Quilts and Companionship

Quilting! 

I finally made it back to my quilting group, Vintage Stitchers. We met at Diane's. She had this lovely quilt on the wall, "Good Night, Irene," I think, although she may have tweaked it.

Carol had this yummy quilt top finished. She said it lay around a long time, hibernating.

She's happy to have finished it. She also got out these paper-pieced bird blocks, which had also been in hibernation.

They weren't originally supposed to be paper-pieced, but she converted the pattern. Then she didn't like the process. The blocks are fun, though. It will also be fun to see what she does with them.

Brenda has been doing some machine embroidery and machine appliqué.

Marilyn, our other hard-core machine-embroidery expert had finished this kitchen towel. Just in time for Halloween.

She also had been working on potholders. I believe these will be gifts.

Diane brought out a weaving project she made some time ago, when she still had space for her floor loom: a waffle-weave plaid table runner.

Janet has become quite the knitter.

I have shown this before, but now it's done. It's a design by Kirsten Kapur, whose group is called "Through the Loops." The pattern is "Fugue in Mosaic Minor," a little play on the fact that it has two bands of mosaic knitting (the colorwork sections). It wasn't that long ago when I remember Janet saying, "I'm not really a knitter." She has certainly turned into one, although she still spends a lot of time quilting.

Two interesting things came up at this last meeting. One was that a member said she was disappointed in the quilting job she paid someone to do. She was so disappointed she was thinking of picking out the quilting. (If you're a quilter, you will know what a job that would be.) It was supposed to be a gift for someone special in her life, and she didn't know how she could give it to this loved one. 

Technically, the quilting was fine, but she didn't like that the thread used in the light parts of the quilt was darker than the background. There were some other issues, too, but all having to do with a matter of taste. We all had a look. While some said they would have preferred a thread that wasn't as obvious, most of us liked it, as the quilt had sort of a modern feel to it, and the quilting design and thread suited it. Someone pointed out that she may only be unhappy because she was anticipating a different look to it. Often we're disappointed if things aren't the way we expected them to be. I think she was starting to feel better about it when our meeting broke up.

The other interesting thing: One of the older members of the group said that she never liked to play bridge, but when she was younger her mother kept trying to get her to learn. The mother kept telling her, "When you get old, if you don't play bridge, you won't have anything to do nor will you have any friends." We all had a good laugh over that one. I never could understand the point of bridge...or golf.

You may remember from last week's blog post that we are "expecting" a new arrival in the post: Charlotte Anne (Lotte, a Götz doll called "Anna in Paris). The "girls" and I have been putting together a starter wardrobe for when she arrives, any day now. I had already made a dress for her. I made her coat next, because it's already getting cold here, and it makes me feel cold if I look around and see scantily clad dolls. Her meet outfit is a pink knitted dress. I thought this green would look good with it. The pattern is Jacknitss Coatigan Set. Mandy consented to model. (Did she really have a choice?) I added some length to the sleeves, because these girls have longer arms.

You can see the neckline is rather low to keep her neck warm. She could wear a scarf, but the pink dress has a turtleneck, so it should work fine with this coat. If she wants to wear pants, though, she needs a turtleneck sweater if she's going to run and play. I decided to make her one. But first, I needed to finish the hat that goes with the coat.

Mandy was shocked to see how little yarn was left after I finished the hat. What she's holding includes all the little tails I cut off after weaving in the ends of the coat and hat. 

The yarn is Knit Picks Telemark (discontinued), a fairly dense wool yarn, so a 50g ball didn't have as many yards as most sport weight yarns. Plan B was to just make a headband, but this worked. There is a messy-bun version of the hat and a beanie included in the pattern. I picked the beanie, because it took less yarn.

For the turtleneck, I used Knit Picks Palette in "Celadon Heather." I started out with a pattern I had, Una Hendry's Ski Set for 18" Dolls. The pattern includes ski pants and a hat, with colorwork bands on the pullover and the hat, but I just made the basic pullover, leaving off the colorwork. Mandy stood in front of the mirror, so you could see that it buttons down the back.

I knit the sleeves in the round, from the top down, partly to avoid having to sew the sleeve seams, and partly so I could get the right length. I also tapered the sleeves more than the pattern called for, so they wouldn't be baggy around the wrists.

For the turtleneck, I started out picking up stitches around the neck, as for the neck band, but used fewer stitches, as these girls have skinny graceful, swanlike necks, and I wanted it to fit. I made the ribbing 2" and then bound off. I made the buttonhole/button bands as directed, but continued them up to the top of the turtleneck ribbing. I spaced the buttons further apart, so there would be one button at the base of the neck and one halfway up the turtleneck, so when the top of the turtleneck is turned down, it stays closed.

