recent knitting.

As I mentioned before, I've been knitting up a storm. Thankfully I have had some motivation to finish off some things I'd knit long ago. I've been weaving in loose ends, sewing up seams, and putting the finishing touches on a few things (minus buttons... I hate buttons!!).

Other than finishing up old projects, I've been knitting a few new things.


Numero Uno: Mason Jar Cozy.  I've had this yarn sitting around for a while. I was perusing ravelry a few days ago looking for ways to use up some of the yarn I've accumulated and I came across a pattern for mason jar cozies. We use mason jars as cups, but the cup ones were all dirty so I stuck this cozy on some canning. Pretty and practical -- my fave.


I've also knit a pair of Stay-On Booties. I've had this pattern and the yarn since I was in Scotland almost a year ago and I finally sat down and figured out the pattern. As with most things, it ended up being much easier than it seemed the first time I attempted it. The giver of the pattern informed me that they are the best booties as they really do stay on. These may become a staple baby gift.


There were also these Wrist Warmers I knit. Erik has informed me that he probably won't wear wrist warmers, but I love them just the same.


I finally finished the Diamond Baby Blanket (mentioned here). It is delightful. Absolutely delightful. Erik picked the wool for the blanket. His first choice was the purple used in these tunics for my nieces, which would have been absolutely beautiful, but I wanted to knit something more gender neutral because who knows when I'll be wrapping a baby in said blanket and what gender said baby will be.


This Knitted Baby Hat took only a few hours to complete. I like how it looks, but would use different yarn next time as this was hand spun and of varying thickness throughout. I would make something warmer and cozier. I was going to send this to some friends who just had a baby, but I think I'll knit them a new one that is thicker -- warmer and cozier.

Made Me Smile

Now for something completely unrelated to traveling. I won't even brag about sitting in a cosy cottage in Scotland with a view overlooking a castle and the sea. I won't make you jealous by talking about my husband making crepes behind me or talking of our plans to walk around the island today.  Instead, I will get straight to the point.

As you all know, I love knitting. because of this, I adore this site called Ravelry. I don't know if you have heard of it, but Ravelry is an online knitting... Goldmine. When I was first introduced to Ravelry I only used it for browsing through patterns. More recently, however, as in for the past year or so, I have actually been messaging other knitters asking them questions and getting some knitting support. There are blogs you can check out, people you can "follow" if you particularly like their projects, and forums you can participate in. I use ravelry to keep track of some of the things I have knit and to store some of the patterns I want to knit. I in no way use Ravelry to it's full potential, but it is awesome and there is my plug for it.

That is not what this is about.

I just checked on Ravelry for the first time in a couple months and I had a very important message. I have received messages only a handful of times from people asking about patterns I have done or yarn I have used or whatever, but this message was a wee bit different.

I received a message from one of the powers that be with a request to feature my photo.

It obviously doesn't take much to make me smile (most days), but this elicited a grin from ear to ear. Do you remember this post? Well it felt kind of like that. Only better.

I should probably take a moment to clarify what "featuring" a photo looks like. It means my photo is displayed with the original pattern along with some other 15 photos or so... it really isn't incredibly special, but it kind of is.

Now for the photo. Of course you recall these adorable tunics I made for my nieces (they are adorable not because I made them, but because the pattern is adorable!). The request is to feature the first photo, which happens to be one of my favourites of both the girls and the tunics.

That isn't even the best part.

If you check out the Ravelry page here you will notice that my photo is featured alongside soulemama's. I absolutely adore her and I am a bit star-struck at the thought of even being remotely associated with her or her work. It made me smile.

And, as a sidenote, I didn't even make the pattern because she did... I found it myself.

-- knitting --

I miss knitting.
Like really really really miss it.
I miss it almost as much as I miss the people I love the very most.
Ok, maybe I don't miss it that much.
I do miss it though.
Very much.
Let's be honest... I haven't knit anything since July (I think).
That is my longest drought yet.
And I miss it.
I miss creating.
I miss the softness of the wool in my hands.
I miss seeing the string of wool become a row of little uniform stitches.
And then watching the row become many rows.
And watching the many rows become something.
A sweater.
A scarf.
Wrist warmers.
A blanket.
Anything.
I miss knitting.

the girls in their emma's.

