A Green Eye Pixie

4 years ago today, my beatiful Mom passed, rather unexpectedly.  She passed in the hospital, with most of her children nearby in the waiting room, a few in the room.  I am blessed as I was with her for quite some time the previous night with a few siblings.  As we kept watch through the evening and into the night, she entertained us with jokes, and spoke often to our, Dad in heaven. 

Being a medical person, I could surmise what was going on with her and marvelled at her strength.  She did receive some medication, but the degree of discomfort had to be unbearable.  She was a grand lady who did not want to be seen without her wig, so when she exclaimed she was quite hot and took it off, it was a surprise.  We had to swear to not let the nurses take her wig away and put it back on before there were more visitors.  My Mom had the greenest eyes, most of us have blue eyes and over the years she didnt care for her grey hair so started wearing the wigs.  When the wig came off, there she was in all her beauty.  She had been cutting her own hair, and the being before us was this beautiful silver hair, green eyed pixie.  Stunning.  We werent allowed to take a picture, which I regret, but you don't go against your mother.

Mom wanted to come back as a butterfly and shortly after her passing, a butterfly landed on me.  I knew it was her letting me know she was ok.  I get my love of jewelry and bling from her and have a butterfly necklace I don't take off very often.  Today, four years later, the tears still pour freely down my face.  The only solitude I have is knowing she and Dad are safe from this horrible virus plaguing the world and our lives.  Mom lived her final days in a lovely assisted living apartment type place.  I know, one of us would

have snatched her up in the early days to stay with family.  I also know my beautiful geen eye, silver hair pixie would have put bling on her mask,

Till I see you and Dad again..I love you, old lady.

Round round Baby, round round

No knitting pics, or pics of any kind today, but there will be tomorrow or day after   Pinky swear

I have decided to cut down stash by likely more than 50%  I am too intrigued with new yarns and patterns to remain true to what was going to be.  I have a very small craft group on FB, please feel free to join us at The World of Creative Folk   I am just starting to post my stash to be given away on Fridays.  All I ask is for the funds to ship.  It can get quite costly, lol.

This past Friday I posted sock yarn, primarily Lorna Laces.  I was very excited when only 5 of 26, I believe, skeins were unclaimed.  4 of those 5 I may knit into socks.  Not sure .  My plan was to start a bag of unclaimed to donate to a nursing home.

The last time I sorted and documented my stash I had 2700 skeins.  It has increased from there as I sample knit for WEBS and get a gift card for my efforts.  I know, what can I do but turn around and buy yarn, right?  My new strategy is a loom, a new swift, new winder...not sure.   I enjoy the sample knitting as I am a process knitter.  I like the activity and process of creating, using yarns I may not have and knitting something I may not have.  Then I send it back to them and dont have to put it in the collection of now what do I do with you?

We are still on Pandemic guidelines here, I know it is getting to many folk.  I miss my family, terribly, but am grateful for adventures with DH.

I need to go and sew.  Finishing up a group of masks and I want to make a jacket this weekend and maybe finish some overdue drapes.  Also, I have at least 8 skeins of yarn needing winding immediately.  I will show more tomorrow or the nest day.

Stay safe

Peace

Keep the Cables Coming

Knitting continues on the Alford Cardigan despite having sewn through my index finger...A little adapting has been made and frequent breaks, but I love this cardigan so much...

It has been determined a pocket 8" deep would be a great length, so two will be added in...I would like to have 2 inches below the paocket..maybe 1 1/2 inchest so need the patterned length to be 9 1/2 to 10" before adding in the row that will mark the pockets' location.

We do not care for the buttons procurred fromMOOD, which is a bummer.  They were well priced and will be used for another project, perhaps a natural color Aran.  The search will continue..

  

I do so love that the button bands are worked in while knitting the body and there fore the button placement can be accurately marked.  Truth be told, if the buttons bands are worked as single entities, I tend to knit them at the same time for this reason.

