Voila !!!! The Capelet is Finished !!!!

How exciting to have finished my capelet. It is soooooo beautiful. I can't believe I finished it.
This project has definitely taught me much more patience and discipline. Both lessons I will take with me into 2009.

Lately, as I have written, my thoughts have focused on my crafting 2009 goals. With the New Year fast approaching, I want to set a few guidelines for myself so I may not only enjoy crafting but actually produce items for my enjoyment. In 2008 I did not set any real goals and found myself severely upset at not having handmade items for my closest family. Little did I know that a few had hopes of receiving a token or two.

This year I realized that there are lots of people who value my crafted items and that wish to own a few pieces. It is a great feeling to be able to pass on heirlooms. But, first I have to make them. In 2oo9 I will make a couple of gift items.

• Christmas stocking
• scarf
• hat (something new....I have never made a hat before).

Cross Stitching:

• Disney Neighborhood R & R
• Christmas Stocking (same as above)
• At least 6 Christmas Ornaments for myself
• Seasonal Personal Cross Stitch Exchange piece

Knitting & Crochet:

• Hat (as above for gift)
• Scarf (as above for gift)
• a couple of scarves for me
• another scarf as a gift for my BFF
• other projects as they come up

Of course all of these projects will not be started at the same time or due at the same time, but I will work on them one at a time. I will be dedicated to crafting an hour a day, whether it be knitting in the car, or waking up half an hour earlier and crocheting during my lunch hour. Somehow, I will find the way to make the time to do something for me. That is my biggest goal.

Till tomorrow, stitch well.....

Following Directions

Do you read all the directions when starting a project? I bet everyone pretty much does. Now, following the directions is a different story altogether.

When I started the capelet (yes, another capelet story), I read all the directions, figured almost everything out and started on it. There was one item that didn't quite make sense, but I kept going row after row, until 14 rows from the end it strikes me.....like lightning, like the first electric spark pulsing through the fuse box into my fingers, the AHA moment which turns on the bulb in my brain.

I could defend myself and say I did not know or understand the instructions, but in all honesty, I have to admit I did not follow the directions. The part that escaped me was "knit unto smaller circular needles". My mistake was assuming they meant smaller-sized needles, which I did. Experience has now taught me that they meant LENGTHWISE, not diameter wise. How did I learn this....with 14 rows to the end, I can't knit anymore, the neck area is so stretched out along the circular needle cord, that the stitches don't make it to each end.

Now, I know. Experience has taught me not only to read the directions, but to follow them as well. Tomorrow I will go and pick up another set of shorter circular needles to finish my capelet.

Off I go to cross stitch. Later today I will share with you a much better plan of my goals for 2009.

Wishing you experienced stitches.....

Capelet Homestretch

My Christmas gift to myself was finding that I was further along on my capelet than I thought. WhooHooo....10 rows ahead, which has officially placed me in the homestretch with about 60 rows to go. Not to fear, I am on the decreasing portion, so every fourth row or so, I will decrease 36 stitches. At the end, I will only have about 70 stitches left on each row. That is not much for me especially since they are mostly knit stitches and cables.

Once I finish the capelet, I will most likely start a sweater for the pooch. Yes, that cream colored angel that protects all of my crafts. He is blowing his coat these days and there is white hair all over the place when he shakes. It's like a snowstorm.

Speaking of snowstorms, we got quite a few snowflakes in our area. My poochies first snowstorm. He loved it! What a riot when he trotted through the snow. He kept eating the snow that he thought was getting away. He is a hoot.

Other than that it seems that my projects are lining themselves up for 2009.

• Sweater for poochie
• Christmas Cross Stitch Stocking for a very special person
• Scarf for another very special person
• Disney Neighborhood R & R
• Personal Seasonal Cross Stitch Exchange

So far, so good. I am seriously thinking about stitching Lizzie*Kate's 2009 Double Flips. Next year it will be Halloween themed. I really think that they are soooooo cute. Should I start a SAL next year for it? Let's see....I think that it would be a great idea.

Another thing that is on my mind is making this blog better. I want to blog more next year and post more pictures of my projects. I love to see the day by day progress of projects. I think that it brings them to life. Not only that, but my foreign friends would be able to see pictures of my work and maybe identify with my blog a bit better.

My LNS is having an After Christmas Day Sale on leaflets, kits and selected fabrics. I expect to pass by and pick up some fabric. I am going to need to replace the Jobelan that I will use for the Christmas stocking. I don't expect that she will have the Lizzie*Kate 2009 Double Flips in yet. That would be great if she did. Maybe I could pick up a few of the 2008 Christmas Double Flips as well. There were a few that I really liked of that series and others that were not my cup of tea. So, let's see what happens.

