Winter is for crafting

I have come to the realization (very recently) that I am starting to really like winter. *GASP* And I mean real winter. Not the southern California winter I grew up with. It has been snowing, it is cold, and going to get very cold in a few days. However I am happy with it, because it means I get to be inside reading, cooking, and best of all, crafting. I also have the next several days off work for the holiday, which would help anyones mood.

This whole crofting (homesteading, small farming, whatever you want to call it) lifestyle is hard work. Good, satisfying work, but hard nonetheless. Spring through fall we worked our regular jobs, and worked the rest of the time on the farm. I'm proud of what we achieved, and I'll be even happier when the pigs and sheep are in the freezer next month. Winter means less outside work, and more relaxing and more time for creating, which I enjoy. Oh seasons, you are so wonderful. 

A year or two ago my sister cleaned out her craft cupboard, and I added a few things to mine. I do love this sort of cleaning that other people do--when it involves me getting new things for free. I got a shaggy baby blanket kit, which I stored away in my cupboard. Then this baby boom hit, and this morning as the snow fell, I knew it was time to get it done. The blanket is for my co-worker, and she isn't due until May. However, in May I'll be busy getting the garden started, and going on a trip to Peru, and there will not be time for sewing. I'm planning ahead!

All you do it sew the rectangles together in the manner laid out in the pattern, and then cut the pieces to be "shaggy." It only took a few hours, and is currently in the washing machine. Great, right? Yeah, my weak little wrists are sore from all the cutting.

I've also been on a real bag-making kick. I think because they are small and fairly easy to make, yet you can challenge yourself. I found a free pattern on Pinterest called Trail Tote, and made the small one first.Quickly realizing that it was nowhere near big enough for me, I made the larger size, using what I'd learned making the first one to make it even better. 

 This picture is me wearing the larger bag. I've been using it as a purse for a month now, I love it!

If I can find the pictures, I made a couple more bags for presents, I'll post them next. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and have a very Happy Festive Holiday season!

Baby Blanket love

Interweave Knits 2016

I promised I would post two posts on completed knits back to back, and I failed. Oh well. As I sat here on my day off drinking tea early in the morning, I remembered I had to post about the baby blanket I recently finished. I have knitting on the brain in a BIG way, as this past weekend I finally figured out what I am knitting the girls for their Christmas. It is hard to plan that far ahead (at least for me), and it interrupted (gratefully?) a project I was working on already. I'm knitting a Calder Pullover and only have one sleeve left. Only thing is, I just checked and I started it last December. If I am lucky I will finish it THIS December, making it the longest ever worked on sweater. I only have 3/4 of a sleeve left too! I don't know why I hate the sleeves so much, but I do. I did the first, then the body, and thought I was done (you are supposed to do the two sleeves first but I didn't have it in me). Anyway, I will get there.

Part of what distracted me was knitting a baby blanket for my co-worker Brent. He was my trainee at one point, and I like him. He and his wife are having their first baby, due in December. I knit them a Mosaic Blanket from Purl Soho. I had wanted to knit one ever since it popped up in my inbox, and this gave me a great excuse. The only thing I did differently than the pattern was the crochet shell stitch around the border.

I love this blanket a lot. It was fun to knit, the result is impressive (at least to me!), and it turned out a great size. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease (cream) and Caron Cakes (rainbow) for the yarn. Easy to wash, with just a bit of wool for a winter baby. Plus, I got to use my coupons that Joann's shoves down my phone every week. What with the free pattern, it was a very affordable blanket to knit.

Now I've just found out my niece is pregnant and due in May, so I get a chance to knit another blanket I'm excited about. I won't cast on until well after the new year, because I have 2 Christmas sweaters to knit for my girls, and two sweater WIP's of my own. We will ignore the hat languishing in my basket because it was just for fun and there is no deadline.

The last thing I completed that I had put off for ages was recovering my desk chair. It has a mysterious stain on it, and that chair is older than my kids, so here is before and after:

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

In which I force my knitting on people

Right after Christmas I went on a small work-related road trip with two ladies that I like a lot. Over the course of the couple of days I had decided to make one a cabled hat, and the other asked for a messy bun hat for running. All it takes is a couple of compliments on my knitting and I am off and running. Oh the joy when people WANT me to knit something for them.

First up, I knit Father Cables, with a blue Lions Brand yarn I had leftover from my Bloomsbury sweater. This pattern is free, and I loved knitting it. I just love cables, I do!

I decided to give her the hat for her birthday in February, and she loves it. I won't post a picture of her on the blog, but you can see it well enough on Poly. 

