and the winner is......red

Hello everyone. I have been a bit negligent in my blogging, that is true, but I have not slowed down in my knitting. In fact, I've been rather productive, and have a few FO's to share.

First, just a wee bit of a back story. I work in Michigan, and my department divides the state up into three regions. My region (1) is comprised of 17 individuals that work out of their homes, and one supervisor that lives in Traverse City. Every three months we meet up in the north for a staff meeting. Every Christmas there is a themed contest, and this year it was red. The person with the most items of red worn, and the best dressed red. I decided I wanted to WIN. I threw myself into it wholeheartedly.

I did win, and would have taken both categories if that was allowed. This picture doesn't even show half of my other red.......including a few things I knit.

 
The hat (pardon the bad pictures, I blame the winter) is a free pattern, flower bud beanie. I cannot say enough good things about the pattern. Fast, pretty, fun. 

The fingerless gloves are also wonderful, and a free pattern, 75-yard-malabrigo-fingerless-mitts.
The yarn I used for both is Lion Brand Heartland. I had a 50% off coupon at Joann's, and one skein was enough for both projects. Bargain!

I've got one project I'm almost done with (I hope), and three more on the go. Ok, maybe four. I can't wait for the extra time I'll have over the Christmas holiday. Take care, I'll see you in 2015!

If you are happy, I am happy

Hello Friday!! I love the weekend, even though I've had a pretty great week. I have two FO's to share today. 

The first, a headband, I made over a month ago and forgot about. It was one of those, "I really need a quick project so I can feel like I'm accomplishing something" deals. Also excellent stash-busting. I ended up gifting it to my co-worker, because I'm just not a headband kind of girl. I guess. I keep trying.

The pattern is Winter Morning, and it is free. The yarn is from my stash, absolutely lovely soft stuff, Wendy Viva.

The latest project I've finished is a hat for fellow blogger Anke's friend. She had a shout out a few weeks ago asking for hats for her friend who is facing some health issues. The idea grabbed hold of me at once, and I cast on that day. I wobbled for a while, thinking the yarn didn't match the pattern. And maybe it doesn't, but let me tell you, I think it is lovely in person. The yarn is super soft and I think it will feel lovely against her skin.   

Pattern: Foliage Hat
Yarn: King Cole Inspire 

Mindless knits are essential

Well, I cannot deny the truth of it--I have castonitis. In a BIG way. First (weeks ago now), I cast on some fingerless gloves. Then I got to the finger portion and

they were abandoned. I cast on a cabled sweater with the yarn I have left over from this

that was abandoned because I cast on a vest with this gorgeous yarn. It is Wool of the Andes Tweed. 

 
then that was abandoned and I cast on a vest for my daughter

Ok, that isn't all true, not everything has been abandoned. I am knitting the Mielie vest while the kids and I watch TV at night, since it is mainly stockinette. 

I  had to cast on the vest for Isla because all this beautiful yarn arrived in the mail. I also discovered something wonderful--yarn really does cheer me up! We've been having just a wee bit of family worry/drama, and the pumpkin yarn in particular make me feel ever so much better, just by looking at it. So I've left it and a red skein out on my desk, in case I need a quick pick me up. Another nice thing is that the kids saw all the pink (which they had picked) and decided in the future maybe they should pick some other colors. Wouldn't that be wonderful, if they threw in some greens and blues! Rori at least picked that lovely purple on the right, and Isla picked the red. 



So all that should keep me out of trouble for a little while. But I'm not going to lie, for some reason the cold weather is making me want to knit socks. We will see where the season takes me!

Sewing with the kids

Hello! Lately, my kids have been very crafty. First, they asked me to teach them how to knit. Oh, yes, with pleasure I will teach them to knit. They are (slowly) working on some garter stitch squares.

Then, somehow (none of us can remember how it came up) they decided they wanted to learn to sew. A pillow, to be precise. So I taught them, because sewing a square and stuffing it with fluff is just about the easiest thing to learn. They were super excited, because it was fast. And don't we all like instant gratification?

So they made themselves some pillows. And then, they each made me one. And their Dad. And then they made their grandparents each one for Christmas.   

We used stash fabric, except for two pillows (the grandparents pillows), and we did buy fluff. But otherwise, quite an affordable and enjoyable project. Plus, now I have a perfect pillow to use when we are travelling in the car! Next up, they are making themselves fleece ponchos!

Sewing Project

Ahhhh, autumn, I do love you. I love the crisp, sunny days, and the cold nights. I do not love snow on Halloween and how cold and windy it was. But I guess you take the good with the bad, and it all evens out.

These girls, they were not cold. I was though. They raised nearly $50 for UNICEF as well as a bucket-load of candy. I'm proud of them.

I'm knitting lots right now, and loving it. I've even placed a rather large yarn order, with enough to keep me busy right through the winter. I finished Isla's cardigan, but right now I'm going to talk about sewing. I'm not very good at it, but I do give it my best attempt. I've been teaching the girls, but more on that in another post.

