A Cotton Yarn Along

knitting:

a nice little free pattern, I'm modifying it to have sleeves so I can use up more of this recycled cotton blend yarn, I think it was from Sidar?


reading:
a yard sale find 'Travels with Charley' by John Steinbeck

               Joining Ginny for a Yarn Along

Yarn Along ~ A Turmeric Heathered

knitting:

I'm well past the sleeve division on my Heathered cardigan.  I've had it on my mind for a long time and was adamant that it be a sweater that will get lots of use so I wanted the fit to be just right.  I got my gauge on US 6, but then I started knitting and doubting myself....thinking I'm much bigger than I actually am.  I should have continued to knit it on the 6's, instead I jumped to my US 7's.  I just hope it doesn't block to be much too big.  The pattern is very well written and I've been reading a KAL I found for this pattern and it's been tremendously helpful.

Also, I think I'll be casting on one or two pilot hats for a customer.  Both projects will allow for some easy knitting over the upcoming March break.


reading:

I started The Pilot's Wife this week, it's a much easier read than my last novel.

Joining Ginny for a Yarn Along

Yarn Along :: Organization

::knitting::  

I've been feeling dissatisfied with my latest knitting projects.  I took a break and organized my most often used knitting notions (looking at my picture I see that project bags would also make my knitting basket tidier).  I decided to re-visit a simple pattern I knit for my daughters third birthday.  I wrongly blamed the pattern and have realized it was the yarn that made for the poor fit of my first In Threes sweater.   I'm moving along well on this version, I'm going to add sleeves to extend the project.  There's also a swatch for a Heathered Cardigan and I'm really (really) excited to start it.

::reading::

I'm half way through The God of Small Things.  After a library book sale and a visit to my sisters I have a nice big stack of novels to choose my next read from. 

Joining Ginny for a Yarn Along

gifting

 a shiny ribbon dress and crown for a niece who just turned four

 a retro inspired turtle print baby blanket and burp cloth

recycled sweater mitts & strawberry jam for a wonderful teacher

Valentines Day gifts for the kids (extra bonus: when the boys outgrow those slippers, they'll be mine!)

Yarn Along :: knitting & frogging

knitting:

I'm focusing on one project for now, a mama vertebrae for myself.  I was very careful figuring out my yardage but I'm still worrying about having enough yarn!    I've also been frogging the rainbow sweater from last year.  It just turned out too boxy (my fault, not the pattern) so I'm going to make the yarn into something new.  As my youngest enters a new size range, (out of the toddler sizes and into girls) I feel almost justified to buy a new pattern.  First though I need to organize my knitting basket knitting tools.


reading:

I found a copy of The God of Small Things at a thrift store.  I'm very early into it so there's not much to say yet....I'm sure it will be better than my last read!

A Yarn Along with Small Things

A Rowhouse Hat

::Knitting::

A Rowhouse Hat, it's my first stranded project and I love it.  I deviated from the pattern a bit so that I could use the yarn I had available.  A great knit and I'll be making many for gifts.

I've since cast on a Mama Vertebrae for myself, and even though I really need to spend time on mending and sewing things for my family.


::Reading::

I'm not reading anything wonderful at the moment, I'm finishing up a book that's just ok.  It's good for  now, since this book isn't interesting enough to keep me up late reading!

Last night I read over the new (free!) sewing pattern by Deer & Doe for the Plantain T-Shirt.  I'm pretty excited about this one, it looks like a pattern I can manage it and it's just the kind of shirt I would go for in a store.  And look you can even make it into a dress!

Joining Ginny for a Yarn Along

Yarn Along ~ Daisy Chain

knitting~

I'm working on a hat for myself, but I'm not sure about the pattern-yarn-me match so I've been going slowly with it.  I'm just starting a little cardigan for Rowan using some yarn we dyed before Christmas.  I've dyed yarn many times, but this time I used the tutorial at Kathryn Ivy and found it worked really well, even on the super wash yarn I used.  The colour is bright and held with little to no dye coming off at the end.  Rowan was able to tell me the proper rainbow colour order from a song from the Cat in the Hat show.


reading~
I'm re-reading The Handmade Marketplace right now, hoping it will give me some more ideas for my business.  I'll be taking something else from the book shelf very soon though.

joining in with Ginny for this weeks Yarn Along.

