Episode 24 - What I did in October

 

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  Show notes are below

Knitting - Finished Objects

Project Name: Passenger Princess Socks
Started: June 3, 2024

Finished: Oct. 31, 2024

Designer/Source:Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock Yarn

Colorway: Midcentury stripes

Colors: Peach, blue, cream, vintage looking colors.

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Made For: myself.

Previous update: 

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Project Name: Autumn Hunting Socks
Started: Sept. 1, 2024

Finished: Oct. 19, 2024

Designer/Source: Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Malabrigo

Colorway: 858 Arbol

Colors: browns, oranges and olives

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Previous update: 

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Knitting - Current Works in Progress

Project Name: Bly Cardigan
Started: Sept. 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: www.Berroco.com

Yarn: My own handspun corriedale, purchased from paradise fibers

Colors: Grey

Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 m.m.) and U.S 7 (4.5 mm)

Previous update: 

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Knitting - new cast on

Project Name: Blue stripe vanilla socks
Started: Oct. 31, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Patons Kroy sock yarn

Colorway: Blue Raspberry

Colors: Blues and white

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

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Cross Stitch - Finished Object

Project Name: Black Cat Sampler

Started: Early Oct. 2024

Finished: Oct. 31, 2024

Designer/Source: Just Cross Stitch magazine Halloween 2024 issue

Nancy Wahler, Faithwurks designs

DMC Floss: 310; 645; blanc; 3822

Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchase from hobby lobby, spa color, I think. 

Needle Size: 26

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Cross Stitch - Current Works in Progress

Project Name: One Piece 

Stitch count (via pattern keeper) 

Started: March 30, 2024

Finished:

Designer/Source: Cross Stitch Bay on Etsy. Chart no longer available

DMC Floss: 310

Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchased at Walmart

Needle Size: 26

Making for my son. 

Previous update

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Cross Stitch - New Start

Project Name: Sweatervest weather

Started: Oct. 30, 2024

Finished:

Designer/Source: Lindy Stitches

DMC Floss: 434, 310, 801, 157, 22, 680, 3347, 3824, 316, 976, 435, 3346

Fabric: 32 count light taupe Lugana

Needle Size: 28

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Haul

Signed up for the Dragon Fruit block of the month club

New cross stitch chart

Needleminder from Sweet Autumn Stitch. 

Youtube channels mentioned:

CraftyCat Stitcher
Stitching and Tea with B

Stitching with my kitties

RedHeadedStitcher24

Crow River Stitcher

Fat Quarter Shop

Elizabeth Ann Can Stitch

Vonna Pfeiffer

We Stitch and We Know Things

MEGA Stitches

Yarn Over With Us

Breaking out the Mickey Mouse boots

 "What are Mickey Mouse boots?" you are probably thinking. 

If you are in the military you probably already know. 

Last Wednesday I said snow was on it's way.  

The forecasters got it right on Thursday, but two hours behind.  Snow was predicted to start at 9 a.m. It started around 11 a.m. 

It was warm enough the snow didn't want to stay on the solar panels. 

Thursday evening I decided to start a couple projects up.

Sweatervest Weather by Lindy Stitches, 

And I cast on a vanilla sock.  The photo is from when we went to town on Sunday. Isn't the blue fantasstic? 

One of the gals (redheadedstitcher24) I follow on Instagram decided to do a No New Starts November and I saw this as a great opportunity to really focus on my One Piece project.  However, I also wanted to work on Sweatervest  Weather in November, too.  So I decided to start a couple things right before November when she reminded me of the start things early work-around. 

Then on Friday there was blue skies ... and snow ... 

Saturday I woke up to a beautiful day. 

Crazy how that happens sometimes. I was, however, eager to see the snow melt.  No snow until Thanksgiving, I say. 

Like I said, it was a beautiful day. Wet, but beautiful. 

My husband and I spent a good chunk of the day working on the wood project. He was cutting and stacking, I was splitting.  I took a look at the pile, with the early morning sun shining on it, and thought it was a pretty shot. 

Back to the Mickey Mouse boots. They are a wonderful invention 

They are a military boot. They are probably one of the best things to have if you live in colder climates. 

I pulled them out of storage this weekend so my feet would stay warm and dry while we were working outside.  Hopefully I won't need them again until December.  One can hope. 

After supper I opted to go out and split more wood for an hour and a half, or so. ... When I was done, I shut off the log splitter, turned around and may have gasped when I saw the sunset. 

Sunday I woke up to a dreary, grey day.

And also to my husband insisting I go outside and have a mini photoshoot and that it didn't matter that I was still in my pajamas. 

