Mittens and snowflakes

Made myself a pair of thrummed mitts. The yarn used was cascade 220 Heathers in colour 9559 Indigo Frost. Really love the colour of the yarn. They are made so that there is no left or right mitten so that the wool roving will mat evenly in the mitten by switching the mitts between the hands. 

  Sitting beside the mitts is a yarn bowl I received as a gift this Christmas and it will be put to good use come the new year.

This is the 3D snowflakes we made for our church Christmas party and than used to decorate the classroom the following weekend along with a nativity for our Christmas lesson.
The link to the directions for the snowflake is http://boxycolonial.com/giant-deck-halls-2013-edition/

December Birthday

My youngest DD has always liked and collected unicorns so when I saw this pattern I knew I had to make it into a card for her. The ccs came from 365 cross stitch designs 2015 volume 4. Designer is Durene Jones. The pattern called for a very pale 14 count fabric but when I saw this 28 count “Bahama sky”  Jobelan I knew this was what I was to use.
I only did the unicorns and the snow under their feet. Pattern actually called for the area behind them to be filled with shades of blue (med light to dark) from one edge of the snow to other edge and about 3 inches above their heads.
Can’t be seen in the picture but where there was to be stars I put stitches in for snow.

The Lacey bag outer fabric is from the Anne of green gables fabric line. Inside fabric setting under the bag is just some fabric I found that I thought would go with anne’s fabric.

Couple gifts

Decided to knit some wrist warmers for my daughters. They didn’t take much time to knit up. Both were made from the same pattern Mock cable wrist warmers by Anita Grahn. The pattern does show up better in the plain yarn but I also like the way it shows up in the other pair.

The plain yarn is Red Heart heart and sole yarn in ivory. This yarn was left over from a shawl I had made earlier this year.
The other pair is made from Zed luxe sock in beaver by yarn indulgence. This yarn is so soft and made/named in honour of  Canada’s 150th Birthday. You will find the beaver on our nickels.
I will also be making myself a pair from this yarn once I get the December b-day gift made.

Bracelet and another Lacey bag

The above bracelet is knitted. Thought it would be kind of fun to try this so I purchased two kits. The kits are from knitca.com. You get the knitting wire, beads, knitting needles and needle along with waste wire used for casting on. The above bracelet is called Isabella and I purchase it in silver. You have six colours to choose from. Doesn't look quite like the picture on the box but still happy the way it turned out.  I should have knitted a little tighter as some of my stitches are a little bigger than they should be. As this is my first attempt I am satisfied with in and am wearing it as I type this.

This is the Lacey bag that I made for my DGD.  The green fabric laying under the bag is the fabric used for lining the bag. I like how cute it is and it will come in handy for her to put her hair accessories into when coming here or to her other grandparents for sleep overs. 

Nightgowns

Every year my grandchildren expect me to make them pj's for Christmas and after Christmas every year my local fabric store put their flannel fabric on sale for 50% or more. So while most are hitting the department stores and clothing stores I am hitting the fabric store and get the fabric for pj's. Here is the finished nightgown from last year sale for. DGD.

With the scraps I was able to get a nightgown and a little mask for one of her dolls. Both nightgowns need a little touch up with the iron and will take care of that next time I pull out the iron to iron DH shirts for work.

Children Christmas cards

Finally finished the children Christmas cards that I actually started last January. Plans were to work on them during Rudy days but something always came up and there they sat till today. I needed 10 but cut out 11 just in case and sure enough I made a nice little error on one.

 So I made a little note on the inside about year it was made and will put it in the envelope with example of  the Christmas cards I have made over the year. 4 of these cards will go to my grandchildren and the other six are for the HCC gang.

Stamp used is called Spindly birds W172 by stampendous. Picked it up at Hobby Lobby while we were in the states last year. The birds were stamped onto water colour paper and coloured in with water colour pencils. I added little dots made around the outer edge of the white paper and around the outside edge of the red cardstock was made using a gold colour gel pen. They are kind of hard to see but shine when put light.
Now I need to get busy with the adult cards

couple Christmas presents

Saw some fabric that I knew oldest dear son would love so I turn it into a pillowcase for him.  The one fabric is of some BMW cars/vans and the other bike cycles with baskets. Along with the pillowcase I made him some dishcloths. Having these finished takes a couple items off my Christmas list.

Hailey winter gear

I purchase a Caron cake roll a couple months ago when Michaels had them on sale. Wasn't sure what I was going to make with it but than got thinking DGD is starting JK this year and like most children that start school for the first time they are always misplacing their hats, mitts etc (I always have to carry on me some mitts when out and about with the HCC gang as they are always losing one or both etc) that making her a couple hats and a scarf to have as backup would be a good idea. So I did using the funfetti confetti shade. Folded the scarf so all the colours in this yarn cake can be seen except for the one shade of purple which can be seen in both hats.

Dress and wrist warmers

Decided this week to clean out my knitting bags. Yes bags as I have a large one, med one and a couple small ones for different size projects. In one of the bags housing some dishcloths that needed the ends tucked in along with yarn for more dishcloths. Laying at the bottom was a pair of wrist warmers. I have finished them up so they are ready to go when in turns cold in a couple months.

Finally got around to making my DGD doll a dress with the left over fabric from her Easter dress.

More hats

These hats will find their new home on the Mitten tree come fall. These hats were made with the left over yarn from the workman socks I made for myself. Those balls of yarn were big. Being that only about 4 rows of red where used in each sock I was able to get three red, than two cream, a grey one and that a stripe hat with the grey and cream-its the one without the pom-pom and I like the way the colour combo works.

