A Few WIP (Work in Progress) Finished

I finished the lap afghan in the green yarns.  It will be the last blanket to be crocheted until fall/winter time.  I prefer small projects during hot weather here.

Finished the current knitted dishcloth.  I had forgotten about it, as it got tucked in the midst of my projects.  There isn't much yarn left on the yarn cone, so I'm not sure what I'll use the remaining yarn for yet (this color was discontinued).

I finished another book, hence another book blanket granny square.  I don't know how people can read 200 plus books a year.  I do not have the time to sit, and sit to read that much, but there has been progress this year (much more than last year).  

A few of you have given me a few ideas for audio books too.  Like combining an outdoor walk/hike with such books, or while cleaning house.  It's a year of new things and "first times" this year, so it may happen.  This is the first year to read an ebook and could be the first year to borrow audio books.

Finished Lap Afghan and a Book Blanket Granny Square  ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Tidbits . . . from the Handiwork Journal {Jan 15 , 2025}

It's been cold here lately.

Tuesday (1-14-25) we woke up to -3°F.   It snowed the entire day, making all of the roadways slick. Accidents, multiple car pile up's, and my husband stuck in traffic on his way home (due to another pile up).  I'm not kidding, it was that bad on the roads. I was out on them.  The doctor found no fractures, but I have an injured hamstring.  No wonder I have been in pain.  My husband missed his own doctor appt due to the accidents delaying him.

Today we woke up to a brisk -7°F, and we are in for a really cold snap next week.  Like below -20 or something.  I had the delight to watch a herd of deer this morning, and will post those photos in another post. 

We had a front porch visitor.  A raccoon. 

 It's been fun with the snow on the ground lately. I can track the animals so easily.  There are rabbit prints and deer prints all around the chicken coop, and all over the property.  I see the fat squirrel often, and now we also have kitty cat tracks that lead to every door of the house. I actually saw the cat again Monday morning.  It has been bedding down in one of our barns, according to the tracks in the snow.

On the handiwork front . . .

It may look like a lot, but it is winter, and the weather is too cold to do much of anything outside.

. . . finished three jar openers, using up some red thread, but I now have just small bits left from two.  I'll do some research on what I can use it up with. 

 

Any suggestions?  Size 3 crochet thread. Not much left on them.  I looked at 32 pages of patterns on Ravelry.  It is not a thread that would work for scrap dishcloths either.  Mini hearts, but for what?  Earrings are not well accepted as gifts. I made my Mom a pair for Christmas one year, and she never wore them.  Maybe donate it?  I may try and come up with a small Christmas ornament to donate to nursing homes etc.

. . . made a few "sunshine" Christmas tree ornaments to use up some yellow cotton I had in my stash.  These will be donated.  Would you stiffen these?  They are #4 worsted weight cotton.  If you would, what would you use to stiffen them?

. . .blocking more crocheted baby washcloths, and using up some discontinued 2 ply cotton thread.  When the thread is gone, these will be the last of the last of these.  

. . .first granny square for my 2025 creative project (watch for a post on this soon!)  I shared this granny square earlier.

. . . started another lap afghan.  The colors were inspired by the latest granny square, and uses up some more stash yarn.  

. . .started another baby blanket in blue and white.  We have someone expecting, so I'm making sure I have a variety of color options to gift.  Note:  After I starting drafting this post, I found out she is having a girl now, so there is no rush on this one.

. . . started a knitted dishcloth.  These are great gifts, host/hostess gifts, house warming gifts, and to use myself.

On the new purchase front . . .

I wanted crochet stitch minders, to help remind me what hook size I was using on projects like the granny square project.  I went online and found exactly what I wanted, but it was over $30 with shipping.  

I settled for these "knitting" markers, but will be writing the crochet letter hook size on the opposite side.  Cost?  $4.98 total cost.  I could make my own, but this will do the job.  The numbers are small and hard to read, so I'll use a marker to go over them.  It will work for now anyway.  

