DeeDee's Musings

Kurt gave me the ok and I ordered it today!

Well a knitting machine!! Not a really expensive one but a Bond knitting machine from JoAnn's Fabric and Craft And with the 40% code on the website it was just a few dollars more than the one without the extra attachments!






Nice thing about it is it will take all kinds of yarns from pencil thin to bulky and fancies and it has the row counter and the extension attachment included! I cant wait to try it out, will be good exercise for my left arm that refuses to reduce its size any!








So one day if you come over and hear a swoosh swoosh coming from the livingroom or my bedroom or eventual re-opening of my sewing room then I will be making something special for someone.






 I can see wonderful baby blankets, scarves for all of my friends ((wink wink)) and who knows maybe a sweater or two when I get good at it.  :-D






It will use machine patterns as well as hand knitting patterns and even though it is an unexpensive machine will be a good first time one for me!




Here is what it looks like:

September is now here and Autumn days are coming, I know it just feels like it.

In honour of the new month I made up an eye mask, using a sleep mask on ravelry as an inspiration I crocheted it up and made closed eyelashes on it.

Here is Kurt modeling it for me:

Here is the pattern:

Ch 38 using a g hook

Crochet singles across until the piece measures 3 inches,

(though you could actually make it two inches so that it fits better, I just like mine to really cover my eyes so that no light gets in.)

Fold piece in half and crochet a row of singles around the entire piece twice. Then on each short end crochet 3 rows of singles with slip stitches on the long ends.

(Make 2) Chain 30  (or a length you like for tying) and slip stitch on the next row. Tie off leaving a tail and then tie each tail to a top and a bottom corner on each end of the mask.

Embroider black eyelashes (or any other design of your liking) with a small amount of yarn or embroidery floss.

Walaa an easy sleep mask!

Here is the completed baby onesie ( the snaps will be added soon). Now I need to decide how to embellish it a little. Looks a little plain to me, but then it might not to a new Mommy though.















Front

Nathan and Nina's house slab is now officially there! Next week the builders start framing up the house. I cant wait to have my baby close by again!!

Baby onsie is almost completed. I am at the front bodice and I sort of want to make a smocked insert for it. Just to show the new Mommies that something smocked can look good on a boy or a girl!

I need to find a smocking plate that is uni-sex so that it isnt gender definite. Time to go and scour the internet!!

This is the design that I might try out:

Yesterday the boys and I went to the library and they were re-arranging the upstairs to accomodate the downstairs. So we couldnt play and it was raining outside so no park play. But we did go out to eat and Lucas told me all about his new school and his teacher and new friends!

He loves his new school.

Dressed up my web blog last night and added a few new items, like counting how many days I have officially been a grandma and how many days until I meet my new grandbaby. hehehehe

Well off to find a smocking plate for my onsie!

This evening Kurt and I went to the hospital to visit a friend of ours in ICU.

I wanted to grab him and hold him tight but I knew it wouldn't do either of us any good. This old system of things has gotten so good at being bad to everyone and everything.

I wish it were all over and nothing but the good was left.

This summer has been very emotional for me. I lost some family members and some  very good friends, and some of my friends lost some loved ones.

I worked on the baby outfit some today, took little Cambell to see Bonnie and Nina at their jobs and tomorrow we are going to the library and the park to play. Lucas  (another little one I watch) will be joining us tomorrow. Afterwards we are eating lunch in the park and then playing until just before we are ready to drop from exhaustion.

Today we got to see the first picture of our new grandbaby! 


We met Nathan and Nina, Melanie and Emily and Bonnie, Kurt, Cambell (a little one I watch) and me at Jason's Deli for lunch.

 Here are the first looks at our new little to be:

The head is on the right hand side with its little hand laying on his head. Funny Nina did that when she didnt want to do something! LOL And then a little leg at the left hand side, the baby is laying on its side.


How cute!!!