Rest of baby gift

With the remaining charm squares from the baby quilt I made a little pillowcase for the baby quilt. I simply made a square case with the patchwork on one side and plain ivory on the other side and did a binding around the open side. It's a little bigger than the quilt when folded so the one side can be folded under. It might also get used as the wrapping for the gift.

With the left over fabric from the quilt border and backing I made a lacey bag. The border fabric was used for the outside of the bag and the backing fabric as the lining.

The card front also has one of the charm squares sewn onto it with some lace. Figure I should try and use up all the charms instead of them just laying around and I don't think they would make it into another quilt.

Quilt for Liz and Nathan's baby

The parents to be had decided to do their baby room in pinks, mint and a few other pastel colours since they are having a little girl. The floral print squares came from a mocha charm pack I picked up a couple years ago at the creative festival. Sorry I can't remember the actual fabric name as I seemed to have miss place the info card that came with it. 

The cream block fabric, border print and backing was picked up at my local fabric shop. I did a simple quilt in the ditch and a X through the floral blocks in a neutral threat. Than did a X through the plain blocks with a little flower stitch on my sewing machine with a vargated thread by king tut colour 916 called mummy's dearest. Just the finishing touch the quilt needed.

workman socks

My father always wore these socks called workman socks and when I was little and had small feet/socks one of his socks would become my stocking at Christmas.  So when I saw this pattern on the Bernat yarn site and they had a kit for the yarn I knew I had to order the yarn and make myself a pair. The pattern was free on their site and the yarn is is bernat super value in berry, natural  and grey rang.  

Looking forward to wearing them in a few months

Bibs and the modest lace shawl

Here are some of the bibs I made from flannel. I still have the girl ones to sew up.

 A couple years ago I took a lace knitting class by Kate Atherley at the creative festival.
Kate taught a good class and the modest lace shawl pattern was part of the class along with donated yarn called Red Heart Heart and Soul yarn in ivory. The pattern can be found in Kate's book beyond knit and purl or on Rarely

I finally pulled out the shawl and finished it.

July 1st Canada celebrates  it's 150th birthday. Fabric companies came out with fabrics covering the maple leaf, the flag, beaver and moose along with panels covering each province, the capitol of Canada etc. I picked out a couple panels and some fabrics. One made it into the quilt wall hanging below. I have another two which will be turned into placemats or table toppers. Have not decided yet which it will be but will decide soon as July 1st is just around the corner.

Some more crafts I have done

This doll quilt was also donate to the HCC office to use for Christmas gifts. Fabric was left over from a cushion set made for my rocking chair

A little something I made at a library activity

 

For Mother's day my oldest DD got me a ticket to Empty Bowl for lunch. We get to go and pick out a pottery bowl made and donated to this lunch. Several restaurants donated soups/breads etc. All funds raised from this meal goes to the food bank. My favourite was the sweet potato and coconut soup. This is the bowl I picked out.

 

 

A few items for DGD

Catching up on some sewing etc that I have done.

Got a picture of DGD wearing the knitted pullover I made for her birthday.

Below is a picture of her Easter dress. Still have to make a matching one for her doll. It's next on my sewing list.

HCC blankets

The HCC office mitten tree takes donations of yarn for knitters to make into mittens or hats. They received the following yarn

Two big balls of this yarn and I was asked to make something out of it for them so I made these

I turned each ball into doll blankets and sent them to the office. They do Christmas gifts for children  and by making the doll blankets they will be able to include them with a doll as a gift. Perfect use of the yarn if you ask me and the office seem to agree.

Fabric choices for baby quilt that I am having second thoughts on

 The above picture is of the backing and the picture below is of the border/binding

Azel pullover and a doll pullover

Dear granddaughter birthday is coming up and her mother my daughter asked me last fall if I could make this Azel pullover this year for her birthday. DGD will be starting school in the fall and she though  it would be nice for her to have to wear. 

I got the pattern on Ravely and the yarn used is Bernat  softee chunky yarn in grey ragg. 

Granddaughter got a 18 inch doll from her aunt for Christmas and I figure she could use some clothes for it so I knitted up a pullover for the doll with left over yarn.

Baby blanket

There was a baby shower a couple weeks ago for a friends daughter and this is the baby blanket I made for her.  I used Bernat baby coordinates Cotton candy. Pattern used was the one on the yarn wrapper. The blanket felt so soft when finished.

Couple new craft projects

Been awhile since I posted but my knitting project has been taking longer than planed(life has been getting in the way). In the mean time here are a couple projects that I have completed. Second one was a group project as it was for a ladies church activity.

The first is one I made back in December. I like to have a Christmas planter on my front porch each year but to buy them they are a little expense. But with coupons, sales and ready shopping around I was able to make one for a good price. It's made with fake branches and can be used over and over again without shelling out money for a new one each year and if I want to change the ribbon etc a trip to the dollar store will be all it takes.

 

 

Also today our church lady group had a mini-spa day where we gave ourselves a facial using natural ingredients and than made ourselves a hot/cold pack.

 

Here is the front of the invitations that were given out with the date/time info on the back. We used remove-able tape for the info so that info can be removed and the ladies can use this for bookmarks.

 

 

 

Below is a picture of what the ladies when home with. A sleepy time bath tea, recipe book, hot/cold pack that included lavender (in plastic bag). The bag is shown unfilled. The bags were pre made and filled during our afternoon activity.

 

A fun time was held by all and we had fun trying out some different DIY beauty recipes.