Happy Halloween

 

The Forever Sweater is Almost Complete

We have been having some cool fall weather. Some rain, some sunshine, but mainly cool. Yesterday's high was 10C. This morning the low was 2C. It was suppose to rain/snow over night but I don't think that happened. 

Lifestyle

We were out yesterday to finish up the last of the Christmas shopping that went to western Canada. That was the last box and I am hoping I can relax a bit before I finish up what I need to get for family here. It was harder this year as I was trying to avoid crowds; shop early home early. 

We did enjoy our outing yesterday though. We headed out to Coldbrook to get apples and post the box. Then it was to the book store and home by lunch time. 

The Spousal Unit has almost completed trimming the hedge. Then it's raking up the thorny pieces so they won't get me next year. Once that is done, only the rose bushes need wrapping in jute. 

There were no new cases of the virus reported yesterday. There are 4 active cases in the province. This has been another stress factor for us as we wonder when the 2nd wave will arrive. So much to do before we only do grocery shopping once it arrives. 

Sewing

On Wednesday, I set up the serger and roll hemmed a scarf for daughter. I knew I wanted the variegated cream thread to be the star of the show. I've had this thread for years and don't know when or why I bought it. 

I thought the other two threads could be grey but when I did a test piece, it looked wrong; almost dirty like. 

You can see the grey thread at the inside edge. I changed to white and it was lovely. I was done the scarf by noon and had it ready to go in the box shortly after I ate lunch. 

I am ready to do another test pattern before I take time to clean the sewing room. 

Knitting

I have worked hard on the slow knit sweater that has taken forever to finish. At one point, it looked like it would hit the trash bin. It looked like it wouldn't fit, the collar was doing it's own thing and I was near tears with it. I decided to put it on the doll to see if I would do the second sleeve. It has turned out to fit nicely on her and she is one of my chunky dolls. 

The second sleeve has been inserted and all that is needed is the snaps on the back, a button on the front and a look to see if I need to tack the collar in place. And I will not be making this sweater again any time soon if ever. 

Today

It is housework day with a chance of a bit of sewing this afternoon. I'm behind with all the other things that needed doing. I do hope to finish the sweater tonight and get ready to start a hat. I'm looking forward to some easy knitting for a bit. 

Until the next time.............................................

A Mask Sewing Day

 Our weather has been cooler with highs between 10 and 12C and lows down to 0C or lower. We've had sunshine and rain but no snow flurries as was forecasted last night. 

Lifestyle

On Monday I headed out to the quilt shop and then did a bit of shopping for us and Elliott. We both rested in the afternoon and went to grandson's soccer game at 3:45 p.m. They won by 1 point. It was cool and it rained off and on during the whole game. 

Yesterday we woke to it raining and we pulled out of the driveway at 7 a.m. to head to the hospital in Halifax. The traffic was heavy but not bad. Driving in the dark and rain was harder than the traffic. By the time we started around to to Halifax via Bayers Lake, it was daylight. Traffic in the city wasn't too bad until we got to Robie Street (hospital is there) and it was heavier but not bad. I also lucked out with the lights being in my favor. We got into the hospital 20 minutes early and the Spousal Unit was in to have his stitches removed 5 minutes after we arrived. We were out in good time, into Sackville for brunch and home by 10 a.m. 

We had no new cases reported on Monday and 1 yesterday. It is related to travel outside the Atlantic Bubble. There are 6 active cases now but no community spread. 

Sewing

On Monday morning, I went to the quilt shop to get shirt fabric for daughter. I found this lovely combination which I don't usually share here. But, I had to this time as the colors are totally out of my range of choice. 

She was asking for polka dots and this is tiny flowers that looks like polka dots. I hunted around for piping and found this fabric. 

And it was perfect as piping. 

I have to go back and get her some more fabrics for other shirts she wants to make. 

Yesterday, I headed down to the sewing room and spent quite a bit of time in it. It was mask making day. I made son-in-law two masks out of this fabric. 

I added round elastic cording to them so he can wear them with his hard hat. 

Next up was to see if I could use up the scraps from the doll's jumper. There was enough and I was able to do a decent job of matching the pattern. Not perfect but it's almost there. 

I will wear this one as I really need two masks. Three masks, 3 hours of work from cutting them out to finishing them up. 

Knitting

I am ready to sew the sleeves into the sweater. And, I hate this sweater. I'm not sure what it is; tension is slightly off, horrid pattern, or just me. It was a lot of work. Though I kept track of the rows, nothing is correct (tension) in length. The knitted sweater feels wrong (tension again) and the collar is not folding over correctly (tension and pattern). I will finish it and put it into the "you'll never sell this one" pile. The dolls will wear it for photo shoots. 

