Good idea

The other day I had the opportunity to browse through a Real Simple magazine. They usually have a chapter where they show you different uses of everyday items.

This is what they came up with regarding a toothpick:  

Brilliant!

From now on you can expect my yarn packages to ship out 3o seconds sooner.

P.s. The turquoise fabric? I have to sew curtains for the girls’ change room at the school. I guess, you can address me with Head-Seamstress now, thank you very much…   

Fair Isle Flower Socks – Instructions

Finally you can make your own! Click here for the instructions. I have not written a word-for-word pattern, but have given you the charts and the guidelines you need.

For more help check out the Sock Program.

Please let me know, if you have a problem or find a mistake.

Another One Off My List

 I have made this blanket for my SIL who is expecting a boy any day now. When I bought the minky fabric for my friend’s baby I had enough fabric left over for another blanket.  

I took my oldest daughter on a fabric shopping trip the other day and found this adorable Duck, Duck, Goose fabric at  A Great Notion. I bought a panel who has all the squares printed on. I also bought a blue fabric with rows of small and large ducks and geese printed on. I made  a bias binding out of striped fabric to bind the quilt.  I did not use any batting and quilted only sparingly around the squares.

When I washed it the binding shrank and pulled the quilt in. I am a bit disappointed that this happened, but overall I think it is a cute blanket. I hope, the baby will like it, too!

An Alligator For Breakfast

This is what my husband bought at our local bakery, Fieldstone, (sadly no website) yesterday. Isn’t he cute?

I am amazed how he is made. He is well proportioned and looks even as if he has joints in the right places. And those spikes!

Sadly we proved later, that humans are much more dangerous to alligators than the other way round and ate him. He was delicious!

Off My List

I finished this birthday gift just in time. It is the Hot Water Bottle Cover from And So to Bed. The yarn I used was my own hand dyed in sport weight. I knit the pattern as written except that I left out the large star at the top corner. I thought it distracted too much from the pretty tassel. As buttons I used three small disks that I crocheted with slip-stitches.

I enjoyed this fast knit lot. It is such a cute design! I have made this for my MIL, who is a big fan of hot water bottles. I really hope, that she will like it and that it will make her smile!