Wednesday works in progress update #8 for 2023

I've made some really nice progress with my crochet cardigan.  I have all five pieces complete and am now working up the muster to seam the pieces together. 

The back

The front pieces

The sleeves

I was rewatching one of the videos on the craftsy class, to see how to sew all the pieces together.  The instructor shows a method that seems a bit more involved to me.  I'm not looking forward to this part of the project.  

And then ... I have to add ribbing on the edge, collar and wrists. That part looks way more complicated.  Or, maybe my mind just couldn't wrap my mind around it because I wasn't trying to work the stitches while I was watching how to make them.  If I was any other kind of crocheter (i.e. really lazy) I'd be tempted to leave the ribbing off, but then the cardigan wouldn't look complete. 

This is what I have left for yarn. For the fronts and the sleeves, I used a fresh yarn ball. I figure I can use the leftovers for seaming everything together.  

Project Name: My first crochet cardigan

Started: Sept. 30, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Craftsy or Lionbrand. 

Yarn: Lion Brand wool ease

Colors: Grey heather

Hook Size: H 5.0 mm

Made For: myself. 

Yesterday I shared about my snowflake cross stitch.  You can click here, if you missed it. Thank you to all who complimented my progress and my fancy new bling. 

I sewed up one of the blocks I had in progress for my sandpiper quilt. 

That's five down. Seven more blocks to go. 

Project Name: Sandpiper quilt

Started: Jan. 21, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: It's Sew Emma / Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Fabric from the Solid Fat Quarter Club

Colors: A different color palette each month.

Made For: Myself

You can see all my posts for this quilt here. 

One thread before bed

The other day I was taking out a new flosstube for a spin.  Unfortunately I don't remember which channel, or her name.  

However, she said something that stuck with me.  I've heard it said other ways, but her way rhymed. 

"A thread before bed." 

And it makes total sense if you want to have some progress, but not dedicate hours a day to something. 

How do you eat an elephant? 

A bite at a time. 

Does anyone ever do just one thread when they pull their cross stitch out?  Maybe it's different if you are working on a high count linen. ... I usually end up stitching two or three threads. Tonite was three threads. 

I decided to take a break from the crochet cardigan.  I was crocheting like the wind and my hand started aching.  

I've pulled out my snowflake cross stitch project and giving it some attention. It is just over 50 percent completed, according to patternkeeper. 

Did you notice the pretties in the photo? I'm kinda matchy-matchy with this one. 

I found some snowflake scrapbook paper and made matching flossdrops and a thread charm.  Floss bling? I don't know what it's called. 

I also made a little beaded pendant to go with the charm. 

And then I decided to be *really* clever and make another scissor fob. 

The only way I could improve upon this is if I had a snowflake needleminder.

I had a LOT of fun pulling it all together. 

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. I've decided I'm keeping it for myself.  I told my husband that when it is done, I'm putting it on display year-round. 

Let me show off a finished object. 

Remember Edna? 

I finally finished her!

I'm trying out frames for her. That's why the fabric isn't trimmed or threaded.  

Isn't she beautiful? 

Project Name: Edna goes to brunch

Started: early July 2022

Finished: early September 2023

Designer/Source: Lindy Stitches

Fabric: 32 count Mint Splash Lugana by Zweigart

Floss: I'm using the called-for colors in DMC

Stitch count: 133 x 96s

Size: 8.3" x 6"

Needle Size: size 28

Lugana fabric is definitely not my first fabric of choice.  I'm a aida girl.  Definitely.  

But, ... I'll definitely give it a try on a small.

Friday works in progress update #7 for 2023

 I had intended to write a WIPs on Wednesday post.  Alas, ... it's been a bit of a week.  My close buds have heard me complaining about the rain putting me into a bit of a funk.  I like taking photos of my projects when we have decent outside light. 

There still isn't decent light because - shocker of all shocker-ey things - it's raining. Again. 

Last year I decided I was going to try making a crochet cardigan, after seeing a "My first cardigan" class on Craftsy. 

This year I finally took the plunge. 

Last night I finished the back.  

Project Name: My first crochet cardigan

Started: Sept. 30, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Craftsy or Lionbrand. 

