tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182973562011-12-02T23:03:24.893-08:00My place to share knitting (lace, socks, etc.), cats (9 pampered), vintage people powered sewing machines (How many? Let's not go there!), quilting and oh so much more. :o)Gretchennoreply@blogger.comBlogger1371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-40719385795778840962011-10-31T20:14:00.000-07:002011-10-31T20:43:53.426-07:00

Hope you are enjoying plenty of happy little ghouls tonight. We've has a few more than usual and it's fun!Took some more pictures of the kittens and their Mom on a new cat tree we got just for them. They roar up and down it like squirrels! (Remember to click on the pictures for a bigger view.)Chloe & PoppieTavi & ZoeAll the girls.Zoe watching Mom act silly with the camera.Chloe preparing to

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-83293528579252586462011-10-19T22:32:00.000-07:002011-10-20T03:22:23.912-07:00

Here I am, catching up again. *sigh* Someone who reads my blog needs to rattle my cage once a month and maybe I would do better. It's really hard to put down my knitting! But when a reader lets me know she just looked at all the same project pics again I am truly chagrinned and must try to make up for my single mindedness.Ok, what has happened since February? Let me think... We gave my son (David

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-75708300352111385602011-02-25T16:11:00.000-08:002011-02-25T19:12:20.687-08:00

Well folks, this has gotten to be another bad habit, hasn't it? Every time I do one of these catch-up posts I promise myself I won't let the time pass so much again. But this habit has extensions. Like showering, eating, laundry & vacuuming. What? And put my knitting down??? Other devoted knitters know what I mean, as do quilters. :o)So, what's been happening since September? Good grief!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-78450399758398537542010-09-24T03:01:00.000-07:002010-09-24T03:18:53.194-07:00

While I was waiting for my errant vest pattern I HAD to knit something! So I gave a new thing a try.Is it a string of cucumbers? A pickle garland?Remember those balloon critters that a deft hand could twist up in seconds? This is the same thing, only knitted and stuffed on the way. And here we have... A Crocodile! Well, he needs eyes and I should have stuffed his nose more. But he's cute and one

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-14851976427048780402010-09-15T19:27:00.000-07:002010-09-16T18:41:24.860-07:00

Large apologies for the lack of posting since April. I've been knitting gifts and just haven't wanted any peekers to take advantage. So, for now, I will list the knitting accomplishments with no clues. Let them guess!In May I finally attained my 62nd year. To my surprise I was able to start getting my social security payments in 2 weeks! Mother's Day and Fathers day passed by quietly. For my

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-60143215451129918462010-04-25T18:42:00.001-07:002010-04-25T18:46:39.592-07:00

I just had a wonderful (too short) visit with my high school best friend. First time we've been able to hug and look at each other since before Alex & I were married. She lives waaay back east and we keep in touch with email, but it just isn't the same. She has been head nurse at a major hospital near D.C. for 35 years and has aged SO gracefully! She's the gorgeous redhead on the right.I let her

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-58768714200868843892010-04-16T01:54:00.000-07:002010-04-16T03:00:51.381-07:00

Ok boys & girls! Time to catch up with the latest doings in the yellow Victorian on the corner. All the kitties are doing fine. Mittens is SO bored in her safe little corner that she hops down and creeps into the hall now and then. I'm waiting for the day when she makes it all the way to my door without freaking out and running back. Unless she is curled up and sound asleep nobody makes it past

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-26496390469038001902010-01-01T14:20:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:36:01.478-08:00

This was supposed to be the last post of 2009 but nephew gave me a bug on Christmas and all I've been able to do is sleep. Cast on a new project last night after bringing in the New Year so things are looking up!Christmas was very nice and everyone was very happy with their knitted gifts. My Mom even liked her "Tiggywinkle" (hedgehog). I am thrilled! Alex has been wearing his sweater everyday

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-15028822111058990532009-11-14T20:04:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:36:32.844-08:00

Alex liked his Bissell SpotBot I gave him for his birthday. Nine kitties, especially the older ones, have a lot of hurking booboos on our old rugs and I get so tired of seeing Alex down on his knees. This SpotBot should help a lot, I hope.Just had our 32nd wedding anniversary. Alex got a brake job for his truck and I got a new toaster. The pizza delivery guy said he didn't think he'd ever met

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-76133329018532204802009-10-11T22:39:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:36:52.197-08:00

Alex's Christmas sweater is finished! Well, still needs buttons, washing & blocking. BTW, the colors are messed up in the pictures. The blues are actually dark green. All the colors are much darker and “manly”. I keep seeing old, brown, leather buttons in my mind’s eye. I hope to get a picture of it being worn on Christmas, so stay tuned!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-70479600044335720172009-09-20T21:11:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:37:11.632-08:00

I am SO pleased! Finished MY purple FLS and it fits just fine too.AND...That project I tried twice and both were dismal failures? Third time's a charm right? RIGHT! Finished it and it fits and it's gorgeous!What next? The rest of my UFOs are long term projects and I have some gifts to make. So... time to make a list! The car? Still at the Dealer's body shop. Maybe tomorrow?