First, let me just say we all used to be young. And in my younger days, I was slimmer. The before days. Before kids, before marriage, before I was tired and didn't want to exercise. Just, before. I don't want to go back to those days, but I wouldn't mind going back to slimmer days. I have a Carhart jacket that I love, because it is warm and has lasted over 10 years. Partly because my hips got too full to wear it much. Until I decided to take the scissors to it.

I was scared to cut into this jacket, but if I couldn't wear it, what was the point in having it? So cut it I did. Then I ironed on a heavy duty patch to each cut side and sewed it on as well. 

It isn't pretty, but it does work, and that is what matters. This isn't a fashion coat, it is a work horse coat, and now, I can get even more wear out of it. I'm super pleased.

Next post, all the pillows my girls are making for Christmas!
 

Rori's cardigan

Hello! This will be short and sweet, as I've got to pack for a work trip to the west side of the state, and get hubby and the kids organized before I go. Then I come home and I swoop in to take the kids to the grandparents for a weekend so Dave can work in peace and quiet.

I finished Rori's Tiny Tea Leaves, and she loves it. She put it on right after I blocked it and wore it for several days straight. Then the weather warmed up, and it got tucked away for a few days. No worries though, she'll need it again this weekend.

I let both girls pick their own buttons (and yarn color). Of course they picked the exact same buttons.

I'm making good progress on Isla's cardigan as well. I've got about 5 inches on one of the sleeves. I find sleeves so endlessly boring, I just lose interest. It will be some good hotel knitting though!

Pattern: Tiny Tea Leaves
Yarn: Knit Picks wool of the Andies superwash in marina (blueish color) and fairytale (purplish color). I like this yarn so far.
Mods: none. I knit them in a size 10 so they would be slightly too big and hopefully last longer.

That's it for me. I've started a new Aran jumper, but that will have to keep until next week. Gives me more time to add a few more inches to it.

Have a great weekend!

Lempster Love

Happy Friday to you! I am writing this on Tuesday, and hoping that I am feel ever so much better by the time this posts at the end of the week. I have my first cold of the fall. Bleh. This little guy made us smile though. He was sitting outside the garage chirping away. The pic is taken through a very dirty garage window......but still cute.

What I am very happy about is the Lempter that I've knitted, and blocked, and have put away until winter, because baby, it is warm!

I knit the front and the back with the same cable pattern. There is the option to do the back more simply, but I just couldn't do it. I love the pattern too much!

Pattern:
Lempster (free!) by Norah Gaughan

Yarn:
Cascade 220 Heather 

Mods:
I knit it with long sleeves. I didn't see the point of knitting a super warm sweater in pure wool and not knitting long sleeves. So I did. And I'm super pleased I had enough yarn!

Knock knock, is that you Autumn?

I love the fall!! I've been working on the west side of Michigan the last week and a half, and man, the leaves are starting to turn. It is gorgeous, and the weather has been fantastic. I've got a cold at the minute, so I'm sleeping as much as possible.

I've been making good progress on Rori's tiny tea leaves. The body is finished, as well as one sleeve and the button bands.  She's excited! I couldn't wait and cast on Isla's tiny tea leaves as well, but it is on hold because I'm so close to being done with Rori's.
 

Lastly, I've been making slow progress on the quilt. I've got the first two rows done, but not joined together just yet. It seems that things keep getting in the way. At any rate, you can see how it is shaping up. Jess thinks it is a good place to rest her head.  

I've just moved all my "office stuff" into our spare bedroom, so for the first time in a long time my office is separate from my craft room. We will see how I like that. It is necessary though, because the sun room I have been using is going to be cold this winter, and I can knit anywhere (normally sitting at the computer or on the couch!

That's all from me just now, take care and see you on Friday if I can organize a photo of the new sweater!

Can't get enough of this hat

Hello friends! I am so happy to see the end of this week, as it means I'm back home after working away for a while. I'm not complaining, mind, the weather has been gorgeous and I've been looking at Christmas trees. Fun stuff. It also means plenty of quiet knitting time in the hotel at night.

I finished this hat a wee while ago, and then started using it and forgot all about taking pictures of it. When I was out in the field the other day (beautiful sunny day it was too) it occurred to me to snap a pic of it finally. This is my first phone pic I've used on the blog I think.It blends right in with the color of the sky, doesn't it?

I've knit this pattern before, and it is a real testament that I'm making another one. I almost never knit a pattern twice (unless it is for the girls, then I have no choice). I just love the cable on this hat. 

The pattern is Snow Tracks Cap and the yarn is Ella Rae, 100% wool, in blue violet heather. Lovely!

I hope that where you are is as wonderful right now as where we are. I love love love this weather!! 

I'll see you again next week, if I can get my act together and photograph my Lempster sweater. It turned out brilliantly! See you then. 

