Record-breaking

It's been a long time-----like all other ventures I need to be in the mood for blogging.  Today the temp was close to -50 (wind chill) and I am now coming out of my thaw; tho the internal temp is close to 70, asthma has kept me from doing much.

I have been sewing small purses the past few weeks.  I've been collecting fabric for this for a few years.  Some of the fabric was gifted to me as large scraps from a quilter.  I've had my usual insane-fun and will be posting the pics in awhile.

Here are other things I have been working on since the last post:

Embroidered grilling towels for my surgeon for Christmas

These gnomes are some of the 60+ I've done for Christmas 2019.  I began them over Christmas 2018. I just have to move when the mood strikes.  Knitting the little caps was the best.  The gnomes are 2 1/2" tall.

  

Crocheted owl keychains....made with DMC embroidery thread.  I was gifted a box of thread several years ago.  The gifter bought a few gallon bags worth at a garage sale.  I love trying to use it all.

 This is Olaf Scandanavian, made of wool sport wt. Wool of the Andes (Knit Picks).  He is the third I have knitted in 30 years.  He has a wife on the needles.

 My wool socks are drying; I have established a way to utilize the washing machine with no agitation and can get all pairs washed and hung within 30 minutes.  This is not all my pairs; these were the ones that were laundered.

This knitting bag has an amazing story.  The outside fabric is a linen kitchen towel I found at a thrift store.  I suspect it is decades old.  In fact, I had to cut off the edges as they were moldy.  At the bottom it says "Made by Linen Union" and the other edge says "Made in Ireland."  Having some Irish roots, as well as being interested in Aran knitting stitches, I was more than thrilled to pay 15 cents for it.

The inside fabric is a woven kitchen towel (as opposed to having the ink just printed on it)….it was much more pricey with a tag of 50 cents.  Into the cart it went.

 This is the back side of the knitting bag.

Front side of the bag.  A bit of history is given; also, the stitches are illustrated and explained.

 A closer look at Olaf.

 These 3" socks were knitted by me to give me some sort of door decoration.  I had the bunting hanging on the front door over the holiday season.  It made me happy to look at it.

These 2 1/2" gals are painted on wooden doll pegs.  I get a hankering to paint every 5-8 years.  Astonished that my paints last so long!  I daren't toss them cuz I might want to paint again....they were made for a nurse's 4 yr. old daughter.  Very well-received.

I think the water bottle brand is Fashy.  It is German and really holds heat.  I thought a wool cover might be useful...once again wool showed its superpowers.  Never scoff at a water bottle sweater.

I wanted to come up with a warm chemo cap for the local cancer center.

Knitting is my favorite but crocheting felts nicely, too.  It also goes faster than knitting.

The above photo is how large I must make each hat since felting wool shrinks it considerable.  That's the idea because a dense wool fabric is warm and somewhat waterproof.  I can't wait to see how they are received...

Double-brimmed they sure warm the head!