Peter Rabbit's Misty Garden

For my birthday last year, I received a skein of wonderfully cuddly, soft angora yarn called Peter Rabbit by Fleece Artist - just enough for a luxurious little scarf. The bright yellows and blues seem to be pooling a bit, but it's also creating this crazy diagonal effect which I kind of like. I've read about people using different balls of the same yarn to prevent pooling but I haven't attempted that on any of my projects yet. The scarf is a basic lace pattern, a version of feather and fan, called Misty Garden from Scarf Style.


It started snowing this morning, finally! Downtown is covered by a blanket of snow and I'm feeling more festive already. I might have to play some Christmas music this morning while I craft. Have a good morning!

Pointy Kitties

Kitties up to no good...

Pointy kitties! These guys are so cute. It's a free pattern too, by Wee Wonderfuls, so go download it! I used some leftover cotton from my apron project, as well as some thinner quilting cotton (which was easier to turn out). I know their heads are bobbing in funny directions, and looking up, but sewing on the head is harder than it looks! I'm still indecisive about the stripes, mainly because the colour selection in felt is really limited, so I just got some ivory and light blue. While I was hovering in front of the felt rack, this woman kindly advised me, "Looking for red and green? I know how you feel. They've got tons left at Walmart...". I kind of just looked at her blankly and said um, thanks. Thoughtful of her, anyway.

Our Christmas tree is up now!

These two cushions were part of last week's crafting

Odds & Ends

I'm starting the week by wrapping up a few things - a package for my friend J's baby on the way, inside is the cardigan and teeny socks...


Every once in a while I get the urge to pull out an entirely different hobby, so I started this necklace. When my fingers and eyes got tired, I switched back to knitting and sewing.


New stash! This is my first order from Knitpicks online (minus the grey in the top left) and I am pretty happy with the yarns I received. I purchased the color cards a while back and have just gotten around to ordering some this past week. The yellowy merino DK weight is soft and squishy and will probably be turned into some chunky socks. The Shadow laceweight is going to become a shawl of some sort, and the cream, black and grey Palette are going to become mitton projects. I'm planning on trying some fair-isle and lace knitting - it's just a question of how to priortize all these ongoing projects.

Not much news to share...I am still waiting for the sun to come out soon so I can take some better pictures already!

Happy Pin Cushions

Pattern from Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

Cute pin cushions to brighten up an otherwise dreary weekend - it rained all day today, and there was absolutely no good daylight to take photos in. I finally gave up waiting and snapped this dull looking photo. I don't have Photoshop either, so I really have to rely on good natural light. Anyhow, the pin cushions were a cinch to make, but it took some practice to line up the points meeting in the centre (hence the button in the top one!). I have a newfound admiration for the intricacies of quilting and the quilts that D's mom makes with all those complicated star designs and tricky seams. Wow. I guess practice makes perfect. This means many more pin cushions. Although I'm not sure how many pin cushions one person can use...they might find their way into some stockings or something this year.

So this weekend was one of those stay-in-slump-on-the-couch weekends, not involving too much activity. We did get a chance to drive up to Worthington and visit La Chatelaine bakery, where we had a delicious croissant and chocolatine. Mmm. It's crafting madness in the apartment. My kitchen table is littered with coaster pieces, batting, and bits of thread, but I've got a whole bunch of them done already. Unfortunately the walking foot didn't fit, so I am just using the standard presser foot. It's tugging a little bit, but nothing that can't be fixed with a little ironing. The couch and floor are littered with balls of yarn from the package that just arrived from Knitpicks...I love new yarn! I haven't done one of those "newly acquired goods" posts in a while, maybe I'll do that next. Good night!

Quilty Cat

While D was away I had the whole place to myself, so I moved all my sewing things out to the dining room. I forgot to pre-wash all my fabric, so it took some time before I was ready to cut and sew. I did a ton of ironing as well - here is Gatsby sitting on my nicely ironed pile of quilting fabric. What a pain. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share - somehow I let the whole day go by without remembering to take some, and then it was too dark to take any good ones. But it was hard to resist this one:

I like to sit on anything people don't want me to sit on

I've been working on a bunch of different things - coasters, toys, pincushions, real cushions, knitting, beading - and getting very easily distracted by each project so it's hard to finish any one thing. I know I said I'd have projects every day, but the camera situation messed that up. And also the fact that some of the projects are Christmas gifts that won't be a surprise to the recipient if they are reading this blog. Oh well.

This week I also lined up to get my social security number, quite an embarassing experience really. I turned over my documents (passport, application form, etc) to the SSN person and then passed over my driver's license thinking it was my work permit card (forgetting I now had two pieces of Ohio photo ID). Of course, the SSN person just kept saying, "Ma'am, this is not a work permit. You need to talk to Immigration Services and get your work permit". And so I insisted, over and over, that that very card (in fact, the driver's license) was the only thing that I was sent and that it was definitely the work permit. Sigh. At some point I did realize what was going on, but couldn't they have just said "Ma'am, this is a driver's license"?

Thank goodness this is almost the last of the paperwork...I'll be happy when it's all done.

Traveling Camera

I forgot that D took the camera when he left yesterday for his trip, which means there won't be any pics for the vast amount of crafting I am planning to do today and tomorrow! Oh well. The finished objects will be more exciting than the progress shots. That said, it all depends on whether or not I bought the right quilting foot for my machine. I will snap the finished (hopefully) objects on Friday.

This morning I am going to the library to return some way overdue craft books (I didn't want to part with them, particularly Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts) but someone else is waiting in line for them. I am also going to pick up an artificial Christmas tree today - a real tree would be better for sure, but this is more practical (and environmentally friendly too).

Cotton Baby Raglan Cardigan

Pattern: Baby cardigan with fully-fashioned raglan shaping

Source: Debbie Bliss Beginner Baby Knits

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in light grey

Yardage: Just over 1 skein

A quick easy knit, baby stuff is always fun to make because you end up with a finished little sweater quickly. If I make this again I will do it in the round - too much finishing to do at the end. I'm making a little hat to go with this since I've got yarn leftover.

And some bitty baby socks made of leftover Fleece Artist:

...and another Koolhaas Hat, this time knit in the larger size. A better fit for sure. I've been productive, haven't I? This week I'm going to start on some sewing, really...