Back at it

 

Yep, my sister and I are back at knitting a project together again.  It's always fun to work with my sister.  What one of us doesn't "get" working a pattern, the other one has it all figured out.  Just seems the older we get, we're not so good at 'reading' instructions.  HA  Thank goodness to be able to bounce ideas off each other. 

We are both working in blue, although, my sister's is a pretty blue vs mine is more a demin blue. 

Picture are all out of order...this is showing the medium lace pattern we're working on.

Yarn color is deceiving in this picture.  The bottom pattern is slightly larger and is only at the bottom.  There are small lace patterns on the sleeves, otherwise, the body has about 5 or 6 medium lace patterns.

This is a linen yarn by Yumiko, who also created the pattern.  I completed her Whitecaps that I wore at Easter.  Her instructions are very clear and she offers tips and assistance on her FaceBook page.  First time I have used Linen and so far I like working with it.

all the pics are out of order and I'm too lazy to reorganize them  Sorry...anyway, To wrap the skeins in balls, I use this old thread storage container.  

I can stretch the doors open to hold the yarn for me to wind!  Works good  The blue does show up better in the photo above and in this one.

I choose the blue vs the white since I already made a cover top in white.  I think this pattern will show up nice with a white tank top under it (to show off the lace pattern) and wearing with white pants or even jeans.  Target date if 4th of July!  HA
Fingers Crossed

Easter 2024

Well, another amazing brunch put on my our DIL, Kris!  She and Darrin always entertain and do a wonderful job of it!  Darrin did make sausage patties, links and the best bacon on their blackstone outside...Dawn made mushroom quiche and her famous cinnamon scones!  Kris made everything else...so much food!  And she made enough for 16!  Her family all came so we had 16 for brunch and we all got to take home food!!!  For those on FB, you'll have already seen these pics....I have to include because this is my 'diary' that I print out yearly!  Something for me to look at when I'm in the nursing home!  

My lovely grand daughter, Amber!  What more can I say.  She was the reason I retired so I could watch her one day a week!  Which I did, along with watching her brother for almost 15 years!

My grandson, who doesn't always smile, but I do so love him anyway!  Just his thing...I believe they teased him so much when he was younger to "smile" that he now carries that on - not smiling.  I do have pics of him smiling.

And Braylon, his girlfriend, who is a doll.  They are so cute together.  And yes, he smiles with her a lot!

And my favorite Son-in Law, Jeff!  Always has a smile on his face!

check out the lamb cake Kris' mom made!  And his bunny tail is made of a Marshmallow.  And the lemon cake was delicious!!!  As was her chocolate cake!  

They were all so good!!  I purchased the cake from BobbieCakes here in Goodrich!  It was white chocolate cake with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting!  OMG...so good!

My son gave me the Hydrangea and Dawn got me the Muscari plant.  Once it is done blooming, I'll plant it in the fall!  A cool plant I've not had before!

 The dessert table was full!  3 cakes and a Easter cookies Kris made!

So hard to choose what to put on your plate first!

My babies!  My daughter is headed off to Italy and Scotland for 4 weeks!!!!  She is the traveler!  Loves it and with her being able to work from anywhere, she can still keep her clients up to date!

Darrin is a great cook as well...he did the meats for this brunch.  He always makes the main meat course for BBQ and dinners!  YUM!  They are both the best kids ever!

So glad to have kids close enough and Kris family to enjoy time with!!!!  Another wonderful time in the memory book!

Kris sets a beautiful table for 12!  We had 16 for brunch!  The young adults (4) sat at the high top table in the kitchen area, near all the food!

Whitecaps Knitted Cover Up Finished

I double checked on my Ravelry page to see when I started this top.  It was January 27, 2024 and I finished on March 17, 2024!  Pretty good for me as I don't get to knit everyday!!  And considering the last sweater I made I started on July 22, 2023 and finished on January 19th, 2024!   Keep in mind I ripped out three different times on that sweater but the fourth time was a charm  You can see that sweater here.  Bob said of the five other tops I've made this is his favorite.  I actually have on a black tank top under it.  I'll be wearing this for Easter.  It's so comfy and was really easy to knit

This is the link to Yumiko's pattern for Whitecaps top and I'm so excited....my sister and I are both going to work on the same project again.  Woohoo

This is Agave pattern my sis and I are making next.  It's really lightweight linen and a lot of drap to it.  Again, you wear a shell/tank top under it.  Her patterns are so feminine.

