Slow Progress 4/52

I would like to say that I made pretty good progress on projects this week especially since I had a large amount of down time on Tuesday. But it didn't work out that way. I have manages a couple of hats for charity, an almost finished Etsy order and a couple of rows on one sleeve of my cardigan. 

On Tuesday we had an appointment with a specialist and we did get some news that day that they didn't see an signs of cancer on Abbigail's liver as my vet was sure they would see, or any where else that they could tell. We did another blood test and they think she has IBD, irritable bowel  disease. This Would fit all of her symptoms, old and new.I'm looking forward to helping her feel better with a new diet and medication. I appreciate everyone's well wishes and I know they were heard.

So on to the non-progress of the week..

Here's the three hat added to the charity list. I dug out a couple of skeins of yarn that I had laying around, I Should be able to get a few more out of this skein and another that I had in this weight that I can only seem to find one of so it's a good project for them. I'm loving how the stripes are working out, so this was a great pattern for that yarn.

After much internal debate I think I'd decided on a shorter sleeve for my cardigan. That's not me trying to finish it up it's actually that I'm not a fan of long sleeves. So at the least I would have made them 3/4 length but for more use I'm going with a shortish sleeve. I've measure it out as 11 inches and once I get the first one done I'll see how that works. I think I should go ahead and seam it up so that I can also check the fit. So with each row being about 1/2 and inch I think I'm about 11 rows until this sleeve is ready for testing. This still isn't the right color by the way, which is really interesting that it looks so different in different lighting.

I swear it's really a nice heather blue..lol

I've got a veggie set to finish up, work in ends and add a few leaves and this one will be shipping out on Monday! 

I'm hoping to have a bit more progress to show and talk about next week, Thanks again for all of your kind words and thoughts, they mean so much to us.

If you are enjoying these updates be sure to stop by Ravelry, and check out the Year of Projects forums for more talented yarn artists! If you are having issues with the new format please be sure to switch to classic to keep the original community while they work out the bugs.

Have a Crafty Week!

Cold Sheet Progress 4/52 

Prior Weeks Balance 3269 yards out

This weeks yarn used 408 yards

This weeks yarn In 0

Updated Total Used 3677

 

Cardigan and Charity Progress YOP 3/52

After last week's post I kept my promise to myself and I went back into the cave of doom Craft Room and dug out my Silver Bells Cardigan, the pattern was in the 2014 version of the Holiday Crochet magazine. I have been working on it off and on since 2016 and it's my goal to actually get to wear it this fall. It has a longer bell type sleeve but I'm going to modify it to at least a 3/4 sleeve. Somehow I've managed to keep the pattern, yarn and hook together with the pieces, which is a good thing because I'm pretty sure I'd never find the yarn again. I had the back and one side finished back in 2017, then it was put away or forgotten for other projects, but I've been working on it this week and its going so easily I don't know why I put it down. It's just shells so it's a good project for while watching tv. I finished up the second panel for the front and have just moved on to the sleeves. not too bad I guess.

The colors are way off, it's actually a blue, but I kinda wish it was this color..lol

I had a goal to do 30 projects for a Charity that gave items to babies in the NICU to celebrate my premie's 30th birthday. Their big request right now is for hats of all sizes, I have a skein of some really soft mint colored yarn and I whipped up 7 small hats and I managed another pink hat in a larger size that I will add to the pile. This was off of a small ball I had on hand, i think I can get one more out of it too. I thought I would complete my personal challenge before sending, if I can go ahead and get the rest done I'll try that but if it starts to drag I think I'll send these on so they have them. And just keep an box for the remainders as they come along. 

I have a hard appointment this coming week for Abbigail, my lab mix and best friend. She's had all kinds of health problems over the years and she's no spring chicken but I'm still holding out hope.  We're going to a specialist to have an ultrasound and other some tests run. She's not doing well and it's even worse that with everything going on I have to leave her at the vet and wait outside. It could be an hour or hours, depending on what they think is best. It's going to be rough on both of us and I need to bring a project that's portable and also interesting so I can fill the time and not worry myself sick too. Maybe it will be a great time for Charity projects, simple and quick. We can use any kind thoughts you can send our way. 

Princess Abbigail aka Abbey dooby doo

 I'm hoping to be back next week with a big finish and hopefully some small ones, and more progress to show on old projects.

Be sure to check out the Year of Projects groups on Ravelry for inspiration and it's never to late to join.

Have a very creative week!

Cold Sheep Tally 2020-21

Prior weeks total out 2550 yards

Week 3 out 719 (hats, veggie set, sweater work)    

Week 3 in 0

Total Change 3269. yards.

