Its been a crazy spring. The weather has been cold and wet—even more than usual, and our extended family is experiencing a baby boom of sorts. Four babies in eight months is a lot for us, especially when one of them is our first grandchild.
So all things considered, I’ve been busy with projects for months. I’ve done a little sewing, a little knitting, and a little crocheting. I’ve also been trying to finish up projects. It hasn’t been a project a week like I was originally aiming for, but I’ve been making progress.
Now let’s see what’s been happening. First let’s start with a few of the non-baby focused projects. Sweet Miss and the Fella had a built-in cabinet and bench installed in their dining room. It looked great but needed a seat cushion for the bench.
I’ve made cushion covers in the past, but it’s been awhile. I have two home decorating books. One said to cut the fabric the exact size of the finished cushion, the other said to add 1/2-inch seam allowances. I worried about the cushion curling up, so I added the seam allowance and regret it. After sitting on the cushion, it starts to look sloppy.
I bought the material on Amazon along with the foam. The material raveled quite a bit making it difficult to work with. That’s one reason I prefer to see fabric in person before buying it. I bought a cut-to-measure zipper at Joann’s. After I had it cut I asked for the zipper part and the girl at the counter said they didn’t have that part and sold me a fix-a-zip kit for another $30. It didn’t work at all. One reason I tend not to shop at Joann’s.
The kids are happy, and the cushion looks nice. I just need to ask questions before I buy something.


Then the MR left for a week to help his parents move, but before he left he asked about all the stuff in the laundry room. He has issues with things piling up forever. I’d participated in Knitter Knotter’s 2021 Tunisian crochet-a-long and had learned so many new techniques and stitch patterns. I still had five blocks to go, and then the task of putting them together.
I didn’t have the blanket finished by the time he got home, but I was close.



Each of the blocks are created by a different designer. Knitter Knotter has put this TCAL together for a few years. The blocks are free, and it’s a great way to expand your Tunisian skills. She makes each of the squares and shows different ways of customizing them. I also found her tips on joining squares and borders quite helpful.
Perhaps I was on the high if completing a big project, but for whatever reason. I took it into my head to make an oversized version of a couple of the squares for baby blankets for two if my nieces who were pregnant.
The small squares were lovely and fun to make. The larger versions weren’t. Let’s start with the Offset Saloniki Square designed by Raffaella from Raffamusa Designs. It makes a wonderfully squishy fabric that I hoped would make a great blanket.
It did make a wonderful blanket; I just didn’t factor in how the wider width would require a longer cable needle that changes how I work the stitches. It was much harder on my hands. If I were to make a blanket in this stitch pattern again, I would make smaller squares and seam them together.

Back to our Tunisian squares, I knew La Quadrature du cercle (Squaring the circle) by Rachel Henri Crochet Designs is worked in the round, so it wouldn’t require a cabled hook. This time, I bought a ball of yarn marked “Dk” In ombré purples that ended with a pop of lime green. I thought it was only a little green and would work well with a raspberry contrast. It was awful.
I decided to pull some natural beige out of stash and then not use the lime pop and start the ombré yarn when I’d used up the beige. It was a good plan, but did I swatch? No. Did I pay attention to the fact that the ombré seemed really fine? No.
I just kept busily working along. I wound up needing another ball of raspberry. In the end, I think the ombré yarn was a fingering weight, and the raspberry yarn bled all over everything. While it’s not quite what I envisioned, it’s a pretty, lightweight blanket.



If only I’d quit making mistakes at that point. Sometimes when I’m in a hurry, I don’t stop and think things through.
I wanted to send my niece in Texas a vest for her baby boy. I thought a pair of khakis, a button-down, and a sweater vest would be perfect.
The vest knitted up in a jiffy, and then I thought about care. A new mom is tired. She doesn’t have time to hand wash. I threw the swatch in the washer and dryer. The wash gave it a bit of a halo and enhanced the color. It had also shrunk the swatch from 4 inches to 3.75 inches. Uh-oh.
I ripped it out, did some math, decided to make it in one piece rather than three. Then I went on vacation, forgot what I had done and did my best to match up sides. Taking notes is a good idea.
I’m quite pleased with how it turned out, but I wish the journey had fewer hiccups. It’s the Seaside Vest by Sublime yarns knitted in United from Queensland Collection. I think my new great-nephew will look totally GQ in his duds next spring.

My crocheting for our granddaughter has gone more smoothly. I made a Baby Kate sundress (one of my designs) in the United as well, and a snug snack because the babies on the cover of Baby & Kids Crochet Style by Jennifer Dougherty we’re just so darn cute.


And then I decided to sew up an outfit with some great Bernese mountain dog fabric from Spoonflower. I bought snap tape online and found it difficult to work with, so I just wound up sewing up the crotch seam. To be fair, that’s what the pattern called for.
It’s Boho Romper #7 by Elemeno Patterns that comes in sizes premie to 6T. By the time she’s 6, I should have the pattern down pat.
I had a little fabric left and started making a sun hat, but our Little Lemon decided to come early. I’ll have it ready for our next visit.


Remember how I mentioned we went on vacation? Well, Tahiti is beautiful. Me and the Mr were in Mo’orea. I brought knitting for the plane and lazy afternoons on the deck after snorkeling and other adventures.
Our particular spot was quite windy. So windy in fact, it blew my yarn off my lap, under my chair and into the ocean. Me and the MR pulled it quickly out of the water and dried it off strung between two faucets.
I told my mother-in-law that her new hood is imbued with the spirit of the south seas and blessed by the fishes.
I was making her a Knight Hood by Erika Knight from MDK Field Guide 20—Atlas. MeeMee lives In a warm climate but has troubles with her ears getting cool. I thought a hood would be the perfect answer. And who wouldn’t feel brave and powerful facing the world wearing a Knight hood.
The yarn was some worsted I picked up at a store that was closing. It was leftover from the snug sack. Sadly I didn’t have enough of the gray sea-bathed yarn, so I added some vibrant magenta.
I think she looks great.



And now for a few more designs, I made a vest for Baby Girl and sent it to Belfast. It cost an arm and a leg to send and then Dublin wanted 30 £ to send it on. She looks great wearing it even if it cost more in shipping and customs than the Malabrigo Sock I used to crochet it.

Finally, our local yarn shop tour has come and gone, but I wanted to share the Firefly Cowl I designed this year. It features A Portland independent dyer—Knitted Wit.
I’m really drawn to hand-dyed yarns with bold and vivid colors. then when I start working with the yarn the colors blend together and become muddy. This cowl is my way to highlight colors in a joyful way.
Sweet Miss was kind enough to model for me on a visit home this winter. Doesn’t she just glow?




And now in honor of our Little Lemon, and the joy she brings. I’m offering the Firefly Cowl on Ravelry for free through 6/30/22.
Wishing joy, peace, and love to you and yours.

Feeling thankful, blessed, and all the good feels right now.