Back to Normal

We're finally settling into our 'normal' routine after the holidays.  My Color Affection shawl kept me sane(ish) over the holidays.  I've had the pattern for a long time but it worried me for some reason.  I gathered up the courage after getting some yarn on sale from Knitpicks, and really it was simple.  One step at a time, follow the pattern (plus read through lots of notes on Ravelry!).  It came off the needles in Sunday night while I watched Dowton Abbey and here it's being blocked where my 10 year old son said 'that's pretty' and my partner asked, 'how did you do that?'  Of course he didn't really  want to know but it's nice that I can trip his logical mind up a bit!

 Getting back to normal means some pad sewing too, I'll be stocking these tomorrow.  I've avoided buying fabric for a couple months and I'm happy that I've been able to really get a lot of fabric used up.   Now it really is time for some new prints though, I'll be going out on Thursday to see what I can find.

I'll be working on wet bags next week.  I'm going to really focus on in stock this month, and trying to have lots of sizes and absorbency available including getting pads with PUL into the shop for those of you who need it.

It Worked

I haven't been able to post here for a bit because I couldn't seem to load pictures, I stopped in today to try again and well...it worked.  I was starting to think maybe keeping up with a blog might not be worth it, but really I do want to keep it going.  So here goes with some random recent pictures.

I made myself some new pocket pads, I've been wanting some breathable pads for myself (these have cotton and flannel on the back).  I tried them out this month and was quite happy with them.

A sweet little pilot cap, you'll notice some hand knits going into the shop.  I've come to a point where I knit more than my family needs, I'm now moving onto my Christmas knitting list!

Fabric shopping all. by. myself.  I only found a couple of prints I found 'shop worthy' I was mostly getting some supplies to make myself a Washi Tunic but I had hopes of finding some new prints for pads and wet bags too.  This cupcake print is pretty cute though, and I have another bit of fabric coming in the mail too, so watch for that too!

We're just coming off a 4 day power outage so I'll be spending the day baking bread and muffins and catching up on computer work.  Watch for a stocking of serged pads on Thursday, I'll be listing some second quality (serged pads) too.

Bright Knits

The rainbow sweater is moving along well, I should have the bottom ribbing finished by the end of the week, then it will be onto the sleeves.  I had some sizing concerns (that it was going to be ridiculously huge) but I've calmed those fears by knitting on the neck band and taking some measurements.  The sweater looks so much bigger because my daughter is nearly 4, I have to accept the fact that I'm no longer knitting for a toddler.

I took this picture Tuesday morning and I had 1.5 (scrappy) socks.  I really was not enjoying knitting these.   I wanted to get them done to be at the ready to line her rain boots on a raw, cold spring day.  She tried one sock on Tuesday afternoon and was quite excited by them so I knit right through those socks and had them on her feet by bedtime.

I 'm glad the socks are done because now I can cast on my Shalom cardigan, I'm very excited to get this going.  I picked up some Cascade eco-yarn on sale over the weekend, using my Christmas gift certificate (yeah!!).  I'm hoping I can have myself a new spring sweater.

I started reading Little Town on the Prairie to my son this week, I can't believe that here and there over the last five or so years we're nearing the end of this series.  I'm glad that at nine years old he will still eagerly pull another Little House book from the shelf and I'm also happy that in a few short years (maybe even two years) I'll be reading them again to my daughter.  I'm quite sure this is the first time I've read this book too.