Today I will be destashing some yarn...have been planning to for some time.  The animals get me up generally arund 630-7am.  Suddenly it is 3am and I don't know where the day has gone, lol.  I am always busy, sometimes even sneak in a nap, but really the passing of time needs to slow a little.

Stay safe, hug those important to you, if you can do so safely.

Peace

Life Gets in the Way, Doesn't it?

OK, hopefully this will wrap up the mask tutorial.  So many of you have come upon your own tweaked style and pat yourself on the back.  I will finish this pleated mask and show a few quick pics of the other mask I like A LOT

So I believe we had stopped just passed cutting and fusing the interfacing.  Next up is to add the elastic.  If you want around the ear loops, you need 8 " x 2 loops for adults and 6" x 2 loops for children.  I have made mine a bit longer than suggested as feedback says the loops are too tight.  I, however, have started adding the elastic so it goes over your head, not your ears.  for this you need two pieces of elastic 10-11" in length for adults and 8-9" for children. (the ear loop version will have you pinning the elastic to the sides not the top and bottom)

Orient your mask so the printed fabric and right side up and in a landscape position.  Pin to elastic a hair over 1/4" in from the sides, but in a vertical position, do this on the top and bottome.  ATt his point it may be handy to know I use 1/4" seam allowances.  Pinning just a smidge over will ensure you do not catch the elastic in the side seam.  Pin mask to lining.  You will sew, starting at the bottom, around .  Be sure you do not accidentally catch your elastic  Back stitch each time you cross the elastic, and ALSO leave a 3" opening on the bottom.  You will need this for turning the mask.  Clip the corners so there isn't as much bulk when turning.

I turn and give it a good pressing.  At this point you can use the pleat hack, I provided the video link in the prior post or make little marks on both sides, left and right, not front and back, on the lining side.  The Flexion pens will leave marks that disappear with heat.  Pretty cool.  Make this marks at , from the top, 1 1/2" 2 1/4" 3 1/4" 4" 5" 5 3/4"   I must laugh as I had to check these measurements.  I had them written down for a few days then put a mask, freshly pressed on top and the info disappeared...  oh silly me.  I then pinch at the 5 3/4" mark on each side of the mask and fold on the 5" mark heading up from bottome to top.  I repeat this with the other two sets of marks, stopping to press carefully in between each step.   At this point you can unfold the whole shebang and turn it over.

You still have that opening at the bottom, yes I will fold it neater before sewing the opening.  Take whatever you are using for nose wire and insert through the opening and wiggle it into place at the top.  Rememebr there is a bit of fabric there,  I make sure my nose piece is flush against the top seam and secure it with pins, clips.  You can now pin, clip the opening closed and pin, clip the pleats in place.  This is quite a thick seam going on at the sides of your mask.  A walking foot is helpful, or perhaps your maching can just handle it.  I do back tack at the top and bottom of sides.  I try to get about a 1/8" topstitch going on.  When you get to the top, remember you have something metal up there so stop before you hit it and make that seam accordingly to secure the nose piece in place.  I do give it a very heavy pressing at this point to be sure the interfacing is secure inside.  Avoid the elastic as it isn't fond of heat.   There you have it.

The other mask I like very much is called the Olson Mask  This pattern has the option of adding a filter pocket.  I do like it has three sizes, including children.  I use just the face pattern piece and cut one pair from print fabric and one pair from lining fabric.  I also cut one pair from interfacing a bit smaller(i actually printed two copies of the pattern and gut one of them on the seam line to use as the smaller interfacing piece.)  Follow the instructions for sewing, inserting the nose piece. I use the shorter aluminum ones for these and the pattern makes a mask that is long enough from ear to ear that you can use the pony tail ties.  Just be sure to get the thinner ones.

This is an adult, larger child and smaller child.