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-22556751015093685842009-09-11T22:07:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:37:29.256-08:00

Sooo, my little new car has been in the shop for a week and a half. The dealer just got the last needed parts today. Hopefully it can come home by next Friday. The shop will have had my car longer than I had! I still haven't learned its name or whether it's a he or a she. We'll have to get to know each other all over again. *sigh* Got the check from the insurance company today along with a copy

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-58108729521210733892009-09-07T21:04:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:38:39.913-08:00

Can't believe how time is flying! The older I get the faster it goes. Or maybe it's just me who is slower? Whatever, I've been busy as usual. Our nephew bought a new car on a "clunker" deal and brought it by to show us. I was very impressed with the car and the price. Our 14 year old Saturn wagon has been having bits & pieces break down so I went to see if I could get a good deal myself. And I

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-22460925810762359732009-07-26T19:27:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:39:10.605-08:00

Ok, long past due for an update. Missed June altogether! So, where were we? Oh, I was waiting for yarn to finish the Botanica. It is finished but needs blocking and someone to model it. My manikin is too shaped like me. LOLFinished the leafy shrug but was totally unhappy with it. Frogged and started a different design. Since this was the 3rd try I didn't take any pictures, didn't tell anyone

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-57945503936201910052009-05-03T16:16:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:39:28.082-08:00

While waiting for my rescue yarn to get here I picked up a pair of socks I had put down last year when I needed to get my Christmas knitting done. They are based on Jeannie Townsend's Cascading Leaves pattern. Jeannie’s sock would never fit me as designed. So I redesigned it to fit my big, hard calves, many times sprained/broken/permanently swollen ankles and insteps. They fit me perfectly! This

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-28184314262969696142009-04-30T16:19:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:39:48.250-08:00

Well, it happened as predicted. 294 rows done out of 384 needed. Found a skein and a half for sale and it is in the mail to me from Florida.So I spent time entering all my knitting books & magazines into my Ravelry library. It's pretty cool. If I click on anything in my library I get a list with pictures of all the projects in the book or magazine. If I click on a project I get a list of all the

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-73096375486806183152009-04-24T21:25:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:40:11.586-08:00

Well folks, I really must apologize! It has been a busy year so far and I am loving it! Alison lost her colon unfortunately. But she is home and much better now and trying hard to gain weight. What a problem to have eh?The reverse mortgage went through and it was SUCH a joy to pay off all our bills. So far living on our income is working fine. My biggest worry now is what happens when I am

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-18864111474530453642009-01-17T00:03:00.000-08:002009-01-17T00:52:18.988-08:00

As you've seen in a prior post I have been knitting Aran Isle Slippers as gifts. The pattern is in the Holiday issue of Interweave Knits (pg. 80). I found the single sole to be rather thin and flimsy So I knitted 2 more soles, 2 stitches narrower than the originals, and sewed them into the slippers, wrong sides together. It makes for a cushier sole, puts a stockinette side against the foot for

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-11680741997996720072009-01-05T21:50:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:41:13.380-08:00

It's been an exciting and nearly overwhelming day for me so I thought I would share a bit.First, My Delaware Holly slipper sock pattern went up for sale on the Sockathon website today. A new experience for me. It looks like this.Second, we got our property appraisal for our reverse mortgage today, A LOT more than we expected for our old Victorian that we bought "as is" 21 years ago. Still hard to

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-34204247538753861152009-01-01T01:10:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:41:48.931-08:00

Well folks, here's to a much better New Year, for us ALL! We are SO ready! Alex has surgery for his cantaloupe next week, finally. And, if all goes well, our reverse mortgage should be coming together in a couple of weeks. It will be so good to pay off the bills, buy groceries without credit and not worry constantly about how to pay the next bill. Seems this old Victorian we have lived in for 21

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-70633340175314999272008-11-04T16:25:00.000-08:002008-11-04T20:18:10.888-08:00

Well kids, it hasn't been a very good year. But Life goes on and I'm still praying and thinking positive and doing what I can. My sales on eBay are going fairly well. I could do better if I wasn't so discouraged about shipping big, heavy items. I have knitting machines to sell because I'm only going to keep one. I have vintage sewing machines I would like to sell and they have to be very

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-56353038468000655322008-05-15T01:08:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:46:13.092-08:00

Hi Folks. I know it's been a while since you've heard from me and I apologize. Me old Mum taught me, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Well, there's been very little nice to report on for quite a while. But darn it! This can't go on forever can it? I figure, today is the first day of my 61st year on this old earth. Well actually yesterday was my 60th birthday, but I'm

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-18216709853894217992008-01-09T22:12:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:47:11.691-08:00

I received so many wonderful gifts I still haven't absorbed them all. Remember to click on the pictures for a better look, especially the storm pictures.There's a beautiful Spode Blue Willow teacup and saucer, a wonderful swirled glass vase with a signature that is partly ground off, a charming snow globe music box that plays Take Me Home Country Road, an interesting apothecary jar, 2 different

