Spring and Summer Sewing and Almond Blossoms

We are headed to Nashville for a few days tonight, and I wanted to sew a few things for the trip. So I got out the sewing machine yesterday and churned out a skirt and two dresses. This skirt is Simplicity 5956, and is cut on the bias. I have made a skirt or two from this pattern before, and I like the way if fits. The fabric is some that I found at Joann's on sale last year. This is some more Joann fabric. The flowers are actually more green than blue. The dresses were hard to photograph well. The pattern is Simplicity 5049, and it is an empire waisted, short-sleeved dress. I meant to make the V-neck higher, but it was late when I was cutting the pieces out, and I just forgot.
I have realized that I really like Kwik Sew patterns. They almost never go on sale, but they fit better (on me) than many of the other brands. This is another short-sleeved, empire waisted, v-neck dress (do you see a theme here?), Kwik Sew 3253. They are all knee length, and very comfortable. I don't like to wear shorts much during the summer, I'd much rather wear skirts and dresses since I think that they are more comfortable.
These are a few blossoms from the flowering almond tree in our front yard. This is one of my favorite ornamental trees, so imagine my delight when it started blooming in the middle of April. Our yard is now covered with pink petals, but the tree was gorgeous in full bloom!

Adonienieroschen Shawl

I've finally blocked my Adonienieroschen shawl. I adapted the pattern from Gloria Penning's Old World Treasures. I am really happy with the way it turned out. It was an easy knit, and I actually used stitch markers, which I rarely do (I only used 1 on the whole Maple Garland shawl, and that was for the beginning of the round!). I unraveled the front of a sweater that I was never going to finish or wear, and then used two of the remaining three balls. I think I'll send whatever I have left to my friend. She is having some health problems, and I hope that this will be a long distance hug. When I told B that it was for a friend who was sick, she wanted to get into our car and drive to see her to give her a hug to make her feel better! She is such a sympathetic little girlie! So I hope that the shawl is well received!
Pattern: Adonienieroschen from Gloria Penning's Old World Treasures
Yarn: between 600 - 650 yards Adriafil Sound, a mohair/acrylic blend in eggplant purple
Needles: US 9 and 10 circulars
Size: 50" diameter

Happy Birthday A!

Today is A's first birthday. We don't do big parties when they are so young since we don't have a lot of our families around. We had company last night and sang "Happy Birthday." And one of my husband's cousin's live about an hour away and had a meeting a few towns over, so stopped by for breakfast. A showed off by rubbing his plate on his head, and now sports a maple-syrup-gel hairdo! Here is B feeding her brother some of her applesauce a few days ago. Here is A trying to figure out how to ride on his new tricycle.


B and A are in great spirits today, and even let me take quite a few pictures of them.


A started to walk 3-5 steps a few weeks ago. He is so proud of himself when he stands that he starts laughing and bouncing. It is too cute!


I have a shawl that I knit for a friend blocking at the moment and plan to have pictures of it up tomorrow.

Some Sock Spinning

After finishing my Maple Garland Shawl last week, I decided to do some spinning. These are some luxury sock batts from Abby at Franquemont Fibers. They were very easy and a joy to spin. The batts are 68% superwash merino, 30% silk, and 2% firestar. The sparkle is very hard to photograph, but it is subtle.

I spun a fairly fine single and then chain-plied the singles to preserve the three color gradations. The color is called Orchid, but I think it looks like a sunrise, with the blue/purple, red/purple, and the yellow/pink. I ended up with 212 yards and 2.5 oz. three-ply yarn. I need to find/dye a complimentary colored fiber to spin for some heels and/or toes. I really prefer ankle socks, so I can get by with a little less yarn that average. And I will knit these toe-up to make the best use of the yarn that I have. This will probably be my project for our trip to Nashville for graduation in the beginning of May.

Maple Garland Pictures

Well here are two pictures of the blocked Maple Garland Shawl. Please excuse the poor quality. The shawl is too big (56" square) to photograph well inside, and we are having gusty wind and generally nasty weather, so these were the best I could manage. I hope that you can get an idea of the size and pattern though.
Vital statistics:
Pattern: Maple Garland Shawl from Marianne Kinzel's Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting
Yarn: approximately 2000 yards (~7 oz) of Jaggerspun Superfine Merino in cream
Needles: 3.5 mm dpns and circulars, and a size 5 steel crochet hook for the crochet edging
Size: 56" square

I plan to enter this in the garment competition at MDSW (Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival). I really don't expect to win anything since it is such a huge event, but I still think that it will be a good experience.

Maple Garland is Finished!!!!!