You can see what a difference it makes with the coat.

Now Mandy wants one to go with her Cabbagetown Jacket, so I'm working on it, using Palette in Golden Heather. She has been a good sport, with everything I'm making for Lotte, so she deserves it.

Speaking of good sports, Vroni agreed to model Lotte's PJs. I finished them on Saturday.

These are supposed to be for Lotte, but the girls have decided that when Lotte gets here, they will show her all the PJs we have and let her pick. (They always end up wearing each other's clothes anyway, so does it really matter?) Now Vroni wants a turtleneck, too.

I've had a lot of fun taking photos of the dolls and their clothes. I've posted some of them on various forums. Last week someone told me that My Doll Best Friend's Doll In-Site Magazine was featuring one of my photos in its Gallery Spot: a shot of Mandy, sitting in the light of the window, knitting Dolly's mittens. I was very excited, and had to go to look:

They pick from photos people have posted in their forum. The person who posted the photo chosen gets a little gift from them. I'm waiting to see what I get.

Halloween is coming up. For a little Halloween fun, I was trying to think of a good caption for this photo:

"Raptured...or raptored? The only one who knows isn't telling."

Or: "They taste OK once you get them out of the wrapper."

Do you have a better one?

What's on my needles: Mandy's turtleneck.

What's on my Featherweight: Um…doll clothes?

What's on my loom: Still waiting.

What's on my wheel: Stanzi is still awaiting her next task. 

What's on my iPad/iPhone: Listening to music for Park City Singers' Holiday Concert. I’m about halfway through Amy Corwin’s novel All She Loves on the Kindle app.

What's in my wine glass: Fisheye Shiraz, 2015 (Mandy's birth year, so its a good vintage.)

What's my tip of the week: Fold your yarn into a loop to thread it into your yarn needle, rather than trying to stick the point through. This will also work for thread.

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 or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

In the Pink Again...Almost

"Think Pink" days continued through Friday. You may remember that Mandy made mittens for Dolly and surprised her with them on Monday.

On Tuesday, Vroni and Mandy decided they need some exercise, which is part of a healthful lifestyle, important for cancer prevention. Park City is a great place to enjoy the outdoors, with lots of hiking, biking and snowshoe trails, as well as the ski resorts, but there are two problems. 1) Mandy’s coat wasn’t finished yet, and it’s too cold to go for a hike without one, and 2) This is what the locals call “mud season.” (Actually, there are two mud seasons. Other places call them “spring” and “fall.” The snow melt causes the mud.) All the girls have snow boots, but no wellies, and I’ve ruled out running their…um…running shoes through the dryer, so I ruled out a hike, even if they all had coats. “Let’s go to the Fieldhouse!” I suggested. Little kids go there to run around in the indoor field and jump around in the blow-up castle, but older young people and adults can walk or run on the track. The girls have the proper attire for that, as well as their new pink water bottles. A cardigan is all you need to hop in the car and out again.

While they were getting ready, the girls decide to stop at the library, which is very close to the Fieldhouse, so they could get some books for Dolly, who was feeling better but still in bed.

All the girls love dogs, and Dolly really enjoyed the big picture book, Sorry, I Pooped in Your Shoe, although it’s a little difficult to turn the pages wearing her new mittens.

Mandy was rather annoyed when the nozzle came off of her special water bottle. She showed me when we got home:

"Get out your glue gun, Mum!"

By Wednesday, Dolly had stopped coughing and was feeling “in the pink” again. She was out of bed and dressed.

The theme for Wednesday was diet and food, so the girls decided to have a tea party to celebrate Dolly's recovery and the fact that no one else has caught the cold. They had a discussion about what they should serve at their tea party. Mandy wanted to know what Dolly wants to have, since it’s in her honor.

Dolly says that she thinks they should each bring their favorite party food. Mandy made a list.

Dolly said she liked chocolates.

Gabi said cookies.

Mandy added raisins as her favorite party food. 

Vroni said, “Well, unlike chocolates, cookies and raisins, MY favorite party food requires actual cooking...but I know how.

Vroni  put on a makeshift apron (the girls keep giving their actual aprons away) and assembled her supplies and the cookbook.

She spent at least five minutes slaving over a hot microwave to produce her favorite party food: popcorn.

The girls set the table. Gabi said they needed another chair. “I’ll get it when I get the package of cookies,” she said.