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-41719430656381530852008-01-07T23:48:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:47:40.183-08:00

I know. I'm a little late. I've been a busy girl in many ways. The week before Christmas I spent 4 days in the cardiac ward having some hair raising tests which resulted in excellent news about my heart. But also taught me a serious lesson about letting go and not trying to be in charge of so much. Believe me it's a lot easier to say than to do. Especially when the whole family is coming for

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1869300669693364592007-12-22T14:09:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:48:20.969-08:00

My dear friend Lois was going through her knitting library and sent me these. Appropriate eh?And I finally finished the fingerless gloves for a certain 12 year old.Now onward!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-15488102794229552872007-12-21T21:41:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:48:52.996-08:00

Here is our cute little tree. Alex decorated it while I was in the hospital cardio ward for 4 days .And this is Kitty, our only outdoor cat, in his winter coat and ruff.The second mitt is almost finished. 10 more rounds on the hand and then the thumb. More later.

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-48798266680222885742007-12-13T21:17:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:49:12.673-08:00

This one too a while because I tried several things. This gift is for a young man. First tried a gauntlet with several twists spiraling up the arm. Worked out fine but too tame for this young man. Then I tried a Spiderman pattern on a fingerless glove but it wasn't really working because I didn't have the right color yarns. So I decided simplest was best and I let the yarn do the designing.You

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-44490877148703046132007-12-02T15:46:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:49:42.318-08:00

Finally finished the purple socks. The second one was a struggle because I didn't make good notes on the first one. It is my version of the Veil of Leaves sock from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways book. I used Knit Picks Essentials in African Violet. Lovely and soft! First time knitting with a size #1 Harmony circ. Very nice but I wish the cable was longer.These are for a tall, slender young lady with

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-66656943291337317672007-11-20T02:58:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:50:03.877-08:00

Just finished a pair of socks for a fella on my list with big feet. :o) Not sure of the yarn but it seems to be superwash because I can't spit join it. Most of the sock is 2x2 ribbing but there is a cruller cable running down both sides of the sock. It's hard to see in the picture. If you click on the pic you will see a bigger version and the cable might be more visible.Next up is a pair of

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-67433191425203776832007-11-07T02:15:00.000-08:002010-03-13T16:50:44.346-08:00

This scarf is for my niece and I dare say it is definitely longer than she is tall! I knitted it lengthwise and should have cast on a few stitches less. I used a very nice yellow wool yarn I found online from Yarn Treehouse and a #9 circ. (This yarn would make pretty socks too.) I used a stitch pattern from Wrapped in Comfort, the Blue Jay Shawl. Alison gives stitch counts for every stitch

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-15209971719410957962007-11-03T20:40:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:51:10.211-08:00

In 1994 I had a dental appointment. It was about 4 blocks away from my home so I walked. Asleep on the doormat was a lovely fluffy kitten about 4 months old. Before I went in I stooped to pet the little thing. She was affectionate but not very energetic. The receptionist told me she had been sleeping on the doormat for several days and that they wouldn't let her in nor had anyone fed her. When I

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-47672750992730930232007-10-31T23:03:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:51:33.835-08:00

Here is a model (of sorts) wearing the purple Water Turtles shawl. Here also is a closeup of the design. The picture was taken flat on the ironing board but I rotated it so you could see how it would look hanging.It is very light and delicate. I haven't tried but I might be able to get it through a wedding ring.Now onward!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-21336368815896450462007-10-30T17:51:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:54:51.908-08:00

I know this is sort of cheating, but I just couldn't face getting down on the floor again. I ordered this blocking kit called Knitters Block. It's 9 large interlocking foam tiles with sort of a rough, carpet like covering. You can lay them out in whatever shape you need and they are very good for pinning.So with the tiles and my blocking wires I decided to pin out the shawl while it was folded in

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-80835434314431039342007-10-30T01:54:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:55:25.470-08:00

Ok Lois, just for you! I hope I didn't stop knitting too soon! Blocking tomorrow will tell. Cross your fingers!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-74456493582614852432007-10-21T02:31:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:56:11.829-08:00

Last Wednesday, 10/17 was my hubby Alex's 72nd birthday. He never tells me what he wants except more of what he already has plenty of. So I tend to take clues from other things he says. Like nagging me to make curtains for the dining room and Parlor and etc. The old cotton curtains we hung when we moved in 20 years ago are just disintegrating and my sis had sent me a box of lace bolt ends from

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-42645888811102223012007-10-14T17:56:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:56:34.339-08:00

Hi Folks. I got a box from a publisher last week. I hadn't ordered anything from them so it was a bit of a puzzle. Inside was the pattern-a-day Crochet Calendar for 2008. Remember that filet crochet pattern I had submitted for this year's calendar? They sent it back and I thought that was that. Imagine my delight while leafing through the calendar to find my pattern on Monday, April 7th! Cool!And

