CRAFTYLADY

Salt and Pepper Hat

2010-09-18T12:19:00.000-03:00

2 skeins 3 ply Bouquet Islander yarn or any kind that will give you 5 sts to inch.
Knitting needles 11 and 9 or the size to get correct tension.

Pattern
Cast on 90 stitches with smaller needles Work 1 in.in k1,p1 rib.change to larger needles
1 st row:*k9,p1* repeat from* to * to end of row.(9 patterns)
2nd row:*k1,p9 repeat from*to* to end of row.
3rd row: *k8 inc st in next st.p1 *repeat from*to* to end of row.
4th row:*k1 p10 *repeat from* to * to end of row.
Continue in this manner until there are 16 sts in each pattern,increasing every 2nd row. without further increasing,continue pattern until work measures 4-4 1/2 ins.
Next row *knit14 p2 together* Repeat from *to* to end of row.
Next row: *k2 p14* repeat from * to * to end of row.
Continue in pattern until 27 sts remain.Break wool leaving 18 in end.Thread through remaining sts and fasten off.Sew seam.

HINT

2009-01-31T15:30:00.002-04:00

Did you notice in the last picture I have the leaf out of the table.Cone yarn is on the floor beneath the opening and threaded through the hole which I made in the plastic yarn holder.

MACHINE KNIT VEST

2009-01-31T15:10:00.004-04:00

I have not had very good luck knitting my sweater vest.I started to knit the ribbing but got to row 2 and decided I was not pleased with that.So just left it for a few days and then started again.I decided I would knit the main sweater and then put it back on to knit the ribbing.So you can see that is where I am.Another mistake I made was to start with contrast yarn.Now I am finding I am having problems taking that off as I should have used ravel cord on the last row before knitting the first row of the sweater. If I remember it will pull right through then the contrast yarn will fall off.

Wish me luck in this venture.

2009-01-23T14:15:00.002-04:00

Do we have any knitting machine knitters in our bloggers ? I have had knitting machines since in the early 70 's,when I was the rep. for the Knitking knitting machine.When I closed my craft shop in the early 90's,I put my machine away.Lately I have had the urge to try them out again.I do have three.The one that I am going to knit this sweater on which is in the picture is the simplest one.It also has a ribber which I will use to make the ribbing for the sweater. There will not be a design in the one I am going to knit.I have to start all over again as it has been so long since I have used them.That will come later. I just got an idea.I have an embroidery sewing machine ,I may embroider something on it.

I will show pictures in the different stages as I knit the sweater.First I had to try a piece to get my tension correct.I knit about 20 rows ,left the swatch over night and measured it today.This was done to let the swatch relax.I am using two strands of yarn.I found I have 7 sts to the inch and 8 rows to the inch.Now I have to take measurements,hips and bust and length from the shoulders to the hips.No I am not going to tell you that part.LOL I have to then multiply those numbers by the width and rows to get the correct measurements allowing about 2 ins.width to make a looser fit.

Enough of this you are probably bored by now.So I must get to work and start my sweater.Drop back to see the different stages of knitting with a knitting machine.

Socks From Remmants

2009-01-23T11:24:00.005-04:00

In my last post I showed you a picture of odds and ends of leftover yarn from socks I previously knit.Well here is one sock I just finished.I used the plain wool for the cuff,heel ,toe and in between each patterned colour and used the pattern wool for stripes in between. Now I have to figure out the yarn I used and how many rows of each to match this one.
Have a great day.

Left Over bits Of Yarn

2009-01-19T15:05:00.003-04:00

How many knitters would save bits of yarn.Well I am one.I do that in alot of things I have left over.Like food,pie crust,fabric etc.I have a friend that can't believe I save bits of leftover pie crust,put it in the freezer ,keep adding to it and then when I have enough,voila another pie crust.I guess I learned that when I was growing up.Nothing was wasted.I don't think Mother froze her pie crust.LOL The name Henderson (maiden name) is Scottish,perhaps that is where all this saving is comming from.LOL Check back later to see what is going to happen to this stash of yarn

Knitted Hat

2009-01-19T14:19:00.005-04:00

Just finished two hats for daughter No.2.Red and black.Some years ago I made hats like these with a peak on them,called salt and pepper cap.One I knit did not get a peak.She liked it that way so I gave it to her.Recently she wondered if i would knit a hat like it.Well I had not idea which book the pattern was in.(I have many pattern books) Daughter No.1 and I were talking and she said didn't you make hats like that with peaks on.That rang a bell.Salt and pepper hat.