Crazy serious scary and things that go bump in the night

Hello...I have been reading and watching and thinking about the construction of masks.  I will not discuss medical masks in this post, or near medical quality..that will likely happen overnight.  I spent 42 years in healthcare.  Oh so many times masks and contact precaution techniques were employed.  You get very good at at because you have to.  With the pandemic we are in, and the liklihood the general public will need to wear masks in public situations for some time, I have made some masks.  I learned a lot from others and tweaked to what I feel I would want to wear.

This is for the pleated mask you see tons of.  I have an adult size and a child's size.  Adult masks do not fit children well and vice versa.  PLEASE be sure to use tightly woven cotton for the public side. Quilters cotton is ideal, tea towels are being claimed to be even better.  Use what you have but if you are going to spend you time and heartfelt intentions making these, please make them usable.  Leggings are not good, towels, no, flannel is brushed cotton but gets hot and holds moisture.  The other thing I BEG you, do not use the same fabric on both sides.  I have been using white for the side that touches the face.  Tee shirt fabric is fine too for the lining side  ALSO it is a personal belief that adding a layer of nonwoven interfacing adds significant benefits.  OK ready?

ADULT
Outer fabric and lining fabric  9.5" wide x 8.5" tall
Interfacing  9 x 8

CHILD
Outer fabric and lining fabric  7" wide x 5.5" tall
Interfacing  6.5 x 5

Non woven fusible interfacing is best.  You don't want it shifting around and non woven is an added layer of protection

 THESE are a miracle.  I use them for marking where the pleats go and the marks then disappear when ironed.  Be careful though, I pressed a piece then marked and the fabric was warm enough that the marks disappeared before I could use them, lol  I got them on Amazon  FRIXION Pens

 Nose pieces, yes or no.  I vote yes as you really do need some sort of a seal.  You can use pipe cleaners, I got these plastic coated wires at ULINE, I chose an 8" length as it works really well with the size I have decided upon  I got these aluminum nosepieces on EBAY..the took a bit of time to get here but they are great for the child size as well as the other style mask I am making.  You can search on EBAY but here is the link for ULINE Plastic precut ties  They come in quite a large quantity and offer many lenths.  These were just my preference

Elastic is getting so difficult to find. I have had success on ETSY and personally prefer the 3/8" width..For the other mask you can use pony tail holders but be careful on the thickness.  I got about 100, but they are 4mm and too thick, the medium ones, adult length are about 2mm and much more ear friendly  You can also use cord or bias tape, There is an adjustable mask that is very cool, but I have not worked out the details yet.  I have done both around the ear masks and around the head.  I am leaning towards the latter as noone needs sore ears although the general public will not wear these for the length of time essential workers will so keep that in mind.

I tend to buy fabric in 1 yard increments.  During this time I have both ordered online for delivery and ordered at Joanns for curbside pickup.  When you get your fabrics, don't forget the white and the interfacing.  WASH AND DRY the fabrics( not the interfacing) before using, it gets rid of sizing and if there is to be any shrinkage it will happen prior to the fabric becoming a mask.

I then iron the fabric and fold it neatly so several masks can be cut out at one time.  If you have a cutting mat and rotary cutter you will save yourself much time.  Otherwise a pattern from cardboard that can be traced works also.  If doing the pattern route be sure to pin through the layers so it won't shift suring cutting.

I have actually layered two different prints so I am cutting through 8 layers at once.  I line the fabric up on the mat and slice off the raw edge to start with a clean straight edge.  Remember if your print has a correct orientation due to a picture on the print to be mindful when cutting

Below I have cut both adult and child size masks

Repeat this process with your white fabric

The interfacing is cut a bit smaller for ease of application.  If it is cut the same size as mask fabric, there is every liklihood it will shift when fusing it.  Fuse it to the wrong side of the printed fabric

 I flip the piece over when putting it on the ironing board and press from the right side.  As long as you have cut the interfacing correctly it will be fine  If you have cut it too large the interfacing will melt to your board or your iron.

At this point i place a white lining piece ontop of the interfaced piece and start piling up the masks

Ignore the pins there as that was a leftover mask from the last go round.  I will sew some up in a fe hours and finish this tutorial.

