Mending and Finishing and Beginning!

Hello, my sweet bloggy friends! 

I have not posted regularly for so long, I seem to be finding some motivation somewhere, however, and I am completing projects and working on new ones. 

Here is a sweet pink sweater my wonderful MomInLaw knitted for Daughter*1's first baby girl, five years ago. This pattern is one my own Mother found and gave to me for my MomInLaw to make for our girls. My mother crocheted but she did not knit and she knew we would love this pattern. We have! My MomInLaw made quite a few of these in different sizes for our girls as they grew. And now our daughter has some to use for her girls in addition to the one her Grandma made specifically for her as a child. 

As you see, this sweater zips up the back and has a cute little hood on it, we call it a "Smurf hood", since it comes to a cute little point in the back. This sweater can't be removed by toddlers, that makes it a favorite for me! The button front sweaters always seem to be removed even when it's a bit chilly outside. You put this one in the child and pull the zipper down the back and they are cozy and secure!

The original zipper broke and so I replaced it for my daughter to be able to use with her other baby girls. I planned to baste the  zipper in by hand and then secure it on the sewing machine. Sometimes it ends up smooshing the yarn and looking funny, so I just stitched it very well by hand, and I really like the end result. This zipper is the only one I could find at the local fabric store near our daughter's home. It's a little darker than the pink in the sweater, but it will do. 

And here, on the right, is another unfinished project I am working on. It is the same sweater, but in a different size. This one is the size for 1 to 2 year old. I finished this knitting a few years ago, but I didn't get the zipper in! I had hoped to get it finished for Grandgirl*2, but she is already too big for it. You know how I procrastinate!!! Bummer... But live and learn, Betsy... Live and LEARN!!!

My MomInLaw's knitting is so beautiful! She does such an amazing job, you wouldn't know it wasn't made by machine. I hope to be able to knit that well someday, I guess I will have to knit more to get my stitches so evenly knitted.

My knitting, as you see in the sweater on the right and below, is nothing like my MomInLaw's knitting...

This is what it looks like mostly finished but before the zipper is sewn in. 

I have since sewn the strings of yarn back into the body of the sweater, and the zipper is pinned in and all ready to be sewn. If you have been following my blog for awhile you might recognize the pillow shams and comforter in these pictures... I am back in Germany at Daughter*1's house!

And here is another picture that will tell you why I am here again so soon after our trip here last Christmas.

This is the yoke for a baby blessing dress... A project I really need to finish... SOON! Because we are expecting Grandgirl*3's arrival any time now! I am watching the other Grandgirls and their parents are at the hospital! We will see how long it is before she makes her debut!!! We are so excited! I will let you know how the dress turns out and show you the beauty when she comes home. 

Since I have been here a week, I have also been working on another Crazy Quilt Purse that is a little larger than the purse Pat Winter made for me. It will be nice to be able to hold a few more items in this purse. I can keep the keys and a small wallet as well as change and my phone inside this one. Which will be nice if I have to drive somewhere in Germany!

I already got to drive their minivan the other day. I feel pretty confident. They drive on the same side of the road as we do in the U.S., but I don't understand the German signs!! That is why I need my phone in there as well! I will be here another three weeks, and am anticipating so much more fun! I will post pictures of the purse as the process continues!

Hugs!!!

Thanks for coming by! I love your comments!

Betsy