• Sewing days…

    I’ve spent the past few days sewing a vintage-look apron for my daughter…who spends so much of her time in the kitchen.  I used Simplicity pattern #4987, view 5.  We both fell in love with this delightful fabric from Michael Miller fabrics entitled “lil’ cowgirl” at Hobby Lobby.  I also purchased the adorable “lil’ cowpokes” boy fabric and the accompanying red and blue bandana prints.  The fabric is a soft, high-quality cotton.   I used a cream colored high-quality cotton for the lining.  My two sweet daughters-in-love will be happy to know that I am making one for each of them too since they are also terrific gourmet cooks!  Eventually, I’ll make one for me as well even though my time is the kitchen is definitely limited.  😉

    I have also been busy knitting and sewing baby blankets.  I have not ventured past “knitting and purling” and am still a beginner (so, all of you fabulous knitters don’t look too closely!)   I don’t think my precious 18-month-old granddaughter will care though.  So far, I have knitted two blankets for her…this is one of them.

    I love this soft fleece blanket below which isn’t as orange as it looks in the photo. 

    I mitered the corners and did a blanket stitch around it with the sewing machine.

    The quilt below is one of my favorites!  It is a soft high-quality cotton which will only get better each time it is washed.    The quilt is filled with white Soft & Natural cotton batting which is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  I have hand-quilted around all the designs of the Suzy’s Zoo pattern. 

    It is so cute and I think she will love it!

    I’m in the process of sewing several other quilts and blankets for her and her baby sister who is due mid-August.  With two babies, lots of blankets will be needed!  Can you tell this Grandmom is excited?!  I will be there for a visit on April 20th but I will mail these ahead of time since there will not be room in my suitcase!

  • Longing for Spring…

    I long for Spring.  I long for warm sunshine and a thermometer that proudly proclaims 72 degrees.  Granted, I’m not a fan of hot, humid Summers.  I would be happy if there were just two seasons – Spring and Fall!

    Native Iowans sagely comment that “it’s been a mild Winter”.  Two snowstorms and a few other snows here and there were enough for me, thank you.  Evidently, it isn’t over.  This morning, it is cold and windy and the thermometer appears stuck at 10 degrees!  We’ve been warned that “a ‘blizzard’ is coming tomorrow about noon (they can now predict the time?!) and will last until the following day with heavy accumulation”!

    So, yesterday I reconciled myself to the fact I’d better prepare just in case.  I headed out in yesterday’s 18 degrees accompanied by a brisk wind and the bright sunshine that fooled me into thinking that it was warmer.  I went first to the wonderful library about 3 miles away and stocked up on a stack of knitting books and the new book by Earlene Fowler.  I have 8 new skeins of wonderful yarn for my next project after I finish this one.

    The large, wonderful West Des Moines library.  Designed in a Craftsman style…

    Next, it was to Walgreen’s to refill a prescription and stock up on a few toiletries.  The last stop was the grocery store.  Milk in a glass bottle, bread, a whole roasted chicken, a dozen eggs, organic mixed lettuce and a few other things.  Last night was roast chicken with my meal…today I will make chicken salad with it.  I also baked the Ozark Mountain Apple Cake last night.  If I’m going to be “snowbound”, I may as well have dessert, huh?!

    I hope wherever you are, you’re staying warm and enjoying these days before Spring eventually comes…

  • Knitted patchwork baby blanket…

    I began this patchwork knitted baby blanket over a year ago for my youngest granddaughter.  I have worked on it from time to time over the past year.  It was a happy day when I realized that I had finally finished all THIRTY-FIVE squares!  I am still a novice knitter and basically have only mastered “knit” and “purl”!  Okay, maybe “knit two together”.  The sight of a knitting pattern with complex directions baffles me.

    It was certainly a baffling day when I realized that I NOW had to figure out a way to join all 35 of the squares together and weave in all lose ends – in a manner that satisfied my “perfectionist” streak.  “Perfectionist” and “beginner” don’t exactly go together!  I watched youtube videos about joining squares and read knitting books.  I tried a couple of the suggested techniques but still wasn’t satisfied with the way it looked.  One video suggested crocheting them together…except I don’t know crochet!

    There must be a way to finish this that will look good and make me happy.  Any suggestions from you master knitters out there???  I confess to being frustrated and at a loss for what to do.  I love the colors and I think it will be adorable if/when I can ever get it finished…

    p.s.  5 of the squares are on the sofa where I’ve been working on them!  😉 

    UPDATE:  I found a particularly helpful youtube video which I will post later with pics of the finished blanket.  I have now joined the first row of squares!  Looking good so far!

    patchworkblanket

    The finished product above…each square finished neatly with an invisible mattress stitch.