 

The other first was we had a fun get together at our house this evening and 7 lady friends of mine met and we visited and stitched on something, 2 knitted and 2 crocheted and 1 worked on some hand sewing with two just visiting. Had made some banana bread (yummy) sliced up some sweet bell peppers and celery and brocolli.  Summer helped me dry my Grandmommies china and we used that to drink our coffee or tea out of. It was nice to use it and have lady sized drinks.

On a table I laid out books for ideas or just to browse and some hooks and needles. Sandy brought her embroidery and WOW it was so beautiful! I should have taken a picture of it to show. Maybe she will bring it again and I can snap up a pic of how wonderful it is.



Thank you Summer, Pat, Royetta, Sandy, Dee and Estelle for making our first Sewing Bee a wonderful experience!!



One of the Mommies to be came, she's the one having a little boy! Like Nina and Nathan, no sailor suits, no knee high socks and no smocked outfits for little boys.


 What ever happened to tradition?



 Found out that another friend is having a little girl so that brings new mommies to make for up to 4 now!!! At least I can try my hand at smocking for her.



Well time to get to bed, doctors appointments tomorrow.



Sweet Dreams!

Well I started the onesie Friday night and made the test swatch, but instead of giving the swatch to the little ones for dolly blankets, I am going to start keeping a journal of sorts of the things I make.

We went to dinner last night with Nathan and Nina at Carmela's and had a wonderful visit! Afterwards Bonnie, Kurt and I went to Barnes and Nobles to look at magazines and I took a peek at the books too. This is what I got last night!

Of course I promised not to buy anymore books until I made at least one outfit from each book so that means I need to get busy crocheting and knitting, LOL

Today, since I am ahead on my volunteer hours this month, I am going to do some re-organizing of the house. But I just had to tell you about my new books first! If you click on the photos it will take you to Amazon.com where you can buy your own copy. I highly recommend them! They have some very cute and easy paterns in there!

Have a great weekend!

Trying out a design I have had in mind for a while now, part crochet part knit. I am sure there are things out there, I just have never come by them before.



Plus being a lefty and having trouble casting on, I thought that there may be a few other lefties with the same problem and this might be a fun thing to try out a new skill.



So with the body finished and the sleeves left to do, I attempted to divide and conquer. Needless to say, I am doing the other sleeve AFTER I get some DPNs or a circular needle tomorrow.



Lesson learned and jotted to memory!

A family fun night, complete with dinner, a round of golf at the local miniature golf course and then to wrap up the evening we were all going over to Melanie's to pop some fireworks. What could be better than eating, laughing and having fun?



Meeting at Johnny Carino's Restaurant for dinner, we sat down and started talking and catching up on all of the latest news. Emily and I were playing on Amy's I-Phone and coloring her menu. Nathan and Nina's land was a hot topic as we waited for our salads and appetizers to be delivered.



We had just started eating and were just all having a great time when in walks Bonnie! Her boss was a real sweetheart and let her have the evening off.



He deserves a special card for that!



After dinner, the waitress brought out two plates of dessert and I told Kurt, "We should get a piece of cheesecake to share." The words were barely out of my mouth when the waitress brought us one of the plates with an envelope. I looked over and Melanie had the other dessert plate (her favorite) and an envelope too.



While Kurt was getting the plate and forks ready, I took the envelope and said, "what is this?" while opening it.



Melanie and I must have been opening our envelopes at the same time because later Kurt said, " All I heard was some screaming from Melanie and then you screamed, 'I'm going to be a Grandma!!!?!'" After much (loud) excitement, we settled into to more giggling and I swear, the whole restaurant must have known what was going on!!



There was even more chatter and giggling as we asked: How long have you known? How far along are you? How did you keep a secret that long? Then I asked how did you keep from looking and queuing things on Ravelry? hahahahaha She said, if she did then I would know something was up. How funny is that?



She really does know me.



I asked if I could let my sister Penny know and they said YES! Oh how funny it is when something unexpected comes along and the first thing you want to do is tell everyone that hasn't heard it yet!! LOL



After dinner we went to Melanie's house, the golf was a ploy, hehehehehe to distract us, and we popped fireworks. I worked on my garment I am knitting have to finish so I can start making BABY things!

