Sweater Project

 Sweater Project

I began this project in March of 2024 ... as you know, I am a sock knitter and I don't normally venture to far from knitting socks.

Well, here we are ... 

The pattern = Fall Bluff Sweater by Ashley Lillis

Ashley can be found on YouTube, Instagram, and she has a shop on Etsy

The yarn = Wool Ease by Lion Brand

This is a raglan sweater, the neckline (yoke) is in a sky blue color. I used this yarn on a different project so, I don't know the color name of the blue yarn. The yarn is however, Wool Ease by Lion Brand.

There are new to me knitting techniques in sweater making and I won't lie the entire sweater knitting process intimidates me. Ashley's pattern is well written and she also has a YouTube video on the making of this sweater that has been extremely valuable in any progress I have made thus far.

Progress as of April 2025

At which point I got into my head about this project and set it aside.

September 1, 2025

And my courage to pick this project back up returns ...

Working to complete the body of the sweater.

The yarn label with information.

The yarn color for the body is Carousel

I was able to complete the body of the sweater and the 1x1 ribbing.

Very exciting, I need to weave in my bind off yarn tail and the body of my sweater will be completely finished.

By the evening ... I had picked up all of the stitches from the waste yarn holding them to begin working the first sleeve.

Yay!!!!

Curtains

 Curtains

My curtains arrived and I was able to put them up. I'm very happy with my choice of curtains.

I put them up to see if they fit before I pressed them. So I put them up and then took them back down, pressed them, and put them back up.

I'm sure there is a better way ... maybe a hand held steam pressing system?

Bedroom Refresh - AFTER

 Bedroom Refresh - AFTER

Last night I slept in my newly remodeled bedroom and it felt great!

$467.22 is the total cost of this makeover

Kilz Paint Primer, Behr Floor paint, painting supplies, 1 rug, Queen Size bed/frame, nightstand, decorative window film, decorative switch plate and outlet covers, and curtains.

***I haven't put the curtains up yet***

And sweat equity of course ...

I spent last weekend cleaning, prepping, priming, and painting the floor in my bedroom.

I highly recommend both Kilz Paint Primer and Behr Floor paint. Both went on smoothly with total coverage. The drying time was a lot faster than I imagined as well.

Off White - the color is true to the sample card when dry.

The rug fits perfectly ... and is now laying flat and no longer has those funny rolled up ridges in it.

I love the decorative switch plates and outlet covers. 

The switch plate and outlet covers add very pretty details to the room.

My daughter put the bed and nightstand together. Assembly was required.

I'm so thankful that she offered to do the assembling for me ... I really don't love putting furniture together.

I need a bed skirt ... but otherwise I love how everything has come together.

Except for putting the curtains up and getting a bed skirt, this bedroom refresh is now complete. Once projects are completed, I often wonder why it took me so long to get started and to get it done ...

Bedroom Refresh - BEFORE

 Bedroom Refresh - BEFORE

This project has been lingering in the background for a couple of years now. I was using my master bedroom as my sewing room but decided that it is time to downsize my sewing room and reclaim my bedroom.

A few years ago I pulled up the carpet in this room with the intention of painting the floor ... or staining the floor ... or painting the floor ...

So years of indecision on what paint color ... stain color ... paint color ...

And then there is all of the junk ... junk to be dealt with ...

A lot of these items are from the storage unit I cleaned out last year ...

Most of the items in that storage unit went into a dumpster, in hindsight I should have put the entire contents of that storage unit into a dumpster.

UGH!!!

More sewing room stuff to work on downsizing ...

One DIY project always leads to another DIY project ...

Why is that????

My Little Man ...

 My Little Man

My first born, the oldest of my tribe

... turned 38 years old today ...

My Sunny Southern California baby boy ...

My sweet boy ... where does the time go?

And ... what in the world is up with my hair???

English Paper Piecing - Hexagons

 English Paper Piecing

Hexagons

I've been working on this EPP Hexagon projects for sometime. This is all hand-stitching and I take out my little box of EPP hexagons and get to work.

I have no idea when this project will be completed or how large it will be, I'm just enjoying the process.

The blocks are KONA solids and fussy cut scraps.

Summer Time

Summer Time 

In Tennessee

I was invited by friends to join them on their solar powered pontoon boat for a boat ride.

Lots of great conversation, bird watching, quilt talk, and a wonderful lunch.

Bird Watching

Not a great picture ... but in the distance there are 12 birds perched on a log.

Cormorant birds

The gentlemen talked of boating, solar energy and we talked about birds, games, and quilts.

It was a great day.

I'm Still Obsessed

 I'm Still Obsessed

... with Red/White Quilts ...

How it usually begins ... I'm making binding for a red/white quilt that is ready to be bound or I'm sorting through the red/white scrap box of orphan blocks.

Just 11 more blocks to go.

This pattern is called Lilac Breeze by Amanda of 

WestwoodAcresFabric.com

The finished quilt size will be 56 x 74 inches

The Red fabrics are from my fabric stash and the low volume fabrics come from previous quilt kits by Amanda that I have made. 

Surprise

Surprise!

This past weekend, my youngest son and his beautiful bride surprised me with a visit! The best surprise ever!

My furry grand-babies were glad to see me 😃

A little screen time to figure out our day.

I am thrilled with all of the yard work I had done to make my outdoor living space livable!

We were able to enjoy the mornings outside.

I didn't measure anything before I purchased the umbrella and cushions for the lawn furniture I have and I am so pleased that everything fit perfectly. 

I had a wonderful weekend with my children and their fur babies.

 

Community

Community

I love things that bring us together as a community. Family, church, talents and games are just a few of those examples.

Last week these lovely like minded ladies came over for pizza and yarn fun. Over the years my daughter has been learning to knit and crochet, a few months ago our friend from our social bowling league asked me if I would teach her how to knit.

And just like our community of makers is growing.

😃😃😃

This beautiful hat was made by a young lady who didn't know how to knit 5 months ago! Amazing talent in just a few short months.

Community, friendship, and sharing of time and talents.

Sock It To Me!!

 Sock It To Me!!

Sock knitting ... like Red/White quilts, knitting socks has become an addiction. As most of you know, I learned how to knit to specifically learn sock knitting.

In the evenings after all of the outside work, I've been cooling down and relaxing with a bit of sock knitting.

I'm not sure why, but I have difficulty with just sitting and not doing something. Just one of the reasons for learning how to knit socks. I always have a pair of socks in progress and sitting on the side table by my recliner. I would rather pick up my knitting as opposed to doom scrolling on my phone.

I'm still working on perfecting the kitchner stitch required to cast off a cuff down sock. Sometimes it looks good (the yellow toe) and sometimes it doesn't (the blue toe). I promise I did them both exactly the same but somehow ... they definitely do not look the same. Oh well, the imperfection on handmade things.

The yarn is Red Heart brand