It's been a while... Hello Stranger!

I almost forgot I had a blog...

Life has been busy in the last year!  I went on a trip to England, and added an extra class this school year, which changed my schedule and the amount of time I had on campus to do school work dramatically.  Dad had some health problems, I've been working on getting my sewing room reestablished, and then the Coronavirus dive-bombed the world.

So...I live in Washington State, and our governor has pretty much shut the state down.  "Stay Safe, Stay Home" has been the rule.  School was closed on March 16, and we are not returning back to the classroom for the rest of the school year.  I've been doing a lot of Google Hangout meetings, and today tried Zoom, which was much easier.  Now we're doing online instruction, which is interesting and has its own challenges.

Itty-bitty bunnies and bear...

What has this crafty girl been doing while on "house arrest" (as my daughter puts it)?  I have been resting a bit, as teaching is exhausting, and cumulated lack of sleep and overwork had me barely making it, energy-wise, to the end of the week.  What can I do on the couch while resting?  Stuff with yarn!  So I have been trying new patterns, discovered a new favorite yarn (and then got it in every color), learned to do some new stitches, and knitted up several doll dresses.  I knitted some tiny bunnies and bears as accessories for dolls, and then had to shop for more yarn (I had one skein of brownish-gray sock yarn...needed some real brown for bears).

This one has correct colors.

Since my niece moved to my dad's house in Idaho, I've been cleaning and getting my sewing room reestablished, but it is a challenge.  My mom passed two years ago, and I inherited her enormous sewing room.  It took a year of back-and-forth travel and a lot of patience to condense what I wanted to keep and then donate the rest, plus catalog her dolls, and box up the ones on display, and as a result, I have a supply of fabric, trims, and etc. that far exceeds my ability to store it in my considerably smaller sewing room.  So I'm having to go through the bins (the big plastic ones from Costco with the interlocking lids) and cull from them what I am and am not going to be able to use.

That's a lot of bins! 

For example, there are TWO bins full of velveteen in a rainbow of colors.  There was one bin entirely filled with vintage cotton organdy in a variety of colors--more organdy than any human could use in a lifetime of doll dresses!

There was another bin full of dimity, skip-dent, voile, and organdy.  Another one entirely composed of Swiss batiste and embroideries.  Some bins have an amalgam of things doll-related, like furniture, accessories, etc. that my dad packed as we cleaned up.  One bin was full of nothing but Ginny clothes, accessories, and a few dolls (most need re-stringing).  And the list goes on.

This area is now cleaned up.

All of this is far more than I can use, so I've got a huge box of fabric donations (to my school's Home Ec department--the instructor for the sewing classes is a friend, and we've discussed what I have and what she can use), and a box of things to sell, and a bin of fabric that I'm going to sell as doll dress sewing kits (I'll be putting together lace, trims, etc. with the fabric).

Donations and trash (in bags)

Sigh.  I have organized about half my sewing room, but have the other half to complete.  All this free time on my hands, I've been developing ideas, and am dying to get in there and just create!!  But I don't have creation space yet.  My work table is in my husband's office, and my accumulation of "stuff" over three years needs to be cleared out of there, as well as move the table.

At times this is very overwhelming.  And a lot of work.  Dusty work.  But it needs to be done,

because I'm psychologically in need of creation time, and it's almost a physical need, as well.  I can only function in creative limbo for so long, and knitting and crocheting is not cutting it, so to speak.

It doesn't help that my favorite bead emporiums have been having sales, so I've also been accumulating beads that need to be organized, fondled, and drooled over.  I think this weekend, I need to do a major effort to get this all done!

So... guess I'd better get to work!  :)  Take care!

The Final Countdown

Cue Europe's only hit song...Now! 



We're in the final stretch for the school year... Seniors are done in a week, and the rest are done in two, with a field day for the last day of school on the 24th.  Whew!

I have also finished my work on this quarter's 20 Time project.  Although... I don't think I'm all that finished, actually.  More on that later.

