Ottobre 4/2012 Skirt and Top

In which we don't comb our hair and we grow weeds in flower pots.... 

Taking a good photo today was just impossible.  She consented happily as long as I didn't fix her hair.  But then the sun shone too brightly, and along came Jinx to distract her. But who can resist a cute kitty?

The outfit was cut out last fall....and restarted (and almost finished!) a few months ago.  I think I've been knitting too often that I forgot how to sew.  I first had trouble with the  long sleeves (cut them off short, but still too long, so cut them off some more), then the binder attachment on my coverstitch machine gave me fits, and then my elastic thread was so old that the shirring at the waist refused to cooperate.  Finally, today, I finished the shirring with new elastic, added two snaps to the skirt, and ta da, the outfit is done. Big smile.  And now I want to sew all the things.  Maybe it's time for a knitting hiatus....

The Patterns:  Ottobre Autumn 4/2012
The Top:  Visiting Granny, design #31
Size: 128, (European sizing)
The Skirt: Spinning Around, design #32
Size 128, lengthened

(the brown skirt fabric has tiny polka dots, but they do weird things in the photos)

the pic from the magazine:

Tornado Socks

I'm home today with a migraine while the rest of my family is out helping with the tornado damage.  So many people were affected by these tornadoes, so many have lost their homes, so many are without.  It's sad. Overwhelming.  But encouraging, too, now, to see all the people from around the state and even from other states, coming together to help with the clean up and relief efforts.  

I received several emails and messages asking how my family weathered the storms.  I'm so grateful to report that we are all fine.  Two of my married daughters were closer to the tornadoes than I was, but they both were in shelters with their families during the worst of the storm.  It's especially during times like this that wake me up to a new awareness of how precious are my family and loved ones, how fragile is life. And I am thankful, so very thankful.

While my daughters were holing up in storm shelters, we sat in our living room watching the news on TV, following the path of devastation as the tornado worked its way some 40 miles to the east of where we live.  As I watched the news, my hands were busy knitting.  Because of the tense moment, my stitches were tighter than usual and my fingers flew faster. But I finished a pair of partially completed socks that I am dubbing as my "tornado" socks. 

Green Tornado Socks

Pattern: Charade (a free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Bare Sheep 100% merino, fingering 
Needles:  Size 0 (2.0 mm)
 
This next pair of socks was finished last week, and it's the start of a year-long KAL (knit-a-long).  The goal is to knit all 17 pairs of socks from the Soctopus book by the end of October 2014. The Soctopus group on Ravelry is the place to be if you want encouragement and help while knitting the beautiful socks from this book.

 

Pattern:  Totally Vanilla, from the Soctopus book
Yarn:  Felici, from Knit Picks in the color Putty
Needles: Size 1 (2.25 mm)

Prairie Dresses - McCall's 9424

Just look at these pretty girls and their big smiles!  They loved their new dresses and the matching doll outfits, and that made me happy.  It was a joy to sew these outfits, and a joy to see the girls' excitement and gratefulness. I'm sure they will have hours of fun and imagination as they play in their "Little House on the Prairie" dresses and bonnets.

The pattern for these dresses is one that I've sewn many times before.  First for my own girls years ago, and then again for another friend's daughters several years ago.  The pattern is still available in the pattern book, and I may just buy another to replace my worn and used copy.  

The pattern does run wide, but that's okay for a costume like this.  The girls will be able to wear them for several years, I imagine.  (I do wish I had made the sleeves a bit longer, though.)

The doll clothes is also a McCall's pattern, number 3627, and fits 18" dolls.  

I love this picture....reminds me of Holly Hobbie!

the doll dresses, bonnets, pantaloons, and aprons  

Elephants on Parade

 

A quilt for my grandson!

the elephant pattern:  Effie and Ollie Mini Elephant, from Heather Bailey
I enlarged the pattern on my copy machine to make the elephants bigger than the 4" size of the pattern.  We tied helium balloons to the noses as part of the baby shower decorations, but sadly, no pictures were taken of them.

the quilt pattern and fabric:  Bungle Jungle from Moda Bakeshop.  I can't seem to find the pattern right now to link to it.

It had been some time since I last made a quilt, and so I was delighted with this finished quilt.  It is big...plenty big enough for a toddler bed.  The quilting was done on my Pfaff machine using the seams and edge of my presser foot as stitching guides.

Making this quilt was very enjoyable for me, and now I want to make another, and another, and another.  But you know how it is, so much to do, so little time....  But seriously, now I'm looking for an excuse to make another baby quilt.   :)

The Front

The Back

 

Introducing HGTV fabrics at Joann Fabrics!

This HGTV HOME™ fabric kit from Jo-Ann Fabrics arrived in my mailbox recently to share with our readers. While my home decor project with these lovely new fabrics isn't quite ready to show you yet (Remember, I have a new baby, but it's coming soon!), I wanted to share the spring fabric love and pass on the info!  

These two coordinates are so fun and modern, and they go perfectly with a gray coverlet quilt I recently bought on clearance at Target.  I'm working on pillow covers for my soon-to-be re-decorated bedroom!

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has teamed up with HGTV to launch an exclusive vibrant collection of indoor and outdoor home décor fabrics – just in time for spring! Check out their pinterest board HERE for more prints and inspiration!

TheHGTV HOME™ fabric line is available only at Jo-Ann Fabrics and is currently on sale for 50% off the regular price.  Use the coupon below for additional savings though May 4th.  

Blessings!

Jessica

Pink for Baby

I've been knitting for baby boys (love my two newborn grandsons!) so much recently, that when Jessica asked if I could knit some booties for her to give a friend's girl baby, I gladly agreed.

This lace bonnet pattern was first brought to my attention years ago, and I knit it once before.  The pattern is seamless (wahoo!), and it knits up so quickly.  It's a great pattern, ingenious, really, because my seaming is not too good.  

The booties pattern is also seamless, knit from the soles and up to the cuff.  I modified the instep of the pattern by adding the lace pattern from the bonnet to the center stitches.  Now I'm thinking of modifying a cardigan pattern to match....

Has anybody heard of a grandmother's hope chest?  After knitting this sweet set for a baby girl, the thought crossed my mind that I don't have any granddaughters to be born anytime soon, but maybe I should start knitting and putting things aside for future grandchildren.  Babies are so much fun to knit for--almost instant gratification because the project is finished in short time compared to big people items.  Just a thought I had, but truthfully, I can't keep up with all the projects swirling through my mind, let alone knit to hold for the future. 

the free hat pattern:  Little Shell Lace Baby Bonnet

the yarn:  Berroco Vintage, worsted weight

the needles:  size 7 (4.5 mm)  

the booties pattern:  Eviepants All In One Booties

the yarn: Berroca Vintage

the needles: size 6 (4.0 mm)

 

 

 

Can't Elope Tonight

Knock, Knock.
Who's There?
Cantaloupe.
Cantaloupe Who?
Cantaloupe tonight because Dad has the car.

Dumb joke I remember from my childhood.  When I saw the name of this scarf pattern, Cantaloop, I was reminded of the joke.  So now I say "Cantaloop tonight, Dad has the car."  =)

The Pattern:  Cantaloop, from Loops Knitting in Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Yarn:  Yearling, by Juniper Moon Farm
Needle Size:  I used a size 13, but the pattern calls for size 15

Any bulky yarn will work.  I looked for a bulky yarn in all cotton, couldn't find any, so I used is a wool cotton blend.