My Maple Garland shawl is finally finished!!!!!!! I thought this day would never come. I spent about a month on it before taking an extended break from it. It got packed away during the move, and resurfaced while unpacking here. When I picked it up again, I started just after the first row of leaves. Here is the shawl after the final row, before the edging.

I have worked solely on this for the past two months, and I only had 62 of the 220 rows left. I knit at least 2 rows per day. The edging took about 2 days. While using my great-grandmother's steel crochet hook for the edging, I was reminded of how much I dislike Boye hooks and needles. The hook is just too shallow to get a good grip on the yarn, and my yarn had a tendency to split, which made for slow going. I had my husband do some advanced mathematical calculations for me the other evening, and he concluded that there are over 100,000 stitches in this shawl! Here is my unblocked picture. I am getting ready to block it now, and should have some good pictures of it tomorrow!

Easter Pictures

Here are two pictures of the munchkins on Easter. B loves her pretty purple dress! She also loves having her Auntie S here with us for the weekend. On Monday, she kept saying that she didn't want her Auntie to back to school, that she wanted her to "stay here and keep me company." They didn't want to pose together, and A didn't want to sit still at all. So daddy caught him examining this egg. He was so engrossed with these! But here is his all dressed up in a little suit. He had a tie, but the collar was a bit too snug on his shirt for it to fit.


Here are the two of them playing the piano, one of their favorite activities! They take after their daddy and his love for music!

Maple Garland Shawl

So Eve asked for a picture of the Maple Garland Shawl. Here it is, looking like a crumpled ball of yarn. Only because the center is visible, is it even recognizable as the Maple Garland shawl from Marianne Kinzel's Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting

I am using Jaggerspun's Superfine Merino in cream, on 3.5mm knitting needles. I've used over 1800yds thus far, and still have 14 rows left, so I figure that I will use a couple hundered yards more. I'll post a picture when I have it all dressed out.

More Sewing, Still Knitting

I'm still knitting my never-ending shawl. It should be done in another week or two. Plenty of time to get packed up and mailed off to the nice people at MDSW. I'm also knitting a top-secret surprise project too. I really want to finish the Maple Garland shawl because I have aome sumer knitting that I want to get done for the kids.

But I did sew a bit last week. I made another sheet for A, and I made this apron from Simplicity 4282, View E


The apron was actually really easy, and the only finishing was the binding around the edges. I am not the neatest cook, and I decided that I'd rather wear an apron than change my clothes to cook, or ruin them. I though the daisies were fun. I think I'll make a few more over the course of the summer.

I've been busy, but don't have much to show

I have been doing a lot of knitting, but I don't have any pictures. I've been slogging away on a shawl that I plan to enter into the garment competition at MD Sheep and Wool (my first fiber even outside of Stitches Market!) and I'm at the point where I have 1000+ stitches on the needle, and I am trying to get 2 rows done per day. It is not very kid-friendly, so I tend to work on it in the evenings. I'm also test knitting some patterns for the EZasPi group, and and nearing completion with that. I hope to have some knitting and spinning pictures soon!

I did finish sewing some bags for two dear friends. The first is yellow with ladybugs and a watercolor-like interior.

This one had rainbow flowers and a dot inner. They are both reversible.
And so as not to leave the post too short, here are two pictures of B and A enjoying their new slide. It has been so nice here lately that we have been walking most days, checking on the progression of the daffodils and tulips. The afternoon often involve time in the back yard, with B on the slide, and me trying to keep A from actually swallowing any of the rocks that he like to try to eat.

Swap packages and some preemie sweaters

I had a busy mail week. I received my package from Kimberly, my A Life Overflowing partner. She sent me a fun mug filled with almond kisses (my favorite!) a tin of mints, some Cafe Godiva coffee (very yummy) , some pretty roving, and a pair of scissors with one of her fobs.

Here's a close-up of the scissors and fob. The fob has a great tea pot and cup charm on it. Thank you so much, Kimberly!

Yesterday my second skein in the Spin to Knit exchange arrived from Sande. She sent this huge skein of romney hogget and some of the roving, plus some from another sheep in the same flock. I was very blessed to have such a generous swap partner! Thank you! She spun this yarn for me to make some hats to keep the munchkins warm next winter. I think it wil be perfect for that!

Two weeks ago, one of the cousin in the family had twin girls, born 6 weeks early. They were 3.5 lbs each. I wanted to make something for them, so I dug out my crochet hooks (which I haven't done in several years) and made these two sweaters. The one with the blue flowers is from this pattern. I modified the pink one a bit, partly because I remembered halfway through the first one how much I dislike double treble stitches, and partly because I really don't like to make two things exactly the same. I hope they the fit the girls when they can come home. I hope to get a few more things made for these babies too. Since I was a preemie myself, I tend to have a soft spot for them!