Yarn: Lion Brand wool ease

Colors: Grey heather

Hook Size: H 5.0 mm

Made For: myself. 

I've got some mixed thoughts on this project because of the craftsy class. I haven't viewed all the videos yet.  A couple things I've had to look on the internet to figure out what I was supposed to do. Nothing personal against the instructor, but the more knowledgable I get with some of these crafts, the less impressed I am with some of the craftsy classes.  I remember when craftsy first came out and everyone thought it was the greatest thing.  I'm feeling kind of meh about it.  Definitely cancelling the subscription. 

The next part to work on will be the fronts.  I'm confident I'll be able to blaze through them.  What I'm not looking forward to is the sleeves.  I'm sure that's a universal feeling. 

Next, we have my snowflake cross stitch project. 

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. Maybe. I haven't decided yet if I want to give this away. 

I put this down a few months ago.  I got tired of working on blue.  Blue, blue and more blue.  I was pretty dedicated to it when I was working on it, and got a ton done. 

How it looked back in June: 

See, lots done since June. 

Patternkeeper is SO awesome. If it wasn't for patternkeeper I think I would have given up on this.  

I'm sure I'll make this one again, some time down the road, but I'll be using a single color rather than nine different shades of one color. 

Spinning ... 

I identify as a spinner so much, you'd be shocked at how little I actually spin fiber into yarn. It's pathetic, really. 

I've been working on the same fiber for years and years.  I bought ... two and a half pounds, maybe, years ago, with the intention of spinning enough fiber to knit a sweater for my husband.  I even picked out the pattern for an interweave knits.  Now i'm not sure I'd make that specific pattern because it's all kinds of cables and pretty bits.  

Anywho, I'm still spinning the fiber and I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with it. 

I probably haven't touched this since last year ... or maybe early this year? 

I was watching Dark Winds the last time I was spinning, and now I tie watching that show very strong with spinning.  So now I don't want to work on it unless I'm watching the show. 

The other night I pulled the spinning wheel out and got her all dusted, cleaned up and pretty. 

Now to just make the point of watching the show, right? 

Maybe when it's just a little bit more "fall" out? Sitting by the wood stove, with Dark Winds on, and spinning for like an hour at a time.  I have a goal of getting the fiber all spun up by the end of the year. 

Quilty things next ... 

I started the year with such good intentions with the Fat Quarter solids of the month club.   

And then ... nothing. 

I have four blocks done so far, and two blocks in progress. 

Project Name: Sandpiper quilt

Started: Jan. 21, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: It's Sew Emma / Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Fabric from the Solid Fat Quarter Club

Colors: A different color palette each month.

Made For: Myself

The last time I shared I had finished the blue one that is in the top photo, lower left. 

I have fabric for the next few months are all ironed and ready to go. I iron it really well and do my absolute best to keep things lined up. I figured I didn't need things to be super-duper precise, so no starching. 

Project Name: Dancing Stars

Started: 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: It's Sew Emma / Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Fabric from the Solid Fat Quarter Club

Colors: A different color palette each month.

Made For: Myself

This is the quilt pattern suggestion for the 2022 Fat Quarter Shop solid fat quarter club. I had to buy a special ruler for this one. 

The fabric is being starched.  I feel precision is really important on this one. 

It's five quilt blocks for each month, and the pattern calls for all 12 colors in the monthly bundle. 

This project has been at a bit of a standstill.  Lots of ironing and making sure none of the colors are out of place. 

A couple weeks ago I had the great idea of using the liquid starch to starch a lot of the fat quarters at once. 

I used a jug of the sta-flo liquid starch at a 50/50 mixture and used almost all of the mixture.

There was hardly any left. 

 I starched 108 fat quarters in like half an hour.  It was amazing! 

Then, it wasn't so amazing. All the time I saved on starching I'm making up for in the ironing.  The fat quarters are SO wrinkled from my squeezing out the excess starch.  It's probably taking three times as long to iron because I need to steam and spray extra water to get all the wrinkles out. Ugh! 

The project is slow going due to my desire to iron all the fat quarters before I start working on it again. 

This quilting project I started ... oh who knows ... and it stalled almost right away. 

It's a project from the January 2022 sew sampler box from, you guessed it, Fat Quarter Shop. 

