Knitting Dragonflies

Two years ago I started a flannel hiking shirt for my husband. I have always made his shirts. Well I had a major stall out, then a year ago I picked it up again and got it done except for the buttons. I discovered I had to “adjust it” due to weight loss. OK, so I tweak it a little, and it fits. Fast forward to a year later and the shirt is mocking me from the corner of my stash room,  I finally decide to put the buttons on and give it to him. Thankfully I decide he better try it on before I do! I look, and oh no, it is huge! So I spent longer today, ripping it out and adjusting it, then I think it would have taken me to toss it, and start over. *grin* When altering men’s shirts, one thing leads to another. I agree with Syd, “wake me when the nightmare is over”…. Back too wide + sleeves too long, this leads to eventually ripping everything out, and even making the collar shorter, due to a smaller neck. I went from tweaking it to being “all in”, The pockets are in the wrong plac...

In my “moving like a sloth” period I was looking for a tutorial for a fleece poncho with a hood, maybe sewing something will make me feel like I’m accomplishing something *snort*. I found lots of ideas but then came upon this site that I had to share. I swear you will find something you need, even if you don’t, it is rather addicting looking through the links. Sewing Stuff, free online sewing patterns , but don’t let the title mislead you, it is a super compilation of links. In the process I found more good blogs to follow, and some interesting ideas. (she has knitting and crochet, quilts, etc.… links also) From Halloween costumers and underwear to moccasins and hair scrunchies to lawn mower covers and mermaid dolls. Need a portfolio cover or interested in recycling? Charity sewing? Going to a Renaissance Fair? There is a section for you. Keep looking, don’t stop at the top, the more you look, the more you have to look. I love the portfolio cover, I was just going to buy something ...

So I work well under pressure, with a deadline. I decided, last minute, to sew my DH a shirt on our anniversary. So I got started in the morning, not early. I bought a heavy golden flannel, with a tea stained like pattern on it. He is a real outdoor type of guy. The shirt would be good for hiking etc. Getting things cut out. It’s been a LONG time since I sewed anything from a pattern. (that was clothing), how wide is that material? Yes, a LONG time. All cut out and ready to go, you can’t see it very well, but it is sitting on my new sewing basket. The one I was using was the one I had to buy in 6th grade for home ec. So after finishing the quilt I was working on I decided I deserved a new one. By the time my DH came home I had most of it done. Had to alter the shoulders a bit and the collar/neck. I still have the buttons to sew on and the buttonholes. (and the hem). But I’m pretty pleased with it. I especially like the button flaps for the pockets. The back yoke echos the patter...

Yes, I love to game, I have a problem stopping, and it can be 1 in the morning before I know it. I have stopped before and used that energy to, well sleep maybe, LOL. Or knit and spin. This started innocently enough, Farmville, it is a slow game, relaxed, right? I think the big draw of this is it’s utopian like world I can create. Yes, my neighbors are all nice and help out to raise my barn or send me bees or parts. My crops might wither, but that is about the worst thing that happens. My farmer is always smiling and ready to plow and plant more seeds. The animals are adorable, no disease or death, the worst is my puppy will run away if I don’t feed him. The weather is always pleasant, sunny skies and I can fix up my farm with as many little doo dads as I can buy. Meanwhile in real life, I’ve gotten into my summer de-cluttering purging event. I’ve even purged my walk in closet! *gasp*. So I feel good on that count. Of course today is our anniversary and I have fabric to make my DH...

Drop over and take a look at the new Spring/Summer Knitty 2010 ! My favorite pattern? I can’t decide yet. A wide variety from socks to shawls, easy to challenging. Below is some beautiful core spun yarn from urbangypz's photostream on flickr! She has an etsy shop UrbanGypZ . This beautifully spun yarn makes me think of spring! I’m still struggling with my core spun, I’m not sure that is for me, I’m going to go back to traditional spinning. We have been busy at my house, painting and getting a new privacy fence! While visiting my Dad, I got sucked into Genealogy world! I have never done any research like this. And it is fun and very interesting. I feel like I’m turning into quite a sleuth. The stories we hear about family and are they true? Tracking down records and more records. I can’t imagine how time consuming this was before the internet! I’m teaching  a 7 year old little girl to sew. Any hints would be appreciated, so far we have; made a tote bag, a cat bed, and a ...