I had the Abba and Bronco's tunics knit up months ago, but it took until last week to actually finish them. I know... typical me. The important thing is that I actually finished them! Yippee!!! It's been a while, but do you remember them?? Abba's Emma and Bronco's Emma??

They're little Emma Tunic's knit in size 6-12 months, but they fit right now as little dresses. Don't Peyton and Avery look sweet in them?? Don't they look sweet anyway? Oh this auntie just love love loves them.

And I'm not the only one. Everyone I know adores these two... and how could they not? I keep saying that the only thing better than one smiling, cooing, and giggling baby is two smiling, cooing and giggling babies. And that is their usual state, despite what these photos show.

Sawyer wouldn't leave their side when we were at my parent's. She was rubbing their faces, holding their hands, petting their heads, and asking to hold them. Peyt even gave Sawy a few smiles which she seemed to enjoy.

But I digress. Back to the little tunics, though I suppose I have nothing more to say about them expect that I wanted them to be similar, but not the same. So I used the same colours, but made different patterned tunics and I was happy with the way they turned out. Maybe even more than happy... thrilled even.

But I'm even more thrilled about the wee ones wearing said tunics. They're something special.

a little project

Knitting inspiration has been lacking so I decided to try my hand at sewing. I've had my eye on a pattern from Anna Maria Horner's Homemade Beginnings and have decided that it is time to make it.

I started by cutting strips of various widths. It was tough cutting up such beautiful fabric... I have been saving some of it for something wonderful. I passed up a few of the fat quarters, but came back to them deciding that there is never a time like the present to make them into something beautiful.

After cutting for days and weeks (you know, a few strips here and there) it finally came time to sew the strips together. I did this today before work and I must say, it is always fun to see things come together. My quilt will look nothing like the one in the book aside from the fact that it is predominantly blue. Mine will have much less variety -- I have fewer fabrics than the original. But I'm excited to see how it turns out none-the-less.

After sewing my strips into even longer strips I rolled them all up so they can wait until I have time to work on the next portion of the project.

I'm a little worried that I don't have enough strips cut... or that I have too many. I can't be sure how many are required until I have actually tried to assemble to quilt.  I can always cut more and I guess I can always make a pillow if I have too many.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

sweet baby cap

July's Knitting Project. Nearly done. All I really have to do is weave in two ends and create i-cord ties for the little cap. This little sucker didn't take long to knit, but I did have to restart it because I read the pattern wrong.

I still don't know what I'm going to knit for August or September, but I'm hoping to figure it out soon. Any suggestions??

of knitting.

I am almost done my July
knitting project.
Yes, July.

I haven't knit anything
for August yet...

I would like to draw
your attention to
how busy August has been.

And to the fact that I
don't know what I want
to knit.

Well, I kind of
have an idea,
but I can't
find a pattern that I
like.

I want to knit a sweater
for myself.

A semi-fitted,
not too thick
everyday sweater.

I want it
to be no fuss,
and without embellishments.

Just a
Plain Jane
sweater.

Patterns for those
are surprisingly hard
to come by.

I have been looking
for a couple months.

And I think I am
going to have
to amalgamate
(right word?)
three or four patterns.

Which,
in a short phrase,
means
"Uh Oh".

But if I were
an optimist, which
I am usually
not,
I would say something
more along the
lines of
"Wheeeeeeee".

But as I said,
not an optimist.

So I sit,
perusing the vast
interwebs,
searching for something --
anything,
that inspires me.

It doesn't even need
to be my
beloved sweater.

It could be
anything, but nothing
has had that spark.

I had better make up
for my lack of knitting
in September.

Or October.

Colder weather
is more conducive to
knitting anyway.

For now, I search. 

Bronco's Emma.

Yup, I finished Bronco's Emma too. Knitting it at least. I am hoping to actually finish both tonight. Bronco's Emma Tunic is a bit different than Abba's. I'm not a huge fan of matchy matching twins -- a little matchy match is ok, but not too much. I decided to use the same colours for the tunics, but to change them up a bit.

This dress was just as fun to knit the second time around. Now that's something that doesn't happen every day. doesn't happen every day. It's simple enough to be easy, but quick enough that the pattern changes when you're about to get bored. You know?

