Hello darling. I went to Stitches West. Finally, after 2 years of Covid craziness. Last year was the first in the new location at the Sacramento Convention Center. The center is huge and had a lot of potential for greatness. I met up with the H Sisters, which was delightful. When we got there, we quickly realized that there was an additional event going on, in another part of the center. It was a youth cheerleading competition/ convention. Darling, I can’t tell you how much I hope that Feebs never wants to do cheerleading. I am just not that mom, and I hope she isn’t that kind of kid, at least not the kind that I saw that day.

Once we got into the lobby, the vibe was very relaxed. There wasn’t the excited energy that was always present before. Some people were still wearing masks, but most weren’t. When we were let into the staging area, there was a promoter that was trying to pump up the crowd before entry. She did an amazing job, but the energy just didn’t seem to be there. I was very surprised at how small the event seemed. In retrospect, I think it was the same size it had always been, but the room was so much larger, that it dwarfed the vendor area and made it seem small. I had hoped for more sewing and other fiber crafts to be present since I thought I had seen them there last year (while Insta-stalking the event). Unfortunately, there weren’t any.

Some vendors that I was excited to see were Madeline Tosh, Miss Babs, A Verb for Keeping Warm, and Royal Bee Yarn Co. Vendors that I was sorry not to see were Magpie Fibers, Leading Men Fiber Arts, and Jimmy Bean Wool. I was really hoping to get more yarn from all of them. I feel that I didn’t buy as much as I normally would have, but I spent a lot more money. Funny how that works. I was also surprised at the lack of tools and accessories. Ms. C was wanting to buy a set of interchangeable needles. We looked around, several times, and found only a few sets available. There were Knitter’s Pride wooden needles, Chiao Goo, and Lykke driftwood. That was all. In the end, I convinced her to hold off for now. Ms. D has a ton of different-sized circulars for Ms. C to choose from, so I didn’t see a real need for her to invest at this point. I did end up getting the Chiao Goo short set in sizes 9-11. I am in love with those sets, and use them all the time. While in line, I got talking to a couple of women behind me, and they were inquiring what I did with the sets. I told them that they have revolutionized my sleeve game. One of the ladies asked me to hold her spot in line so she could go grab a set. I felt like I should have gotten a commission from the vendor…

As we moved through the vendors, we did find some fabulous stuff. We all purchased some fastenings from Juul. I purchased one style in both metal colors. These fastenings are fantastic because they aren’t fixed. You can take them off and use them on another garment. I believe the sisters selected a different style than I did, but they were all gorgeous.

Then we got to the Plied booth. They had the most gorgeous, variegated yarn (think Spincycle) that was toothy but not scratchy. They had a colorwork cowl on display that I simply had to purchase. I felt that it would have been more helpful if they had kits, instead of having you go through and find everything, but they were very helpful and made sure I found everything I needed. The cowl is the Branches, by Jamie Hoffman.

When we got to the MadTosh booth, it was broken up into two different areas. One was the display of current colors, and the other was boxes of one-of-a-kind colors. I grabbed a few skeins of one-of-a-kind colors for gift hats. I tried to pick up some more gender-neutral colors, this time to make my options broader.  (On a side note, there was a woman picking through the boxes and sniffing at them saying what ugly colors they were.  Oh, darling, she doesn’t know how close she came to getting throat punched.  How dare she!)

 I also spied a woman with a gorgeous sweater when we were waiting to get into the event.  She told me it was the Hamilton sweater.  Naturally, I went right on Ravelry and purchased the pattern.  I bought yarn for it at the Mod Yarns booth.  The yarn is luxurious.  It is Straight Up Worsted.

Then I was able to find the Loops booth.  I bought a single skein in a purple/ lavender twist, at probably the 2019 Stitches West.  I really liked it and was saving it for something special.  Well…  My mother-in-law asked me to knit her cousin a hat for her birthday and said her favorite color was purple.  I had exactly one skein of purple in my stash…  Did I mention the cousin in question has cancer?  So, I parted ways with it and wished it a good home.  So I was delighted to find it again, with a lovely orange sister to go along with it.  I am not saying I wouldn’t part with this one for similar reasons, but I would really like not to. 

Then as I was practically on my way out, I walked by the Miss Babs booth again and spied a beautiful shawl in soft and soothing colors.  It was the Pizza Night shawl and was made using one main color and a gradient set.  So, of course, I went on Ravelry again and bought the pattern.  I choose the yarn of the model in the same colors.  Miss Babs Yummy 2-ply.

Ms. D had gone off a bit on her own, so I am not entirely sure what she bought. Ms. C picked some nice things up along the way.  They were both looking for yarn for hats and possibly some cowls or scarves.  They were very happy with their purchases. The other purchase that I made as a result of the event is the pattern for the Slippy V Triangle, by Steven West.  A Verb for Keeping Warm had a sample knit up, and I simply had to buy the pattern.  I have yarn in my stash that I can use for it, so didn’t see the need to procure more (who am I?). 