Today

We are out for hair cuts early this morning and then I need to do a rolled hem on a scarf for daughter. Presents need to be wrapped and I hope to get a parcel out tomorrow afternoon to her. Laundry needs to be done today also. It's the last week of free shipping and I'm trying to get all the loose ends caught up in the midst of a mess in the sewing room. Next week will be calm. 

Until the next time..............................................................

A Day Of Sewing

Yesterday was cool with a high of 9C. The wind made it feel cooler. This morning it is -2C and it is suppose to get to 9C and stay that way until tomorrow evening.  

Lifestyle

It was a day downstairs in the sewing room for me after I cleaned the bathroom. 

I have eaten better for 2 days now and have felt much better. I have eliminated a few foods that I think were irritating my IBS. I have also cut portions to what I think are normal and am only have 2 small low point cookies with evening tea. I am hoping it is working to control the IBS, help remove the inflammation from my knees, and to loose weight.  

There were no new cases of the virus reported yesterday. There are 6 active cases in the province at this time all of which were contacted outside the Atlantic bubble. 

Sewing

I allowed myself the best part of the day sewing. It was a me day. I started off the day cutting out the jumper top and sewing it up. That was the easy part. Then I cut out the skirt and matching the plaids in the front was easy but the sides were hard. It can be done but I was not getting it. I actually ran out of fabric so used the best pieces. 

Sewing the skirt was also easy. It consisted of 4 pieces which matched beautifully. I serged the side seams prior to sewing them. Once done, I serged the hem prior to attaching the skirt to the bodice. Even the button holes went in perfectly. 

Though the blouse fits a bit loose in the body, the jumper fits perfectly. I found a piece of strapping that had 2 small D rings attached to it, cut it to size and used it for the belt. 

If I make this again, I will use a small print for the jumper and the blouse in a pastel. Or it could be the white blouse with a bright vintage print. 

Knitting

I worked on the sweater and got the 2nd half of the cowl collar done. I also cast on stitches for the back band and have a row or two left to knit before casting off and doing the other side. When done, I will be happy as I don't think I will knit this pattern again. 

Today

I have to be out for a while and hope I'm not too tired to make a mask or two this afternoon. I may knit tonight. I feel the push to get the sweater done and onto new projects. 

Until the next time............................................

More Shopping, Less Sewing

 Friday was cooler with a high of 15C. The sun did shine which was nice. Saturday morning it was 7C when I got up and quite cloudy. We had mist and fog all day and the high got to 14C. This morning it is 7C once again and is suppose to remain there all day. 

Lifestyle

On Friday, we headed out to New Minas to do some shopping. We got all but 2 Christmas presents which I will get here on Monday. On the way home, we stopped at the quilt shop for daughter. No response in almost 2 hours (I texted before we left home). We sat and waited for 15 minutes and nothing. When we got home there were text messages from her. They had 6" of snow on the ground and it was snowing heavily. By noon they had 9" of snow. It is a rarity for them to have snow before Halloween, but we remember it happening before. 

Yesterday daugther-in-law and I went into the city to find out what is happening to her new fridge. We then did some shopping and were home just after 1 p.m. I did find one more Christmas present and got a few ideas for others. 

I started on eating less at each meal and not snacking yesterday. I had a sugar low at noon which hasn't happened in quite a while. But, I felt better overall last night and hope I can keep it up. 

We had no new cases of the virus reported Friday. Yesterday there were 3 new cases reported. Two were from travel outside the bubble and one was a person who was ill in another province and has since recovered. 

Sewing

I'm starting to think about November and and December. This month, I have sewn nearly 5 meters of fabric. That makes me close to 75 meters. I am not going to make it to 100 meters but I'm happy to have 85 meters or a bit less. 

What is left for October? - 2 dolls dresses and a mask. I will need a few days to make them but this is doable. 

November and December? - pillows, pajama pants, doll clothes, and a bit of embroidery. I also have curtains to hem which don't count in the total. 

Knitting

I am working on the slow knit sweater and making progress. I started on the second part of the cross over collar and ripped it out. It was not how I wanted it to look and I was short 4 stitches. I redid it, got the right number of stitches. I knit several rows quite happily. I still have the back bands to pick up and knit and then sew the sweater together. 

Today

The goal is to sew as much as I can. I have several things I need to get done this week along with a day in Halifax when the Spousal Unit has his stitches removed. 

Until the next time..................................................

Test Blouse Is Done

Yesterday was warm all day. We had a lot of sun and the temperature was 19C for the majority of the day. This morning it is 7C and it is suppose to be sunny and 16C. Another nice day in the making. 

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit mowed the lawn yesterday. It was long, lush and wet. With the weather being so nice and having the rains, the lawn has perked up to be very healthy. This should be the last time it is mowed but we are thinking it could be once more for sure. 