And I love this second one just as much as the first. I can't decide if I want to do my own Emma Tunic striped like the first or more solid like this one. Care to weigh in?

I can't wait to see my little nieces rockin' these tunics. The only trouble is that I'll be in South America and/or South East Asia when they actually fit them. That was poor planning on my part. Lindsey will have to take plenty of pictures to appease me.

Now I need to recommence house cleaning. Have a wonderful evening.

Abba's Emma.

I am so excited for Abba and Bronco to make their appearance in 10 short weeks. In anticipation of their arrival I have been getting my knit on and decided to make this month's knitting project all about them. I present, the nearly completed Emma Tunic.

I have decided this one is for Abba for no reason in particular other than A comes before B and I knit this one first. I probably should have designated it for poor Bronco because she'll always be second, but I didn't and it's set in my mind that this is Abba's.

I was hoping to surprise Lindsey with these little numbers, but I went to the yarn store a literal 17 times to pick out yarn and always came out empty handed. You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to settle on colours and textures and softness. Lindsey pashawwed me when I asked her to come help a sister out, but she came and she struggled too. I eventually picked a few things and she yessed the things she liked and this is what we came up with.

And I love it. The picture doesn't do it justice. I'm going to blame it on the poor lighting -- taking photos at 8pm on a rainy evening isn't always best. The colours are lovely (calligraphy, water lily, and logwood). The yarn is my all-time favourite (madelinetosh). And the tunic is simple and sweet.

It's still raining and my house is a tad chilly so I am cuddled up on the couch knitting again today (and cleaning house, doing laundry, baking, and possibly watching a little bit of Dawson's Creek Season 1... didn't watch it as a kid, but I got curious). I am almost done knitting Bronco's Emma and then all I have to do is weave in the ends and sew on the buttons. Then I may pick up one extra skein of the purple to make an Emma Tunic for my own stash. I hope the Lord has some daughters in store for me because I have an ever-growing stash of adorable girly things.

Hope your day is as cozy as mine.

The Kina

I present March's knitting project -- the Kina. Modeled by Little Miss Maelle Mai.

April Knitting.

The Saartje Bootees.

I have to admit that these were a refreshing change from the usual knitting I do. I was able to complete them in a single sitting (though I must admit I took two). These little bootees are just darling. Aren't they??

I have two more pairs weaved in, seamed, and waiting for buttons (curse those buttons!!), but I wanted to share these with you now. One pair that is the reverse of these (yellow on the bottom and green on top) and one that is the pinky/red on top and green/yellow on the bottom. The ones with the pinky/red are my least favourite, but they match my Baby Surprise Jacket the best so those are definitely for me.

I do have one problem with these bootees, though, -- I don't want to give any away. Not even to my dear sister and the sweet babes growing in her womb. I will come to terms with this, I'm sure, but for now they are mine, all mine! Especially this pair here -- they're my favourite.

They're so tiny I'm not sure they will fit any baby but Lindsey's though (assuming they are little). I made the newborn size, but how long do babies last in newborn clothes?? It's never long before they are onto 0-3 month things so I am going to get some thicker yarn and bigger needles and make more saartje bootees in a bit of a bigger size.

I meant to photograph my March Project, but now my camera battery is charging and I never got around to it. It is much cuter on a small child than sitting on the floor anyway. I will post some pictures of that project soon enough.

Happy Wednesday.

some things.

I'm in the middle of my work week; I will be spending 24 of the next 36 hours at the hospital. I hear it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend in these parts. I will hopefully be sleeping most of the hours the sun is out shining, but I'm excited for lovely weather none-the-less.

I knit another Baby Surprise Jacket. I used the leftover yarn from the first jacket and I got a yellow as well to make it a bit different. I also used slightly bigger needles to make the sweater a bit bigger. I still have loose ends to knit in, the seaming to complete, and buttons to pick out, but it is almost done. And I loved it just as much as I did the first time around. I need to pick a button for my March project and then I will show it off. And I haven't started the bootees for my April project. That's one of my goals for my days off. To knit at least three pairs. One for me (the first of each pattern is always for me) and then two for Lindsey. I have some yarn left over from the most recent BSJ so I will be using that.

