Monthly Archives: February 2016
Cooking and Cleaning
I was looking for something else, but this is what I found. Somehow, they were put in a tub and the tub was put on a shelf and though I knew I had them, I didn’t know where. I don’t even remember how old they are. The giraffe is the only one open so far and the pattern date is 2002, although, it probably was purchased in a later year. They are kits, so the fabric is with them. They are reasonably small – the giraffes are 25 x 23, the owls are 36 x 42 – and the elephants 25 x 33 I may just make each of them into a baby quilt. The instructions are a bit scarce and the giraffe pattern is only of the three giraffes, but they include fabric to make legs, hooves, and faces. Too bad, they didn’t create the pattern that way. These will be next on my list, if only to get them done and out of a box. I can at least get them to the flimsy state, which is where I seem to be stopping this year. Maybe that’s a good thing as I’m supposed to be able to see better after the April cataract surgery.
The rest of my day was spent at the gym, making a lasagna, washing clothes, and cleaning house. Yes, I cleaned the house, but not the studio. It’s nearly time for a deep spring cleaning and since I no longer climb step stools, I have a younger friend that will help me at that point. Do you take everything out of your cupboards and closets, and clean and do all the woodwork as well? I like to get that all done at one time. Then I feel I can garden and enjoy the summer without that hanging over my head. And this weekend, I will try to start the tomatoes, greens and peppers. No promises though.
Sock progress
The heel is done and now I’m on the home stretch.
After the doctor, we stopped at Whole Foods and each had a veggie burrito. They really fill the shells up. I have tried filling them like that and end up with a mess that doesn’t all fit.
On the way home, we stopped in Renton
as I needed a pair of size 5 needles to do these socks and I was limping along with one way to short and one waaaaaaaaaaaay too long. I like a 24″ length to do the socks. I’m not sure about this pattern, so am trying to follow their directions.
Finished owl flimsy
This is the finished top. I decided to redo the last owl upright as too many didn’t like that he was falling. It is 36 x 40″. The owls sit on a background that was cut 6 x 6.5″ I cut 6″ width of fabric twice = 1/3 yard. Then I used width of fabric 6.5″ wide for each side and 3.5″ for the length between the columns. There is a 3.5″ piece sewn on top of the column and then again on the bottom of each owl. I With 42″ fabric, it worked out that I could cut 3.25″ from each side and put it on the bottom of two of the owls and by cutting the 3.25″ off the middle two columns and sewing it together to place under the center column of owls, then using 4 widths of 2.25″ for the binding, it took 1.25 yards for the front and binding. Another yard will do the backing, unless you are doing it on a quilting machine, in which case it will take a bit more. The owls, etc are cut from scraps. There are about 86 leaves, and are for the most part cut the same as the wing. I used the width of 2 and the length of 1.8 zig zag on my machine.
Then I received a bit of a happy surprise this afternoon. Mary and her daughter, Tiffany (Tristan’s mom) came over to show him off. He’s a bit unhappy as he had just seen the doctor. He looks all boy to me.
Up to the heels and more
These socks are progressing nicely. They will have a contrast heel and toe. I’m also happy it is an easy pattern, so I don’t have to think too hard. The pattern I’m using is an internet find, called “Lace Socks” by Jacqueline W. I am using an 8 ply wool made by PANDA. The contrast for the heel and toe is by them as well, but 50% wool and 50% acrylic, so hopefully will wear well.
Today was a great day with some spinning, some sewing, some knitting and added to that, I took the machine to have it serviced and went to the Dr. I feel like I accomplished much. I’d love every day to be like this, but then I might not appreciate it as much. Oh, and did I say the sun has been shinning today.
The owls
