Sewing and Socks

Box Bags

I have been bitten by the sewing bug lately.  Since the first of January I have made eleven of these box bags in assorted sizes.  I have found the size I like to sew best is a 10 x 10 inch square.  I have given a few away and have four being used carrying my current projects.  I have also placed some of them in my gift box to use as gifts.

I have also started sewing a quilt top using the leftover flannel from all the pajamas I have made in the past twenty years.  I have a LOT of left over flannel.  There might even be enough to do quilt tops for all the kids eventually.  This is a cleaning out the stash project.

Lynette's Socks

 Two weeks ago this past Monday, I asked DH if he wanted me to make something for his sister's birthday.  He flew out to her party as a surprise and I really didn't want him to go empty handed.  He said that would be nice and I asked if socks would be appreciated.  He thought they would be very much loved.  So I went stash diving and came up with a skein that he thought Lynette would like.  Next was a phone call to Mom to find out the shoe size and off I was going.

The first sock was started on Monday, January 21 and completed on the next Sunday.  The second sock was cast on that Sunday and finished Friday, February 1 in the late p.m.  DH caught his plane Saturday morning and the socks were on his sister's feet by that night.

View of the Cable

The pattern I used was Socks on a Plane.  I really liked the pattern and it worked up really quickly.  I couldn't knit on this in the car, because of the cabling, but every night for an hour or so and it was enough.  I will definitely make these socks again, but probably in a more solid color.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Last Year's Christmas Pillowcases

I decided to make pillowcases for the grandchildren for Christmas each year. These are the ones that were given to them for Christmas 2011. The pillowcases were a fun project that I hope they will use throughout the year and remember grandma while they use them.

I need to watch for Christmas prints as soon as they are available, so that I can make each one out of a different fabric/print. One family has three little ones and I don't want duplicate prints sent there.

This would be a fun project for birthday parties, baby showers, different holidays, and who knows what else. Have you done anything like this before? What would you give a custom pillowcase for?

Next time some knitting content. Happy knitting and spinning.

ES Goes to Latvia and Brings Me Back Fiber Related Gifts

I thought I would share some recent events with pictures. First off is the indigo plant that I bought at MS&W. Liz bought one also and shows a picture at the bottom of this post. My plant is doing very well out on the balcony and even has some little red buds forming. I've never grown indigo before, so I am enjoying this plant as I watch it grow. It amazed me at how fast it adjusted to the pot I put it in and the sun it is getting. It has grown quite a bit since I brought it home.

In other news and pictures: ES went to Latvia for a conference last week and he brought me presents. He brought me the nesting dolls. "C" got quite a smile on his face when he saw them and had a fun time pulling them all apart and setting them up. Yes, he is still a child at heart, even if he is almost 18 yrs old. The stacking doll is now sitting at a place of honor on the mantle waiting for little fingers to come play with it, or big fingers for that matter.


The second gift ES brought was this skein of single ply yarn. There are 340 grams in this skein which is pretty close to the color in my monitor. It is a grey/light brown color. I haven't figured out how many yards are in there yet, but know there is at least 600. This will make a really pretty shawl, maybe something from Victorian Lace Today. ES told the story, when he gave me the yarn, of buying the yarn. He said that the lady he bought it from was very definite about it being wool, a very good yarn and at a very good price. She did not want to sell him anything else but wool which worked well because ES wanted the wool. The little white spot in the center is actually the sticker that has the price and the weight. ES says he couldn't get across to the lady that he did know a little about yarn, because his wife was a spinner and a knitter and he has picked up some knowledge from that fact.

The last gift he brought me was this pair of hand knit lace socks in the large size. He says there were only two sizes there at the street market, small and large. I think ES did a very fine job of bringing back surprises from his trip to Latvia. He even brought back chocolate, but gave that to "C" which I don't think he has eaten yet, by the way.

ES's next trip is to Chicago and I get to go with him. Maybe I can find some suvienor yarn when we go there next month.

Until next time, Happy knitting and spinning.

Plant purchased and home grown

First up today, I have to show you the Flowers ES brought me on Friday night. Yes, it is flowers with a capital F. I love to get flowers from him and he always makes me feel special when he gives them to me. And the Flowers smell s-o-o-o pretty. As I walk by daily, I have to take a sniff. It's required, you know.




Next. Remember this baby sweater? I took it to it's intended recipient this evening and "Momma" really liked it. The baby won't be able to wear it for a few months, maybe even a year, but that didn't matter. "Momma" really liked it.

I have been working on Mr Greenjeans. I have both sleeves done and am ready to start the button band. It shouldn't be too much longer until the sweater is done and keeping the chill off. I think I will really like this sweater, but will have to wait until it's done to know for sure.

Last of all, I have to show you the new blossoms on the Christmas cactus. This is the first blossom I have seen that is standing upright. They usually are hanging bloom down. I have really enjoyed all the blooming plants in my house this winter. It has made each room the plants are in much more cheerful and warm.

Happy knitting & spinning.

White Christmas

It had been a number of years since we have had a white Christmas. Thanks to the snow we had on Monday, this is what we woke up to on Christmas morning. On Monday all the kids that were here went to Freeman park and snowboarded down the little hill there. They had lots of fun and were completely soaked.

Monday night when we did our traditional drive around look at Christmas lights, the roads were pretty slick and slushy. They don't have regular snow plows here. They use graters and push the snow to the center of the street and then come around with some sort of vehicle that picks up the snow and puts it in a dump truck. The lights were pretty and well worth the hour and a half we spent looking at them.
This is the mess that was in the sun-room after everyone was done opening presents. I didn't get pictures of everyone and their "hauls", but I don't think anyone was disappointed. Everyone liked their fingerless mitts, thank goodness. There were a few complaints because the traditional pj pants weren't in the packages. I just wasn't up to sewing them this year. It was the first time in 17 years that I didn't make pjs. There was also one complaint about not getting a hat. As I told J-g, it wasn't on her list, but I could still make her one. I have all the materials to do so.
As you can tell by the expression on E's face. Christmas went over very well. I always feel such relief when everything has been wrapped and given. Now onto other projects. More fingerless mitts to start with. ES's dad and step-mom are coming tomorrow and I need to finish her mitts. Then finish Mr. Greenjeans, only one more repeat on the body and then onto the sleeves. Plus two or three baby sweaters before the end of January, thank goodness they go quickly. So many projects to look forward to in the new year.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Turned the heel, halfway down the foot

I keep wondering if I will have enough of this yarn to finish both socks. E has size 11 or 12 feet and this yarn is discontinued. Tish looked for me, just in case. I was able to knit for about 30 minutes last night and it was so r e l a x i n g. I know I have to have these done by November 3rd, as that is when the next class is, and I need the needles for the next sock. I still haven't turned the second heel yet, but hope to do so when the fiber guild meets on Saturday.

ES brought me a present from DC. He brought a new camera! He said he would take the one I've been using because he smashed the side a few months ago when he had it on a different trip. I couldn't figure out the camera yet, because the instruction book was in ES's luggage which didn't make it home until last night. And when learning about a new toy I like to look at the book and the item at the same time. I will learn though and still take lots of pictures.

Happy knitting & spinning!