One More Hat to Go!

This is the last of the kit hats! I think I've managed to get Fair Isle down pat. It's fun, and certainly doesn't get boring. But, I think I'll leave it alone for a while at least. 

Katie on Halloween 2006

On the left is Sophie, a friend of Granddaughter Katie Howard. They in costume for Halloween, 2006, and collecting their candy from the Queen Anne Avenue businesses! Aren't they ever so cute? 

My First Felting Project

This is my first felting project. Well, not exactly, it is really #2 and #3, the first project was almost 2 years ago which was a disaster in my book, but obviously not so bad as to keep from trying again.

I crocheted both these hot pads using a K hook, all single crochet, and Lion Brand Wool. For the green one, I followed the pattern instructions. For the Blue one, I winged it. The green hot pad has some problems, due to my crocheting skills, which were mostly resolved in the blue pad. I like the blue pad best.

To felt, I tossed them both into the wash with a load of color fast dark clothes (140 degree water, medium time length wash, 3 rinses) in my small European front loader. A nice thing about felting is that the woven in ends and joins can't be seen! Each pad shrunk by about 40%.

They are dense enough to serve as hot pads for the table. I'm not sure, as I'll have to try, whether they'll be heat resistent enough to use as pot holders. Each pad took about 4 hours to make, plus the time to felt, and then pull to shape (although little pulling was required).

Great gift to make, and think of the possibilities. 

November Project with Grandchildren

Here are the results of 3 very creative young ladies! We spent the day shopping for fabric, then accomplishing the task. These fleece blankets are good home projects, which don't require a lot of special tools. And, you end up with a blanket you don't want to part with in the great Pacific Northwest. Here's Alexis with her camo bear and dear fabric, Sam with Sesame Street, and Katie with the Minnies. There are so pleased with the results, and grandma couldn't have been happier!