Sunlight Through My Windows: Almost 2 Years Later!

This is kind of crazy, but instead of deleting this post I started in 2018 about what I worked on in 2017, I've decided to publish it. I worked on some pretty neat projects in 2017 and its fun to look back on them all. Have a look!

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It's been just over a year since I've posted to my blog, and to get started again, I'm going to share some highlights from 2017.

I knitted these socks early in the year using Patons Kroy yarn. They're probably the warmest socks I own. Not as soft as other wool available, but its fun to wear something you've made.

I don't go overboard decorating for holidays, but I do try to change out my vase of flowers near the front door in the living room. I love those tiny battery operated lights that have a timer so that they come on every evening if you wish.

Sometime during the winter of 2017 I became brave enough to quilt my batik braid quilt. I really love the wavy lines created with the aid of my sewing machine's walking foot. The link for the pattern is here: Sultry Project Sheet on Moda Bakeshop If you scroll to near the bottom of their page you will find a PDF sheet to download with all the instructions.

This shawl is called Fallen Cloud. I decided to try knitting it with an inexpensive acrylic yarn to see if I could actually knit the cables with lace in between before purchasing a more expensive merino wool that I really want to make it in. It came out great - except the acrylic doesn't really block well and so the finished size was smaller than what it should have been. But it fit a relative great so I gave it away.

I crocheted this afgan for someone who requested a large, soft blanket - oh my, these things take forever! My grandmother used to make these for family - she would sit and listen to the TV and crochet endlessly. I used Vanna's Choice acrylic which proved to be soft yet sturdy.

We had purchased our home in the fall of 2016 and finally planted the front garden in the spring of 2017. The center pink rose tree and surround flowers were a gift from the neighbors on our street. They wanted us to pick out something in memory of my Mom who was promoted to Heaven in January of 2017. Mom loved pink - and pink roses.

I can't believe how tiny all our plants were when we first planted them!

While hunting for garden ideas on Pinterest, I saw how you could use blocks to make curvy edging.

Love the Russian Sage.

Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea

I LOVE fabric baskets and boxes...
I believe this is the tutorial I followed to make it. Fabric Basket with Handles Tutorial
I bought the outer fabric on fabric.com to make valances for my kitchen window and patio door. I had some left over and used some for this basket which sits on my coffee table in the living room, just outside the kitchen.

While making this shawl out of a cotton/nylon blend by Cotton Fair, I hated it. However, it has become a fun summer shawl to wear - it matches many of my summer tops and its light enough to wear on cool summer days and nights. Who knew? And I love the softness of it. This shawl was easy to make but a little boring. However, if you want a simple pattern, you can find it on Ravelry. Its an asymmetrical triangle - which isn't my favorite, but this size and yarn type gave me something that works like a scarf. "Linus"

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/linus-4

We love our porch.

A random hat I made - may have been for one of my grands or sons, can't remember now.

I have to hunt for more photos of these - I made a runner for the dining room buffet and matching placemats. The first time trying the quilt as you go method. I really like it.