This is the cutest thing, well at least I think so, LOL. Dora and her friends are playing Super Spy and Tico drives up in his boat car and takes them for a ride. Its just a clip of Tico but its too cute!



Why am I watching Dora? Well when you watch three little ones between the ages of 18 months and 3 ½ years, and you want to stitch, then you have to give a little. I give them Nick and Noggin. And sometimes you find a gem worth writing about. :-)



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Here is the doll I sent Anna on our Dolly Swap on Ravelry. Click here to go to the Ravelry page!



I crocheted the body and head as one piece using a single crochet and size 7 hook. Chained 4 then joined, worked 12 singles in the loop and then increased by 3 every row until I reached 36 single crochets, in the round. Then worked that count until i reached my desired head size then decreased by 3 until I reached 12 stitches and worked that until i liked the neck size and then increased for the shoulders. When the stitch count got up to about 48 did two rows and then divided by half to give me front and back measuring 24 stitches each half and then counted 8 in and skipped 8 and then joined to the remaining 8 on each side to make arm holes. Continue in singles to get the desired body size and then I decreased, BUT I would recommend not decreasing more than 12 stitches because she has a wee-little hiney with her legs. LOL



Cut out of fabric legs and arms and stuff and then attach to the arm holes and leg holes. I pinched and stitched the nose and cheeks and them embroidered her faces but you can do as you please.



The hair is a soft yarn I got at Joanne's that felt like hair and had different textures to the yarn. Crocheted, with an H hook, chain 4 then join, 8 singles in loop and then continue to crochet in the round with half doubles, increasing to avoid pulling, until you reach the desired amount of hair and then do triples (back of hair) doubles, half doubles, singles (bangs) as last row and tie off. Sew to head in desired fashion and then comb is you like to give brushed smooth look.



That is how I made my Dollie.





Here she is with her box of goodies. I made a small mile a minute blanket and bag for her to carry it in. As well as a bag for the pin cushion and lotion and blanket and bag to be stored in.







Here she is undressed, I know, not very proper, but she does have undergarments on! Her top is square necked single crochets with jewelry fasteners for the closures. She has a lace skirt with a ribbed underskirt and shoes to match.







Here is a close-up of her face. I think she looks a little like a cross between Julia Child's and Miss Marple, from the older movies. Kurt says she definitely looks like a British actress. ;-)








Here is Kurt and Caleb. Caleb is holding the 1st attempt at making a doll. He fell in love with her ... after her face was embroidered. Funny how he didn't want anything to do with her faceless. hahhaha




Here are the pictures of the doll I received from Anna in our Dolly Swap on Ravelry. I named her Sally and she made herself right at home!

Well yes most of us experience this once in a while, maybe many times. That is where I am at knitting. Working on this test design, I bought enough yarn to make the garment and last night was getting close to the end of the first skein and decided to roll the second skein into a ball.

Something my Grandmommie always told me is important to do before you use it. makes it easier to handle and gets any kinks out of the yarn before you get it involved in your project.


Well your supposed to pull out a thread or two which, here lately involves a small hank that is stuffed inside the whole skein. Then you find the end and start your rolling process.


Well my yarn, lilac Bernat Baby, had like 4 hanks stuffed inside and then a wad of tangles before I got to the one thread! WOW what a mess.


My first impulse was to take it back to the store and say this mess is yours, give me a new skein. But after a nights rest and a very nice day with only one little one to watch, I started rolling and have it almost completely untangled. Just have the big wad to tangles to go now.


Saving them for tomorrow.


Anyways.... my knitting project was due to be finished on the 12th, and I am gulp one day late, so she said to not worry about it and keep her updated on the progress.


How sweet is that?!?!


I may scour the web for a cool hat to make.........



Had a friend over for dinner and we went over a talk and Kurt fixed us a wonderful dinner of BBQ ribs, baked potatoes w/fixings and sweet peas. Did I tell you I was married to the most wonderful man?


