Ditchin' the Stitchin' - At Least for Now

Thank you to my newest follower Clavs. What an interesting user name.
I do hope you will enjoy the blog and that I will see you again soon :-)

I started this little project a week ago (over two weekends.....

I thought it was fairly close to finished when I featured the above photo on Wednesday. See post here.

It turns out there was still a fair bit of finishing to do. I didn't take photos of each stage of the process but there was the need to add to each sleeve as well as add a few rows of edgings about the neck and front.

After sleeves were added.

Then came the buttons and the ribbon.  Whew, I'm glad that little "baby" is done. Here is what it looks like.

After edgings, ribbons and buttons were added.  A few close ups are added below.

Sorry about the exposure on this one.

 

I also made this bonnet but I know I didn't make it right. Somewhere along the line I couldn't make sense of the pattern so I made the rest of it up. It didn't quite pan out. I've written to the pattern designer to see if she can help me with understanding her instructions. I'll  be interested in seeing if she will write me back as I've pointed out 4 problems (for me) in the pattern.

Here are the bonnet and the sweater together. It also comes with a  pattern for booties & trousers but at this point I don't have enough of this pink yarn to make the booties & trousers.  I don't like this yarn very much so likely won't use it again after I use up the blue, green & yellow stash I have.

Now I have a question for you. Someone I know has asked me how much I would want for this little sweater jacket.  I haven't a clue but I know that this person is usually very thrifty when it comes to paying for handcrafted items. In other words, she won't pay much.  I've done some research on the internet and this little item goes for anywhere from $40-$70 US, on Etsy and other internet shops. On Ebay the bidding is started at $30 US with the obvious hope that the final bid will be higher. On these sites the sweater generally sells as a set which includes a bonnet and a pair of booties.

Update:  I was able to get some clarifications from the pattern designer for this sweater and bonnet so I've corrected some of my errors and kept other modifications to make it my own.

Here is a back view of the bonnet.

Here is a front view of the bonnet. I've added the ribbon on the bottom edge.  I need to get a life size doll to model the bonnets and sweaters in future. I'll have to check out some thrift stores. I did check one already but didn't find anything other than stuff toys and one doll with a giant head.

I didn't make any crocheted changes to the sweater but I did move the ribbon up one row. I think it looks better this way as it doesn't cut off the sleeves and shortens the yoke so that it is more of a normal baby size.  You can see what I mean by comparing to the second photo from the top of this post.

This little sweater set is now ready to show my friend or to sell on Etsy.

  What would you pray for such a little set if you were buying it for a gift? 

I'll be looking forward to your answers.

Crafty Creations

I've had a cold this past week or more and I've been quite fatigued. I haven't been feeling up to much of any real work or outside activities while I'm trying to rest and recuperate.

Usually when I'm sick, I like to read a good book but this week I got crafty.

First up was this jumble of knitting. I made two sets of dishcloths.

This first set is made with a smaller needle. I like this colour combination for kitchen cloths and have made a set for myself in this colour before.

This dishcloth and it's mate (not in this photo) was made for a friend of mine who recently helped me pack up mom's apartment. Her kitchen has whites, pink and browns so I thought she'd like this colour combination. I've made it in a slightly larger knit which I've found works very nicely for dishcloths.

I love this colour blue and actually made this one in the Autumn. This week I've wrapped a bar of dove soap inside and will gift it to a friend who loves this colour blue.

This yellow item is an aborted experiment in crocheting a baby dress. I didn't have the right size of hook and I don't think the yarn is soft enough for a baby.  As I progressed, I could see that the dress was really too small at the top. I believe I know what the problem is.  I think it is missing the chains at the ends of each row. I may try this again when I get the right size hook and softer yarn.

Determined to make a baby dress, I started a different pattern. I am using some light pink yarn that was given to me by a friend.  The colour looks washed out due to the lack of good light at that hour of the morning.

