Okay I Lied...

Well, I said I was burned out from making cards... I guess I wasn't. 😜 I saw a cute card on Pinterest and I thought "I almost have everything to make that one." I did the coffee cup and sentiment differently. This is the original card.  Linked to the post, not the Pinterest page...  I don't have all the special Stampin' Up stuff and I improvised. I also handwrote the "How've you bean?" sentiment. It's not as cute as the original card but I still think it's all right.

This is the envelope, I stamped coffee beans on it..  I'm craving coffee today bad. I try not to drink a lot though, so I can actually sleep at night.  I didn't lie intentionally, I really was burned out. But I got the urge to make another card. 

More Cards

 I had been making some cards recently. I am kind of burned out from doing it though, now. It all started when I got some lavender index cards, and some lavender note cards with envelopes that were an odd shape. I wanted to make a card with it all though. The cards I made are in the top right picture. Then I was into the "banner" aspect of cards, and I made a couple more.   Nothing big but it's crafting. I sent seven of them to a card campaign. I would maybe have done more, but I had another death in the family; and I thought the deadline was April 19th (but it was the 29th). 

Socks Are Done!

Well I didn't realize how close I was to the toe section when I posted yesterday- I was right there! So I finished the second sock last night. One looks bigger in the picture than the other one, because I was wearing it the other night when my feet were cold. (As I was knitting the other one. 😏)

                        They are to match this shirt. Guess what I am wearing today?  😁

            On my feet. This is the first time I've knit different colored toes, heels and a band.

                                                           With a cute photo bomber.  I don't know if I posted a link to the pattern I used. It's a free Ravelry download: Tuff Rib Socks.  I think I will get those green socks out today and see if I remember what I was doing... Maybe I will start the pattern all over.  Whoa, weird coincidence!! I started the green socks on this day ten years ago! 😮

Sock Update

 I have finished one of the socks. I am almost to the toe of the second sock. It seems like after the heel, the rest of the sock takes forever for some reason. I actually wore it last night over the socks I had on. 😝 My feet were cold. It's taking me all of March to finish these. And Saint Patrick's Day is over with. So it doesn't look like I will finish the green socks for March. I was looking at how much of the green yarn I have and I don't even know if I will have enough to do two whole socks. I will have to see...

Socks

My son gave me a shirt from where he works last week. 😄 He actually brought two shirts home, this was the one I chose. The other one was a t-shirt.  I was going to wear it one day, and thought, "I don't have any matching socks.." 

So again, I said "I have yarn, I know how to knit.."  😜  And, it has been a long time since I knitted any socks!  Not like I need another project to work on. But...  This one is for me.

This is my progress so far. I am doing the heel and toes in blue. Using this pattern.  And stash yarn. I don't know what the blue is, but the grey is "Naturally Caron" Country in "Silver Service". I have "about" three skeins of the grey.  After I started these, I was thinking "Where are all the other socks I knitted myself?" And I went and found them. (I need to wash them.) And I found a pair I started. Well, I found two pairs I started. The green ones, and the Earl Grey ones. The Earl Grey ones I stopped because they are complicated (for me). I hope to finish the green ones soon, too. Maybe in time for Saint Patrick's Day. 😀🍀  In case you are interested in seeing the other socks I knit for myelf, one pair is here. (The last picture, also a picture of some other socks I knit for my son..) The other pair is here.
 

Sweater Update

 Progress on the four color baby sweater so far. I noticed that the light grey yarn seems to be slightly thinner than all the other yarn. Even though they are all worsted weight. Hmm... I really like this sweater though and I may make more when this one is finished. 😊  

And an update on the baby quilt. I had sent it to the person(s); but I kept checking the tracking number, and one day it said "return to sender in progress". What??? Apparently they moved! In one month. Ughhhh... I seriously hope the box does not get lost. This quilt has been a one step forward four steps back thing since I started it. I guess I should check before I send something, in the future.. 😞

Baby Sweaters...

I had started one of these sweaters before, but I am almost positive I ripped it out before I moved. It's The Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman.  I don't have anyone in mind for this. I was actually thinking I would just knit it for in case I have a future grandbaby. If I ever do...  Wish me luck. I told myself, "I finished a Tomten Jacket, I should be able to figure this out!" 