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-82596379016272520682007-09-27T01:25:00.001-07:002010-03-13T16:56:53.598-08:00

Hope you like!The buttons worked SO well! My only concern is that they might be a teensy bit heavy. I hope to try it on my brother Greg tomorrow to see how it "hangs". Click an any of the images for a close up look.This is the tree I put on the sleeves.And this is the panorama on the back.SO glad this is finished! Now I have to find the perfect box. Seeya later!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-41029331683398181052007-09-24T18:01:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:58:19.986-08:00

Well, today I washed the Enchanted Forest Cardi. That's a LOT of sweater! Even after I rolled it in several layers of towel and foot massaged it, it was still heavy. Here are a couple of pictures of it being wet blocked on my dining room table.Right now it is between layers of clean sheet on my studio floor with a fan blowing across it. The cats think it's something weird and walk all around it.

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-59183798264221919132007-09-23T02:33:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:58:44.362-08:00

The sweater is finished. All seams sewn. All ends tucked in good. What I need now are the perfect buttons. At first I was thinking something woodsy like Oak leaves or Acorns. Well, my brother Greg and I went on an adventure to Petaluma today. We went to a quilting store where we bought each other early Christmas presents. We went for a walk and found a high end knitting store where all I could

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-57937468306002670692007-09-17T01:43:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:59:04.282-08:00

Not a very good picture I know. Click on the pic for better detail. But you can see where I am. Joined the shoulders, knit the front bands, remembering to reverse the buttonhole side. (Note to Self: ALWAYS keep the edge stitch in stockinette. Much easier to pick up stitches.) Learned a new (to me) bind off for K1P1 rib. It's done with a tapestry needle and is sort of like Kitchener only easier.

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-18153034357583729922007-09-06T20:56:00.000-07:002010-03-13T16:59:46.416-08:00

Hi folks. Been knitting like mad on the EF cardi.Both fronts.And the back. I'm knitting the sleeves now. Didn't want them to be plain moss stitch so I've added a tree.Thank you for all the lovely comments!Someone emailed me about Mittens being an Egyptian Mau. I answered her that I thought Mittens was a small grey tabbie but never heard an answer. Eventually I looked up the Egyptian Mau and

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-30151214617073042692007-08-15T22:51:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:00:56.040-08:00

Hi folks! I finally got a couple of pictures of Mittens, our elusive little grey streak. The bathroom window is one of her favorite spots.Got Cleo too.The other pic of Cleo is just her rump as she is face down in the food bowl, so I will spare you. She is quite the chow hound!Finished the left front of the Enchanted Forest cardigan. Thanks to my friend Lois I learned how to short row the armhole

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-90437719813942497332007-08-08T22:38:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:02:08.685-08:00

Hi Folks. Hard to believe it's August already. A book I'm reading says that maybe time seems to go slow when you're young because it's a large percentage of of your life so far. when we are older a year seems to fly because it's a small percentage of your life. I don't know what it is but the older I get the faster time goes! Anyone remember that old song, "Stop the World! I Want to Get Off!!!"

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-73793032654148647212007-07-23T00:08:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:02:46.956-08:00

This was beautiful, sweet, affectionate, lovely Blackie. He came to live with us in May, on my birthday. He seemed very healthy. Nobody knew he was sick until the very sudden end, last Wednesday. Even at the vet, while we tried to save him, he was never out of my arms. Now he sleeps in the back yard, along with some very elderly but much loved family kitties. It doesn't seem fair that he should

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-80466147174853028132007-07-01T03:04:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:03:15.403-08:00

As requested I am posting what I have done so far on lace panel 1, before I rip it out and start over. I don't see any reason why this dress can't be knit in the round! I know how to seam but don't like to do it. So, here I go again. :o) Here is the lace dress in question, from the Summer IK.And here is what I've knitted so far. (My niece likes yellow.)You see all those seams? NO WAY! There is a

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-38926403516895944562007-06-25T23:24:00.000-07:002007-06-25T23:29:17.129-07:00

I finally got to see my gorgeous niece in the camisole I knitted for her. Wasn't that worth the wait? :o)

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-34706296687032532042007-06-24T01:32:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:04:06.040-08:00

I finally finished Alex's socks. He tried them on and wouldn't take them off! So forgive the bit of white leg. He loves how they fit and feel.And who was it told me Blackie wasn't a lap cat?

