More Cleaning, Sewing, and Knitting

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day. The high got too 11C. This morning it was -1C, the skies were pretty clear and it looks like another nice day. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I spent a long time cleaning the windows in the living area. There is black behind the locks and I worry it is mold. I attacked it a while ago but yesterday I scrubbed, cleaned, and sprayed with a bleach solution. The curtains were taken down, shook in the wind, rods wiped clean, and trim given a good wiping. The windows were washed on the inside and I did open the bottom part and washed the outsides. The tops need me to be outside to clean them. That job took 2 hours. I can now move forward and clean the rest of the room. 
The Spousal Unit was outside in the sunshine and removed the burlap from the rose bushes. He was happy to putter outside. With the nice weather, I did open the back door and aired the house. We are running the heat pump for a couple of hours in the morning and then it's off the rest of the day. 
We spent almost an hour in the afternoon putting the edging together on the new puzzle. It was a case of put together, take apart, try again. We are short about 5 pieces to having it done. 
The briefing yesterday states we are now into community spread with 31 new cases reported. It was reported we could see the spike in cases at the end of April. They are processing over 1000 swabs a day now and the message is the same. 

Sewing

With the chief medical officer stating that wearing home sewn masks is a good thing, I cut out daughter-in-law's 4th mask. It's the cat fabric again with a different scrap of fabric for the lining. 
I also worked on the doll's coat. The hems (sleeves and bottom) are finished with an overcast stitch and the side seams are sewn up. I have to machine hem this fabric as it is hard to hand sew. 

The lining is now cut out and ready to sew. 

Knitting

The first sleeve is done on the one sweater. The second sweater was cast on and about 15 rows knit. I will continue to knit on both daily. 

Today

More cleaning in the living area. Everything needs a good wiping, the furniture needs vacuuming, railing needs wiped with bleach, and the floors scrubbed. I'm hoping to finish it up tomorrow. I want to sew and knit this afternoon. A walk in the yard would be nice also.
Until the next time....................................

A Mask and A Drive But Not a Masked Drive

Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 10C. Today is cloudy with some showers but is suppose to get to 10C again. We wait and see. 

Lifestyle

Early in the morning someone chalked this message on our street. 

We went out for a long drive yesterday afternoon. Was gone 90 minutes. We noted that our little town was dead quiet except for the grocery and drug stores. We took the old highway and noticed other towns were quite also. At the edge of one town, people were out walking using social distancing. Even the town we do a bit of shopping in was quiet. But the highways were busy with people out enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive. 
We were home in time to listen to the daily briefing. A few less cases in the past 24 hours (good), a dozen fines handed out, and we need to hunker down and stay home. It seems as if drives on nice days is being dissuaded. 
People have taken the premier's phrase "Stay the Blazes Home" and have put it on t-shirts, mugs, and even shower curtains. Sale profits go to health care workers, homeless shelters, and the main food bank. 

Sewing

I made another mask using a different pattern. I watched the video as well as following the instructions. I made the 10-12 year old size and know the adult size will fit me if I need to make them that size. 

I like that they are contoured to fit your face better. 

I am making one more of this size for daughter-in-law. I will use the cat fabric so she knows at a glance they are hers. I haven't heard of a need for masks in our local community. 

Knitting

I worked on the sweater and am almost done the first sleeve. As the needles I need is free, I'm going to cast on the other pattern. I'm going to do one in the late afternoon and the other at night. I need to move forward with both of the patterns and I've done this before. 

Today

The plan is to start cleaning the living room. I want to start at the windows and move towards the dining area. This afternoon I will work on the doll's coat and cut out the next mask. Knitting late this afternoon and evening. 
Until the next time...................................

Sewing Masks

Yesterday's weather started off with a snow flurry. It didn't last more than 5 minutes and it didn't leave a white impression on us. It was cool with a high of 4C. Today it is partly cloudy with a bit of wind and a temperature of -2C this morning and a high of 7 later today.

Lifestyle

I finished cleaning the dining area. The curtains were taken down and shook in the wind. Rods wiped free of dust and all put back together. The furniture was wiped and the heat pump head cleaned. I also scrubbed the floor with soap and bleach. I also washed the bathroom and kitchen floors to keep them really clean. 
I took my birthday flowers daughter gave me a week ago and washed the stems in warm water, removed the dead flowers and put them back into a clean vase. They add some brightness to our days. I'm hoping they last another 4-5 days. 
I made lasagna for dinner last night and it was a wonderful meal. Leftovers tonight.
We had our largest number of cases of the virus -- 29 reported yesterday. Are we going to spike as they are now finding community spread? Or will people follow the rules and help slow the spread?  