I spread out all of my hats on my desk this morning for a final photo.  You are looking at 78 hats for preemies in various shapes, sizes, and patterns.  I'm in love with the little aviator hats, and the newsboy caps, as well.  Last night, after Ella went to bed, I sewed on decorations--buttons, flowers, pom-poms.  I had to make the pom-poms first, of course.  I have some very small pom-pom makers I bought many years ago, and struggled with making them work.  But I figured it out this time, and LOVE those tiny little balls of yarn!  So I put them on a bunch of hats. 

I had originally set myself a goal of 50 hats, and the last time I had counted them, I was pretty close.  But then I found some new patterns that I just HAD to try... and I started cranking out hats lickety-split, completing 12 or so a weekend.  I had memorized the patterns, and went to town, so to speak.  I learned to do colorwork--little striped hats--without having to weave in a gazillion tails.  And I experimented with sizes.  I found a pattern for a little newsboy cap, but I felt it was missing something--that little band that goes across the front.  So I did some trial and error on making the band, and came up with a reasonable and easy solution. 

I'm pleased with my results, and have enjoyed making these little gems.  They are a form of instant gratification for me.  In the past, I've always been able to make things for my mother, who loved being the recipient of my skills.  But since she passed, I've lost that... my daughter isn't as interested in things I can make her, and it's hard to find things to make for my husband.  So this filled a void in my life, and made me happy. 

I am not really going to stop making hats (well, I will temporarily).  I have plans for holiday hats for fall and winter, and I know that hospitals can use them.  I've pinned all kinds of cute hats on Pinterest for me to make.  Oh, the possibilities!  I want to do other preemie items, as well.  So, I can see this as an ongoing project for me. 

Here are the close-ups: 

I will deliver these to Tacoma General tomorrow.  I hope they like them!  

The Button Box

One of the projects my Seniors are currently working on is autobiographical writing.  I promised them I'd be doing the project along with them, as I wouldn't have them do something I myself wouldn't do, so... I just finished a piece of writing I'd like to share.  Since I don't have a teacher to submit my efforts to, I'm putting it on the Interwebz for others to see.  And since I have this blog linked to my teacher website, students can access it and read, if they like. 

It is longer than I expected, a little over two pages, typed.  But... here it goes.  I've titled it "The Button Box."

I am a bit of a hoarder.  Not in the “OhmyGod your house should be condemned!” sort of way, but I definitely hold on to stuff.  I save cards people have given me, my daughter’s art, writing, and grade sheets, pictures not in frames, shoes I just can’t give up yet, pens, books, etc.  If it has value and meaning to me, I’m holding on to it.  I can’t help it… and I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.

This weekend, I was cleaning and reorganizing my sewing room.  For the last three years, my niece was living in it, and most of my stuff was completely inaccessible.  The only things I really had any access to were my beads and paper crafts.  And yarn.  That is mostly because these were things I stored in places other than her room.  My niece moved out in March, so my old sewing room is free again.  Whee!!! 

We’ve cleaned it, fumigated it (teenagers…ugh!!), and now I’m in the process of rearranging, organizing, and transferring my scattered supplies back into the room.  I am also integrating the massive inheritance my mother left me:  all of her sewing room.

Mom’s sewing room was huge.  I don’t know the actual dimensions, but it was about half the size of my classroom, which is pretty generous.  One long wall was lined with metal and plywood shelves used in garages to store Big Stuff, like holiday decorations, tools, manly stuff.  Mom’s were filled with large plastic bins with lids that fold together with linked flaps, kind of like when you fold your hands.  There were three of these bins per shelf, and four shelves per rack.  Five of these racks lined one wall, and a sixth one occupied another wall, along with two large white melamine cabinets packed with fabric.  Most of these bins contained fabric, although a few contained trims and laces.  Some contained dolls and doll furniture, accessories, etc. 

She had two large bookcases full of books, magazines, and countless binders of patterns, ideas, magazine articles, paper dolls, craft instructions, sewing tips, etc.  Another large bookcase, on top of a 6’ table, was stacked with cards and cards of lace, trims, and ribbons.  She had multiple plastic storage carts with drawers filled with small silk flowers, vintage flowers, tiny doll accessories, buttons, ribbons, more trims, feathers, small dolls, you name it. 