I have all the pieces cut out and almost ready to sew. I wanted to make the smaller size that is a wall hanging, and make it for my bedroom.  Since there's no pressure to get it done, it hasn't been worked on. 

Oh, I take it back. I did blog a bit about this when I first started it. 

Project Name: Daydreams lap quilt

Started: Feb. 5, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Beautiful Day collection by Corey Yoder

Made For: Myself. 

Since I basically cut it and forgot it, I didn't remember it! Heh, funny how that works. 

*ahem*

And as I type this I remember that in the spring time I decided I wanted a pretty spring-ish project bag.  I got as far as ironing the fabric.  No cutting for pieces, though.  Would it count as a work in progress if it's only been ironed? 

Works in Progress #6 for 2023

 It's been a bit quiet on the homestead this week due to illness. My son brought some kind of germ home last week and shared.  Blech! 

I haven't felt this crummy in a while. 

In the evenings I've been slowly plodding along on my snowflake.

Pattern keeper has been so great for this. I've been adding around 100 stitches to it each evening I work on it. 

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. Maybe. I haven't decided yet if I want to give this away. 

Sweet little Edna has been pulled out of hibernation. I go much slower on the Lugana. 

Since I took the photo in the evening, not in natural light, the colors are off. 

Project Name: Edna goes to brunch

Started: early July 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Lindy Stitches

Fabric: 32 count Mint Splash Lugana by Zweigart

Floss: I'm using the called-for colors in DMC

Stitch count: 133 x 96s

Size: 8.3" x 6"

Needle Size: size 28

Last photo I shared back on January 1, 2023.

Today is the first day of summer and the weather has decided it needs to feel like summer.  The temperature hit the upper 80s Fahrenheit today. 

Speaking of the garden ... This weekend I finished planting seeds in the garden and I planted the flowers in containers. When I'm feeling better I'll make a video.  No one wants to hear what I sound like right now. 

Sunday, when my hubby and I were sitting out by the garden, I noticed a critter discovered my water fountain and was taking advantage of it.  

Not exactly the wildlife I was expecting to enjoy my fountain. I had visions of birds coming to take baths in the top tier. 

Recent finished objects ... and some blather

 While getting ready for this blog post I decided to look up the last time I posted finished objects. 

1. It's been a while

2. I was trying to track down the wrong tags.  I almost labeled this one WIPs #6 for 2023, or something like that.  

Oops. 

It's been a bit of a week.  It went fast. It dragged. I felt behind on all the things. 

And now I feel like I may be coming down with something. 

My son has been sick this week, and was complaining of a sore throat earlier this week. 

Guess who is feeling a bit of a sore throat?  Yup.  This girl here.  

Fingers crossed the vitamin C I took will knock it out before it gets a hold. 

The weather this week has been a bit odd. The other day I broke down and made a fire in the wood stove.  My husband said "Really?" when he came home and I told him what I had done.  I was cold! It was *not* warming up in the house and I had opened the windows early in the morning, thinking it was going to warm up a lot earlier than it did. My feet were like ice that day. 

Anyways, I'm sure the weird temperature fluctuations aren't helping anything. 

*clears throat* Okay.  On to the finished objects I promised. 

Vanilla socks are done! Another project that had been on the needles for what feels like forever.

Project Name: Vanilla socks

Started: Jan. 7, 2023

Finished: June 1, 2023, or thereabouts

Designer/Source: My own pattern

Yarn: Patons Kroy sock yarn

Colorway: Mexicala stripes

Colors: oranges, red, purples and a smatter of blue and white

Required Amount: Two skeins of sock yarn. 100 grams

Needle/Hook Size: U.S. 1 (2.25 mm)

Gauge: beats me

Made For: Myself

Dye Lots: WL238520

I think I'm going to put a bit of a pause on vanilla socks, and get back to basics.  

"What?" you are probably asking. 

The last pairs of socks I've made have not been my best work.  I seem to have lost something. 

Soooooo ... I decided to look up sock classes on craftsy.  I have a membership there and came across a class by Lucy Neatby. I'm going to do a remedial (to me) class. 

I decided to pick up some acryllic worsted weight yarn and I'm going to work through the class and use that yarn to make some bedroom socks.  