Yesterday I got a lovely little package in the mail -- the yarn I ordered for my May project. I have settled on the Owlet Sweater for next month. I think it may be the most difficult thing I have done so I am going to start it as soon as I complete my bootees. I am very excited.

I haven't read a book yet. I re-read the hunger games, but I haven't cracked open anything new. I'm thinking of reading a little C.S. Lewis. A book, the beach, and my knitting. That's what I have planned for next week. Sounds delightful! Maybe some hot cocoa too. I don't even like hot cocoa, it just sounded right. Cocoa.

I've been going to the gym the past few weeks. Paying for a gym membership is painful and it feels ridiculous, but I really need other people for motivation! I go to classes because I am super lazy when I am on my own. I tried running on my own last summer and I would go for 3 minutes and then walk the rest of the way. Lazy and lacking self discipline. Just this week I incorporated running into my exercise routine. I h.a.t.e. running. Like hate hate it.  Despise. Loathe. Detest. But everybody knows cardio is important. I run on the treadmill which feels like cheating, and it kind of is, but at least I get my heart rate up. The thing I like about the treadmill is that it forces me to keep a certain pace whereas if I were "running" on my own I would just walk or jog slowly - painfully slow. Eventually I would like to take my running outside, but I'm too chicken at this point. I would be the lady huffing and puffing and dragging my feet behind me. No thanks. Sometimes I miss being eighteen and fit.

And that is pretty much my life: work, knit, exercise. 
Heavy on the knitting and light on the exercise.
Hope your weekend is lovely.

simple things

My-oh-my is it ever difficult to get pictures of almost-two-year-olds!! I think they are incapable of keeping still. Trying to get photos of Sawybean in these little pants was painful! Much more painful than actually sewing them. Yes, I did happen to sew these Little Kickers. Aren't they lovely? I guess you can't really tell because someone wouldn't stand still long enough for me to actually have a chance to show you so you'll have to take my word.

These little pants are officially the first sewing project I have completed entirely on my own. I didn't even call my mama for help. Wanna know why? Because I didn't need to -- the pattern was wonderful and these little pants were easy-peasey. They were seriously a cinch. Perfectly simple. They were delightfully simple and they worked up so quickly too! And dare I go as far as to say they were fun to make? Simple, quick and fun. What more could anyone want out of a pattern? Oh! They are perfectly adorable as well. I guess that is the fourth part of an ideal pattern.

Simple. Quick. Fun. Adorable.  

These little pants are also functional and practical, which in my opinion are key attributes of a great pattern, but they aren't imperative.

But my absolute favourite thing about these pants? My friend Kimberly invented them. I know invented isn't the word, but it's all that comes to mind right now. Kim has been working at Favorite Things for the past few years designing clothes and things (designing! that's the word I'm looking for!) and has recently launched a line of her own, Simple Things. 

In some of Kim's own words, Simple Things is a "collection of affordable, high quality PDF patterns" that allow you to "harness [your] creative energy by sewing things that are beautiful, practical and fun! This collection is for everyone - from beginner to advanced seamstresses and it really will be as easy as click, print and sew." And it really is that easy.

Click.Print.Sew

baby in handknits

I took advantage of my sleepover with Kaden this weekend and snapped a couple photos of him in my a couple of my knits. With his puke record I had to be quick... but I wasn't quick enough. He managed to snag my baby sophisticate. And my shawl, but that was my fault because I was burping him with it behind me -- note to self this is a bad idea.

Here's the little man in my Baby Surprise Jacket. Man, it is snug. I did the baby size and I know I am a tight knitter, but it is a bit smaller than I wanted it to be. He is only 12 pounds and it is small on him. With my luck our babies will come out nearly that size so it won't fit them for long. I think I will do my next one with a bit bigger needles. I have yarn left over from this one and I loved the pattern so I think another one is in order... hopefully it will end up being about a 3 month size.

And the Baby Sophisticate. Another fave. Kaden has a really long and chunky torso, but this 6-12 month knit fits him perfectly right now. I had to roll the arms up a bit to accommodate his short arms. The length is correct for the 6-12 month size, but it is probably a little more snug than intended due to my tight knitting. I still think it is adorable!

knitting, gus gus, and other things.