I split 99 percent of the wood in this round stack (holzhausen) and he wanted a record of it. This was the first time we tag-teamed on the cutting, stacking and splitting of the wood and got this round stack done in a week.  It's a four-cord pile and a year's worth of heat. 

Yes, I just posted a photo of myself in my PJs on the Interwebs. ... I look cute, though. 

Sunday afternoon we wrapped up the round stack and we had our son come out and take a few photos of us. I think my husband was really proud of how much I contributed to the building of this round stack.  Bonus: I never once whined! 

The stack is 12-feet around and 5 feet tall.  It's our biggest one! In three to five years it will be ready to burn. 

Look! Mickey Mouse boots! 

And then to wrap this one up, one of the new stitchy friends I've made recently loves chickens! Yay! 

She was happy to see the video I posted last week of the ladies working on their jack-o-lantern. I pulled together some video clips I took over the last few weeks and loaded them to the YouTube. 

Episode 23: September FOs and October dream plans

 

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  Show notes are below

Forbidden Fiber Co's fundraising effort

Jan Hicks post: Jan Hick's Facebook post

Jan Hicks' Etsy Stop

Becca at Sambrie Stitches - Becca at Sambrie Stitches

Sambrie Stitches Etsy Shop

Little Robin Designs Instagram post

Little Robin Designs

Pat Sloan's Youtube video

Eight Days of Hope

Ladybug Stitches SAL

Knitting FO 

Project Name: World's Easiest Mittins
Started: Sept. 24, 2024

Finished: Sept. 28, 2024

Designer/Source: World’s Easiest mitten from Tin Can Knits

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick

Colorway: Charcoal

Colors: Black/Grey

Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 mm) and U.S. 8 (5 mm)

Made For: myself.

Cross Stitch FO

Project Name: Rest in Peace

Started: Sept. 2, 2024

Finished: Sept. 20, 2024

Designer/Source: Becky Noland of www.LucyBeam.com. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024

Fabric:14 count Rustico Aida in the "oatmeal" color. Purchased from Hobby Lobby.

Floss colors: DMC conversion: 931, 799, 902, 356, 221, 3688, 347, 152, 340, 415, 318, 535, 3865 

Previous update:

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Cross Stitch WIP

Project Name: One Piece 

Stitch count (via pattern keeper) as of Oct. 4, 2024: 4,406 / 9029 - 48.8%

Started: March 30, 2024

Finished:

Designer/Source: Cross Stitch Bay on Etsy. Chart no longer available

DMC Floss: 310

Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchased at Walmart

Needle Size: 26

Making for my son. 

From previous update

Knitting WIPs

Project Name: Autumn Socks
Started: Sept. 1, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Malabrigo

Colorway: 858 Arbol

Colors: browns, oranges and olives

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Previous update: 

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Project Name: Passenger Princess Socks
Started: June 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source:Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock Yarn

Colorway: Midcentury stripes

Colors: Peach, blue, cream, vintage looking colors.

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Made For: myself.

Previous update

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Project Name: Bly Cardigan
Started: Sept. 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: www.Berroco.com

Yarn: My own handspun corriedale, purchased from paradise fibers

Colors: Grey

Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 m.m.) and U.S 7 (4.5 mm)

Dream crocheting 

I want to make a shawl. More specifically, this one. Shawl tutorial

Cross Stitching I’d like to start

Nevermore Raven, Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2024

Black Cat Sampler, Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2024

Endangered Species Club, Lindy Stitches

Youtube channels mentioned

Sarah, Northwoods Stitcher

The Crow River Stitcher

Ladybug Stitches

Pat Sloan

Lindy Stitches

Episode 22 - Successes and learning experiences

 

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  Show notes are below

Cross Stitch

Project Name: Petite Pumpkin scissor fob

Started: Sept. 2, 2024

Finished: Sept. 8, 2024

Designer/Source: Wrought Iron Stitching on Etsy. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024

Fabric: 18 count Aida I hand-dyed. Purchased from Walmart

DMC in called for Color: 434 

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Project Name: Rest in Peace

Started: Sept. 2, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Becky Noland of www.LucyBeam.com. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024

Fabric:14 count Rustico Aida in the "oatmeal" color. Purchased from Hobby Lobby.

Floss colors: DMC conversion: 931, 799, 902, 356, 221, 3688, 347, 152, 340, 415, 318, 535, 3865 

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Project Name: One Piece 

Stitch count (via pattern keeper) as of Sept. 19, 2024: 3,967 / 9029 - 43.94%

Started: March 30, 2024

Finished:

Designer/Source: Cross Stitch Bay on Etsy. Chart no longer available

DMC Floss: 310

Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchased at Walmart

Needle Size: 26

Making for my son. 

