A Perfect Fit For A Perfect Baby!

Here is baby Kathleen the newest addition to our ever growing family modeling the handmade dress with knitted bodice that I made. I couldn't be happier with the end result. The proud parents were nice enough to snap this pic so we could all enjoy it.  Stay tuned little miss Kathleen there are a few more little dresses where this one came from and you seem to be the perfect size.

The Last Sweater

Thanks to my grandmother and my mother I have learned how to knit, sew and crochet, I think these skills are passed on genetically and I appreciate them. These activities have brought me great pleasure and have come in very handy over the years. Growing up it was a rare occurrence to see either one of them without a project in progress, but it was knitting  that was my mother's first love and she was not only good at it, she finished every single project she ever started. She claimed she just couldn't leave anything undone. I am mystified how this little genetic detail failed to find its way to me. Through the years, my mother kept her 6 children in mittens, hats, and sweaters. She even outfitted our Barbie dolls. She did the same for her 21 grand-children and continued on for her 31 great grand-children and finally her 1 great, great grand-child. Which is why this little white sweater feels so bitter sweet for me to see.

This is and will be the last knitting project my mom will complete. Sadly her fading memory makes it impossible for her to follow a pattern and her worsening macular  degeneration with her eyes makes it hard to see the stitches. The last sweater was a gift to her  31st great, great grand-daughter Kathleen.

At 86 years old my mother is for the most part healthy. She enjoys a wonderful life, full of many family gatherings and activities, just not knitting. She may be finally finishing knitting but she still has a lot more living to do!!

 

Dressed To Kill..

I've heard it said that "if you wait long enough, everything old will be new again". This dress, an oldie but goody is living proof that the old adage is true.  At least 15 ago a friend bought this dress for me as a souvenir from Hawaii. I love the fabric and the floral batik design. The problem though is, it is way too long for me, not to mention the ruffle flounce on the bottom. You see I've never been one to "rock the ruffle" if you know what I mean. Frumpy comes to mind here and I can't deny it looks a bit moo mooish.
Now understand,  I am not opposed to the MIDI  or for that matter the MAXI dress. God knows I've worn my share of them back in the 70's  along with other fashions that went with that era. i.e. hip huggers, bell bottoms, earth shoes, love beads, and granny glasses. Sometimes all at the same time. But that was then and this is now. Good Times for sure but I have grown beyond. I vowed that someday I would chop off the ruffle and hem the dress so that I could wear it "my way". Someday is here.....Away we go!!

Well, I may have chopped off a tad too much, I forgot to take into consideration "knee fat"

 

Peace, Love and Rock n Roll!

 

 

 

 

Sew What

The true color of this dress is really a softer
"peachy"color....not orange at all.

Hi All, Happy Spring! With most of the winter knitting completed and behind me I am cautiously entering my "sewing" phase. I love to sew but as you know by now I hate the pesky details of finishing. Last year in anticipation of this anti- procrastination project I bought a new sewing machine; hence the first obstacle. Things have changed since I first learned to sew on my grandmother's treadle machine, and then later on another of Grammy's "hand me down" machines. My new one, the Project Runway Model is computerized and much more involved. It does everything! The problem is I don't really know how to use it yet. It seems like I will need a PhD just to figure it out and SURPRISE I can't find the instruction manual. I'm sure I will unearth it soon. But I fear not, as I shall start slow and finish projects by degrees from easy to hard. This will give me time to "bone up" on the "ins and outs" of the machine.
The beautiful fabric and tiny infant dress pattern was intended for my second grandchild Grant... until I happily found out he was a boy that is, and put it away. Instead it will joyfully go to my brand new "great" niece. Please join me in welcoming little

Kathleen...aka Kat.

XOXOX

Let's Dish..... (cloth)

It may look like "just a little washcloth" but my oh my...it is so much more! This little knitted square  has been waiting to be made for at least 10 years. WARNING, once you use this type of dishcloth it will spoil you for all others. The 100 % cotton yarn has a sturdy and long lasting texture. It cleans anything and will last forever AND it makes scrubbing a cinch; just ask my husband "Retired Bob", he uses his each and every day with sparkling results. These were a favorite of my grandmother and my mother. After I received a few for Christmas several years back, I vowed that I would make some too. I bought the yarn, found the pattern and  then of course moved on to something else. This week my forgotten project was rediscovered.

One lonely orphaned ball of yarn waiting....waiting....waiting to be finally finished!

 Here it is!  Enjoy it Bob and Oh,
 Happy 39th Anniversary !

I think this might be the last unfinished knit project using STASH. I am now moving on to unfinished sewing projects ughhh (which, by the way there are dozens) . Stay tuned for an array pillows, purses, baby and doll clothes and gasp.....a skirt and Roman Shades? Are they in style anymore?  Yikes!

PILLOW TALK

When I was a young girl of 6 or 7 I guess, my grandmother made my sisters and me darling pillowcases for our beds. They had beautiful hand embroidered faces of  "Southern Belles" holding parasols. They wore long, crocheted gowns that were stitched into the pillowcase. I remember loving those pillowcases and thinking they were the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I guess even back then I had an appreciation for hand crafted items and fancy stitching. These pillowcases were popular for their time, so you know me, loving all things vintage; when I got older and had a family and home of my own I set out to recreate these little gems from the 50s era. Over the years I've seen similar pillowcases at flea markets and antique shops; I even bought one on EBAY.  I've yet to see one as beautiful as the ones made by my grandmother though. In 2002 I found the coveted pattern in a needlework catalog and sent away for it with plans of making them for my guest room.  The pattern is postmarked exactly 11 years ago today.  Unfortunately I never got around to making them as the delicate crochet and intricate stitchery intimidated me and I put it away for another day. A few weeks ago I pulled out the package and once again unearthed  another treasure. I’m happy to report that it is

Finally Finished.

Original Package Postmarked March 19, 2002

Better Late Than Never.....I guess......right?

Well sure, I’m more than a little embarrassed about this one…here goes. My mother gave me the book Knitting for Peace for my birthday in 2007 (so the inscription says). I had expressed a desire to make a hat for Caps For Kids, a deserving organization that sends hats to underprivileged children.  There was a darling if somewhat challenging cap that I wanted to make BUT once again I got busy and the book got displaced a few times until it got packed away and forgotten. Finally unearthed last week I was again reminded of the wonderful work this committed group does for disadvantaged children.  I pulled out a skein of soft, washable wool from my stash and went to work. Here it is!! BUT HERE IS THE RUB. I HATE, HATE, HAT THE YARN AND THE HAT!  (Sigh) Never the less I will pack it up and send it off to Caps For Kids. I ask you loyal readers, does  it make me a bad person to send an ugly hat to charity?

I asked my mom and she said  NO IT DOES NOT  and reminded me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 Thanks MOM

PEACE!