Completed Booga Bag

Here's the felted Booga Bag I made for my mom. She loved it and was very intrigued by the felting process. It was a great first felt project and the Galway felted in 1-1/2 washings.

The lady I am giving knitting lessons to is off to a good start on her Booga bag. I was able to show her this completed one and she seemed to like it. She's already done the bottom, learned how to do the Magic Loop and just changed yarn colors as she is heading up the sides. This is the perfect project for new knitters!

By the way, her husband was able to spend some time at home on the weekend. He still has a ways to go, but the improvement was obvious to me the 2 times I saw him. Please continue to pray for Larry.

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Booga Bag

On Wednesday, the thought occurred to me that Mother's Day was Sunday and I didn't have anything for my mother. All other knitting projects came to a screeching halt.

I decided to knit a Booga bag for her. Here it is unfelted. It's in the washing machine as I type. The pattern is very easy. It will be good to have the experience of knitting/felting this before I begin teaching my friend on Monday. The "gray" color is really a very light shade green.

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Dreamy Saturday

The eBay seller who sold me the Bernina mentioned a neat yarn store nearby - Woodland Woolworks http://www.woodlandwoolworks.com/

The scenery on the way was spectacular. (Click the above link to get a peek.) Out in the middle of this beautiful countryside was a warehouse with all the yarn, spinning wheels, and supplies one could ever need. What a great place. They also have a room with markdowns and I scored above on the Galway yarn.

The Galway yarn will be used for Booga bags. http://www.blacksheepbags.com/booga_bag.html

I have a friend whose dh fell out of a 2nd story window and suffered brain damage recently. She will probably be spending hours and hours as he is going through rehab, so I'm going to help her knit a Booga Bag and we'll both learn how to felt together.

booga bag

She's going to use the lighter blues and grey. My daughters and I will be making the bag using a combination of some of the other colors. If you think about it, please say a prayer for Larry. Larry was in a coma for a couple days, but has since regained consciousness and says a few words. He is recovering physically (eating, starting to walk), but he has quite a ways to go mentally.

Anyway, back to Woodland Woolworks - there are swatches knit up of most of the yarns sold. I've been thinking of making something with very fine lace in an earthy tone, but have no clue what is what on online catalogs. It was great to be able to actually touch the yarns and swatches. Melda (pretty sure that is the owner's name) has knit gorgeous lace swatches in various patterns. My hands never felt such luxury! I found this yarn:


merinosilk

Grignasco Merinosilk with 1,400 yards for $11 in the markdown room. The color is exactly what I was looking for. Oh, and fyi, the yarn is in my lap and I can't stop petting it. Is there something wrong with me?

Anyway, check out Woodland Woolworks, I don't think you will be disappointed. The owner and staff were so personable and friendly. I heard them talking to customers on the phone very professionally.

What a day, score at the rummage sale, got my dream Bernina, and then Woodland Woolworks. Was I dreaming all this? Someone pinch me!

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Rummage Sale Find: Fiskars paper trimmer with 5 different blades = $4.00

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Dh has spoiled me rotten. About 18 years ago, I bought a serger. I settled for my 2nd choice (Elna) because of logistic reasons (and free childcare by grandma close to the Elna store). The Elna has been put to good use, but is tempermental. I’'ve been tired of the skipping stitches, changing needle plates, etc. My #1 choice was a Bernina. I saw an old Bernina serger on eBay and talked to dh about it and he gave me the green light to bid on it. The bidding war got pretty intense at the end, but my bid won. WOOHOO!!! Can you say HAPPY CAMPER!! Here'’s my new baby. She was skipping stitches, but after a needle change, everything seems to be running smoothly. This is one well-built machine. I paid a little over $200 for it and my local Bernina store said they sell this used for $399 (can you imagine for a machine that is 15 years old?!).

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New Fashion Statement?

New Fashion Statement?

Returning from my morning walk, I stumbled upon my daughters dressed like THIS!!! WHAT IS THIS????? One was sweeping the floor, the other was washing off the counter. They acted as if everything was just hunky-dory. Perhaps they were both wearing jeans and then changed their minds and forgot to remove the skirts. Or maybe they were so excited about their latest sewing accomplishment that they decided to wear the new skirts over jeans. Maybe they are wearing 2 bottoms in case either the skirt or jeans get dirty.

This morning's dialogue:

Mom: "Do you realize you are wearing jeans under your skirt?"

18-yr old: "Yeah, isn't it cool?" face beaming with excitement.

Mom: "No, it's not cool, it's ugly", trying to keep a straight face.

18-yr old: "But Mom, everybody at college is wearing skirts with pants underneath like this."

Mom wanted to say, "Yeah, everyone but you," but refrained.

Now she says she and her sister are going to wear these outfits to the co-op tomorrow. I need to don sunglasses, hat, and somehow disguise my very tall body.

Is this really the new fashion statement? Puh-lease!!!

