The Weather is Making Me Crazy!

Honestly, I think the Mayans meant that the weather would go berzerk when their calender ended. I mean, warm and sunny to snowy to thunderstorms to warm again...in one week! And have you ever heard so many reports of thunder snow? Crazy. (Have you been out in a lightning and thunder snowstorm? Whew! Can't even describe it!) I do have some FO's to share, though. First is this sweater...

It's my tribute to one of my favorite Doctor Who companions, Barbara. She's one of the first two humans to travel with the Doctor in 1963, "kidnapped" with Ian because the followed Susan out of concern. Barbara is one of Susan's teachers and used her intelligence in their adventures, even becoming an Aztec god in one episode. She really let the Doctor have it on more than one occasion and always had a sense of dignity and class about her. This pattern is from the Custom Knits book. It's similar to a sweater that Barbara wears in a couple of stories. I don't have a picture of it on me yet (still figuring out how to use the timer on the camera), but I can tell you that it's not the loose, boxy style of the sixties - sometimes I forget how chunky I've gotten. It's very fitted on me but still looks cool. THen I finished these spats

that match a sweater that I made...um, last year I think. This was a fun pattern to knit. I should have done them both at once, like I do sleeves, but I didn't even think about it until the first one was about half done. The picture doesn't show the great stitch pattern - it's like a combination rib and moss stitch with cables. Very pretty! I've been working on a top from the vintage pattern haul in October. It's almost done, I think. The difference in fit and styling has me a bit confused. I know that tops were shorter because waists on pants/skirts were higher, but I'm nervous that it's too short. And I may have goofed on the sleeves, but I'm not sure. I'll keep messing with it for a few days...maybe it needs blocked again. I've knit a couple pairs of socks, too, because my feet have been cold. Sometimes I need to wear two pair to actually feel warm enough. Lately I've been working on keeping our computer running. It's quite old - nine years, I think, and until recently has been great. Lately, though, it's slowing down a lot. I know we need a new one, but honestly I don't want to deal with the whole stress of transferring everything over. I mean, I don't want to transfer my bookmarks from one browser to another! I'd much rather spend my time doing fun stuff...mostly, of course, because I'm computer-stupid and don't often know what I'm doing. I really should take a class. That's all for today. I need to go take more sinus medicine - another weather-related problem - and calm this headache. See you soon!

The First Workbasket Project

I've finished crocheting a project form the oldest of the Workbasket magazines that I inherited. It's issue 2959 December 1948. The pattern is called Pan Holder.

I used some fingering weight wool that I bought on ebay a long time ago. It was all the black and white but I'd overdyed some of it purple because, well, that's what I do. I sewed a layer of heat-resistant batting in between the crocheted sides because the squares have little open spaces and I'd rather not hurt myself - and it makes it safer, in my head anyway, if I use it to put a pan on. I would hate to scar our table. I've tried to make the pattern into a PDF but it didn't work. Any assistance in that would be wonderful! The next issue is 2965 June 1949. Some pages are missing from the center, but there are a couple of patterns that are interesting. I'll see what's in the stash that will work. See y'all next time!

Inheritance - Of A Sort

The other day I went to my parents' house to look for some of my things - the things that I didn't take when I moved out. Unfortunately, I didn't find what I went looking for (maybe it's all in another storage place) but look at what I brought home!

These are all sorts of patterns from my ancestors. They range from the late thirties to the mid-seventies. They are amazing. Some of them are unfortunately missing pages and have bits stuck together from moisture, but I'm so very inspired. See the one in front with the blue tag? It says "A Necessary War Measure" and explaing that wool from Britain may be hard to find. In today's all-available world it's sometimes difficult to think of a time when there was no 24/7 anything-you-want life. The four books in the front all have tops or sweaters that I adore. The Workbasket magazines in the middle range fron 1948 to 1976 (but no '60s) and I have a plan for them - you'll see. The top is mostly doily and tablecloth books. I think my grandma crocheted doilies, but my great-grandma must have, too. I have some plans for those patterns, too, if my hands hold up. So, where did all of this come from? Apparently my mom's cousin had them in his attic and was going to throw them away but mom saved them. I kind of wish they had some handwritten notes in them- you know, so I can picture which relative worked on what. I'd love to know if anyone made and wore any of the tops so I can emulate them. I do need to find a way to store them to keep them from getting more damaged. I suppose I should invest in some plastic sleeves or archival boxes. Right now I'm still entranced in looking at everything over and over. and how sad is it that I can't still order all of the wonderful dress patterns advertised in the back of the magazines? Just one more time I'd love to have a time machine...

