December 12, 2015
We went to see a re-broadcast of Mozart’s, The Magic Flute, this afternoon at the cinema. It was my son’s first time. This one was song in English, making it easier to follow. It was also abridged, so it was only two hours long. A good first time opera.
As the opera was starting, I got a little weepy. I couldn’t help but be reminded of my old opera buddy, Ray. We got season tickets in the first balcony of the Lyric for several years. And here I was now, sitting next to this six and almost one half-foot tall young man doing it again. It didn’t seem that long ago that I was tucking him into bed, giving Sweetums a kiss and driving down to meet Ray at the theatre.
Afterward, we went out for pancakes and we talked about it. He really loved it. I’m so happy. It’s (almost) like old times.
Posted in Knitting | Comments Off on My Son and ‘The Magic Flute’
November 30, 2015
It amazes how quickly the days pass when you’re busy. I was in a rut and I needed, wanted to get out. The past few months were fairly disastrous for me. I was better, but I needed more. So I asked my rheumatologist if I could get physical therapy. So now I am off to PT three times a week for six weeks. I am starting to feel better and I even exercise on my off days.
I couldn’t believe all the work I accomplished today which included baking anise cookies. My house smell wonderful!
I finally finished my raincoat.
These gloves are finished. I need to take a final picture.
I got out my crèche. It’s ready for the birth.
Here’s the gloves I made for a friend of mine. There are three because she will still have two to wear when she gets a hole. She needs them for her job.
I made Sweetums some rolls for breakfast.
Next project: a draft dodger for my daughter’s side door.
See you Soon.
Tags: baking anise cookies, crèche, draft dodger, rolls for breakfast
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing, Stuff | Comments Off on I’m Busy
October 26, 2015
And, No, I’m not going to show you. You see I had kitten help and now, they need some work.
My WIPs:
Raincoat. I thought attaching the hood was bad, but the sleeve caps were worse.
Cardigan. I’m ready to start the sleeves.
Gloves. I’ll probably make the other three fingers orange and black.
I still need to make my little wall hanging for November and a friend needs a new pair of gloves for work. I’ve got some stash diving to do. Nails are dry. Back to the raincoat.
Tags: kitten help, sleeve caps, WIPs
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing | 1 Comment »
October 17, 2015
Last week, I crossed the bridge to visit my children. It was also an opportunity to buy apples for pie and shop.
I have decided to use Velcro rather than buttons for my raincoat. I seem to have every color but yellow. Well, so did the stores. After three stores, I decided to go with pink with white hearts. If it’s going to show, it might as well stand out, n’est pas? The raincoat is coming along nicely. The pattern is whole written with lots of diagrams. I can’t wait to show it. Of course, now we’ll probably have a drought.
My first pie of the season is in the oven. I can hardly wait. Do I have pie with supper or for supper?
No. I did not cheat! I knit mostly at night and trying to pick up stitches along the sides in black was giving me a headache. So, I decided, one was enough. It’s not the first time my socks haven’t matched. It’s more like the tenth or twelfth time. When knitting the second sock, I purled the black whenever there was two rows to help it stand out. I did Partridge stitch heels using both yarns. It’s a great look.
Tags: Amy Butler's raincoat pattern, buy apples for pie, Partridge stitch heels, pink with white hearts, Velcro, Weber's
Posted in Knitting, Sewing, Stuff | Comments Off on Apple Pie and Hallowe’en Socks
October 5, 2015
Ruthless Ruthie is at the vet’s getting her hysterectomy. The others are getting some much needed rest and relaxation.
My Hallowe’en socks are coming along. I’ve finished the entrelac cuff and started on the heal. The cuff was slow work and all the black slowed me down. The rest should go quickly.
And I would like to thank Jaala Spiro at Knitcircus for making this yarn for me. And she didn’t even want extra for it. I’m so happy.
Tags: Baltimore Ravens Stripes, entrelac cuff, Halloween socks, Jaala Spiro at Knitcircus, Ruthless Ruthie
Posted in Knitting, my pets | 1 Comment »
October 2, 2015
I never get rid of an old sweater. First of all, I’ll mend it. But one can only do so much mending. And, let’s face it, sometimes you get sick and tired of it. It happens. At my house I have what I call the sweater chair. It’s high and sits next to the glass door and a heat duct. It’s the perfect spot for kitties.
Tags: sweater chair
Posted in Knitting, my pets | Comments Off on Why Knitters Have Cats
September 23, 2015
When I saw it, I had to have it. Miss Babs makes great sock yarn so I know I can knit anything and I’ll be happy with the results. At first I thought, ‘a pair for me and a pair for Jenn’. Then it was,’ who gets orange and who gets bile green?’ Then, ‘how about one of each color? This is stupid. Just use both skeins in each sock’. OK. So that’s settled. Next. What pattern? I knit a swatch. (Yes. I swatch!) I could knit one round before the color changes. Hmmm. I’ve got to think about this.
There’s always entrelac. Eight rows of seven stitches was about as close as I could get. I think nine diamonds around should be about right. Also the first round should be in garter stitch so it will lay flat. Or maybe reverse stockinet. I don’t know yet. I’m still playing. I knit this with size one needles and I want to try zeros. I bought an eight inch circular and I haven’t tried it yet.
Tags: eight inch circular, entrelac socks, garter stitch, knit a swatch, Miss Babs, reverse stockinet
Posted in Knitting | Comments Off on Socks for Hallowe’en
September 17, 2015
I feel that I spent entirely too much time on this dress. It sat for a few days because I couldn’t comfortably sit at my sewing table. Also, I had to tweak it. I’m too big in some places and too small in others. At least now I know what to do next time. And the best part. There are no buttons or buttonholes, no zipper, no hand sewing. So it’s on to my raincoat. Well. No. I have to make my little wall hanging for October. Then it’s on to my raincoat.
I went to get my stitches out this morning, but doctor said no. Now I have to wait until Monday. He also wanted blood work and chest x-rays. While out, I stopped at the Amish market and loaded up. Sweetums’ eyes glazed over when he saw the bags. He is such a Sweetums.
Tags: Amish market, eyes glazed over, no buttons or buttonholes, no hand sewing, no zipper, Stitches, Sweetums
Posted in Family and Friends, Sewing, Stuff | Comments Off on Finally! Dress is Finished
September 13, 2015
I fell. In the street. Face first. Broke my new sunglasses. My favorite hat is soaked with blood. I’m just walking along, enjoying the day, when the macadam jumped up and hit me. Sweetums is trying to help and not turn green. A very nice neighbor was driving home and she stopped to help. She even volunteered to take me to the hospital. (Maybe she noticed how green Sweetums was.) And me. I was pissed. I was planning to finish my dress! I didn’t have time for this! Four stitches and three hours later, I’m back home. Nice hospital. And, you know what? It’s now three days later and I still haven’t finished that dress! But I’ve gotten lots of knitting done.
Tags: favorite hat, finish my dress, new sunglasses, soaked with blood, Sweetums, turn green, very nice neighbor
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing | 2 Comments »
September 4, 2015
I really really really want to make this raincoat. I spent about six hours looking over laminated fabric. When I saw that yellow, I knew I found what I wanted. The lining fabric was some I all ready had. It complements the yellow so well.
The thing is—-I have a dress to put together. When I saw the dress required bias tape, I felt much better. I got out my cutter and went to town.
Naturally, I made too much.
I have some leftover, but I’ll use it on something else, sooner or later.
Tags: bias tape, laminated fabric, raincoat
Posted in Sewing | Comments Off on Sewing Stuff
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 