So, the event was good and productive, but I did have higher hopes for it.  I wish they had diversified the vendors to include more crafts, like fabric and sewing.  Especially with the size of the building.  We walked around the entire thing about 4 or 5 times, and my step count was only 4,500.  That struck me as strange considering that my workday (that I mostly sit at) generally nets me about 5,200 steps.  I am very happy with everything that I bought.  I am very excited to cast on some of it.  I have a theory about my elbow, so I will avoid color work or left-handed knitting for a while.  That means that the Branches cowl will have to sit in time out for a bit, but I can cast on just about everything else.  I am excited to return next year, barring any new pandemic bullshit.  It felt perfect to squish yarn and be surrounded by my people again.

On a side note, I made contact with people.  I even initiated a couple of conversations.  I also scared the bejesus out of a woman I recognized from morning drop-off at school.  She had lovely vibrant purple hair, and that gave her away.  I even remembered to introduce myself as me instead of the mother of Feebs.  She introduced herself as well.  It felt good to be friendly and not completely introvert.

Good purchases were made, memories were made, and I got to spend time with some beautiful people.  Stitches 2023 was a win.

Loves,

M

Why is February so short? Why does she only get 28 days? It seems so unfair. February is always a chaotic month. February and October. They are both crazy busy birthday months and always seem to book out months in advance. This one was no exception. But, in fairness, it was a pretty great month. Sadly, there was little knitting due to my asshole elbow. In fact, there are no finished objects or new cast-ons, so we will skip right over those parts and go straight to WIPs

* Works in Progress:

Heartbeat top

Harris

Blue Mountain Cowl

Shatar vest

NYE cast-on

Knitting my memories blanket

White denim skirt

8 pairs of pajama pants/ shorts

* Goals for next month:

School stuff

Sew something, anything

Cast on more things

Finish Harris

So the elbow is still an issue, hence nothing was completed. I have been chipping away, slowly at Heartbeat, Blue Mountain Cowl (it’s my travel knitting), and Harris. You would think this would allow me all kinds of time to break out some sewing. Yeah, no. That hasn’t happened. I am starting to mentally plan some stuff but still haven’t grown enough spine to actually do it. I did assess the white denim skirt with the intention of sewing a seam or two, but I am afraid I really messed up. I pulled out the pattern pieces and the directions. I laid everything out and really reviewed what was needed. I found that not only are the directions still not clicking, but apparently, I never marked my notches and dart markings. Yeah, so… That was cool. Ultimately, I threw it back in the basket and walked away. I am not going to lie, my first instinct was to chuck the whole thing into the garbage and call it a loss. I changed my mind at the last minute, though, and just packed it back up. I am in a place with it where I think I will just let it sit, and hopefully, I can work on something else that will give me the knowledge on how to salvage it. As my grandpa would have said, “it doesn’t eat or drink,” so it can sit there for as long as I need it to. In the meantime, I really do want to start sewing on something. There may be a Fabric Pairing post in the near future. TBD.

February was a really good month. It started with a trip to Chico with LouHoo. It was a really fun weekend that was much needed by both of us. We went and had girl time and went (thrift) shopping and just chilled and reconnected. The Chico thrift store game is on point! We hit 5 or 6 really good shops. I needed that girl time and time away from home. It was nice to miss my loves for a couple of days. The next weekend was the Father’s birthday, so he came down for the day. We played games and went to the Native American food place, Wahpepah’s Kitchen, in Oakland. That place is AMAZING. Dad absolutely loved it. The following week was really busy at work. That Wednesday, I took my new title and moved into the office. It was very bittersweet to leave my old office and my old role. For now, I will be doing double duty and still getting through this double conversion. Once that is complete, I will be doing a hard shift toward my new job. After 10 years in my office, it was hard to give it up. My new office is evolving, but I am sure it will be fine. Two days later, my birthday arrived. I am now 42. That seems like a rather weighty number. I don’t feel old, but I do feel like the years are starting to get heavier. I spent the morning with Feebs and the Mother. We had a sleepover the night before, which was nice. Feebs spent the weekend with Mom. The weekend was very good. It was a kid-free to do with the O’s. We had my annual lasagna, and the Husband outdid himself. The next night, the menfolk went to a concert, and the Female O and I had a delectable snack dinner. We also went and checked out the new craft store downtown. It was small and didn’t have a ton of stuff, but it was cute. It had some nice sock yarn. Then Sunday we went to Napa. It is always weird for to me go back there. We went to Zuzu for cocktails and snacks. Then we went to the Brazilian Steakhouse. For the first time, I got the full meal. It was good, but I think I will stick with my sidebar when we go to those places. I just don’t eat enough to justify the cost. Monday, was a holiday and I went and picked up the girl. It was a really good weekend. The last weekend of the month was pretty chill. I weeded the front planter boxes. Which, really, only emphasized how much we need to clean up the rest of the yard… But at least our lavender, sage, and rosemary are a little happier. And Oh My God, Becky! Guess what the Husband got me for my birthday! Leopard print roller skates! I am so freaking happy about this, I can’t even begin to tell you! I love everything about them. I ordered a helmet, and every kind of protective pad I could find. I am so excited to get them and skate my little heart out! Also, somewhere in this month, the Husband booked our Spring Break trip. We are going to Hawaii on April 1. It wasn’t the trip I had envisioned, but I will take it. I know Feebs is going to love it.

