Crafty bloggers consistently amaze me with their kindness and generosity in the ways that they share their information and inspiration with others, hold giveaways, contribute to their communities and generally support one another.

I received a parcel in the mail today from Floss from Another Day In Paradise.

Beautifully wrapped in cute fabric and tied with a ribbon, with a lovely card attached.  Inside were these:

Vintage girls clothes patterns, all in sizes 5 and 6.  She’d seen them in an op-shop in NZ, thought of me and Miss Clare, bought them all and posted them to me here in Australia.  What generosity!  When I explained to Clare that a lady who we hadn’t actually ever met had bought these for her, she replied “wow, that’s REALLY nice”!  They’re gorgeous – and there’s one for every couple of years from 1964 to 1980.  Many have hand-written notes about who they were for, in which style, which fabric, etc.  Thank you so so much Floss!  We love them!

On the crochet front, I have been swatching to make the Empress Baby-doll top from Interweave Crochet for myself, but can’t seem to get anywhere near gauge in the cotton I’m trying to use.  I’ve asked the gurus on Ravelry for help.  I’ll possibly end up using the larger hook, but make the top in a size smaller than I’d originally anticipated.  Hopefully then it will fit me!

In the meantime I may need to find something to do with some of that Jet yarn that will be quick, satisfying and not need to be terribly accurate with size.  I think it’s going to be the “cold shoulders” capelet from Stitch ‘N Bitch: The Happy Hooker (thanks for the inspiration Michelle)!