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-9350532907187809542007-06-20T23:56:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:05:03.562-08:00

Hi folks! Well, let's see... what have I been up to? Getting the new kitties to be happy and comfortable in their new home. Blackie is very affectionate and wants to get along with everyone although there has been just a bit of jealousy from Merlin and Percy. But he stands up for himself and things are going well. Rufus has run into Blackie in the dark kitchen in the middle of the night a few

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-6445682990813514332007-05-23T02:28:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:28:06.312-08:00

This last week has been a long one. Roseann and 2 of her girls arrived with the 2 kitties on the evening of my birthday. I fed them KFC and we chatted about the kitties, who were in no hurry to come out of their little caves. By the time they left Mittens had a safe spot behind the washer and Blackie preferred the space under the old recliner. Her's a pic of Roseann & the girls.Blackie now comes

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-68521114084554818652007-05-13T20:53:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:29:13.336-08:00

Happy Mom's Day to all the wonderful Moms, Grandmoms etc. who read my little blog! Hope you all had a wonderful day!Tomorrow is my birthday so today has been rolled together with tomorrow. I don't mind so much but I can see why Christmas babies feel sort of cheated. Anyway... at 7:30am, the middle of the night for this old night owl, the doorbell rang and there was our old family friend, Sam,

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-40065858911627815292007-05-08T22:58:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:29:39.532-08:00

I've been knitting this camisole for my very shapely 18 yr young niece. I used KnitPicks Shine Sport in the color Coral (her favorite). It's "almost" finished because I'm not sure the straps are right. I'm hoping she will come soon to try it on and we can get it fitted properly. Anyway, here's a preliminary picture of it.I haven't finished off the ends on the straps so it will be easy to undo and

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-49654772041349607752007-04-26T22:21:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:30:10.167-08:00

Ready for the big finish? I am SO glad to have this all finished and in the mail. I got to open my own package today. It is incredible! Here are lots of pictures.It's way too big to hold up, even if I had someone here at the time. That's our king sized bed it is spread out on. Six of us added borders to Judy's center of purple bowties. Mine is the last border of roses.Gonna be a gorgeous quilt! I

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-2756634159810899372007-04-23T01:31:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:31:18.988-08:00

Just a quick little post for progress watchers. Two pictures, the second one is for scale. See how big it is!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-52272748850417809942007-04-18T00:44:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:32:03.737-08:00

All quilters are crazy, you know that don't you? I mean, they buy big chunks of perfectly good fabric, cut it up into little pieces and sew the pieces together again. Crazy! Well, sometimes a quilter has got to do whatever works. See, I had this perfect fabric for the rose leaves. And I cut every little bit of it. This fabric has been in my stash for at least 20 years and I owed it to myself not

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-89088545551166060522007-04-11T22:29:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:32:25.393-08:00

Hope everyone had a nice Easter and/or Passover. Ours was quiet. We did brunch with a few family. Enjoyed the day. But I couldn't stay away from the roses!This is where I am as of tonight. You're looking at 24 half roses, 12 are mirror image. So far (knock on wood) I've had very little trouble with the mirror image thing. Here's a close-up.Still to do is the other half of the rose and leaves and

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-75274495457468538692007-03-31T02:07:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:32:49.869-08:00

Now you can see how the upper buds are coming together with the lower buds. Just a few more to put together and I can start on the large roses that go in between. The odd thing is that the left facing lower buds are behaving very differently from the right facing buds. No, really! See on the right facing buds how the stems line up? So far I'm having no luck to speak of getting the left facing bud

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-63961177799609709522007-03-25T01:22:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:33:23.428-08:00

I can't believe March is nearly gone. Except for a break or 2 I have been working, eating and sleeping with my sewing machine and thousands of little pieces of fabric. I never in a million years thought that this one border on this last round robin quilt (the biggest of them all) would be such a HUGE undertaking. I've learned certain things about myself that were a bit of a shock. 1 - I can't

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-87598820203414431212007-02-23T01:32:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:33:48.488-08:00

I've been taking breaks from working on stuff to take down and pack all my knitting machines. Baby steps you know, 15 minutes at a time? Well, they're finally all cleared out and I vacuumed my room today. The kitties have been spooked by all the changes but tonight they were delighted with the new space and feeling frisky.So I started waving around one of their favorite fishing poles and Merlin

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1171611642800045602007-02-15T23:18:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:36:37.959-08:00

Wow! I can't believe it's the middle of February already! I spent January racing a knitting deadline. Got that done and discovered I have another one in mid March. But I long ago blew a deadline on the last round robin and the very nice quilter waiting for it has been so understanding and kind. This one has been SO hard!!! And if I try to rush I make the dumbest mistakes. Once this is finished I

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1167638335894040432006-12-31T23:38:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:37:37.704-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone! Here's hoping it is happy and healthy for all of us.I've decided to take the Knit From Your Stash 2007 pledge. God knows I have enough yarn to keep me going for a few years. And He knows I can't afford to buy anything. Here are the rules. Number 3 is my favorite!1. The Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon will start January 1, 2007 and run through September 30, 2007 -- a period of

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1167273582610163132006-12-27T17:48:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:38:28.290-08:00

Here are some pictures of the wonderful gifts I received from my family. This first was next to my stocking and is very appropriate. LOL!I was sure this next gift was a mistake. My sister is the self appointed "purple person" of the family. But Mom must've noticed that I like it too. Plus this one has MY color in the border. Pink!My SIL Mary gave me a bag full of knitting notions and the little