I got over hot yesterday. I even headed outside to try and cool off but it didn't happen. I finally had to put the heat pump onto dehumidify and cool the house and me off. I survived it but was tired. Today, I plan on closing curtains this morning to help keep the house cooler. 

We are, once again, at day 4 with no known cases of the virus. 

Sewing

I headed down to the sewing room before lunch (why upstairs got warm) to fix the Spousal Unit's cotton mask. I put a nose piece in it along with adjustable elastic. It fits him very nicely now. 

I worked on the doll's blouse and it was a lovely sew. It fell together so nicely for me. I spent a bit of time thinking about the steps as I read the instructions. When do I serge seams? When do I hand sew on the bows? I finished it around 3 p.m.

It fits a bit loose in the body which I will note on the pattern. I did not add lace to the collar as I had none that would work. 

I also tightened up the elastic by 1" to have it fit better. I quite like the bows on the sleeves and at the neckline. I'm ready to cut out the jumper this weekend. 

The next pattern is almost ready to be tested. I am excited to test this one also. 

I will need to buy blue ribbon as I don't have that specific color in my stash. I do have a cute fabric that I will be using though. Have had it for about 5 years now. 

Knitting

I finished the second sleeve and started on the collar of the slow knit sweater. It was a bit of an interesting time. I had to pick up 57 stitches using a crochet hook while looking at the pictures to figure out what I was doing. Once I started to knit, it all came together. 

You stitch the edge of the collar to the front of the sweater to create the cross over effect. 

The other side will be done exactly the same way. I will be happy to be done this sweater not because it is taking so long but because it is full of mistakes and hard to understand instructions. And the pictures are not the best. 

Today

We are heading out to do a bit of Christmas shopping for the last parcel to go west. I will stop at the quilt shop so daughter can see some of the fabrics I found via pictures. Then home with the hopes of cutting out the jumper for the doll. If not, I will be looking at the yarn I have to make a cat sweater. 

Until the next time..................................................

Testing A New Pattern

 Our weather has been warm and sunny, warm and wet, and cool and wet. Yesterday we had the warmest temperature near midnight. We also had 5 mm of rain. That is .2" of which I think may be wrong. It rained quite hard here for quite a while. This morning the temperature was 19C at 6 a.m. and we had rain earlier. Not sure what we will have for weather today. Probably showers, and some sun and cloud. 

Lifestyle

I got almost all the Christmas shopping done for the west coast. I will have the last box ready to go out on Wednesday of next week which means I will have to shop again tomorrow. We will go to New Minas to do it. A day out.

We have been 3 days with no cases of the virus. It is mentally draining waiting to see if we get a second wave but we are trying to move ahead with positive thoughts. If it happens, it happens and we are pretty much prepared. We can shop locally if necessary. On the upside, people are still following the health guidelines to keep people safe. 

Sewing

I set aside the red dress as it has been published and another pattern came out to be tested. It is a blouse and jumper and I got started on the blouse. 

The fabric seems to be a light weight linen I bought. I really don't like how the facing is showing but it will be hidden by the jumper. 

I bought a cute plaid in black, white, and red for the jumper and it will be an easy sew. The hardest part will be matching the plaid on the bias. 

Knitting

I did no knitting last night as I was not in the mood to tackle the pattern. I did pattern hunt for a sweater for daughter's cat. 

I need to find a skein of yarn to knit it up for him. 

Today

It is laundry day - I'm behind and need to get caught up. I do hope to sew this afternoon and maybe knit tonight. 

Until the next time................................................

A Box Of Fun

Monday was cool and damp with a high of about 14C. Yesterday was warm and sunny with a high of 20C. This morning it is wet, damp, and 14C at 6 a.m. We are having a variety pack of weather this week. 

Lifestyle

Monday was spent in the city getting more Christmas shopping done. I am almost finished presents that need to go to daughter and son-in-law. One more short trip and I'm done. I did start on getting a few things for family here. 

One of the items I fell in love with that I bought was this wooden cat. 

It so reminds me of Elliott. 

Yesterday I cleaned the living/dining area and put the furniture back in it's original place. In the afternoon, the parcel from BC arrived at our front door and I had fun unloading it, wrapping this weeks gifts to go and packing the box ready to ship today or tomorrow. 

Sewing

In the box that arrived was more leather and ideas are rolling in my head for how to use it. I am going to start with a simple jacket that I have in the pattern stash. I want to pair it with the basic dress pattern. 

Also in the box was this lovely piece of fabric. 

I see at least two dresses from this piece. Both will be basic and I can knit a sweater to go with each one. 

The dress I was testing has been published. I have to decide if I want to finish it or scrap it. The next test pattern is out and one from Keepers Dolly Duds. I will be starting it after I look for fabric, which may mean a trip to the fabric store. 

