She's Got Legs!!

I've got a new pattern on Ravelry.


You can download the PDF here.

Happy Holidays!!!!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday. I know that I am. Yesterday was a quiet and productive day. Mr. D had to work yesterday morning so I made sure Cobblestone was in full view so he could wear it to work if he would like. To my delight, he did. Here's a picture I took of him after we ate dinner late night. The sleeves were too long so I wash it on Tuesday night. I was going to wash it by hand in the tub until Sheila gave me the trick of using a lingerie bag in the washing machine. Thanks girl!! I then threw it in the dryer and watched it until it was the size I wanted.

I also finished the shawl collar sweater for my mom. She also wanted to wear her sweater yesterday, so my camera was having a field day.

Since I've been behind in my sewing, I put myself on lock down this week and got busy. I finally finished the collar on McCall 5529. The pattern called for doing an invisible hem on the inside to tack the collar down. I decided to do my own thing and did stitch in the ditch instead. Here I am in my favorite jacket to date. I also wore it Christmas Eve at church. I must say it was a nicer outfit than this one, but I didn't have my camera with me, so this one will have to do. One of my co-workers was nice enough to take this picture for me.

Yesterday I made 3 pairs of pants for my mother, also a Christmas gift. Sorry I have no pictures, but she was thrilled. I have 3 more pairs to make for her so I'll be busy over the next few days.

Mr. D surprised me with these 3 books for Christmas. I was screaming with joy. The 1st book is Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, the 2nd is A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker , and the 3rd is Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard. It only got better when I got a lovely gift certificate for Webs. I'll be surfing over there this weekend. I have my I on a few things. He also gave me a jewelry box, which I needed badly. My favorite perfume, Cool Water, and my yearly present, pajamas. My mother gave me money to go towards a serger. If you guys have any ideas on what brand name serger to go with, please let me know.

I'm sitting here doing this post, trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my day. Having 4 days off is great, but I guess I'm not use to not having anything to do. JoAnn Fabrics has a sale starting today, but I really don't need to go over there. I got my eyebrows threaded about a month ago and I'm starting to see some growth so I might go get them done today. That will also give me some incentive to stop at Franklin Mills Mall while I'm there and maybe I'll pop into Fabric Warehouse. I really don't need to go there either. I need to pick up a few more storage containers. I have fabric that needs putting away. I also have some knitting to do, and I just might pull my spinning wheel out this weekend. So what are you guys doing this weekend?

SP13 Question #2

Part A: Are you doing any holiday knitting?

Yes.

Part B: Have you finished?

I've finished most of my pieces, but I still have 3 pieces left. One of the pieces I finished was already delivered and was greatly received. Here's a picture of my boss with her much loved Bobble Tam.

I'm still working on my mom's shawl collar pullover. The actual sweater is done. I've been working on the collar this weekend. I plan to finish it today.
Anyway, I'd love to talk more but, I gotta go knit.

Over the River and Through The Woods

Last week I was surfing Ravelry for a pattern I could use. My BFF who is very dear to me asked me to make her a scarf for Christmas, and of course I said yes. She picked out her yarn, which by the way is Noro Silk Garden. I promised her I'd try to have it by Christmas, or shortly there after. She told me she didn't care as long as she got it. Anyway, in my search I found the Thrifty Knitter's Woodland Shawl Pattern. I'm follow the chart to do the pattern because it's easier for me but the instructions are written out for the pattern as well. I was not sure how I'd like this pattern but I don't like it, I love it and the way the colors are displayed in the Noro yarn. Here is what I have so far.

I'll try to put up a better picture later. I'm not crazy about this one, but it's the only one I have right now.

In other updates, I showed my McCall jacket to my mother the sewer last night. She was very proud of me. I explained to her that I was crazy about the collar and how it was fitting. I had basted on the collar and it wasn't fitting the way I wanted it to but I think it's the pattern. She told me it was fine and that I should just go ahead and stitch it the way it is, so I'll try and finish it by the weekend. I still have to finish sewing her pants before next week, so let's just say, I got lots of work to do.

In knitting news, I made a pair of leg warmers, my own design, for a work mate. I love the way they turned out. I think I posted a picture when I first started them. Well, I kept notes on what I did, so there will be a future pattern on this soon. I also finished putting my mother's sweater together except for the collar which I casted on for a few days ago. I only have 3 1/2 inches left to knit and that will be done, so stay turned for some pictures.

