Back to a Tiny Needle for Tiny Needle Tuesday

Last week, I decided I was ready to start my next counted cross-stitch project.  I had already gathered everything together an put it in one place, so that when I felt ready, I could just get going.

So last Monday, I sat down and got started.  And then started again.  And then another time.  And then I put it away, deciding that I would see how I felt about it on Stitchy Saturday (my own name for Saturdays if I work on any needlework).

I was in the mood on Saturday, and keeping in mind what I had done on Monday, I forged ahead.  The project I'm making should eventually look like this (or at least close to it):

Last year, I happened upon Floss Toss, a video podcast with Rachel from Treehouse Knits, and Sue from Legacy Fiber Artz.  They started a Flosstube (which is apparently what cross-stitch podcasts are called), and one of them - I forget which one - had made this, and I just loved it.  So I looked it up and purchased the pattern, fabric, and floss after checking I didn't already have any of the colors.  I've had it for a little while, but was finally ready to start stitching!

I had decided to start with the snowflakes at the top.  Easier said than done for me, because even though the fabric was not snowy white, it was still not that much darker than the white thread.  Since I realized what had happened on Monday, when I wasn't really prepared for that, things went better on Saturday.  I got two of the snowflakes done in the morning, and three in the afternoon.  And no, they are not perfect, but they are done and they look like snowflakes to me.

You can see them here in my Instagram post.  I think I'll do OK now, at least for a while, because the white sections left will have a lot more area, and I'll wait to do them until the other parts are complete.  That's the plan, at least.

It's a large-ish project - well, larger than my most recent one anyway - so I think it will take me a while, but that's fine with me.  I kinda like knowing it will be there waiting for me when I feel like giving it some love.

I've Made My List

... though unlike Santa, I have not checked it twice.  I feel that he needs to be more comitted to his list than I do to mine.  😊 

Our weekend was pretty uneventful, as is usually the case nowadays.  I did make some progress on some projects.  I got a counted cross-stitch project underway, after a false start earlier last week.  And I got the cuff knit on the second sock of the pair I'm currently knitting.  My Advent Throw got some love as well:

Adding in the partially finished pink stripe on the top means that I am 1/3 of the way through my yarny Advent calendar, so I'm zipping right along.  This pattern (the Habitation Throw by Helen Stewart) is really great, because once you get started, it's not complicated at all, and goes along pretty quickly.  I could see making another with random scraps down the line.

I also made the list I mentioned in an earlier post, to organize thoughts I had about what I might want to make/do this year.  I thought I'd share it with all of you, both for record-keeping purposes, but also in the event that any of you need "inspiration" to make your own lists.  We can try to follow our lists together!

Now, keep in mind, I'm not saying that I can only work on this list, or even that they all have to be completed.  Rather, these are things that were rattling around in my brain, as I was thinking of what kinds of projects I might want to do this year.  So they are goals, but not requirements!

And there are ten of them, because - frankly, it just seemed like there should be ten of them.

Making Goals for 2021

1. Knit a minimum of 4 items for charity*

2. Knit a toy/stuffie

3. Knit at least one pattern from a pattern book

4. Try to learn crochet well enough to make at least 2 coasters

5. Make tops for at least 2 quilted placemats

6. Knit one sweater

7. Sew one item other than quilted placemats

8. Try one brioche knitting pattern

9. Complete at least 2 cross-stitch/needlework projects

10. Clean up knitting needles - donate duplicates or ones I don’t use

*as of 5 February, I already have a hat knit last year and will also finish my Happy Socks (1 knit so far) for charity, so I need a minimum of two more items

What about you?  Do you have any specific plans or ideas?  I'm curious to know if I'm the only person who was being driven nuts by my ideas and thoughts and had to write them down!

Who Wore It Better?

The first weekend of February is here, and hopefully we can all just enjoy it.  I don't know about all of you, but this has been a kinda sorta tough week for me.  But, that is now the past.  I have a knitting Zoom with a group of friends on Sunday, and I'm really looking forward to that, so it's all good.

In the hopes that this post will give you a reason to smile moving into weekend, I'm sharing this story and the accompanying photos.

Many years ago, I took a class to learn the basics of fair-isle knitting.  I decided to knit something for The Tim, and chose Dotty, a pattern from one of the Rowan magazines.

Needless to say, it took me much longer to finish than the class time, but I was really happy with the result.  Here is the Ravelry page for my project.

Shortly after it was finished, I got a message on Rav, asking if they could use my photo of The Tim for the pattern page, which of course led to me saying YES.

I told my friend and Rosie's Yarn Cellar co-worker, Andrea, about this the next Sunday when we worked together.  It turned out to be a really, really, really, slow day - one of those where maybe during the whole shift, *maybe* one customer came in.  So we were entertaining ourselves, as was our wont when it was quiet, and Andrea used her mad Photoshop skills to, as she said, make The Tim "the new face of Rowan."

