Catching Up

Hi friends! Sorry to have seemingly abandoned my blog for so long but life has just kept me very busy. Since the last surgery on my right arm, it has finally healed well. I am able to do all the things I could before the accident except straighten the arm completely or, bend it totally to touch my shoulder. The only time it bugs me is when I put my face cream on my face and neck so that's not so horrible and I have learned to use my left hand for this and many more tasks.
 
Another big change is that I have lost 75 pounds! I'd still like to loose a bit more but we'll see. My kids are afraid I may get too thin! It is so wonderful to be able to buy clothing in the "regular" sizes rather than the "plus" size section! I've gone from a size 24 (3X) to a 14-16 (L). Sorry about the self portrait but that seems to be the only way lately that I get any pictures of myself. 

For the past week, I've been helping my daughter make a quilt. She is expecting a little girl! We are really excited so we picked out some fabrics to make an owl quilt for when she is born. Due date is Oct 8th. 

This little guy keeps us both busy most of the time and likes spending time in the sewing room. He has grown so much!

This is the little sweater I made for him. Currently, I'm also knitting a blanket for the new baby. 

Hopefully, I will do better at keeping up with my blog in future! 

Until next time, happy sewing!

Circular Knit Dishcloth

This pattern is taken from a much photocopied, old typewritten pattern that has been in my possession for over 25 years. There is no authors name on it. Following is what is written on that original pattern. Any changes or additions for clarification done by me will be shown in purple.

A VERY UNIQUE and serviceable dishcloth, the directions may be confusing at first. Just remember to TURN when it says TURN. The stitches remaining on the left needle are supposed to be there. They make it form a circle. I use mine under my teapot. Not only does it look pretty but it protects the table from the heat and any dribbles from the teapot. 

CIRCULAR KNIT DISHCLOTH - HOT PAD

Materials:  1 skein (ball) Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn
Knitting needles #9 or #10 (equivalent to 3.75mm or 3.25mm - US size 5 or 3) I use a 3.25mm

Cast on 15 sts.
Row 1 - Knit
Row 2 - K 3, YO, K 11 (1 st left on needle) TURN
Row 3 - Knit
Row 4 - K 3, YO, K 11 (2 sts left) TURN
Row 5 - Knit
Row 6 -  K 3, YO, K 11 (3 sts left) TURN
Row 7 - Knit
Row 8 - Bind off 3 sts, K 2, YO, K8 (4 sts left on needle) TURN
Row 9 - Knit
Row 10 - K 3, YO, K 8 (5 sts left) TURN
Row 11 - Knit
Row 12 - K 3, YO, K8 (6 sts left) TURN
Row 13 - Knit
Row 14 - Bind off 3 sts, K 2, YO, K 5 (7 sts left) TURN
Row 15 - Knit
Row 16 - K 3, YO, K5 (8 sts left) TURN
Row 17 - Knit
Row 18 - K3, YO, K5 (9 sts keft) TURN
Row 19 - Knit
Row 20 - Bind off 3 sts, Knit all sts to end (you should have 15 stitches)

REPEAT ROW 1 THRU' 20 7 TIMES more (for a total of 8 sections - this is different from the original instructions)
Row 1 - 20 forms 1 section of the dishcloth. Completed original dishcloth has SEVEN* sections. I do 8 sections in mine to get it to lay flat. Yours may lay flat at 7 sections. When last row is completed, Bind off and sew seam.

If you have any problems following this, please let me know!

An old UFO finally done!

It's hard to believe that this little project has been a UFO since December of 2008...

It only took me about 3 hours to finish it while watching TV. The yarn I used is called Tweedle Dee by Moda-Dea and has a slightly shaded effect. While I like the hat, it is a bit on the small side. The Cabled Hat pattern (Patons) says it is one-size women's. I'd say it is more like a child's medium.

Glad I can move one more thing to the 'finished' list!

Checkerboard Dish Cloth Pattern

This is a pattern I made up for my granddaughter so she could practice this prior to making a bigger blanket. If you try this pattern, please let me know if you find the instructions easy to understand.

Checkerboard Dish Cloth

with Seed Stitch Border

 by Edna @ Needling Things

1 50g ball Worsted Weight 100% Cotton (such as Lily Sugar 'n Cream)

1 pair size 4.0 mm knitting needles (US #6)

Two stitch markers

Large eye darning needle

Cast on 42 sts loosely

Row 1 – *K1, P1 repeat from * across row.