It took me multiple trips over the course of a year to go through it and decide what to keep and what to donate or toss.  The local library received multiple stacks of books on various crafts and hobbies.  Local churches who make quilts for hospitals and charities received so many boxes of fabric, I’m sure they struggled with where to store them!  And what a heyday for those ladies as they went through all those fabrics!  I know mom would have enjoyed seeing their excitement as they opened and went through all the treasures within those boxes.

So rebuilding my sewing room has its pleasures, as well.  And much sadness, as bringing my mother’s things into my home means that she is really gone.  It reminds me of better, happier days, when mom and I would work on sewing doll dresses for some event, listening and singing to show tunes (Andrew Lloyd Webber being a favorite), talking about some subject (favorite topics included history, celebrities, books we were reading, and family stuff), listening to talk radio and chatting about issues, all while our nimble fingers created pretty little things for collectors.  We’d go out for lunch if it was summertime or the weekend (when we teachers have some free time), combining lunch with an opportunity to go to the fabric or craft store. 

As I was moving little storage boxes of buttons and beads to a temporary spot on a shelf, I lifted a small metal lunchbox-style case that was rather heavy.  I’d forgotten what I’d put in there, and gave it a shake.  The resulting soft rattle told me it was full of buttons.  The rattle was a familiar one, a reassuring sound. 

It’s amazing how much certain sounds can bring back memories.  Whenever I hear “Funky Town” or anything from Billy Joel’s “Glass Houses”, I’m instantly transported to the basement of our old house, sitting on a tall wooden stool, listening to music and chatting with my dad while he made stained glass panels.  The sound of a hatchet thumping through a chunk of wood to chop kindling brings the smell of pine and canvas to mind, of camping in my childhood.  The gurgle of coffee brewing in a pot is a homey sound to me, recalling the times we spent with my grandmother in her mobile home in San Diego, waiting impatiently for our turn to be served our own slice of her special French Toast, a rich, crispy, old-fashioned battered bread fried in a sizzling iron skillet.

I didn’t think much about the sound of the buttons in their round, lunchbox-type tin.  But after I turned off the light that night and settled in to sleep, my brain began wandering, as it usually does.  That heavy box of buttons brought to mind my mother’s button box, and wondering where it is now.  Sometime last year, not long after mom died, my dad called me to ask me where it would be in the sewing room.  I suggested it was in one of those large plastic bins on top of a rack nearest the end of the wall, where mom kept old sewing supplies and such.  He called me back to say he’d found it.  I don’t remember why it was important to him.  And I don’t know what he has done with it since then.

Thinking about that button box brought back sensory images of struggling to pop the lid off the button tin, and how I used to love to dig my hands into the shallow sea of buttons inside, the feel of cool plastic, metal, glass and shell slipping over my fingers.  The box was a round, old-fashioned metal tin, about the size of a dinner plate.  It had a sort of nubbly texture, a slightly rough crazed metal lacquer peculiar to tins made in the early 20^th century, darkened by use over time.  It probably was originally designed for cookies or biscuits.  The buttons inside represented a wide variety of fastenings, with plain, dull brown and black buttons, glass fancy-cut ones, tiny shoe buttons, creamy white mother-of-pearl shirt buttons, and all of them in various sizes, some larger than an inch.  There were buttons held together on long safety pins, buttons of woven leather strips, black buttons with metal shanks, metal buttons with nautical or militaristic emblems on them, and even buckles of various sizes and materials, all comingled with a detritus of chipped-off bits, dust, shreds of thread, and a few straight pins that sometimes poked your fingers if you weren’t careful as you rummaged through the box.

How we used to play with those buttons!  On a rainy day, they were “coins” while playing dress-up, loading up old velvet bags to go “shopping” in the basement.  They were employed as game pieces when we were missing a checker or pawn.  Sometimes I’d use them as plates and dishes for my dolls.  I would take them out and organize them just to see how many of each kind were in there, and then get bored because there were so many.  My brother and sister and I each played with them.  When my sister grew up, her kids played with the buttons, too.  I’ve heard them talk about Grandma’s button box fondly, which always made me smile, remembering the same pleasures as a child. 

