Smalls SAL – November 2016 Check-In

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Heather

Hello, Smalls Stitchers! November’s check-in day has finally arrived! Thank you for your patience and understanding with regards to the date moving this month. It worked out for the best since we’ve been dealing with some typical fall illness and I haven’t been able to keep up with email and computer-related tasks. But, everyone is on the mend and now it is time to share some stitching!

SmallsSAL2016I had lots of plans for this month, all involving fabulous Christmas ornaments finished off in pretty and interesting ways. Yeah… Well, at least I managed to get some stitching done. My finish for this month is the September panel from the Joyful World SAL.

Joyful World SAL 0- September, designed by Maja of The Snowflower Diaries

Joyful World SAL – September, designed by Maja of The Snowflower Diaries

It is stitched with the DMC conversion on a very large piece of evenweave from Enchanting Lair in colour Hertiage. I am far behind where I was hoping to be on this project, but I haven’t given up!

So, what did you stitch this month? Please use the form near the end of this post to share your link. And, while you are there, why not visit some of the other participants. The list will stay open to new entries until about midnight Eastern time on December 7th. When adding your link please use the permalink for your post and use a picture of your finish.

Next Month – The next check-in will take place on Thursday, December 29th.

Next Year – Yes, the Smalls SAL will be returning in 2017! Yay! All the details and the sign-up form will go live on Monday, December 5th.

Thank you all again, very much, for taking part in the Smalls SAL. I absolutely love seeing all your finishes every month. Check-in day is one of my favourite days. 🙂

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Love Canada Banner

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Heather

Way back in January I stitched up a little Canada-themed design as part of a stitch-along on Facebook. It took me until last week to actually sew it up into a banner.

I Love Canada, designed by unknown

I Love Canada, designed by unknown

As I said back then, I have no idea who the designer is. If you know, please tell me. It is stitched with DMC 3865 and GAST Buckeye Scarlet. The fabric is 32 count Belfast in colour Heritage from Enchanting Lair.

SmallsSAL2016Smalls SAL News – Tomorrow is check-in day for the Smalls SAL. The post should be up nice an early (Eastern time). As always, it will stay open to entries for at least a week.

I will also be announcing the plans for 2017 tomorrow, so stay tuned!

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Smalls SAL Reminder

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Heather

Hello, Smalls Stitchers!

This is just a reminder that the November Smalls SAL check-in is taking place a little late this month. Our American friends are busy celebrating Thanksgiving today, so this month’s check-in will take place on Wednesday, November 30th. 

Happy Thanksgiving or Happy Thursday!

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Snuggle Up

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Heather

Making clothes really isn’t all that cost effective any more. With careful shopping and the use of discount codes, I can buy our clothes for quite a bit less than what materials and my time are worth. But, store bought clothes don’t really carry any sort of satisfaction, that feeling of a job well done keeping your family warm and comfortable. So, even though I can buy pjs for my son fairly inexpensively, I still love making pj bottoms for him.

Five new pairs of pj bottoms! So cozy!

Five new pairs of pj bottoms! So cozy!

I used Simplicity 2046, the same pattern I used several years ago to make a whole pj set for the little man when he was much littler. (I just make bottoms now since I can usually buy plain white tops for under $5 on sale.) The fabric is a selection of lightweight flannelette, bought on sale (of course) in lots of fun patterns.

A huge cuff so they will grow with the little man.

A huge cuff so they will grow with the little man.

I make use both my serger and my sewing machine, so I don’t need to worry about the fabric fraying at the seams. And, I leave very large hems in hopes that the bottoms will last a couple of winters.

Finished seams and a cute tag.

Finished seams and a cute tag.

The little tags at the rear waist help him put the pants on the right way around. I wish I could remember where I bought them, but I haven’t got a clue!

Do you sew simple, or even fancy, clothes? I’d love to hear all about it. I’m trying to get up the courage to try some more complex patterns. 😉

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A Little Snow, A Little Spring

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Heather

We’ve are having a nice taste of winter around here. Yesterday was very cold and very windy, and today we woke up to several centimetres of snow on the ground. There was enough that I got to get out my old friend:

My favourite winter friend.