Knitting

I knit on Monday but not last night. I'm working on the upper part of the sleeve where I am now decreasing. 

In the box was 6 skeins of yarn for knitting. Four are in a denim color and 2 are in a multi color. Lots of fun knitting coming up in the future. 

Today

We probably will head out to get a few things at the quilt shop this morning. Then I need to wash some fabric and cut out the pattern for the next test pattern. With it dull and damp outside, I need something fun to do. 

Until the next time...............................................

Test Pattern Started

 Though yesterday was cooler, it was a beautiful sunny day. The low was 0.6C and the high was 14C. It dipped to 1C during the night and was 5C at 6 a.m. It is suppose to be a cloudy day today with a high of 15C.

Lifestyle

I spent some time with the Spousal Unit getting the garlic ready for the garden. He was out and about doing it and got 7 cloves planted and covered with burlap. Later on, we will cover them with mulch of some sort. This is our first attempt at growing garlic so are excited to see what we get next fall. 

I did some work in the kitchen and got some clean up done. I'm trying to keep up on the house but with October being Xmas gift time to send out west, I feel the housework slipping away from me. I will work on trying to keep it up. 

There were two new cases of the virus reported yesterday. All were contacted outside the Atlantic bubble. We now have 6 active cases all of which were in isolation when diagnosed. 

Sewing

I spent a couple of hours in the sewing room yesterday. I got the bodice cut out for the test pattern and got the first sleeve inserted. It is a big sleeve with pleats in it. I took my time to make sure the pleats were the right size and it fit the armhole perfectly. 

With the way the bodice fits, I would make this dress sleeveless. It fits to perfection. 

Knitting

I worked on the second sleeve some more and have started to cast off for under the arm. The second repeat of the pattern is almost done. It is actually knitting up faster than I thought it would. It may get done by Christmas. 

Today

I am off to do more Christmas shopping today. I'm going to be wandering a bit looking for items. I plan on stopping at the fabric store for a few items I need. The only extra I am looking for is very light weight wool/poly suiting for coats to go with the historical clothing I am wanting to make. I would like to get the 2nd sleeve in the test pattern and do more knitting tonight. 

Until the next time..................................................

Another Test Pattern Completed

Friday was a beautiful warm day with lots of sunshine and a high of 20C. Yesterday was warm, wet, and windy. It did cool off during the night and it is 2C this morning. It is suppose to be sunny and 15C today. 

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit's surgery went fine on Friday. He had the last two lesions removed. All looks good except for a bit of swelling under the eye. Both are sore which is to be expected. We went for lunch afterwards and were home by 2:30 p.m. I got to the hospital without taking the wrong turn. We've done this enough times to get it right now. Next appointment is Oct. 27 at 8:30 a.m. for stitch removal. 

Yesterday we were out and at the doctor's office before 9 a.m. for our flu shot. We were two of about 30 that arrived for it. I had my usual minor reaction to the shot with a pain between my shoulder and was very tired all day. The Spousal Unit was fine with his. 

I've been quite tired lately with having so much on our schedule that I thought I was catching a cold. I was able to have a good night last night and feel better today. I'm watching to make sure I am not let myself get run down. 

On Friday we had one new case of the virus and on Saturday two new cases reported. All are travel related (outside the Atlantic Bubble) and we're isolating when they tested positive. 

Sewing

I have the pattern drafting course all sorted out. I have to go back and watch the videos to find out where I put the different necklines I did. I also got out the couture sewing class so I can work on it. My desk is proving to be a very useful item in the sewing room. 

I started a list of patterns I want to make for the historical part of doll sewing. I have them listed under the books/shows I am interested in doing. I've also done some research on costumes and have a few ideas on how to adapt patterns to fit that era. 

I also downloaded the first pattern I want to sew that I got from Pixie Faire. It is the Tokyo cosplay dress and it's an advanced pattern. 

I do need to buy a couple of meters of white broadcloth for lining and a few zippers for closures. 

Knitting

I finished the latest test pattern and did pictures yesterday. I will be making this one again as it has 2 sleeve and hem styles. 

The fit is quite good. I used pewter colored buttons on the back. 

I may change them to green when I go to the fabric store. It was the best match I had at this time. 

I think I have enough green yarn left to make a hat but am not sure if I will or not. 

I worked some on the slow knitting sweater. I'm almost done the first pattern repeat. I keep plugging away on it and one day it will be finished. 

Today

I have laundry, budget, kitchen clean up, and prep to go to the city tomorrow to get more Christmas shopping done. It is going to be a busy day but these are things that need to be done. I'm not sure I will make it into the sewing room today but I will try to knit tonight. 

Until the next time.................................................

