Mary Wigham SAL

I'm so very excited to be participating in my first-ever SAL (Stitch-A-Long) making this beautiful sampler. It was made by a girl named Mary Wigham back in 1790, while she was a student at the Ackworth School - a Quaker boarding school founded in 1779.

Needleprint has worked together with the school to chart the sampler and offer it as free downloads in sections for this SAL, asking only for donations to further Ackworth School's efforts in conservation of this and many other samplers. Go to this post at Needleprint if you'd like to know more about the decision to release the chart this way. If you are at all interested, I encourage you to check it out and join us.

This will be the first time that I am going to stitch on linen - I've only ever used Aida cloth before. The fabric (Wichelt Lambswool Linen) is on order and should be here soon, and I can hardly wait to start. I'm actually intending to stitch it in monochrome - meaning that I will only use one floss color, which I think I've chosen a blue for it. I may vary it a bit by using lighter shades of the same color, but we'll see how it goes and whether I feel like sticking to the monochrome.

I think there will be an "official" blog dedicated to this SAL that I will link to for my updates once I know what it is and I get started stitching. Until then...happy stitching!

Baby Bib and Burp Cloth

This started off by my receiving the 2009 Crochet Pattern-A-Day Calendar from a co-worker for Christmas, and another co-worker whose daughter was expecting saw the pattern for these bibs when glancing through it. I was more than happy to try out the pattern and make them, and since we didn't know the gender of the baby yet I picked out this Lily Sugar 'n Cream variegated yarn that would work for any baby.

I had so much of the cream left over, since it was just the trim, that I then had the idea to make a burp cloth with it. I used the same stitch, half double-crochet, as the bibs and just guessed at the size. I was hoping I'd have enough of the variegated left to trim around the burp cloth, and I had just barely enough. They turned out perfect, if I might say so myself! I really enjoyed making these so much more than previous baby blankets and the bunting because they really didn't take much time at all. The hardest part was attaching the buttons! Speaking of buttons, here's a close up of the ultra-cute Bunny Buttons I found for them:

Blue Winter Hat

I made this blue hat for myself (and I thought it photographed best with my wearing it). It was super easy and quick to make. It has also been nice and warm with this ultra-cold winter this year!

Hand Mitts

The receptionist at work always has a hard time in the winter being warm enough in general, but especially her hands. She's had this pair of gloves that she cut off the fingers, but they've frayed over the years and look terrible. When I saw a pattern in my new 2009 Crochet Pattern-a-Day calendar, I knew they'd be perfect for her. Here my mom is serving as my "hand-model", and she likes them so much that now I am making a pair for her.

Speaking of these crochet projects, I recently found this great knit and crochet community website called Ravelry. I signed up and got an invitation to join, and I'm starting to put these projects there. It is really great because it links to various yarn and pattern websites so they can be shared around.

Baby Bunting

This is a baby bunting I made for my co-worker, Mindy, who had a beautiful baby boy the end of April. When I started it, we didn't know the gender of the baby, so I made it with neutral colors. What is good about that is she can use it for any future babies, as well.

I forgot to take a picture myself before I gave it to her, so she took this pic. I'm bummed that I forgot, because I would've taken a close-up of the buttons - they are little bears and just so cute! It would've been cool, though, if she had taken a picture with him in it, too!

I know this - I really need to find patterns for baby stuff that are not so involved. Every time I make something for a baby, they are small, intricate stitches that take FOREVER to make. Or at least longer than I think they should being such an otherwise small item. :-/

Ravelry!

I found the coolest website recently - Ravelry. It is a community website for knitters and crocheters. You can post your projects you made or are working on, and they link up with the patterns (and if the pattern isn't in their database yet you can add it), yarn, and a whole bunch of other knitting & crocheting stuff.

I have all of the projects I've completed or are currently working on over there, but the one thing I am disappointed about is that I can't put my cross-stitch projects there, too. In the help section, they say that they have no plans whatsoever to expand it into other needlework. Bummer. Someone needs to make a Ravelry for Needlework - i.e. needlepoint, embroidery, cross-stitch, etc. Anyway, check it out if you are at all interested in crocheting or knitting!

Stocking Ornaments

I know it has been ages, but here are the stocking ornaments I've made. The one on the left with red and green stripes I made first two years ago for my friend, Cheryl, and then the variegated one last year for my Secret Santa, Cindy, at work. I used a pattern from Lion Brand Yarn's free patterns, but it was for large stockings with regular worsted weight yarn. I guessed that if I used crochet cotton and a small steel hook it would make it small enough for an ornament, and it worked just beautifully.



This year my Secret Santa was Jane, and I made this one for her. I cross-stitched the tree, which was an idea from my step-mom Viki.



And now, finally, this one I made for my friend Wendy - also this year. Obviously a variation on the last one.