"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ~ Elizabeth Zimmerman

10/30/17

A Pink Outfit for Sierra

After much casting on, frogging, and starting over, I've finally finished this outfit for Sierra, and it fits properly.



I hope I kept proper notes so I can do it again. I've also knit this mint top.



I was hoping it would fit her, but it's way too tight, so I'm going to have to try again. It fits Ellowyne, though, so I'm not frogging it. The yarn for this little thing came from China.

I was looking on Ebay for lace or fingering weight affordable Angora yarn. I'm talking rabbit Angora. This one claimed to be that, but as it turns out, it's goat Angora, which technically is Mohair. I guess it lost something in translation. I wish I could find what I'm looking for. Oh well. I'll just have to manage with what I can get.

We've had fabulous weather the last few days. It's been sunny and even warm enough to sit out on the deck. I've been winterizing the yard. Friday I put all the deck furniture cushions away and stacked the furniture. I swept the leaves and pine needles off the deck. I've taken some occassions to just sit in the sun and enjoy too.

Did I say I cleaned the hot tub? Twice a year I empty it, clean the filter, scrub out the inside to shining, and then refill it. Well, I don't know what happened but it leaks like a sieve now. We thought the pump was the source of the leak. Some things had come loose and water was coming out of it. Doug fixed it, but the darn tub is still leaking. I'm so tired of this thing breaking down and needing repairs. Ugh.

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day. Winter is coming soon. The weather guru's are saying snow next weekend. I better get out there and enjoy the sun while I can.

Live long and prosper. \\//


10/29/17

Layette Set 26

I put the finishing touches on this layette set, number 26, yesterday. It's the last one for this year. The next ones I make will be for 2018.



The Cardigan




Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea

Size: 0-6 months

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerald

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Blue

Needles: Circular size 5 and 7

Started: September 14, 2017
Finished: October 3, 2017



Close up of the button. It came from my collection of old vintage buttons.



The Hat



Pattern: Chibi Striped Baby Hat by Chiaki Hayashi

Size made: 6 months

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerald

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Blue

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: October 4, 2017
Finished: October 5, 2017

The booties



Pattern: Seamless Garter Tassel Booties by Karen Strauss

Size made: 6 months


Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerald

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Blue

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: October 5, 2017
Finished: October 10, 2017



The blanket




Pattern: Two rnds of (sc1, ch1) all the way around, join rnd with sl st in MC, then one rnd of (1hc in sc, ch1) all the way around in CC, join with sl st.

Size made: 36 by 30 inches



There is no more of this fabric, so I'm done with this colorway.



Live long and prosper. \\//

10/21/17

Silver Rope

I have a new silver rope necklace. Finished it this week. It's just a simple piece done in Spiral Rope stitch. 



I used matte black for the core,



and silver lined crystal and nickel seed beads for the spiral.



It has a simple toggle clasp.



Nice to have it finished.



Hmm, I think I'll start a Christmas ornament cover next.

Layette set #26 is just about done. I just have to block it and sew a button on the cardigan.

We're getting lots of rain. It has cut back on the wild fires around here. I'm glad about that. More rain is expected for the next few days. As long as it isn't snow, I'm happy.

Live long and prosper. \\//

10/16/17

Autumn Gold

I have finished a beading project! I've made a necklace with pale amber matte superduos and gold plated size 11 seed beads. I used size 6 Fireline for my thread. It's a net stitch tubular rope. Instructions here:  Superduo tubular rope. The tutorial is in Russian, but Google does a good job of translating.

I put bead caps on the ends and attached a toggle clasp. It's a total of 19 inches long. I love this necklace. I see myself wearing it a lot!

I took tons of pics using different colors of scrapbook paper as backgrounds and various small props. I've posted my favorites. Click on them to embiggen.












Live long and prosper. \\//

10/11/17

Layette Set 25

Hello Blog! Long time no see. Sorry for the neglect.

We had a fantastic time on our cruise to Alaska! It was our first time cruising with Princess and I was very pleased with them. The food was very good. Better than any we've had before, and the crew was awesome.

Alaska is so beautiful. If you get a chance to visit it, do so. You won't regret it.

I have another Layette set finished. This is the 25th set I've made.



This set was hard to photograph because the red is so bright. While working on it, I got asked "Christmas?" about the colors all the time. No, it's not Christmas. It's Mexico. It's too early to be thinking about Christmas.

Cardigan



Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea

Size: 0-6 months

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerals

Yarn: Big Twist Yarns
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: 5008 Buttercup

Needles: Circular size 5 and 7

Started: August 31, 2017
Finished: September 14, 2017

Hat



Pattern: Chibi Striped Baby Hat by Chiaki Hayashi

Size made: 6 months

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerals

Yarn: Big Twist Yarns
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: 5008 Buttercup

Needles: U.S. size 7 circulars

Started: September 24, 2017
Finished: September 24, 2017

Booties



PatternSeamless Garter Tassel Booties by Karen Strauss
Size made: 6 months

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerals

Yarn: Big Twist Yarns
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: 5008 Buttercup

Needles: U.S. size 7 circulars

Started: September 25, 2017
Finished: September 27, 2017

Blanket



Pattern: Two rnds of (sc1, ch1) all the way around, join rnd with sl st in MC, then one rnd of (1dc in sc, ch1) all the way around in CC, join with sl st.

Size made: 36 by 30 inches

Yarn: Caron Perfect Match (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Red

Yarn: Lion Brand Sayelle (Discontinued)
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Emerals

Yarn: Big Twist Yarns
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: 5008 Buttercup

Hook: U.S. size G

Started: October 1, 2017
Finished: October 2, 2017

Comment: I really like the fabric I used for this. I found it in the clearance bin at Joann's. It has football helmets, footballs, and hockey sticks all over it. Nice and boyish.

Detail shot of edging.



Layette set 26 is almost done. I finished the booties yesterday and will get busy on the blanket today. Same fabric as this layette here.

I have found, or maybe I should say made time for beading. I'm always wishing I had some beaded gold and silver jewelry. So I finally have done something about it. Here's the two necklaces I have in progress.

This one is made with superduo beads. I had half the beads of what I needed. I ordered more which arrived a couple days ago and thankfully match perfectly. Being a knitter, I worry about dye lots. Sometimes it matters with beads.




This one is just a basic spiral rope.



It feels good to be beading again.

We've had nice weather. Mostly sunny with occassional rainy days. Temps have been in the 50's during the day and mid 30's at night, though the last two nights got down into the 20's. Brrrr...winter is definitely on it's way.

Sweet Hubby has not found a new job yet but he's still looking. He found out about a job right in Coeur d'Alene looking for a programmer. They make micro LED lights. He's pretty excited about the prospect. I sure hope they interview him.

Speaking of Hubby, he qualified for unemployment. It's not a lot, but it helps.

Zoey is doing great. I took a pic of her after giving her a new toy. One of the reasons I love the new vacuum cleaner. She had fun eviscerating it.



Live long and prosper. \\//