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1167127414462845232006-12-26T01:45:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:38:50.823-08:00

It was a wonderful Christmas day! I'm too tired to take pics of gifts until tomorrow. But here are a couple from dinner. Dinner went very well. The prime rib was perfect, the cabernet gravy came out lovely, the veggies were roasted just right and Mary's lemon cheesecake was the best ever. Someone hid the pecan pie before it could be cut. :oD From left to right are my sister-in-law Mary, my Mom,

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1167035807775905002006-12-24T19:21:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:39:16.532-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I am still doing a little wrapping. Was up all night baking and making candy. I am filling jars with peanut brittle right now. My brother and his wife were just here for a visit. He has several acres of almond and walnut trees and Angie is working on a plan to market the nuts and almond flour. They brought me a sample for Christmas. We rounded up all the gifts we've had

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1166691580187655012006-12-21T00:35:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:39:37.553-08:00

Finished Alex's fingertip-less gloves finally. I borrowed a not-quite-cable stitch from a sock pattern for the back of each glove so there would be a definite right & left, and they don't look so plain. It was a fun project but there has just got to be a way to join the fingers without leaving that hole between them! I really don't like sewing up at all. So, here they are!Now it's time to make

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1166267186920226992006-12-16T02:58:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:39:57.360-08:00

Two! Seth's pair of socks, finished one by one.And Zander's socks. Twins! Born at the same time on the same needle. How cool is that!And now on the circular needle, thumbs and pinkies for some finger tip-less gloves for my dear gardener. Can you say marathon knitting? :o)Ok. Duty done. Off to bed! Hugs y'all!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1165739373224450282006-12-10T00:26:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:40:22.200-08:00

This is the blueberry waffle pattern in dk weight. Took 2 days and I am starting the second sock tonight. Hope he likes them!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1165305076694938932006-12-04T23:33:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:40:45.905-08:00

I almost forgot to take a before picture of the oven mitts, Some were already in the washer. But here are the rest of them.Here they are after felting. The mitts are all standing up in a little forrest so I would still have room for the pot holders, which refuse to lie flat anyway. And they all need a good shave.I wonder if there are any rules about pressing a felted item with an iron? I'm going

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1165220587983035592006-12-04T00:00:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:41:06.231-08:00

I am knitting like mad! I will show some results in a post tomorrow. In the meantime thought you might enjoy this. This is Alex, all comfy and warm in my chair. If it's a 3 cat night in the living room with the heat on then I guess it will be a 5 or 6 cat night in bed. :o)And of course Percy, my little golden eyed shadow, had to come out and see what Mom was up to.More later!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1164107755489578502006-11-21T02:27:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:41:29.695-08:00

I've been beavering away at the round robin. Confessed to the group that I had designed myself into a black hole and now considered myself certifiable. I begged them not to send the men in white coats with butterfly nets. I got permission from the end recipient to put the project aside so I can make gifts for Christmas. And you know what? She isn't finished with hers either!!! She says she will

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1163242710850616282006-11-11T02:35:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:42:42.356-08:00

Yay! Pics of the finished painting!The new back porch. Room for a little table and chairs!Back of the house. All those windows enclose what was the back porch in the 1920s. That's the laundry and storage area now.The side of the house from across the street. Remember the before? Huge difference! People walking and driving by stop and say such nice things!So much more welcoming don't you think?The

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1162294058677691412006-10-31T03:18:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:43:03.237-08:00

This is my Press-n-Seal method of keeping quilt pieces organized while cutting a bazillion pieces in a house full of kitties. Each stack of pieces has a number on top of it on a piece of sticky note paper. Works good! Here is a close up of one of the groups.

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1162110725889270392006-10-29T01:23:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:43:25.379-08:00

Got a couple of great pictures of the painter at work today. He is doing such a nice job!He has been saving the front porch for last. Maybe tomorrow!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1161976048561528962006-10-27T11:43:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:44:30.090-08:00

The contractor finally sent his brother-in-law and things are getting better. Still lots to do but he knows his stuff.

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1161676918267016862006-10-23T23:21:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:45:16.085-08:00

Here are some more progress pics of the house. Went out to have a look today while the trim painters were working. They don't speak much English and the contractor isn't here everyday so when I started seeing some problems it was a little frustrating. Seems the painters didn't really understand what "trim" means when it comes to old Victorian houses. So I got the contractor to come by and get it

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1161341229450859782006-10-20T02:11:00.000-07:002010-03-13T17:46:02.334-08:00

So much going on right now! The guys working on the house. Alex's 71st birthday. My slipper pattern for Fiber Trends and on and on. Nobody responded about pictures of the house in progress so... Here's what has happened so far, starting with some "before" pics. This is the side of the house with the enclosed sun porch. Pretty sad. You can see the dilapidated side steps that have never been safe

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1159508480249380612006-09-28T22:10:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:01:49.579-08:00

