Hello, friends! I can’t believe it is the start of Summer, unofficially. Though today doesn’t feel like it as it is only 59 degrees. But that’s ok. So what have I been up to?
Well, I started this Willowy Wrap crochet pattern back on March 4. I know, crochet??!! The pattern is by JL Creations, the crochet expert at my LYS. It was released on March 3 at the shop in conjunction with AJHC Wools. I saw it at the shop that day and it was so beautiful and soft that I just had to try it. So here is how my progress went:
Just about finished!! So excited!
Finished, just needs blocking.
Just look at all of those luscious colors soaking in the water.
I am so geeked at how straight my sides are! This is the first project where my sides are not all wonky. And look how straight that blocking is! So proud of myself 🙂
And here it is all finished! I am so excited to get this one finished. It’s not perfect, but it looks pretty good to me. The pattern is Willowy Wrap by JL Creations and the yarns are by AJHC Wools.
I was also able to get my Peacock Garden Mystery Sampler from Linen and Threads all caught up and started the June section. This is a FREE Mystery SAL and you can get the patterns on their website for this sampler and the previous 2 samplers.
I am stitching this on 16ct Graceful Gray from Wichelt. Threads are Gloriana Silk in Rain Forest and DMC 3810. I’m not loving this one as much as the previous 2 samplers put out by Linen and Threads, but I like it. I am anxious to see what is going to be in the other blocks.
My basement is coming along. Painting was done last week. Carpet has been ordered. Then we can begin putting it all back together again and get our house back in order. Between the front door and the path to the basement, all furniture has been moved to another room or shoved over and all of my pictures have been removed from the walls. My diamond painting has been moved all over trying to keep it from being ruined. So I thought it was time to get it framed.
This diamond painting was a gift from my best stitchy friend a couple of years ago. The picture was taken from a photo I had taken in my front yard and had posted on Facebook. She had it made onto the canvas. It is now hanging in my dining room, which is just inside my front door. It really brightens the room and I will treasure it always.
And I have started a new project. Did you really think I wouldn’t have? But it is not cross stitch. It is a knitting project. It is the famous Wingspan Shawl by Kyle Vey and is available on Ravelry.
I fell in love with this one as soon as I saw it. I even ordered yarn from Blue Brick Yarns right away. The dyer, I am sure, has been overwhelmed with orders, so it will be a bit before my yarn arrives. In the meantime, I am knitting this one for someone else. The yarn is Mirasol Qulla in Moonlight colorway. It is more like a denim blue, and not the dark blue in the photo. This one took me 2 days to finally get the first row done. The pattern calls for “make1 left and make1 right throughout the first row, after the cast on! I didn’t even know it was possible to “Make1” on the cast on row. But a gal at my LYS pointed out that there is actually 2 threads in between stitches on my longtail cast on. Boy do I need new glasses! So home I went, trying to cast on loose stitches, but not too loose that my stitches sag. And struggling to get those Make1’s in and have the correct stitch count at the end. My mind tends to wander after so many repeats, LOL. After several attempts yesterday, I finally had my first row done to my satisfaction! I even held my breath and did row 2! Just skimming through the 17 pages of pattern is very intimidating and I have been a knitter for about 33 years. So, fingers crossed, wish me luck and send good vibes that I can get through this pattern. And that I can get through it a 2nd time once my yarn arrives 😉
So that is what has been going on with me. What fun things have you been up to lately? I’d love to hear about them 🙂
My Time Stitching 
The wrap is gorgeous!! It reminds me of knit feather and fan. Love the colors! Your sampler is looking lovely, I too am looking forward to seeing what you will stitch next in it.
Good luck, you’ve got this!
LikeLike
Thank you, HandmadeByZan. I think I am going to need all the help I can get with this one. And thank you for your sweet comments about my wrap and sampler ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
gorgeous colours for your crochet wrap – looks beautiful!
LikeLike
Thank you, Clair93. They really are pretty together and the wispy one added just the right amount of fuzzy fur to make it so warm.