You can make the 'flutter' sleeve shown here or a longer sleeve, which is what I am making, in the picture below.  I like the lace work that continues down the sleeve.

I ordered Pacific Tone, which is a mixture of blue and green.  Thought it would look good with a white tank top under and white pants!  I could even wear a red necklace for July 4th and Labor Day!  HA

I'm sure working with a dark color will test me!  AND we have lots of lace work, as you can see above to do!  Fun times coming...but Yumiko's patterns are well written and she has a chart for the lace work!!!!  

Can't wait to get my yarn and get started!  

 

The Dress From Hell.....

OK, that title is probably a tad severe but......here's the story...around Thanksgiving time, my grandson asked if I could make a lining for his girlfriend, Braylon's dress.  Appears when she ordered the dress online it didn't look sheer (have to support her on this...I looked the dress up and it's not sheer online!). 

You can see the lower back showing through the front...see how sheer this is!  Plus it sewn with thousands of clear sequins!

 The engineer in my grandson made him make this statement to me "all you have to do, grandma, is make a template out of some material and then sew it on".  Yes, I just stood and stared at him...not saying a word.  So last week, my DIL finally brought up this dress along with some material she purchased at JoAnn's.  I forgot all about last fall and this dress!!!

You can how sheer it is...with my fingers showing through the breast area on the top!  YIKES!

So, taking my grandson's advice!  HA HA HA  I  made a template for the breast area out of the swim suit fabric Kris purchased.  It was nice fabric to work with and wasn't very slippery!  

I was feeling pretty cocky making this template and getting it sewn on and looking good!  So I reversed the template and finished both front breast areas.....Next came how to tackle the body of the dress!!

I had some large pieces of brown paper and made a template from the front of the dress.  

I decided before I cut into the swim suit fabric I better cut out a muslin pattern.  Well, I didn't have any muslin but I do have old sheets to use for painting.  I grabbed one and cut out the template and pinned around the dress to make sure it would fit.  WHEW...lots of cutting and pasting!  HA

I finally got the nerve to cut out the template and started stitching.  It worked out quite well by just hand stitching around the side edges.  Of course, I had to manipulate to join in with the breast area I had already finished but it worked out fine!

Wasn't that easy!  NOT...but I kept hearing my grandson's voice saying how easy it would be!  HA  Front done...now to tackle that back with the low scoop back area!  Heaven help me!

I tried to use the same pattern for the front of the dress for the back but it just wasn't working out...so I had to cut another paper pattern. 

 I decided I'd use my blue marker, which I've used so often in my quilting, to create the scoop area.  Well, I tried to iron out the blue marker when I was done but it wouldn't come out!  

YIKES...I know it was on the lining but I just didn't want it to show.  I was so upset because I use this often.  

Then I was eating dinner thinking about that dumb pen and remembered!!!!!  I use this pen for my beading and embroidery work.  WHY?  Because I can spit on my finger to erase a line if I don't like it!  This isn't the iron out marker but the water soluble marker!  DUH!  came right out with water!  WHEW!

And this is the finished lining for the back.  That's the zipper on the left side so it hangs funny.  Just hope it looks better when it's on a body!  HA

And as you'll see below...quite a difference.  And I am telling my grandson he owes me....payment will be one text a week or every 10 days saying "HI" along with 5 or more words!  HA HA

Nick is good at one word replies!

BEFORE AND AFTER

 

Cyano Print Progress Sorta

 

Haven't made much progress on the Cyano print project.  Too many distractions...Kalee has had another one of her stomach issues.  We were up last weekend from Sunday 4 a.m. until Monday 6 a.m.!  UGH...Poor dog...the vet is trying a new approach...when Kalee starts to feel poorly, she is restless, licking her lips (nausea) and vomiting.  In the past, she has been treated for pancreatitis, which she has had confirmation of.  Because she never loses her appetite, no diarrhea, no belly pain or pancreas symptoms, the vet is now treating her for some type of allergy!  I make my own dog food (99% ground turkey/veggies) and she is on Hills' ID kibble.  Since I started feeding her this, her stomach issues and no discomfort in pancreas have seemed to decrease...........SO, she's now on anti nausea med (which no vomiting for 2 days) and also on Prednisone for about a week.  She appears to be doing much better and we all slept Monday night with no interruptions!  Just need to figure out what type of allergy she has.  Vet doesn't feel the turkey/veggie mix is it...so process of elimination.  UGH

So now I'm playing around with different border fabrics and layouts.....

Not happy...just don't want something that is so 'expected' for a block.  