Joining Ginny for a Yarn Along

Knitting a Rainbow

A few days ago I was having trouble thinking of something that needed to be knit, so I cast on a Honey Cowl with some hand spun I had received in a trade.  It didn't feel right from the beginning, the pattern and yarn are both beautiful but they weren't working well together.  I kept knitting it then I tried it on the other day and it wasn't quite right, not long enough to wrap twice but too long with just the single loop. I decided (finally) the yarn will be more suited to another project, and that I need some new yarn for a honey cowl ;-)

Instead, I cast on a cardigan for my daughters birthday.  As I wound the rainbow yarn I realized it was the perfect project to start at the end of January, a rainbow sweater seems just right.  I've had the yarn for a long time, wanting to save it for just the right project.  The yarn is from The The Color Wheel, I think it's called Adam's Rainbow.   I'll also be casting on some some warm socks to line her rain boots for the spring, this will give me something to knit during the day to keep this rainbow sweater a surprise.

I'm reading The Mammoth Hunters, I've been working through this series.  It's light reading and although they're enjoyable I'll be glad to take a break from the series, I'm finding it's all becoming kind of redundant.

Joining Ginny for a Yarn Along

Yarn Along - Sunday Sweater

I'm working on a Sunday Sweater in the 4/5 size for my three year old.  I finished the neck band last night and divided my yarn for the sleeves.  I weighed the remaining yarn so I can use every last bit of it for the sleeves.  It is a lovely little pattern, I'm not accustomed to lace knitting so this was a clearly written pattern to learn from.  I'm currently reading bits from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitters Almanac, my Mom gave it to me for Christmas and I will be watching for more EZ books.

Joining Ginny today for a Yarn Along

A Catch All Post

I know there's ends that need tying up here, things I said I would post about and haven't yet...so here goes. Get ready to be overloaded!

I said I'd post about my Waldorf doll making experience and really all I can say is make one! It's a fun and easy project. That said be sure to have a thimble and bandages before you start...don't be scared! I just found that while forming the head I cut/pricked my fingers a few times (who said crafting was easy?) injuries aside it is NOT good to mark your work with a little smudge of blood, so just get some band aids in case.

I used this pattern for the body, it's a wonderful pattern. Read it through a couple times so you know exactly what you're doing. This seller also just came out with a 16" doll pattern which I grabbed up. I used this tutorial for the hair (the pattern I bought also has hair directions too, I just wanted a different style).

This is how the doll has sat recently, unclothed and one sock is missing. Truthfully Rowan rarely reaches for her, though I'm sure there's still time for her to become a favorite.
Another picture of Rowan painting which is almost a daily event here. She's painting with Q-tips here, but all painting experiences usually end up with finger painting which is fine with me. She was moving her tray of paint and it tipped into her face (and hair) she then thought it might be good to try and lather some paint in her hands and rub it through her hair. A bath followed that night.

I posted in my last Yarn along post about my girlie Milo vest. It worked out just as I'd hoped and it was fun to knit some scraps up. It did take much more yarn then I'd expected. I'm adding my notes here because I would like to repeat it.
I followed the directions for the bodice section of the Milo pattern, though I shortened the bodice a bit (I used 9 month size).

-switched from size 7 needles to size 10's and switched yarn colour.

-k 3, M1 around

-knit 3 rows

-k5, M1 around

-keep knitting until almost desired length, switch back to bodice colour (but keep larger needle size) K1 row, P1 rown until desired length. bind off

It's soooo soft and snuggly (& warm!)

Now the flannels, I mentioned I'd bought some new flannels and I finally found my pictures of them. I'll be adding a few pads to my shop later this week (or this weekend) and there's a couple from these prints. I'll be showing you a new pad design soon too :)

Yarn Along :: the monster ball

Joining Ginny again, all this book and yarn stuff is addicting. This week I'm keeping it simple with some leg warmers for the little one. I'm loving the practicality of legwarmers and I think I might just spend this summer knitting many legwarmers for Rowan and a few for me too. The yarn, it's a HUGE ball of an acrylic that my step son picked out for me as a Christmas gift a few years ago. The blue colour has grown on me and it's actually nice to knit up, which is good because that's a lot of yarn. I'm thinking up more projects to do with it, cable legwarmers for my niece, maybe a Mustard scarf for me, then I'll retire the ball until I need to knit a sweater or baby blanket to gift.