Nearing the End Of A Busy Week

 Yesterday was a lovely day with lots of sunshine and a high of 20C. This morning it was 10C at 6 a.m. and we are to have a repeat of yesterday's weather. Then we get a day of wet, warm, and humid weather. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday we headed out to Coldbrook to get apples and then on to the book store to replenish the supply of books. We did a bit of shopping at New Minas and headed home. 

While at the book store, I found these two books. 

No Book 1. I looked on our local library's website and I can get all three brought in to read. My goal this winter is to read a bit more than I have been. 

We had no new cases of the virus reported yesterday. We have been very diligent in wearing our masks, sanitizing our hands, and practicing social distancing. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday. But I did admire my new desk, which was assembled on Wednesday afternoon. Next up is the peg board above it for my tools and then sorting the coursework I want to do. 

The last of the Little Women patterns is out. Jo's and it is sweet. I will be buying them all in the next bit as I love them. They are on my 2021 sewing list. 

I just looked at all the patterns I have at Pixie Faire (14.5 pages worth) and I hope to start sewing them one at a time. I also have 3 patterns at Etsy that I need to sew. It will do me good to work through these patterns and use up the doll's fabric stash. I am not going to say how many I'll do in a month as the patterns range from easy to advanced. 

Knitting

I finished knitting the little top and just have to block it and add buttons. It is cute and I hope to photograph it tomorrow afternoon. 

My knitting goal is to finish the sweater I started way back when and then do a bit of knitting for others. It is time to do both doll and human knitting once again. 

Today

We are off to Halifax as the Spousal Unit has surgery to have more basal cell lesions removed. If all goes well, we'll stop for lunch in Lower Sackville and be home mid afternoon. Only flu shot on Saturday and, hopefully we will be have no other appointments for a while. 

Until the next time.................................

Cool And Crisp To Warm and Wet

 We have had clear and crisp with a low of -2C and a high of 10C and warm and wet with a low of 17C. We had over an inch of rain which we needed. 

Lifestyle

We are having a busy week. I was into the city yesterday to do some Christmas shopping and to get some groceries. No line ups at Costco and I was in and out in 25 minutes. Was to Walmart, no line ups there and it wasn't very busy. Up to Ikea, and no line ups there when I went in. Line ups were forming when I came out and also when I drove by Costco later on. I'm glad I went in early and did my shopping with less people around. 

After I got home, I was busy putting away groceries, doing the turkey soup, and packing a box to go to daughter. I had to have the label printed yesterday for free shipping. 

We had our phone appointment with the doctor today. The Spousal Unit is healthy but needs his puffer replaced as it was out of date. My thyroid is fine but my kidney function is still where it was (poor). I'm off most salt now and am to drink lots of water. I'm also going to start loosing weight again. I need to get this week over with so I can focus on that. 

There were no new cases of the virus reported today. We still have 4 active cases all of which are in isolation (one is still in ICU). 

Sewing

While shopping at Ikea, I looked for my desk in the center aisle of the warehouse. Though online said none, there were some and I grabbed one. I used a heavy duty swiffer cloth on that part of the floor and then washed it. It was dirty. But, I'm ready to assemble the desk to use. I'm a happy camper. 

I have one item to sew and the box can be shipped tomorrow. I did another item but Blogger is not allowing me to load the picture. It is very frustrating. 

After sending a note to Blogger, it is now working. 

Knitting

I'm still working on the sweater and had to unknit several rows of the sleeve. I had a large loop of thread that made two stitches very big. I'm caught up and ahead by 5 rows now. 

The Future

I have started planning for 2021. I am not sure what next year will bring but I'm thinking of how I can sew and enjoy it if we are still dealing with the virus. A few things I want to do are:

• sewing historical clothing for the dolls

• embroidery using files I bought and haven't used

• sewing up some purse patterns I have on hand

• sewing fall fair items and put away until I can put them physically into the fair. 

I am still wondering what I will give up as I need to work on other parts of my life particularly my health. 

Until the next time...............................................

A Wonderful Thanksgiving

 Yesterday we had our Thanksgiving dinner and we really felt grateful:

• For family who are near us and support us in our old age. 

• For close friends who also help us out. 

• For new friends that we now have in our bubble.

• For living in a province that has a low number of cases of the virus. The majority of the people here care enough to keep others safe from it. 

• For good laughs over a great meal. 

Dinner was lovely. Daughter-in-law did an awesome job of cooking and the food brought by friends was wonderful. We throughly enjoyed our meal, the discussions around the table and the many good laughs we had. 

Today

It is clean up day, smoke tomatoes, and maybe do a bit of sewing. And maybe not. 

Until the next time................................................

Happy Thanksgiving

Yesterday was a warm day with a high of 21C. The wind was blustery at times. This morning it was 15C at 6 a.m., down from 17C at 4 a.m. Today is suppose to be cool and they are calling for frost tomorrow. 

