Livin' La Needle Loca

...and it's been quite a month. I finished the Scarab handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 3/17/2020 Finished 3/27/2020 Falkland (4.1 oz) from the Yarn Wench 185.4 yds. chain-plied with beads, 10 WPI I started a new weaving project yesterday. I'm calling it Milky Way [ Ravelry ]. It uses the Destination Yarn Space collection minis and yarn that I bought at this year's Stitches West. I also went through my stash and found some complimentary sparkle yarns to use in the warp. I spent some time trying to sew a mask using a pattern from Masks Now and ran into a problem with the instructions. The pattern is for a mask that covers an existing N95 mask.  It took me a while to figure out that there were a couple of steps missing. Now I need to go back and try again to sew the mask. It was frustrating. At least I was making a mask for myself as a way to try out the pattern. I baked another loaf of sourdough bread, this one with olives. It was a...

...blog and run. Blossoms at Fremont High School (type unknown: Orange and gold tulip at Fremont High School: Wisteria in our backyard: and pink hyacinths outside my kitchen window: This is day 14 of shelter-in-place for me. So far, so good. Everyone stay safe out there! .

...the short story: I'm still working on several things, but no finishes yet. Here's one of the things that is taking quite some time to finish: I'm chain-plying and beading this yearn with some beads from my stash. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 1.5 inches of 3 inches of the bottom ribbing complete  Mermaid Songs (quilting) Working on the quilt top. Scarab handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Chain-plying and beading the singles Saratoga Calypso Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Halfway through the last loop section Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week: Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Earthdancer (cross stitch) Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint) Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch) UFOs/Hibernation: Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint) Christmas sweater ornament (knitting) Estrella M...

...Tuesday, because I forgot to blog yesterday. Oops! I worked on the Saratoga Calypso Shawl [ Ravelry ]. It's going well so far. Keep you fingers crossed. I'm about halfway on the bottom ribbing of the Pure Comfort Cardigan [ Ravelry ]. When I finish that, I can start on the sleeves. One thing i realized was that I do not have enough yarn to knit the shawl collar for the sweater. I have placed an order for more yarn in the same colorway. I finished spinning the singles for Scarab handspun [ Ravelry ]. I decided the chain-ply it with beads from my stash. I'm about a third of the way through the singles. I started another mermaid quilt using the smaller of two mermaid fabric panels in my stash. I'm using some coordinating border fabrics that I bought at the same time as the panel. It's taking me longer that usual to decide how to assemble it. The Husband told me that the tulips are blooming at the high school. On Sunday, I walked to the school with my camer...

...California Shelter-in-Place version. All Californians have been told to stay home starting today Here in the SF Bay area, we are on Day 4 fo Shelter in Place. I'm fortunate that I like staying home, but the Daughter and the Husband are having a harder time with it. I took an early morning walk. I saw a few cars and very few people. The sunrise was gorgeous this morning. I started a new quilt yesterday using a Laurel Burch mermaid panel that I had in the stash. I also finished spinning the singles for Scarab [ Ravelry ] and I started the bottom ribbing on the Pure Comfort Cardigan [ Ravelry . I hope to make progress on the quilt today and continue working on the cardigan. I just need to keep busy so I don't get depressed over the Covid-19 news. .

...and I'm making good progress. The Saratoga Calypso Shawl [ Ravelry ] continues to throw challenges my way. I have to knit about another inch on the body of the Pure Comfort Cardigan [ Ravelry ] before I can start the bottom ribbing: Yesterday, I started a new handspun. My plan is to add beads during chain-plying. This is Scarab [ Ravelry ]: I'm thinking about starting the second small quilt for my spinning chair. I've put it off for a while, but I feel the need to sew. Given that we are under a shelter-in-place order, I will work from my stash since I can't go shopping for other than groceries for a few weeks. :) WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 1 inch left before starting the ribbing on the bottom of the sweater Scarab handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Spinning the singles Saratoga Calypso Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Pulled out the knitting for the last loop section; started it again. Works In Progress, ...

