Completed projects from last year

When going through my blog I realized I never posted the completed project pictures for a couple of my blankets. My sister in law with  her waffle stitch blanket and my neice with her ripple wave blanket.   Both are a little larger than twin size. Last photo is of a few cross stitched pieces.  I think this is the 3rd time I stitched up the plum street's coffin buzz freebie piece.  I love that design.

My latest baby blanket shown in my last post is  just about done.  I have one more row of the border to do.  The baby is due any day so I will be dropping off the gift soon so I need to decide rather quickly what else I am making to include with my gift.  

New crocheting projects

Hunting for a new crochet stitch to use on my next blanket led to the moogly blog and this cool new stitch.  Moogly has wonderful clear instructions and a video.  I worked up a 12 inch.sample test swatch for a baby blanket. The design is called leaping stripes and I am in love with it.  The pattern is easy and uses only a couple of basic stitches yet produces an interesting herringbone pattern.  On the blog she use charming baby pallet colors but I decided to go with 2 jewel tones of the bulky Lion brand homespun yarn which I love using.  It washes so well and I adore the variegated colors.  I accented with Caron medium weight black and I  used a 10 hook so the blanket has body.  On my next blanket I am going to use a 10.5 hook to see which I like better.  

I also finished a knitted shawl for myself done with the seed stitch.  I started this shawl last winter.    You can see the beginning of one of my cat toys on top of the shawl.  I will be stuffing with  catnip added in.  My kitties already nabbed this pink guy twice and I had to go rescue him and that is all prior to my adding any catnip.  My son made me snap a picture before this pink piggy gets "loved up".  Piggy needs a button nose and a squiggly tail. There are many sad looking yarn rodents that have gotten much of love this winter.  Since a few have gotten tossed given their sad state a couple of replacements are needed.  These little left over yarn toys are such a hit that when my husband noticed my catnip supply was getting low he bought me a mondo replacement jar of catnip.  Lots of happy and sometimes stoned kitties in our abode.

Happy Updated

I have made some progress on my "happy" piece this weekend.  This picture shows the fabric color a little better than the last one.   So what do you think?    I am close to finishing.    Thanks to our deep freezing weather here in the northeast  my stitching time increased.  This cold has kept me in doors.   I hope it is warmer where you are!  Lots of hot lemon tea and fuzzy snuggling kitties here  help me keep the chills away.  

After some soup and a sandwich I am going to hunt through my yarn stash for the makings of my next crocheted blanket.  I need to do up a baby blanket and plan my nephew's blanket.  I'd like to have his done by September for our family gathering.  I also would like to try a new stitch for at least one of these projects.  Anyone have a favorite crochet stitch for a blanket?  I am looking for ideas and so far nothing I have checked out on line has grabbed me. 

Mare

HAPPY stitching

Sometimes a girl just has to stitch her way to  "happy".  Here is my latest new start.   It's a freebie by La Comtesse & le pointe de croix.  The photo doesn't do the sparkling hand dyed even weave pink fabric justice.  The fibers I am using are color wash hand painted silk by glissen gloss and needle necessity overdyed braid. 

Winter isn't my favorite season and I long for spring's arrival.  Work has been a challenge but I bought a few lottery tickets and I am dreaming of a brighter future.  Just taking one day at a time and making the best of each day.