Pie for Breakfast!

Two years ago we planted a plum tree. Then last year we added another, for polination purposes. Last fall we had 2 plums, and this year we got close to three dozen. 

The Elder and Younger were very excited, and demanded that we make plum pie.

I used this recipe from Epicurious, and, since pie crust is my nemesis, I bought pre-made frozen dough. 

I had to make a couple of substitutions what with our getting ready to move pantry, but it turned out very tasty. Tart, sweet, flaky crust, mmmmm.

My very, very favorite thing is to have pie for breakfast.

And, really how much different is a slice of pie from jelly on toast? Don't answer that...

One More Try

I wasn't able to resist pulling out the sweater. It was going to hang on The Youngest like a potato sack. Yesterday I measured the girl, a novel idea indeed, and now I have a better idea of how I want the dress to look. After ripping the yarn I realized that I only had 2 balls of it. At the time I got a ball of white and a lighter shade of this berry color to do stripes. However, since almost everything is packed up I don't really know where those other balls are. It's just therapy at this stage, really, and if I get something wearable out of it that's a bonus.
I got in some good knitting time last night during an awesome outdoor movie night viewing of The Iron Giant. What a great flick.

Sweater Dress for the Youngest

In an effort to tidy the house we packed away the bulk of my yarn and fabric. In the limited supply that remained to me when I was looking for something to do with my hands yesterday I found an unfinished project for The Youngest.

I started this little dress last year, and then the yarn got into a terrific tangle (probably helped along by the tiny recipient).
I honestly can't remember what yarn I used for it. Maybe Pediboo? Whatever it was, it was getting discontinued at The Yarnery.
Last night at a knitting gathering I spent about two and a half hours straightening out the mess, and was able to get going again.
The dress was for last Christmas but now it'll be for this Christmas and probably as more of a tunic, since she will just keep on growing...
I was inspired by a Dale of Norway dress that I saw made up at Steven Be in Minneapolis, but I'm cheap, so I winged the pattern. I was casting about for a border for the hem and found Cinderella Dress from Fairy Tale Knits, which has a garter and eyelet border. Love it.
So, now I am knitting that border, and it should be finished within the week. (hopefully, since I am almost out of yarn)
As I am looking at it, I wish the skirt was a lot fuller, and the bodice was a little smaller.
Also, the original dress had a reverse stockinette bodice and then switched to stockinette for the body which is what I did, but I'm not loving how it looks. It's too roll-y up-y.
Hrm, now I think I want to rip it and start again.
It would certainly extend the usefulness of the yarn as a tool to keep my hands and mind off the last few weeks of house sale stuff. I'll see how the mood strikes me.
This has been your visit with the hemming and hawing side of Jess' inner thoughts.
Are you all more decisive when it comes to knitting projects? or are you like me and go back and forth about plans and modifications?

Whew

Thank you for your patience while I posted non-stop about my house renovations.
After three days on the market we accepted an offer, and now we just have a few details to nail down and we can say goodbye to this home we have loved for the past eleven years.
After our month long painting extravaganza I was having difficulty slowing down. So, I threw myself into a few sewing projects since I had some free time.

For Christmas or a birthday last year The Youngest received this adorable sleepy bee toy from her aunt. It's such an adorable, simple design I've been using it as an example for my sewing students. For the last few classes I have been winging it (so to speak) but I decided to make up a pattern that the kids could use.

I didn't want to copy someone else's work exactly, but I was definitely highly inspired by the original when I designed patterns for a cat, a dog, a rabbit and a slightly different bug.

I made these toys with a combination of hand and machine sewing, which makes them extremely portable. Perfect for bringing along to the playground on a perfect August day.
Joining Nicole for KCCO

Eden Prairie

In between all of the scrubbing, packing and painting over the last month I was actually able to squeeze in enough knitting time to complete my Eden Prairie shawl.  Unfortunately, I ran out of the dark green, so it turned out a little on the skimpy side.
It will work as a scarf, I'm telling myself...
What's on your needles?