Dishtowel

I finally finished this cotton dishcloth. It took me forever because every row is different.You MUST pay attention to were you are, even within a row. I had never noticed before how often people in my family start talking to me when I sit down to knit.

I got the pattern online HERE some time ago. It is called King Charles Brocade Dishcloth. I like the pattern and the way it turned out. The yarn used is something I bought long ago at JoAnn's. I think it is Bernat Holiday Print pound of cotton. It has red and green flecks in it.

I also should have looked at the size before starting. It does say right on the pattern that it is a 10 inch square. But I didn't visualize in my head how big that really is. I prefer to have smaller dishcloths so you can ring it out easily with one hand.

Toilet paper to the rescue!

Yikes! this dress was hard to photograph. All my pictures were flat and blurry. Daylight or artifical light didn't make a difference. I finally settled for laying the dress on the floor. It still looked flat. So I stuffed the sleeves and yoke with toilet paper!

I especially like this picture with the flannel pants. Looks so warm and cozy!

This close-up of the yoke turned out pretty well too.

"Better-Than-Tights" pants

My daughter and I share a mutual dislike for tights! I hated them when I was a kid, still do. She hated them. And how do you get tights on a squirming child? But I had made some very fancy dresses for her to wear in the cold Illinois winters. My solution: "Dress" pants, as she called them. 

They are made of soft, white flannel. All seams are enclosed French seams. And the lace around the ankle is so sweet.

Better pictures to come tomorrow, with daylight!
With those better pictures will be a new listing on my Etsy sight :
www.KinderRose.Etsy.com

Holiday Season!

I have decided it is time to get ready for the holiday season. Seems early but if I start now I should be able to get several dresses out soon. I already have three definite ideas. Nice warm, soft corduroy and flannel, with lace, of course. And I found the cutest fabric! A border print with Santa on it. Lots of ideas!

Pictures to come soon...

Polka-dot Bishop finished!

Wew! Here it is. It took longer than I thought it would but I like the way it turned out.

All these pictures can be seen in full view by clicking on them.

I'll start backwards...

Today I spent several hours perfecting my handmade buttonholes. Some may ask "Why?" Well, about six years ago I bought a very nice Bernina Sewing machine and one of the selling points of this particular one was the built in button hole feature with several options. I went to the instructional classes and have read the books but have never been completely satisfied with the machine buttonholes I was making. Today, I can say that the four buttonholes on the back of this dress are the best-looking buttonholes I have ever made on a garment. Unfortunately, I don't know how to take a good close-up picture of these beautiful buttonholes. But here is the back view.

The hem is scalloped. I always like the way these hems turn out. Seems worth the extra effort. It is hand stitched with a running stitch from the back. I used DMC floss the same pink used in the smocking around the neck and arms.

The inside seams are enclosed french seams, even the ones behind the smocking as noted in the previous blog post.

The smocking is done with pink, white, and purple DMC floss. I buried the knots of the smocking between the pleats. Otherwise they may scratch baby's sensitive skin.

The sleeves are smocked with the same colors as around the neck. Cluny lace was attached to the sleeve edge by hand at the same time I hand sewed the hem of the sleeve.