No?

Hey I am married to the most wonderful man there is! And he doesn't even read this, and I still feel that way! LOL


Finished my crocheted test skirt!! Click test skirt to see my Ravelry page!

Here is the pictures of it:



Now I have to decide when to wear it? Was cold in the meeting last night, maybe next Wednesday. Fun and easy to make, as long as you don't have 3 year olds distracting you every two or three minutes, while working the pattern stage. Click here to get to the designer's page on Ravelry.

I came across this website and it is too cute!! you have to go there and look at these cuties

Look at how cute!!








Just click on this little rattie and it will take you to the website. This lady makes small instruments and has her trained rats take pictures with them. :-) How cute is that?!?!


I wonder if I could get Daisy to do this?


The website is in Russian, I think, so you will have to have google translate it for you.

What you say, no thanks? What does that mean?

Well to put it simply, I am too green of a knitter to use size 2 mm knitting needles and figure out how to read a pattern that calls for a lot of decreases and more. LOL The Barbie outfit will have to wait!

I did buy the needles though. ;-)

Caleb loves the fabric store! A plus in his book on my part. I can see us visiting it a lot when he comes over. He hugs and kisses the yarn, even meowing at it. Looks in the books like a pro and ohhhhs and ahhhhs over all of the fabric, and notions. hehehehehe

Started back on my squares for the summer swap, the boucle baby yarn is going really fast. makes up for the tiny grannies on the other square.

Got my Dollie yesterday and it is too cute! She is on the dresser with the Barbies though I think she will like it better by the embroidery machine with the mammy Dollie. Pics to follow!

Knitting project going well and it is actually hanging down by itself now which is great! Starting the crochet skirt on Thursday evening. Friday will mail off my Dollie, the threads package and the Barbie outfit. Have two extra little ones this week, and going to sit with a sick friend during the meeting tomorrow night, so this week is jam packed!

See you later, its bedtime!

Here is Sophia's baby sister's Madeline Rose, outfit I made for her. The shorts are purchased but they match perfectly. I was so happy to find them and include them with her gift. Sophia is so funny!! We got her some Snow White red gloves and a purse with goodies in it and she had the best fun putting them on and posing for us. And the baby is too too cute!! Can't wait to love on her some more in the near future!






Here is the crochet top I was testing in the last post, all finished up. The Caron Eco yarn is sooo soft and even though I was afraid I was going to feel stiff and hot in this, surprisingly I was cool and comfortable. I would gladly make this again, and it took about 20 hours total to make. Pretty and easy to make! Try it out, you'll be glad you did. Its called Paris in the Spring, and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.







My first knitting project is a test garment for a new designer. I am not suppose to let any pics or details about it out yet, but I can ell you that it is working up quickly! I LOVE circular needles!




Kurt has been going back and forth bringing dirt to Nina and Nathan's land and Ryan has been busily spreading it out. I am sure once they get back from their race in San Fransisco they will be really excited to see the progress made! They get temporary lights installed soon so that means that they will be working into the dark sometimes.




Bonnie is working her 1st 6 hour shift! Yesterday she worked her 1st morning shift and the funny thing is she went in on Thursday thinking it was that day when it was Friday. hehehehe To be 18 and have a first job. I remember those days!!




August is around the corner and I will be losing one little one but spending more time out in my volunteer work with my friends! I am so excited!



Another thing I am excited about it I finally sent off the last two traveling scarves to their owners and now I am through! yippee lets celebrate! I love doing round robins, but when you factor in the money spent, over 100 dollars, on a scarf is kind of wasteful in this day and age of job losses and all. Its pretty and I love all of the hard work and will wear it with much pride and delight, but the cost factor is disappointing.



Will be knitting and finishing up my Dollie for a Dollie swap. I want to mail her off on Monday! Will post pics after she has received her Dollie. Just in case she pops over to see if I have posted anything on her. :-)



Gotta go now!

DeeDee

It HAS been a while since I have been here. Let's review what has been happening around here.