Hi all! Just had a whirlwind visit from my best buddy from British Colombia. After years of online visiting every night, we finally meet in person! She was traveling with her neighbor, Shirley.Lois & Shirley left this afternoon. Half of yesterday and half of today. Such a short visit! :o/ We had a great time and could have spent days trying to cover everything. Yesterday they got here earlier

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1158021921030310772006-09-11T17:31:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:02:49.624-08:00

I don't feel eloquent enough to express my feelings on this 9/11. Suffice it to say that my life was changed forever. But in no way comparable to those lives that were stolen by monsters not fit to walk the earth. Nor comparable to those lives that were ripped apart with loss. GOD BLESS AMERICA!I have started to list things for sale on eBay. So far just books on lace, knitting, quilting and

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1157688613720559632006-09-07T20:50:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:03:15.034-08:00

Finished the curtain, and in record time, I think. It was nice to have it to work on when things have been overwhelming. It came out a little longer than I thought it would, and a little narrower. When finished I think this set will go in the living room. The windows on each side of our bay are narrower than all the rest. And I'll just move the rod up a little. What do you think?Didn't get the

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1155980938745563592006-08-19T02:33:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:03:51.893-08:00

Just for you Lois!Been going through some stuff lately that's had me in the dumps. My house needs curtains so bad and I've wanted to try this pattern from Hass Designs for quite a while. So this is my happy project for when I am feeling the stress. So far I really like it. Except those big holes in the petals between the hearts. I'm already planning on redesigning. Wish I could figure out how to

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1155197822437866692006-08-09T23:53:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:04:26.931-08:00

Hi Folks. Remember that pair of socks I was knitting for my husband's birthday last year? How I ran out of yarn before the second sock was finished and didn't know what kind it was? And how I pleaded with the knitting public to search their stashes? And how one lovely person actually had a leftover? Well I got all busy with the round robin quilts and the poor socks waited and waited, in their own

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1154491232161779592006-08-01T19:58:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:05:42.124-08:00

Hi folks! I meant to do this last night but my upgraded software wouldn't talk to my old camera. All fixed today so here ya go!First, Here are some pics of what the kitties gave Alex on Father's Day. Alex loves it! He has had his morning tea in it everyday since he got it.Isn't it cute? I want one with an orange tabby. It could say something like, "I'm just here to dispense catnip." or "I'm just

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1153561705127244682006-07-22T01:30:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:07:35.518-08:00

Hi y'all. There are more pictures and good stuff coming, honest. I had a good plan for catching up but I had a little accident that has set me back a little. Yesterday I lunged across our little bathroom to catch a falling bottle and mangled a muscle in my hip. Made my sciatic nerve mad too. So my war with the dust/thread bunnies had to wait a while. But not too long. At least today I could walk

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1153391102341126732006-07-20T03:18:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:08:02.888-08:00

Hi all! This will just be a short entry, but it's a start on catching up. This is the round robin quilt top I have been slaving over. Mailed it to the last participant today. Tomorrow I hope to start getting my life back together!My studio is a total disaster area! The dust bunnies are ganging up with the thread bunnies and are harassing the kitties! SO much to do tomorrow!!!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1147688202266572222006-05-15T03:10:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:08:42.303-08:00

Hope all you Moms and GrandMoms and Great GrandMoms and Moms-to-be had a lovely day today. Mine was nice. But you see, it was my birthday too. I wasn't all that excited about this birthday and completely expected it to be all about Mother's Day. But it was definitely more all about surprises.Woke up to a wonderful breakfast (I trained him well) presented with a large scrumptious rose from our

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1147171979229882792006-05-09T03:04:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:10:45.705-08:00

Hi Folks! It has been a very busy time around here since my last post. My Mom had another fall. This one assisted by a 4 year old neighbor who leaped off the stairs and into her arms for a hug. Wasn't very funny at the time but in hindsight someone should have been there yelling "timber!". Mom went over backwards like a felled tree and wrenched the living daylights out of her back. Took a couple

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1146505209812767122006-05-01T10:31:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:11:04.701-08:00

Here are a couple of pics. The darker one shows the fabrics better. The one with the light shining through it is kind of pretty too. Enjoy!I'm gonna dash off and show it to Mom. Then mail it on the way back. Then I'm gonna come home and crash!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1146487944768651362006-05-01T05:49:00.000-07:002006-05-01T05:52:24.780-07:00

Just a quick note to my two dear blog-greedy Ls up north... it is nearly 6am and I am still sewing. Just be a little more patient. Today is the day!