So the month wasn’t terribly craft-happy, but it was still really good. March is going to be exciting because of Stitches West and gearing up for our upcoming vacation. I hope that the year continues with good things and happy memories. I also hope that my elbow figures out its life so that I can get on with my knitting. We shall see what is to come!

Loves,

M

Well, some weird crap happened. January disappeared. By January, I am referring to my January post. It’s gone. It’s not on my computer, it’s not on my phone, and it’s not saved as a draft here. It is just gone. I don’t know what happened, or what ridiculous shenanigans are afoot, but it is no more. So, anyhoo…

January was a pretty mellow month, as Januarys usually are. Or at least they seem to be since we are all hung over from holiday chaos. I had a whole month off school from December 9- January 23. It was amazing and I knitted A LOT. Sewing has yet to make a guest appearance, but there just wasn’t the oomph to pull everything out and set it up. Knitting felt like heaven and I always forget how much I completely adore it and rely on it for 60% of my mental health care. And there are Finished Objects!

* Finished Objects:

Barter scarf for Sister #2- 3×3 rib of no particular design. I knit this holding two strands of Valley Yarns Superwash with one strand of Anzula Wash My Lace. The Anzula was deep stash, and I still have 1/2 the ball left…

August 2022 socks, knit using my vanilla sock pattern. I knit these in Patons Kroy, my go-to sock yarn.

Bricks & Mortar Mitts, by LoriAngela McDermid. I knit these using leftover Berroco Lanas and Cascade 220.

Oh, and I have an update on my Knitting Bingo Card!

* New Cast-Ons:

The Heartbeat top

Blue Mountain Cowl

* Works in Progress:

Harris Sweater

New Year’s Eve Cast-on

White Denim Skirt

8 pairs of pajama pants/ shorts

Knitting my memories blanket

* Goals for next month:

Continue casting on all the things

Finish Harris for Dad

Sew something, anything!

Gear up for Spring Semester

So January was pretty good. I got to knit! Knitting is good. Knitting makes me so happy! I made a lot of progress on the Harris sweater. I finished a languishing pair of socks. I knit a super cute pair of mitts (which I knit too big and had to felt slightly in the dryer). I am completely in love with this new Heartbeat top. I should be ashamed for being so excited, considering I really don’t like knitting lace, but it is so pretty and I love that I am using Sheila’s yarn. This is one of the oldest yarns in my stash. I think it is only younger than the Berroco Glace that I have from 1 million years ago. My goal was to finish Dad’s sweater by the end of January, but that didn’t work out. My elbow has been giving me fits again, so I had to work on it much less. Now the goal was to finish by February (spoiler alert: that didn’t happen either.) I am limiting myself on my other knitting in hopes of saving the knitting time for his sweater. Sewing hasn’t happened. I have a million excuses, but the facts are 1. Laziness- It takes forever to get everything out, wash, dry, iron, cut out, and put everything together. 2. No dedicated sewing space still. 3. Just plain, basic fear- I have no idea why I have this block about sewing, but I do. I can’t seem to reconcile my want to sew stuff and get better at it with my want to not make mistakes. Mistakes happen, and I really need to try to embrace them. They are also the only way that you learn, right? No other crafts have been hitting the mark, lately.

Life stuff in January was pretty good. While we weren’t doing crazy holiday stuff anymore, we were still running like crazy. The first weekend was spent with the Clays. They came over for a makeup playdate since they missed the cookie decorating event in December. The following weekend, the Husband flew to see his friend in Michigan and get a new tattoo. The tattoo is pretty adorable and is of our best lamb. He got that as his Feebs tattoo. She is delighted with it. The Mother was here that weekend, which was great. Then the following weekend the elder Uy was here. He came to hang out and have dinner and drinks. It was so good to catch up with him. That day had been my interview for Manager, so I spent the evening coming down from anxiety. That interview was tough. The following week, I was offered the job, to be started on February 15. I also started the Spring semester that week, taking my Intro to Public Health class. My teacher is the same from the health class in the Fall. I am not excited to be back in school, but I will be able to check off one more class. The last weekend of the month was incredibly chill. Honestly, I don’t even remember what we did.

So that was the month in a nutshell. Since I am having to rewrite this, two months later, I am sure I missed some interesting tidbits. Such is life… I did maybe a bit too much knitting/ data entry in the month, so the elbow is getting sassy again. I am not excited. I did finish my big work project, so the entry has died down. Knitting is taking a big slowdown because of school. So hopefully it all levels out. Onward with the year!