The other thing I finished is my February Month to Month.

Here it is. "Barn fresh."

Project Name: Month to Month - February

Started: Jan. 15, 2023

Finished: June 14, 2023

Designer/Source: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchinghousewives

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart.

Floss: Using called for Classic Colorworks fancy floss

Colors: Black, pink, red, teal, green

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself

I am very happy to finally have it complete. It's going to go into a finished object pile until I decide how I want to FO all of the pieces in the series. 

In other crafty news 

Last night I started back up on my snowflake cross stitch. 

Using patternkeeper to keep track is on this chart is great. I'm bouncing around the grid with the same color and it's so much easier. 

I put in just over 100 stitches.  Last night I was scrolling through the Facebook and a group or page had something about a stitch-along and the notes said if the stitcher stitched 200 stitches a day, it would be easy to keep up and finish the stitch-along on time. 

I thought "What? That's a lot of stitches," and figured the person would probably have to really dedicate their time to the project.  Then I saw how quick you can do 100 stitches.  

With that in mind, I'm thinking if I put some dedicated time to this project, I can get it down sooner than later. 

I'd also like to pick "Edna" back up and work on her, and get it finished. 

I felt like I was starting to pick up steam before I decided to put it away.  Evenweave kinda kicks my butt. 

Recently I switched up the hashtags I am following on Instagram and was reminded that Tour de Fleece is just around the corner. I've been working on the same wool for the last several tours. 

My problem with spinning is that I don't have a good dedicated spot for spinning.  The chair I usually sit in when I'm in the living room isn't very comfortable for the sitting position I need to be in when I'm using the wheel. What I have been doing is  bringing out a kitchen chair, setting it up near Furby, and leave it like that for a while. 

Furby doesn't seem to mind my hanging out by her. 

Works in Progress Wednesday #4 for 2023

 Back in January I was so full of piss and vinegar, and it included plans of doing a WIP post once a week.  

January I had vacation time and thought "Oh, I can do this, and this, and this, and it won't be hard at all. 

I was so young and idealistic! 

March feels like a wash. With all the snow moving that was going on I did not feel like doing much crafting in the evenings. 

Things are starting to slightly pick back up, however. 

First on the WIP parish is my crochet blanket

Project Name: Inspired by Joy

Started: Dec. 26, 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: The Crochet Crowd

Yarn:

Color A - Red Heart - White

Color B - Caron One Pound - Rose 

Color C - Caron Jumbo - Rosewood

Colors: white and rose colors with hints of green.

Required Amount: I purchased two skeins of each color

Needle/Hook Size: 5.5 mm /  I/9

Gauge: beats me ; pattern calls for 13 dc x 6 rows = 4″ [10 cm]

Made For: Myself, maybe

Dye Lots: Will find that out later.

Crochet ... why do you hate my wrists so?  The last part of part 4 was rough.  I had double-crochet shells and there is so much wrist twisting.  Is there a way to make shells where I'm not constantly twisting my wrists? Or is this a thing for everyone?

I am very pleased to say that I am done with part 4. 63 rows down, eight more rows to go! 

When I started the section with the shells I discovered I was making more shells than what the row called for. It was about halfway through when the ruffling became noticeable, and I decided it was going to become a design element. No WAY was I going to rip it back.

Next is my vanilla socks.

Project Name: Vanilla socks

Started: Jan. 7, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: My own pattern

Yarn: Patons Kroy sock yarn

Colorway: Mexicala stripes

Colors: oranges, red, purples and a smatter of blue and white

Required Amount: Two skeins of sock yarn. 100 grams

Needle/Hook Size: U.S. 1 (2.25 mm)

Gauge: beats me

Made For: Myself

Dye Lots: WL238520

I haven't touched my sock in ages. In fact, I forgot what project bag it was in. It took me a while to track it down. 

The project is now back in rotation. Maybe this one sock will be done by the end of the month? 

Cross stitch fun is next!

Project Name: Month to Month - February

Started: Jan. 15, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchinghousewives

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart.

Floss: Using called for Classic Colorworks fancy floss

Colors: Black, pink, red, teal, green

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself

I started out *so* strong with this chart.  Then I lost steam with all that dark text.  It didn't help that I wasn't going to finish by the end of February.  I think the next Month to Month chart I'll do is the August one. 