The only green around here is yarn!

Well, I haven't been knitting much lately, but I've been spinning and sewing. I did finish knitting the afghan, but sent it off before I got a picture. But is is loved and being used.

I finished up my second skein of yarn for the Interweave skein swap for Julie. It is a mixed fiber batt and I spun it thick/thin. I hope that she likes it! The color is called Godzilla. The snow in background is some left over from our storm this weekend.

After struggling for several years with crib sheets that don't fit after a few washings and rip at the corner seams, I decided to sew a few of my own. I bought the flannel on sale at Joann's and used the pattern at Bundles of Love as a rough guide. Here is B's sheet, which has pink guitars, to match her pink guitar (she's a girly girl!). My mom made the blanket and pillow out of patchwork flannel and chenille. It was her first project on her new sewing machine. B carries the pillow downstairs with her in the morning, and back upstairs for bed at night.


I made A's sheet out of a cute train print. The little blanket bunny is a modified version of the one at the Lionbrand website, but I rewrote it for a different yarn and gauge. A loves it and plays with it before he goes to sleep and after he wakes up.

Since we moved here just over a month ago, we have had some snow every week. The last one froze into a 3 inch sheet of ice. But on Sunday we hat 6 or so inches of wet snow. My husband was shoveling, and B wanted to join him. She made snow angels and played, and he helped her make her first snowman when he was done.


A spent some time outside too. He was my intrepid little explorer, trying to dig out the rocks and pick at everything. He didn't like his mittens too much, but he did like to try to see what the snow tasted like!

Secret Skein Swap and a Hat

Late last week I received a box in the mail from my Interweave Secret Skein partner. In the box was a beautiful skein of three-ply Jacob yarn, and three ball of the roving that my partner used to spin the yarn. She said that it was once of her first fleeces that she purchased, and she separated the fleece into light, medium, and dark colors, sent it to Stonehenge to be processed, and then she spun this beautiful yarn with it. She later told me that the skein won a blue ribbon at the state/local fair! What a generous partner I have! I can hardly wait to finishe spinning the next skein for my secret partner, so I can play with this!

On the knitting front, I've been working on the afghan that I used as a backdrop in the above picture. I usually prefer to crochet afghans, but I am trying to finish up some UFOs, and this one is for a very special person who is having some health issues at the moment, so I have a lot of incentive to get it finished. I also knit up this hat to test one of Kimberly's new patterns. I used some stash yarns, and some leftover purple handspun. I like hoe it turned out, and B has claimed it, even though it is way to big for her!

A Life Overflowing Package and Snow!

A few days after moving in to our new house, we had our first snowfall of the season. It was only an inch or so, but it was quite pretty!


A wonderful package also arrived from Kimberly, my A Life Overflowing partner that week. In the package was a beautiful mug, plaque, and some tea, and a gorgeous skein of sock yarn that she dyed herself! It is called Summer Haze, and is all the colors that you will find in a summer garden: yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and pink. It makes me happy just to look at it!

I haven't had a lot of time to knit since our move, but I started a project yesterday, and should have pictures up in the next few days.

A Long Overdue Update

It's been a long time since I've posted. I made a bunch of hats and mittens for Christmas gifts, but I didn't have a chance to snap any pictures. I finished up a few last minute projects, and visited both my extended family and my husband's extended family for Christmas. We had a blessed, if exhausting trip. Here's a picture of the munchkins on the Sunday before we left.

I was working on spinning a grey/purple glitz yarn in the two days before we left on our Christmas trip. I really wanted to get it finished in time to take with me to knit during our long drives, so I worked on it while the munchkins were awake, which I usually don't do. As I was spinning, I looked up to see this from my chair (A was just starting to get into things then, now he is all over!):

And her is one skein of the finished yarn, the purple is a little difficult to see:

As soon as we returned home, we started packing for our move halfway across the county. And that is where I stand, in limbo, waiting for our move to be completed. But I have been busy with crafting too, it has made things seem more normal.

My husband loves to play the piano. He doesn't get to play as often as he would like with the kids around, because they love to play too. Here is a picture of B at about 11 months "playing."

A is more active than B was at his age, and at 8 months, can barely reach the keys, but like to play as much as his big sister!

Currently the munchkins and I are staying with my parents while our belongings are packed and moved to our new place. I've actually finished a few things in the past few days. In the three days prior to leaving our old place (do you see a trend here?) I spun up 2 ox of mohair fluff from Margarett at Running Moon Farm. The picture can hardly do it justice. Browns are not really my color, but there is a beautiful range of browns and oranges. I spun a medium singles and plied it with sewing thread to make a loopy boucle. It was kind of fun to make, but it was a bit labor-intensive, so I don't think that I will be making this type of yarn a lot. I spun this for my Spin to Knit secret pal, and the exchange has inspired me to try things outside of my comfort zone. Here's a picture of the two skeins, although they are much prettier in person.