Loves,

M

Hello darling. I am about to cast on ALL the things. I used to be big on having a lot of WIPs, but over time I evolved to only have one or two projects on the needles at a time. Now I am leaning toward wanting more things on the needles. I always get a bit of FOMO when I see posts about people working through their WIPs. A goal of mine for the year is to work on old stash, both yarn and patterns. Many makers are doing the Stash-Free in 2023, but I am not taking it to that level. I guess my hashtag is more #OldStashBash. I know I will continue to purchase yarn throughout the year; I mean, I’ll be at Stitches West in 40 days. I am okay with buying more as long as I am freeing up real estate in my stash. And space aside, I have some pretty great yarn in my possession. I buy things that appeal to me, that I want to work with and wear, so why would I not use them? My only rule is that I have to finish the Harris Sweater for the Father before I can cast any of this on. This should push me past my block and get me to finish the thing.

Old Yarns:

I put this Crystal Palace Yarns Mikado Ribbon into my Ravelry Stash page in May 2020, but the yarn was from Sheila. Sheila passed away in 2006… I purchased the Heartbeat Top, by Knittles Creations, specifically for this yarn.

I purchased this Cascade Eco + somewhere around 2017 to make the Husband a Dude Sweater. I didn’t like the pattern that I purchased and ended up making it with a different yarn and pattern. The Husband is not petit, so I had a lot of yarn to use. I have knit two other sweaters with this yarn and still have these two balls left. I think the amount will be perfect for the Gallus Jumper by Christina J. MacKenzie.

I honestly don’t know when I purchased this Plymouth Yarns Baby Alpaca Aire, but I believe it was around 2013. I originally purchased it to make the Nordic Trail vest by Elizabeth Smith. I didn’t end up making it, and both yarn and pattern have lingered in my stash for a decade. I want to use the yarn to knit the Blue Mountain Cowl by Unwind Yarn House.

Old Patterns:

Speaking of the Nordic Trail vest, I think it is well past the time to knit this pattern. I purchased it in July 2013. I want to use Cascade Eco + in black, another yarn from the ill-fated Dude Sweater. I am considering altering the pattern to make it a pullover instead of an open front.

I purchased the Nor’Easter pattern, by Thea Coleman, in March 2018. I have no idea why I haven’t knit this cardigan yet. It is gorgeous and snuggly and will get tons of wear any time the temperature drops below 60 degrees. I purchased the Patons Worsted Classic Wool from Keri’s destash. I think the two will work nicely together.

Since the rest of this list is very garment-heavy, I wanted to throw in something small and quick. I bought the Brick & Mortar Mitts by LoriAngela McDermid in July 2015. The pattern calls for Cascade 220, and luckily I already have some in the stash. I had some leftover 220 in black, and I accidentally bought it in pink when I meant to buy 220 Superwash for a Feebs sweater. I think this will be a great stash-busting pattern for the future, as well.

I am so excited to start gathering the supplies and getting this stuff on the needles! I can’t wait till I am bored with my current project and am able to shift gears to another one that is already in progress. Mind you, in six months, I will probably be whining about how overwhelmed I am by the number of WIPs I have. Oh well… Adventure!

Loves,

M

Hello darling.  I saw the coolest thing the other day.  I was perusing Instagram like you do, and I found a post about Knitting Bingo.  The maker had created a bingo card in lieu of a Make 9.  She had seen another maker post her progress on a 2022 card.  I thought this sounded like a really fun thing to do, so I made up my own cards, one for knitting and one for sewing.  My plan is to use this to push myself this year.  Obviously, the more challenging one will be sewing, but there are a couple of squares on the knitting card that may give me some fits too.  I will post updates about it as I am able to check off items.  I highly doubt this will be a monthly thing, but you never know.  I will be happy with the projects that check multiple boxes!  My rules will be loose, and the point of it is to have fun and challenge myself.  Once I can secure my first Bingo, I will aim at getting a blackout.  It will be interesting to see how this progresses.

I am on the verge of checking a few boxes off now. Adventure!

Loves,

M

December was fun, I’m not going to lie. The semester is over, and I could not be happier. There were illnesses and other unpleasantries, but life seemed to kind of smooth out a bit. I got to make the month away, and I (finally) have something to show for it. I got really into knitting again and can even start to dream about sewing in the near future.

* Finished Objects:

Another Everglade, by Wooly Wormhead. This was knit in Malabrigo Rios.

Flax sweater, by Tin Can Knits. This was knit with leftover Miss Babs Yowza and Malabrigo Rios. When knitting the sleeves, I ran short on the Yowza and added the Rios stripes to avoid panic-inducing yarn chicken.

Three Anker Toques, by Tin Can Knits. These were all knit in Malabrigo Rios, for the three taekwondo teachers.

