Plum Stitches

Magazine Junky

Ok, I admit it, I'm a magazine junky.  I have a major problem.  Last year I think we single handedly funded Jim's neice's magazine drive for her middle school.  Then, a mailer came saying that we had frequent flier miles that were about to expire, so I used those to get another four or five subscriptions. Admittedly, I did not subscribe to US or People; reading those two are reserved for Friday trips to Target, where I can browse the magazine aisle.

Throughout my magazine explorations in the past year, I've come across two that I've found pretty inspiring.  I love the new Martha Stewart publication Blueprint, it strikes me as a take off of another magazine I've recently gotten hooked on, Ready Made.  So the next time you're about to buy that US or People, check out these two magazines.

 

Felting, Felting Away...

So I've decided to take a break from the baby sweater bonanza.  I found this super cute pattern for felted balls from Knitting for Baby. 

In my stash is some yarn I've been carrying around with me since 1986.  That means it started in Vermont, flew to California for a seven year stint in San Franciso, then drove in a U-haul back across country,through multiple states, landed in NYC for several years and now resides in Jersey City.  Finally, something will be created with it!  Geesh, I really never throw anything out.  Anyhoo, I've made two so far and am about to felt them.

I will check gauge, I must check gauge, I will check gauge, I must...

Ok, I really need to start doing this.  Just checked a bear hat I made for a gift and it's a mess!!  This will be my weekend resolution.

Baby, Oh Baby

Seems all of our friends are having babies these days.  Sadly, they just don't live close enough for us to see them frequently!  I'm very behind on my gifts for the wee ones, but am trying to catch up.  Thought if I made a list it might help me prioritze, so here's my stab at the list (I lost the first one I created!)

• Garter Stitch Matinee Jacket (Debbie Bliss, baby cashmerino2)
• Oz Vest (Natural Knits for Babies and Moms)
• Harvey Kimono (Natural Knits for Babies and Moms), the little girl version
• Baby Surprise Jacket (Elizabeth Zimmerman, The Opinionated Knitter)

 

I did start on the Garter Stitch Jacket, but my gauge is way off.  I have to learn to master getting the gauge right, b/c I've been very bad about it to date. Here's what it looks like so far, but now I need to rip it out and get the gauge right.  Learn by my mistakes, right?  BTW, I'm using Knit Picks Sock Garden yarn that I bought early in the summer.  Here it is before I rip...

One Fish, Two Fish...

So I was in search of pictures for Chloe's room and decided to get creative, well somewhat.  I found these great sheets of handmade paper at Lucious Paper in Hoboken and created the framed picture below to hang on the wall in her room.

This was so simple and instantly provided her with something to look at on her wall!

On The Road Again...

My Aunt and I went on the hunt a few months ago for a knit shop in the Wilimington, DE area.  She lives just across the bridge in NJ, and Wilmington is very close.  Stitches with Style was what we discovered!  What a great shop.  The staff is super friendly and helpful and they have a large selection of yarns ranging from Plymouth Encore to hand dyed cashmere.  Unfortunately, they don't have a Web site and the information on Yahoo! Yellow Pages is outdated, but if you're in the Wilmington area and are in search of a store, you should make a trip here.  For local people, they have pages and pages of classes that they offer both during the day and at night, wish I lived closer so I could take advantage!

Stitches with Style
16E Drummond Rd
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 453-8130/8132

Singer Sewing Basket

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to the NYS Sheep & Wool Festival. But I plan on being there next year.  My grandmother died last week, very sad but it went quickly, which was good.  I'll really miss her.  One of my fondest memories is 'dressing up' in her closet.  I could spend hours as child trying on her shoes and pretending I was a glamorous adult, oh those were the days!  In her closet was her sewing machine, and I remember the sewing basket from those hours in the closet.  The basket is now mine, and I just love it.  Both as a memory of her and just for the funkiness of it.  They just don't make things like this anymore.  It did have legs which were pretty wobbly, so I took them off.

Brrr, It's Cold Outside

I think fall has finally arrived.  This morning it was 42 degrees, no snow yet.  I made these for Chloe thinking they might keep her warm, but it strikes me that there are two problems:

a. too small (that child is growing like a weed!),
b.  her latest thing is taking her socks off, so even if these did fit she probably wouldn't leave them on. 

Oh, well....

Recycled Fabric

Not sure what I'll use this fabric for
yet, but I did cut it up.  Jim went
through his closet and pulled out
a stack of shirts and a few pairs
of pants, that were old, he didn't
wear anymore or were ripped. 
With my trust rotary cutter, I
sliced and diced and this was the
result.

Over the summer I made Chloe a smocked halter with an old white shirt of Jim's and bias tape I made from fabric purchased at B & J Fabrics in the city.  Once I got the hang of sewing the elastic, this was a pretty simple project.

NYS Sheep and Wool Festival

Alright, have to admit I'm not sure I understand what all the hype is about around the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival. But, it looks like there are lots of interesting things going on at the Festival and I'm looking forward to checking it out.  Several of us are heading up to Rhinebeck, from the Jersey City Stitch n' Bitch on Saturday October 21st.  The festivall runs the October 21st - 22nd. 

I must admit I'm craving a cider doughnut and I've seen on the Web site that's one attraction of the festival.  Driving back from Vermont, we've discovered Patty's Patch, just across the Vermont border in New York on Route 4, I think it's in Whitehall, but I'm not sure.  The last time we past there I made the mistake of buying 6 doughnuts which were quickly inhaled before we reached the Northway in Lake George. 

But now I'm off topic and craving cider doughnuts...