I just got my copy of Radical Homemakers after reading about it on so many blogs. So far I'm enjoying it, I'm not far enough into it to discuss it but it's speaking to me. It's a book that I'm sure I'll always keep near by to refer to. I'm also reading Sisters in the Wilderness to continue on with my Susanna Moodie & Catherine Parr Trail reading.

Phew, that all feels so quick! I'm looking forward to peeking into some blogs this afternoon while the littlest one sleeps.

Another Yarn Along

I'm so enjoying Ginny's Yarn Along. I missed last week because I didn't want to bore readers with the same project and book for three weeks! I'm moving on though, a new project and a new book. I'm working on my second Milo vest, I'm changing it up though. I'm going to try to girly it up by making the bodice section a bit shorter and then adding stitches to make it fuller on the bottom, similar to a play dress. I'm also using up several yarns to make it a scrappy project. It seems that no matter how many scrapy projects I do (longies, sweater), there's still more bits of yarn to use up!

My new book is again a book that's worth picking up again, The Backwoods of Canada. When I'm done this though I need to catch up reading the few magazines we get.

Yarn Along!

This is my first time joining in on Ginny's Yarn Along. I cast on a pixie hat for the youngest, her hat from last year has gotten too small (oh my how she's grown!) This time I'm making up my own simple pattern, I'm not sure what the yarn is but I love how the colour is working up. I do know it's 100% wool and hand dyed by a WAHM on Hyenacart. I'm hoping to find the details on the colourway, pastels kind of scare me (due to the ease of staining) but add in some shades of brown and pastels no longer scare me! You can also see my first Milo vest, also knit for the youngest, she's so tiny though and I knit this too big so I'm going to try adding some stitches at the back to make the fit a bit snugger and add some length to so that it will fit her for much longer. It will be worth the work to have the vest fit longer. The Milo pattern was a great knit and I can see myself knitting many more.

Quintin and I finished Farmer Boy last night, we love these books and I can't wait to start on the next book in the Little House series. Rowan has been loving Good Night Harry. I read it to her two times and nap and bed time while she nurses to sleep. She was on a Red is Best kick but Harry seems to have won out for now. I've pulled out my copy of Roughing it in the Bush by Susanna Moodie. I can't remember the first time I read the book, it was years and years ago. Possibly even before Quintin was born. I don't often re-read books but it's like I'm reading this book for he first time. The struggles of emigrant families in a new and challenging place....it reminds me that though life may seem rough at times I just can't imagine the struggles these pioneers endured and now as a mother myself the my reading of the book has changed again.

Catching up...

I hadn't expected on being away for so long! When I'm gone this long you can be sure that I'm...
-exhausted
-caring for sick child(ren)
-working on custom orders
-caring for teething toddlers
-very tired (aka exhausted)
-messing up craft projects (a tunic that turned out way too big)

I've been doing all these thing the last few weeks, I even took a break from crafting. Then I had to get to work on this guy for my Q's birthday on Saturday (7 years old!?). He's going to love this alien/monster/creature. I'm glad I found a project to use up some acrylic from the yarn stash. And he's soooo soft!
These mitts I finished yesterday (cruddy pictures) I love the fit and they're wool so they'll be so warm. I made them from a recycled sweater and I'll be making more for sure. I'm even storming up ideas how to make a pair that Rowan can't get off. I need to make them fast, I'm sure we'll get a dumping of snow anytime and she doesn't have any proper snow mittens.

A funny mitten story...I started working on these and then realized I'd made two left handed mittens. My partner was there when I'd realized my mistake and he laughed at me (it's not *that* hard a mistake to make!) he said my only option would be to make two more right hand mitts, so then I'd have two pairs of mittens. So I still need to finish them right hand mittens up, this seems an awful like a project that won't ever get finished.