Over time, the number of buttons in the box diminished.  I’m sure each kid who played with them ferreted away their favorites for various uses, perhaps because it was a special or pretty one.  Maybe it felt good to rub a thumb over its smoothness or unusual texture.  Perhaps they got used for a craft project, or to fix a garment or two.  Or maybe the buttons reminded them of mom/grandma and good times. 

My button box is considerably smaller, about the size of a dessert plate, and the buttons in it aren’t so old and cool as mom’s, mostly leftovers from various projects, with a handful of extra buttons that come with shirts sometimes, but I like to think that it’s carrying on that legacy.  Ella hasn’t wanted to explore it, but… I haven’t had a sewing room for three years, and she probably doesn’t even know it exists.  Once I get the room in working order, though, she’ll be in there plenty of times.  She, too, likes to make things, and to spend time with me while doing that.  We like to listen to music or audiobooks while we work, and to chat, of course.  She wants me to teach her how to do various crafts, and I’m looking forward to sharing with her the things my mother taught me, and the Zen-like pleasure that comes from making something with your hands. 

And, at some point in time, she may need a button.

Memorial Day Weekend update

Good morning! 

On Friday, I listed multiple things I wanted to do this weekend, and I thought this morning that I would tell you how things went.

I don't have any pictures, but I cranked out another dozen hats this weekend!  It was nice to simply rest and let my fingers do the work.  Plus I had inspiration from the new patterns.  And I did some color work--I don't like weaving in ends, so I try to avoid making color changes when I knit or crochet.  But, I took the plunge this weekend, and found that alternating rows of color (for a striped effect) wasn't as annoying/frustrating than I expected it to be, and the hats I made are really cute!  I'll take pictures later and post them, along with pattern links.

Saturday I ended up sleeping in rather late--guess my body needed it!  Although I was sleepy through much of the day, so... not sure about that.  I had a hair appointment at 1:30--trim and roots--and then got a pedicure afterwards.  Because it was raining, there were very few people in the salon, so I didn't have a long wait.  I even indulged in a "mud mask" kind of thing on my legs and feet.  My feet are very soft and have no callouses now!  And my toes are pretty again.  After I got home, my husband had test-driven a car home (long test drive) because he really liked it and thought I would.  At first, I was a bit hesitant, as the car seemed to be larger than what I am used to (and I really don't like driving big vehicles), but it was actually really nice, and easy to navigate.  Roomy on the inside, comfortable, and it's a hybrid, so the gas mileage for my 25-minute commute (each way!) would be far better than the gas-guzzler I'm driving right now. 

Background:  We had three vehicles, with the intention that the third vehicle (a Nissan truck) would be for my niece's use.  My niece never got her license while she lived with us, so now that she's in Idaho with my dad, we don't need a third vehicle.  The first week in April, we took my Outback in to the dealership to fix an airbag recall thing, and they didn't finish by the end of the day, so they gave us a loaner Outback--2019 model.  Mine is a 2012, still a nice car and decent gas mileage, but... this loaner car was Amazing!  All the new features and upgrades were really eye-opening for us, so we started thinking about upgrading the Subaru.  My husband decided, however, that if we're going to get a new car, how about checking out other cars in the same type?  Thus, the Great Car Hunt began.  He kept updating me on all these statistics and models, which was overwhelming my already overloaded brain.  So I told him to narrow it down to three or so vehicles, and then we can talk.  I test-drove several vehicles (thus far):  A Mazda 5 with Turbo, a Mazda 6 (I think it was a hybrid), a Toyota Rav-4 hybrid, and this weekend, a Toyota Highlander hybrid.  The last one is the one I drove Saturday.  We decided we liked it, and started the process of buying it (we're waiting on the house refinancing to be completed before we buy).  Now, of course, my husband is second-guessing himself... the car is last year's model, and used, which has its own benefits, but he always does this. 