Lifestyle

We had a busy day yesterday. I started the morning by cleaning the stairs and front entry. I pulled off the stair treads and put new tape down to hold them in place. It was a lot of work on my hands and knees. 

Just as I was finishing that, family arrived to make pies and by noon, an apple pie was cooking in the oven. 

I made the pumpkin pie filling while the crust was being made by daughter-in-law. While they were cooking, I swept and washed some floors. Next on the list was carrots. 

He is good at peeling them and did 3 bags in no time flat. 

While that was happening, I pulled the table apart and cleaned it well. We were done by 3 p.m. And we were tired. 

The fire chief's truck and fire truck did their tour of the crossing yesterday as it was the end of Fire Prevention Week. It is an annual thing they do. 

We had 3 new cases reported yesterday. Two were related to travel outside Canada and the third is related to one or both of them. 

Today

It's another busy day with supper tonight. More cleaning, cooking, setting up, and eating. 

Until the next time.....................................................

A Day Of Making Buns

 Yesterday was a cool but mainly sunny day. The wind died down during the day and the high got to 10C. This morning it is 9C and it looks like it will be a nice day. The high is to get to 20C. 

Lifestyle

It was a busy day of baking buns for Thanksgiving dinner. 

This is the recipe I use. I weight where I have the weight but you don't need to. I do this to keep the recipe as accurate as possible for grandson. Yes, I do weigh the buns to make sure they are all the same weight. 

I made 2 batches and both turned out really nice. 

While waiting for the dough to rise, I did 2 loads of laundry (blankets) and swept the floors. We are almost ready to start cooking for dinner tomorrow night. 

We are at day 7 with no new cases of the virus. I have to say we are very fortunate and people are being very careful. But we are a bit worried about the future with New Brunswick having 34 active cases. We have our plan in place to help keep us safe and healthy. Or we hope. 

Sewing

No sewing yesterday as I waited for version 3 of the pattern to be uploaded to the site. I hope to work on it Monday. 

Knitting

I am making great progress on the sweater. I should be able to finish the body soon and then will have the sleeves to do. It is a really cute sweater and a nice knit. 

Today

The plan is to sweep and wash floors, get things ready for cooking tomorrow, and start disinfecting surfaces. If I get into the sewing room, bonus. I will knit tonight. 

Until the next time..........................................................

Some Time In The Sewing Room

 Yesterday was a blustery day with a high of 13C. There was some sunshine, lots of clouds, and the winds that blew all night. This morning it was 5C at 6 a.m. and the wind is still blowing with gusts up to 40 km. We are to see sunshine and 10C today. 

Lifestyle

I arrived at the hospital for blood tests and the screening is more vigilant than it was 3 months ago. I had an anxiety attack on the way to the hospital which was caused by stress. Everything went well though and I was home in less than 45 minutes. 

Once home, I did more housework and laundry. I'm down to only having to wash floors and disinfect door handles and counters. I will also wash the blankets that were used to cover the plants. 

There were no new cases of the virus reported yesterday. We did a bit of planning and next week is very busy but after that we can hunker down and stay home only going out for drives to get apples and the bare necessities. 

Sewing

I did make it into the sewing room and got out the fabric I wanted for the doll's dress. The pattern was printed and I decided to embroider the front band. 

I used a dark green shiny thread as this dress will be a Christmas one. The design stitched out perfectly and looks quite festive in real life. While it was stitching out, I hand sewed some on the Halloween wall hanging I did several months ago. 

I did cut out the band lining and need to cut out the interfacing. Then it will be onto the dress once version 3 of the pattern is posted. 

Knitting

Pictures were taken of the sweater set I finished and submitted to the designer. 

I doubt if I will knit this pattern again in the near future as this is the second one I've knit from the pattern. If I choose to knit it again, it will be in one color. 

I started the next test pattern and at row 14, I hit a brick wall. After a break, I went back and found my mistake on row 10. Shall we say, I read the row and added a yarn over where none was. I had 7 stitches too many which is how many repeats there are in the row. I am now doing fine using stitch makers to help me keep track of things. 

Today

I am making buns today for Thanksgiving dinner. Two batches to be exact. While the dough is rising, I will launder blankets and wash floors. If I have time and the pattern, I will lay out the dress pattern and tonight I will knit. 

Until the next time.............................................

A Wake Up Call

 Yesterday was warm at 19C but not nearly as sunny as it has been. It was 12C this morning and it has rained during the night. Today it is suppose to remain at 12C all day with showers. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was spent folding laundry and doing more housework. All that is left is to sweep more floors and wash them. The house is looking good. I will continue to do laundry and clean until after the holidays. 