I've been sewing pads too, which I haven't been doing much of so it seems a little remarkable to be showing these off. These two 12.5" pads are topped with bamboo velour. They're for a trade and I'll pop them in the mail on Monday.

I was so excited to get a custom order for these minky topped pads that I sewed them up right away. They're all 11" and have hidden PUL.

Now, I've been wanting to share my Christmas craft list with you, hopefully I can squeeze this in while the little one naps :) Some gifts I just keep changing my mind on, particularly my gifts for my sisters.

One thing I really want to get made is a Waldorf style doll for Rowan. I bought this pattern and I'm hoping to get started on the doll next week. I've read through the pattern and it's very clear and helpful. I want to be able to take my time and make her as perfect as I possibly can, if I rush on this it won't be pretty and I'll be so disappointed. I discovered you can buy pre-formed Waldorf heads, how clever. Laying in bed last night I wondered if I should've gone that route, but I already have all the fabric to start from scratch so that's what I'll do (this time).

The rest of the gifts are pretty simple....

-pj's for both the boys (I already have a pair for Rowan thanks to a trade)

-oven mitts and a doll sling for Rowan

-some new holiday bunting flags (need to get these done soon, I'm tired of looking at my fall theme flags)

-gifts for my sisters (potholders, t-shirt totes, mitts, bunting flags???? I'm not positive yet!)

That list isn't as scary as I thought, I'll be more things added I suppose. I need to figure something out for the teachers but those gifts might just be bought this year.

phew, is that my longest post ever?

Exhausted Sunday

I woke up so exhausted this morning, I think Rowan nursed all night last night. Still tired of course but things needed to get done so I pulled myself together and got some stuff done. I finished up some sewing, went for a walk in the rain with Rowan in the Ergo and an umbrella. Changed two beds, put away my sons laundry (possibly my least favorite chore!) fetched the eggs, made banana blueberry bread. It feels good to get so much done in such a fog.

There's more work to this afternoon including shop listings, another bed to make, washing diapers, and making a batch of homemade leftover soup. Making soup from leftovers is so fast and my family loves it. This batch will have a base of some of a leftover curried chick along with some rice and pasta from the week and a bunch of veggies thrown in. So easy :)

Here's a sweater I got finished up yesterday, it's made with a whole bunch of leftover hand dyed yarns. I cast it on just before we left for our camping trip and I surprisingly had time to work on it. My son picked out the bee buttons, he really wanted some red fire truck buttons but the sizing didn't work. It's made using the Mossy Jacket pattern in the 18 months size, I wish I'd knit the body a couple of inches longer. Hopefully it fits through the winter.

Here's another scrappy project, it's a double pocket wetbag that I should be able to get listed in my shop later on today.

And a quick custom pad (yes, custom orders can be just 1 pad ;) ) I love this Heather Ross print.

A new sweater

This is the sweater I knit when I wasn't supposed to be knitting. It seems I got lucky with the little ones sleep habits last week I was able to stay on top of sewing and get this knit up. I had *just* enough yarn, actually the second arm is a row or two short of the other so I barely made it. It's kind of a cropped version of the original pattern which is the Elliot Sweater by Teresa Cole it's a freebie on Ravelry. It was a nice easy pattern and I'll probably end up knitting another later one in the fall. I think my next knitting project will be the Mossy Jacket http://fpea.blogspot.com/2007/01/free-pattern-friday-mossy-jacket.html But with a camping trip next week and some new custom orders (yeah!) I really won't be starting this one for a couple of weeks.

(she loves it by the way!)

one pair down

I finished the wool longies I previewed a couple of posts ago. I finished the leg while on the drive back from Toronto yesterday. I had planned to start knitting more longies for the fall and winter but I'm going to hold off a little bit, just in case there's any potty learning vibes happening. Next on my needles will be a cardigan or pinafore of some sort.






I'll be busy with customs, and canning (relish is next) this week which won't leave much time for blogging or knitting. Hoping to post again towards the end of the week!