Daddy and Feebs matching pajama pants. I don’t recall what patterns I used for these pants, but man, did I mess them up. I somehow sewed the two back pieces on both pairs as one leg and the two front pieces as the other leg. I cut the elastic ridiculously long on Feebs’ pants and had to clothespin them to get a decent picture, then had to resew them. I guess this is what happens when you try to batch sew after months of not sewing and then try to cram all the finishing into the last day before Christmas…

* New cast-ons:

Harris Sweater for Dad

* Works in Progress:

Shatar vest

Knitting my Memories blanket

White denim skirt

8 pairs of pajama pants/ shorts

* Goals for the month:

Finish the other two pairs of pajama pants for Feebs

Pull out the white denim skirt and assess the situation

Gear up for the new semester that starts at the end of the month

Finish the Father’s sweater by the end of the month

Make Sister #2’s scarf

This month was kind of weird great, and I got to knit a lot. Nothing makes me smile quite as much as baby knits. I knit the Flax sweater in size 1 year for the cousin’s baby. They are so sweet and little and knit up fast. I just love them. Then the debacle of the knitted hats for the taekwondo teachers… That was an exercise in frustration. Feebs and I got sick in the first week of the month, which pulled Feebs out of her twice-weekly classes for the entire month. She asked me to knit hats for the teachers, so I did. I was literally knitting up to the finish line, we got there, and it wasn’t a regular class. So, we had to turn around and go home. I ended up taking them in a week later by myself because Feebs was sick again. I felt bad for taking the fun of gift-giving away from her, but I wanted the teachers to have them before the studio shut down for the holidays. I started the Father’s sweater, and oh boy, was it super annoying to have to knit three colorwork sleeves. Why did I knit three colorwork sleeves, you ask? Because apparently, I do not know how to read, and I messed up my increases, which messed up my colorwork patterns. Good times. I believe I am back on track now, and I intend to complete it within the month. I am most scared about sewing on the zipper. Many tutorials will be watched prior to that happening. I already gave you Cliff’s Notes about the pajama pants, but that wasn’t even the worst part. On another pair of pants, I cut out one leg in the Husband’s size and one in my size. For real, Mrs. Collins, figure out your life! Part of the problem is that I did a batch-cutting session and started to sew up three sets of matching pajamas for Feebs and one or other of us parents back in July before school started. I had to move and reorganize the pile several times, and now I don’t know what patterns I used or how to undo and fix all of the leg errors. To put it mildly, I seriously messed up and will have to figure out how to salvage them. But did I tell you that I get to knit and sew again? I nearly wept when my classes ended; I could pick up my knitting needles and be leisurely about it. It was glorious. I can’t wait to have some larger finished knitted garments!

Overall, life was weird in December. It started off great with a trip to see the Father. We were supposed to do the festive mini-golf, but it was pouring rain both nights. We decided to reschedule for another trip over Winter Break. Instead, we played cards and had excellent Indian food. He and Feebs made breakfast both mornings, and it was so great to see them enjoying their time together. That week Feebs and I got nasty colds and were out of commission (and school/ work) the entire week. Unfortunately, my new meds are doing their job very well, and I have no immune system to fight off the ick that circulates this time of year. It took me a solid three weeks to get over it. That following weekend was supposed to be the cookie decorating night with the Forest Hills friends at our house. Since everyone had been battling illness, we rescheduled for the next week. We did end up feeling well enough to go to the children’s festival at the Husband’s work. It took about 35 minutes to go through the entire setup. Not the best year, but they tried. Another Forest Hills friend’s birthday party at the trampoline place was right after that. I was rather shocked when a 9-year-old received an iPhone for his birthday. What was even more shocking was that Feebs was the only kid there who didn’t already have a cell phone. She is hopeful that she will get a phone for her birthday, but it isn’t looking promising. What does my 8/9-year-old need a cell phone for??? That week Lillie finally got her cast off! She was so happy to finally be able to kitten. She has been running us ragged ever since. The third weekend of the month was both of our family Christmas parties. Unfortunately, we just didn’t feel comfortable going. I missed seeing everyone, but I just didn’t want to get sick again. Apparently, half of the people there were sick, so I may have dodged a bullet. We did end up having Jorge and Lisa over for dinner that night. It was a very nice visit, and I always enjoy spending time with them. Then suddenly, it was Christmas week. Feebs got sick again and missed the entire week of holiday fun. It was the pits. Work slowed down, and we had a lot of people off. By this time, my application for Manager had been accepted, and I was notified that there would be no test, only the interview. So, we will see what happens there. The week ended with our annual Christmas lunch and reindeer picture. We had invited Uncle M to come to dinner for Christmas Eve, the Mother in Law for Christmas day brunch, and the Parents for Christmas day dinner. Then at the last minute, the Husband got sick. He got completely wiped out, and all Christmas festivities were called off. We ended up having to cancel with everyone, and we just had Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas morning was fun, and Feebs really enjoyed herself. Once the gift opening was completed, it basically felt like a regular day. I did dishes, laundry, clean up, etc. I was a little blue the whole day. I was on vacation from work the whole next week. I specified “from work” because I was crazy busy the whole week. I drove up and down I-80 three times and paid $28 in bridge tolls. I spent the week being exhausted but had a nice time with the Parents. The Mother had a blue Christmas and New Year’s Eve, as it turned out, because of sickness. The second visit with the Father was very nice. Again, it was pouring rain, so still no mini-golf. We played cards and learned how to play Rummicube. It was a very fun game, and we will be buying it. The last weekend of the month started with a makeup Christmas dinner with Mother in Law. It was a nice visit, and Feebs liked seeing her grandma. The next day we headed to the O’s for NYE. They have an adorable new puppy, Noodle. She is a 9-week-old Labradoodle. I just wanted to snuggle her the whole time. We had a lovely snack lunch with an assortment of cheeses. We had a wonderful dinner. Once we got back to the house, the evening kind of died. The Female O fell asleep at 9:45 PM, and the girls stayed up till midnight. It kept us from having a mellow adult evening. It also created hell the next morning when Feebs had to wake up and be functional at 8:00 AM, so we could make it to our breakfast reservation. My girl does NOT enjoy getting less than 10 hours of sleep. She was pretty wretched till we got to breakfast. I will say the girls were awesome. They got along and played very nicely together. That always makes everything better. We also set up our next “kid-free” weekend. We will do it over my birthday weekend, and we are all so excited.