Crazy Quilt Made By Aunt Minnie Day

2009-01-09T22:36:00.000-04:00

This is a crazy quilt made by my Great Aunt,Minnie Day.It is dated 1883-1895.There are many initials embroidered on it,which I expect are family and friends.It is made from many types of fabrics,silk,velvets etc.Minnies sister was Eliza Day-Henderson my grandmother.She was a seamstress and I expect most of the fabric was leftover pieces from the dresses and gowns Eliza made.Most every piece has something embroidered on it.This quilt was passed down to me,I suppose as I am a quilter and interested in quilts.

2009-01-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

This mat was made with mostly 2nd hand wool from our favorite 2nd hand shops.Probably the black background was origionally a skirt and belonged to a lady a that gave it away to a Goodwill shop.The grey in the body of the rooster was a tweed fabric,which made a perfect body for the rooster.It is surprising what you can find and how well it works.Rooster with Sunflowers

2009-01-03T13:02:00.000-04:00

This is a mat made from Dorr wool.I dyed this wool for the mat.I use mostly Po-chem dyes. A good place to find 100% wool is at places like Frenchies,Value Village etc.in our area.If you use less than at least 80% wool it will dull your blades on the cutters.I try to use all 100% wool. Rooster,Hen and Baby Chicks

PHYLLIS'S HANDMADE QUILTS

2008-12-27T16:55:00.000-04:00

BRIDAL WREATH

2008-12-27T16:39:00.000-04:00

TENNESSE WALTZ

2008-12-27T16:27:00.001-04:00

LOG CABIN

2008-12-27T15:43:00.000-04:00

QUEEN ANNE STAR

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATES

2008-12-26T22:05:00.000-04:00

CHOCOLATES

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3 small packages of icing sugar

2 tablespoons of corn syrup

8 tablespoons butter or margarine

Melt butter,add corn syrup,milk

Mix in icing sugar

These can be flavoured with peppermint,maple ,orange,coffee,flavorings.Wrap a maraschino cherry with the batter for a cherry chocolate.When you get them shaped put on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and put in the fridge to get cool so they dip easier.That firms them up.

Chocolate for dipping

8 ozs of semi-sweet chocolate

1/3 cake of parawax

Melt this in a small pot in a larger pot of hot water on the stove.Keep it on the heat while you dip the chocolates.I use a large darning needle to dip the chocolates.Stick the needle in the prepared

shaped center and dip in the chocolate and parawax mixture.As you dip them put them back on the wax paper to harden.

Christmas Day

2008-12-25T22:50:00.000-04:00

MERRY XMAS
It has been a long day but enjoyable.I started the day by cooking 2 turkeys,rolls and fudge ,that I did not get made before Xmas.I had planned on making chocolates ,but just did not have time to make them.It has been a tradition for years.I will make them between now and New Years.
There were 22 family members for dinner.We are lucky to have our family all here in Nova Scotia,except for four,2 in Nfld,1 in Alberta and the other is in B.C.They were one of the lucky ones that made it home before Xmas,with all the cancellations,by the airlines because of the weather.
Everyone enjoyed the meal and exchange of gifts and have returned home .It was nice weather for travelling.
Watch for my chocolate recipe .Will post it tomorrow

Santa Toilet Seat Cover

2008-12-21T22:58:00.000-04:00

Today I made a Santa toilet seat cover.The hat is one complete stocking.The beard is the top of a second stocking.The face was embroidered on my Rose embroidery sewing machine.I made a narrow hem and inserted an elastic to hold it on the seat cover.I just have to make a pompom for the tip of the hat and it will be completed.It was fun to make.

Red Hatter

2008-12-18T13:50:00.000-04:00

I joined a group of Red Hatters a couple years ago.It is known as Queens Red Hatters.When my DH saw me with a hat on,he laughed, he said I thought you did not like hats.I always hated to wear a hat to church.I was so pleased when the ladies stopped wearing them,as I could not find a hat that looked okay on me. Now here I am wearing them.LOL
We go to teas,shopping ,Red Hat gatherings etc,all dressed up in our red and purples.
It is just a fun group for over 50 age ladies.

2008-12-17T13:36:00.000-04:00

Christmas Gift

2008-12-16T15:19:00.000-04:00

Tamera -Milton Days Queen Pageant

As I mentioned I make a variety of different types of crafts.This is one that I just completed.It is a dolls blanket and pillows.This is for my GGD Tamera who is 4 years old, for Christmas.These are her favorite colours.Purple and pink.

2008-12-16T14:32:00.000-04:00

This is a scene from our beach in Hunts Point.Hunts Point is a small fishing village on the South
Shore of Nova Scotia.Half way between Yarmouth and Halifax .There are cottages located on this beach.A favorite place for vacationers.White Point Lodge is near by which has a golf course.