End of the school year

The school year is winding down, and I am always amazed at how much there is to be done as we approach the last day, May 29.

My sister, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter came down this weekend and we went plant shopping with Mom and daughter Carol. It was a fun filled day, but all the activity wore me out.

My sister requested a doily and chose Anastasia from Bonded with Tatting by Laura Bziukiewicz. Janet requested black, but I wasn't sure about an all black doily. I tatted the first three rounds in both black and white to see which Janet preferred. She liked them both! She liked these two pieces as they are, so she took them home with her. She plans on framing them. After I finish Renulek's Spring Doily 2025, I will tat the full doily in both black and white for Janet. The shuttle is from Grizzly Mountain Arts. 

As for my progress with Renulek's Spring Doily 2025, let's just say it's been very slow tatting. I'm not having any trouble at all with this round. I just haven't spent much time tatting for the past few weeks. Still, my goal is to finish by the end of the month, which I think I can do. Have you been setting tatting goals for yourself?

Full day of tatting

Today was almost a normal day! Mom and I went to get our hair cut this morning, and it sure feels good to look neat and tidy again.

Mom and I have been watching Endeavor on Amazon Prime and while we watched today, I tatted. It seems like forever since I've finished a tatting project!

This is one of my favorite tatted cross patterns, Christina from Tatted Bookmarks: cross-shaped  by Lene Bjorn. I didn't go looking for my King Tut thread today. Instead, I used the ball of size 40 Lizbeth sitting on the table by my chair. The color is #677, Lime Green Med. The shuttle is from Veronica of TattingShuttles on Etsy, and the crochet hook is one of my go-to tools from Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts.

It sure felt good to be alert enough to follow a tatting pattern today!

Time flies

I subbed again today, and I only managed to tat one Doodle Ice Drop in size 20 Lizbeth #709, River Blue Dark. I love my new Doodle Art shuttle!

Another slow day

Today was another slow crafting day because of subbing. I don't mind. I think a change of pace is important.

Part of knitting these scrubbies is trying to find techniques that make my work look neater, especially with starting, ending, and hiding ends. I've been watching lots of YouTube videos, hoping to find tips that truly work. If you look at the bottom left, there is an unsightly bump. I'm not sure what I did there. I do like the Broken Rib Pattern. I may make a larger version for a kitchen dishcloth.

Today's Doodle Ice Drop is in size 20 Lizbeth #704, Sky Blue Medium. The personalized shuttle is from Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts.

It's been a long week, and I'm looking forward to a restful weekend!

This and that

I subbed today, but I managed to do a little of this and a little of that.

Of course I had to tat a Doodle Ice Drop! This one's in size 20 Lizbeth #706, Sunkist Coral. The shuttle is by Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts.

I took my knitting along with me, just in case I had a little time. I knit four or five rounds while talking with 6th graders. I think this cowl will be finished soon!

I only managed to knit one scrubby today. This one is Sand Stitch. Once again, I messed up the last row of the pattern, but I keep telling myself that this is just a scrubby!

I also managed to knit a few rows on my Sanditon shawl. I've been so much more careful this time, and I have only had one spot where I had to take out three or four stitches to fix my mistake. I don't want to jinx myself, so I'm knitting this one slowly!

Knitting and tatting

I finished my Sanditon MKAL last night and blocked it this morning. I'm very pleased with it, and I think I may knit another.

One of the ladies in the knit-along asked where knitters could find other knit-alongs. It turns out there's a page on Ravelry called MKAL Fanatics. Of course I had to browse! I found a link to Liz Chandler's Heart Face Scrubby. I had seen this earlier in the month, but I was too involved in other projects to check it out. This was a fast and easy knit, and I got to thinking that this would be a great way to sample knitting stitches.

I bought this book years ago, thinking it would be great to work my through it.

I started with January 1, and my knitting looked nothing like the picture.

I Googled the pattern name and found a YouTube video tutorial. The pattern was pretty straightforward, but once again my knitting did not match the picture.

I decided not to spend any more time with trying to figure out what the pattern was and moved on to January 2. It's hard to see with the variegated yarn, but once again my knitting did not resemble the photo.

Moving on the January 3, I felt like I was close to knitting something similar to the picture, but it's still not quite right.

