No, I haven't forgotten about my blog. ;D

I've been sewing a little and knitting a little.  Since I'm not working right now, I always have something I'm working on.  Todd left this morning and will be gone for a couple days, so I needed to find something to keep me busy.  I've been meaning to take pictures of my latest projects and finally got it done this morning.

First, I found instructions for a knitted headband and decided to try it.  The first one came out a little wider than I'd hoped for (but I'll probably be able to wear it over my ears), so I tried it again and adjusted the width.  I used the same yarn as the beret, scarf and fingerless gloves that Alyssa models here.  The buttons are some from Todd's grandma and not exactly straight, but I'll fix that later.




 You knit part of it, then divide it up into three separate parts and braid them.  Then attach them to the beginning and add the buttons.


I also made a couple koozies for water bottles and drinking glasses.  The yard I used is 100% cotton.  LOVE THEM!!!!!


And I've also made a few more reusable shopping/grocery bags.  We have a HUGE family reunion coming up in June and we always have an auction to raise money for the expenses, so I think I'll take them to be auctioned off.

I made them larger than the ones I use, which is nice because you can really pack them full.  They will easily hold two gallons of milk.  The other adjustment I made was making the handles a little longer.  They are really great!!!!!

The first one I made was out of a vintage curtain we brought home from Todd's grandma's house.  I really liked the fabric so wanted to bring it home.  The bag is lined with the same fabric that the curtain was lined with.


I also added button holes and a slip on the back so it fits easily on the racks at the store.




I also used one of the vintage tablecloths that was large enough to make a set of reusable shopping/grocery bags!!!!






They hold A LOT!!!!
 

More knitting projects!!!

And I used Alyssa for a model.

First I made the fingerless gloves.  The pattern was on some yarn I bought.  They had cables on them and I thought they were pretty.  Then I decided to make a scarf to match, also cables.  The patter for that I found here.
I have a few other scarves I've made out of that pattern and it's pretty easy.    The beret pattern I also found online.  The first time I made the beret it turned out ok, but I wasn't very happy with it, so ripped it out.  Then I decided to combine the beret pattern with the scarf pattern.  It took me a while to figure it out, but I think it turned out pretty well.  The beret is kind of small, though.  I think it looks pretty good on Alyssa!!!
The whole set
 

Better picture of the scarf and fingerless gloves


and a couple pictures of the beret


 

I finished one more sock this morning.  I'm taking a couple knitting projects on our trip so hopefully I'll have the other one done when we get home.

As always, comments are appreciated!!!!!

Scarves!!!!!

It's supposed to get cold here this week, so I decided I needed a scarf (or two or three, lol).  And cold here is in the 30's and 40's during the day, yes, we're wimps.

And just really quickly, here are a couple (bad) pictures of the prayer shawl that I made - it's really warm and sometimes I use it as a lap afghan while watching TV.




I also made a scarf to match it - this was made with size 15 circular needles, Lion Brand Homespun yarn, the color is  Barley.






I also made a cowl out of the Lion Brand Homespun yarn,  but this color is Heppelwhite; also with the size 15 circular needles.


I can double it to make a neck warmer!

The next scarf I made is the "Basketweave" pattern, size 15 needles (circular but could have used straight), the yarn is Bernat Satin Sport, Taupe.





It's amazing how warm it makes my neck even though there's no bulk to the scarf.

I also made an ear warmer out of the same yarn, but used a size 6 circular needle but didn't get a picture of it.  

I decided I wanted to learn how to knit cables and found this on craftster.  I started the scarf a few times, but wasn't too happy with it so kept trying different yarn and needles sizes.  Then yesterday morning I decided to knit a thin scarf with just the cables.  For this I used the size 15 needles and Lion Brand SUPER BULKY yarn, color #300.




For my next project, I'm thinking of trying mittens, but we'll have to see.  At the moment I can't locate my convertable gloves that match my poncho, so I'll need to find something before the cold weather gets here tomorrow.

Thanks again for visiting my blog!!!!!!

Food this time!

