Saturday, December 28, 2019

It's been a very busy and distracting year!

I don't have too many finishes this year, but some of the projects I worked on were quite large.

Most of the year, I worked on Flower Power. I would say I am not quite two thirds of the way through. It is so much bigger than I thought! Hopefully it will be a 2020 finish.

I left off in the Delphiniums over on the lower right.

Nasturtium and Caterpillar

Daylilies, Shasta Daisies, Delphiniums and Hummingbirds 
Please forgive the wrinkles!

In between I worked on several family projects, as well as the constant home improvement painting projects that seem to never end.

Then I worked on a little pattern that was gifted to me by my friend Sonia.

Mice Sewing from Designs for the Needle 

Sewing Mice on 14ct Fiddlers Cloth using DMC
This was a bit of a change of pace for me, not the usual type of design I stitch, but I thought this would be cute when it was framed and hanging in my sewing room. I will post a photo when I find a frame.

Next, I worked on the Autumn Velvet Acorns. This was a kit by MJ Hiney which I had my eye on for some time.

Autumn Velvet Acorns - MJ Hiney
The Autumn color palette is my favorite, but there is also another color palette kit for the Holidays available.



This is a lovely kit that includes 3 pieces of hand-dyed silk/rayon velvet, hand dyed silk ribbon for the acorn caps, embroidery floss for the stems, metallic floss for the criss-crossing, and beads and sequins.


These are quite detailed, and took me a long time, but I managed to I finished them up in time to put on the Thanksgiving dinner table!


Then, I started the Christmas stitching. I finished up a little Mill Hill beaded ornament, the little Glory Angel.



Mill Hill Glory Angel
I made two of these and whip stitch them together, so I can display them in my bay window.


Then I worked on the Mill Hill Sapphire Crystal.


I have been making these over the last few years, usually one a year. This was the 6th and last in the series.

Mill Hill Sapphire Crystal
All of these are also two ornaments whip stitched back to back, so they can be seen from both sides.

Here are all 6 of the crystals.

Not the best picture I'm afraid! They look much better hanging up. It is surprising how heavy they are.

I'm sure I left somethings out. As I said this was a very distracting year. At times I didn't know if I was coming or going!


Now I am working on a pair of bright red socks (for me)!



 Should be my first finish of 2020. Ha! It will be in time for Christmas 2020 anyway!

I hope all of you have a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Monday, January 7, 2019

First Finish of the Year!

I saw a little kit that was on sale on Craftsy.


I have wanted to practice my fair isle knitting because I have in my stash some yarn and a pattern for a sweater. This kit was on sale, and I couldn't resist the price.

The pattern itself was very easy, but there was something wrong with the gauge. I read all the reviews and everyone said that it came out too large. So, I decided to drop down one size on the needles. Well, it was still too big, so I ripped it all out and came down one more size on the needles. I had to add some rows to it because it was coming out to short, but I finally got something that was wearable.


I am not too thrilled with the acrylic yarn. I prefer natural fibers, but it will be good as an extra hat.

I also have this hat that I knitted last month. I forgot to put it into my 2018 finishes.


This one was also knitted of acrylic yarn in my stash. Ha! The pompom kinda got away from me on this one!

Stay warm!