Feeling a bit chatty today. Hopefully this state of mind will continue into 2009 so that my blogging become a bit more dependable.

Finally, and most importantly, I wish to thank everyone that passes by my blog. I see that a few international readers drop by and I do hope that in someway, they enjoy their stay even though I have not translated my site in another language. For my domestic readers, thanks for spending a bit of your time with me. Words cannot express my gratitude to all that take a bit of their day to read of my crafting adentures. Please feel free to leave a comment or two, knowing that I will answer them in the comments section as well.

Stitch one, stitch two.......

Stitching Complete

Yip! Yip!! Finally, the stitching is complete on my Christmas exchange piece. Now the only thing that is left is the finishing. Everyone that has seen it thinks that it is very cute and sweet.
It looks wonderful, even if I say so myself.

On the capelet front, it has grown even more. So much so that a circular picture is almost impossible to take of it. I will need to see how to showcase it best on the blog. Soon, it will be finished and I will take it to the dry cleaner to have it steam-pressed. It will definitely be a thrill to wear it.

Stitchy nite nite......

2009 Goals

Yup, it is that time again. Hmmmmmmm. I still have no idea what all of my goals will be. Here are just a few of them in no particular order:

• Disney Neighborhood RR
• One Christmas Ornament a month
• Finish at least 4 crochet or knit projects
• Personal Cross Stitch Exchange

That is the basic skeleton of next years body of craft work I wish to do. Of course there will be times that I do more and others that I will do less, but I have all confidence that everything will balance itself in the log run.

The most important item that I want to cultivate next year in my life and my crafting is a positive attitude. The "I can do it" approach. Lately, I must admit it has been working. I push myself, chanting silently, " I can do this!"

My capelet has continued to grow. In my next installment, I will add a few pictures of it. Two rows separate me from the second page of the pattern. I love that feeling! It is so empowering to see the progress I have made. Soon, I will be wearing the cape. If I focus intensely on it, by Christmas it will be part of my ensemble.

Supportive stitches.......

Peace Love and a Cure Finished!!

Good and bad things happened today. First, the good things.

I was able to finish Lizzie Kate's "Peace, Love and a Cure" for my grandaunt during a marathon stitching event spurred on by my cousin's impromptu arrival. He will be in town for 1 and 1/2 days. Here is to hoping I will see him tomorrow and give him the gift for our grandaunt.

Every stitch is made with lots of love and "homesickness". It has been a very long time since I have seen my aunts, uncles and cousins. There are times that I wish I could get on a plane and see them, but airline tickets are so expensive for all of us to go that it becomes financially impossible.

Well, now for the bad news. I fell in the bathroom and banged my knees pretty badly against the porcelain tub. OUCH!!!! My knees are swollen. I was very lucky I did not hit my kneecaps or else I would have definitely cracked them. So, here I am hoping I will not be too sore to see my cousin tomorrow. My fingers are crossed!

Without any ado.... here is my finished Peace, Love and a Cure........

Peace, Love and a Cure

(back)

Pressed front with seam margins

Peace, Love and a Cure
in finished pillow form

The pillowback

There you have it! All done!! I really like the way that it came out. You may see that I did not stitch the peace symbol, or the flower or even the hearts because I wanted the piece to be simple and elegant. Maybe it is too simple, but it is given with so much love that I am sure it will shine through. Unfortunately, yesterday, I learned that my grandaunt is receiving daily morphine shots to help with the pain. The thought hurts my heart and I can only think of the opportunity that my cousin's impromptu visit brings me to send her the pillow.

On the knitting front, my capelet has grown immensely. I am almost on page 2 of the pattern and I am overjoyed to pieces over it. It is my plan to have it professionally steam pressed by my dry cleaner. I guess that I will be able to get lots more done while my knees heal.

As I sit here, with the movie "You've Got Mail" playing, I can't seem to stop thinking that life is pretty good. I feel emotionally at peace knowing that my stitching will help someone and that my crafting soothes my soul whenever I practice it.

Soothing stitches to all .........

The capelet has grown

I am so happy! This Thanksgiving weekend, I was able to knit a few more rows of the caplet. I even went to pick up two more skeins of yarn for it, just in case I needed them. I also learned a lesson..... buy extra skeins to finish a project. Even if you don't use them all, you have enough to "patch" in the future or even make a scarf.