From previous update

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Knitting 

Project Name: Bly Cardigan
Started: Sept. 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: www.Berroco.com

Yarn: My own handspun corriedale, purchased from paradise fibers

Colors: Grey

Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 m.m.) and U.S 7 (4.5 mm)

The pattern wasn't as easy to interpret and understand as I would have liked.  I knit about 6 inches and then realized I misunderstood the instructions and I ripped out and wound the yarn back up into a ball. 

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Project Name: Passenger Princess Socks
Started: June 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source:Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock Yarn

Colorway: Midcentury stripes

Colors: Peach, blue, cream, vintage looking colors.

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Made For: myself.

Previous update

*****************************************************

Project Name: Autumn Socks
Started: Sept. 1, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Malabrigo

Colorway: 858 Arbol

Colors: browns, oranges and olives

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

This is just a few of the Youtube channels I've watched the last few weeks and think you should check them out. Sharing is caring!

‪@StitchinMommy‬ ‪@Sarahthenorthwoodsstitcher‬ ‪@morganunraveled‬ ‪@TheCampingStitcher‬ ‪@norwegianknitter‬ ‪@MistyPursel‬ ‪@HandsOnDesign‬

Other channels mentioned in other parts of the video:‪

@disorderlystitcher‬ ‪@periwinklestitcher‬ ‪@MommaNevin‬

September is flying by!

Last week was a bit of a tough recovery from a three-day weekend.  I enjoy the long weekends but they can be tough when it's time to go back to work

I thought Monday was Sunday, and Wednesday was Friday. You know the drill. 

Because of all this discombobulation I didn't touch a lot of my crafty projects. 

I did, however, touch the garden. 

Oh, that sounds a bit obscene. Doh!

The garden is winding down and I've started pulling out plants. The first thing to go was the collard greens that I did not mean to plant.  They were mislabeled seeds. 

 I also pulled out some tomato plans that were not going to have any more tomatose, along with a few zucchini plants. 

I took a quick break and admired the grape vine that is now growing across the top of the garden fence. 

Yup, that's all milkweed.  I have a nice little patch of it growing for the butterflies.  I didn't see many butterflies this year. 

View of the garden from the table I have out there. 

This particular day I was feeling a bit moody about the state of the garden, and went to an online garden group and whined about it.  Then apologized for whining.  The majority of the people who responded said they felt the same about their own gardens this year.

This was definitely a tough year for the gardeners.

Stock flowers? So far only one plant bloomed. I do know this is a cool weather annual. 

Some of the fruits of the labor. 

Looks like I will indeed get my salsa this year. 

This, however, was for a small batch of spaghetti sauce. 

No gazpacho, though.  I was a bit bummed when I realized there would be no gazpacho this year. My coworker introduced me to it and I can't get enough of it when I realize I have enough tomatoes to make a batch. 

This past weekend I completed what ended up being a longer than it should have been project. Staining the trinket boxes. 

I held off on staining the boxes due to the weather.  I thought the stain and poly would take way too long to dry if I did it when it was raining. 

Boxes are now all done and ready to be finished off with any cross stitch I choose to top them with. 

This past weekend I was a bit productive with the crafty stuff.  I don't have pictures of everything, however. 

The heel was turned on my second passenger princess sock. 

The "Rest in Peace" sampler was started.  

Project Name: Rest in Peace

Started: Sept. 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Becky Noland, of Lucy Beam

Fabric: 14 Count Rustico Aida, Oatmeal color, fabric from Hobby Lobby.

DMC in called for Colors: 931,799,902,356,221,3688,347,152,340,415,318,535,3865,320,169,930,501

I'm not going to lie, this sampler has got most of my cross stitch attention since the start of the month. 

This week feels like it is zooming by, despite only being Wednesday.  Then I looked at the date and realized it was Sept. 11. 

Sept. 11, you guys. 

Not only is it the anniversary of 9/11, it feels like we are reaching the middle of the month in record time. 

And yes, I do still remember where I was when I first heard about the plane flying in to the first tower.  I was in the drive thru at the bank, before work.  I was listening to The Bob and Tom show and Kristy Lee broke the news that the plane crashed into the tower and no one knew if it was an accident or intentional, or a big plane or a small one. 

I've been under the weather since Saturday.  I've been dosing myself with herbals teas and rest (when I can). Crossing my fingers whatever I have abates by the time Saturday morning rolls around.