...back to completing some spinning! I finished weaving the Cylburn Wrap [ Ravelry ] on the Knitters Loom. I named this project after the Cylburn Artboretum in Baltimore MD. The weft yarn is souvenir yarn from a trip to Baltimore and the colors reminded me of the flowers and grassy areas at the arboretum. and a close up: Specs: Started 3/3/2020 Finished 3/15/2020 Warp: Lion Brand Cupcake in Forest Path Weft: La Perfecta from unknown dyer; souvenir yarn from Baltimore MD 10 epi/11ppi on Ashford Knitters Loom 81" long (including fringe); 18" wide I finished spinning the Sandpiper handspun [ Ravelry ]: and a close up: Specs: Started 2/26/2020 Finished 3/15/2020 Merino-Silk-Cashmere (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberworks 262.5 yds., 14 WPI I decided to spin a quick bulky yarn. This is Bracken [ Ravelry ], a Falkland top from the Yarn Wench: and a close up: Specs: Started 3/6/2020 Finished 3/16/2020 Falkland (4.0 oz) from Yarn Wench 7...

...I'm playing catch-up after my 5-day visit with Mom, so this is short post. More daffodils are blooming in our garden: The Spanish bluebells have bloomed: The cherry trees are now in blooms: The gerberas have fully bloomed: And the husband planted the violas in a container outside the kitchen window: Up this weekend: Staying in, just like everyone else. I have several projects in progress, so I have plenty to keep me entertained. .

...from the garden. Tulips are starting to bloom: The Husband planted some dwarf irises that are now coming up: The Asian pear has set its blossoms: and the Husband has planted some stock flowers in the courtyard for me: Up this weekend: I'm driving to Mom's tomorrow for a week-long visit. The Husband will have the house to himself - I'm sure he'll appreciate the time alone! .

...short month - few finishes, lots of reading Finished: 2/2 Llama Project Bag (sewing) 2/8 Toasty Slippers (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Books Seabreeze Summer, Jan Moran Golden in Death, JD Robb A Killer's Wife, Victor Methos The Last Sister, Kendra Elliot Crow of Fire, Linsey Hall  Rich People Problems, Kevin Kwan Fate of Fire, Linsey Hall A Madness of Sunshine, Nalini Singh Lady in the Lake, Laura Lippman Bad Memory, Lisa Gray Vampire's Kiss, Ella Summer Witch's Cauldron, Ella Summer Siren's Song, Ella Summer Dragon's Storm, Ella Summer Started: 2/1 Toasty Slippers (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 2/2 Llama Project Bag (sewing) 2/26 Sandpiper handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Works In Progress: Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Earthdancer (cross stitch) Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint) Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cr...

...a little organization and a new WIP! I've needed to go through the contents of a storage basket that's been sitting unopened for 5 years (oops), but just hadn't wanted to spend the time on it. I had stored a bunch of doll clothes that I had cut out but never sewn together - the clothes were for my daughter's Cabbage Patch and Barbie dolls. She's 42 now and I don't think she's interested in them anymore! On Monday, I was reorganizing some fiber and loom tools that were on top of the basket, so it was time. I had forgotten how many items I had cut out for those dolls! Unfortunately, most of the pins had rusted, making the fabric pieces and the pins useless. I managed to salvage some of the patterns and either set them aside to keep or put them into the Goodwill pile. Those that I couldn't salvage went into recycling. Since I had to file the ones I'm keeping, I took the opportunity to go through my craft patterns and found several unused patterns...

...I learned something new! On Saturday, I took a sourdough bread class with two friends at a local cooking school/store. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot. The instructor was good and took us through all of the steps of making the dough, the starter, and baking the loaf when it's finished proofing.  He had a couple of loaves ready that he let us taste. I really enjoyed it! We took home dough that need to proof 12-24 hours: I let mine go about 22 hours and let it drop from the basket: I slashed it and put it in a Dutch oven: I baked it according to the recipe. As it turns out, my oven was way too hot at 500 degrees. The bottom burned and the top was too brown. However, the taste and the chew were amazing! I need to try this again, spending more time on the stretch-and-fold portion of the prep and adjusting the oven temperature. Aside from the class, we had a visit from the Husband's brother. It was really good to see him! I worked more on both th...