Just Plain Frilly

Enough of this darn snow, right? My last posting I spoke about 3hrs of digging snow and how smart it was. Having the whole week off of work made it easy for me to relax and recoup since I couldn't even get to the doctor for pain pills. Thankfully, I worked as a Physical Therapy Aide for seven and half years so I know how to apply heat/ice and stretch out my muscles.

There was also time to work out a new project. I wanted to make a blankie for our new family member and I wanted it to be something a little different. I've never done the diagonal stitch so I figured this would be a good time to try. I'm not sure if I started it right because I just ripped until I was happy with the way it was coming out. Remember, I hurt my back so running back and forth to the computer wasn't an option. Once I got a size that I liked, may not be right because I didn't have any measurement to go by, I needed a border. I wanted something with lots of lacing and maybe some ruffling. I did search for that and found Kim Guzman's friendship squares with a really nice border. It had pretty much everything I wanted and some so I tweaked it a bit to get the look I wanted; basically adding more chains did the trick. All the extra chains and the way I changed my colors gave me enough of the ruffle effect that I wanted. It's just plain frilly.

Since the baby is due in May this blanket is more useful for bedding decor rather than for wrapping baby but I love it anyway and I'm sure Mommy will love it too, right Kiana? I'm glad we have a break from the snow because now I can get out and get a look at the spring/summer yarns for something that the baby wont have to wait to wear.

Keep stitchin'

We got a little snow

Just a little bit of a snowfall, don't you agree. The snow is so high in my window sills I could hardly see out. This is a shot from my kitchen window. I think it was actually a bit higher but the wind probably blew it down.

I took a shot from the front door as well. Look how preeeeetty!! There is actually a step down to the sidewalk which you can't even see. The walk to my car will be about knee deep. That's my baby right in front of the door shivering. The door on the passenger side is just about up to the door handles. On the driver's side it's higher due to wind drifts; digging out is going to be a bear.

My balcony, on the other hand, reminds me of a beach scene for some reason. I pulled the blinds all the way and sat watching, wishing I was in my hotel room looking over the balcony.

Across the way the neighbors have begun to dig out. Looks like the plows have gotten to the street behind me but not the street in front of my house. I live on a circle so I'm trying not to shoot arrows. I have to remember today is only Saturday, they'll get to us tomorrow. There was one single guy out digging out his car as you can see but I missed him. Notice what's happening though. The snow is being piled into the middle of the parking lot. There are cars on the other right side as well. I already know what's going to happen, the snow plow is going to come through and push a lot of this snow off the sides and block this car right back in unless it's leaving right away.

I choose to stay in and stay warm today since I feel like I'm coming down with a cold. I did make so snow ice cream though!!! I cut back on the vanilla and added green tea to mine. It was yummy and made my teeth chatter. LOL The best part of a weekend like this is sleeping and knitting and sleeping and eating and sleeping and sleeping. Oh, did I forget to mention sleeping.

Keep stitchin'

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'