 And, I saw this one on a group I am in. Someone had done one and I loved it. So, I started one...  It's the Crochet Four Color Baby Sweater. I had the same baby in mind I made the quilt for. But I'm not sure...  I'll see. I'm actually almost done with one of the sleeves since I took this picture.

Mittens For Me

 I have posted other pairs of these mittens before. I got the pattern from a pen pal years and years ago. I don't know where it's from actually. But it's called "Grow Mittens". My son keeps losing gloves at work, and I would give him a pair of mine. Then I was down to an old holey mismatched pair. I thought, "I have yarn... I know how to knit"... 💡 I have never knit a pair of these for myself. Always my kids, teachers, gifts..  So now I have a pair. 😊  Another pair I did.  The first pair I finished?

The Baby Quilt Is Done!

Yay!!! I am so relieved it's done! I just have to rip the basting stitches out on the back. I haven't had a quilter do that before. No biggie. Then wash it and box it up and send it.

                        I chose a "meandering" quilt stitch. I love that one for some reason.

The backing. Grey polka dots. I used a smaller grey polka dot fabric in the squares, too. I hope they will love it. It's a crib size quilt. The baby is two months old now. (Sigh...) But, I didn't know I was going to be moving to another state again, have two funerals to go to... And everything else. So considering, it's still pretty good time.  Now I can work on my other baby quilt. In case I ever get a grand baby... 🍼👶
 

Binding The Baby Quilt

That sounds so easy.... Not.  I trimmed the batting even to the back border, trimmed the fabric all around to 2 1/4 inches. Folded and clipped it, fixed the corners. Sewing now..  I have one long side and a little over 1/4 of the way done with the top. My back hurts so I'm taking a break.

                                                                                 A close-up.

The Baby Quilt

 I don't know if I've mentioned in my blog, I had taken this to be quilted back in November. I finished the top before the baby was born, but when I took it to the quilter, she said she couldn't finish it until February. (Ughhhh...) But as I had no other option, I said okay. Well she called me about a week ago and said it's done! YAY!!!  So I went and picked it up. Today I cut the batting and back edge to size. (That was the nerve wracking part-- for me, at least!) Now I can sew the binding.  I had already mailed her a newborn size hat and booties. I wrote "Part One" on the package. This is "Part Two".  😊    I was dreading cutting the edges down. Besides cutting them, I had to sweep and mop the floor.  (I ended up doing the whole house-- Which I just did three days ago.) So you can see I "tried" to do this three days ago. But it didn't happen. 😝  Anyway, now that's done on to the next step...

A Couple Other Things I've Finished...

This is a hood I finished, it's Yarnspirations Cozy Crochet Ribbed Hood.  It was 16 degrees outside when I was wearing it. It's pretty warm. 

I don't know if the neck/cowl is meant to fold up like this, but I've seen other hoods with it like this so I did it. I haven't tried it outside, but I bet it's even warmer this way.

This is a "New Years" card I made yesterday. I just printed out the sentiment on card stock, cut it out. 

 I put the sentiment on puffy stickers so it would stand out. I also put black cardstock underneath it. I think it came out nice.

I Finished Some Things..

The Granny-Go-Round Sweater. I finished this on Christmas Eve. I had 800 ends to weave in. I got almost all (except one sleeve) done, and wore it. It is warm. But, I feel self conscious about the sleeves. They are more puffy than I like. But overall, I like it.

I actually finished this really old UFO...  I think he looks cuter in real life. 

 And, I forgot about this hat I crocheted for my sons' fiance for Christmas. It was a new pattern I'd seen, somewhere. Crochet Shell Stitch Basic Hat. I never have the yarn they are using in the pattern. (Sigh...) But I just used worsted weight in contrasting colors. I hope she likes it. I actually started one for me, too. But I can't get past the sc on the ribbing (it involves counting, that's why..) 😜  Hers is in navy blue and grey.  

Some of What I've Been Working On..

 This is my progress on the Granny Go Round Jumper. I'm actually further than this, I finished the neck edging and some of the sleeves. It's kind of ugly, but I like it. 😆 

And some Christmas slippers I crocheted.  I don't know what I had in mind for these, but now I have all these slippers & I don't know what to do with them...  

A little gnome I made. Supposed to be an ornament?  Instructions how to make these are here.

