Adventures in Sewing

La and El picked out 6 fat quarters each at the local quilt shop a while ago. No real purpose intended, but it helped them behave while I got what I was looking for.

I think one of the ladies suggested this, but La (age 7) decided that she would sew El's into a quilt for her sister. She was going to sew the ones she picked out into a quilt for El also, but I talked her into sewing it and keeping it for herself.

La laid them out in the way she wanted to have it assembled. I pinned it together and then drew a sewing line using the disappearing ink pen. I sat next to her as she sewed, and she did a good job. Then, when she was done piecing the top, I put flannel on the back, using the pillowcase method.

Here's El's:





And La's:

Finishing Things

It's been a while since I posted any real stories about stuff. It's the usual school year grind. But I've been knitting. Mostly easy stuff.

1. I finished these socks:



They're just regular 64-stitch stockinette socks. Plymouth Happy Feet. I'm not sure how I feel about them, but I knit them anyway.

2. A sweater for Ellie:



It's Plymouth DreamBaby DK. I used the Cosmicpluto knits top down raglan sweater pattern as a guide. El won't try it on. I have buttons, but we'll see what happens.

3. I finished this pair of socks.



And I've washed them and worn them already. But haven't photographed them. It's just another regular 64-stitch stockinette sock. It's Trekking, color 100. That yarn turns really nice when you wash it in the machine. I can see why it was so faddish back in the day. It's my third pair that I've knit from trekking, but my first for me.

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things to Love About Fall

Fall (as we know it in Florida) is one of my favorite seasons. I can't decide if fall or spring is my favorite.

1. It is the beginning of sock season. Flip-flop season is very long in Orlando. 2/3 of the year, probably. This is not as good for someone who likes to knit wool socks.

2. Halloween decorations. The younger kids in my house start planning for Halloween on November 1. My husband made us wait until October to decorate the house (that was fine by me). We got out the decorations and put them up last weekend.

3. The soccer games start to cool off. It really starts to be a lot easier to do things outside.

4. Hurricanes tend towards the Atlantic. (Or the Northeast, but not Florida.) Once there start to be cold fronts in play, it really changes the dynamic of tropical weather. [disclaimer: my degree is in computer science, not meteorology. My only qualification is that I've lived in Florida since I was 5, and that really isn't a qualification at all.]

5. The sky is a gorgeous color in the fall. Not the faded out summer color. But a spunky robin's egg blue, almost.

6. The smell of fireplaces in the evening. I have no idea why so many homes in the area have fireplaces, but they do. This is totally different than where I grew up.

7. Carving pumpkins and roasting pumpkin seeds. Also, going to the pumpkin patch. The whole pumpkin experience.

8. Apple pie. And Thanksgiving.

9. Marching band. I'm not currently involved in band, but the smell of fresh cut grass in the fall gives me flashbacks.

10. Knitting weather.