I could have also used letter beads slipped onto a safety pin, but guess what??  I donated those letter beads a few years ago, ha ha!  Anyway, I wanted the letter of the hook and the size on the markers, because for some reason some newer hooks have not been the same coordinates.  For example, I found an "I" hook to have other size numbers on them vs. the size 5.50mm.

By the way, I went to our nearest JoAnn Fabrics store, and they did not have any type of "hook" minders for projects.  I was surprised.  Also, I only had the time to check at Meijer, but to buy new "letter" beads it would cost $4.99 plus tax.  If you make your own hook size minders to remind you of your hook size on patterns, let me know.

Tidbits ~ . . . from the Handiwork Journal  © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Lily Sugar n' Cream ~ Peaches and Cream Cotton Yarns

 

Look the same, but they are not.

Top one says "Made in Canada from 100% USA Cotton

Bottom one says "Made in China from 100% Cotton

We are slowly being deceived.  You may have to biggy-fi some of these photos to read the labels.  I discovered this while in bed recovering from a recent sickness.  I am not only sad, but mad about this.  I have always been so proud to sell a hand knitted dishcloth made with USA grown cotton, even when the yarn was made in Canada. 

I have not bought cotton yarn (in the smaller balls) for 2-3 years, so these were all in my tote stash.  Apparently, over the years, China bought it.  They bought the label, and at one point took off the USA flag, and made the print smaller, only to take over the manufacturing.

It now has labels looking the same, but without the USA flag, so you don't think twice unless you read the label.  It is so sad that America would rather have money than be reliable on USA made, support USA made or create USA made.  It really makes me sick to my stomach, that an American company will sell out to China, giving them more power over our country.  I won't be making dishcloths, unless I can locate more older balls of USA cotton yarn.

The one on the left - made in China, thinner, longer, same weight.  The one on the right, USA grown cotton, made in Canada, thicker cotton yarn.  Note:  both labels still say the same Canadian address, but the one on the left says "Made in China."

The newly produced cotton yarn from China is thinner, and does not even feel like it's cotton.  It almost feels like it has stretch to it.  I have one ball of Peaches and Cream that says it was made in China, and it was wound back up.  I am not sure what I will do with it, but I am mad that I was duped to thinking I was buying the same USA grown cotton yarn I had been buying for years.  Same label, same look, but if you look closer, the yarn is not the same.  The cotton is not the same.  

If you have any extra balls of either of these brands, that were still being made in with USA grown cotton, you are lucky.  They made a much nicer product.  

By the way, I tried googling when China bought these yarn manufacturers, and could not find anything on the internet, but a few articles from 2011 when they stopped making yarn in the USA and sold to Canada. 

Just sharing for those who knit/crochet.  Okay, off my soapbox, but had to share in case you care and didn't see these labels.

Land of the Unfinished and other closet finds....

 I do not have a craft room in my house.  A few years ago, I started to move totes of yarn upstairs, on shelves on one wall of the "gym" room.  I have always used our walk-in closet for such items, along with shelves in my utility room.

I have started the process of cleaning it all out of the closet, and oh my word, did things get buried in there.  I have used a  bookshelf full of crafting items.  I am attempting to empty it, come up with an organized storage upstairs, and move the bookshelf to the "guest" bedroom or spare room.

Unfinished Christmas ornaments in a kitchen soup bowl.  Gulp!  I started these in 2017!!!!  That was six years ago.  I was making them for the kids for Christmas, and even wrote a blog post for making them on my other blog:  HERE

Under those above ornaments a pair of unfinished candy corn earrings.  Have no idea why that tiny spool was in there.

Unfinished granny square scarf, and one water balloon.

Unfinished set of pot holders, because I could not get yarn that matched to make the second one.

Unfinished cover top for one of the girls.

Unfinished camper Christmas ornaments.

Unfinished flip flop key chain.

Unfinished thin dishcloth.