May:

My sister came down and I joined facebook to play farm town with her. The next thing I knew It was July and my crocheting had suffered ALOT! It was fun farming but I was going to bed later and later, not studying, not organizing and definitely not crocheting or sewing.

June:

One day assembly came and I hadn't made anything for me to wear. :-( So I took the next best step and went and bought some new things to wear, and it was something nice and fun to do! Kurt and I stayed an extra day so we could spend our 29th Anniversary in Houston. We ate dinner with Christy and her babies and even found some more fencing for my garden!

My poor garden, facebook had distracted me from watering and weeding and it was beginning to look pretty awful out there. But hey my farm on facebook was inching towards the 20 level and I was at the largest farm I could get. LOL My trees and animals flourished and I was feeling very proud of myself.

On the way home from Houston, Kurt and I stopped at Best Buy and bought me a new laptop! A Toshiba and it was wonderful! With the exception the graphics card wouldn't support Sims 2 and seeing that I was paying for it, and wouldn't be buying another one in this system of things, I wanted to make sure it was what I wanted. So 2 weeks later, almost to the time, we went back to Best Buy and upgraded to another Toshiba, 17 inches with a graphics card that would support not only the game I wanted but the future of websites. It has 3 gigs ram and 250 hard-drive. The other one had 2 gigs ram and 160 hard-drive another down for it. Its a pretty navy blue and the only drawback is 1) the 17 inch screen means either I make me a laptop bag or spend about 75 bucks on one. And 2) the navy shows fingerprints. And 3) it was 200 bucks more.

But it is the one for me.

So my other laptop, the IBM will now become the embroidery laptop with web capabilities to download directly to the laptop embroidery designs and connect to other computers as well. With a 60 gig hard-drive I should never run out of space for embroidery designs!! The original IBM laptop that was being used for the embroidering, will be transformed into a laptop for little ones to play windows 3.1 games on to teach colors, shapes and mouse control. Boy are their parents gonna love me!! LOL It has an a-drive (for those who don't know, it is a floppy disk drive to save your info onto, and a small hard drive, I don't even remember how small. hahahaha

July:

First part of July meant the big assembly and I still haven't made anything for me to wear, thank you facebook, so I just wore what I bought for June. Had a talk which directly spoke of facebook and that was my cue to drop it, even though I was at level 28, and my farm was something wonderful although a bit eccentric with it horse racetrack, its maze gardens and sandy beach area right next to a river of no return. Huh? The drama was excellent and gave me many insightful points on how to deal with family that leaves the protection offered us, without making it impossible for them to feel like they can return to us. **sigh**

Nina and Nathan bought some land, nearby, and when they sign the papers Kurt will start the site work. He is chomping at the 'proverbial bit' to get started. Within 1 week of leaving facebook, I have started crocheting again and trying to revive my garden outside. Within 2 weeks I started my first knitting project and organized my room so I can start sewing. I have been going to bed earlier and feeling much better about myself and even getting my studying in more. I have helped with a sister who is home bound, sitting with her during the meetings which not only helps her but me as well. It gives you a really good feeling to be there for others. I just wished I could have been there for Nathans Papa and Kurt's Uncle and Aunt.

August is coming and one of my little ones is leaving for pre-school. Though I will will miss the extra money, I will enjoy the freedom of one less little one to watch. One of the other ones comes just once a week usually and the other one is just 4 days a week. But all in all I have had a good run. I mean, we purchased a new air conditioner, my laptop, a new dishwasher, built a pergola where we can spend cozy fall evening under drinking coffee and visiting, many good times with my family, and much more, so its time to downsize the childcare and pick up my service, volunteering, studying, crochet and knitting, sewing, organizing my house and helping Nina and Nathan with their new home as well as spending more quality time with Kurt and Bonnie.

Well that's about it. Will show crochet, sewing and knitting projects next time!

Farewell facebook, the ride was fun and I learned a lot. Like keeping my time for myself and my family and strengthen my resolve to do what is right and important to live forever!!