One Pillow, Two Pillow and a set of Booties. Year of Projects Week 2

So as soon  I decide to buckle down on my list I find myself suddenly diverting  onto other things. I've been trying to organize my craft room, putting yarn up and putting yarn together with patterns for a while. And as I move one more box and I then realize I've got a nice selection of pillow forms just hanging around. SO instead of working on a project that needed to be completed I started another. In my defense it was quick and I've added a spot of color to my living room/office space and utilized a pillow form. And did I mention that I used two skeins of yarn that I had in hand? Win/Win/Win in my book!

Its a pattern from the crochet crowd, Crochet Textured Flower Pillow, Here's the pattern I didn't have a bulky yarn I liked so I went with two strands of Red Heart that I had on hand. And I'm really happy with how it turned out. I'll be making another one in a different color soon, well as soon as I find two skeins of a color I think will work in that area. The stash hunt is officially on !

Then as luck would have it I got a message from a person who follows my daughters Instagram and she asked about a pillow I had done for My daughter a year or so ago. We struck up a conversation and soon she was placing an order for an Acorn Pillow, yes you read that right, Acorn. So that was pillow two of the week and I can't say how much fun those large stuffies are. In case you wondered the one for my daughter was a beet! My daughter is vegan and she loved the small version so well I thought a big one would be fun and a conversation piece too. I actually ended up making a few beet pillows and a couple of other veggie pillows last year for a friend of hers that had a vegan store on the coast. You just never know where the world of yarn will take you!

Then it was on to a special order of Booties. Dad is a baseball fan and with a new baby on the way and hope for the season opener, Mom ordered these Chicago Cubs inspired booties, These are fun and easy, toe of my favorite things, and I get it add a check mark to the finish column even if it's not on the list!

I'm hoping to dive into my project bags this week and drag out my long suffering cardigan, I might have it finished by the time it gets cold. I'm really glad I bought so much yarn for it since i"m pretty sure they don't make it any more.

So having said that It's time to track my Cold Sheep/ Clean out the Disaster  Craft Room

Yarn

OUT 2550 yards (rounded) 

IN 0

Other Craft Supplies

1 Pillow Form

So that wraps up another week of Projects for me, Please be sure to check out all of the other blogs in the group and  remember it's always a good time to join. Check it out here.

Have a Wonderful Crafty Week!

Year of Projects Week 8

It's been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks. I was out of town last weekend and part of the week. I visited one yarn store and managed to come out with only a new set of Straight needles..lol. But they were so pretty I couldn't help myself. I want to get back into knitting and I thought these might just encourage me a bit.

I knew I wouldn't have much time for projects but I picked a simple one as the next in line to finish. It's a simple pattern and one color so easy packing.

Not a huge amount of progress but I did manage a complete motive and I dug around and found another skein of the same yarn so the stash will be moving in the correct direction! I did a variation of a pattern I found on the blog Martin Up North, He was basing his scarf on a section of the Hotel of Bees Shawl, which is also on my wish list. I've been a bee keeper, I don't have any now, but I have spent many a lovely afternoon watching industrious bees coming home loaded down with pollen, doing the "direction dance" as we called and it then zooming off again. I seem to be having a thing with hexi's lately too..

I've started the next pillow also, same fabric but triangles this time. And I've got a couple of  square pillow forms so another item out of the craft room.

These mini rulers are great for jelly rolls, I bought a few from the Sewing Show last year and I'm finally putting them to use. They were less than 2.00 each and I'll  say it was a great deal.

I've gotten the center sewn together and I'm lining up the other pieces, The top couple be finished by this weekend, fingers crossed. 

I need to get on the ball if I plan on making a bit more room so I can bring home a few things from the Southern Eastern Animal Fiber Fair this October.

So my Year 9 progress hasn't changed much, I'll weigh my skein this week for blanket progress

So here's where it stand as of now:

615 yards Yarn in and 957 yards out.

I jelly roll in process in and 2 .25 yard Panels and 1 yard of fabric in.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all of the other great projects in the Year of Projects  Blog along.

Crafting with old quilts

My grandmother and I'd say all of the women in the family before her were avid quilters. Yes quilting is fun but they did it out of necessity. There wasn't a Target on every corner, but even if there had been my grandmother still wouldn't have gone.

People still quilt, quilts are still passed down but maybe they don't have the same meaning sewn into them as they once did. Like everything else a well loved quilt will get worn in spots or or worse become soiled and unable to be safely cleaned. That doesn't mean they still don't have a lot of use left in them. I personally have a chest of quilts made by my great grandmother and maybe even from before, that never see the light of day. My Grandmother, Elizabeth would be horrified, quilts are made to be used, they were after all mostly made from scraps from other sewing endeavors. So to honor those quilts beyond repair, personal or ones picked up at sales let's imagine ways to give them new lives.