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Sew Sisters

Last week my two daughters had the idea to go to JoAnn's to get a pattern and fabric for matching skirts. For years I have wanted my 18-yr old to try to make clothes to no avail. The 10-yr old has taken a sewing class and made pajama bottoms and a bag, but that was 2 years ago. However, something got into their heads and they were determined to do this. We went to the store on Wednesday and their goal was to have them done by Friday evening. The only day they had to sew was Friday, so they got up early and started cutting the pattern and these are their finished skirts completed in plenty of time for their Friday outing.

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Baby booties

Here's the beginning of a pair of baby booties. The cuff and eyelets for the tie are done - the foot part is next. The pattern was free at LYS with the purchase of yarn. Unfortunately, the yarn is discontinued - a gorgeous cotton self-striping yarn. I may have to go back and buy the green-striping yarn before they sell out.

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Lovely Lilac. This is growing in my back yard. There's no fence between our yard and the vacant house next door and this lilac bush is on our boundary line. I will be very sad to see this go should a fence go up someday. My house is probably 50 feet from the bush, but if I open the window, I can smell the fragrance of lilacs in my house. Hello spring!

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Homemade Circular Needle Holder

My circular needles have been so cluttered and I didn't want to spend the $$ for the Circular Solution, so I borrowed the idea and added a pocket at the top to hold my stitch gauge tool and it's perfect! The canvas and the velcro were from my box of scraps and were just the right amount needed. I marked the various sizes using a Sharpie. Feels great to be more organized!

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More progress on the Sirdar infant poncho.

Not whole lot of progress on the baby poncho. I did a mistake and had to frog, and then there's another mistake in the 3rd single cable from the left. I twisted it the wrong way - ugh. I guess I will leave it as is because I don't think my friend will notice. I've heard that in Amish quilts they always leave one mistake because only God is perfect.

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Finished another baby bonnet and bought a cute little dress/bloomer outfit from Target. I wish I could see the baby wear this. I'll have to settle for a picture - little baby Kate lives in Canada.

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Another year gone by

My son just turned 15. A couple months ago, I sold a pillow case on eBay to raise money for the Tsunami victims. Unbeknownst to me, my son wanted the pillow case. So I whipped up a new one just for him. He was so excited when he opened the package. And it really warmed my heart to think that a 15-yr old would appreciate something homemade! He's a keeper!

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Do you have proper foot etiquette?

Please raise your BIG TOE and repeat after me:

As a member of the Faux Paux Sisterhood, I pledge to follow The Rules when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back in to place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it. No matter how much it hurts.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat, and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes look like they've been dragged behind her car on the way to work and no sandal in the world is going to make her feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops, that I will ensure they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

I will promise to go to my local beauty school at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $15 and worth EVERY penny). I say spend another $15.00 and get a even better one.

And finally...

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear...nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals. For all our sakes, please don't keep this to yourself - pass it on to
others.

Taken from: http://www.followingbliss.homestead.com/DailyDose.html

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Poncho Pattern Sirdar 1516

Started the baby poncho. This is Sirdar 1516 pattern. The color is not quite right again - took the photo outside when sun was setting, but love the cables! I've got quite a ways to go. I'm wondering if there are shorter cable needles. The one I'm working with is about 4 inches long and prevents me from knitting as fast as I'd like to knit. Anybody know?

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Baby Shower Gift

Finished green bonnet and a little outfit I found to go with it. It will be perfect for summer.

Pattern: Fiber Trends "Valerie & Friend"
Yarn: Polo by Zitron 60% Cotton/40% Acrylic
Colour: 04
Size 7 straight neelds for lacey part and Size 7 circular needles using Magic Loop method for the rest of the bonnet
Gauge: 5 st p/inch

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Beginning yet another bonnet. This one is a lime green color - (lighting not right in this photo). This pattern is just perfect for baby showers.

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This is what greets me when I pull up into our driveway! Hello Spring!!!

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Finished 3rd Pair of Socks!

Finished my Sock Landscape socks. These socks fit so much better than my 1st pair (that got passed on to my mom). I can't believe I finally have a pair of socks that actually fit my long feet! Woo-hoo! I've only just begun.

Side Profile
Pattern: From Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns
Sock Lanscape yarn from knitpicks.com
Gauge: 7 st p/inch
Method: Magic Loop cuff down

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Peace Fleece Cardigan

Peace Fleece Cardigan

Here is a close-up of a similar cardigan I am struggling with. (The photo is from the Peace Fleece website.) I put it away for 5 years because I couldn't understand the instructions. I'm hoping to finish it for my 2-yr old before he gets too big.

The back is worked garter stitch for 11.75 inches. Then the instructions say: Bind off, placing center 22 stitches onto a holder. I know how to bind off on one side and have done that, but how do I bind off on the other side of the held stitches since my working yarn is on the other side?


Stuck here

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