January Freeze (Some Sewing Has Been Done)

 We have been having some very cold weather, so it is a good idea to stay in and make things!

A designer on Instagram is running a Saturday Sampler Bag sew along. She is using up scraps and I am following along. This was the first "clue". Take 5-10" squares and sew 4 of them together. These are my scraps. stitched together.

This week, we sewed up the sides and bottom and stitched the casing in place. I expect next week we will make the drawstring and thread it through.

I also did some mending.

The brand new fleece pants were too big through the waist, so I added casings and some extra elastic to bring them in.

While I was in my sewing space, I did a bit of planning. I found this combination that I think looks like it belongs together.

Next is prepping all the pieces (and finding a lining).

Cold afternoons are perfect for knitting by the fire.

I finished a pair of adult socks.

I made another Princess Charlotte hat. I think this is my sixth. They make such a great baby gift.

I played with some silicone tubing (the bright pink string in the picture). Laura Nelkin ( a knitting pattern designer) has been showing this on her Instagram, and I had to try some. The great thing about it is that you can use it like waste yarn, but you can put the tip of the needle into the end of the tube to transfer your stitches on and off the length of tube. This is a provisional cast on, done around the tube. I did this on the Charlotte bonnet and it turned out great. I also used it to hold the thumb stitches on the mittens I made.

You can buy it in small quantities on places like Etsy or you can buy 55m for about the same price. I now have a lifetime supply and I am giving pieces to my knitting friends.

Yesterday, I cast on yet another pair of baby socks.

They are like potato chips, I just can't stop!

Lots of Knitting

The weather has been dull and grey, not much sun for days. So, I have spent a lot of time by the fire. I have gotten knitting done, while I enjoy the heat.

Mittens and baby socks, both completed. There is a pair of adult socks that were finished last night, but I haven't taken a picture yet.

Next up is a hat, from this yarn that has been resting in my stash.

These dull days beg for bright colours.

I did some sewing, a sort of squirrel project. I made a sleep mask, as a gift.

The pattern is free from Sew Hungry Hippie. The fabric is a bit of Tula Pink. 

An on-line group was asking about our favourite yarn colour to knit with.  So here is mine.

I have said for awhile that my favourite colour is rainbow. It makes me smile! And yes, I have or have used up all those rainbow yarns, and more.

I have been looking for over a year for a metric rotary cutting ruler that I could buy in Canada. I was pleasantly surprised to find one at an on-line store not very far away,

Bag patterns from Europe and Australia use metric measurements, and sometimes, converting them to Imperial causes problems. I now have my very own. I actually don't have many rulers, but I have gotten to the point where I thought this one was necessary.

I have a question that maybe one of you know the answer. One of my followers can't comment on my blog using her iPad. Since I don't use Apple products, I am no help at all. Can somebody drop a note in the comments, if you use an iPad?

Meanwhile, I will leave you with a picture of our sunrise, on a rare sunny morning.

A New Year and A Year Past

 This is my tenth year end summary. It is good to look back on what I finished over the past year. 

Knitting

This is the shawl that I thought I would never finish, but I put a push on in September, and it is now done.

Mitts                   2

Baby Socks        4

Shawls                3

Hats                    4

Big Socks           5

Cowl                   1

I think there may have been a couple more pairs of baby socks that didn't get recorded.

Sewing

Another project that was a long time in progress. This one is closer to ten years.

Quilt                    1

Mitten Clips        6

Bandanas            46

Masks                  2

Tablet Case          1

Shorts                   3

Zippered Bags      5

Purse                    3

Coaster                 4

As we move into the new year, I try to avoid setting goals and just try to stay creative. Christmas brought news of two new grandbabies expected soon for two friends, so I finished a pair of baby socks, last night as the first finish of 2024. I have 4 purses/bags that I want to make in the next couple of months. I have lots of yarn, and fabric. More socks will be knit, more bandanas will be sewn. Today, I will cast on the second mitt as a mate to the first one in my last blog post. 

I am also trying to be realistic about what I can knit and sew. Any quilts in the future are going to the long arm quilter, and I won't feel guilty about that. My knitting project will be those that fit into a project bag.  There are approximately 35,000 stitches in a pair of adult socks. Finishing 5 pairs is an accomplishment.

Lethargy

Things have been very lethargic around here. We have been staying home, doing little jobs around the house. We had a family Boxing Day lunch with those close enough to be here. Other than that, we have been spending much of our time, not knowing what day it is, sitting by the fire, reading and listening to Christmas music seems to be our main activity.

I made a pair of fingerless mitts.

The pattern is called Point Edward Mitts, and you can turn the top cuff down over your fingers, so you have the advantage of fingerless mitts with finger warmers (and the thumb). The yarn is a discontinued baby DK yarn from Bernat, that was in my stash. I used a tubular cast on and cast off which I think made a nice finish.

I also made the first of a pair of mitts to match the hat on the last blog.

To go with these mitts, I made mitten clips, in hopes that fewer mittens will be lost, this year. As requested, they are Super Mario fabric.

I opened my knitting bag, yesterday, and found this.

It took a bit of work, and some coffee, but I ended up with this.

Ready for a future pair of baby socks.

Meanwhile, Emme and Mudd have joined our quiet times.

I hope your Christmas was peaceful as well. I'll be back later with my year end tally.