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1145270056839827672006-04-17T00:45:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:12:07.199-08:00

I hope everyone had a nice Easter Sunday and enjoyed your celebrations. We had our usual family dinner, with a lovely ham and all the fixin's. Everyone waddled out the door around 10pm. We had a late dinner so that nephew Seth could join us after work.We tweaked our traditions a bit this year. Alex and I have been doing baskets for each other for 29 years. And cleaning up green kitty burps for

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1144569946943909602006-04-09T00:49:00.000-07:002010-03-13T18:12:31.324-08:00

Been awfully busy with design deadlines and a few other things. But I just got the next round robin and thought you might like to see it. For the first time I had several ideas right away, well... with the generous help of someone with a PC and a copy of EQ. And my husband, and my SIL and nephew. :o) Anyway, I know just what I am going to do. Here's the before.And here's how the after will (

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1143959304868187502006-04-01T22:14:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:12:54.971-08:00

Finally finished my part on round robin #2 and am ready to pack it up and send it on to the next person. I was moving like molasses yesterday and just couldn't get the last frame border on before I fell into bed. And the sky was already getting light! Anyway, here it is. The last person who worked on it and sent it to me said she thought it needed "calming down". Well, I don't know how much I

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1143803450114278942006-03-31T03:01:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:13:45.379-08:00

Well, dear reader(s), I have 3 of the 4 wide borders done on the round robin so no picture yet. First thing tomorrow will finish the last wide border, then add a thin frame border. Then I will take a picture to post tomorrow night. Promise!Been playing musical money with my accounts. The Fed refund is supposed to deposit tomorrow so I am praying. Lois, hope you had a wonderful day playing tourist

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1143714991830007202006-03-30T00:08:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:15:18.290-08:00

Miss me? Sorry I haven't posted for a while. Finished the crochet project and the pattern is now in review by the publisher. Started working on another pattern project, knitted this time. A shrug in Schaefer's Elaine in the color called "Snoopy's Crayons". I love this stuff! Here's a little peek at one sleeve in progress.I hear a lot of knitters fussing about "pooling", where the color in a hand

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1142416586335113282006-03-15T01:29:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:15:47.694-08:00

Just when I thought I was free to knit again something else comes up. An invitation to submit a crochet design for a book. Can't pass that up. I need income! Can't show the design but you can peek at the sample. That's all you get to see. Don't mean to tease. :o)Haven't done this for so long that my crochet callus on my ring finger has to build up again. Can you say sore? That's about it right

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1141816791185356682006-03-08T02:23:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:17:55.153-08:00

...trying to catch up! So let's see. Pieced 2 sets (24 blocks) of Origami Bow Ties in Civil War reproduction fabrics, sewn on my 1876 Singer New Family model 12. The old gal did quite a good job and I am proud of her. Not bad for 130 years old! Got the blocks all signed and mailed off my "squishy" today. In a couple of weeks I'll get back another squishy with 24 blocks from other exchange

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1141298923016892962006-03-02T02:17:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:19:37.545-08:00

It's surprising how much 3 days of intensive piecing, after years of not making all those movements, can affect older muscles and bones. You hold your entire body differently when using a sewing machine. And rotary cutting layers of fabric on the dining room table? OY! My back, my hands... ow!I woke up today wondering if I was coming down with the flu. Aching all over and moving like molasses in

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1141211079719825652006-03-01T01:57:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:20:00.578-08:00

Tonight finished three intense days of measuring and cutting and piecing and sewing and pressing and snipping and remembering what it was like to do this all the time. Now it's time to pack it up and mail it on to the next Robin. The next one is already in the mail to me and I am definitely not going to procrastinate on this one! Here's a picture of what I added to the center square.I chose

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1140862732426338962006-02-25T01:37:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:22:19.457-08:00

I swear! I can't stop! I finish knitting something. I look at it and I see ways it can, and should be improved. Especially when it is something I am designing and hope to be able to sell. What do you call that? NO! I am NOT a perfectionist! Really! I'm not! Anyone who could see my house, especially my studio, would know that in an instant. Sometimes I am sort of embarrassed when someone exclaims

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1140603744212523812006-02-22T01:47:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:23:48.709-08:00

Knitted up the sole of the Men's medium size (11) with the Highland Chunky but it wasn't tight enough for me. "Grin through" in the sole is not a good thing. :o) It would probably be good with a smaller needle and would make a smaller size. Hmmm... gives me ideas! Oh, I forgot to mention that one skein of the Sierra made one slipper, with about 2 yards left over. The Sierra is 110 yards so one

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1140515719391171572006-02-21T01:20:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:24:19.777-08:00

Well, I finally successfully completed a Men's Large sample slipper. Size 13 is so big! I took 2 pictures. The first one with the cuff not folded and the foot stuffed with several balls of sock yarn. The second is with the cuff folded and the foot shaped with a couple of round little candy cans and one ball of sock yarn. Which one do y'all like?I guess to me #2 looks more like a normal foot. It's

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18297356.post-1140002868580152522006-02-15T02:36:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:25:44.445-08:00

Sorry for the lack of postings lately. Between keeping up with the Olympic schedule and taping all I can, and slaving over the Men's sizes in my slipper pattern I haven't felt very chatty. I wouldn't say I'm a math whiz but I was a bookkeeper for 35 years. So most math problems in knitting and quilting aren't a big deal. But one of the things I've been wrestling with in the Men's sizes was how

Gretchennoreply@blogger.com0