EDITED
I came across this most excellent hack on placing pleats..so this or the way I will show you.  Of course, always your choice
Pleat Hack Video

WHAT?? TWO posts mere minutes from one another?

Oh dear Blog....as you likely know, once your FB is aware of the places you browse, your feed floods with such items of interest.  This popped up when I ventured back to FB Oh Dear Gorgeousness  I do not need this, I do NOT need this, I DO  NOT need this...sigh..I really do.  BUT I frequently can placate myself by purchasing the pattern on Ravelry  I then convince myself, try to convince myself, that I will make it from stash yarn.  What actually happens is life goes on and I forget about the beautiful shawl until I reread this Blog or look at patterns I have marked as favorites in Rav or it pops up on my feed again.  I am attempting to psyche myself out by only providing the link, not an actual photo, of said tempting yarny goodness.

If Coffee is wrong....

Good Morning!  It is April 18 and I am sitting looking out the window at snow.  By the time it comes to an end, it will have snowed for 12 hours.  They predict it will do nothing for an hour then the rain will start.  I have to get out and walk in the hour and am perplexed as to footwear choice, lol.  Compared to what the world is in the midst of, doesn;t that seem like a silly concern?

I will backtrack, over the next few posts, finished projects from this year, at least.  I do need to figure out this posting pictures....wish me luck.

One of my favorite yarns to use is Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool  The skeins are huge and I adore the natural colors.  They do also offer it in fashion colors, but for this post we rave bour rhis subset.  The yarn winds into a silly oversize cake and you must be mindful when winding as it is larger than the surface of the winder.  Just go slowly at the end and it works out fine.  Before winding, the hanks feel a bit scratchy, but as you knit and the yarn passes through your hans it breaks down a bit and becomes oh so cozy.    I am using the colorway coffe and am making this cardigan Alford Cardigan for DH.  I have chosen the color Coffee.  The pattern is interesting, in that, it is worked all in one, meaning the fronts and backs are done at the same time.  Right now, eacj row containing 344 sts is making the rows neverending, but I do so appreciate not having to seam and having the sweater exxentially done when it is done.  The pattern of the most complex cable is 24 rows long

The two other patterns are 8 rows long so three repeats per this one.  I love cables and Aran patterns and am quite skilled at reading the knit sts and knowing which way the nexy cable should progress.  I see from that picture this is going to be quite difficult to get accurate color pictures.  DH is very tall, so I am doing a few things to sneak in more length.  In the end it will likely amount to adding an extra repeat of this pattern.  I did almost double the ribbing length and have redone the distance of the buttonhole spacing.  

What else is OTN(on the needles)? Oh my, I have always had many more WIPs(works in progress) than anyone should have.  I admit it.  But I have a very large stash(which I am thinning out and weill be gifting some of the yarn to a group I am in) and do sample knitting for WEBS and get "paid" in store credit so yuo know, you have to use it, right?  I just recently got a box of 40 items, some was new DPNs (double point needles) but a lot was not.  We will save that for perhaps the next post. I am crocheting some snowflakes and working on another sweater for DH and, and, and

I feel this is a great beginning, restart  Thanks for stopping by and reading.  I will leave you with more pictures of this glorious cardigan OTN(you remember what that means, right?)

Well Hello There....two more years have passed and here I am.  I am back reading my favorite blog, The Yarn Harlot and have been inspired to revive this.  I remember it took me a bit of time to learn all the ways of blogging, but I am going to try.  I almost said I will sit on the feck and blog each morning, or every few days, but we are having snow tomorrow.  Yes past the halfway mark in APril and we are having snow.  I truly believe these weird weather issues are due in part to the pandemic we are in the midst of.

So, dear readers, if any of you are still out there, please check back from time to time, to see what I am working on, hear my ramblings and maybe laugh at something I have said.

Hug those within your social distancing space.  Often.

Will speak with you later.  Not years, just hours,,,going to try and figure out some of the lingo I need to know to be able to put out a worthy blog.

Peace