Finished Jitterbugs!

Finished, and in only 11 days. Hey, that's quick for me! :-)

Jitterbug yarn by Colinette
Size 2 double pointed needles
Cast on 56
2x2 rib
Stockinette stitch for leg and foot

Nothing fancy, just warm and cozy socks in a pretty colorway. This yarn was fabulous to knit--no splitting, and oh-so-soft. The socks do seem a bit thicker than other socks I've knit, but that's okay with me. These will surely be one of my favorites (along with the Tofutsies and the Sassy Stripes socks I've knit. Hmm....I don't know if I can choose just one favorite).

Ruth

Jitterbug Socks

I've cast on another pair of socks in a new-to-my-stash yarn called Jitterbug in the "Toscana" colorway.

Double pointed needles are my needles of choice, and I like to work on both socks at the same time. Well, not exactly at the same time, but alternating between the two. This helps me to avoid finishing one sock and never completing the second. Plus it enables me to ensure that both socks are identical in size. :-)

This is the first time, however, that I've knit both socks simultaneously but from the same skein of yarn. One sock is using the end of yarn from the inside, and the other sock is knit with the outer thread. So far this is working out great....no tangles or other problems. I'm sure this has been done many times by everyone else, but I feel so ingenious.

Off the computer to go knit some more!
Ruth

Gifts for Babies

Crocheted-edged Receiving Blankets
(A tutorial is here)

Bibs and Burp Cloths

More Bibs for Etsy

Not-a-Baby-Anymore who Fell Asleep while Reading

posted by Ruth

Knitting Needle Roll and Sweetie-Pies

Jessica made this knitting needle holder for me for Christmas, and I just love it! I love her fabric choice, and I like how she machine quilted free-handedly around the flower motifs. Best of all, I like that I can now keep all my knitting needles in one place and in order.



You can tell from this next picture that I have more double pointed needles than straight needles. I think I may ask Jessica to make me a smaller roll just for my sock needles which I seem to collect. :-)

I really do not have many straight needles, but I do have a nice set of Knit Picks circular needles that are stored in their own needle case. I don't find much use for the straight needles since most anything I would do on straights can be done on circulars.






Okay, these pictures aren't sewing related, but I thought I'd post them anyway. Here are Jacob and Emily. Both sick. Both trying to take a nap on the same couch. It didn't work. Hopefully J. and E. won't be sick for long.



My three older girls and my grandson are pictured here.... Sweetie-pies, all of them.


Oh, and yes, this is my next daughter, Sweetie-Pie #4, doing something not-so-sweet with her eyeball. Hmm....maybe this is what all 12 year olds do?



Happy Valentine's Day!
Ruth

Sewing Room Update Part 5

I'm almost done with the updates to my sewing room. I'm ready to stop working on it, and work in it!

We found this awesome, frame-less bulletin board at Hobby Lobby. It's perfect for over my ironing board. I love how it doesn't have that cheap looking wooden frame around the edge.

I plan to eventually cover it with fabric...whenever I come across the perfect print. That will add color and interest to the otherwise plain wall. For now, a garland of roses makes a nice decoration.

Yes, those are sweet baby bibs on the ironing board. I still need to put snaps or Velcro on them. I'm not sure snaps will go through the nubby chenille fabric of the lighter one, so I probably will use Velcro on that one. They are reversible.

Behind my machines, I put up 3 cork board strips, end to end. They were really cheap at Office Max, and the wall behind my machines is perfect for them. I really like being able to tack up my pattern directions behind my machines--it keeps them getting misplaced or lost under piles of other stuff. Plus, the directions are right there as I need them!

Just in time for Valentine's Day....I LOVE my new heart garlands. I saw the idea (originally done with fabric) in a BHG magazine. To make them, I cut out hearts in two sizes from pretty scrapbook papers. I glued the smaller hearts on top of the larger ones, punched holes in the sided, and tied then together with pretty ribbons. Very simple, and so pretty to look at! I also have one over my living room window, but couldn't get a good picture.

hugs,
Jessica

Update

I'm sorry it's been awhile since I've posted...life has been crazy, and to tell the truth, I just haven't felt like posting because haven't and still don't have good news about my eye situation.

Basically, the Uveitis inflammation in the front part of my eye is almost gone, so that's really good that we finally got that under control. That bad news is that I'm still not seeing any better, and my blurry vision seems to be caused by new inflammation in the middle part of my eye (the vitreous), and also by swelling on my retina at the back of my eye. The doctor gave me some new drops to hopefully take care of the problem with my retina. I may be going to see a retinal specialist if things are still not improving in a week.

I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. I'm feeling a lot better, so that's making this easier to deal with. I'm ready to be done, but obviously God is not ready to be done with me yet. =)

Thankfully I still have one good eye...I can still sew and e-mail!

Here's a couple pictures of a knitting roll case that I made for my husband's grandma, for her birthday.

These are so fun to make. Almost makes me want to become a knitter just so I can collect lots of needles and have a fun case to put them all in!

Love,
Jessica

For B's Baby

Twelve Little Diapers All In A Row....