We'll start with family quilts, the ones who have seen a bit too much of rough housing or who belonged to Children and were used a tug toys, camp forts or for naps in the grass. They are a part of their childhood and are often passed from kid to kid. Now they aren't in fit for the next generation, but not quite ready for the trash heap. How about making ornaments for each kid that loved that blanket? Something to talk about with the next generation and so the quilt doesn't really go away it gains a new following.

Jan  from JanMade used an old quilt to make Angels for her tree

How pretty is this and what a story it could tell. you could do other shapes as well, stars, barns, trees, hearts or any shape that fits your style. They make wonderful gifts for Christmas or any special occasion and everyone gets to take a tangible reminder of their special quilt.

If you have a larger quilt or one that you don't mind cutting into, stuffed animals are another option for gifting a quilt to numerous people. Bears, rabbits and even dolls can be made from old quilts.

via Stitch This

My personal favorite idea is one we saw while shopping in the North Carolina Mountains.

Aren't these the cutest sheep? I would think you could cut the shape out of wood and then wrap the quilt pieces and extra battling around it. The would make great decorations or even a foot stool. This idea has been hanging around for a while. I think it's time to get busy making some!

Thanks for visiting with me and my quilt ideas as I blog my way through the Alphabet with Blogging from A to Z. There are still  10 days left to go and I'm hoping you'll enjoy them as much as I am creating them. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see  you tomorrow with my R for Rags post.

Week 42 Year of Projects

Here's my year of project post and it's a short one. Not that I haven't been doing a lot of Blogging, since I'm still hanging in there with the A to Z Challenge.

I've done a small amount of work on my rainbow chevron almost done with the first section of white.

All 30 squares of the peach blossom blanket are complete and blocking. I'll be working on layout early this week, hopefully.

I've got to figure out exactly how I want to join and a border so hopefully I'll see the end of this one soon. I just have too many ideas and options so I imagine that there will be many variations before I figure it out. 

The weather has been wonderful, sunny, dry and warm. With the crazy ups and downs we've had lately I haven't started a bigger garden yet but I couldn't resist getting something started. 

I planted these tomato and basil plants last weekend and they have taken off. They are planted in a old Chicken feeder that I picked up at an auction last year. I'm hoping to add some thyme to the bottom round portion. I have another that I did today with some lemon balm and sage. I finished the little addition this weekend too. I thought I would add him to give them some encouragement..lol

This afternoon I finished up a few more hats for Babba's Angel Gowns, This week it's a Angel pins and medium and large hats. I managed to use complete quite a few hats today and I'll hopefully get the end weaved in and ready to mail before too much later. They are calling for ugly storms so I'm staying up a bit later to see what the weather brings. 

So it's been a pretty good week for cold sheep, these hats were a whole skein and then I've managed to stay out of the yarn section too. So that's a plus. 

I'm hoping for a bit more production this week, we'll see how it goes.

Hoping everyone has a very crafty week!

Year of Projects Year 7 Week 7

There hasn't been a noticeable amount of crochet doing the last two weeks thanks to the change in weather around here. It had been horribly hot but we had a very nice break with some cooler weather. So we've taken advantage of that by playing catch up with yard work. The yard looks better but it hasn't done much for my yardage count!

I did start the Nya Mosaic blanket but a lot of it was done in the car on the interstate and I'm not as happy with the colors as I thought I would be. I'm fairly sure a bit of it will be frogged, since it is a bit more Fall themed that I had originally thought. I was about to start the pattern process but I decided to step back and decide on colors before I went much farther.

I feel like it's an over ripe banana..lol I'm planning on adding blue and other colors but I think it's time to start over..

When I did have a  bit of time to crochet I was working on an order than came in but that need a quick turn around time. The one on the left is the work in progress, only a border left to go and it will be on it's way to Canada. It's so fun to think how far this blanket will have traveled before it's gifted!
The one on the right is in my Etsy shop and was the right pattern but the wrong colors. I'm enjoying the pattern and how different the same stitched look with just a couple of different colors. That's why I'll never get tired of crochet, there is always something new to make!

I have one more small project that is on a deadline, a granny square for #grannysquareday2017. 

Wanna get on board? Post a granny square on instagram on August 15th and use the hash tags #grannysquareday2017 and #grannysquare. @Suregal27  is heading up the challenge and we're hoping to blanket instagram with tons of squares. A virtual blanket will be created from the squares submitted and all you have to do is take a full screen shot of a granny square and post to your account, how easy is that! 

As for my Cold Sheep here's this two weeks update:

Prior count: 1506 yards

Yardage in: 170 yards ( I was short one yard for the baby blanket order)

Yardage out: 885 yards

Accumulated Total: 2221 yards not too bad..

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to hop over to Ravelry and check out all of the great blogs in A year of Projects and join the yarny adventure!