Unfinished Christmas ornament project.

Unfinished set of pot holders.

Unfinished knitted dishcloth.

These are the current "finds" in the closet

My first, ever pair of crocheted baby booties.  They ended up too big.

A pair of thick socks we bought for one of the kids for Christmas last year.

More lip balm and salve containers I didn't know I had.

Six hand sewn apron bottle drink covers with straw slot on the front.  I put a pencil in the top one to show you.  I bought these so, so, so many years ago from a friend.  I have a women's group at that time, and I wanted to gift them.  I guess that never got done, ha ha! 

I found a dime while cleaning.  Smiling here.

Oh, we have only just begun.  However, I have finished painting one entire doorway trim in the hallway.

Making Adjustments . . .

I'm getting used to a different routine, but not by choice.  The boot definitely helps my foot, but at night when it's off my ankle swells in the night.

I'm up getting an ice pack (or my husband hears me and gets it), and taking pain meds to get back to sleep.  I wish this on no one.

I also realized that my yarn totes were moved upstairs.  Sigh.

I however, had not finished the bedroom closet, so I found a few unfinished projects to keep me busy.

I found a knitted dishcloth to finish, another set of hot pads, I can restock blue baby booties (I had that yarn downstairs), I have a scrap lap afghan to finish, and I found a baby blanket that I started probably over 5 years ago.  I must have buried it unseen.  

I also, ordered me some books on thriftbooks.com.  I am still waiting on them.

I got my Christmas binder out and added patterns for homemade gift ideas for next year.

I also want to get back to doing some journaling, but on the computer vs. hand write this time.  I need a new flash drive, and can't figure out the best one to buy on Amazon.  Or anywhere for that matter.  

No way am I asking my husband or Daughter K to buy one in town for me.  They are both already mad for having to do some of my chores (tend the hens, get the mail, dishes, cook, and stuff like that).

I'm already getting retorts from my husband, because Daughter K has been zero help.  Literally.  

I got 3 Christmas cards addressed, but I had to ask them 3 times to put them in the mailbox, so I'm not sure I'll get anymore done.  I don't want to ask them again for help.

It's pouring outside this morning.  I'll just get on with this day, and if it stops attempt to use my husband's muck boots to tend the hens.  

. . .from the handiwork journal

 (since the last handiwork post)

. . . finished the XL purple pot holder.  It was made to match some hot pads I recently made.  Although, I used the solid color to edge it.

. . .spray painted two more mini clip boards for future gift giving.  I decorate them, add a pad of paper.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

. . . spraying a clear coat on Daughter E's latest craft project.  I wanted her to buy the ladybug, but she insisted on this one.  It's a garden stone.

. . . crocheted a set of pot holders

. . .crocheted a matching XL hot pad

. . .progress on a knitted dishcloth.

from the handiwork journal . . .

...finished the blueberry hot pad set.

. . . finally finished the knitted dishcloth.  Started another set and also finished it.  I literally sold this set I put together right after I put it up on my other blog (who also ordered the second set).

....got more of the yellow netting cut, but still need to cut pink as well.

....finished a coral set of hot pads.  Started a yellow set.

. . . finished a hat for myself, and I love it.  It's very warm.  I will use this pattern for making some to sell for next year's craft shows.  I hope I can get more colors at a good price.

...crocheted these paw print ornaments for the fall craft show.

...crocheted a few cows.  Just need to get eyes on the cats next. 

. . . got a set of coffee cup coasters done.

. . . I got a few more wine cork Christmas trees done. I'll put up a "how-to" soon on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot.

The clock is ticking closer to the craft show, with a holiday in between it all (3 for us, sigh...), so I'm busy, busy, busy with handiwork.

I'm up early to get the fire stoked.  We got snow last night.  I'll be working on more wine cork Christmas trees.   I can't believe I'm finally using them all up (and no I didn't drink all that, ha ha!  I had a restaurant save them for me many years ago and found them cleaning my closet).