Buh-bye!

That's what I said to Gwendolyn last week.  I know that it defies reason that yet another pattern for this poor wool has fallen by the wayside.  "But it's not my fault!" she whines.  I did a gauge swatch (really!).  It was spot on (really!).  But after about 4 inches up the back it became glaringly apparent that it was at least two inches too narrow.  So I ripped back to the ribbing and went up two needle sizes.  After about 4 inches, it was the same size (really!).  At this point if we had an open fireplace, I might have tossed the whole thing in.  But thankfully we do not so I ripped again (really!).  This time I decided that a good wash would help, so I reskeined and dunked everything in some Soak.

Next up (Yes, I know I'm a masochist), Cassidy.  This seems to be going much better.  It might be a trifle on the large side, but I wanted something more like a light coat, so that's ok.  And even if it's not, I am forging ahead.  If it doesn't fit me, I will find someone else.  And if I can't find someone else, I will donate it to the thrift shop (really!).

I'm a little enamored of that photo.  It was taken with my new iPhone that I love, love, love!  My son gave me his old 32g 3g (I just love having kids that always get the latest and greatest, because I get their cast-offs.  Thanks son!!).  I just activated it this week and am having so much fun playing with it.  I love that I can snap a photo and it transfers wirelessly and automatically to my computer.  Of course, it's not the best for heritage photos, but for quick snaps of needlework, it's great!  Here's a photo taken in the kitchen with overhead light on a gloomy, dark evening:

I just finished the top on this quilt this week.  It was definitely a tour-de-force and one I will never, ever do again!  I've spent a lot of time in my sewing room this week and also got two more quilt tops done (really!).  However, since one is for a quilt swap and the other is an exact duplicate, I can't show them.  I think I gave my swap partner my blog address and she may be peeking.  Hi Lynne!

Today has been rainy, windy and gloomy with a little hail thrown in, so I've been hiding out in my sewing room starting on Christmas projects.  I'm making cute little stockings.  Here's the Partridge in a Pear Tree:

I'm thinkin, though, that I don't care for the holly at the top.  Here's the reindeer without the holly.  What do you think?

For our anniversary, our dil hired a photographer to come and take some family photos.  They were very informal and we got some of them this week.  They are fantastic!  They really do capture the kids and the relationships.  There are over 100 on the disk (I haven't seen them all yet), so there should be enough to keep me in scrapbook heaven for a long time.  Photos courtesy of joeplusjill.com.

 

 

Comments

[marjorie]

Sometimes with ribbing or cables, you can "massage" the sweater pieces to be the appropriate size--and you don't really get a good sense of how big the piece will be until you knit quite a lot of it. That is really a lovely design and a beautiful color. I'm sure if you persevere it will end up being the size you want. I've taken to wet blocking the back and then basing all other measurements (particularly sleeve sizing) on it.

Lovely pictures.

[Marguerite]

How funny. That yarn just doesn't seem to want to be anything. I love the color, so if it starts flying toward the fireplace you don't have could you throw it a little harder so it lands in Michigan?

Love the stockings.

[Gayle]

I like the holly on the partridge stocking. Your work is always perfection!

[Lorette]

If that pattern doesn't work, I'd just give that yarn away. It clearly is a troublemaker.
Cassidy is lovely, though. I have the pattern somewhere...
And those girls are really growing up fast!

[Judy]

That quilt looks really difficult! So pretty though. Did you embroider the reindeer? The stockings are very cute. Somehow I never realized you have a grandson. Those are great photos! Your sweater patterns reminde me of the Central Park Hoodie....