Hello from soggy northern Illinois! How are you? I hope your week is moving along nicely. I am keeping busy with a few different projects.
Over the weekend I finished my cozy and snuggly Bobble Cowl. The pattern is by Joji Locatelli and can be purchased on Ravelry. It uses one skein on sock yarn. I used Knit Picks Preciosa which I hand dyed.
I added three extra pattern repeats to get my cowl as long as possible. That tiny ball of yarn is all that’s remaining. I used a scale to make it easier to predict how many more repeats I could add—I added three. Still, I was wondering if I’d have enough to finish the last one.
Previously, I’ve shown you the shoeboxes (2016 and 2017) I put together for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child program. Last year, I stumbled upon this video of Eva whom I haven’t been able to forget. She is 100 (now 101) and sews dresses for the little girls who receive her shoeboxes. I think she is amazing! Eva has inspired me to make some dresses of my own for my shoeboxes for 2018.
I found some patterns and measurements on Pinterest and set to work on Saturday to make my first dress. It took awhile—I hadn’t sewn any human clothing since my daughter was quite small, but everything slowly came back to me. I used to make practically all my own clothes, so I guess it’s like riding a bike.
This dress was made with lots of love for the little girl who will wear it. I hope she likes it and can find lots of little treasures to put in the pocket.
This morning I made a pattern so that the future dresses I make can be cut out without measuring each one; that was quite time consuming.
My Little Darlings, Lucy and Alice couldn’t let me write a blog post without saying hello. They’re hanging out in the studio and having a fun day playing together. Alice is waiting for me to finish her ensemble so she can put on her shoes and be ready for a proper photo shoot.
This morning, I made some time for puppy cuddles and making granola.
Right now I have a load of laundry in the washing machine and I’m going to slip out between the rain clouds for a walk. I think I can do it; for now it’s 51° (11°)—springtime temps!
Enjoy your day, my friends! ❤
Cindy Rice Designs 
Good morning Cindy from sunny Tamworth Australia.
We received a good downpour of rain 2 days ago, after 6 weeks of nothing. My garden said thank you. The temperature has come down a bit, not so hot. I am looking forward to autumn with the cooler temperature, but we can still get some hot days in March.
I too, am busy in my craft room. I am getting close to finishing the knee rug for my stepmother.
My little twins Hilda (german antique reproduction ) are waiting to be brought in to the 21st century with a new outfit and hair style. I am a couple of weeks away from finishing my creation of modern,10″ all porcelain , bonnet “Hannah” .
We are heading up the coast on 1st March for a 3 week holiday in our caravan and I will be taking a stash of yarn so that I can do some knitting and crochet while I am enjoying the seaside. Might even do some fishing.
Take care and I hope the rest of your week is good.😊
Hello, Wendy. I’m glad you all got some much needed rain. We get quite dry in July and it can get horribly crispy out there, so I know how it feels to need some rain.
It sounds like you have quite a few projects in the works. Do you find it’s hard to know what to work on next? I am encountering that right now. I try and keep a daily ‘to do’ list and that helps me a little. Every day is progress towards something though, so all is good.
Your holiday sounds just lovely and so relaxing. Knitting is so portable. Love that! Your colors of yarn and new fabric look delicious.
I hope you do do some fishing while on holiday, not just knitting. (lol) Enjoy. Can’t believe it’s Wednesday already…
Thank you, Wendy ❤
So many projects. I’m envious. Didn’t see any snow out your window. It is actually cold enough here in CA to snow but no moisture at all = no snow and no needed rain either.
We did get the leaking toilet fixed today, so that is a good thing. However, the heater at the other house is flashing a blinking light code. Now to find out what that means and how to fix it. May have to call someone on that. Of course, it’s freezing and getting a heater person will be quite a chore.
What a perfect little sundress. Whoever gets it will be thrilled. Perfect color combinations too. The cowl turned out having just the right amount of blue I believe. It’s lovely.
Hope sweet pup doesn’t eat the granola. Just struck me as funny to see him and then that delicious looking tray next. Our neighbor manufactures granola and has it in Safeway stores here. It has coconut in it which is not my favorite. 😦 But other person pronounced it delicious.
Looking forward to seeing the girls in their outfits. Aren’t they fab models?
Can’t wait for warmer weather.
Hi, Joy. The trend this winter has been snow, then melting, then snow, then melting… It’s not usually this way–usually the snow sticks around all winter with the new piling up on the old. I kind of like it this way. We don’t have all that dirty snow around for long, just “new snow”. Wonder if we’ll get any more now. You guys sure can’t get cut a break as far as moisture goes, can you? Can’t believe it’s freezing by you; I didn’t think it got that cold in S.R. Yes, you need the heater to be working.
Thank you for the compliments on my current projects. The dress was fun and I hope to make more. Would you believe I will probably need to buy fabric though. I have stacks and stacks… of 1/2 yard cuts. The dress needs at least a yard unless I piece it. I could try that.
Ha ha about the granola. Believe me he would eat it and then be sick. That dog loves food!!! Sorry, Joy, mine has coconut too, and coconut oil. I love coconut! I put it in my ground coffee beans every morning, takes the bitterness away. Your probably cringing right now, right?
I’m yarn dyeing today, small batches of lace for the girls.
I hope today is a warm one for you. ❤