Crocheted Baby Cardigan

It has been a really long time since I have posted.  My husband has been going through some very serious health problems. We almost lost him 3 times through 13 different hospitalisations.  Needless to say, not a lot of crafting has been done this past year.  He is much better now, but his “retirement” is taking some getting used to. My 14 year old dog has Cushings and has become deaf. She needs more care now, too.

Ok…enough about the family…

I crocheted this baby cardigan from the Craftsy class “Beyond Rectangles” with Linda Permann.  I used Lion Brand Microspun.  I was a pretty easy pattern to crochet. I did pick up a tip or two from the class.  I will probably make a hat to go with it. This sweater is going in the West Virginia Heritage Craft Co-op for sale.

I am working on a few more items, but as usual, it is slow stitching in West Virginia.

Pink Baby Quilt Completed

This is the completed baby quilt that I posted about a few months ago.  I was able to get a doll quilt and a small stroller size quilt with the leftover wedges.  I am almost done hand quilting the doll quilt and will work on the stroller quilt as I am able.  I usually do this sort of hand work at the West Virginia Heritage Crafts Cooperative on my days to work the shop.  I have a few items in the shop for sale – some coasters, a pot holder, an apron, and a pillowcase.

I am working on a T-shirt quilt for pay and a crochet afghan for pay.  I am halfway done piecing the quilt top and almost done with the afghan.  My husband is having some serious health issues and it is difficult to take time away to work on my handcrafts.

Star Trek Tote

      

I made this tote for my sister, Teresa, for her birthday in June.  She was born on the day that they showed the last episode for the original “Star Trek” series.

I used the same pattern that I used for Pam’s tote – “Candice” from Lazy Girl Designs.  It went together a little easier this time.  I had to center the print for the front and the back and make sure that the design was right side up.  Teresa picked the fabric and has seen pictures.  She likes it very much.

I did a good job on this, but I do not plan to go into the bag making business as it did take some time. Like I said before, I have 2 speeds – slow and stop.

A Completed Cross Stitch

I finished this 5″x7″ cross stitch in September 2002.  My initials are DEC, so that sometimes makes it a little bit confusing on the completed date. Sometimes I just use d.cook and the year completed. This is a little Americana Angel.  She has a lot of half cross stitches in the plaid.  I used a precut mat and a standard frame from the craft store.  She sits on the little table with some candles so that she is seen when you walk in the door.

I am hemming a new pair of jeans for myself today.  I have a very short inseam of 27 1/2″.  I usually have to hem store bought pants even when I buy petite.

I am still working on the pink quilt from last post. It needs to have the binding hand stitched down.  I am saving that for when I have down time at work.

I sewed a tote bag for my sister, Teresa, for her birthday in June.  I used the same pattern that I used to sew the purple tote for Pam.  I used “Star Trek” material for Teresa’s.  I will get a picture before I mail it off to her.  My camera battery is recharging at the moment..

WIP – Baby Quilt

Working on a baby quilt for a nephew and his wife expecting a girl in July.  I used a lot of pink scraps. I will probably get 2 more smaller quilts to sell or donate.

WIP – Baby Quilt

      

Here is another baby quilt that I have been working on.  I am down to the binding.  The pattern is “Phoebe” by Sharon Hart that was printed in Fons & Porter’s Fall 2009 Easy Quilts magazine.  It is made all from stash except the thread.  I had to redo a row because I sewed some pieces in upside down.  Luckily I caught it right after I did it so I didn’t have to rip out too much.  The back is pieced from 3 different flannels.  The biggest piece was just a little too short.  That was a blue, green, and yellow stripe.  I used the last of a plain yellow and the last of a plain green to make the backing along with the stripe.  That left me with just enough(!) stripe for the binding.

This is for a nephew who is having a baby soon.  I think that there are 2 more babies on my husband’s side that are due this year.

Pillowcase

I sewed a pillowcase from scrap fabric for fun.  Not sure who or what organization will get this.  I just wanted to sew something quick with scrap fabric.  I didn’t like the frog fabric enough to use in a quilt, but it’s cute as a pillowcase.

Baby Quilt for Louis Finished

   Here is the completed quilt for a new grand nephew born in December.  I really like this one. I like the colors and I did a pretty good job on the quilting and the binding.  All materials were from my considerable fabric stash.

WIP – Baby Quilt

 

This is the top of the baby quilt that I am working on for my niece MIchelle who is expecting a baby boy sometime in December.  (Oh…that’s this month!)  I used “Baby Makes 3″ pattern.  You are supposed to use 3 fabrics.  I picked 3 colors (blue, green, and white) and cut pieces from my stash.  I found green 2 1/2″ strips already cut  and used them for the first border. I had just enough of a dark blue background with some fish to use for the outside border.  It took ALOT of piecing for the back.  It is now machine quilted.  I used a green variegated thread to straight stitch about a 1/4″ away from both sides of the long vertical and horizontal seams.  I picked up some tips from a Craftsy class “Creative Quilting with Your Walking Foot” with Jacquie Gering. The first tip is that “It’s a WALKING foot, not a running foot.”

I am working on the binding now.

And yes, I know, the quilt is pictured upside down, but the picture would look more stupid if the ironing board was upside down.

Hemstitching

     

These hemstitched burp cloths are from Ammee and Company.  They are 2 layers of flannel with a special stitch around the edge so that you can crochet an edging with thread.  The pink one is just 2 rows and the blue one has 3 rows.  There is also a receiving blanket to match each burp cloth.  I just finished the blue receiving blanket today.  I will wash the blue set and package it for my neighbor.  She saw me working on the burp cloth & when I showed her the set, she said that she would buy it from me to give as a gift.