Last thing is my snowflake

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. Maybe. I haven't decided yet if I want to give this away. 

I have made a lot of progress on my snowflake.  Then it hit me that this is *way* hard and I didn't have the headspace for it.  I will love how it will look finished.  Whenever I get it finished.  So ... no progress on it since my last WIP post. 

Works in Progress Wednesday #3 for 2023

 It has been a hot minute since I last posted a works in progress post.  Just shy of a month. 

Working on my projects has slowed down dramatically. My hands. I do so much work with my hands that I need to give them a break. 

First up is my crochet blanket

Project Name: Inspired by Joy

Started: Dec. 26, 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: The Crochet Crowd

Yarn:

Color A - Red Heart - White

Color B - Caron One Pound - Rose 

Color C - Caron Jumbo - Rosewood

Colors: white and rose colors with hints of green.

Required Amount: I purchased two skeins of each color

Needle/Hook Size: 5.5 mm /  I/9

Gauge: beats me ; pattern calls for 13 dc x 6 rows = 4″ [10 cm]

Made For: Myself, maybe

Dye Lots: Will find that out later.

This weekend I completed part/chart 3.  Finally.  I've got 12 rows left to go, or thereabouts. 

I spent hours on it on Sunday, while watching Louisiana Law. Then decided to go one row in on part 4.  Then I had to call it quits. Crocheting that intently just trashed my hands. 

My last progress photo

Next is my vanilla sock.

Project Name: Vanilla socks

Started: Jan. 7, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: My own pattern

Yarn: Patons Kroy sock yarn

Colorway: Mexicala stripes

Colors: oranges, red, purples and a smatter of blue and white

Required Amount: Two skeins of sock yarn. 100 grams

Needle/Hook Size: U.S. 1 (2.25 mm)

Gauge: beats me

Made For: Myself

Dye Lots: WL238520

I've made quite a bit of progress on this sock. 

I did something different when I picked up the gusset stitches and you can see them on the outside of the sock. 

This shot shows the progress markers from the last time I shared progress. 

Yes, I knit my socks inside out.  That is what I am most comfortable with. 

My next project is something that has been languishing for a while. 

Project Name: Stars and Stripes

Started: July 16, 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Eszter Marjanovic of SubRosa Design Pattern out of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher

Fabric: 14 Count Aida by Zweigart, in "toast."
Pattern originally called for 36 count linen, in a light mocha color

Floss: I'm using the called-for colors in DMC

Stitch count: 74 x 122

Size: Too lazy to do the math right now

Needle Size: size 26

I had to make some mods to the project. I should have had the aida going the other way. There was no room for the border. Once I realized this I put the project in a time out until I wanted to decide what to do for a border. 

Bummer because I really liked the original border. 

I decided to go with a simple border all around.  I will turn this into a pillow.  The photo above shows the fabric I pulled from stash to make the back of the pillow.  Pillows aren't hard.  it's just a matter of me getting in to the craft room and taking care of it. 

Next is my snowflake. 

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. Maybe. I haven't decided yet if I want to give this away. 

I'm still trying to get the sparkles to show in a photo.  Can you see them? 

Last progress photo. 

A couple weeks ago I started a small quilt project.  It's a quilt pattern I received in a a Fat Quarter Shop sew sampler box last year. 

Project Name: Daydreams lap quilt

Started: Feb. 5, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Beautiful Day collection by Corey Yoder

Made For: Myself. 

I'm making the lap quilt size. 

I haven't made it very far in the fabric cutting. It's a start. 

I have grand plans of hanging it up in my bedroom. 

Finally, we have my sweet Furby June. 

Now that I consider her a work in progress.  Though I suppose she could be. She's currently hanging out with the hubby, listening to Everlong by the Foo Fighters.

I know I've mentioned that she's been behaving different the last little bit.  She looks out her window a lot. 

I'm pretty sure a squirrel comes and cruises by every day.  Maybe that is what she's looking for. 

Here's when she heard the camera click.  "Are you taking my picture?"

She doesn't have much of a view.  Currently she sees the wood wagon and a snow bank. Well, some snow falling, too. 

She definitely has a charmed life.