End of 2018 Beginning of 2019

Wow, a year that zipped by faster than I would have imagined possible. 

I wrote almost nothing to share, knitted a lot, sewed a little, and probably produced more work than I have in a while.  There were mitered squares - I probably have enough for a quarter of a blanket and need to get on that little project again.  Because it is with scrap sock yarn though it will be a while before that one can be finished.  

                       

Mitered Squares collection

There were fingerless mittens, neck warmers, hats, and a Santa bag.

                              

Fingerless Mittens

These turned out to be quite popular.  Some people remarked that they could not see the point and that your fingers would be cold so they would never wear them. Others snapped them up like gold and wanted more.  Several who have purchased them asked me to please make them another pair or two.  It is a nice size project that I can take along where ever I go so I will continue to make them.  I wear full gloves under them sometimes but other times it is nice to be able to text, dial the phone or just be able to keep your hands warm while you work in a cooler area.  I even wear them when I knit if my hands are cold. 

Neck warmers, in all varieties, were a big hit too. 

Neck warmer

Neck Warmer

Flower Neck Warmer

Hat

Santa Basket Cover

I really want to make some sweater jackets and thought I would knit something for me soon, but I have to finish three more pairs of fingerless mittens before I can work for me.  

Happy New Year, May you always be working on something you enjoy.

Late Summer Thoughts

Petunias - summer 2018 on Patio

Although it is still plenty warm outside, the neighborhood kids have returned to school and soon I will have to bring in all of the plants. While it is still warm, I am enjoying watching the hummingbirds visit my flowers. I gave up trying to raise any vegetables on my balcony patio because I just don't get enough sun in the summer.  It is nicely shaded most of the day and plants that like partial sun/partial shade do well out there. I figured that even if I could not actually grow vegetables I could help the birds and bees. I was pleasantly rewarded with a little family of hummingbirds that visited several times a day. That did make a little extra work keeping the kitty in though because she loves being on the patio as much as I do.  Unfortunately, she also thinks it is ok to attack birds.  

Zenias - summer 2018 on the Patio - Hummingbird Favorites

Outside plants did well, but none of the orchids rebloomed this year.  Not sure what is making them unhappy so I may have to visit an orchid specialty shop and get some information. I did receive a couple of new mini orchids as gifts so there were some orchids in bloom for a little while.  

New orchids to my collection.

I have been writing up some knit patterns and trying to describe things I just do so that someone else could duplicate the work easily.  That is much easier said than done.  Here is the latest knit project.

I think it is easier to knit, making up a pattern as I go, writing some notes and duplicating it from my notes than to actually list things like CO X# of stitches, work in K1P1 rib for 1 3/4  inches etc. Once I actually write it out I think I have a few things to add to it that will make it easier for others to duplicate. This yarn is kind of wild and crazy, but someone suggested these colors and it has actually turned out much prettier than I thought it would.  Here is a photo before I finished both sides and started weaving in the ends. 

Mittens in progress.

I highly recommend stitch holders over waste yarn. There is a stitch holder on the one on the left above for the finger stitches and waste yarn on the thumb. This is such a quick and easy project - even for beginners. I think the fingers are far easier to do than turning the heels on socks, but mitten and sock projects are wonderful small projects that can be worked on the go. I am also working on a sweater - with a chunky yarn. This is the first time I have worked with a chunky yarn and the project is going very fast. I am working to have some things for an upcoming craft fair, but really I need to be working on what I would like to give away for the holidays. 

I am sorry not to be blogging much, but there are a lot of items in progress right now plus several things I plan to sew soon. It seems to be one or the other, either just do it, or talk about it.   

MAKE IT WORK

New Look 6250, its old now, but a favorite

This is one of my favorite patterns. New Look 6250.  There is nothing special just a plain shirt, no collar in four views, sleeveless with a deeper scooped neck, a long sleeved and short sleeved version with front buttoned down and a woven t-shirt view which I have also altered without sleeves at all to wear under business suit jackets. There are no darts it is a simple loose fitting shirt with a slightly dropped shoulder, and originally made in the early 90s with shoulder pads. I don't think this pattern is in print anymore and it would look rather dated with large shoulder pads, but simple alterations will keep it looking classic. 

I purchased this wild Hawaiian style print last year then promptly lost this intended pattern.  When I re-arranged things so I could make room for a quilting table (that will have to be another post) I found the missing pattern. Now I am going to make this shirt so I have it for next summer.  I have two yards of fabric and it must only be about 42 inches wide.  The pattern calls for two yards of 45-inch wide fabric in the size I plan to make. 

I have enough fabric for all of the main pieces, but I am going to have to cut the pockets on a fold and the sleeve is a little wider than the half fold on the fabric.

enough room for pockets if cut on the fold

• Pockets on the fold so I have enough fabric, no big deal I can do that.

enough fabric on this strip for the underarm splice

• A splice under the arm so the sleeves are wide enough, also do-able. 

Careful placement may let me match the front

• Front not matching, well that is much less desirable.  Or is it possible I can make that match?

There is a 12.25-inch pattern repeat, so if I think this out properly, (lay it out so that the 12.25-inch repeat starts and ends on the center front (button line) I probably can get the front to match too.  I am not sure if I will still have fabric for the pockets, but it is certainly a make it work moment.