LikeLike
Just love your shawl. The colors are just amazing. The diamond painting came out perfectly! And I will be watching closely to see your wingspan shawl. I am struggling with my beading crafts and started a new cross-stitch design that I’m hoping I don’t give up on!
LikeLike
Thank you, Johanna. I love the diamond painting and will always think of you when I see it. The mat is growing on me 🙂 I’m sorry your beading is giving you problems. Hopefully you will figure it out soon. For now, I am glad your are stitching again and I look forward to seeing the progress on your piece.
LikeLike
Beautiful work, glad to hear the basement is getting closer to being done. I’m sure that’s a huge relief. I am drooling over that wingspan picture, that will be lovely when completed.
LikeLike
I am hoping by the end of summer we can be finished with the basement and have everything back in place. We can take our time and hopefully get rid of more stuff that doesn’t need to go back down there. We have company coming in September, so I would like to have it all finished and the guest room minus things that have crept up there. The Wingspan is gorgeous, isn’t it? I do hope that I can get the hang of the pattern. I will be posting 🙂
LikeLike
I’ll be hoping for you to get all back in order. I will be living vicariously through you, not sure I’m ready tackle it but it is lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
~applause~ Your Willowy Wrap is gorgeous. You did a magnificent job on it. ~applause~
I enjoy the Peacock Garden Mystery Sampler update. It’s looking great.
Diamond painting is so pretty. Great gift from your friend. Your original picture must be a beauty. I enjoy diamond painting, it’s replaced my winter-time puzzle addiction.
Sending good vibes for much success on the Wingspan Shawl, it looks so angelic.
I’m happy to hear your basement is starting to get put back in order. I know you’ll really enjoy having it finished and ready for use.
LikeLike
Thank you, E.C. With me not being a very good crocheter, I am quite pleased with how the wrap came out. Diamond Painting and Diamond Dotz are so addicting, aren’t they? Hubby recently purchased a Diamond Dotz for me that I am anxious to get started on. We have decided it will be hung in our new basement 🙂 Have fun with your diamond painting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your fancy wrap & the diamond picture! The peacock sampler is wonderful, also!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Marsha ❤ Can't wait to wear my wrap. And I am so happy that I have finally gotten my Diamond Painting framed. I love seeing it everyday now 🙂 I should be all caught up on the Sampler today and will have to wait until July 1 for the next section. Can't wait to see what it is.
LikeLike
You have been busy!!! I love the crocheted wrap, and everything else you are working on. I hope your house gets back to normal soon.
LikeLike
Thank you, Salpal1. I am so happy with how the wrap turned out. And straight edges! That makes me really happy. Now to tackle the Wingspan shawl. Pretty soon we will be spending a lot of time putting the basement and storage room back together. I can’t wait for it to be all done 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once it is done, it is DONE and you can relax with your stitching again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Shawl is so pretty, and Wingspan will be gorgeous!
Glad your work is almost done & that you can put everything back together soon.
Beautiful diamond painting.
I am plugging away on Hester Biddleton and stitching a few Patriotic freebies in between.
Marilyn
LikeLike
Thank you, Marilyn. I haven’t picked up the Wingspan Shawl since doing row 2. Partly because I have been busy with other things and need some real quiet time to work on it and partly because I think I am putting it off. But I will get back to it and hope it behaves when I do. Happy stitching on your projects.
LikeLike
Ginny, the Willowy wrap is just lovely! Beautiful pattern, and I love the colors! With the soft yarn, it must feel heavenly.
The Wingspan shawl looks yummy, and should be a challenging and gorgeous next project! I wish you the best with it, and look forward to your progress.
As for the Linen and Threads sampler, looks like you’re all set to finish it in another day or two. 🙂
It’s nice to hear about the progress on your basement – you must be getting ready to go back to normal soon, and to not have to move the diamond painting around.
LikeLike
Thank you, Anita. The Willowy Wrap is really beautiful and turned out better than I could have imagined. The yarn is so soft and will be quite warm on a chilly day. I have finished the June section of the Sampler. Now I have a long wait until the July part comes out. That’s ok. It will give me time to work on other things. It will be so nice to get the basement done and all things moved back to where they belong. It has been a long 6 months. Then I am sure I am want to paint and carpet in the rest of the house. Eeek!