The Spousal Unit put the last of the fertilizer on the lawn, dug up the potatoes, and picked the last of the tomatoes. He had a busy day. All that is left is to remove the last of the tomato plants and prep the boxes for winter. 

We had no new cases of the virus reported yesterday. There are still 3 active cases in the province. Last night we got our wake up call. New Brunswick, the province next to us, reported 17 new cases yesterday. They had an outbreak in a nursing home in the Moncton health region. There are 2 more cases in the region connected to the outbreak. It makes you realize how fast the virus moves when it gets into a community. 

Sewing

I spent some time in the sewing room and swept the floor. Oh my, it was dirty. I also went through two bags of fabric and trim that a friend gave me. I have kept quite a bit of it and this was one piece I truly loved. 

The bag is now in the closet until I have more time to put it away properly. It's what I call contained. 

The third of the Little Women's dresses came out yesterday. This one is Amy and very cute. I'm waiting to see Jo's dress and then will post pictures of them all. 

Knitting

I picked up my knitting pace and finished the sweater set I was testing. 

I need to photograph it on the doll and submit it today. Then it's onto the next test pattern. That one I am looking forward to knitting. 

Today

I'm off shortly to give blood then home to do more housework and enjoy a bit of time in the sewing room. It may only be clean up but I'm happy to do that.

Until the next time..............................................

Front Entrance Decorated Once Again

 Yesterday was another lovely fall day. The high got to 18C. This morning it is 11C and we will have some showers the weather forecast says. Rain tonight. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was more cleaning and the house is starting to look good. The bathroom was cleaned and both it and the kitchen floors were washed. Three loads of laundry was done and ready to be folded. 

I spent some time outside decorating the front landing. Everything had been put away because of Teddy. I dug all the fall items out and got busy. 

I would love a mat but it blows off on windy days. 

I need to buy an orange pumpkin to brighten this side up. The tall item is use to wind hanks of yarn into a skein and is hand made. I only put it out for the month of October. 

The winter flowers are out and the only plant that remains outside during the winter. 

The Spousal Unit started to fertilize the lawns yesterday. He is working hard at getting the yard ready for winter. He has one more bag to put on and then it will be time to put the vegetable boxes to bed for the winter. After we plant a bit of garlic as an experiment. 

Another day and no new cases of the virus. The province reported that the Atlantic Bubble won't be opened anytime soon. We take this one day at a time. 

Sewing

With housework taking up most of the day, I have not stepped foot in the sewing room except to get what was needed to ship out a parcel yesterday. 

The second dress of the Little Women series was released yesterday. It is Beth. There is only Jo and Amy left to go. I love these dresses and it has sparked something in me. 

The spark is to do 12 months of historical clothing that have some reference to books/movies. Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Downton Abbey. These are not going to be rushed projects as I want to enjoy making them. I have a lot of fabric in the stash that can be used. 

Knitting

I knit for a couple of hours and realized I had made a mistake. I am two rows from having it unknit to the mistake. Grrrr. Instead of doing a purl row, I did a knit row and messed up the yoke. 

Today

Laundry will be folded, more housework done, and a bit of tidying up in the sewing room. The upstairs is ready for a big floor washing starting on Friday. I will knit but am not sure if I will get anything sewn or prepped for sewing today. 

Until the next time..........................................

Fall Cleaning Continues

 The past two days have continued to be lovely autumn days with yesterday feeling a bit cooler than Sunday. There was more cloud coverage yesterday. The highs have been between 16-17C and today is suppose to be the same. Tonight we are to have showers. 

Lifestyle

Sunday, I cleaned all day. I washed 8 windows which was not a glamorous job. I had done all the tracks during the summer but redid them again. With rain, wind, and dust some were dirtier than others. Screens were removed and washed. Not too bad except on the windows that have the rain driven against them. Then came the dirty job. Washing the bottom seal of the windows. Dirt, grime, and mould. I scrubbed everything clean. The water was extremely dirty and I was extremely happy to have it done.

During the morning, I also removed the filters from the heat pump and washed them. I put them outside in the sun to dry. When the windows were done, I cleaned it well. The fins had dirt and mould on them. The rest just had dust. The unit smells nice when it runs. The downstairs one needs doing next even though I had done both of them during the summer. 

We ended Sunday moving the living room furniture around in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. It is very open as we need to have two tables in the dining area. Mission done. 

Yesterday I went to the city to shop. I was in and out by just after lunch. I had a nap in the afternoon which I'm sure was needed. I'm coming out of sleeping poorly and am catching up on lost sleep. 

We've had no new cases of the virus and one active case remains. Guidelines have been posted about Thanksgiving and I will be disinfecting every surface I possibly can to keep us all healthy. No one coming has had the virus or feels sick but I'm being overly cautious. 