Do I dare cut it up more!  HA  No, I won't do that as I do want to hand embroider the leaf areas.

I think I am going to add 1/8th inch strip and work from there.  This is 1/4" strip I just laid on the piece.  I like this so much better! Now to cut it up and add  that 1/4"!!!

AND the srip is added...picture is a little crooked but I'm a lot more content with the piece.  Now back to borders, trim?????  Who know what!

So when I can't knit, I'll try and continue on with different  fabric for border or whatever!

Whitecaps Progress Continues!

Well, I finished blocking one of two panels I need for the whitecaps lace top.  It's kinda scary when you take your knitted piece and place it in water!!  I felt I needed to be extra gentle with this lace and even more careful when I placed the pins when blocking it! 

So far so good!  Don't mind the disheveled look!  I had just walked two miles at the church and then another 1/2 mile with the dogs.  I just wanted to hold up the top to see how it would look when the piece dried!  

 This is the start of the 2nd panel...I have quite a way to go but I have to say the pattern is easy to follow AND I only had to rip out a few rows when I got sidetracked!  Which is easy for me to do.  I usually knit in my sewing room or when there's something on TV that I don't have to follow!  HA  EXCEPT if the dogs are on my lap/side it can get confusing...they are either up and down of trying to get on my lap.  I'll have to take a picture of that situation!  

Onward and upward!!

Whitecaps Progress

This is the lace pullover or cover that I started.  It's a pattern by DanDoh designs.  I love Yumiko's patterns!  They are all so feminie and patterns very well written. 

I love the red but it's not a color I wear well..I'm more the spring color pallet!  HA  So I am making in vanilla yarn, which I did purchase from DanDoh.  It's a lovely silk yarn.

The only problem I had was getting gauge!  I knit tight so normally I have to go up at least one needle size.  Also, I'm not used to using a larger needle to knit with this lace type yarn!  

You can see these two gauge samples...bottom is my pink sweater gauge swatch I did but using #5 needles..top is using the silk yarn and #10 needle.  But with some tips from Yumiko I did get gauge!  Woohoo...

Also, I'm using a different circular needle I purchased.  This are called ChiaoGoo and they are fantastic!  One issue with circular needles is the wire part that twists and turns...ugh...so frustrating and uncomfortable.  

On one of the knitting FB pages I follow, someone suggested they use these needles and love them.  So off to Amazon to order.  I love, love them!! They have a wire steel cable which doesn't bend and twist!  

 

 

You can see the red wire...so easy to knit with!!  My only problem is finding time to knit.  I know...what the heck do you do all day, Robbie!!

In between being 'everyday housewife' I do meet up with friends, volunteer at the library, try to walk 2 miles several days a week along with dog walking when weather permits, yada, yada.  So my knitting takes a back seat!

I try to knit for an hour a day if possible...usually after dinner before World News with David Muir!

So this is my progress!  I've reached the underarm section so have about 60 rows to go before I bind off.  Kumiko has you block each piece (this is 1 of 2 pieces - front and back).  So the next pictures will be this piece being blocked.

Once blocked you'll see the pattern much better and will look like something!  HA

So, that's my story so far!  Now that I wasted time updating my blog I think I"ll go and knit!

Cyano Print Fabric

 I mentioned in a post this last month showing a beautiful cyano print fabric one of my friends, Bonnie, made and sent to me!  What a lovely surprise!  BUT now what to do with it!  Decisions, decisions...this is always the hardest part of any art work isn't it!

So, I bit the bullet and started to play around with "what if I cut it up?"....gosh, I hate to cut it up but......

I ended up drawing funky leaves on tracing paper and laying on top of the fabric just to give me an idea on placement, etc.

Besides the blue from the cyano print and the blue mottled fabric, I just felt it needed something else so I laid red fabric under the pieces.

I took away the red fabric and cut 1/4 inch strips and just laid across the fabric and that was all this beautiful print needed!

With any quilting pattern or design work, cutting a piece of fabric up is a scary challenge!  HA  At least it is for me.  So I took some scrap fabric the same size of the print.  

I measured each section then added 3/4" for the 1/4" inserts I wanted.  I know...math!!!!

But it worked!

This is around a fat quarter in size...perfect for one of those table top pieces.  Or I may just add some type of border on one side?  Or 3 sides? Or no sides!

My plan is to sandwich and then stitch in the ditch around each insert.  Then to do some hand embroidery work.  I may do free motion around some areas as well..in fact, as I'm typing this, I am thinking I may do that before embroidery work...but who knows!  Time will tell!