DropstitchDitdit

Anxious to get back to making masks. Got more material and had some on hand. While cutting out pattern my hand slipped and drew around my finger. Easy fix- just thought it was funny. I have to wait to get a lamp and comfortable seating and height of machine. Lighting sucks and my neck is troublesome.

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Bought some pillows to make sitting more comfortable. They are cheap- and what a surprise they are not flexible- they need to be broken in. I struggled on my birthday trying to get a pillow cover on and then a pillowcase over that! phew.

so this year I am trying to stick to a way of doing it. The template is simple but the first one I attempted this year I sewed the outer curves properly then proceeded to sew it together in correctly and had to stitch rip. Had many mishaps. Bobbin running out and making a racket. Realizing I was winding the bobbin incorrectly, a threaded needle showing up coming out of the machine! good grief. Finally settled down and made 3 masks.

Cut out pattern Right sides facing sew the outer curves. #Wrong side facing you stuff the one side into the other forming a cuplike shape. Clip the edges of the curve then sew the edges leaving enough room on one edge to turn the masks inside out. Then top stitch and close that gap. Made the 4 straps first as those done last seem to take forever. 2 inch wide strips as long as the material makes it possible.

Iron in half lengthwise , then iron each side into that center then fold in half. stitch starting at an end making sure to reverse stitch twice then sew the long side and then do the same 2 reverses on the other end. This way I have less stray threads tickling my face. Then next set I may try inserting them into the sides of the masks and sewing them down that way.

that's when I realized it was wrong LOL

while I was getting acclimated to the machine etc- stuff still happens.

saw a lever that pulls down and says "PUSH" on it. google was no help then I watched the Singer sewing machine video yet again and it is used for button hole making. Not sure I will ever USE that feature but now I know. The other thing was- all of a sudden I saw yellow thread appear like it was coming out of the bobbin case. In watching that video it also appears that I do not have to "bring up" the bobbin thread to the top- you just start sewing. I will test this out for sure! I think I finally got the hang of the needle threader too! yay me.

step by step mask

sewing the outer curves right sides together

fold it into itself and and "feather cut" the seam

sewing outer edge and turning inside out through small seam opening

the blasted ties were my downfall. so tedious with my hands I think I finally have the knack though

3 masks

one other thing I learned is that red dye in any material smells funny in a mask. So I shy away from that. I do have my skull & roses mask though for Halloween that I will suffer through.

I think I finally have it down as a pattern to follow.

But I forgot to take a photo of the finished product

strap sew across end then down side and across other end. Ironing before and after each process seems to help.

sew outside curve right sides together. then stuff the one curve into the other. Iron and clip the seams

stitch the outer edges all but mmaybe 2 inchexs on bottom edge. Then turn inside out. then top stitch the edge closing the gap left to turn inside out.

Then I used the stitch ripper to cut 2 slits each end. Then stuffed the tie ends into each slip and then sewed back and forth full length of each end twice to secure.

February 2

a Wednesday in Hyannis got these quilt squares at Joann's with Dara's gift card

February 15

I will perfect this pattern yet!

June 8

another mask

November 3

new material for masks. Made one with the black & white pattern.

won't know until I iron it and try to wear it whether the lower back straps are too short.

straps seem fine being shorter lower back

Still working on asymetrical scarf-shawl

# 6 needle

cast on 5 stitches. Increase one edge only by slip 1 , knit 1, yarn over knit to end. Next row is always slip 1, knit 1 to end. Place marker for those 5 stitches that remain the same.

After enough stitches are on 5 at non increase edge, 5 in middle and 4 on increase edge. Slip 1, knit 1, yarn over knit next 2 stitches and place a marker. Pattern for middle 5 stitches- knit 2 yarn over, purl 2 together knit to end.

I hope this makes sense!

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Started white wool hat using lion brand 100% wool that I ised on the shawl I just completed.

cast on 66 stitches onto a #8 short needle. join in the round k2 p2 it likely will not match meaning it will end with knit not purl. I do not care this is done for 3 rounds then knit onto 2 #8 needles and knit all to desired height. I may have to adjust number of stitch. will not know until I have knit at least 5 inches! So be it I can rip it out and start over.

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Started leg warmers . these were a bitch but finally got it to:

cast on 60 stitches onto # 7 short needle. knit in round one row then next row add another needle. complete that round then decrease at every 10 stitches ending up with 25 on each needle. Knit all to desired length do ribbing of k 2 p 2 then cast off. This is cheaper yarn than what I used for Dara's leg warmers so some adjustments may be needed.

