Betwixtmas MKAL

Oh, you  have nothing to do on Christmas Eve?  Or just plain tired?

But, you want to keep your hands involved while you sit

in your relaxing chair?

How about joining in on this--Betwixtmas Shawl Make a Long--

end your 2018 on the right note!

Betwixtmas is the phrase that describes those hazy days between 

Christmas and New Year.  Here comes Black Sheep Betwixtmas shawl, a free pattern designed by Bronagh Miskelly

Look for that perfect yarn and pick up your needles (if you have the strength!)

and knit!

Chopping, Mixing, Baking!

We're chopping, mixing, baking today--lots of goodies to go on our holiday tray.  Each night  after dinner as we sit around to visit, we bring out Dan's famous eggnog along with a tray of baked goodies--oldest daughter has fudge, spritz cookies--have you seen the recipe for that Fireball fudge!  OMgosh--  Our friend, George is a distiller at Shire Distilling CO and he makes a great fireball liquor-- I think this will be added to our tray this year!

Dan has made pralines--I don't make candy!! It never turns out good; most of the time, it is runny and you need to bring out the spoons.

These are so delicious--creamy and smooth!

His recipe is sooooo old!  It's hard to read--I suggested

he needed to write it off so it doesn't get lost in years to

come.  

I'm mixing up my sugar cookie recipe--only because son ask

if we were going to have some cookies to dip in milk--I posted that

recipe last year, I think. 

Don't you just love old recipes that have been used over and

over again?  This is a savory cracker--lots of heat with the cayenne

pepper

And to round out the starter of the evening--Cheese ball.

Plus, I have my world famous chili cheese log to savor as well.

Gee, how we love the holidays and all the foods of

our memories.

Gift from My Hands

Every year our Expatcher group gathers for a Christmas luncheon.

I always hope to have a handmade gift to give each of my friends.

This idea popped into my brain last year--

of course, I waited till the last minute to finish up the

details--why, oh why do I do that?

Anyway, here is my gift for my dear friends.

It is handspun silk stitched on handwoven brown cotton cloth,

which has been handspun as well,

   The silk ribbon and yarn have been dyed

with indigo.

I found the bamboo 3" frames on Amazon--of course.

My hope that they will enjoy this piece from my hands.

2019 Planning

January 2019 brings new challenges!  

It is time now to plan for those upcoming projects .

One of my favorite designers, Elizabeth Ravenwood, aka

dogyarns on Ravelry is hosting another lace knitting

venture in 2019--a different pattern each month--I

finished my 2018 lace scarf but it isn't blocked yet--

Another 2019 knitting adventure is one coming

from Toni L. Lorenz, aka 

stlorenz on Ravelry (oh how I love Ravelry!)

This is going to be an exciting learning experience!

I've begun to spin while watching playoff football games

This fiber is very well aged!  It has been in my stash bin

for years--it's lovely to spin

The singles are doing well but I'll ply singles for 2 ply before

the knitting begins.  I have attached a small piece of velcro

to the wheel and when I stop spinning I can put the

loose end of the yarn to the velcro and it sticks!!

This lovely fiber comes from my friends at

Sky loom weavers.

I sure there isn't any more of this fiber--I love the

name--it comes from her animals, which are all

named wonderful names.

I still need to decide on another fiber to spin........

Mistakes..................Can Be Corrected............

It must be my month to make quilting mistakes--oh, yes, I'm making mistakes in other routines of my life too; But, do you know, all mistakes can be corrected?  Thank goodness!

When I have a few spare minutes, I've been sewing on Bonnie Hunter's 2018 mystery--I'm liking the color combinations.  So far, I've worked on two clues--making mistakes on both clues--oh, well.......I should read the instructions more carefully--really!  Take my time!  Read thoroughly!

Okay--what does this read to you?  2.5" unfinished--my brain

glazed right over that the "unfinished part" and went to download my sewing papers

for half square triangles

Now, what does this say at the top of the page??

2.5" FINISHED!!  (You can find these free half square papers

at quilting and what not--there are several sizes--)

Yes, so wrong!  I sewed several of these papers and the

brain kicked in----oh, no!  these need to be 2" finished!!

So back to the drawing board--I need to square up all these already sewn

to 2.5" unfinished!!

Thank goodness, I have this tool to make that process go quicker:

You line up on the stitching line that size you want the 

square to be--not pressed yet--and trim.

This tool is product of  New Leaf Stitches--it even trims the

'dog ears'!

Oh the joys of a mundane brain working overtime!!

Whew! Finished...................

Well, I thought I was finished---------then, I took a photo of my "finished' quilt top.  The next day I looked at the photo............................guess what??

And there it was!!  a glaring mistake!  A big fat mistake!

Can you see it?

Well, this is the way it's suppose to be--that meant lots of

ripping--goes to prove--you're never finished until you REALLY

look at the finished project!

This was a free project from Fort Worth Fiber Studio and measures

33"X 33"

All About Socks!!

Oh My Gosh!   Free patterns and tutorials on Socks!

I'm in heaven--sock heaven, that is!

You too can become a sock knitter and enjoy

these free patterns--Knotions has this just for you!

How can you resist??

I can't decide which one to knit first.

Then the other day, I discovered this interesting pair of sock knitters

and oh my--the yarn!  where have I been all this time??!!