitched around the top edge, I didn't have to stop, tear out, and resew any of it. It went smoothly all the way around. I was so excited about it I had to prance around the room in celebration. Anyway, I'm hoping to give this away tomorrow when I go to knitting at the library. Keeping my fingers crossed she shows up.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Checking In

 It's Wednesday, so how about a WIP? Well, first lets do a FO. I finished sewing this little bag.

I found the pattern on the blog Pink Penguin. I made one of these before in fall colors. A few weeks ago I took it to Yarnies and one of the gals loved it so I thought I'd make her one. Giving it to her tomorrow, assuming she's there.

Now the wip. Doing the second bootie on the layette set.

Knitting is going rather slowly lately because of this.

My strained thumb is actually a sprained thumb, so I have to wear this thing for a few weeks and absolutely no hand sewing. So I put the cross stitch away, out of sight. Thumb swelled up to epic proportions the day after I finished sewing the above bag, even though I did most all of it on my sewing machine. It just didn't want to be used for awhile.

It's driving me crazy. The thumb, that is. If I can't do needlecraft, I don't know what else to do. So I've been watching Netfix and playing games on my phone. I play mostly word games in the interest of improving my brain, though I have to admit the game called Bazooka Boy is a lot of fun too.

I seem to be able to knit too, although a lot slower, so I have planned a new project. One of the things I've been wanting to do is knit my husband a cabled cardigan. I was inspired by the sweaters worn by the character played by Tom Selleck in Blue Bloods.

I went looking for it and I'm quite surprised to discover no one on Ravelry has recreated it yet. So I've spent a great deal of time looking at patterns trying to find one similar. So far, no luck. I found one similar to this one though.

It's a free pattern, which surprised me. I found it at Yarnspirations.

All I need to do is change the collar/button bands. I've ordered yarn. I want to use Berroco Vintage which is a wonderful wool/acrylic blend. My daughter found a shop online that had it on sale for a very good price.

I've ordered the Black Cherry color. I hope I've got enough coming. I ordered a couple extra skeins for the collar change.

Now a bit about the weather. The raging heat finally came to an end and it's been in the upper 70's and low 80's. We got a couple days of rain last week too which knocked down the smoke from the fires. I wish I could spend more time on the deck before it gets cold. Freezing is coming. Their predicting the first frost this next weekend. The leaves are changing into their fall colors. Summer is over.

Live long and prosper. \\//

 

Layette Set #43 for KnitWits

Hey! It's FO Friday. Well, will you look at that? I finished something. Yet another layette set. Will it never stop???

Cardigan

Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea

Size: 0-6 months

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Heather Gray

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic, no label but I think it might be Canadiana
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Medium Jade? or Sage? Assuming it is the Canadiana.

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Black

Needles: Circular size 6 and 8

Started: February 5, 2020
Finished: February 13, 2020

Comments: It's been awhile since I used this pattern. I still love it. I let a couple members of KnitWits choose the colors to go with the blanket fabric. I like their choices.

The Hat

Pattern: Chibi Striped Baby Hat by Chiaki Hayashi

Size: 0-6 months

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Heather Gray

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Medium Jade? or Sage?

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Black

Needles: Circular size 6 and 8

Started: February 13, 2020
Finished: February 13, 2020

The booties

Pattern: From my head, not published.

Size: 0-6 months

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Heather Gray

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Medium Jade? or Sage?

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Black

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: February 14, 2020
Finished: February 15, 2020

The blanket

Pattern: Chevron Edging by me.

Size: 36 by 30 inches.

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Heather Gray

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Medium Jade? or Sage?

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Black

Hook: Size G

Started: February 16, 2020
Finished: February 17, 2020

Comments: I Googled for hours trying to find a zigzaggy edging for this fabric. I could not find a pattern. But I did find a photo on Pinterest of what I was thinking of, so I counted stitches and figured something out from the photo. I'm so proud of myself, cuz this is crochet, which I'm not nearly as knowledgeable about as I am knitting.

