Around Town

You would think I was fit... but all I can attest to is that I can walk.
Most work days, I take Juju to the tram, we travel one stop, get off and walk to the daycare building.  It's a nice walk, mostly through a big park.
My return trip is all walking.  It's definitely city! And here you get the benefit of a cloudy morning.

Above, my daughter's office building is on the right. The following photos are taken from the same place.

Above, I considered climbing any of the 7 mountains that surround the city, but even this one, which isn't the highest, ... can I say, "It's the thought that counts!"

No, I'll take the path home.  The distance:  one mile as the crow flies... I'm not a crow.

No Yarn Was Harmed...

Sewing time again!

A few months ago, in my stash-busting phase, I selected projects to bring with me for summer.  Although it took me over a month since unpacking, I have been whittling away at my list.

First and most important was the dress for my granddaughter and a matching dolly dress.  I keep thinking I'll get a photo op of the two of them, but it won't happen until possibly this weekend, and ... I just can't wait.  She didn't receive the dolly (and dress) until her birthday, so she got some use of the dress for a few weeks, and she was happy to pose one morning!  She's getting tall... I had sewn this at home and waited to hem;   much to my surprise, I used the whole length. We call this her "New Mexico Dress."  Wild red and turquoise cactus print.

Much to my surprise, the Easter Egg wreath was still on the door, and it didn't go down without a fight--very popular, but last week this appeared instead.  I've had several wire wreath forms in my closet for a shameful number of years.  Confession:  I thought it would be a perfect project for my girl scout troop...uh, in the 90's.  A few leaves were cut out and assembled, so it was, like, "almost" done...Ha!  I used needle and thread for gathering, and a glue gun.  It's only a little more than 12" wide.  Kind of cute, and summery. (Do I have to make one for each season?  I'll keep that in mind.)

And most recently, placemats.  The dreaded failure of the first attempt (which still plans to be a doll skirt) set me back, but I'm still determined to stash-bust.  And certainly, if I carry this stuff to Norway, it isn't going back!  You can see that the funny (non-rectangular) pieces are from the snafu, and I sewed them together to make...strips.  As with any stash-busting project (of mine), I run out of colours, so each one is "unique".  The next four will be...very different.  Maybe there won't be another four...?

 This is the simplest of all patterns where you pile the batting on the backing and start stitching top pieces.  Trim them up and add a binding.  Even the binding I had from another project!  I'm happy!  (Will there ever be an empty bin from stash-busting?  A life-time goal, my friends!)

Sure, the sun is shining, and I could be outside knitting...  Happy Summer!

Laced Vest

Yay!  My daughter approves!  However, tweaking required.
Years ago...5?  I bought Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino with the intention of  knitting something for baby...  Baby no more, but the feel---yumminess, and ever so pale faded rose, had to be something girly for sure.  One day, last year, I was intent on stash busting and I found this pattern in my library that would be the right weight for this yarn, and I'm so glad I did.

The faux lacing up the front makes it look feminine.  Reading other comments on Ravelry, many said it was too short.  Oddly, the pattern has the lower ribbing knitted as an after-thought, which made it easy to lengthen.  I added inches once I had my recipient nearby.  The original indeed was well above belly-button.

 Correction in the pattern:  The eyelets on the front were not symmetrical.  I had to drop stitches and knit up one column of eyelets to make them the same distance from the centre as the opposite side.  I made a note of it on my Raveley page.

Pattern:  #09 Laced Tank by Karen Garlinghouse from Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 2009 Yarn:  Baby Cashmerino by Debbie Bliss Sport / 5 ply
55% Wool, 33% Microfiber, 12% Cashmere
137 yards / 50 grams

And there were Socks!

Always socks, lovely socks, big socks, little socks...
Knit, Sock, Love socks:  Wedges
Cheery color, yarn: Online Socks

Then I immediately started these for the "wunderkind".

Very stretchy, made from Patons Stretchy Sock yarn.  Not an enticing colour for a 5 year old, but maybe someday she'll wear them, and they will probably stretch to fit! (At least she modelled one...)  (Yes... shades of gray)

Meanwhile, another mind-pleaser for me:  Twisted Flower Sock from Knit, Sock, Love.  The second one is still without foot and heel, but I have so many other things, it will just have to wait.

Yarn:  Knit Picks Stroll Tweed, in Rabbit Heather.  It's more brown than in the photo. Love it!  (My first socks from Knit Picks Stroll.)

Blogging

What's with this blogging after not a peep for so long?
I've been swamped.
Besides life and living, I

1. tried to pack for months of travel in various climates, and various situations, 
2. got distracted a lot
3. helped a friend through knee surgery
4. visited family
5. and currently I'm spending my first day off from babysitting.  The last three days were spent at home with a sick child... Keeping up appearances (dinner, laundry and gardening) for my daughter who has a challenging managerial position...

My day off, I headed into the city for an organ concert.  I deserved it!

And a few hours of blogging.  

From the past...

A few months ago, I was sitting home alone, and I had an extra bed, and an extra room, and a wave of throw-things-out came over me.  The truth is, I'm a mini-hoarder, with stashes of yarn, and fabric. I don't even know for sure, but there are blogs from August 22 and September 4 and 8, 2010 showing my (lack of) progress.  Almost four years later I reached up to the top shelf, after moving the bagged pieces and project every six months, and I thought NOW IS THE TIME!
I was spurred on by a duvet that has never had a well-fitted cover, and instead of going out and buying fabric, I decided to be thrifty, and finish.
The truest sense of the meaning:  Scrap Quilt, yet it will be a duvet cover, with no batting.

It will be waiting for me to finish when I get home, so I can't promise a finished project until... it's finished.  I couldn't bear the thought of hand-quilting so my favourite fabric store took it with a 3 week backorder for machine quilting.
It could go back on the shelf....I wonder... 

Travel

I am reminded of a quote from the sixth-century Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu, founder of Daoism:

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving."

Airline travel in a nutshell!

What has happened?  I found myself with a many legged air ticket that takes me to visit my uncle, my friends, my daughter and family, and knitter friends to be.  Hang on!

Before I left, I had a fit of sewing... and when I have a fit of anything, well, I end up with a lot of ideas, and too little time.  That's why my checked bag came in at 49.7 pounds (the limit is 50), AND a box was send in the mail.  My travels are for 2-1/2 months...  You see my dilemma, perhaps?

One thing now and more later:  I thought I was clever, and I thought I was a master quilter (I guess), but I'm NOT!  The "Castle Wall" beat it out of me...   It looked so nice when the pieces were laid out:

Then

I sewed one together, and nothing matched, and I was pivoting to sew seams at angles, and **** it came out all wrong, and not the least bit flat.  

Does it look flat?  Yes, it's pressed flat with several lovely folds/pleats.  

Plan 2b:  Sew all the parts together and make something less challenging.  It will be a doll skirt... Perfecto!

Franklin and packing yarn

Yes, you may have seen this, but I saved it to share with you.  One of those things knitters must consider when leaving home.

I like his topics...
http://blog.lionbrand.com/2013/07/11/having-a-ball-wish-you-were-here/