Preparing for Travel—Maybe!

The Fair Isle sweater for Lukas is done, shown here modeled by Carter.

Here's the link to the pattern, a free download on Ravelry. It's designed to teach people how to make a project that calls for knitting in the round and steeks (cutting your knitting), something they can start with that isn't a huge investment of time, but still gives a finished product that's useable for a doll or teddy bear. It buttons down the back, so you don't have to pull the sweater over the doll's head.

There is a tutorial for the project here. The sweater comes in three sizes for 18" (or so) dolls that are slim, medium or plus-size. (Carter is wearing the plus size, which is also appropriate for American Girl and Boy dolls.) Carter is from My Sibling Dolls. It's a good company serving several worthy causes.

Carter got his name by being designated to be part of the silent auction for Habitat for Humanity, Park City, in October. He and a girl doll will receive volunteer-made clothes and trunks to hold all their goodies. The dolls and everything that goes into each doll's wardrobe are donated. Last year two girl dolls brought in about $350 combined.

I mentioned last week that I ordered a Götz Katie (like my Mandy) for our granddaughter for Christmas. A little early, but this doll (with the red hair and freckles) is out-of-production, and the last retailer to have any in stock has the last of them. I ordered her as soon as I got paid. She arrived on Saturday. I opened the box and pulled out the cardboard drawer where Katie was held in place by restraints (poor thing, but it's for her protection). I was able to check her out to reassure myself she was uninjured from the long journey, get a photo with my live-in Götz dolls and get her back into the box.

Mandy thinks they could be twins. Katie will probably end up with Vroni's and Mandy's dresses, as I make more. (You can see that she has glasses for reading, too.) She will need a sleep mask and a chain or ribbon for her glasses, as well as clothes.

We have been going to Run-A-Muk Dog Park fairly frequently, because it's in a spot that isn't so windy, nor is it muddy, even after a rain. Wednesday the pups went to see the groomer. I wanted to get a photo of Dusty, to show how much lighter he's getting. Rocky decided to photobomb Dusty's photoshoot. At least he didn't hold a paw up behind Dusty's head.

Rocky had his annual physical and thyroid check this past week. Everything is good. Still waiting on the results of his--ahem--fecal check, but it has always been normal since we've had him, so I'm not worried. He really does seem to have more energy since he has been on thyroid medication for a while.

Vintage Stitchers didn't meet this week. Everyone was either out of town, had appointments or trying to get caught up before the quilt-shop-hop the beginning of next month.

We expect to be leaving Thursday or so to go camping in Oregon unless something comes up. (We have at least three issues that could get in the way.) Regardless, next week's blog post will be about some girls in a school in Canada who have been hand-piecing quilt tops to make quilts for Project Linus, an organization that provides quilts and knitted or crocheted blankets for children in need of warm fuzzies. I may be out of internet range, so this pre-programed post will show up. I'll check in if I can.

What's on my needles: Another Three Steps petticoat. I really want to make a Steampunk-style outfit as part of the "Sweet Pairings" KAL in the Debonair Designs group on Ravelry. Also still sewing the binding on the Kaleidoscope Quilt, but now I have a deadline, so it will get done.

What's on my Featherweight: Put away for now.

What's on my loom: Still waiting.

What's on my wheel: Stanzi also still waiting, but I'll have to get her oiled up when I get back, because Tour de Fleece starts the beginning of July.

What's on my iPad/iPhone: Finished Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd from Audible, probably her best novel so far. Now reading Hacker Mom by Austen Rachlis. It’s a real change of pace. On the Kindle app, I’m still reading Dying to Read, The Cate Kinkaid Files Book #1.

What's in my wine glass: Still the same boxed wine as last week. Nothing to write home about, but it seems to be refilling itself.

What's my tip of the week: If you're cooking for two, you can still use recipes for four or more servings. I often make a long casserole dish with a recipe enough for three or four days for just the two of us. So we don't get tired of it, I put half of it in a foil-lined square cake pan after it's chilled enough that it doesn't fall apart when I cut it, if it's something like lasagne or enchiladas. I cover it with more foil, freeze and then turn the frozen casserole out of the dish, label and wrap in a plastic bag (like a produce bag) to keep the cold air from reaching the food inside. When I'm ready to serve it, I put it back in the cake pan, thaw it and heat up in the oven. For a stew or something that has to be spooned rather than cut, I just transfer half of it to a freezer container. This is great for camping or to pull out when I'd rather do anything but cook.. 

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals were harmed during the production of this blog post.