my best girl sweater

Mommy, I love you. You're my best girl.

This is called 'my best girl' sweater because of the above words that my little one says to me a few times a day, every day.
She's my best girl too. What more could I ask for in a best friend. Awwww.

And, this was her sweater for Christmas. It's an organic merino wool and nice and soft. I just love the brightness of the red colourway which is called chili pepper.

The Ravelry link is here.



This lollipop ornament seems to have gone missing. I can't wait to find where she hid it.

neck cozy

I really wanted to knit this when I saw the project on Purl Bee. It's always nice to do a fast knit while working on larger ones and in between. I had just enough of Como by Debbie Bliss that I scored on sale a while back at my LYS.

I have been really attracted to wearing white more so in this past year then ever. I like how it brightens my skin and I like the softness of this wool in particular - a blend of cashmere and merino. This white has a silver halo to it that is so pretty.

Happy New Year

A new year. A new dress made from leftover fabric of one I made for myself. The servant dress designed by Lynne at Sugar City because she outgrew her white one.

Another version of the same dress made as a tunic.




The mark of my blog turning four years old.


A few resolutions:

Start reading books again... good thing I joined that book club last month to keep me on track.
Take better photographs.
Work harder on the garden this year and maybe try to grow a dye garden and lots more flowers.
Challenge myself in one new direction by learning a new skill. Undecided yet on which one but here a few I'd like to try:
Learn French. I think Japanese would be wonderful too. Learn to paint with watercolors. Take a flower arranging class. Learn ceramics.
Continue to exercise on a regular basis.
Go to at least 3 flea markets. I have been missing them like crazy the past few years.
Go on a vacation already! It's been almost 5 years people.

I would also love to re-do the den and build a patio but we will see.

Happy New Year.

happy holidays!

Here are a few more things I've been up to

Rosemary Olive Oil Breads
Cut out wool felt ornaments - silhouettes, cats, stars. I really like the black against the green of the tree.
Pretty garlands inspired by Stephanie's.
Glazing a whole lot of sugar cookies. I love sanding sugar and I added some glitter dust into the icing.
A big lace scarf in the prettiest shade of green.
A red sweater that still needs sleeves and a button band.

The galettes need to be filled, the house needs a scrubbing and if I find any more lights in the attic I will be adding even more twinkle. The decorating is never really done now is it? Or the wrapping but, I'm getting closer.

Hope you all have the happiest of holidays. I'll see you soon!

xo

Nancy

winter knitting

I have been knitting a lot and feeling guilty about not sewing much. I start things, cut out projects, sew small projects ( a new draft snake, lavender sachets... ) and then leave the attic where the heat is sometimes there and sometimes not. I think when it's really really cold it stays warm all the time and maybe I should just drag the space heater up there to work after the holidays because I've been really missing it. Then of course I'll go on a sewing spree and feel guilty that I'm not knitting.

I have to say settling down under quilts is really really nice especially at the end of these busy days in the quiet house and just being still.

I've got a sweater for Scarlet on the needles right now and if the stars align I should have it finished by Christmas.

Here are a few of the projects though that I've managed to photograph.

Toast (pictured above)

I decided to go down a few needles size and used Rowan Felted Tweed DK. I wanted something tweedy but this is not the softest wool. Maybe it will soften after blocking? In any case, I still like them. I've knit this pattern a few times and I can never have enough fingerless mittens. I like to accessorize.



A hand knit alpaca/wool collar that made it's way into the shop today.

*I may or may not be done with cookie baking though I still need to glaze the vanilla and citrus sugar cookies. Other then those I've made gingerbread cookies and those peanut butter blossoms with help from the family. I'm planning some olive oil rosemary bread this week for Christmas day which I'm hosting this year. I must admit I am most excited about the Buche de Noel that I ordered. It is so so pretty. I will be sure to take photos of it and maybe some of those cookies because my cookies are pretty too.

paper scrap papier-mache balls

These papier-mache balls were originally intended for a different project but, when I came across this box of paper scraps I received from Sharilyn of Lovely Design a new idea came to me. I decided to take the paper scraps and glue them to these pretty round boxes which I had bought here.If this store is new to you please take a look around because there are so many wonderful things there.

The inside of the ball is so pretty too:




For gift giving these can be filled with small treats- candy, tiny finger puppets, stickers, tiny flowers, little mushrooms, jewelry, erasers or whatever your little or big one is into.

I plan to give one to each of my kids this year.

The best part - I have lots more of these paper scraps for more crafting adventures ahead. And these can be used over and over again. What will they find next year inside?

a dress and some leggings

I found this dress in my work pile cut out from the summer and decided I would put it together. It's a rather simple design I've done before. I didn't have any instructions with it so I just made it up as I went along and decided to do a seam finish on the sides I haven't done in ages which is the flat felled seam. Mostly this is just used for jeans and is really not needed on light breezy cotton dress. A regular seam and serge or even french seam would have worked fine. Mostly I just love the fabric which is so light and full of sweet illustrations. I think I'll wrap this up for S for her birthday which is at least a little closer to Spring.



And, these leggings..... well, I didn't get these quite right. I mean they are sewn fine and I love the jersey but, they are too snug for my girl which is okay because I know some small ones who could get some use out of these.

Edited to add how I make the leggings:

I start with a pair of leggings that we currently own. With these I actually didn't have enough material which is why they don't fit Scarlet.

I use organic cotton jersey for leggings. This one I got from Superbuzzy. I've also purchased from Alabama Chanin but, I'm sure you can get nice jersey at your local fabric shop as well.

The age of your child will determine how much fabric you need. I think I used 3/4 of a yard for the ones I've made her and she wears a 3T.

Notes:
If you don't have a serger use a small zig-zag stitch on your machine.
Make sure you used the right needle -one for stretch fabrics.
Don't worry if you haven't used jersey. It's not that hard.

1) Fold the leggings in half place the straight edge on the fold and trace around leaving room for seam allowance.
1" at top and half inch around the bottom and side. Do this again. You now have two identical pieces.

2)With right sides together sew up the leg seams leaving the waist to crotch (gosh I hate that word) open. If you have a serger you can go ahead and serge this too.

3) Turn one leg right side out and place in the other leg so everything lines up and sew along the curve. So the right sides are together inside. Take the leg out and you will see they are almost done.

4) You now need to hem the bottoms and make a casing for the top. If you have a serger you can serge along the bottom of the pant legs and the top of the pant before you do the hem. You should use elastic that is 1/2"- 3/4" for the casing.

A casing is rather simple to make and you will not need to hem twice if you serge at the top. Make sure to leave room for your elastic and then sew in shut with a little ribbon or tag so you can tell which side is the back.

If you try this and it works out let me know. If you have any questions feel free to ask and I will try to help you in the comments section.

Thanks!