I've been knitting and am done with the scarf and fingerless glove, but haven't taken pictures yet.  Yesterday, however, I decided to make some Cinnamon Rolls!  Todd gave me Pioneer Woman's Cookbook for Christmas (YAY!) and she has a recipe for them in it that's supposed to be really good.  Yesterday, however, I decided to use our family recipe.  First I tried to make the dough in the bread machine, but it's too big of a recipe, so had to finish it with the mixer.  Anyway, I decided to snap pictures of the finished projects.  :D




Pictures aren't great because I used my small camera, but they taste really good!  Still not quite like when my Mom makes them, but still good.  Maybe I roll them out too thin, not sure.

I'm thinking of next time use PW's recipe and see which one I like the best.

I took a quick trip to Michael's the day after Christmas because they had most of their yarn on sale, so I bought 6 skeins (2 skeins each of 3 different kind/color).  I also had to get some Christmas stuff that was 50% off.  And I bought a set of 12 holiday wine glasses (with gold on the rim) at Target for 50% off - $7.50!!!  They will go great with the china we brought home from Todd's grandma's house in IL.

So I've started another scarf - this one white.  I'm using the circular knitting needles again - I really like them.

After all of our Christmas celebrations are done, I'll have another post to show what I made for Megan and Kate.

Tomorrow is New Year's eve, everyone have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I can't believe it's almost Christmas!

Wow, where has the time gone?  I've been busy - we traveled to Nebraska for Thanksgiving.  That was a lot of fun and I've posted about that on my personal blog .

I did complete another quilt - this one is for our step-grandson.  He wasn't in the family yet when I started quilting and made the rest of the grandkids quilts (which reminds me, I need to make one for McKenna!).  I had already purchased fabric from Wal-Mart a long time ago and it's the same as the other Split Rail Quilts I made.  Unfortunately, I didn't have quite enough for the inside border to be the same, so I had to improvise.  Here's the finished quilt:

I need to figure out how to label it yet.  The other ones I made printed off labels on the fabric paper that I used for picture pillows, but I'm not  sure if they hold up very well.  Since I now have my MIL's Bernina, I think I'll stitch a label, just something quick, but that's all I'll need to do.   I machine quilted this with clear thread, but the back didn't turn out very well, but it will have to do. (I'm not going to post a picture of the back since I'm not happy with it.)

I've also been knitting and a little crochet.   Before Thanksgiving, I decided I wanted a shawl and had a few patterns at home, so I bought some pretty yarn - Lion Brand Homespun Barley is what I decided on.  I actually finished it while in Nebraska, but then decided I wanted to make it wider and longer, so after we got home, I ripped it out and I'm starting again.
This is where I was on it a week ago:

I've added to it since then, but still not to the size I want, so I'm still working on it.

Something else I decided I want to make are Fingerless Gloves.  I have a couple pair of them sewn out of fleece, but wanted to make some out of yarn.  The first one I did was crocheted, made out of the same yarn the shawl is: (Found the pattern on the internet)




I only made one and it's a little bulky, so wanted to try knitting one.   I didn't have a pattern for these, so made it up as I went.



Still not happy with this one, either, so tried it with a different yarn.




 That was better, but still not quite what I wanted.

So I went out last week and purchased some circular knitting needles.  These let you knit a tube.  This was the first try - it took me a while to figure it out but I sat down one morning and found a picture tutorial online and figured it out.


Showing the circular needles:


That was much better, but it turned out too big.  Yesterday we were at Wal-Mart and I decided ot buy some more circular needles, but in a smaller size.
And yesterday I made this:




MUCH better!  So I've started the second one, but need to finish the shawl to figure out how much yarn I have left.

So that's what I've been working on lately.

Friday I had a nice surprise - we were at Todd's work Christmas Party and I received an email from etsy that someone purchased another item!!  YAY!!!!
Melissa in Aurora, CO purchased one of my fabric book covers, so I'm stopping at the Post Office on the way to work to put it in the mail.

My sister also opened an Etsy shop last night, so if anyone is interested in Stained Glass pieces, she does GREAT work!  Her etsy shop, and her website.
This is a Christmas ornament she gave me:

And while I'm promoting other people's work, my step-daughter, Megan, had a blog about the items she crochets, so here's the link to that.  (She does great work, too!  Really cute items for babies.)  And her Facebook page.  Too late for Christmas, but winter's not officially here yet!!!