Sunday, January 25, 2015

YOP Week #30




I'm having a great weekend and I hope you are too!  Last night I was "flipping" channels waiting for Lawrence Welk to be over so I could watch Father Brown and the Saturday night PBS shows and what to my wondering eyes should appear but my all-time favorite movie...Green Fried Tomatoes but that's not all!  After that it was Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, another favorite!  I laughed, I cried and never did turn the channel to PBS.
I actually have made quite a bit of progress this week too.  I'm knitting a basket weave cloth as my "stash" of wash cloths is gone!  I'm loving this pattern!
 Over the holidays I fell behind in my 'preemie" hats so........I'm back at it.  The bag has July, August, September and October.  I'm almost finished with November so as you can see, I have some catching up to do!
I finally got all the bookmarks blocked too...........I tried using my cutting mat as I thought I saw someone do that but the pins would not stay in very well so I gave up on that method and went back to my old stand by....towels

I also decided to use Mary Ellen's Best Press instead of water as it's scented and it also has "flake-free" starch in it.  It worked great!  It's expensive so I only use it when I'm quilting.
I usually don't take a "day off"; my schedule is pretty much the same regardless of weekends as I'm retired.  But I can be a tireless taskmaster with myself and yesterday it seemed like God was calling me to relax and enjoy so I did!  The girls and I took a hike as it was a beautiful day here and when I came home I "kicked back" and watched all the Saturday gardening and cooking shows on PBS and crocheted a YOP that has been on my list since year #2....a cowl.  I didn't like the original pattern I had chosen but I found another on You Tube by Love 4 Nails.  She has lots of patterns out there and this one is so easy and enjoyable!  I'm already half way done doing the 10 row but you can also do a 20 row one too.  I know these will be on the 2015 Christmas Gift list for sure!  Are cowls for guys too?  I definitely want to make more of these.  I'll search for "guy" patterns but if any of you have any suggestions I would appreciate it!
 My blogging friend Betsy sent me a lovely baby blanket crochet pattern that I had commented on that she had made and in the package she included a Scentsy!  Thank you so much Betsy for the pattern and the Scentsy.  I love them...they have the best "smells"!  Now, I need to clean my car so I can hang it in there. LOL!
I'm trying to use up my old acrylic yarn and wanted to do a solid granny square blanket with all different colors.  I tried a few free patterns but they were not written very well but finally I found a winner that worked for me.  I think they may need to be blocked though or not.  Do any of you block your granny squares?
I didn't blog my Friday Night Sew-In yesterday as my daughter called and people always come before projects and we tend to talk quite a while (if the kids will let us...lol).  I am making place mats for my son, Benjamin....yes a very belated birthday present.  I did manage to get the material ironed and was getting ready to cut when she called.
Oh well, they'll get done eventually!  Hopefully before his next birthday! LOL!
I've been trying to find things cleaning and organizing my craft supplies and ran across this old cross stitch project that is almost done! What is it with me that I get to the end and not finish things?  No more!  I will be finishing it if I can find the pattern now.....hmmmm...maybe that's the reason I didn't finish in the first place?
This year is different though....I can feel it.  I'm healthier and feel more energetic than I have in quite awhile and I don't want to waste that energy or motivation! BTW, it was the bookmarks that did my wrist in....it's all better now so no more filet crochet for me for awhile! :)
I hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Happy Trails......









17 comments:

  1. The basketweave pattern is such a simple enjoyable pattern and I'm sure you'll be caught up on your hats in no time at all. If the filet crochet hurts your wrist I'd be leaving it well alone and I think cowls suit men also, just a more plain pattern I think, I've been kicking about an idea for a design for a cowl for a man for sometime so I think they work for them.

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  2. Glad your hands feel better. The basket weave stitch is the only other stitch I have tried with knitting. Maybe it's about time for me to increase my knowledge.

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  3. You are an inspiration with all these projects! I admire your work ethic, sticking to a schedule since you are retired. I am some personal issues going on in my house, but I think I am going to try your plan once my life gets back on track. I have so many UFO"s (unfinished projects). A schedule could help me get back on track! All your projects are lovely, but your bookmarks are very special.

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  4. Lawrence Well, I used to watch that with my Pe'pe'.......no I don't block my granny squares...I figured when sewn together they would stretch accordingly.....and wow, you have been busy....

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  5. My gosh, it's amazing how much you work on. I think guys don't mind cowls as long as they're plain and simple. I like the texture of that washcloth. The color is nice too. The preemie hat is cute. Made me smile. Ams of boy does Laurence Welk being back memories. I used to watch it work with my grandmother whenever I had spent the night at her house.

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  6. Nice to hear you're feeling better and you sound optimistic about the year ahead! I'm gonna google "Mary Ellen's Best Press" after this, as I've never heard of it before. I tried some stiffening spray on some thread crochet once but I wasn't happy with it all. It left the thread feeling crusty!

    I love the basketweave dishcloth. If I'm not mistaken that's the pattern for the cloth that's in my sink right now! And what cheery and bright patterns for the placemats! So cute!

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  7. I'm glad you received the pattern and scentsy. Hope you enjoy making the blanket, although I don't know when you would have time! Goodness you have gotten a lot done this week. Love the book markers especially.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  8. I love that shade of blue in the cowl. I know men would like these to keep their necks warm! You do so many different projects...how smart you are! Enjoy your evening! Downton Abbey on tonight! YAY! Hugs!

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  9. We watched Fried Green Tomatoes last week one afternoon too..love that movie! You are making progress, I love that cowl and I went and saw her video...I think it is a great pattern. See my list gets longer too. That is a pretty crossstitch and it looks almost done! :)

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  10. You are just a whirlwind! The bookmarks look really good.
    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  11. Wow the bookmark is really looking good ..you real busy bee my friend
    Love you x

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  12. The bookmarks look lovely and now you can give your hands that rest! You have so many great projects, but it is so nice when people get in the way!

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  13. Love the basketweave cloth. It will make a great scrubbing cloth for you. As for the fillet crochet.......Don't stop, just don't do thread anymore. The RA HATES small hooks/needles and hates thin thread even more. But they did turn out lovely. Thank you for your kind words last week also. It is hard for someone that does not have RA to understand what we go through just to accomplish a project or two. But, I refuse to give it up. It is my stress therapy. Looking forward to my retirement this year too, so I can have more fiber time.

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  14. Love the basketweave cloth. It will make a great scrubbing cloth for you. As for the fillet crochet.......Don't stop, just don't do thread anymore. The RA HATES small hooks/needles and hates thin thread even more. But they did turn out lovely. Thank you for your kind words last week also. It is hard for someone that does not have RA to understand what we go through just to accomplish a project or two. But, I refuse to give it up. It is my stress therapy. Looking forward to my retirement this year too, so I can have more fiber time.

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  15. Glad your wrists are better. The bookmarks look great, and I love that basketweave cloth.

    Also, Fried Green Tomatoes is one of my all-time favourites too. Now that you've reminded me of it I must make a point of finding my DVD and watching it again... :)

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  16. Glad to hear the wrist is feeling good again! The bookmarks turned out great btw (I've also only ever used a towel for blocking!) ...and I've never blocked a granny square...

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