The Jackson's Bay Blankie

An easy crocheted blanket 

Inspired by the iconic Hudson's Bay Blanket 

By Michelle {aka Miss Strawberry Shortgirl}

I made this blankie for my 5 year old nephew Jack. Whenever he saw me crocheting something he would ask if it was for him so I thought I'd better make him a cozy blanket. 

You will need:

5 - 6oz. Skeins of worsted weight acrylic yarn for the main color (MC)

{I used Hobby Lobby's "Crafter's Secret" in Off-white}

1 - 6oz. Skein each of 4 colors for the stripes

{I used HL "Crafter's Secret in Navy, Yellow, Red, & Jelly Bean}

Size J (5.75mm) hook

Chain 150 loosely in MC.  

{Helpful hint: you may use a size larger hook to make foundation chain.)

DC into 4th chain from hook & every following stitch. 148 sts. (Counting beg. Ch.3 not worked as a st.)

Ch.3 turn. 1 DC in every stitch. (Starting with stitch after the stitch the ch. 3 is in.)

Work 8 more rows of MC & fasten off.

Work 6 rows of Navy.

Work 6 rows of MC.

Work 6 rows of Yellow.

Work 6 rows of MC.

Work 6 rows of Red.

Work 6 rows of MC.

Work 6 rows of Green.

Now work 42 rows MC.

Work 6 rows of Green. 

Work 6 rows of MC.

Work 6 rows of Red.

Work 6 rows of MC.

Work 6 rows of Yellow. 

Work 6 rows of MC.

Work 6 rows of Navy.

Now work 10 rows of MC.

And you're done!

Easy peasy lemon squeezey, huh?

Jackson was really pleased with it!

If you make it hopefully you will be too!

Love,

Michelle 🍓 

Falling for Flannel

It's starting to get rather chilly in my neck of the woods. There's nothing quite like soft & snuggly flannel to keep cozy & warm. It's not just for pjs {Though I do love nice flannel jammies.} Here's what I've been making with it lately.

London Calling

Mod Sixties Shift Dress

{Vintage Simplicity 7300 from 1967}

Fabric from Joann's 

《a couple years ago now I think.》

I found some adorable earring to go with all my anglophile outfits on eBay!  They even came from England & were very inexpensive! 

Teatime Dirndl Skirt

With Ric Rac Trim

Fabric also from Joann's 

These gorgeous plaid flannel were found at Walmart. They are extra thick & so wonderful to work with. A great value for the price. I've made a pair of cigarette trousers from the black and white buffalo plaid. 

I intended to make the same from the tartan but I'm thinking of making a 60s shift with a big pleat in front instead as I tend to get more wear out of my dresses than trousers.

{Vogue V9189}
《Original 1960 design》

These trousers remind me of some worn by Lettuce in the 1986 version of Murder At The Vicarage & Gina in the 1991 version of They Do It With Mirrors.

This sweater is an old make from the Debbie Bliss knitting booklet Land Girl. 

I've got lots of cooler weather wear planned including a red knitted top like this one to go with these trousers. I'm thinking of working scottie dogs into the yoke. Won't that be darling??

What are you making?

Love,

Michelle 🍓 

August Roundup

 August!

My birthday month. 😄

I decided to go ahead & turn 31 on the 15th rather than counting back down to 29 as so many women are prone to do. 😉

For the 1st time in my life I spent my bday away from home. 

These chicken jammies {a gift from my sister Beth} came along.

To beautiful Washington state.

We visited Mt. Rainier 

Mt. Saint Helens 

&

Pike Place Market

We were out there for a wedding. It was my first flight & i loved it! As fun & beautiful as the trip was there is truly no place like home. 💕🏡💕 The weather back in my neck of the woods is unseasonably cool & has me looking forward to Autumn.

I'm excitedly planning colorful wooly makes. I want to make my first crocheted cardigan out of these Cath Kidston colors.

But first I need to make a lil something for my cousin's baby boy who is due any minute.

I'd had a dream of cubbies for all my yarn & some of my tchotchkes too. It's finally come true & it's just as cute as I imagined. {They're only about half filled here.}

Seeing all the colors is really going to spark inspiration I think.

How was your August?

Any big plans for September? 

Love,

Michelle 🍓 

Gone too soon June.

Well, this month just zipped on by!

'Twas a busy month...

All in all a good month.

Made some new cushion designs.

Sewed a strawberry dress with Astrid  {the aqua sewing machine} for...

The vintage sale at which my friend Lily {Mode de Lis} & I shared a booth!

It was so much fun & such a great experience! I would definitely do it again.

Did a bit of thrifting with Momma & found some fun strawberry themed items. 🍓😄

My grandpa had a surgery & a few of us took turns staying overnight there to take care of him & grandma. There's nothing like being away from home to make you appreciate your little dwelling on this earth more. As Miss Read said in Village Diary: 

"With all the windows in the house opened, I sat down with my tea tray and thought how lovely it was to be back. I feel like a sword in a scabbard, I told myself, and instantly decided that a sword was much too dashing. Perhaps a cup, hanging again on its accustomed hook on the kitchen dresser, would be a better simile."

