Keepin' busy

Last week was busy with routine doctor visits, car maintenance, shopping, and crafting. With all of the activity, I simply forgot to blog. Yesterday, I decided to take some pictures of what I've been doing.

I purchased some inexpensive plastic wast baskets to sort project that I'm cranking out on my Addi circular knitting machine. One is for gnome bodies, one for gnome hats, and one for twisted headbands/ear warmers. Yes, I am trying to organize my crafts!

Inspired by daughter Joanne, I went Christmas shopping at Cracker Barrel after my car maintenance appointment. We're not decorating for Christmas yet, but there's no reason why I can't get a little shopping in!

I worked on Renulek's Snow Doily while watching the Bears game yesterday. I've been neglecting it for the past few weeks. It felt good to make progress on it yesterday!

Mom and I went yarn shopping on Saturday. We found these baskets on clearance at JoAnn, and Mom was inspired by some beautiful yarns. She'll be busy cranking out more throws in no time!

A former student was visiting at school last week, and I admired the sweater she had made. She sent me the link to the Harvest Cardigan pattern. I purchased it right away, ordered the yarn, and started it on Friday. It's crocheted in panels. This should keep me busy for a while!

I'm making good progress on this Ruddock scarf for my 7th grade girls. I have one more to knit once this one is finished.

I finished the Double Crochet panel for my Mix & Match afghan. Yes, I have started another panel!

While straightening up my craft corner, I found a gnome I hadn't finished. I added the bell to his hat, gave him a beard, and he is now in my basket of gnomes waiting for a new home.

I'm having a little bit of fun!

Sunday knitting

 

I wanted to finish another scarf for my 7th grade girls so that I could start the next one. So, while watching the Chicago Bears win yesterday, I knit! Yes, I did start the next scarf, which I hope to finish this week. Cooler weather should be coming soon, and I'd like these five girls to get the maximum use out of their scarves.

This morning I finished Traditional Clovers from Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti. I meant to have one less pattern repeat, but I didn't realize I had counted incorrectly until I finished the last clover leaf. So, the end peeks out of the sleeve. I think it will be okay. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #644 Boysenberry Dk.

My plan is to alternate tatting a Curds & Whey bookmark with one from Robin's book. I don't want to lose my momentum of following the patterns in the book, but I also want to finish tatting bookmarks four our local Daisy troop. I also have three knitting projects and a crochet project going. I need more hours in the day!

Rrrrrip!

 

I was about 3/4 of the way finished with this scarf for one of my 7th grade girls, when I decided to rip out my work. Oh, I noticed that I had made a mistake way back near the beginning. I thought no one would notice... no one but me! I just couldn't take looking at the mistake, so I ripped out about 2/3 of my work.

I had several non-knitters at school say that a 7th grader would never notice. That could be true. However, I'm hoping to encourage these girls to take up some sort of handwork... knitting, crocheting, tatting, weaving, embroidery. If I'm to make something that looks hand-crafted and beautiful, I need to put my best foot forward. I have no regrets when it comes to taking out mistakes. I want to set a good example!

Finishing projects

 

This was a great week for finishing projects. I started this beanie months ago. It sat in a basket by my chair pretty much neglected. The color is unsparing, and it just wasn't a joy to use. Still, I was determined to finish it, and now that it's done I think it looks pretty good.

I finished the second scarf for my 7th grade girls. Yes, I have started the third one.

I had enough of the uninspiring grey yarn left for another beanie. I decided to crochet this one. I still don't like the yarn, but I've used it up! I'm sure someone will like this color, but it sure looks blah to me.

Renulek's Snow Doily is coming along nicely. I just love the way this round is worked!

Slowly, slowly, slowly

Tonight was the first night for the middle school kids to practice in their costumes for their November  6, 7, 8 performance of Bugsy Malone. There was so much excitement! I was on hand with my safety pins to help with costume adjustments. One costume will need a few stitches to hold everything in place, so I will show up with needle and thread tomorrow night. Otherwise, it looks like it's all good to go!

I didn't do much tatting this weekend. I wanted to give my wrist a rest.

At least I've managed seven pattern repeats so far!

Despite my determination to stop collecting shuttles, the addiction continues! I found these really cool shuttles on Facebook. Australian jeweler Greg Mann makes them out of knife blades. I haven't tested it out yet, but it looks like it will hold a ton of thread!

This weekend I finished knitting my pink scarf, Ruddock from Sequence Knitting. I love the way it turned out!

I also finished weaving the beige and pink scarf that was on my loom. It's very light weight. I wish I had made it just a little longer, but it's still a nice length.

I'm too tired to tat any more tonight, but tomorrow is another day!

Not quite there...

My goal was to finish round 15 of my Jan Stawasz Masterpiece this weekend.

I underestimated how long it would take me to tat around each motif. Still, I only have two sections left on this round!

I also worked on the second round of the Heart Doily from Land of Laces.

I'm amazed at how much I can accomplish in one day, especially when I have very few distractions! I did take time out to go grocery shopping, but otherwise I timed my goals according to t.v. shows I had recorded. I haven't worked on my Ruddock scarf as much as I'd planned. Still, I am making progress!

I finished weaving my shades of pink scarf today. The fringe is ready to be trimmed on one end, but I still have to fringe the other end. The threads and yarn on top of the scarf are all of the fibers I used for this scarf.

I started another scarf today, this one in Wool-Ease. The subs of color are leftover yarn from a scarf I made last year.

The twins are one month old today! Jan weighed in at 9 lbs. 9 oz last Friday. Karolina now weights 7 lbs. 4 oz.

Sophia seems to be enjoying her role as big sister!

So, that's how I spent my extra day off. All in all, it was a terrific day!