Here's the pattern: 

Chevron Edging

Please note, this assumes you are crocheting an edging on a prepared piece of fleece fabric. Adapt it to whatever edge you have. ch1 = chain one, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet. Here's hoping I can write a decent crochet pattern.

Rnd 1: Join yarn to edge at a hole, ch1, sc in same hole. *Ch 1, sc in next hole. Repeat from * all the way around to last hole.Ch 1, slip st in first sc.

Rnd 2: Slip stitch to the first ch1 space. Sl stitch in the space. Ch3 (count as a dc), 6 dc in same space. *Skip next ch1 space, sc in next ch1 space, skip next ch1 space, 7 dc in next ch1 space. Repeat all the way around ending with a sc in ch1 space. Sl stitch in top of ch3 in first ch1 space. You may have to fudge on this round because sometimes the stitch count doesn't quite work out.

Rnd 3: Ch1, sc in same st. Sc in next st. 3 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc decrease in next 3 sts, *1 sc in next 2 sts, 3 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 2 sts, sc decrease in next 3 sts. Repeat all the way around from *. Eventually you'll get back to the first st. Join with a slip stitch.

Repeat round 3 as often as you want changing colors as desired.

I have another finished project I'm kind of proud of to share. I have a lot of knitting bags, totes, what have you, but this one is my favorite. It's the one I use the most.

It's an Ellen's Originals tote, made with upholstery fabric. I've had it for years. Since I had my yarn shop. I carried Ellen's Originals knitting bags, needle cases, and crochet hook cases. They were expensive, but well worth the price because they were very well made and so beautiful. They sold like hot cakes in my shop. Ellen's used the most amazing fabrics in their bags. Unfortunately, they went out of business shortly after I closed my shop. It's a shame because they really were wonderful. No one else makes bags like theirs. Sigh.

After all these years, the zipper broke on my bag. It was one of those nylon/plastic zippers. They just plain wear out after awhile because nylon is a shitty thing to use for zippers. I needed to replace it, but had no idea how. I Googled of course. I found a tutorial, bought a heavy duty jacket zipper, and fixed my bag.

This zipper will never break. Here's the link to the tutorial: How to Add a Zipper to a Finished Tote Bag.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Ha! and Sewing Things

It thought it could defeat me. I showed it! I fixed the sleeves on the robe yesterday. Now it fits perfectly. Just in time for summer to be over. No, there will be no pics.

Now, about sewing. I am very good at sewing my knitting together. I have had Fair judges come looking for me to meet me and find out how I seam things because the work was so beautiful. It's really a matter of practice.

In the early days of my knitting years, I didn't do top down seamless sweaters cuz I had no access to such a thing. (This is, truly, what is best about the internet. Having access to so much information) Most of my knitting years I was isolated and had only learned what I could find in books that I found at the library or magazines. Most patterns were knit flat, in pieces, and needed to be sewn together, just like regular sewing does.

Oddly, I do not mind sewing my knitted things together. I kind of take pride in it, seeking to make the best seams I can. I did not find out about seamless knitting until the early 2000's when I bought my shop. Wow, I learned so much those years, just from the inventory it came with.

When I was putting that baby cardigan together last week, I edjumucated myself some more. I did some research to find the best way to sew the sleeves. I have always back stitched seams that are not vertical or horizontal, but are diagonal. However, back stitch makes for a heavy seam allowance and can be quite sloppy. Especially in a little baby jacket made of worsted weight yarn. I decided I needed to see if there's a better way.

I ended up mattress stitching it, which is quite a challenge because there are increases to deal with, so the seam isn't invisible. But the seam allowance is much thinner, which is a big plus to me. It doesn't look too bad. Not any worse than back stitching. (Ignore the cat hair. It's that time of year again.)

I was hoping for something more elegant, but oh well. Anyway, as I was googling around, I found a seaming technique called the Bickford Method. I'd never heard of it before, but it is a life changing revelation to me.

It's not seamless looking, but you have no seam allowance, and it looks very nice. I shall be using it in the future, though it didn't work on the cardigan sleeves because of the stitch pattern, which has garter stitch rows in it.

