Wednesday WIPs

 

None of my WIPs are very interesting this week so how about taking a look at the fall sweaters I have in my bathtub getting their annual soak. They've been cooped up all summer and it's time to get them out, sort of. It's been in the 70's here again this week. Boooo....not exactly sweater weather yet but I'll be ready if it ever gets here. 

The orange one is White Pine by Amy Christoffers. Once upon a time it was my Rhinebeck sweater. The green one is Mosi by Helene Magnusson. It was inspired by Daughter's trip to Iceland. The last one is Festive Doodle by Caitlin Hunter. This was a pandemic KAL that had me scrambling for yarn at a time when everyone and their brother was knitting. 

We could really see the difference in the trees as we went north last week but in spite of the warm temps down here it is still very much fall. I always look forward to when the Beech trees turn every year because they burst into golden flame and give everything a glow. I'm not rushing winter, but it would be nice to get to put on one of those sweaters before it's time to get out the coats. 

Tiny Needle Tuesday

 

I could have had this finished if I had remembered to pack it on our trip. It's small so it would have been a good on the road project but I forgot it. I only have four more flowers and the rest of the border to go so I'm pretty sure it will be done before it's time to bring out my December projects. 

I did remember to pack a little bag with enough pieces to finish these two Patchwork of the Crosses blocks. Paper piecing is a good travel project if you get everything cut out before hand. 

Speaking of paper piecing, here's what Dear Jane looks like right now. Since I am halfway through Row D I had to get out another packet of pieces and sort them out for the rest of the row. They come in a big jumble and you have to use the book to figure out what goes where. The next one is on the book on the right and it looks like a real pain. I've got it sitting here staring at me but I'm going to have to be in the right frame of mind to get it started. 

Ooops...I Did It Again

 

The one project that had to go along with me to Detroit was the KAL stocking. I was trying to keep up with Arne and Carlos and was doing just fine until.....disaster struck AGAIN.

I was sitting in the hotel watching their daily video and listening to them chatter about the after thought heel when I realized in horror that I was knitting mine upside down which means I had put the heel where it should be on a TOE UP SOCK and NOT where it should be on a cuff down. Arghhhhh.......rip, rip, rip. Three more days of work down the drain.

At least Pup was very agreeable on the 10 hour ride home watching me furiously get caught back up once AGAIN. This is what I get for rushing the season, I suppose. Christmas knitting shouldn't be happening in November at least not for me. 

And speaking of rushing the season, look what The Mister came home with yesterday. 

It all showed up pretty early this year. 

Even the big town tree is up. 

Motor City

 

You'd never know it from reading my posts because I blogged ahead but I was up in Detroit for most of last week. I was here to be exact. This is Trumbull and Porter a fairly new place in close proximity to the city's stadiums.

It was a great place for Pup. We had our own patio that opens onto a big fenced in courtyard where she was free to roam. We were practically the only people in the hotel since there were no games scheduled while we were there. 

We went up to visit this guy and the Grands. DIL was out of town and we pitched in to help with the Grand's mornings and evenings.

Middle Son did the cooking while The Mister and I played. Here are the little fellas under Charming Stars. I made it out of the scraps from a big quilt I made for Son ages ago. Now it's a fort, as it should be. I also dropped off the two Gray Blobs. I wasn't going to put any of these in the mail so off we went on an adventure to deliver them. 

While Son was at work and the Grands were in school, The Mister and I explored the city. I really like Detroit. Unlike DC, it has a sense of humor-and a dog bar. Seriously, it has a bar that is set up for dog owners to knock back a few with Fido. I love it. 

We walked a bit of the River Walk but most of it was closed off for construction.

I waved hello to all my Canadian friends. We were this close. The bridge and tunnel were right down the street from our hotel but we don't have passports. Maybe next time. 

Needled

 

On cooler days it's been nice to sit by an open window and stitch a bit on my hexie table runner. It was too hot to have a lap full of quilt all summer but I've got it out again in hopes that cooler weather may soon prevail. 

The problem I've been having with it and my other hand stitching projects is that I can never find the right size needle. I have one or two that I like and a house full of those that I do not like. I like them short and sharp. I ordered these but they are too tiny so I've got more on the way. Much to The Mister's dismay I seem to lose needles on a regular basis. So far nothing awful has come of it but there's always a first time. 

I've also been on the hunt for some nice, gentle green hand quilting thread. I've got every color but green. All the greens I've found so far are too bright or too dark. The hunt is on and I have to say it's been an interesting rabbit hole to go down. I had no idea there were so many thread choices out there. 

Gobble. Gobble

 

Progress is being made on Mr. Turkey. The secret is to keep him out where I can see him.

It also helps that I can cut wool again. Truth be told, it might just be my favorite part of this whole project.

Stabby Part 2

My little punch needle experiment has gotten cuter but.....

....if you look closely on the right, in between the brown and the black border, the material is shredding and pulling apart. I guess I've been a bit too stabby. I ordered some heavier weight monks cloth to see if that can hold up to my needle. The muslin just can't take it.