McCall 5529 Progress

So this is what I was doing yesterday. I'm very happy with the outcome so far. Even though I've known how to sew for years, I never made myself a jacket before. I guess I was intimidated by the whole process. I'm not now. This pattern was a wonderful choice and I will be attempting more jackets/blazers in the future. I still have to hem the sleeves and finish hemming the collar on the inside. Hopefully I'll have pictures of me in it later in the week along with a pattern review.

Now back to some major knitting.

SP13 Question #1

I'm a little late on this one. The first question for Secret Pal 13 is to write what I'm thankful for.

A little while back I had to do the Happiness Meme. One of my answers basically answers this question and I'll add a little more to it.

I am thankful for My husband and 2 dogs. They are my rock. My husband pushes me to do things and to always be outgoing. He listens when I need an ear, and gives me his shoulder when I need to lean on it. Byron(my older dog) has been around now for 16 years. He loves me unconditionally, and scolds me even when I don't need it. Jack(younger dog) just loves me.

I'm also thankful that I still have my mother and father around. No matter how much they nag me, I never get tired of hearing from them. I am thankful for my old friends and my new ones as well which include all of my knitting and crocheting buddies. You are always there supporting me every step of the way, and you push me even when I don't think I can do something.

Lastly, I am thankful for everything that I have, don't have, or I'm about to have. These are trying times that we live in, and there are so many people that are doing without, or who have lost love ones for very stupid and foolish reasons. It makes one feel very humble.

During this holiday season, I think we should all remember and keep in mind someone less fortunate than ourselves. I know I'm going too.

Weekend Updates and Sewing Mojo!!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday. Mine was very nice. My menu stays the same, since we only eat it once a year. The difference this year though was that I cooked a whole bird. I haven't done that in a few years. I've been doing turkey parts the last 3 years since everyone likes dark meat. I had spent enough on groceries over the past month, so that entitled me to a free bird. Here it is in all it's glory before it got the knife.



The other change this year was dessert. I made Apple Dumplings for the first time.

They were soooo good. I used this recipe. The only thing I changed was the nutmeg. I didn't have any so I used a teaspoon of vanilla instead. I also added dried cherries and raisins in the center of each apple and I sprinkled cinnamon sugar on each apple instead of plain cinnamon before wrapping the apples up in the dough.

In knitting news, I finished the Bobble Tam last week. I also finished cleaning up Cobblestone over the weekend. All the ends are weaved in and I kitchener stitched under the arms. This week I want to focus on finishing my mom's sweater. I also started a pair of leg warmers for a present to my co-worker (By the way, since I typed this, one leg is now done. I also have 2 more scarves to make.

Friday afternoon and Saturday morning I visited Fabric Warehouse. They had their final 40% off sale for the year. I came home with 3 huge bags of fabric and a long bolt of upholstery fabric for curtains for the living room. Mr. D saw the fabric and nicely asked me if we could use the fabric for the bedroom instead and I said yes. I'm not going to show you all the fabric now, but as I get projects started, I'll make sure to mention where I got the fabric from.

My mom likes wearing knit pants because they are easy to get on and off and since she's retired she's more in the casual mode. Sometimes knit pants are hard to find in the store so in my quest on Saturday I was able to find fabric for at least 6 pairs. I managed to cut out 3 pairs along with the pants for the Victoria Secret knock off that I should have finished a while back. The Victoria Secret knock off is done except for hemming. Sorry, no pictures yet. I even managed to sew up a pair of my mothers pants as well. I only have to hem them and finish the waist band. I'm using the pants from Butterick 4604.

I love these pants. I also cut out the fabric for McCalls 5529 for me last night. I doing View C.

The fabric I'm using is the one on the right. The fabric on the left is for a matching skirt.

Tonight I plan on doing all my markings. Hopefully I'll get to work on it some time this week. As you can tell, I got my sewing mojo back. I'm liking the instant gratification.

I ordered the Sewing by Nancy pattern that Adrienne made a recent jacket from (yes Sheila I did. Don't worry the $7.99 included shipping). The pattern is discontinued. On the cover there is a cowl neck dress that I want to make very badly. I already have fabric in my stash that I think will work.


This last little gadget I bought on Sunday. It's a Cone Thread Holder. Since I started sewing again, I noticing that I'm buying certain colors of thread more often. I figured that I'd try this holder and see how it works with my sewing machine. It's more cost effective too. I just purchased a cone with 3,000 yards of thread for $2.95 which by far is cheaper when you think about it than a spool of thread. I'll let you all know how I like it once I use it.