Mandy started putting raisins on a plate, and Dolly opened the box of chocolates, a gift from when she was sick. Vroni said she would pour the tea.

Tea! we all forgot to make the tea. Oh, well. Pretend tea is good at a pretend tea party.

On Thursday we received word yesterday that our new addition, Charlotte Anne, would be leaving for the US on Friday, along with her dog. Her immigration paperwork is in order and her pup had his rabies certificate and health certificate, so they could both fly together and enter the US with no problem. Vroni and Mandy were so excited, they stayed up way into the night, talking and planning.

Mandy was working on a sock for Charlotte Anne, and Vroni had planned to read in front of the fire (in honor of Diwali and the light at the end of the tunnel), but it’s hard to talk and read at the same time. At one point, while I was still up, Mandy came to me with a mistake in her work. (I guess it’s hard to knit and talk when you’re excited.) "Put on your glasses, Mandy!"

They were still jabbering when I went to bed. I guessed they would sleep late the next morning, and they did. Mandy didn’t wake me to fix her knitting again, so I knew she had it sorted out.

I wished Charlotte Anne a safe trip and hoped that she wouldn’t think all those shoes are just for her. Or that her puppy wouldn’t chew on them!

Friday came around, and the girls and I talked about what we should do for the last day of THINK PINK, which was a day of celebration. The girls decided we should post a photo of each of them. I handed them my album—um, iPad—so they could go through the photos and decide together what to post. Here are their selections: 

Dolly looks so young here. That photo was taken almost two years ago.

Gabi has had several pink items, including the jacket for her Everyday Play dress, but this is her favorite.

Mandy has a lot of nice clothes with pink somewhere in them, but this outfit was the closest thing to a best pink outfit. It reminds her of all the fun they had outdoors over the summer.

Of course, Vroni has her lovely Dirndl, but everyone has already seen that during “THINK PINK” days, so here she is in her best Sunday wrap dress, also a favorite.

Of course, the “Cotton Candy Gracie” (made with slightly longer sleeves) has made the rounds among the girls, because they all love it. 

I’m glad the girls have been having fun, because I had to sit them down and tell them that, Charlotte Anne is now bringing two horses with her, and because of the horses, she can’t just hop on a plane. It means her arrival will be delayed perhaps two weeks.

After a few minutes of glum silence, Mandy left the room and came back with the belt for her new coat.

“Here,” she said. “You only have to sew the buttons on and attach the belt now. Please finish my coat so I can go outdoors and play.”

We all looked at her…

“Well,” she continued, “I’ve learned two things in the past 10 days: Waiting is long, and life is short. Stay well and get a mammogram once a year. And live it up!”

I think Mandy’s right. We really should “THINK PINK” all year long. Celebrate life!

Mandy did get to go outdoors for a bit. Here she is in her new coat.

It was nice of her to be so patient for the photo shoot, because she was really anxious to run off and play. 

She was outdoors for all of 30 minutes when it started to rain, which later turned to wet snow. Mandy says, "I guess you have to take the bad with the good."

I didn't go to Common Threads this week because of my cold, but I'm much better, so I hope to be able to make Vintage Stitchers on Thursday.

I've changed my disclaimer (below) to indicate that no dolls were harmed, either. My regular blog will be back next week.

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 or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

Think Pink

Monday was a holiday, so we took the pups to Run-A-Muk Dog Park, so they could have a good run.

This is "Think Pink" time. Various groups on Ravelry are running activities to support breast-cancer awareness. The Götz group has had a different theme for each day, October 11-20. Here's what I've done so far. Each day is listed, with what I wrote about each one.

Wednesday's Theme--Favorite pink possession:

We just got back from the local "Walk To End Breast Cancer," but I got this photo at the top of the bleachers in the gym right before the event began.

They were giving each participant a "Think Pink" water bottle. Can you guess what their favorite pink possession is now? Hint: it’s the same for all four.

Dolly had to dash off to get in line. (She was the rest room putting up her hair when the others were signing in. She just stuck her head in now to be in the photo.)

It’s impossible to get four girls to look at the camera at the same time and not blink. I took a bunch of photos, and this was the best. Vroni just glanced away as I snapped the shutter. There was probably a cute boy walking by. Either that or a dog.