Anyway... Sunday, after a tasty waffles and sausage breakfast, I worked in my sewing room, moving my laces to a different bookcase, and putting my books in the other bookcase (This bookcase will be full soon...I have a TON of books and pattern binders).  I also condensed some things, went through boxes and rearranged how I store some things, etc.  Then my husband asked if I was ready for him to bring things up.  This is the biggest part of the job... I inherited my mom's sewing room, which was vast and jam-packed with all kinds of stuff.  I spent much of last year going through it all, making donations to local charities (lots of quilting fabrics) and libraries.  But now that it is reduced in size, it's in my garage, taking up a lot of space.  So... now that I've made room and plans, it was time to start moving stuff to my sewing room. 

First, a small chest of drawers.  It's very small, but it has been in my mother's various sewing rooms for my entire life.  It came from my grandmother's house, and I used to think it was ugly.  It could do with some surface cleaning (Mr. Clean sponges to the rescue!), but the yellow and white doesn't bother me now.  It has tradition with it...and I couldn't say goodbye to it.  The top drawer contains sewing accessories, needles, machine needles, etc.  I forget what's in the lower two drawers.  One used to be packed with spools of thread, but those have been transferred to several plastic bins.  In the picture, the bins on top of the little chest are all full of thread (except the long, flat box). 

 

Next came two racks of small storage containers.  My dad custom-made these racks for my mother to store all of her buttons, doo-dads (as she called them), ribbon roses, etc.  I have wanted a rack, too, but he never had the time to do it.  So when we were clearing out mom's sewing room, he simply unscrewed them from the walls, put temporary cardboard backs on them, and put them in the truck to take to me.  So Rob brought them upstairs (emptying the stacks of boxes in them first) Sunday, and screwed them to the wall with a couple of wall anchors.  I put the boxes back on the shelves in the rack until I can go through them... mom's system of organization was somewhat confusing.  I think this was due in part to the development of Parkinson's Dementia early on, as well as the brain tumor that was pressing on her nerves.  Sometimes I open a box of hers and see no rhyme or reason why things were put in it, and I just heave a big sigh.  I think sometimes she put things in boxes to just get them out of the way.  I know I do that sometimes, and I try not to, because I don't want my family to have to go through the same thing!

I moved the dresser, which will be used to store my model dolls, props, etc., and then Rob began to bring up boxes from the garage.  Most of the boxes he brought up, however, are things to sell or store elsewhere.  None of them are fabric bins.  The black plastic rack you see is temporarily holding small things while we move the big stuff. 

The next two pictures show the transfer of books and lace from two bookcases.  There will be more lace, and more books.  Trust me.  I know what's in the garage, and at least two large bins are full of carded lace. 

 

I moved the lace to the far left bookcase to make it more accessible.  I know there is stuff piled up at the base of the bookcase where the books are...I was in the process of organizing, and had a little pile-up there. 

The next few pictures are of organized chaos. I'll be working on those in my free time (free time??  When do I get that??).  I have magazines to go through (and with every one I added to the pile, I told myself I am stupid, stupid...being a hoarder!  How much money did I spend on these things??), boxes of individual stuff to organize, more plastic storage to purchase (specific types of boxes), etc.  It looks like a horrible mess, but it's really just kind of clutter while I reorganize the room.  It will get better, I promise!  I can't work in this kind of chaos!!

Cosmetically, I have new fabric for curtains, a slipcover for my sewing chair and the wooden chair (and chair pad for it), as well as paint for the drawers of the large dresser.  I bought three cans of spray paint in three different colors that coordinate with the curtains, as well as new drawer pulls, with which to redo those dresser drawers. 

This is just the start, of course.  My mother accumulated collections of, well... everything!  I'm certainly not going to be able to use it all, and have plans.  Some things I will be selling, such as dolls and doll accessories that are collectible.  I am planning to "destash" by making doll clothing kits (fabric, trims, buttons, etc.) and selling them online.  Some of the items in these large bins were put there just to make it easier to transport/move, so I'll be going through those, too. 