One not so great thing about the month and getting sick is that it wiped out my physical activities. I had no umph to exercise, especially when I couldn’t get rid of my cough for 3 weeks. I also didn’t do great about watching my sugar intake. I guess I can blame it on December. There is something psychologically programmed in us to be gluttonous sloths during that month. I don’t understand it. I got back on track in the last few days of the month, but it was a struggle. I honestly wonder if my decrease in stress made it easier for me to fall off of my wagon. I wasn’t craving the relief like I had been for the past almost 2 years. Whatever it was, it needed to go away. My body and brain need to be active.

So, that was December and the end of 2022. It was full and often bittersweet. I have hopes for the coming year and good memories from the one that just ended. Hopefully, January will continue to be a low-stress month, and I can keep enjoying my making. Onward and upward!

Loves,

M

There is something so very satisfying about taking something old, broken, or neglected and making it usable again.  I try to mend or upcycle whenever possible.  I tend to keep all fabric that I think I can find a use for.  That means old sheets, broken or damaged clothes, and “treasures” I find along the way.  I delight in shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, or being a curb gnome of Free stuff on the side of the road.  When I take fabric things apart (i.e. sheets, shirts, skirts, etc.) I sit down with my seam ripper and completely dismantle everything into individual pieces.  By doing this, I end up with more fabric from seam allowance and hems, or new notions like the elastic in the casing of a fitted sheet.  These are all good things to have and reuse.  They just take some time and effort.

Feebs pants:  Every year my darling girl wears holes in the knees of her leggings.  Every. Single. Year.  The first couple of years, I think I just threw them away.  One day it dawned on me that it makes no sense for me to throw away holey leggings, then buy her shorts when the weather warms up.  So now I have an ever-present pile of holey leggings that get converted into shorts each year.  It saves me money and helps eliminate some waste.  I have an overlocker, but for these, I use my regular sewing machine with a jersey needle and a zigzag stitch.

Gardening Hat:  I was riding my “stationary” bike recently and surveying the chaos that is the garage when I noticed my incredibly crumpled gardening hat.  The brim was bent and slumped and looked very depressing.  I started to consider the fact that maybe the hat was at the end of its life.  I was musing that maybe I could fix it if I had some wire.  No joke, I looked to my right, and low and behold there was a spool of wire hanging on one of the shelves.  I used heavy-duty thread and hand-sewed the wire.  I already had some double-folded bias tape, so I used that and my sewing machine to cover the wire.  Good as new.  Now I can look like my true quirky garden-lady self.

Reusable wine/ whiskey bags:  The Husband is hard on jeans.  Very hard on jeans.  About once every quarter, I tend to inherit a pair of jeans with a catastrophically blown-out crotch.  This blowout is not something that you/ I cannot mend.  The rest of the jeans are fine though, and they result in a lot of good, strong, material that I can’t make myself throw away.  For Christmas last year, the Husband bought himself some fancy whiskeys that he’d had his eye on.  I was out of bottle gift bags and wasn’t about to waste wrapping paper on them.  It seemed gauche though, to just leave them naked under the tree.  So, I cut up a pair of damaged jeans and an old button-up shirt that the Husband no longer wore and turned them into reusable whiskey gift bags.  The denim fabric was very bulky and took a lot of maneuvering.  When I make more, I will use lighter materials.

