Let's see. . . . . favorite shoes, check. Favorite skirt, check. Headed out the door, check.
Yep, it's official. . . . .I've got a date with dear hubby tonight!
Sewed in fits and starts today. . . . .and it shows. Had my felted wool goodies with me as I tooled around on errands and taxi service for the kiddies making stitches here there and everywhere. That was, perhaps, not the best idea considering if it weren't for the fact that I sewed this myself I wouldn't have a clue it read "Scraps," especially since I forgot the final s!
Being quite on the cool side today I finished up #11, a wee woolen muffler for Lily Red. That was easy enough but #10 took a bit longer than expected...it wasn't a huge amount of fabric but washing it, cutting it for stash bags and photographing it for the shop makes me scared to dig out any more of my stash. In due time I suppose.....for the moment it still feels great to have this portion done!
Out of the corner of my eye I've been watching a collection of UFO's hovering about in the sewing nook. Funny how those little critters seem to multiply! Fearing an uncontrollable spread of the invasion, I thought it to be in my best interest to take charge of the situation. The first step in my plan of attack was to grab a tray, one big enough to contain each and every UFO sighted. Once rounded up the scene looked a whole lot better, so much so in fact I decided it would not be beyond belief that everything could obtain a status of "complete" by the end of the week. 
And so now they, and their days, are numbered. . . . .literally!
Step 10 - Crochet Edging
First things first.....thread the needle. Do not cut the thread from the spool but rather pull enough thread through the needle to have at least a 12" tail emerge. 
A series of blanket stitches need to be created along one edge of the top piece. With the right side facing you, insert the needle 1/2" from the left end of the top piece and very close to the top edge of the fabric.
Pull the thread through. If the spool of thread seems to be in the way simply set it down on your lap.
Take another stitch through in the same spot to secure the thread in place.
For the next stitch move the needle over 1/4". Make sure as you pull the thread through the fabric that the back thread remains behind the needle.
Tah-dah...your first blanket stitch. Continue making them at 1/4" intervals.
Once you come within 1/2" of the right hand end of the top piece wrap the thread around the needle several times and pull it through to tie it off.
Now that it's secure, clip the thread tail off.
Turn the top piece over so the back is now facing you and the thread still attached to the spool is on the right hand side. Insert the crochet hook into the first blanket stitch.
Wrap the thread around the front of crochet hook to the back.
Using the hook, pull the thread up through the blanket stitch. There should now be one loop of thread on the hook.
Keeping that first loop taught on the hook, once again wrap the thread around the the front of the hook to the back and. . . . .
. . . . . then pull it through the first loop.
Now it's time for the first official crochet stitch.....the single crochet (sc)! If you already know how to crochet, GREAT! If not I'll try to take you through the steps right here. Unfortunately it's not as easy to see the details of the stitches when working with thread instead of yarn. If a bit of extra help is needed you may want to poke around some of the numerous crochet tutorials out there especially if it's in a video format. Seeing the process in action is often so much easier to understand than still shots or illustrations.
Wrap the thread over the hook.....
. . . . .and pull it through the blanket stitch. This should make 2 loops on the hook.
Wrap the thread around the hook again. . . . .
. . . . .and pull through both of the loops. Congratulations, this completes your first single crochet stitch!
Since you did so well at that we're going to take on another stitch....the double crochet (dc).
Then insert the hook into that same blanket stitch.
Wrap the thread around the hook again and pull it back through the first two loops on the hook.
This should leave two loops remaining.
Wrap the thread around the hook one last time and. . . . .
. . . . . pull through those last two loops. Your double crochet stitch is complete!
Almost done! We're just going to finish it off with a slip stitch (sl st).
Wrap the thread around the hook and pull it through both the blanket stitch and the loop on the hook in one motion.
All crochet work in the first blanket stitch is now complete. As you work your way down along the edge of the top piece each consecutive blanket stitch should receive-
Don't worry if each stitch seems a bit kattywhompus as your working on it. . . . .
. . . . .for as you progress along they will fall into line.
Once you reach the end of the blanket stitching cut the thread free from the spool.
One final wrap around of the thread. . . . .
. . . . .followed by a complete pull through the last loop will tie it off nicely.
It helps, however, to thread the tail onto a needle and take a few stitches to secure it snug to the edge of the fabric.
Last but not least, give the crochet trimming a quick press with the iron.
Be sure to make the crochet edging on both top pieces and along the folded bottom edge of the apron for next week. It might also be a good idea to have a pair of tweezers on hand as we're going to start dressing your Lily!
Today I made a strategic move by confiscating the basement for "Girl's Night." Normally this is a relatively female free zone having long ago been taken over by the male species in our home. As such it is filled with. . . . .
. . . . .movies,
. . . . .video games,
. . . . . and toys.
Too many toys if you ask me!
Luckily, good old Lily Red reigned in a few able bodied specimens who, under her direction,
. . . . .set things in order!
Now all that awaits are the neighborhood ladies, a few more snacks, and a good chick flick.
