Wrapping My Hands In Wool...

It's cold, still. It should be cold for another two and a half months at least. I really don't mind, either, as long as I feel like I'm using this time of year differently than other times.
In the summer I don't usually feel like baking sourdough bread in a 500 degree oven for 45 minutes, so I've been doing a lot of that...
In summer I really don't want to spend an hour catching up on the ironing when I could be outdoors, so I'm trying to keep up with the crumbled dress shirts...
And I really don't want to wrap my hands in wool when it's anywhere over 70 degrees, so I've been knitting a sweater for a friend whose baby is due tomorrow.
As you can see, I still have a quarter of the way to go, but it's a little bigger than newborn size (depending on the size of the newborn, I guess), so it can wait a bit. I think I can get it done this week/wkend. Hoping!
So, here's hoping the baby comes hearty and healthy, and when it's a little bit bigger it can be wrapped in raglan wool... hopfully before it's 70 degrees outside.

Old Suitcases Turned Night Stand

This is an example of necessity being the mother of invention. I've had this pile of old suitcases that I use for storage, but no where to store the suitcases that are storing things. My typewriter is in the top, my yarn and knitting/crochet needles are in the next one down, the third one is actually for packing and the bottom holds my seasonal clothes. And, lo and behold, when stacked like this it's the perfect height for me to reach my alarm clock with minimal stretching!

Seeing My Kitchen Through a New Lense

Since I've had my camera I've been so busy I never really got to get to know the settings. Here's some experimentation... Scenes from my kitchen.

Recycled Sweater Dress

The weather has decided to let it be November. All the leaves have been piled and are waiting to be picked up by the efficient worker-bee crew of city employees, the trees are letting in more sun than ever and my living room is full of bright golden sunshine.
But the floors are still cold.
I've baked bread, made cookies, sipped coffee, and the room is still a little drafty. AND, it is one of my biggest pet peaves when I see children that are not dressed for the weather! As if just because they're small they somehow feel less wind.
So I'm always on the hunt for more ways to keep my baby warm. Enter recycled sweaters.
I traced one of London's sundresses while lining up the necklines, leaving a little room for seams, and snipped. It was just long enough that she couldn't climb on a chair so I turned it inside out and piched about three inches at a drop waist line and stitched it up. So depending on the height of the child you could leave it sleek and waist-less, or give it a pinch.
Also, as she wore it the arm edges unraveled a bit so I'll probably have to stitch a binding over the raw-ness someday. Someday.