Sewing

Daughter-in-law wants a couple of masks. Using the information from the blog High Fibre, I made two in about an hour following the video link. 

They are going to be too big for her as they are almost too big for me. I can do some changes for my size by sewing an almost 3/8" seam allowance rather than a 1/4" and make the elastic 6.5" long rather than 7".
I have looked for another pattern in a smaller size and am ready to cut one out. Same fabric as the ones I already made. I will report on the pattern tomorrow. 
I am only making these masks as there has been no call for masks in our area. If need be, I may make one or two for me if needed. We are limited on what we are doing so don't have the need for them at this time.

Knitting

I'm knitting away on the test sweater asking myself questions as I'm going along. 

• Why do we have to pick up stitches to knit the neckband? Why not start off with the neckband on the sweater as it is knit neck down? Yes you have to increase  on the first row of knitting. 
• The same question is asked of the button bands. Add them onto the fronts rather than do them after the sweater is knit. 

I may just have to adjust the pattern on my own if I chose to knit it again. I am now knitting the sleeves. 

Today

I am going to sew the next rendition of the face mask this morning. Will deliver them on our way out for a drive. No stopping while we are touring around. Knitting tonight. 

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

How Are We Doing? Surviving The Storm

Today has shown it's colors (white to be exact). With the wind blowing, we looked out to see a snow flurry. It has since stopped. Not the wind though. It will be warm (7C they say) and windy. 

Lifestyle

We had a slow start yesterday with no housework being done. The cause is staying at home with little social interactions. We will survive this. It is important that we stay at home at this time. 
I have been doing a bit of thinking how the virus is hitting our little province. We had 20 new cases yesterday putting us over 200. But the graph tells us more than what you see at first glance. 

The total number of cases is going up (blue) but if you look at the black, we are not having a spike in daily cases. It has remained almost the same for the past 4 days. That could be delay in lab results. It could mean the majority of people are following the rules. And it could mean we haven't seen the spike. With the premier staying "Stay the blazes home" and "the virus will find you" to those who are not following the order set by the province, there is hope the spike won't be as big as it could be if we all were out and about. 

Sewing

I worked on the Mac version of the Chatty Chicken yesterday morning. I hit the wall with it the outline. I can get the body outlined but it is crazy. No rhyme nor reason as to how it will stitch out. The same when I got the tail. I did a lot of swearing when I hit the eye. It would not work at all. At noon I quit and may not get it finished on the Mac. 
In the afternoon, I saved the PC version as an embroidery design, opened it as an embroidery file and eliminated the background (chicken outline). It is ready to stitch out shortly.
I turned my attention to the doll's coat pattern I am testing. I laid out the lining and got the strip cut for piping. I decided on piping vs bias binding. More interesting. 

The yoke is on the coat with the piping added. I do love how it looks. 
On a Facebook page a lovely lady posted this link to a book of crocheted edgings. I'm going to look into making pattern 314 if I have the proper thread and hook. If I don't, it will become a pattern to try when we can shop again. 
The same lady posted this link and I stopped short. I remember this book being in our house as my mom made the pansy doily and we made the Christmas ornaments. 

Knitting

I'm still working on the sweater and am feeling a bit frustrated. There is one marker in place that may not be needed. We wait and see over the next few rows. 
The next pattern has arrived and I really want to cast it on but I'm being patient. I'm using the needles for the other sweater right now. 

Today

 I must do housework, sew, and knit. It is too cold to be outside and I need to keep busy inside. 
Until the next time....................................

Warm, Wet, and Windy

Yesterday was warm, wet and windy. The high got to 9C and an inch of rain fell. The wind blew all day and most of the night. Today started off the same but is to become warm and windy. The temperature this morning was 5C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday started with a couple of cranky people. We ended up in our respective corners. At noon we talked to the doctor via a telephone appointment. He is happy we are staying at home all the time. The Spousal Unit is not to go to the hospital for blood work. My prescription was filled and I am not to go for my blood work. The afternoon was better as both of us were in better moods. 
We finished the puzzle yesterday afternoon. The Spousal Unit put in the last piece, we cheered. 

On to the next one. 
No housework was done due to the crankiness. But, the kitchen was tidied up and the wood furniture in the dining room was wiped clean of dust. 

Sewing

I finished the Chatty Chicken lessons and am pleased with the end result. I now need to save it as an embroidery file. 