Yes, I am a scarf knitter. My love of scarves stems from the fact that no gauge swatch is needed. lol. You can make the scarf as long or thin as you want and voila a masterpiece is created.

As for the cape, it is really pretty and the yarn is so forgiving that it is a pleasure to create. Since I felt that the cape would have been a bit shorter on me than on the model, I did add about 20 rows to it. It is my hope that it drapes nicely.

Blocking will be my next challenge. I have already read on blocking and have purchased a few pins to help me block the cape. I figure if the cape doesn't fit, I will have a very nice Christmas tree skirt.

On the cooking front, I have honestly made some of the best beef stew ever. My cooking ability gets better everytime I practice. It is heavy on the garlic, but oh sooooooo goood!

Today, I went blog reading.... everyone amazes me with all their creativity and gives me the incentive I need to push me to cross stitch bigger and better things. I am so in awe of the beautiful Mirabilia Round Robins I have seen on a few blogs and their preciseness. The hours and the love poured into the Round Robins can be seen. So from there I am sent in the direction of my Disney Neighborhood Round Robin. Here you find me hoping I can do it the justice it deserves.

Well, that is about it for today. It is my wish that all of those who celebrated Thanksgiving were truly blessed. May the upcoming holiday season bring out the best in all of us. May our joy spread thoughout our families and inspire others to see happiness everyday.

Thankful stitches.......

Pictures, Pictures and More Pictures

Sleeping on the job

There he is, sleeping on the job while "mommy" stitches away......bliss....I know, I know, he has such a hard life..... lol.......

Here are the pics that I have been promising for a while. I finally found my camera. From now on I will not let it out of my sight. Hope you enjoy them as much as I loved created them.

These are 4 of my crocheted scarves.

From bottom up:
Beige - variation of shell stitch
Ivory - variation of shell stitch
Black - crosshatch stitch
Turquoise - Sweet Pea Stitch

Dark Brown & Variegated Autumn colors -
created with rows of single,
double crochet & tassels.

CAPELET

close up of stitches and full view of knitted capelet

Those are all of the pictures for now. Once I finish posting them on this blog, I will go and start on my Holiday Exchange piece. Pictures of the holiday piece will be posted once receipient has it in her possession.

Happy stitching......

Knit, Purl & Yarn Over Too

Today I blog with great pride in my capelet. I am so thrilled with it that I plan to make it longer. Haven't been able to take pictures yet because I can't find my camera.

Other than that, I have gone through a bit of my yarn stash and noticed that I have a few skeins of yarn that I can use to make another capelet if I wish. I really think that I will do that if this project comes out well.

I have been reading lovely knitting blogs and cross stitch blogs. They inspire me to see what other crafters are creating. The enjoyment I receive from seeing new fabrics, threads, yarns and patterns is very empowering. Many of my ideas are a blend of lots of crafting tips found on blogs and my own thoughts.

A great big THANK YOU to all crafters who blog and welcome our peering eyes into their world.

Knitting stitches.......

I am not perfect

These days I am knitting a capelet. Part of my love for knitting is based on the fact that I need to be present to produce every stitch. It is not mindless for me as crochet sometimes is because I am a slow knitter. That means that I really have to focus on every stitch pattern.

It is my opinion that while I am knitting that it is the only time that I am really present in the now. Usually, I am planning this, that and the other thing which takes me to another time. Knitting keeps me focused and the patterns are so beautiful that they satisfy my need for creating sophisticated handmade accessories.

While knitting my capelet, I have really understood that I am not perfect. Sometimes I don't follow the pattern perfectly. I know that some of the lacy effects will be lost and I continue to knit and try to correct myself in the next row. Why? I think it is a metaphor for life itself. People make mistakes and try to either correct them or learn from them and not make them again.

There have been so many times that I just want to rip the work that I have done because I notice that parts of my knitting are not perfect, but I don't because if I rip it once, what will stop me from ripping it again? After all the ripping, what will I have? Experience in ripping and trying to correct my knitting for sure, but I want more. By continuing to knit the capelet I will at a certain point in time finish it. The stitches and the finished project will testify that I understand that I am not perfect. That in all my imperfections true beauty lies. It will mean to me that as the yarn forgives me I have forgiven myself for not being the perfect knitter. I am perfectly imperfect in the same way that the capelet will be beautifully perfect. We will be part of each other's beauty and accept each other as such.

I will remind myself of this during the challenging moments and the extremely happy moments.

Wishing you challenging stitches....