Sewing

I didn't go into the sewing room yesterday. But I did go to the fabric store on a mission. I had said if the store was full I was going home. There were a total of 6 of us in the store so I got two pieces of fleece for daughter's cat and dog for Christmas presents and flannel for grandson's pajama pants. The blankets will be dealt with next week and the pants in December. 

As the store was empty, I looked at a couple of bolts of fabric. I didn't buy any though it was lovely suiting. I don't need any fabric and I am planning on sewing with as much of the stash as possible. Especially for the dolls. 

The test pattern has been floating in my mind and I think I have it. The dress will be a plain color and the embroidery will be a soft contrast. One idea is red with very dark green embroidery. A Christmas dress at this point. 

A new pattern has come out for the dolls. I am thinking of buying it as it is historical. It is Meg's dress from Little Women and right up my alley. I do like historical patterns for the dolls. 

Knitting

I worked on the sweater yesterday and last night. I have the sleeves on the needles and am ready to start the second row of decreasing. I'm hoping it will be done by Friday. 

A new pattern has come out for testing and I'm excited to test it. New designer with a cute pattern which is different from what I've been knitting. I can use up yarn I have on hand.  I needed this new pattern to get me wanting to knit more again. 

Today

I have to do more cleaning and a bunch of laundry. I also need to get a box ready for a label as I can ship it free today. I may not see the sewing room today as I'm trying to get a few things done but I will be knitting tonight. 

Until the next time......................................................

Sewing Thoughts After A Melt Down

 Yesterday was a lovely fall day. The high got to 16C and the low this morning was 5.5C at 7 a.m. It is going to be another lovely fall day today with a high of 17C. 

Lifestyle

We hauled out the smoker and got it started to smoke tomatoes. It was slow going due to the draft coming in from the north. We had to put it into the garage so it would heat up. That worked well. 

I cut two bins of tomatoes in half, scooped out most of the seeds and liquid and when the smoker was up to temperature, in they went for 2 hours. Temperature was 250F and the smoke was apple wood. When done, I brought them in, peeled off the skins and chopped them up. They are in a pot in the fridge and will be bagged and frozen today. They have to sit for a day to let the smoky flavor come out. 

Cleaning up the smoker took almost an hour and then I had to clean the kitchen. I was really tired when I got done. Everything will be put into the basement until I need it again next week. 

Sewing

While the tomatoes were smoking, I spent the time sewing 3 more masks for daughter. They are done and in the box. No pictures as they look like the first one. 

Of all the mask patterns I have tried (4 in total), I like the shaped masks the best. The easies to make is the circle mask and it fits the face very well. The other shaped mask fits well but takes more time to make.

I had a bit of a melt down in the sewing room yesterday. I was suddenly very unhappy with the condition of the room, how much fabric I have, how little time I've spend sewing what I want lately, and the list went on and on and on. It was like the sky fell on me. I was ready to pack it up and give it all away. After a bit of a pitty party, I picked myself up and said I will move forward. With my terms. 

Will I Or Won't I?

Make embroidered masks for sale as I had thought I would? No. I'll make one and  send them to daughter to give away.  

Continuing on testing patterns? I'm not sure where I am with that. I will review it at the end of the year. I find I have a lot of doll clothes and patterns that have no special meaning to me. I have a pattern to test right now and it isn't exactly what I wanted to do. 

Sewing for family? Yes I will but it will be spaced over more time. I enjoy making piping and masks. I enjoy hemming grandson's pants, making him pj pants and hemming daughter-in-law's curtains. They aren't big jobs. And it's part of being a family. 

Will I sew down the stash? Yes I will as I want to buy new fabric one or two projects at a time. It remains a constant goal of mine. 

Where Do I Want to Go Moving Forward?

To sew more for pleasure. I let this slide off the table very easily. Too many commitments causes me to focus on what I need to do vs what I want to do. 

To do what I want to do. 

To use up the stash in a meaningful way. 

To make gifts that are for family and friends. 

To slow down and enjoy the process which I'm trying to do. This includes the doll couture sewing class I'm part way through. This includes drafting doll patterns I have floating around in my head. 

I am working on being satisfied with how much I've sewn so far this year. Seventy-one meters is quite a bit for me. I do hope to continue on sewing one meter at a time. I'm past the 50 meters I had planned on sewing and if I don't make 100 meters I'm not worrying about that. 

Knitting

I didn't knit last night due to tiredness. I will get this project done and I'm going to rethink if I will continue to test. I have enjoyed doing it as it gives me something to do in the evenings. But, I will be adding more of what I want to knit whether it is for the dolls or for the house. 

Today

Laundry and housework is on the agenda for today. I'm behind and need to get a bunch done. I would like to sew this afternoon but I doubt if it will happen. I'm not worrying about it either. I hope to knit a bit to knit a bit tonight.

Until the next time....................................