Sunday Best

I finally finished the little coat that I started almost two weeks ago. I had to frog and start over several times because the bottom portion was not the look I wanted. Sometimes following a pattern is easier, I don't have to think about sizing. But when I try to bring one of the ideas in my head down to my hands, something gets lost in translation or is it transportation...lol.

Anyway, Sunday Best is finished so I have to come up with a matching hat. Even though my niece is due in May, this little coat is for the colder months. I can't wait to get a photo in the entire outfit, guess that will be in a while. I think I'll have to borrow a teddy bear or something like I've seen other stitchers do.

One of the things I love about this coat is the buttons. Each little button is different because I didn't have a set of buttons to use. I went through my button bag and found one pink, one lilac and one white. With all the specks of red, yellow, blue and green in the yarn I think different color buttons work well. I also love the contrasting waistband woven through. I used this yarn as scrap stitch markers since this is another top down garment but I loved the way the colors blended and wanted to work it into the garment. I saw a few patterns online that had ribbon woven through so that's when the light went off.

Keep stitchin'

I found the other one

With a little more digging I found the other magazine. This one, by Anne Orr, is full of Knitting, Crochet, Tunisian Crochet and Cross stitch and Embroidery. This book, even though it's older than the previous find by 8 years has a few color pictures inside, that I forgot to take pictures of. Yes, I said it, this book's copyright is 1937!!!. Because the copyright is written so small and of a lighter type than the J.P. Coats book I was not able to get a clear shot of the date. Nonetheless, this book is 73 years old! Talk about your antique.

As you can see on the cover this booklet is all about afghans and there are some really nice ones in here. Want an idea of just how old this booklet is? There is a pattern for a 'Sleigh/Auto Robe'. This lovely piece is done in afghan stitched blocks and then cross-stitching is used to embellish it with horses and Old English lettering of your choice, a pattern also included in the book. It's afghan so you know it's nice and warm for those sleigh rides to town...LOL.




There's a cute little knitted baby afghan with Irish Roses crocheted on it and a ribbon trim. How sweet is this? Awwww

Ok, I saved the one I really like for last! It's this cool knitted afghan with a crochet border to finish. What's so cool about this one is the long stitches every sixth row. I had to give it try and though a bit challenging I was able to work it.

Mine's is far from perfect but its something I could see myself using in the future.

I was a bit curious about dear Anne Orr so I googled her and found some information. I didn't find anything scandalous instead I found someone I would be proud to have known.

Keep stitchin'

Organizing Treasures

I went back to my locker for another bin with the same idea in mind 'get rid of anything that's not necessary'. Of course I found more yarn but this time, I found a treasure! My Godmother, years ago, gave me a couple of craft magazines that belonged to her mother since none of her own children could/would knit or crochet. Finds like this prove that hoarding isn't always a bad thing. CLARK'S J&P COATS, a booklet full of all kinds knit and crochet gifts. Notice the price 10 cents!!!! and the copyright is the year 1945!

Some of the patterns in here are really nice like the shoulder bag and the handbag.

Seriously how cool are this bags, I would definitely sport them. The items are made from Chadwick's Red Heart baby wool, Chadwick's Red Heart Worsted, J&P Coats or Clark's O.N.T. Pearl Cotton and J&P Coats Tatting Cotton. I tried to figure out what the O.N.T. stands for but I couldn't find anything in the booklet so if anyone knows please leave a comment. The booklet also includes things like a pair of slippers, a loopy dog, an apron and hanger sachets.

This booklet is 65 years old, that's older than my mother! So with finds like this that I know I will continue to treasure my organizing continues and so does my careful examination of everything before I decide to get rid of it. Will I make anything from this book? Hmm, I definitely have my eye in the handbag for someone. What I do need to do is make copies and put the original away to preserve it. The front and back covers have come off, it's a bit tattered around the edges and the pages are turning a bit put everything is still very readable and all the pages including the front and back cover are still there. Hey, this mean I have a true antique!

Keep stitchin'

Organizing for the new year

With the start of the new year, out with the old and in with the new and all the crap, I decided to attempt to organize my stash and other things in my life as well. I have a storage locker that I need to empty, get back on track with my weight loss, a husband to divorce (yeah me!!!) and a corner/spot in my house loaded with boxes and bags of yarn that needs help. I really got tired of looking at this sad corner. I keep saying corner but it's not even a corner, just a spot next to the sofa that's starting to grow like the blob.



















So new year new me, I went to my locker to find storage containers. I decided whatever was in the bins could go unless it is really really important. Low and behold! What have we here! I found a container that had a couple of garments and yarn, more yarn for my stash! So true to my word I threw out the garments since I didn't find them suitable for Goodwill and rescued the yarn. This one container certainly wont hold all my stash but it will make a big difference. Then I can go back later and get another nice big one and empty that one too. I love it, killing two birds with one stone. And with a new baby coming into the family I have yarn to start a blanket without spending money. What's in the stash, 4 one pounders; 3 aran/off white and one baby mint. I know that's more than enough to make a really nice baby afghan. There is also 4 skeins of bright & lofty to make something special as well and a couple of other miscellaneous skeins to put to good use.
























Another find during my cleaning/organizing was these really cool people buttons. These buttons were on an African top that I threw out, there was no way I was going to waste the buttons. Don't know yet what I'm going to do with them but I will come up with something.

























Well time to get organizing.


Keep stitchin'

My headwrap towel thingy

I read that cotton is better for drying the hair. Thus the headwrap towel thingy is born. And no I couldn't come up with a better name than that; it works for me. I will be making another one just a bit longer and a bit wider.

Keep stitchin'