Using sheets:  I love making things out of sheets.  I have gone through the sets of sheets that have been moved from house to house that no longer fit our beds.  Do you know what these are fabulous for?  Toiles and pajamas.  I want to make a saltwater slip dress and don’t want to use my fashion fabric (another thrifted sheet) on the first go. So, I will pull out one of my old Ikea twin-size sheet sets and work out the pattern and my sizing first.  I am also in dire need of some summer pajama sets, so what better way than with a few orphaned pillowcases found at the thrift store.  To date, one of my proudest upcycles is a True Bias Ogden Cami dress hack.  A while ago, we bought a new duvet cover for our bed with decorative pillow shams.  I do not like pillow shams.  I have no use for pillow shams.  So, I seam-ripped them apart and made a dress.  I love this dress and was incredibly proud of the upcycle.  (Note to self:  make another one of these dresses using the unlined method and a size smaller.)

Excellent resources for this type of making are:

Podcasts:

Frugalisma

With Wendy

Coolirpa

Bernadette Banner

Books:

Mending Matters; Stitch, Patch, and Repair your Favorite Denim & More

Make, Sew, and Mend: Traditional Techniques to Sustainably Maintain and Refashion Your Clothes

Websites:

Upcycle That

Thread Up

Loves,

M

Hello Darling. I finally did it. I knit Deodara, by Maria Olson, using Brown Sheep Serendipity Tweed. I have wanted to knit Deodara for a long time. I added this pattern to my Ravelry queue in 2015 and even started it at one point, only to realize that I was using the wrong yarn for the pattern. I completed the entire body and knew it would be gorgeous in the right yarn, so it was sent to the frog pond (and later became a gorgeous Felix cardigan). Fast forward 7 years, I bought a cotton/ wool blend yarn from Keri’s Ravelry destash and decided that it would be a great idea to turn Deodara into a short-sleeved Summer sweater.

Since it is a worsted weight yarn, the sweater knit up fast. But, because of school, it still took me a month to complete. I followed the body length instructions but modified the sleeve length to be capped short sleeves with a ribbed cuff. When the top was done, I tried it on and wasn’t 100% thrilled with it. The length was simply too short for my taste. I like sweaters of all kinds to go below the waistband of my bottoms. I know this, yet, I constantly try to ignore it. The hem of the sweater hit right at the top of the waistband of my jeans. I knew this garment would not be something I would wear often.

This meant that I needed to do something annoying, like ripping out the bind-off and ribbing so that I could lengthen the waist. There isn’t much that annoys me more than ripping out those particular things. Yes, I realize I could have cut it, lengthened it, and kitchener stitched it back on, but really, which is the worst of the two evils? I added about two more inches to the waist length and then knit ribbing and bound off. All in all, I didn’t add a huge amount, but it was just enough to ensure that I would want to wear it. I mean, what is the point of knitting something that you either won’t wear or want to gift to someone else?

So, after the slight body length modification, the sweater worked out great, and I wore it often all Summer. I like the pattern and think that it is very versatile for different yarns and seasons. The yarn was a little rough on my hands, as all plant fibers are, but it knit up very nicely and held its shape well. I believe I have almost a whole skein left, with no idea what to make with it. My tastes have changed since I added this pattern to my queue, so I don’t think I will knit it again. I now tend to lean away from fitted stockinette sweaters. I like my sweaters loose and plain, or fitted and textured. Because of the bubblegum pink and fuchsia color combination, I can’t wait to see if Feebs ends up wanting this top when she gets older.

Loves,

M

Hello darling. We are in the home stretch of 2022. I just finished my year in review, and it is time to start dreaming about what I want to make in 2023. I still felt stifled with sewing in 2022. I’m still afraid to make the first cut or make a mistake. I am far from being a perfectionist, but I hate when my handmade clothing looks “homemade.” That word has always had a less-than-desirable taste to it. To me, it means that it was obviously made by a novice. I don’t pretend to be anywhere near a professional seamstress, but I don’t want it to look shoddy and amateur. I don’t know why I have so much fear of mistakes. I don’t sew with expensive materials, and I don’t have any fabric that I really consider sentimental or irreplaceable. I also continue to struggle with rushing and fudging my sewing. I need to accept and remember that I do not have the experience necessary to rush, fudge, or eyeball my sewing. I need to slow down and take time to do things correctly. I need to measure, press, and pin to ensure accuracy and fit. I need to read my pattern directions and follow them. I also need to trust the process and tackle new techniques. I may not be a talented maker, but I do have skills. I can learn how to do things, once I get over myself and try them.

Each year, I select a word, something to work toward and achieve. My word, last year, was “Boundaries.” My word for 2023 is “Connections.” When a word chooses me, I try to figure out how it will fit into all the facets of my life. With family and friends, I want to reconnect and spend time with people in person. I want to make more effort to stay in touch and have rewarding two-way relationships with loved ones. Making-wise, I want to connect with my making. Connect with my fears and sit with them, then put them behind me. Reconnect with my love of making my own clothes. I know that I am capable, and I need to have more faith in myself. I also need to connect with my schedule and ensure I have penciled in time to work on my making. Job-wise, I need to connect with any and all opportunities I choose to embrace. I want to connect my opportunities with my long-term goals, and not be afraid to take on bigger projects or positions. I am definitely ready to connect with the person that I will become in 2023.