I decided to do some research on the book and found that the edition I have does not have errata online. I've emailed the publisher to see if I can get corrections, but I believe the book is out of print, so I don't have great expectations. I have other pattern books, so I guess I'll move on to them.

Dave and I went wine tasting yesterday, and I managed to tat a Doodle Ice Drop in the car. It's in size 20 Lizbeth #694, Harvest Orange Med. The shuttle is a Doodle Art shuttle from Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts.

After finishing my knitting experiments today, I tatted another Doodle Ice Drop in size 20 Lizbeth #695, Bright Orange. Yes, that is another beautiful Doodle Art shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts!

Friday fun

Since I'm all caught up on my knitting projects, I decided to spend some time on my Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler. I've really enjoyed getting back in to stitching, and I've also had fun looking at what's new in the stitching world. Much is the same, but there's so much more available than when I spent all my free time stitching 30 years ago!

Today was another two Ice Drop day. I used my newest Doodle Art tatting shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts for this Doodle Ice Drop. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #658, Ocean Turquoise Lt.

This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #660, Country Turquoise Lt. The shuttle is one I purchased on eBay years ago.

It's a lovely little bobbin shuttle. It's a little on the loose side, but I found that the plastic has enough give that I could hold the bobbin in place while tatting.

I'm thinking of finding new homes for some of my shuttles. I enjoy collecting them, but I'm running out of places to keep them, and I really think all shuttles should be enjoyed. I'm not sure how I'll go about it, and I have no idea how to price any of them. I haven't kept records of how much I've paid for any of them, and I'm not sure I want to go to all the trouble of listing them on eBay or opening an Etsy shop. What a conundrum!

Finishes

I can't tell you how happy I am that Blogger and Safari are working well together again. After months of tinkering around and trying to figure out what I accidentally clicked, everything is magically working again. What a relief!

Before school yesterday, I managed to complete Clue 4 of the Sanditon MKAL. I did have a little trouble with the last eyelet row. I dropped stitches twice, but I realized it right away and was able to get them back in place before they became too much of a problem. This is the end of the main color, the light blue, and as you can see, I have plenty of yarn left. I'm glad I switched from the recommended size 4 needles to the size 2. I'm pretty sure I would have run out of yarn!

Yesterday was another two blue Ice Drops day. I love this shade of blue, size 20 Lizbeth #656 Wedgewood Dk.

This one is size 20 Lizbeth #657 Ocean Turquoise Dk. I do love both blues, but when they're side by side, the Wedgewood Dk is my favorite. The shuttle is my newest one from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. I believe the art work was done by Rita's college friend. It's beautiful!

I didn't post yesterday, because it took me until 9 p.m. to finish grafting the two ends of daughter Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl. I love the textured side!

The striped side is pretty, but I know that I goofed on that center stripe. It's one row larger than the other stripes. Luckily, it's in the center and looks like a design element! I'll block it this morning, and then it will be ready to mail off to Joanne. I hope the weather stays cold in Minnesota so that she has a chance to wear it this year!

Two more in blue

I had time to tat two Doodle Ice Drops today, both in blue. The first one is in size 20 Lizbeth #651, Blue Med. I'm still using handi-wind shuttles from Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts!

My second Doodle Ice Drop for today is in size 20 Lizbeth #653, Antique Blue Med. There doesn't seem to be much difference looking at the pictures, but in person they are quite a bit different!

A little bit of blue

I did not sub today, so I had a little more time for crafting. I love this Ice Drop in size 20 Lizbeth #649, Baby Blue. When I was a toddler, my Grandpa Green made a toy chest for me. The top and the skirting were red, and the panels were white with decals of children. When I was in high school, my dad lined it with cedar and painted the top and the skirting baby blue at my request. Daughter Joanne decorated my cedar chest with nail polish when she was little. When we moved into our house, Dave repainted the little cedar chest forest green and white. I do love my little cedar chest!

I spent a good deal of time today working on my Sanditon MKAL. I've now finished two repeats of the eight row pattern for this week. I only have eight rows to go!