Next up I took a look at messy bun hats. I didn't really want to try to crochet, and I didn't want it plain and boring. She did ask for brightish colors since she would wear it for running, and she does like my Hermione Hat that I keep in my work car. So, all that sorted, I used another stash yarn-- Loops and Threads Impeccable Ombre (it hurt my hands but I got it done), and the Hermione Hat pattern (free!).

 It looks really rather funny to me, and I think the opening is too high, but maybe that is just me. I used another free messy bun pattern to do the opening, and there are so many different way to do it. Here is a bad bathroom picture of me in it:

All in all, a few fun hats. I also ran into another co-worker that crochets for a kids charity up north. I made her a bunch of hats last year and she was sniffing around for more, so I guess I had better get started on those one of these days........

Lastly, you've earned a moment of zen, compliments of Biscuit

Christmas knits

I'm waaaaay behind in my posts, because it is near the end of March and I'm going to post my Christmas knits. Oh well, better late than never I guess. 

Every year I try to knit the girls something for Christmas--teaching that homemade is best and whatnot. This year I made them shawls. I know, they are only 10, but for whatever reason they both really wanted shawls. Thus far I've only knit small shawls, or shawlettes, or whatever your call them, so I wanted to pick something relatively easy. I picked the Campside shawl, and I really enjoyed it (even making two!). The pattern is free, which never ceases to amaze me, people are just so giving with their talent.

I chose Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool, in the girliest colors ever (I think they are just now thinking there is a world outside of pink and purple). The yarn is 45% Wool, 35% Silk, 20% manufactured Fibers - Nylon / Polyamide. I liked the yarn, it was different than what I normally use, and was a nice change of scenery if you will.

They shawls took about a month and a half each for me to knit, in secret, with the girls beating down the door because it was locked. They love them however, and that is all that matters. 

 
I also knit them both a hat, from patterns I already had, and yarn I didn't know what to do with. 

Now that it is waaaaay past Christmas and time for their birthday I've knit them fingers mitts, but that is a post for another day, it took me long enough to hit publish on this one!

Girl's Knits

This will be one fast post. We are off down the road to try find a commuter car for Dave. We've been a one car family for as long as we can, and now we really need that second car. Dance class, soccer, you know how it goes.

I finished Rori's Alchemist. She seems to like it, and both her and Isla have been taking turns wearing it. I should have knit the armholes one needle down, but I didn't, and that's ok. The yarn is Plymouth Encore.

Lastly, here is a long-overdue picture of Isla in her Tiny Tea Leaves. We forgot for ages to take a picture, and then the day we chose was freezing cold. We ran onto the porch, grabbed a couple of pictures, and then ran inside again. Brrrrrr, winter is here.

We definitely got the most from this pattern. Two pullover sweaters and two cardigan. Brilliant.

That's all from me for now. Happy New Year everyone, I hope that 2015 treats you right!

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!

Mum Green's Gift

In December 2012 my husband lost his Mum to cancer. She was a wonderful lady with a funny sense of humor and a love of knitting--mostly Aran jumpers. Lots and lots of jumpers for my girls when they were little, which I've saved safely away for when they have little ones of their own. She knit me at least 4 sweaters, my Grandma got a couple, my aunt at least three, even my Dad received an Aran jumper. We miss her every day, and I think of her often when I knit. She was the only one (aside from you blogland friends) that ever cared about what I was knitting, and why.

When Mum got sick for the last time, she was working on a cardigan for my Grandma. They met at our wedding and hit it off immediately. Here is an excerpt from an email of Mum's, 9 May, 2012:

How is the knitting going? I am not sure how you find the time. I have at long last finished that cardigan I was doing. Four times I had to pick up 340 stitches - three times it was all wrong. Talk about patience. So I have been sitting here wondering what on earth I can knit next. As you know I hate knitting for myself anyway, no incentive. I was wondering if your Gran would like another jacket/cardigan. Remember i did one for her a year or two ago. You will definitely remember because I nearly drove you mad when I was convinced it was not going to get there! Thing is, I have found a pattern which will not be too detailed (like your Dad’s was) in one of my Aran books. What do you think? I don’t want to do the Aran colour AGAIN but perhaps if you ever get a minute to spare, you could look online at the Knitwell Catalogue where they sell this Bonus Aran (400g. balls) and see if there is any colour she might like. Most of them are very bright, but one or two paler shades One I thought of was called “something storm” I cannot remember now but then I thought it looked a bit gray and she maybe would not like that. Difficult really. On the other hand you might think she maybe does not want one at all!!!! Anyway, when you have time – I can always knit squares!