My Goals:

Sewing

• Sew at least one garment per month
• Experiment with different fabrics
• Sew more tops
• Use more stash fabric
• Work on hand sewing to help with finishing
• Use Grandpa’s sewing machine

Dream sewing patterns:

True Bias Hudson pants

DIbY Abb tee shirts

Friday Pattern Company Saltwater Slipdress

Lawly skirt

Tote bag using recycled jeans

Finish the white denim skirt

Tilly and the Buttons Stella Joggers and Hoodie

Knitting:

• Make more staple garments- think capsule wardrobe
• Knit a black cardigan and gray or black shawl
• Work on the Knitting my Memories blanket
• Make more charity hats and supplies
• Knit often; it’s good for your mental health
• Teach Feebs and the Ladies how to knit

Dream knitting patterns:

Harris sweaters for Dad and me

Lapis sweater (probably my NYE cast on)

Finish Shatar Vest

Lavonia Patronella Beginner’s Brioche Scarf for Sister #2

Kim Hargreaves’ Harten Cardigan

Mending:

Rehab front porch bench

Repair the Dooney & Burke handbag

Melt ruined candles and repour

Rip out:

• Multi-colored Lapis
• Rams Horn cowl
• 2470 Women’s Lace Border Tank

Replace zippers on zip-up hoodies

House stuff:

Landscape the front yard

Replace both garage doors

Replace siding

New windows

Tile covered patio

Remove the extra door on the porch

Strip and stain the stair banister

Build new decks

New railing for front steps

New things to try:

Macrame

Zippered make-up bags

Make more handmade gifts

Patchwork quilting

Go to more making festivals and conventions

What other goals do I have? I want to keep prioritizing my health and wellness. I want to keep enjoying the benefits, both physical and mental, of keeping my body in movement. I will continue to be kind and not berate myself for enjoying a cookie but, at the same time, fuel my body with what it needs to be strong. I want to travel more. There is so much to see in this country and out, and I want to start experiencing it. I also want to work on developing a budget and saving more money for the things that we need to pay for. I am still a devout anti-debt person, so that means making better financial decisions to pay for things upfront. We have big plans for the future, so I need to find a way to fund them.

So, I think that is it in a nutshell. I want to continue posting about my dream makes. Some of them I will make, some I won’t. I will toile all garments. This should help with my fear of cutting things out. I shall go into 2023 by being kind to myself and allowing myself to grow.

Loves,

M

Hello darling. The end of 2022 is nigh, and it is doubtful that I will complete any more projects before the end of the year (5 days from now). I guess now is a good time to reflect on the year’s makes and talk about my highs and lows. I will try to capture all of the categories to list the bests and worsts.

Total knits: 44

6 pairs of socks

16 charity knits

1 cocoon

8 hats

2 ear warmers

5 baby sweaters

4 adult sweater

1 cowl

1 large shawl

Total sewn garments: 8

5 sets of pajamas

2 skirts

1 top

Favorite make: the Betty Cardigan. I knit this cardigan as my grandmother was dying, hence the rebrand from the Switchback sweater to the Betty Cardigan. It turned out beautiful and it will always make me happy when I see it. It is also my most complex knit, to date.

Least favorite make: the matching pajamas that I sewed for The Husband and Feebs. I don’t know how I messed the up so much, but I messed them up. They were simply thrilled with them, but I made some weird and big errors. I may still take them completely apart and resew them. The jury is out, only because I serged all of my seams, and the thought of ripping all that out is devastating.

Most teachable make: The Abb tee for Feebs. It was many firsts for me. It was my first t-shirt, first jersey, and the first time I sewed a garment with my serger. It came out terribly, but I learned so much from making it. I am still initimidated by it, but I will make more of them and learn how to make it properly.

Will make again: The Lawly skirt. I picked the worst fabric to make this, but I love how it came out and I wore it all summer. I already have plans to make another one using a firm pink/ white checked gingham cotton. I am currently battling over if I want to fuss with pattern matching, or just go with it.

Most worn make: In the warm weather I wore the Lawly the most. In the cold weather I wore Calliope the most.

There were many other crafts this year, but those get harder to quantify. The candles were a hot mess, and none of them came out properly. I hopefully learned some lessons and will be more successful in the future. The tye-dye was fun and came out really great, but each time we do it is a big commitment. The dye containers are big, and are single use. We had to find a lot of things to tye-dye each time. There were other miscellaneous crafts that we did, but they may not have registered as important enough to make it onto the blog.

So, I am pretty proud of what I accomplished in 2022. Considering that 4 months of the year were hard no-making months, I think I was pretty productive. I am really happy that I tried some new things, especially sewing-wise. I want to keep learning and practicing and not being afraid of imperfect. We will see what 2023 brings. I want to be adventurous and not afraid to make mistakes and I want to learn to fix them. 5 days to go, till we have a clean slate. Wish me luck!

Loves,

M