In this photo you can see the proper colour of the sweater. This is the first time I've tried this pattern. I always find the first time making something to be quite challenging and I don't usually work in yarn as my preferred material is crochet cotton.  Now that I am getting close to the finish, I think it looks very cute. I will post a photo of the  finished product after I find some ribbon and rosettes to adorn this sweet little jacket.

Close up detail of the sleeve.

I hope you've enjoyed a peek at my crafting week.

I'd love to know if you've been busy making anything 

and whether you have any knitting or crochet patterns 

of baby things to share with beginners like me.

Chocolate Chip Cookies for Those Who Love Chocolate

Welcome to my newest follower, Snow white who lives in Nara, Japan.

Dōmo arigatō (thank you). Hajimemashite (nice to meet you).

Every since I found out I was diabetic I have not been baking as much as before. I miss baking cookies and eating a cookie while drinking my tea.  Lately it has been cold and windy here and  Tuesday night was no exception. I went on line and found this easy recipe for chocolate chip cookies.  These cookies are different from others I have tried because you add cocoa to the mixture.

Recipe Ingredients:

3/4 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 tbsp water if dough is dry ( I had to add a bit of water)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts ( I added some leftover pecan nuts as I don't have any walnuts)
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

The mixed cookie batter.

Recipe Instructions:

Beat together the oil, sugar, and egg. Add the rest of the
ingredients and stir to blend well. Let stand for 10 minutes. Drop
by spoonfuls, about 1 inch apart, onto a lightly oiled baking sheet.
Bake for about 8 - 10 minutes (or until done) at about 375 F.
My batter  made 30 cookies.

There are two cookie shapes here, one round and one flattened with a fork tine.

One cookie - 106 calories, 1 starch/bread, 1 fat exchange 2 g
protein, 18 g carbohydrate, 6 g fat, 124 mg sodium

Quick & Easy Diabetic Menus by Betty Wedman, M.S., R.D. 1993 ISBN
0-8092-3853-5

These cookies were tasty and not too sweet but flavourful enough with the added cocoa. The cookies are also a bit crispy.

It's All About Love

I Corinthians 13 

Valentine's Day is a day of love,
For showing that we care,
And if we read the Bible,
God describes love there: If we speak like celestial angels
From heaven up above,
All our words mean nothing
If we don’t have Christian love. Love is patient, love is kind;
It doesn’t brag or boast;
Love conquers pride and envy;
It is never self-engrossed. Love is not rude or angry;
Forgiveness counters wrong;
Love stays away from evil;
It sings a truthful song. Love is full of trust and hope;
It always perseveres;
Love never fails; It’s faithful;
To the Bible it adheres. And if you give this kind of love
To your special Valentine,
You’ll be loving right in harmony
With God’s own sweet design. 

By Joanna Fuchs HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! MAY YOURS BE FILLED WITH LOVE

Update on Mom on Skywatch Friday ~ February 11, 2011

I would like to welcome my newest follower, Angela, who hails all the way from Kenya. Angela I do hope you will enjoy my posts about your beautiful country and also come to know a bit about mine as you read my blog. Karibu.

Sky photo taken in Kamloops, BC (from my archives).

Today I have a short post. I've learned late Thursday that after only one week in the nursing home, mom had to head for hospital emergency again.  The chronic cellulitis in her legs has flared up again. This time in the right leg. The doctor at the nursing home examined her and suggested she go into hospital. 

I find this development upsetting since I've only recently returned to my home (out of town) from moving her and clearing out her apartment. I'm sure mom finds it even more upsetting but we didn't have much time to talk about what she is going through.  I don't have more information about her condition.  I would simply like to ask you to pray for my mom and for me. 

Thank you so much! 

Update (Friday afternoon):  I talked to the attending nurse. She said mom has had an ultrasound and though the nurse hasn't read the official report yet, she thinks there are no blood clots. Thank God as mom's leg colour has been so dark and unusual. Mom is being given a course of intravenous antibiotics 4x daily.  I'm told she should be back to the nursing home in a few days. If so, that will be her shortest hospital stay yet and that is good news indeed. Then she can finally settle into her new home.

For more Skywatch Friday click here.