Some happy mail came all the way from England! I ordered a backpack for an upcoming trip out West to Seattle for a wedding in August! Somehow a meter of London print duck cloth found its way into my online shopping bag as well. 😉

The 1st Friday of Summer meant the local Old Settlers carnival! Homemade ice cream from a retro looking food truck was a must. I call this one the pb&j: peanut butter ice cream on the bottom & strawberry on the top. 🍦😋

Oh, how I love the view from the top of the ferris wheel. 

The brick streets in our little town's square are so charming. 

I love how retro some of the rides are.

I've been working away on two major custom orders. These daisy grannies are for a queen sized bedspread. I'm beginning to see them when I close my eyes. I've never made a blankie this big before. {Good thing I love making these, right?}

And also I'm copying a beloved lacy shrug for a lovely gal I met at the vintage sale! This is the first time I've copied a garment & it's coming along nicely. Lots of counting & recounting stitches & scribbling down notes. I'm rather enjoying the almost magical way simple stitches become something beautiful.

🍓🍓🍓

How has your June been?

Do you have any big plans for the Summer?

Hope you're enjoying the long days!

Love,

Michelle 🍓 

{Ps cushions are available for custom order. $35 + shipping 

And the watermelon version is currently listed in my Etsy shop & ready to ship!}

Me Made May {The Final Four}

Well guys, I did it! A whole month of wearing something I made every day. And with no repeats!

{Sunday}

Bow print Cynthia Rowley Dress

{Simplicity 2281} 

{Monday}

Memorial Day

Vintage 40s Patriotic Frock

{New Make}

Featured in previous post.

{Tuesday}

Cheery Cherry Print Dress

Fabric is Waverly Inspirations from Walmart. 🍒🍒🍒

{New make}

Keep your eyes peeled for a future post featuring my nieces in matching dresses!

{Wednesday}

Cottage Garden Vintage Sheet Dress. 

Blog post here.

Here are all the new makes during this challenge! Not too shabby!

Whew. Now to focus my attention on the vintage sale a friend & I are doing in a little over a week. 😆

Ahhh Summer.

What are you working on?

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial day...

Aka the 1st day of Summertime 'round here! I thought it would be the perfect occasion to wear this 1940s frock I made for Me Made May. I had the perfect vintage fabric & *just* the right amount for this pattern. And it ended up fitting quite well with no adjustments! Hip hip hooray! 

The scallops {my favorite part about this pattern} don't show up all that well in this busy print but I think it still adds that special lil somethin'-somethin'. I'll just have to make it again in a more plain fabric to showcase them. 

We had a fun cookout for lunch today! Burgers, dogs, & all the fixin's.

Mom, Aims, & I had to have our obligatory pic. {Here ya go Ang!} 😉

And to finish it all off we had ice cream & homemade funnel cakes! 😋😋😋 Yum!

Did you do anything fun today?

💕 Michelle 🍓 

My aqua obsession

I'm sure everyone has that amazing vintage truck or car that they're in love with. You know that one that sits parked permanently somewhere & you practically give yourself a strained neck ogling it every time you drive past in your lame, non-vintage, but sensible vehicle. {Or is that just me?}

Well, this awesome aqua truck is my dreamboat! While my {brave} friend Kat & I were galavanting around with her camera I mentioned my obession with love for the fabulous Ford. She screeched to a halt when I pointed it out & pulled in. She & I marched up to the open shop door of the assumed owner. {Though I may have been sheepishly trailing a step or two behind her being of a more shy nature.😆} We asked permission to take pics by the vintage vehicle {slightly shouting to make up for the fact that they were wearing earplugs for their work} & they had no problem with it. They probably thought we were nuts, but oh well. 😉 I've gotten a bit used to that.

My outfit matched just too perfectly!

I made my dress from a vintage sheet which I purchased from The Lavender Housewife. My aqua Hunter wellies were a Christmas gift from Momma & Dad. {Pro tip: If you wear women's size 7 1/2 shoe you can fit into the kids size 5 Hunter wellies!}

Well now, you know you have an obession with a color when you have a sewing machine that color. 😆 I think Astrid rather enjoyed stitching up this frock. 😉

Needless to say I was so excited that smiling was not a problem at all for these pics.

The only thing that could've made this experience better was if they had told me to just go ahead & take the truck home with me. 😉 Hey, I can dream can't I?!

And dream I do.

This post is the last of my wonderful Kat photos so far. But never fear we have plans. Let's just say they involve my nieces.  *dances like a dork with excitement*

I plan to take part in Me Made May {#mmmay} this lovely month as well so that should provide plenty of fodder for my crafty shenanigans. 

Love,

Michelle 🍓