Thursday's Theme--Post your doll saying hi from your part of the world, wearing pink mittens or a ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness, or the appropriate color if you choose to support a different cancer on this day:

Vroni and Mandy wanted to honor their two aunties today. Vroni is wearing a magenta ribbon for Auntie Eileen, (although the Götz girls always wear their magenta bracelets) but the best Mandy could do was wear teal pants for Auntie Cheryl, the mother of Amanda, after whom Mandy was named. However, Mandy thought that pink mittens were a great idea, so she CO a pair. Winter is coming.... 

Mandy has to sit, because she has only just learned to knit with DPNs. 

She made me take another photo because she said that one looks like she’s just holding yarn. 

Friday's Theme--Hair Loss is common with chemo. Post a photo of your doll wearing pink headgear:

My girls had a little fun/discussion over today’s task. Here’s what ensued—

Mandy: "I made a pink hat."

Vroni: "That’s a boat, not a hat! THIS is a hat!"

Mandy: "Well, at least mine is pink!"

Vroni: "Well, mine is pretty, and it has pink on it."

Me: "Girls, girls! They’re both great. Vroni's hat is very pretty, and Mandy's hat is fun—and handy in case of a flood."

Saturday's Theme--Invited to a dance wearing pink:

October is known for Think Pink and Halloween, but it's also time for...Oktoberfest! Vroni was invited to come to Oktoberfest and dance the polka with some other girls and boys.

When it was time to get ready, she dressed, put on her dancing shoes and checked herself out in the mirror.

She even did a few dance moves to make sure her costume looked OK in motion.

Vroni's new coat and hat were ready just in time for this occasion. Of course, she had to look in the mirror again, just to make sure everything looked OK.

It was just a short walk through the woods to get to the hall where the Oktoberfest is held each year.

The children's performance went well, and Vroni loves to dance, but this is what she really came for.

Even though Vroni was born in China, she is German, and she has been allowed small amounts of beer since she was very small. (Actually, she's still small....)

Sunday's Theme--What does your doll like to do best on Sunday:

Mandy came home from church. She says her Sunday School teacher asked each of them to think of something they could do today for someone who was in need. Mandy decided that since Dolly has a cold (she got it from me, I think), she could read to her in bed to try to make her feel better.

After Dolly fell asleep, Mandy came out to the kitchen to work on the mittens she has been knitting. She has only just started learning to use DPNs, and she's so excited. She loves knitting, especially when the weather is too unpleasant to play outdoors.

Mandy sat where she could use the light from the big window and watch the squirrels while she knitted. She is so sad that Dolly isn't feeling well, so she has decided that she will give the mittens to Dolly, to keep her hands warm when they play in the snow. (Pink is Dolly's favorite color.) 

Mandy has already made some progress on the first mitten. She says her favorite thing to do on a Sunday is to do something nice for someone else. She will try this every Sunday from now on.

Monday's Theme--Hot or cold? What would you wear when you exercise where you are?:

This morning, while Dolly was asleep, Mandy crept into the bedroom and put the finished mittens on Dolly’s hands. 

Dolly woke up and saw the mittens. She is feeling better today, although she still looks pale.

Dolly loves her new mittens. She hopes there is still some snow when she’s well enough to go outside and play.

There are four more days of photos to take and stories to make up.

Obviously, I finished the Tyrolean coat, using the Kitty Cat 3 pattern, a hooded cape in two lengths (only I shortened it further), as a jumping-off place for the coat. The coat pattern was Jacknits Town and Country Coat, which included the hat. 

Here's the coat with the hood up.

And here is the hat.

I had planned to go to Vintage Stitchers on Thursday. It met at Rebecca's. However, I woke up with a cold that morning. (Don't blame Dolly. I probably gave it to her.) I have no doubt I will recover in due course. I missed the opera yesterday, which made me sad, but I knew I wouldn't enjoy it, trying not to cough and knowing I was sharing my germs with everyone. DH went and said it was excellent. It was La Boheme. You know, the one where Mimi spends a good part of the opera in bed, dying of consumption.

I was doing my best Mimi impersonation, but without the singing. Or the dying

What's on my needles: Mandy’s Winter Coat, using the Cabbagetown Jacket pattern. 

What's on my Featherweight: There are still more doll clothes to be made.

What's on my loom: Still waiting.

What's on my wheel: Stanzi is still awaiting her next task. 

What's on my iPad/iPhone: Finished Kill Me Again, by Rachel Abbott. I’m a little more than halfway through Amy Corwin’s novel All She Loves on the Kindle app.

What's in my wine glass: Lindeman’s Cawarra Shiraz-Cabernet. Quite acceptable.

What's my tip of the week: Don't get sick. If you do, stay home so you don't share.

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.