Tiny Tea Leaves (again)

Hello! I hope that everyone had a relaxing Labor Day weekend. We had so much fun, on a trip up to the UP. I don't like bridges, but I was just fine, and it was so relaxing in our little cabin. It did rain--but only when we were driving. Such luck!

That's my travel knitting bag on the bench, where I sat and knit and was ever-so-happy. I'm working on a Tiny Tea Leaves cardi for Rori. She picked the color, Marina, in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash. Years ago I made both the girls a tiny tea leaves, only I made it into a pullover. This time I'm just following the pattern and making a cardigan.  And look, she picked a color other than pink. This mama is so proud.

I'm actually further along with it now, I've divided for the sleeves, but the picture was so pretty I decided not to take another one.

School has now started for us, and things are "back to normal." If this is normal. It was really great to get a nice holiday in before the school year began. 

We saw her:

and this:

I'm still working on the sleeves for my Lempster (snore), and I've started a hat. You know, in preparation. The leaves were already changing color up in the UP, so I'm motivated to get ready for the colder weather. 

That's it for me, until next time.

Happy Crafting!

sometimes, it is just meh

Well, August is winding down, and I think that I only wrote two posts this month. Could that be right? Probably. But I finally am getting things finished, like this Braid Hills Cardigan.

And sometimes, the things I knit, and slave over, and buy extra yarn for, are just, meh. This is one of this projects. Because, in the picture above, it looks OK. In the picture below, is looks so-so

what's that over there, is that a squirrel??

And in the last picture, it looks down-right terrible. It is just too small across the chest. And I knit one size up since it is supposed to be fitted!  I also don't like how short it is, even after I lengthened it.

So I'm not sure what I'll do. It is OK with just a few buttons closed, and I do like the way the shoulders fit. And I like the detail, and the blocking helped the sleeves fit. But, it may just go into the closet and sit there for a while. I'm in no hurry to knit myself a bigger one that fits better. Oh well, I guess you can't win them all.

Pattern: Braid Hills
Yarn: Cascade 220 sport in straw gold (I love the color)

That's it for me. I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend, we've got some fun planned! See you next week.

 

on into August

Welcome. I hope that your August is starting out as well as mine. I'm finding some serious crafting bliss.

I've been working on my scrap quilt pretty regularly, and all the pieces are now cut out. It is really very fun. There is a certain freedom using only what I have, no buying of any fabric has taken place. In fact, I've only spent a wee bit of money on thread (because I don't have much of that) and some batting. I've got four blocks quilted, and I'm ready to start joining the first row together. The quilt is a total of 16 blocks.

Seeing how the squares will look together

I love that I can use scrap batting as well. I have always saved my left-overs, and this will pretty much clean me out. The book I'm using shows how to sew two scrap together and use them as well. Love! I also love that I can do it in bits and pieces. Tonight I plan on sewing at least two squares together. I've sort of put it off due to the hand sewing, but now I feel ready to tackle it. 

In other exciting news, my new yarn order from Knit Picks arrived on Monday. It is enough for three sweaters. I'm very pleased the girls picked colors other than pink. We are making progress!The girls are both getting new cardigans, and I'm getting........ something when I get finished with the ridiculous amount of WIP's and new projects I'm about to start. It will probably be after Christmas by the time I get to use this gorgeous yarn.

Lastly, I'm seeing the end of my Braid hills. As always, I slowed way down on the sleeves, oh how I hate to knit them. And the first one was too small, so I had to rip it all the way back and knit it with no decreases. I'm guessing it will still be tighter than I'm used to, but some variety in my wardrobe would be a good thing. I just need to finish sleeve #2 and do the neck band. Hurray!

That's all for me, see you next week. I might even have a FO (but don't hold your breath!)

 

What's happening here

It feels like yesterday that I was over enjoying lori times five's blog, when I learned about yarn splicing. She's got a video here, where she demonstrates how to do it. Recently, I've adopted it when knitting with 100% wool (both the sweater I'm knitting and the cardigan are pure wool). I love it! I love not having to weave ends in. Thank you Lori, you are an inspiration!

Recently my Dad made me this:

Which I also love. I know, it is a big, but it can sit out of sight under my table when not in use. And it makes life easier. Much easier. And faster.

In other news, I am trying to learn Continental knitting instead of English. I've been suffering from repetitive strain injury for what feels like forever. I get better, then knit too much, and it comes back. So after reading that Continental is better for people that suffer like me, I'm trying to switch. It is hard, and I am not patient, but I am trying. I used this video as help. I'm using some stash bulky and huge needles to make a scarf just like the very first one I ever made (in 2009, yipes!), when I learned English-style.

Lastly, in an effort to let me hands rest a bit, I decided to start a scrap quilt. I am not a quilter, but I do try. I'm using this book:

to quilt as I go. I'll let you know how that turns out. I'm mostly using fabric my Grandma gave me, with a few scraps of my own, so I feel happy every time I work on it. I love my Grandma!   

Happy Crafting!!