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I want to start socks using the lion brand sock yarn I got at Ocean State Job lot- but not yet. going to have 3 projects going instead of my usual 5.

January

gotta keep things simple. I had started the 100% white wool hat and was going to add the green yarn I have left to make a helix pattern. Well it did not turn out well after only a few rows so I ripped it out. Of course it snagged. But back to a regular pattern #10 needles 76 stitches. k2 p2 for an inch of less LOL then knit all. I keep getting the urge to add a pattern and catch myself in tome to keep it simple.

start again-

white wool on to 2 circular needles. I kept knitting onto the same needle ugh

asymmetrical scarf shawl and leg warmers progress

February 3

had to rip out the white wool hat at 77 stitches and 6 inches deep it was too tight.

so am trying again

#8 needles, 83 stitches. cast off one as connecting in the round. so 82 stitches. knit all first row

2nd row knit 2 purl 2

3rd row knit all

4th row purl 2 knit 2

5th row knit all.

seeing if that makes an inch then do all knit. Keep trying on for how deep I want the hat. I want it to be a soft cap. Not a snug fitting hat.

will be doing same pattern with the blue variated yarn left over from the leg warmers I just finished.

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February 2 picked up more yarn for leg warmers with Dara's gift card at Joanns

samples so far of white wool hat-cap and fuzzy blue one using the pattern above

February 6

Blue variated leg warmers are done

almost finished that asymetrical shawl yay.

April 13

a very good friend bought herself yarn for hooking but it had no body to it for hooking so I got it. Purple wool and duck egg blue wool from Deborah Bliss. I had to wait for a clear windless day to roll into balls. The day arrived and I was out on the deck merrily rolling away and a surprise gust of wind came through and blew the hank off the laundry dryer. ehads. I have been untangling it every day since. Taking forever!

April 21

progress on the tangled yarn

May 9

completed assymetrical shawl

so during that blizzard and no power thing January 29 2022 I started this assymetrical shawl. I knew my brother would eventually show up with a generator when he could get out. But it was fucking cold in here. Got down to 36 degrees. I knew I had to keep hydrated, and walking and occupied to stay alive. I am not being dramatic when I say that. It was awful. so last night waiting for my supper to boil into a mushy existence, I finished casting off the shawl. 152 stitches. So a little over 3 months of knit&walk and it is done. I still have to weave in loose ends and wash . Hoping I do not find any drop stitches. If I do I close them up with contrasting yarn and make it look like it was intended :)

May 4

blue yarn winding tangles at a standstill.

May 31

bulky socks I hope I can find the pattern I made up for them LOL

found the pattern'cast on 50 stitches on #6 circular needle then transfer those stitches to 2 # 5 needles.

alternating rows K2 P2 2 rows

knit all 1 row

K1 P2 2 rows

1 row k all.

they are reversible LOL

July 12

Finally finish the off purple shawl using Big Twist soft. Not nice yarn but it is done and not large enough to be a shawl, maybe a chunky scarf. But I was in no mood to get more yarn for it LOL

size 10-1/2 circular needles. cast on 5 stitches. slip 1 knit 1 yarn over knit to end repeat that for 2 rows.

then 2 rows of slip 1 knit to end. ended up being 108 stitches.

dimensions after washed : 3 edges. 36 x 36 x 40 inches.

the yarn left after completion LOL

September 10

Finally wound Dara's purple wool yarn into balls. The pale blue is still tangled.It was finally calm enough to do outside-took 20 minutes

October 25

Dara's purple yarn made into a hat-

knitting instructions

cast on 90 st onto a #8 circular needle

connect

row 1- knit all

2 $ 3 k2 p2

4 & 5 k1 p2

repeat those 5 rows to 6 inches.

then decrease

k 2 p 2 together

knit all

k2 together until you have 20 stitches then cast off.

November

I am making a shawl using odd ball left over yarn. double strand. It went along fine until I tried to use up this soft black & white yarn. It is so horrible to knit with. Bought it a few years ago in the barain bin at AC Moore. a store that no longer exists here but I loved their cheap yarns. except this one. Not sure what I will torture myself with making something using this. maybe i cords LOL

and finally untangled Dara's blue yarn and wound into 2 balls. Had to cut a few times but that can be blended in when knitting. Thinking of using it with the left over purple she gave me at the same time.