Flu season

The flu is running rampant in our little town. Soon after getting off the phone with Mom this morning, I was called in to sub for a teacher who started feeling sick after she arrived at school. She only has 16 students in her class, and three of them are out sick. Thankfully, parents have been keeping their sick children home. I'm happy that I was able to help out, and I sure hope the teacher recovers quickly.

It's no surprise that I had very little time for crafting, but I did manage to finish a Doodle Ice Drop. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #646, Purple Iris Light. Did you notice that I used a handi-wind shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts? ;-)

Super Bowl Sunday

Yes, Dave and I are watching the Super Bowl. No, we don't really care who wins. We're just enjoying watching a good football game!

I started and ended the day with an Ice Drop. This Doodle Ice Drop is in size 20 Lizbeth #645, Grape Dk. The handi-wind shuttle is by Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts.

My other Doodle Ice Drop of the day is in size 20 Lizbeth #644, Boysenberry Dk, and I used another handi-wind shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts.

Mom decided to join the Sanditon MKAL. She joined us a week into the knit-along, but she's making good progress. Mom has now finished the first two clues in this beautiful red, her favorite color. Mom chose to work in one color, using yarn from her stash. I think she made a great choice!

I started on Clue 4 today. This week we have an eight row pattern repeat to knit three times. I've managed to finish the first eight rows. As the shawl grows larger, it will be a challenge to complete this week's clue on time.

I spent a little more time working on my Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler. I still have quite a way to go to finish the January section. I guess I shouldn't have set it aside for so long!

Saturday stitching

Today was the release of Part 2 of the 2020 Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler. I haven't worked on mine in a few weeks, so I figured I should spend some time with it. I have a long way to go to finish Part 1. I'm using 18 count Aida and 12 wt. Sulky Blendables #4084. It's been a long, long time since I've done any cross stitch, and it's taking me a while to get back in a stitching rhythm.

I've managed to tat two Doodle Ice Drops today. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #641, Dk Lilac. The shuttle is one of Dave Stanbrough's Doodle Art shuttles.

I didn't notice that I was tatting with size 40 at first. I just thought the thread felt finer. This is Lizbeth #642, Lilac Med. The shuttle is another Doodle Art shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts. Sometimes mistakes work out!

End of January

With it being the last day in January, I felt the urge to tat as many Ice Drops as possible. I was able to that three!

I love this green, size 20 Lizbeth #638 Christmas Green. It's such a beautiful shade, and it goes really well with my handi-wind shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts!

This lovely purple is size 20 Lizbeth #633 Purple Dk. The handi-wind shuttle is another beauty from Grizzly Mountain Arts.

I finished the day with size 20 Lizbeth #640 Antique Violet Med. I love this dusky color! Yes, that is a third handi-wind shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts.

I've been hanging my Ice Drops on this little faux feather tree that I keep out year round. I love this little tree!

I really had no idea how many Ice Drops I tatted in January until I laid them all out. There are 35, which means I exceeded my goal of tatting one per day. We'll see if I'm able to stick to that goal.

I've emptied the tree and stored the finished Ice Drops in a box. It will be fun to see how full the box gets by the end of the year!

Clue 3

I was thrilled to finish an eyelet row with no mistakes last night! So, feeling confident in my knitting abilities, I finished Clue 3 of the Sanditon MKAL today. Whew! The next clue will be available on Sunday.

Even though I had two shuttles wound for Ice Drops today, I only found time to tat one. One is good! Today I used size 20 Lizbeth #630, Peach Lt. The handi-wind shuttle is another beauty from Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts.

I think I may start on reorganizing my sewing room this weekend. I may even be brave enough to show before and after pictures!

Feeling accomplished!

I find that if I wind my shuttles before going to bed, I accomplish much more the next day. I love this shade of pink. It's size 20 Lizbeth #621, Dusty Rose Lt. I have quite a few handy-wind shuttles from Grizzly Mountain Arts. With so many shuttles in my collection, it's easy to forget which ones I enjoy using, and I do love my handi-wind shuttles!

This Doodle Ice Drop is in size 20 Lizbeth #628, Salmon Med. I feel so accomplished when I manage to tat more than one Ice Drop in a day!

I had another good knitting day with my Sanditon MKAL. I've now completed twenty rows, with only six more to go for this week's clue!