Simplicity 2866

I made this a couple of weeks ago and yes, I am just now getting around to showing you. It's finally warm enough to take pictures outside comfortably. For me. I'm a wimp. 

 I got the fabric at Joann's back in October. Kinda forgot about it until one Saturday morning when I woke up and decided I needed a new dress.

 I really like the embroidered flowers.

 The pattern was super simple. I did change the front to have tucks instead of pleats... 

 I'm not sure it's the best style for me but it's easy to wear and I just needed something new. 

I Knitted My Bit

Knitting has always intrigued and yet eluded me. I've tried hard to understand it but until my sister came and showed me I just wasn't getting it. Poor Sherie, I don't know how many times she asked if I was really sure I wanted to knit. I got to between round 9 - 13 six times and tore it out. I know I will never be a knitter but at least I know can say I have knitted. 

This yarn is gorgeous. Thank you Mary for giving me such loveliness. I've been saving it for something special. The pattern is called Candle Flame Cowl from here. 

 My real goal is to be able to make wash cloths. This pattern is from Purl Bee . Sherie has made a couple of these for me and I want more. I keep thinking I should be able to make them myself instead of bugging her. The knitting needles below were made by a friend. Yes Joan, I still love purple! 

Gratuitous grandchild shot. I love this boy.

Hexagon progress

A lot are a gift from Kelly. Some are from projects recently completed. 

This is what a hundred look like?

A swap from isisjem22. So I am + about 150 this week.

Newest reason not to do other things. Trying needlefelting again. Not sure what it will be.

My New BFF

Has anyone ever used this before? If so, why didn't you tell me?

I was reading somewhere (no, can't remember where, sorry) about someone taping their zippers down before they sew them to hold them in place and how much better it was than pinning. Then I forgot about it. I don't try a lot of new ( to me ) products because I forget to look and see if we have it at work and then I get home and then I am tired and the next day it starts again. K, really, it's because the new stuff I buy most is fabric. BUT, not anymore. I will never ever be without this again. We had it, it's on the wall I walk past no less than 20 times a day and I never saw it! I haven't tried it on a zipper installation yet but let me tell you, on teeny tiny baby clothes where you need a sharp 1/4 inch turn under and you're trying to go around a sleeve that's ridiculously small, it's amazing. It saves time. I didn't have to poke my poor fingers with pins.

Wonder tape, I love you.

Ridiculously small baby outfit. Simplicity 3852. Cannot for the life of me remember the fabric and there is no identifier on the selvedge. Size 6 months.

I think it's cute, what do you think Jessica?

Next up, crazy booties! Made from the free bitty booties pattern by Heather Bailey. My first try at needle felting. You can see I let my imagination run wild....

What can I say? It makes me happy!

Is it just me, or is this cute?

You know who and I went to the second hand store downtown yesterday. I found this box of old buttons (but-tons). It was fortuitous to say the least, saved me having to drag the afore mentioned you know who to a fabric store. In the box were the exact things I was looking for, in the exact amount I needed. I started this project Friday night. I had everything I needed except, out of the hundreds of buttons I have, none fit.

This pattern is from Favorite Things it is their Uptown Coat pattern. The pattern is a simple one. You should probably have a few clothing projects completed before trying it though. There are some things they leave out.

So, as I said, I had the fabric in my stash. The lining is a cotton that we had at the shop, Middleburg by Jenny Beyer. The outer fabric is a wool-blend, it's older than most of my kids. It started it's life grey and I dyed it purple. I never made the project it was intended for. I have plenty left over.....

You know who kindly photographed me in the coat. I told him these pictures make it look like he almost knows what he's doing.

He said that sounded like a compliment.

I said it almost was.

So glad he loves me.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Buh-bye!

Felting 1st attempt

My title could also be,

This is all Sherie's and Joan's fault.

Or,

Why, why, why don't I take before pictures????

Oh I know! Because I finished the crocheting at 9:30 last night and started the felting.

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So it started out like this. A chunky wool, a bit more pastel than I like but it's pretty. I made the entire form of the purse. My measurements were about 18 by 11 for the body of the purse. The handles were almost 10 inches above the purse.
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I started trying to felt it in the sink since I don't have a top load washer. It was going to take forever so I just threw it in my machine, on hot and hoped for the best. I think it finished at about 3 in the morning..... When I woke up this morning I found this!!!! Well, I did have to attach the button. It now measures about 12 X 6, the handles are about 6 inches above the purse. I have got them rolled in just like I was hoping would happen!

It was kinda scary not being able to see the felting process. I couldn't choose to stop it any sooner. But all in all it was fun. I wonder if I can do it again and get nearly the same results.