Here is the image of the Dotty vest in the magazine that accompanied the pattern:

And here is Andrea's "fix:"

So it's time for you to decide: 

Who Wore It Better???

(P.S. Not only did we laugh ourselves silly about this, but it will never NOT be funny!)

Have a good weekend!

Three Happy Things

 It's been a bit since I participated in Three on Thursday, so I decided that today I would share Three Happy Things with you.

(Image source)

SNOW!  This is the first time for years that we have actually had a true snowstorm in Philadelphia.  In the city, we got 8 inches, and it was just wonderful.  Just enough to make it *real* and not so much that people couldn't shovel out and get around.  

This basket of happy, which contains my WIP Advent Throw (pattern is the Habitation Throw by Helen Stewart), and the other minis from my yarny Advent calendar that will be knit into it.  I just love seeing the happy, bright colors sitting altogether!

This ridiculously sweet face!  The Tim took this photo the other day, when he was busy doing something on the first floor, and Hamlet was keeping him company, but also getting in some rest at the same time.  Hammy is such a sweet pea, and loves nothing more than just being wherever we are, ready to cuddle at any moment.

I hope you find some happy things for your day as well.  Finding things that make you happy helps to keep so much bad stuff at bay!

Cinnamon Rolls, a Sock, a Book, and a Nor'easter

Hello from very snowy Philadelphia!  Phase 1 of the nor'easter snowstorm we are supposed to get is winding down right now, so that Phase 2 - which is supposed to be the "real" one - can move in this afternoon.  When Hamlet and I went out for our very early morning walk today, there was about 2 inches on the ground, and we were more or less the first ones to walk in it on our street.  It was nice, soft, dry snow, so we enjoyed it while we could, because right now, the infamous "Wintry Mix" is occurring, to be followed by heavy snow, which probably means that tomorrow morning will be like ice skates.  Ugh. Why does Wintry Mix even ever have to happen???

Anyway, it was nice this a.m., and Hamlet was so joyous!  He ate some of the new snow, he ran around, and when we got back to our street, I took his leash off and said, "OK, Hammy - home for breakfast!" and he seriously gamboled down the street until he got to our stoop.  I love seeing him that happy.

So - have you ever heard/seen a friend do something, and it just sticks with you until you give it a try yourself?  Well, a couple of weeks ago, a friend posted on Facebook some photos of some cinnamon rolls she had made.  We both love cinnamon rolls, and I just thought to myself that I had to try and make some - even though I'm not much of a bread/roll/pastry baker.  But it was in my brain, and I decided that I would make them this past Friday.  With all of the various steps and letting the dough rise, etc., it took the better part of the day, but oh was it worth it!  They are truly delicious, and I will definitely make them again!  I completely forgot to take any photos, but I used this recipe, if you want to try some yourself.  Highly recommended.

On Saturday, I finished my first sock of 2021 - not a pair, just a single sock, a HO if you will:

I call these Happy Socks, both for the colors, but also because I started them on Inauguration Day.  It's just a 2x2 twisted rib cuff, a pattern of k2, slip 1 for a round and then just knit on the next round for the leg, and then a plain foot.  I like the way it looks, and I will probaby start Sock #2 today or tomorrow.  I probably won't be keeping these for myself, though that could change.  But I want to try and knit things that I just want to make this year, and if I am not immediately wanting it with all of my heart, I'll put them in a box for gifts or to donate.

Also on Saturday, I started reading this book:

It takes place primarily in Philadelphia during the 1918 flu epidemic, and is really a good read, while also being terribly sad.  There are also so many similarities to the current pandemic that it was interesting for that reason too.  I finished it yesterday!  

The other thing that struck me was the cover, which is a winter scene of Philadelphia as seen from Logan Square.  The Logan Square Fountain is in the forefront, and to the left in the image is the tower of City Hall; then to the right is the Pennsylvania Railroad building.  If you stood where the woman in the image is standing today, you would see the exact same thing!  I just love that.

So it was a very cold but very lovely weekend.  When Hamlet and I went out yesterday afternoon, the nor'easter was just getting underway; when he and The Tim went out last night, there was probably about an inch on the ground.  So really overnight we didn't get that much more, but it was so nice to wake up this morning and go out for a walk in it, before everyone else was up and whining about it.  

Today's plan is to start the sleeves on the sweater I'm knitting, start a new book, and see how the day unfolds.  It's the first day of February, so a new month has started with all of the new possibilities to be revealed.  

I hope you are well, and if you are getting snow, I hope it won't be in any way harmful to you and yours, and that you don't lose power or anything.  Otherwise, enjoy a wintry day and stay cozy!