Hats Off

Around twenty years ago I had a hat that I wore all the time. It was slightly fedora shaped, black, courderoy, and from Avon. I wore it plain or wrapped with a scarf. Unfortunately, my ex-husband's stupid cat peed on it and ruined it. I miss that hat so much. I have lots of hats. Most of them are vintage - several only because they were new when I bought them and have gotten older. Three were gifts, given to me because I love hats and they were in the belongings of a wonderful lady who died. One is sadly in need of some restoration - a lovely 40's feathered beauty that needs reshaped and some new feathers. I'm going to wear my hats again, often, much to the dismay of my children. When my hair was long it was too thich for any of my hats to fit. Now that it's short they all fit perfectly. Yesterday I wore a round-brimmed one to the store. Yes, lots of people looked - maybe because it's slightly reminiscent of the one that Boy George wore in those colorful videos. Honestly, I don't care if people look at me when I'm feeling good and stylish and myself. They should look anyway. I walk tall and straight and smile. Perhaps they should try to emulate that a bit. (I hate that so many young people slouch! Ugh!) I'm planning to photograph my hat collection. Eventually they'll turn up here. You'll be amazed at the beads on a couple of them - the pumpkin one is spectacular. In the meantime, you can find me smiling and in a hat!

Time Flies

My baby girl will be twelve in six days. Twelve. Do you remember being twelve? She's a lot different than I was at her age. I played with Barbies and read Trixie Belden books. She's got a makeup collection and reads Seventeen. I know that a lot of it is from television and music. I mean, remember the controversy over She-Bop? Now there's nearly-explicit songs playing on the radio all the time and she knows what they mean thanks to her friends. I try to encourage her to enjoy being a kid, I really do, but it seems like any more kids are being forced to be grown-ups as soon as they can walk. This year I'll be taking her shopping with her birthday money again. Part of her growing up is her outgrowing jeans in the blink of an eye. In two more blinks she'll be packing for college (she wants to study cosmetology) and moving out. I'd better be enjoying the time I have with her. I need to enjoy still being taller than her, too, while it lasts.

Stash Fail

So I sewed up the muslin of the pants that I told you about. They look pretty good - I had some issues with the waistband but managed to figure it out. When I got out the actual fabric, though, I discovered that it's too sheer to use as pants. I don't have any other suitable fabric to use, either. I have a few different pieces that I don't know what to do with - and can't remember what I bought them for. I have found some great designs on a site called Spoonflower - all kinds of wonderful different patterns and genres. I have my eyes on a couple of prints that will become dresses - once I find the pattern that's in my head. I finished knitting a cardi and am almost done with another - except for the buttonbands. The problem? Lack of appropriate buttons in my button stash. I have lots of buttons. Apparently, though, not any that work with whatever I'm working on. I should go through the yarn and button stashes together while I plan my next cardi. Maybe I should reorganize everything just to see what all I have. Of course, that may take several days and require help. I have a lot of stuff. Then again, I need a lot of help - but that's another story! If you have any ideas or tricks to share, please don't be shy! If you're one of those people who likes to organize, well, don't be shy about that, either. I'm off to try to talk myself out of knitting another Dalek.

Another Goodbye

I lost a favorite aunt last week. I always loved being around her but didn't see her much lately - being a parent and living away from everyone makes it hard to associate much with the family. She was so cool - imagine Eartha Kitt. Eartha Kitt laughing and hugging. She was beautiful and kind and smart. Now, of course, she's been reunited with her love forever, probably dancing and enjoying eternity with her soulmate. We've got our memories and an empty place where she used to be.