For Christmas, B received a kitchen set from my parents. It is staying here until our move is complete. So she has been cooking up a storm and "needed" a dishtowel. So I whipped this one up on Thursday for her. She loves it! I found some dishcloth cotton in my mom's stash, and designed it on the needles.
I don't like to carry a purse or a diaper bag, but I do need something to keep my wallet, phone, a diaper, some wipes, and frequently a snack for the munchkin in. I have a lovely bag from Rebecca that I received as a gift in a swap. I like the size, but I really wanted pockets. So I found a pattern for this cute bag in the Winter 2006 issue of BHG Quilts and More magazine. The long strap slides through the shorter one to close the bag and form the carrying strap. I like it so much that I bought some more fabric to make another one today. And I made it in just one morning, which is even better!
Sorry to have gone on so long, but I had more to share than I thought! Wishing you all a belated happy and blessed new year!

Feet to Prayers Package

Yesterday the mailman brought this lovely package from Sharon in OH! There is a pretty sock in purple/blue/turquoise, a kitchen towel that she embroidered, a little card with the Footprints poem, and a magazine with some great cookie recipes. How did she know that I am in the middle of my holiday cookie baking! The sock fits perfectly! Thank you so much for your generosity Sharon!

Loopy Toddler Socks

I have finished my socks for both of my sock swaps. I'll post pictures here after I get the boxes out and my partners receive their goodies! I can hardly wait for the ladies to get them!

B loves to spin with me. I brought out my drop spindle a few weeks ago, and she had to spin too. I have a little one that don't use, so I gave it to her. I spun up a short length of yarn for her, and she had a blast "spinning" her own yarn.


She also loves socks and handknit things, so I made her a pair of slipper socks out of the first yarn I spun on my wheel. It is slightly thick and thin, but was mostly a light worsted weight. I'll give you the numbers that I used, but it is just a basic sock recipe. I did not write out explicit directions and I assume that you are already familiar with basic sock construction. If you aren't you can find a pattern with pictures here.

Size: Toddler size 6
Yarn: 100 yds worsted weight handspun wool
Needles: US 3, (3.25mm)
Loop Stitch: Knit 1, but so not remove stitch from left hand needle. Bring the working yarn to the front between the needle tips and wrap it around thumb. Bring the yarn to the back again, slip the stitch from the right needle back to he left, and knit it together with the original stitch. Another description with pictures can be seen here.

Cuff: Cast on 36 sts. Work these 6 rows back and forth
R 1: Work loop st. in every stitch.
R 2: Knit
Repeat these 2 rows 3 times. The remainder of the cuff is knit in the round. With the loops on the wrong side, join and work 10 rounds in k2, p2 rib.
Heel:
R 1: Slip 1, knit 17, turn.
R 2: Slip 1, purl 17.
Repeat these two rows 9 times total.
To turn the heel, work as follows:
slip 1, k10, ssk, k1, turn;
slip 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn;
slip 1, k6, ssk, k1, turn;
repeat, working one more stitch before the decrease until all heel flap sts have been worked, ending with a purl row.
Slip 1, knit across heel, pick up 10 sts in slipped stitches of heel flap. Continue across the instep in st st, then pick up 10 sts on the other side of the heel flap.
Foot:
Decrease for the gusset every other round until 36 sts remain. Work even until 1" from desired length (3 3/4")and then decrease for the toe.
Toe:
Decrease eor (every other round) 3 times, then er (every round) 2 times. Graft remaining sts together.

Knit a second sock to match. If you knit a pair of these socks, please consider knitting another pair in some warm wool yarn and sending them to CIC.

Copyright 2006 Chrysalis Knits.

Knitting the blues

In my last post I forgot to show what else I had finished in the last week. I've been spinning up some blue and green merino to knit into a hat for A. I'll spin up the rest, with added glitz, to make a hat for B. I spun a firm but springy two ply and is 270 yds in the two ounces. I probably won't start the other two oz. for a week or two.

It has gotten chilly here lately, so I took out some fruit hats that I made last fall while I was pregnant. It is a blueberry hat, inspired by several other fruit hats I've seen, but I didn't knit with a pattern, I just used my basic hat formula and added green at the top and a little leaf. I used Wendy/Peter Pan Velvet Touch. It is like knitting velour and, unlike chenille, it doesn't worm. I love this for baby things! It is so soft. So here is a picture of A today, before our walk to the park.