I don't know if I ever posted this..  The baby quilt that I started..  I haven't worked on it since the day I did all these.

An Iris folding Christmas tree card, and I made an envelope to go with it. I messed up the top left corner so I stuck a bow on it.

And, this is another hobby I started. (Sigh......) Beaded pens. You can find all kind of tutorials on You Tube for these, they are really easy.

                                                            A close up of the top bead.

I got started on Christmas baking. (Sigh..) I usually like to bake but this has me stressed out.

                                                   Another card I made for a tea swap.

If you are the praying type, please say a prayer for my Aunt. She is in the hospital with Covid and is not doing well. She is the sweetest most loving person you could find. She is 85 and we're all really worried.

I Started A New Crochet Project...

Sigh... But, a friend of mine had told me about a trending pattern on Instagram, and I looked it up. And I HAD to have it.  It's the Granny Go Round Jumper. 😍  I started one last night. I had gone through all my stash yarn, and figured out what DK or sport weight yarn I could use.  It was late, and I didn't find much. But I went back through it again this morning, and I did find a little more. 

 This is what I found....  (Sigh...)  I am not good with color combos. So wish me luck.  

Note to self: This is why I can't ever finish one thing.  

I Had To Rip A Seam..

I kept looking at the picture the other day, and I realized I sewed the four bottom rows on upside down. But it wasn't too bad of a fix, just one seam. Thank God. This quilt has been a lot of work.. (Still not as much work as the t-shirt quilt, though.)  And, I called someone to quilt it for me. She won't be able to finish it for 8-10 weeks.  Sigh....   I hurried and rushed to finish it and it still won't be done soon. Unless I can find someone else to do it.  I don't even know who to call. I found her number on a quilt group page I have been thinking about joining. I might try calling a quilt store nearby and see if they have any recommendations.
 

Anyway, I thought I should work on the other baby quilt I started for my son... (I started working on it again when my son and his wife were pregnant. They lost the baby,so I put it away for a long time.)  I worked on it here and there but not much. Then one day I thought, "I should just do a bunch at a time."  Strip sewing. I didn't actually strip sew these. But. I have gotten a lot farther in one day than I have in years, today!  Maybe I will actually finish this quilt before I even have a grandbaby. 😊

I Finished the Baby Quilt Top..

 But...  I realized I sewed the four bottom rows on wrong. Which I am ripping out right now.  I struggled with the layout of this so much. I originally was going to do an Around the World quilt. But, I totally did the squares wrong. I should have done a grey with a white. Not grey/grey, white/white...  I get things all backwards and upside down in my head sometimes. So, I watched you tube videos of half square triangle quilt lay outs, and finally decided I would do a Chevron layout. Which worked with the squares I have. The baby is due two days from today. 😳   I didn't know I was going to be packing and moving across country, AGAIN. Or that my Dad would pass away. So, I think this is pretty good timing, considering. I mailed the baby hat and booties (first pic), and they should have gotten them yesterday.  I just need to find a long armer around here.  

Gnomes

Well I have gone a little crazy with gnomes lately...  I made a few Halloween gnome cards for pen pals.. This first one didn't turn out the greatest.  I call them "Cookie Cutter Gnomes".

                                                               This one was cute.

And this one. I just printed out the sentiments on cardstock with wordpad and print and cut them out.

                                                               This one I sent in a letter.

                                                          And a Thanksgiving Gnome..

                           And today I made some Christmas gnomes. Not sure what these will become yet.

                                                           This one has a sparkly beard.

I didn't have any special tools (and I don't want to waste money getting any.) These were my "tools". Cookie cutters (hence the name Cookie Cutter Gnomes), a circle punch for the nose and I freestyle drew the beard. I had to cut the gingerbread mans legs to fit behind the beard. So it kind of looks like an upside down heart.  

                      For the hat, I used a big circle punch to round the hat so it's more slouchy.

                                                   Cut a little below the line and even it up.

                      This was a Halloween notepad I made from a YouTube video tutorial.

                                                Using one of these from the dollar store.

                                            This is a Halloween Witch gnome I crocheted.  

And a Gnome Luminary I just finished last night. I have another one of these in the works. 

It's supposed to have a mason jar inside, but I used a jar of salsa to take the picture. 😛