Lots of work!

Finally, Monday... We had a nice breakfast (Rob made chocolate croissants from a package he bought at Trader Joe's.  I've told him he can make them any time!!), and I spent some time cleaning up downstairs.  Ella joined me for a bit, but when I took a break, she decided she was done, and didn't go back to doing what I asked her to do.  Sigh.  After cooling off a bit, I picked up my hook and some yarn and made hats!  :)
Until later, have a great week!

Personal Goals

Hello and welcome back to our Friday installment of yarns and yarns (literal and figurative)!

I'm in a weird mood today.  It doesn't help that I overslept and had bizarre dreams.  And my daughter was mad at me this morning when we left for school, but was fine and dandy when I dropped her off.  It's been a bit of a weird day so far.

Ella was mad at me because I discussed hygiene with her and how she washes her body.  She's almost a teenager and doesn't like me talking about the need to wear a bra, washing her hair properly, deodorant, etc.  But when I find little turdlets on the bath mat in front of the shower door, I have to question how she washes herself!!  So, first strike against mom.  Then I had the audacity to fix a lunch for her and make her take it to school!!  Such evil!!  She didn't want to carry her lunchbox for the first half of the day.  So... I swear I saw smoke emanating from her ears...but we talked in the car on the short drive to school, and by the time I dropped her off, she was fine, and said she loved me and to have a good day.  Kids!!!

It's a windy morning, with gray skies and hints of rain (you can feel the moisture in the air... here in Washington, we get so many different types of rain!  This is a soft, light sprinkling of rain that isn't quite heavy enough to be drizzle.  A friend told me that the native Americans in the region call it "woman rain" because it is soft and gentle).  The Marketing classes are hosting a Trade Show (something they do every year), which is a bit like a vendor fair, but with students presenting their projects.  It involves local businesses, as well, so it's an important project for them, but it does make the school a bit discombobulated.  I'll have kids actively involved in it, so they won't be in class, etc.

Anyway, it's 20 Time day again!  I have made excellent progress this week.  I've been physically tired (there's no tired like end-of-the-year Teacher Tired), but have managed to keep my hands busy while my bod rests.  I made 12 hats this week... I'm very close to my goal of 50 hats.  Instead of taking pictures on my desk at work (where there is fairly good lighting), I took these pictures on my kitchen table with mediocre lighting.

I've also transferred my hat-and-bootie sets into plastic bags, and my storage has now graduated from a fairly large shoe box to a mid-size plastic container.  I organized them by size last night, trying to figure out what sizes I need to make now.  They are fairly well-balanced, so... I kind of feel like I should make larger ones, and some holiday hats.  But... I was also thinking that I could continue doing this all summer, and do another donation in the fall.  I have accumulated a LOT of yarn!

So, what did I make this week?  Here you go...  I've organized them by pattern, so I'll link the pattern to the hats for you.

These bonnets were easy and fun to make.  Although I realized this morning that I'd posted a picture of the pink one earlier.  Still, I'll post the pattern, as it's really pretty.  All of the yarns for these are acrylic.  I used Yarn Bee (Hobby Lobby) baby yarn for the left bonnet. I used "I love this Yarn" sport in white for the blue and white bonnet. I edged it with Universal Yarn's "Uptown Baby Sport" in blue, and used a bright pink of the same yarn for the bonnet on the right.  The two bonnets on the left were made from the "Molly Bonnet" crochet pattern from Momma That Makes.  The one on the right is also from the same blog, called the "Rose Bonnet".  This particular blog has a ton of lovely items to make for preemies and babies.  If any of this kind of thing interests you, have a look at her blog!

I have made several hat and bootie sets from this pattern, the Little Babbity hat and booties from Marianna's Lazy Days.  She has an absolute TON of patterns, both knit and crochet, for babies and preemies.  Check her out on Ravelry or on her blog.  The link for this pattern takes you to her blog.  Her patterns are easy to follow and fun to make!