I did have to fiddle around a bit to get it the way I wanted it to be. But after 90 minutes, it was done. 
I got the test pattern cut out and started sewing in the sleeves. I also cut out an easy dress to test for the Gotz dolls. For that I used left over fabric from the last reading pillow. The skirt won't be as full as the pattern as I was working with fat quarters. 

Knitting

I worked on the sweater last night circling the mistakes and correcting them myself. One can see the written instructions were written in a hurry. 
Another pattern should arrive today to be added to the list of patterns to knit. 

Today

I am hoping to do some housework, sew, and knit. Keeping us motivated and with a positive outlook is hard at this time. We are healthy, have food, and a nice house to be in. We have a wonderful daughter-in-law who is trying to keep two families healthy. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful person in our lives. We will continue to self isolate to help flatten the curve. 
Until the next time...............................

Trying to Stay Motivated

Yesterday started off with rain showers and it quit to be a grey day. It did brighten up a bit in the afternoon. This morning it was raining when I got up but it stopped and started again. We are to have periods of rain or drizzle today. 

Lifestyle

I cleaned up the kitchen yesterday and wiped down the counters to keep them sanitized. I started in the dining room and got quite a bit done in that space. The windows were washed, the table scrubbed, and the moulding at the top of the doors all wiped down well. I didn't get the curtains shook as it was raining. I might get creative and try today so I can finish up the area. I also did a load of laundry. 
The Spousal Unit is nearing the end of the puzzle but is working on the sky. It is hard and if the lighting is wrong, it's hard to match the pieces. He wants to get it done as he has enjoyed doing it. 

Sewing

I am finding it hard to be motivated but pushed myself yesterday. I put together a pattern and laid the pieces on the fabric. 

The piece below the tie is for more hat pieces. The rest of the fabric is for another project. 
I hunted in the stash and am using this for the lining. 

The bias will be made out of this also. I don't know why I bought this fabric but it is now exiting the doll's stash. 
I also worked on Chatty Chicken. When I started to do the fill on the comb, the whole picture was covered in the stitch design. Result - one line didn't meet another line and it was a leak. I started again and then again. I deleted files to help me use the right ones. During the night, I kicked myself as I figured out how to fix those leaks. I can move forward now and fix as I go. Another big lesson learned. 

Knitting

I printed out the written instructions and made good progress on the sweater. I did have to unknit a row and a bit to fix a bobble placement. I don't mind knitting using a chart (did that on the last sweater) but I hate it when I have to switch back and forth between 4 charts and a row of instructions for each row knit. I'm ready to start row 18 today.

Today

We have a telephone appointment with our doctor this morning and then I will try to finish up the dining area. Curtains will come down and I will dash outside to shake them when it isn't raining. Furniture will be cleaned and floor washed with bleach and soap. This afternoon, I want to cut out the coat and work on Chatty Chicken. Tonight is more knitting. 

Out Like A Lion?

Yesterday was grey, cool, and windy. During the evening it snowed. It seemed as if March was going out like a lion. 

This morning it is grey with chances of snow or rain. 

Lifestyle

It was another morning of cleaning. The bedroom was attacked with a vengeance. Curtains were taken down and shook outside and the rods wiped free of all dust. All the trim and doors in the room were wiped down as was all the furniture. Bedding was laundered. When all was done, the floor was washed with bleach and soap. I was happy when it was done as the hidden dust was affecting me. I try to keep this room clean but it was time to take it to another level. 
The Spousal Unit worked on the puzzle yesterday and I joined him for 15 minutes. He could be finished by the weekend. Then onto the next one. 
I've been communicating with the Halifax library system and they are working at allowing people to use Ancestry Library edition at home. I'm excited as I can research more on our family tree. Here is hoping I can do a bit each day starting on the weekend. If your library has this feature, ask if they will make it so you can log in and use it at home. 

Sewing

I worked on the wall hanging and the binding is ready to hand sew down. It isn't my favorite item but it will be useful at Halloween. 

Knitting

The sweater was finished and Jennie got to model it. It is a lovely pattern. 

I would love to knit this for the Gotz dolls. I would go down a needle size and knit parts of it longer (sleeve and body). 
I started the next pattern and it was almost out the window. You read the row you are knitting and flip between 4 different graphs for the fronts and sleeves. The designer has written it up for us to follow. There is a set of directions to print that has no pictures. I will continue on with it tonight. 

Today

The kitchen will get it cleaning and the dining room will be the focus area. I want to start a test pattern, and knit. It sounds boring but we are healthy. 
Until the next time........................................