Now, not to be outdone, google provided me with yet something else new and wonderful. I was looking for ways to sew in set in sleeves because, again, I have always back stitched them in. I found a video of a method that involves a sort of half mattress stitch, half grafting method. I tried and it works very well.

 It produced the best seaming of a set in sleeve I've ever done. I am so excited.

All in all, I call it a good week. I learned new ways to improve my knitting skills. I share this info with you so you can improve your knitting skills too.

I've said this before, and I'm saying it again. I've been knitting for more than 50 years, and I still learn new exciting things about it.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Pinky Pie Apron

My daughters birthday is coming up and I decided to make her a gift. She loves My Little Pony even though she's in her 30's. Some things we never grow out of. I found a piece of fabric with vintage Pinky Pie on Ebay so I bought it and used it to make her an apron. This free pattern is called Garden Party Apron. I found it with Google.

There wasn't enough of it to make the apron entirely of Pinky Pie, so I found a pattern that uses fat quarters. I have a nice collection of fat quarters in my stash.

I learned a lot with this project. For one thing, I solved my problem of straight seams. I Googled and found an item on Amazon that really improved the quality of my seams. It's vinyl strips that stick on your machine like post-it notes called Sewing Edger. You stick them where you need to have the proper size of seam allowance and when you're sewing you just run the fabric against that edge. I can't believe how much nicer my seams are now. The edger is removable so you can move it around as your projects requires.

Another thing I learned is how to sew rickrack. There's rick rack along the pocket edges. It's the first time I've used it and I think I did a pretty good job.

I'm ready to make another blouse. I have the fabric and the pattern. Just need to get started.

I am making slow progress on Margaret Tudor. I finished the right back side piece and I'm now working on the left front side piece. I'm managing to stick to my minimum of working at least 2 hours a day on it. Only missed one day so far this month, and that was because I wanted to finish the apron. I made it up by working on her all day the next day.

I've also started the next Layette set.

Spring has finally arrived at the Parkarosa. The wild flowers have started blooming. The daffodils are up and showing their yellow heads. There are lots of flower buds on the flowering plum. It should open in the next couple weeks. We've had some very nice weather. Last weekend was glorious out. Sunshine, fluffy clouds, cool breeze, and perfect temperatures. I managed to get deck knitting in. Hooray!

Live long and prosper \\//

WIP Wednesday 3/27/2019

I'm making slow progress on Margaret Tudor. I've done all the math and figured out what I need to do to enlarge the pattern. Now I'm working on the back right panel with size adjustments. So far, so good.

I finished the knitting on the layette cardigan I've been working on too. It just needs a button. Now I'm trying to find time to knit the hat for it. And booties and blanket. I have made a goal of working a minimum of 2 hours a day on Margaret Tudor. I've been sticking to it, but it doesn't leave me much time to knit on other things. Especially since I've been sewing.

I finished my shirt. It actually fits good. I wore it Sunday. Folks got a real kick out of the knitting sheep.

I've purchased some fabric for another shirt. This is SO PRETTY! The colors are so vivid.

I found some leftover green in my stash that I'm thinking about using for the collar. Hope to start work on it over the weekend, since we're supposed to get rain.

The past week the weather has been wonderful. We had several sunny warm days in the upper 50's/low 60's. The snow is melting like crazy. None is blocking the windows and we've even got a bit of bare ground. The frost has come out of the driveway. Just a matter of time before stuff starts blooming.

There's still a lot of snow on the deck. Daughter Ruth actually went out and shoveled a small amount off the deck for the cats. They wanted to go outside onto the deck and lay in the sunshine but there was so much snow. She shoveled around one of the chairs so I could sit out there with them and knit, which I tried to do. The sun was very warm, but the breeze was so cold blowing across all the snow in the yard I gave up and went back inside, with freezing hands. Another week and it should all be melted off and then I can drag the cushions out of storage and set up the deck furniture properly.

Well, that's it for today.

Live long and prosper. \\//