One more round

I didn’t get as much done as I wanted to this week, the weather was too nice, I went for a walk every day the sun was shining, the wind was calm and the temps kept climbing 50+F.  Going for a walk was a necessity! The indoor activities could wait for a chilly day.  I still did a little sewing.  I rearranged a few blocks and decided to add one more round. Looking at my stack of extras I thought the border would be dominated by golds and brown but the dark diagonals asked for a continuation of similar colors. So I scattered the extras around then sewed more blues and reds to finish. I almost turned the sewing and pressing into an aerobic exercise sew a couple squares jump up and press then stretch to put them in place, step back and repeat for 30-40 more little squares. The iron never had a chance to cool off.  Now I can sew the rows. Enjoying the weather and the winter —Ann—

Design wall Monday

 

Finally something on the design wall. I started this last September and then life happens lots of trips to see the little girls and they really are only little for a little while. Whereas the stash of fabrics stays the same until I take the ruler and blade to it then the sewing machine and iron. Hope your week ahead is productive. I have ambitious ideas…..we will see how the week progresses. —Ann—

Happy Feet

 

I have knit so many pairs of socks they are fool proof. I can’t remember the last time I ripped a pair of socks…….happy feet.  Sweaters on the other hand I knit and rip and knit again. Hopefully I got it right the second time. I knit the swatch on 3 sizes of needles to get the right gauge but also to feel the difference in the fabric I just created, smaller needles make a firm dense fabric, larger needles a softer drapier fabric. Then I look for a pattern to match the fabric that I like best and not finding one I’m making adjustments. My first attempt fit like a potato sack so start over a size smaller and be consistent with the tension of the yarn.  I started with a 15 stitch gauge (15 stitches over 4 inches of knitting) then I got loosey goosey and was knitting a 12 stitch gauge under the arms. It makes a difference if you are pushing the stitch off the needle or gently pulling it off the left hand needle. Now I have a consistent 14 gauge on # 9 needles.  I also did a lot of math,  # of stitches of circumference of body of sweater (under arms) divide by stitch gauge x 4 inches =  inches of circumference of sweater. The pattern added 10 stitches under each arm to join the front to the back, 20 stitches was like adding 5 to 8 inches to the circumference I cut that down to 4 stitches under each arm. Fingers crossed I’m getting it right. It’s cold here below zero it’s a good day to curl up and knit.  —Ann—

Mindless knitting

 After knitting and finishing the elephant and giraffe and not getting my yarn from Ireland into the go bag which might not have fit in the car…….i needed some mindless knitting socks of course. Socks for the little girls the pastel are too big for this year but next year. So I knit a smaller pair. One little girl thinks hand knit socks are itchy.  The blue and yellow are for me. Happy New Year. Ann

 

 

Reading list #5

Disclaimer the watercolor was done with an app from a photo.  Its so much easier.

1. The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini most recent of the Elm Creek Quilt series. It’s been a long time since I read the series but all the characters came back to me.  Summer is working on her master’s degree and having a hard time writing her thesis so she returns to Elm Creek quilts looking for inspiration and becomes curator of a quilt exhibit at the historic Union Hall currently under restoration. Fun to read.
2. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods book dealers, grad student researching a missing manuscript, young woman escaping an abusive husband, retired actress who lives next to where the bookshop should be……a bit of a mystery and a bit of fantasy. Just for fun and a break from reality.
3. The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray for book club I read this book early in 2023 it was as good the second time.
4. Little Souls by Sandra Dallas takes place in Colorado during Spanish flu. Good story.
5. The Magdalen Girls by V. S. Alexander sad depressing story takes place in Ireland in 1960’s about girls who end up at church run laundry service because of teenage hormones or someone lied.
6. Lilac Ink by Jean Grainger re read first book of the Knocknashee series 
7. Yesterday’s Paper by Jean Grainger book 2 of series more correspondence between Grace and Richard and a trip to America for Grace and a trip to Europe as a journalist for Richard. The story takes place during WW2. The story was very good but the ending was huh?? Have to wait for the third book in January.
8. The President’s Wife by Tracey Emerson Wood historically novel about Edith Wilson, second wife of President Woodrow Wilson very good.
9. The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan just for fun a short book about a woman in London looking for a book from her great aunt’s childhood. 
10. The Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg a fun book to reread at Christmas time. A man with numerous health problems moves to the south from Chicago. He doesn’t think he has long to live but fresh air, real food at regular times, physical activity and new friends improves his health. I don’t want to spoil the story……feel good book.
11. The Answer is No by Fredrick Backman short story I will read this book again and again.

How many books do I have on my kindle for 2025?  I think it’s going to be a year of escaping reality into books…….. Ann

BELIEVE

 BELIEVE for unto us a child is born....................

Merry Christmas

Ann

yarn for the go bag

Freshly wound yarn for the go bag for the next week.   I have been knitting like a mad woman to finish  dolls clothes for Christmas and two sweaters for nieces.  One was done and I gave it to her Thanksgiving time.  I just finished the other and can now start something for me!!  My yarn from Ireland. I told my nieces, the two who went to Ireland with us that if they bought the yarn I would knit them each a sweater but they missed the upstairs floor in the one shop that had the packages of yarn in every color.  The other tourist shops had odd bits of yarn and never enough of the color they wanted.  They are both at the age of enjoying the power surges so an Aran weight sweater would be peeled of at regular intervals. The offer was still on when we returned so I suggested Berocco remix light for a nice 3 season sweater they both chose yellow just like mine.  My fingers are just itching to get started but I need to finish one more little dance wrap.  --Ann--