It's been a baby project week

Having just finished up or almost finished a couple of projects, I need something new to work on for a bit, Not that I don't have a few works in progress awaiting my attention, but it was time for something small and easy.
 So I started a diamond baby blanket in a soft lilac that I found in my stash, that checked off two boxes, simple and stash busting. Got about 8 rows in and then a got a couple of orders back to back.

One of course needs to be done in a week, and the other has a couple of weeks till it needs to be ready to deliver.

Thankfully the emergency is for baby sandals, I had done a pair a couple of years ago for the new aunt as a shower gift and she was in need of another pair for another new baby in the same family.
Those are fairly fun so I thought I would do a few more since the season is right for sandals and add them to a local store and some for my Etsy shop.

I still had the skein from before where I did the soles but she needed a different color for the tops. So drove into the stash and came up with a couple of colors, I love this coral and I think it's the one we're going with, but the purple and mint are great too. But more of the mint in just a bit. So I'm on to find the perfect itty bitty button for these now..

The second order is for a first baby, and they wanted something a bit frilly. We decided on the Fluffy Meringue blanket, in mint. It took a a bit to get it started but it's  moving along well.

All in all the week started out slow but quickly picked up speed. The cold sheep is going well nothing coming in and I'll have a bit going out soon. Not sure about any totals right now but I'm hoping to have a very positive decline in the stash by year end.  I need to make room for my wheel and sewing machine and fabric and other items, with Crafts, it's never ending. I was under the misconception that if I had a craft room it be organized and inspiring, and it has come a long way but it's not quite there yet..

If you also have an overflowing craftroom and queue and you're looking for some inspiration come check out the Year of Project group on Ravelry!

Year of Projects -Week 1 2017-2018

I admit I've fallen down a bit on the posting and on the creating but I've been trying to get back on the ball and finish up a few of those things that have been patiently waiting for me to pick them back up and finish them. As I look back I can't believe that it's been  almost 10 months since my last post. I feel like I have to get back on track since the year is already starting over again.

It was a  short busy summer and a horribly cold winter and I think it sapped my will to do anything but the heat has brought me out of my shell and I have a few finishes to start my year off with.

This is my first one that was hanging around since last May, I connected the squares and started the granny rounds and ran out of yarn and it took me about 6 months to pick it up again, then it was deciding on the small squares.

and it took me about 6 months to pick it up again, then it was deciding on the small squares. 

Once that was done it worked out quickly and will be going up for sale on my Etsy site Farm2ewe soon. All of the loose ends about drove me crazy! A bit of blocking a a camel stitch border did wonders for this blanket.

This was a variation of a dish cloth design from Drops. 

Beyond thrilled to see this monster finished!

And a Cross Stitch Finish for my Craft Room,

I need to get busy and update my Project list and start keeping myself on the cold sheep track, check back in the next few weeks for new projects, an updated craft room and reuse/recycle and vintage ideas.

If your looking for inspiration, great ideas and new bloggers, make sure you join us in a Year of Projects on Ravelry.

Finally .. sandals..

The garden, baking, jam and work have kept we away from my crafts for a while but I'm back on track , finally. A co worker had brought me a picture she found on pintrest that she wanted to know if I would make for her sister in law who is due in July. I did a google search and came up with a couple of cute patterns but we settled on two. I start these almost a month ago but I kicked it into high gear and finished them up  today while the bread is proofing. I enjoy booties but I'm not sure I'd tackle these again..

These are the Baby Strap Flip Flops from Bethany Dearden on her blog Whistle and Ivy. I've barely had a chance to skim her site but I've seen some really cute and doable ideas. I added her to my "when I get a spare minute list.".

This is the second pattern we picked and they run from 0 to 6 months so they are a bit bigger and might be used a bit longer. It's an easy pattern but I had a horrible time with gage. I know I redid one sole at least 6 times. Super small items are not my area of expertise.  These are Baby Espadrille Sandals  by Caroline Brooke. I picked up those super cute buttons at Joanne's and manage not to buy a single skein of yarn. Plus all yarn used here was Caron Soft and it was already in my stash, so I'm still on the cold sheep plan! I can say I was very tempted to pick up a few more buttons..but I prevailed. Actually I'm just waiting for a good coupon or a sale..lol

I hope the receiving party is as thrilled with them as I am to see them head out of the house! I'm heading back to work on a blanket for a bit before the timer goes off for the Cinnamon Raisin Bread. If it comes out as good as they claim I'll share it with you.

Currently I'm ready No Regrets from Shannon Butcher, and I want to say thanks to her husband Jim Butcher (who is also and author I love) for encouraging her to write. It's part of a series and I'm on the look out for the rest. I did go to our local library sale yesterday, I even surprised the volunteers by only getting 12 books. I don't know if the back log of books is catching up to me or if I have really read so much that I'm getting picky..

Have a great Weekend!