Project Updates

I've been working on a few projects in my typical erratic fashion. I'll spend a couple of hours hand sewing, a few hours knitting here and there on various projects, and every couple of weeks, I manage some machine sewing. I've done some more work on my AAQ project. In the closeup you can see that I've added tiny French knots and beads over some dots in the hankie fabric. I've also duplicate stitched some petals in green cotton.

The lace in this piece was a gift from Allie Aller. I'm glad to have found a very special use for it. After I embellish the lace, I think this piece will be done. I think I'm going to bind it with ribbon. I haven't done this before, so I'll have to play with it a bit.

I've made a big stack of pillowcases for Operation Pillowcase. These didn't all fit into one box, so I'll be sending another box in the near future. If you'd like to add even one or two pillowcases to the next package, let me know. Operation Pillowcase has now sent over 1100 pillowcases to service members in Afghanistan. It's amazing what dedicated sewers have accomplished.


I treated myself to a copy of Martha Stewart's new craft and sewing book. It's a great book with plenty of projects: baby items, linens, toys, and it has an extensive section of basic instructions of various techniques for new crafters.

Of course the photography is clean and beautiful, and the projects have a contemporary feel.


Aren't these cute potholders?

We're still getting plenty of rain here, but the sunny days in between have been delightful. I hope you are enjoying these Spring days.

Some Shawls and More Mail

I like to keep a shawl on the needles as one of my 3-4 knitting projects in progress. I like a plain shawl I can knit without paying too much attention. I can knit one of these while reading, or when in a dark movie theatre. I don't get to too many movies, but just in case I get the chance to go to one, I've got a shawl to knit.

The pattern for the top shawl is Eye of Partridge Shawl by aemmeleia and I knit it in some Kroy sock yarn in the Burnished Sierra Stripes colorway. The stitch pattern shows off the yarn nicely, though the shape is a deep V and not very wide. I guess it's more of a neckerchief than a shawl.

I buy sock yarn in colors I like, though I don't actually knit many socks. I think the last pair I knit took me two years to finish, but sock yarn makes very pretty shawls.

This shawlette is knit from the pattern 22.5 Degrees by Martina Behm. The pattern is here on her website. Though the site is in German, you can see the link to the pattern in English is marked at the bottom of the pattern post. This is a great pattern. I knit it with two strands of a Deborah Norville sock yarn in the Thyme colorway, and I knit the edging with an odd ball of wool and silk blend yarn. Martina has an indispensable link in the pattern to her YouTube video tutorial for making the edging.

I actually made another one of these for my mom in a teal worsted weight yarn, but I mailed it off before I thought to take a photo. Shawlettes are perfect for keeping your neck warm under your jacket, or while you're at home, and they only take one or two balls of yarn to make.

I got more great mail. I won a give-away on Floribunda's blog, and I got this nice batch of gifts. The book has some good ideas: one I liked was personalizing buttons for your projects by painting them with nail polish. Thanks Julie!

I also got a batch of pillowcases and some playing cards from Magpie Sue for Operation Pillowcase. These will be going into the mail as soon as I sew up the pile of pillowcases I'm making to send. Thanks Sue!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you had a relaxing and creative day. I'm knitting my colorwork vest, and watching the Yankees vs. the Red Sox game on TV. The beginning of baseball season means lots of knitting opportunities in the months to come.