Hug in a Rug* x 2

My finished QuiltsforKids quilts.  

(*old English word for quilt)

Mondays Set the Pace

 I got the new yarn on the needles and managed a few rows!  It is a very satisfying knit this entrelac!  I am using slightly larger needles, 8's, because this yarn is worsted not dk weight.  I cast on the same number of stitches, 100, and it still takes an hour to go across a row-this is not a quick project but sure is a good knit!

 Dad is puttering in his gardening space.  This area doesn't get any rain-it has an extended eave that blocks rainfall so he has worked out a solution for now and then to pass the plants on to me to babysit until they are down her again!  It is a very welcoming sight now!

Mom and I whipped off two more quilts.  I need to get some more frame quilting time in the schedule!

Celebration

 Today is my Dad's 80th birthday.  After church, we drove to our favorite restaurant for lunch and my sons and family's met us there for a celebration!

 The four generations of men......

 Our sons and grand children!  (Who fussed just enough to get held a lot and then fell asleep so we could talk!)

 The dynasty of blessings.........four generations here!

The tradition of a family picture on the dock at Corky Bells!

Saturday's Satisfactions

 First, I finished the Tutti Fruiti socks-they are definitely a smile on your feet!

 I quilted Mom's QuiltforKids......

I used a sunburst pantograph in gold.

 I pieced the block portion of my second quilt and we will get together to sew on the borders in a few days.

 Then I loaded my first quilt on the frame so I can quilt that in time to sew on the binding on our next sewing day!  I am good about getting my homework done on time .

 I also finished my bag of mending for a friend.  I make fast work of the odd assortment she collects for me.  I find it a good challenge to fix things-purse handles, to holes in clothes or toys that
need a stitch or patch.  How do you feel about mending?  Do you let it pile up or get right at it?

I also made a purse organizer for a friend's daughter who fell in love with her mom's!

 I ended my day with a batch of lemon juice for the freezer ( I put it in baggies measured for a 2 quart pitcher of lemonade.)

And some lemonade!  Now for my recliner and some entrelac knitting!

'Wait,' you say.   'You are retired, every day is like a Saturday to you!'   Well, it is definitely a mental jump of creativity on a Saturday when I can be home and spend it in the sewing room.  Give it a try!

Threads and Metal

 I cast on a new pair of socks yesterday, as you can see it is moving along quickly when there is just straight knitting!

 Over to Mom's today, we finished our tops for the QuiltsforKids.

And we each cut out and started another top for our second quilts for them.  These fabrics are all stash busting so that is a bonus.  Now I have some work lined up for the quilting frame........

Bill and Dad emptied the old shed by the empty trailer behind their place (yes, it is ours, too!) and took the metal appliances to the scrap metal center in town.  I like getting to clean out and getting paid for it, too!

Cloaked

I just squeaked the January fiber entry in on time;  Gotland fiber. It was a first time spin for me on this particular wool.  I  combed and then spun it woolen method.  While it looks wiry, it is very soft for such an old breed (New Zealand) and since it was the fiber used to make the cloaks in the Lord of the Rings, it had an additional interest to me!  It is a very soft medium wool.

Babies and Stitches

 We had a nice weekend with a visit from Caleb, Cassandra and Ella.  Great Grandpa got to walk and show her the world-she looks like she was more interested in him than the scenery!

Great Grandma exercised her rocking skills when needed!

 I did a bit of knitting and finished the lacey socks!

 For the last few days, I have been staying with Ashley and Will while Matthew has an out of town trip for work-the pic is blurry because he was rocking when I tried to take the pic!  He likes motion, all the time!  We took a long walk and he slept through most of that, too!

I have a new yarn purchase-can you see the new entrelac blanket for Aria?!  I can.

The First Annual Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day

Today really is the first Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day and so Mom and I went to the newly opened LaRue's Quilt Kottage in Crescent City.    After running a few other errands in town, we shared lunch back at Mom's house.  Then it was time to go to our sewing circle where we are making sleeping bags for the homeless.  It is a nice group of ladies and wonderful to share the afternoon with my mom.

 This is the double knitting head band that I finished!

 This is side one,

 and this is side two.  They are knit simultaneously without any slipped stitches.  A fascinating but thoughtful knitting technique.

 I cast on the first wrist warmer and that was a much quicker project

-on to number two tonight!

Sewing Room Warmth

 I decided to stay inside and accomplish some sewing while it is a bit chilly outside today!
I used the pretzel m & m's for incentive to get the quilting finished.......

 I sewed a bunch of pockets to the inside so that I can carry all my tools more easily over to Mom's on sewing days.

 Voila!   Tote for my tools!  All supplies from the stash........just love that kind of project!

 I also made these nursing capes; one for Ashley.........

and one for Cassandra!  Also stash supplies.

I printed out enough photos to fill my new Grandma Gallery frame!  I have it right next to my knitting spot so I can enjoy a glimpse whenever I need one!

Closing out the night with a good knit on the double-knitting headband.  The chocolate at the end of every row is working good for me!  I am finally hitting my groove  on this project, I have even figured out how to correct a goof on the row below.  I am enjoying this!

Tourists

Saturday we went to the annual Crappie (perch) Festival in Crescent City.  It is always fun to walk around the booths for 'deals' and for fresh veggies.  We got adventuresome after our tour of the main square and went to a new Bistro.  

We sat outside in the sunshine and had a great lunch.  

The walk down to Crescent Lake put a nice finishing touch on our day!

I have completed one sock in the Snowflower pattern from the latest issue of Interweave Knits.  I saved the pattern for the leg only and it worked out perfectly.  I learned a new cable stitch since I have never cabled with two cable needles but it was easy after the first few awkward attempts!

Knitting and Sewing

 Today, Mom and I took an online class for two-colored double knitting.  It felt good to stretch our knitting muscles and we had a lot of laughs along the way!  The first good laugh when we realized the computer didn't have speakers and we had to try to lip read the class!  Once we wiped the tears away, I had the bright idea of listening to the class from my Kindle while we watched on the bigger screen-it took just  a bit of coordination to get the two devices in sync!  Just how it goes for us!

After a few false starts and several outright mistakes.......the lightbulb went on and we managed to knit our learning swatches! 

  Both of us finished out little squares tonight as homework.   This is one side of my work;

  and this is the other.  The next project will be a headband/ear warmers for our double knitting in the round!  Alone this would have been hard-together it was great fun!

 After lunch, we put away the knitting and got out the sewing equipment to make a knitting tote for Mom.  Since they will be flying home, they didn't bring as many supplies as usual with them.  Mom stocked up on supplies when she got here but one of the projects we wanted to make was a bag to hold and transport her knitting projects.

 We managed to find all the fabric we needed in my stash!  The tote is about 11" x 13" x 6" and double interefaced not quilted.

 We put pockets on the inside for  chocolates , knitting gadgets.  Over all, we had a wonderful day together!

It clouded up this afternoon to end our 80"s streak and sprinkled a bit so Dad came in and did some reading while we were sewing.  See his new recliner?  Just right for a rest between projects!