This is the Little Clusters Beanie pattern from Mamma that Makes.  It's quick, easy, and turns out cute every time.  I can turn out these fairly quickly... less than an hour.  And they don't take a lot of yarn, so you can make multiples while watching your favorite movies, etc.  (personally, I like to listen to audiobooks or podcasts)  I used Yarn Bee Camo print yarn for the hat at the top, and another Yarn Bee print for the one on the bottom right, and Bamboo Pop! yarn for the one on the lower left.

These two hats were made from two different patterns.  The one on the top comes from Mamma that Makes, the Garret beanie pattern, using the same Yarn Bee yarn from the picture above.  It has a slow color change that makes a lovely ombre effect.  The one on the bottom uses the Talia preemie hat pattern, using Cascade Yarns' "Fixation Splash" a cotton yarn that is blended with less than 2% spandex, making it very flexible.  Unfortunately, the stretch is a challenge, because if you don't keep the tension loose, it will be a hard, uncomfortable hat.  I can see it working better in a knit hat.  I picked it up on my visit to The Black Sheep at the beginning of May.

I've used this pattern many times, as it is quick to work up, and has multiple sizes.  I made these using Marianna Mel's Valerie pattern (posted on Ravelry and on her blog).  Both of the yarns I used for these were Baby Bee yarns... the one on the left is a variegated gray-blue-dark blue print, and the larger one on the right used a blue camo print.

Finally, I have one last pair.  This the Kaitlynn beanie from Momma that Makes.  It's a super-fast, easily memorized pattern.  You can change the size of the pattern by changing the yarn and hook.  The one on the right was made using a D hook and fingering yarn (Wool-Free sock yarn I got at Hobby Lobby--I love me a yarn sale!), but I think I miscounted my rows, as it seems rather short in length.  The one on the right uses the same yarn as the hat on the left in the photo above this one, showing you the variation in colors.

Chasing down and linking these patterns led me to discover several more patterns, so I've printed a bunch, and can't wait to try them!  One is a little newsboy-type hat, and another is an aviator style!  I have read, in my research, that boy hats are needed.  As I progress through my patterns, etc., I try to do one in feminine colors, and one in masculine colors, so that I have an equal balance.  But I still plan to make some white "angel baby" hats, too.

Well, time to grab my hook and get started!!  And it's a three-day weekend!!  Hallelujah!!  I'm planning to do some housework, and then work on my sewing room.  I need to rearrange how some things are stored, and then start bringing in bins from the dining room and garage (freeing up space!).  That will make it a functional room again, and I'm planning all kinds of fun projects, including getting back to sewing for dolls.

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to make time to do something creative....

Busy Hands!

Hi there, and Happy Friday!!!  Woot!



It's been another busy, crazy kind of week, but I have actually been productive.  For a few evenings this week, my fingers were flying!  Proof:

Earlier this month, I stopped in at The Black Sheep in west Olympia and picked up some "Bamboo Pop!" and a few other skeins/balls of yarn.  Bamboo Pop is 50/50 Cotton and Bamboo (which is super soft), and works up into a very soft, flexible hat.  The two white hats, the bright pink, and the denim blue hat were made with it.  The multicolored hat on the left may also use that yarn--I can't remember, because the balls for Bamboo Pop and Cotton Fair look exactly the same (and feel very similar).  The blue hat used some yarn I picked up at the Black Sheep, as well.  I think it is a Cascade Yarn acrylic, but can't remember the label.  The light pink one in the upper right is made with a fine cotton chenille I found at either Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  