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow! So much beautiful work! Can’t believe you did a crocheting pattern. Love what you have planned for knitting. Hope everything with your house is getting more together anew that the basement is better too.
LikeLike
Thank you, Ivyjade234. I impressed myself with that crochet wrap, too, LOL. The basement is coming along. Carpet is on back order. Just my luck, so we are looking at July for carpet install. So we won’t be able to get the house in order until that is done. I am still hoping we can get it done by the end of Summer as we have a guest coming to visit in September. Fingers crossed we can get it all done 😉
LikeLike
Hi Ginny. I honestly don´t know how you find the time to do so much. The wrap is beautiful and you do right to be proud of yourself. The cross stitch is as always beautiful. You have the patience of Job to do that shawl so I hope (and know) that you will complete that project. I have some patience but not that much. lol. Keep up the good work with your knitting and cross stitch. We have been busy this year moving house (again) but hopefully this will be our last move for quite a while now. take care and lovely to hear about your projects. x
LikeLike
Thank you, Moira ❤ My problem is that I have too many hobbies and so many WIP's, that I hate having to pick and choose which one to do when I have the time. That is why I am trying to finish up all of the projects I have so that I can get back to one project at a time. At least one cross stitch project, one knitting project and maybe a crochet project 😉 It is very hard to do when designers keep coming out with amazing new things that I just have to start! LOL But I am working at it. The Wingspan Shawl really does require my undivided attention and so far I have 9 rows on the needles. It's not hard, but does require keeping track of the many repeats in each row and having to look back at what symbols mean. I am starting to get comfortable with it and hopefully soon I will be able to sit and knit a few rows at a time without holding my breath the whole way 😉 I do not envy your moving. It is a lot of work and I do hope that it all goes well and you will be all settled in soon.
LikeLike
Your wrap is absolutely stunning, well done on the crochet. You got it perfect. 🙂 It looks amazingly soft and warm too.
Your sampler is coming along just as beautiful. 🙂 The peacock really is impressive.
And soon the basement will be habitual again. How nice. You must be looking forward to that.
All the best with the new knit, it looks amazing. I look forward to see your yarn arriving and you starting on the one for yourself too.
Have a great June, and enjoy summer.
LikeLike
Thank you, Joey ❤ I am so happy that I finished the wrap in record time (for me with crochet 😉 and that it turned out so well. Now if I could just finish the Spicier Life afghan I would really be happy with myself. This years Sampler has blocks that are pretty quick to finish. I can't believe it is half way through already. I have about 10 rows on the new knit and so far it is going well. I do have to pay attention to what I am doing with all the repeats across the rows, but so far so good. I know the yarn I chose for me will be awesome when it comes in. I hope that I will want to knit the Wingspan again if I get through it once. We have had a lot of rain and yesterday was quite windy and chilly. I am sure Summer will be here soon. I am trying to convince myself to get out and do something with our yard. It is so overgrown, and my knee won't let me do much. It must be getting cooler where you are. I hope that your June is wonderful, too and that you get to craft a lot 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 You should indeed be very happy with the wrap, it is stunning. And I know the afghan will also come along. All in good time.
The new knit is really pretty, and I think making a first and second is a cool idea. The second one will be faster and easier, as you have done it already.
Keeping my fingers crossed you have fine summer weather soon.
And the garden can wait, your knee must get preference. Take care first.
Cooler here now, loving the winter weather. I do get time to knit and craft, which is awesome.
Have a good day and enjoy. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right, Joey. The knee must be taken care of, but it has been a year and I think I do need to push it more. We’ll see. So much work to be done around our house. The deck will be getting some much needed attention next month. And a good chunk of time and energy will be to get the basement back in order this summer once the carpet comes in. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you will be crafting during your winter months. The perfect time to stay in and craft 🙂 Enjoy every minute 🙂
LikeLike
You are so creative…beautiful!!! 🤗❤️️
LikeLike
Thank you, Kelleysdiy ❤ You are sweet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗❤️️
LikeLiked by 1 person