My favourite winter friend.

With the wind howling around the house and more snow falling, it seemed like today was the perfect day to finish up a project that I stitched several months ago.

Hello Spring, designed by Lizzie*Kate

Hello Spring, designed by Lizzie*Kate

The pattern in Hello Spring by Lizzie*Kate. It is stitched on the linen included in the kit with DMC threads. I finished as per the instructions in the kit using the provided fabric and trims. I’m not sure when exactly I stitched this (it seems I didn’t share the finish), but it was probably some time this spring.

Don’t get me wrong–I adore winter! But, it is also nice to have reminders that seasons change and before we know it flowers will be popping up and the birds will make their return. So, enjoy the snow and cold while you can. 😉

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Socks for Life

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Heather

Long time readers will know that I love knitting socks. According to my Ravelry notebook, I’ve knit somewhere around 65 or 70 pairs since I learned to knit about eight years ago. Although I haven’t been knitting much lately (thanks to that darn golfer’s elbow), I do have three different pairs of socks on the needles. :/

Sock knitters, like most crafters, can never have enough sock yarn. I’ve got two drawers worth, and I’m always looking to add more to my stash. YarnCanada.ca totally gets this. And, to help you increase your stash, they are having an amazing giveaway: Sock Yarn for Life! (Okay, actually enough yarn to knit or crochet about 100 pairs of socks.)

sockforlife-side

Win all this yarn and more from YarnCanada.ca!

All you need to do to enter is head over to this page and fill out the form. All the details, including a list of the yarn you can win, is there. The contest is open to all residents of Canada and the United States and runs though December 7th. The winner will be announced on December 14th. I would love to enter this contest since the prize is so much wonderful, fabulous, amazing yarn. But, it is almost all wool. 🙁 So, head on over and enter, and let me live vicariously through you!

So much yarn up for grabs form YarnCanada.ca!

So much yarn up for grabs form YarnCanada.ca!

YarnCanada.ca is an online yarn shop based in Canada. They carry a large selection of yarn and tools, and offer free shipping within Canada on any order over $35.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with YarnCanada.ca in any way, but I have reviewed yarn for them on this blog in the past.

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Book Review – People Knitting by Barbara Levine

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Heather

Stitching may be my first love, but I also adore knitting. Not only does it bring me peace, but I find it very soothing to watch other people knit. Netflix knows this–you can watch people knitting in two different Slow TV presentations. Author Barbara Levine also knows the calming power of knitting. She has been collecting pictures of people knitting for many years, and now she is sharing some of her collection with the world in her new book People Knitting: A Century of Photographs.

People Knitting: A Century of Photographs by Barbara Levine

People Knitting: A Century of Photographs by Barbara Levine

This is a really delightful book full of great pictures of all sorts of people knitting, dating from approximately the 1860s to the 1960s.  The pictures range from tintypes to real photo postcards to snapshots. The subjects are everyday people, students, soldiers, POWs, and Hollywood stars. Men and women have taken up their needles for ages to create wonderful things from string, and it is so fun to see knitters from the past two centuries doing the same thing modern knitters do everyday.

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The book begins with an introduction from Ms. Levine where she shares her obsession for pictures of people knitting and some thoughts on how the attitudes and uses of knitting changed through the time periods visited by this book. The meat of the book is wonderfully reproduced pictures, interspersed with quotes about knitting. The Index of Images at the rear of the book provides all the important details about the one hundred photos featured, including the subject and year.

People Knitting is a quick read, but it is utterly delightful. I’ve gone through it, cover to cover, at least five times since I received it. When my elbow hurts and I can’t pick up either my stitching needle or my knitting needles, I am finding a little bit of solace and peace in pictures of people who came before me doing one of the things I love best. It helps to humanize the past and makes me feel connected to a larger community.

People Knitting: A Century of Photographs by Barbara Levine is avaliable for purchase in bookstores and online. You can find it at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, and just about anywhere else you can buy books.

Thank you so much to Princeton Architectural Press and Raincoast Books for providing me with a copy of this book.

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