Patterns-- 

• The three solid-color larger hats use the Robby beanie pattern from Mamma That Makes.  She has several patterns I've tried and liked.  This one took me a bit to figure out on row 5 (I think), but once I figured it out, it was easy.  I liked the interesting pattern, which reminds me of filet crochet.  And it's unisex, so... easy to do in many colors.
• The two hats on the far right use the "Valerie" pattern from Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days. I really like the pattern, but I have only made one of the smallest ones.  It is perfect for a doll with a 5-6" head, but I have a hard time thinking of a baby with a head that tiny.  I will make micro hats soon, however.  I don't want to leave anybody out!  
• The multicolored hat on the lower left corner was made using the Preemie Gaige Hat by Allison Booker.  I found the pattern on Ravelry.  I don't think it turned out well in this color, but it's a cute hat.  I don't think I'll make more of them, as I'm concerned about the open loops on it.  I've read that hospitals prefer hats that don't have a lot of open holes, so that babies don't get their fingers caught in them.  If you've ever watched and infant stretch and curl their hands and feet, it makes sense.
• At center top of the photo is a speckled white knitted hat.  This one is the Jack and Jill hat, also from Marianna's Lazy Daisy days.  I like her patterns.  This is nice and stretchy, so the hat may look like it belongs on a Conehead, it is actually much roomier than it looks!  This pattern is also multi-sized.  Marianna makes all kinds of patterns for babies and preemies--you can find them all on Ravelry.com.  I like that she makes her patterns for two needles, as I struggle with DPNs.  

For more patterns, both Mamma That Makes and Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days have multiple patterns for babies, and thus far, have been pretty easy to do.  I like a pattern that's easy to memorize--it makes the work go faster/easier.

It's my daughter's 12th birthday today--how time flies!  It seems just a minute ago that she was my tiny preemie... she seems so big to me now, but compared to her peers, she's pretty small.  She's been sick lately, and that's putting a damper on birthday plans, but I think she's on the mend.

Have a restful weekend!!

Not the most productive week

I finished one bonnet (very cute pattern) and a bootie that I haven't sewed up yet.  And started the second bootie.

Booo... hiss!!

I have been busy every day this week, with meetings, appointments, errands, etc.  By the time I get home, I'm beat, and just don't have the energy to do anything creative, and really want to just zone out or take a nap.  And I got my hearing aids this week, so I'm having a bit of a "wow" week, as well.  I didn't know what I've been missing!!

It doesn't help that it's been very warm here in Washington this week--heat wave!  It's predicted to be in the upper 80s today, and, according to the news, it was 84 yesterday.  Heat just sucks the energy right out of me!  And we haven't got the air conditioning fired up yet.

And my daughter, who has yet to break the 15th percentile at any point in her life (she's petite and healthy), goes around the house with a blanket draped on her like a royal robe!!  She's always cold.

Earlier this week, she wanted hot cocoa!  !!!!!!  Then she asked me to teach her how to make tea.  Well, that was easy.  Showed her how to use the electric kettle, where the tea was (I have a canister filled with all kinds of tea bags, plus loose tea and tagless tea bags in their boxes in the pantry), and she's been making tea and taking it to school in a travel mug for the last three days!  I'm kind of sad and proud at the same time.  She's growing up so fast...she's going to be 12 next week.  Sigh...

Anyway... I've brought supplies and patterns to school with me today, so I can work on it during class--gotta be a good example--but it's already getting warmer, so we'll see how long that lasts.  Still tired.  Feels like I haven't slept at all this week.

Anyway...  Here is proof that I have done a few things, but not much.

The cap in dusty colors is just for reference.  The one bootie is not stitched (the cuff is folded over when it's done), and the second bootie is on the needle.  The pink lacy cap is the one hat I managed to finish this week.  I thought it was pretty, but even though I followed the directions, I think it could use a few more rows.  

And finally... It's Teacher Appreciation week!  I've been delivered something nice each day this week, from some gum (Extra, for the extra work we do), popcorn and water, to a nice little breakfast (we got to order... I got a Costco poppy seed muffin with a strawberry "kabob"--four big strawberries on a wooden kabob stick--and another bottle of water.  Keeping us hydrated!  :)  The picture shows a little wooden board with a tiny clothespin glued on and an acrostic for my name.  It has a place of honor amongst my Edgars (with a Minion trying to photobomb) and the turtle a colleague who shared a room with me brought me as a gift from his trip to Mexico.  I covered my bookcase, among a few other things, with a neutral, pretty sticky shelf paper to disguise some wear and tear.  Yes, I'm a crafty kind of a gal!!