Row 2 – *P1, K1 repeat from * across row.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 three more times for a total of 8 rows of seed stitch.

(For ease of knitting, place a marker after the first six seed stitches and before the last six seed stitches on the next row. On all following rows, slip the markers from one needle to the other to keep them in place.)

Row 9 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) marker, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6 across to last 6 stitches, marker then 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) to end.

Row 10 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) up to marker, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6 across to marker then work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) to end.

Row 11 to 16, repeat rows 9 and 10.

Row 17 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) up to marker, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6 repeat across up to marker then work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 1) to end.

Row 18 – Work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) up to marker, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6 repeat across up to marker then work 6 stitches seed stitch (as in row 2) to end.

Row 19 to 24, repeat rows 17 and 18.

Row 25 to 32, repeat rows 9 to 16

Row 33 to 40, repeat rows 17 to 24

Row 41 to 48, repeat rows 9 to 16

Row 49 to 56, repeat rows 17 to 24

Row 57 to 64, work seed stitch as in rows 1 to 8. (Stitch markers can be removed on row 57 as they will no longer be needed.)

Cast off and weave thread tails in using large eyed needle.

I hope you enjoy using or gifting this washcloth!

    

Copyright 2010 by Edna McFall. Permission is granted to make and sell items from this pattern provided that credit is given to me as the designer. Permission is not granted to reproduce the actual pattern, or post it, or distribute it, without my express permission.

Sunday Stash 'n Stuff

It's been almost two weeks since my last post and Easter has come and gone. The blocks for my pink and yellow quilt are still on the design wall in the guest room and I am still moving a few around. My only excuse for not posting is that I have not been doing anything in the way of quilting. It seems that my body has decided to ache non-stop for the past week, joints swollen etc. so it was difficult to get enthused about much of anything.

I did manage to pick up some knitting (as it doesn't require using tiny needles and thread) and, even though it was a little uncomfortable, managed to finish the second slipper to a pair that has been sitting around here for well over a year. Just as I was completing it, I discovered I had missed a portion of the instructions but, it looks like I did the same thing on the first one too so I am going to just leave it. I'm hoping they will fit someone. They are called Sasquatch Booties and I'm sure that kids will really like them.

Then, I finished knitting a cotton dishcloth that was half-done and started another with a pattern I created. My granddaughter Leah (14) has started knitting and now wants to make a blanket. I thought it might be a good idea for her to practice the stitches used in the pattern she picked, so I made up a dishcloth pattern using those same stitches. I decided I'd best make one from my instructions to be sure I had things right before I gave it to her! If anyone else would like to test-knit one, let me know!! Just remember that I am NOT a professional pattern writer and any input would be appreciated.


Week 14 & 15 STASH Report

Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 16.75 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 7.90 M
Net used for 2010: 8.85 M

Be sure to check out how everyone else has done this week with their stash use on Judy's blog.

Finishes this week - 1 pair knit slippers, 1 knit cotton dishcloth.
Starts this week - 1 pink knit dishcloth

A Hand Made Christmas

 

4sets of Potholders from scraps

Another 4 sets of Potholders from scraps

Christmas has come and gone for another year. Hope everyone's was wonderful. I spent the last few weeks prior to the big day doing lots of baking, sewing and knitting. My projects were mainly for family so I didn't dare show pictures here of what I was doing. Now that all the gifts have been delivered and opened, I can share them with you.

Old embroidery test pieces used as back of potholders

Potholders for my sisters and daughters, made from squares leftover from my mystery star quilt and some machine quilted/embroidered blocks for the backs. Three of the smaller ones were made from 9-patch blocks that were in mom's collection which I inherited.

                                                                 

A couple of the sets were made with leftovers from this table runner. I call it Crazy Holly and it is my third finish in the New Year's Eve challenge.

 
 
Knitted slippers for two of my grandsons. I have another two pair I am still working on as well.
 
A wooden trinket box that my granddaughter saw and told me she wanted on the morning of the 24th. I brought it home and was able to stain it that afternoon and spray varnish it late that night so it would be ready to wrap in the morning. She was surprised and really loved it! That made it all worthwhile.

Finally, I made a set of Junior cook sized oven mitts that I, unfortunately, forgot to take a picture of.