In November, when Mum knew she really was ill for the last time, Dave was down for a visit. When he left she gave him the bag with her knitting, the wool, and the pattern book. He was crushed when he brought it home to me. I was so sad, it went straight into the cupboard, and there is sat, for months and months, across the ocean to Australia, and back into the cupboard. I couldn't decide if I wanted to finish the cardigan, or just leave it there in the closet, forever. One day I was discussing it with my Mom, and she said I really had to finish, because that is what Mum wanted when she gave it to Dave to brig home to me. I knew she was right, but oh what a road I had ahead of me. Mum had finished 3/4 of the back, and that left a whole lot of cardigan for me to complete.

And that is how Mum's last Aran jumper became my first. I picked it up around June, and I knit it in fits and spurts until my Mom arrived for holiday in December. She said if I could finish it before she left at the end of January, she'd deliver it to my Grandma in Michigan in February. THAT is what I needed, a deadline and a freezing cold winter in the USA. I finished it with a week to spare, and my Grandma loves it.

For several years now I've been focused on knitting in the round, with no seaming if I can at all avoid it. This jumper is seamed, and I loved making it. I loved that I could do it a piece at a time, and make other things without losing my place in the pattern. I really enjoyed making it, and I love how it turned out. I love that my Grandma, who I love dearly and was a good friend to my Mother-in-law can wear a hug that comes from both of us.

The last of it

Well, my Christmas knitting is done. The final tally is 4 hats, two shawlettes, one pair of mittens, one pair of fingerless gloves, and one pair of yoga socks. They have all been sent and received (though not all opened yet, oh the will power!!)

I knit two Watch Caps, for two young men in my family. The pattern is brilliant, you can use whatever yarn/gauge you want, and it tells you how to make the hat. The pattern is in the book Knits Men Want, which I got for Christmas a few years ago. Both hats were made from stash yarn, one is 8ply and the other 10ply. I love how simple and great these hats look. I want one for myself.

It has been so hot today, but I'm going to sit down and knit a wee bit. I've been busy preparing for my folks to arrive, and haven't knit in days. *gasp* I'm going into withdrawals. But before I go, one last FO, the striped pair of socks I was working on. I finished them about a month ago, but never got around to taking the picture.

Now, while I go and ooh and aah over the yarn that arrived with my parents, you have yourself a very happy holiday season. I'll see you in January!!

Socks!!

This week I've been having a bit of a clean up--digitally speaking. I was checking my blog feed the other day and noticed that one of the blogs I'd been following had been hacked, and my feed was filled with spam. I located and deleted the blog, but then I started looking at all the blogs I "follow" and went through and deleted all the ones that seem out of commission. If they haven't posted in the last 4 months, they are gone. It is all so uncluttered now, and it feels great. Now I have the room and attention for adding in new blogs that take my fancy.



 



In knitting news, I've been re-energized about socks! I have a project bag that I keep in the car with a sock I would work on now and then--while waiting for the girls at netball practice, the park, etc. But I felt it had been languishing, so I fished it out and finished it. I love the stripes! I'm counting it as a FO, even if it is just one so far.

Pattern: just a plain stockinette sock to show off the stripes, with the heel from Hermiones socks.
Yarn: Patons Stretch Sock






Then I got motivated to knit my sister a pair of yoga socks for her Christmas present. She has posted a picture of herself in some rather silly looking yoga socks (they were the ones that have individual toes) on FB, and I thought, I want to give that a go. They were so fun to knit!! 
 

I also amused myself that I was wearing my yoga pants when I took these pictures. Nope, I don't do yoga, but look at me all kitted out should I ever want to. 

Pattern: Yoga Socks 153 (free!)
Yarn: stash busted some Zettl Cesana I've had for a really long time.

That's it for my this week, see you all on Wednesday.

Why didn't she tell me quilting was hard?

Hello! Today I'm taking a wee break from knitting FO's and sharing a sewing one. I know, I haven't done that in a long time. I can say things have been helped along quite a bit by actually living within 15 minutes of a fabric store. I love it so, so much. 

I started this back in May 2012, and wow that stewed for a while in the "if it is in the closet and I can't see it I don't have to work on it" pile. Of course, we had some major life events between then and now, but still, I'm glad to have this done.

It is a mish-mash of different things, thought up by my then 6 year old. I used her old receiving blankets for the strips, and she picked out all the other fabric. To begin with I thought that coral pink would be terrible, but now I have to say I like it very much. She loves the backing fabric so much she uses it both ways. Turns out I could have just bought two big pieces of fabric and quilted them together and she'd be happy. Live and learn. Anyway, the first one is done and dusted and the second one should be easier (famous last words). Stay tuned.

In other sewing news, I've also been whipping up some new cloth napkins from stash fabric:

And making dog toys, also from stash fabric. That green one to the left is an old toy I made her, it is well loved. This dog loves to destroy, and I have to use the thickest fabric I have. The blue one I just made only lasted a night, even though it had four layers of fabric........

Thanks for stopping by my Finished Object Friday. Have a great weekend, I'll see you next week!