Remember when I mis-measured my March project? Well I did it again. I was about to cast off and wanted to re-measure just to be sure. We were at my in-laws and it was late and I didn't want to bother my MIL asking for measuring tape so I asked Erik to find a ruler online for me to measure from. We both just assumed it was to scale... but it wasn't. So when I got home and re-measured I discovered that it was, in fact, incorrect and I needed to take it apart again! Curses! So I pulled it apart one last time and I am hoping third times the charm.

Gus Gus slept over a couple nights ago. Gus Gus... what an awful nickname, but I can't help it -- it stuck. It started as variations of Grunty Gus, Grumpy Gus, Fussy Gus. It was inevitable that I would drop the nouns (they are nouns... right?) and Gus Gus is cuter than just Gus. To me at least. I also call him Pukey Pete sometimes, but that's really no better.

I even managed to re-work some of my March Knitting Project while the boy slept on my chest. Man, he smelled yummmy. Puke and all. And it was nice to have some added motivation to sit and knit that silly thing. I get frustrated just looking at it now -- uuugggghhhh!!!

I forgot how nice it is when babies can't move. All he wanted to do was snuggle. And eat. There was plenty of eating as that boy is growing growing growing. He had doubled his weight by two months (putting him in the 12lb range now... he started out itty bitty). Having an infant again also made me realize how nice it is when they grow up a bit can move and feed themselves and sleep through the night. And fetch things for you -- that's also key.

I asked Erik if he was excited to have a baby of his own and he said that yeah he was... in a few years. This is huge progress. He was snuggling with a sleepy and adorable Kaden at the time so it may have been a little unfair to ask in that moment, but I'll take what I can get.

I worked the first shift in my new permanent full time line today. I don't know how much I'll like it. I love being able to say no if I absolutely need a weekend off. I love being flexible. I love working with different people all the time. And I love going to the plastics floor for a break every once in a while. And now I am stuck. I'm not really stuck, but you know... it's just a change.

Well Erik is feeling unwell and he is moaning on the floor in the kitchen so I should probably go tuck him into bed. He has been making up songs while playing guitar lying on the floor. Ridiculous songs about the George Foreman Grill, having blood drawn, feeling sick, buying underpants, aching, eating chocolate cake, and other bizarre things. He even tried to make me sing along with him.  Thanks, but no thanks.

Bonne Nuit!

decisions decisions

I had decided to make something small for March as my "new project", but I have an itch that needs to be scratched. My hands need to be put to work with that rhythmic in, around, out, over, off that I find so soothing. 

These Saartje's Bootees (ravelry link here) were my intended March Project. And I will still make them this month, but I also need something bigger on the go. I may as well knit two new patterns this month because who knows if I will have time to actually complete one per month for the entire year. Exciting things are happening in these parts and I need to be prepared. And, summer doesn't lend itself to a ton of knitting.

Back to the bootees. I have the yarn. I have the pattern. And I only need to learn one stitch for them. I just need to go and learn that silly stitch. I have attempted to make them twice on my own and with tutorials online, but I need to bring in the big guns -- the ladies at the yarn store. The ones I am hoping to make will be blue and grey.

But that's not enough. They aren't the type of project you can just get wrapped up in. I hope to have them completed in an evening. In two evenings at most. I need something to sit and linger on. Enter options here.

Option 1: The Owlet (ravelry link here).

I think this sweater is adorable!!! Erik says it's the type of sweater that people will look back on and say "that was so 2012". Owls are the "it" thing right now. And they are. But I have loved them since far before they were that. You can also add little buttons to this little number to really bring out the owls. How cute is that?? And really, who cares if it's defining of 2012?? It's 2012. Who doesn't love things distinctly 70's??

I think I would want mine to look exactly like this one. I would even use the same yarn. I love love love it!

Option 2: Plain Vest (ravelry link here).

The only thing holding me back with this one is that I have already knit a vest before. But I would be able to make this for an older young child rather than a small infant like the ones I have made. And it's much more feminine than those were too. I think it's sweet.

Option 3: Baby Kina (ravelry link here).

Simple and sweet. And not a vest... it has sleeves. And I already have yarn I could use for it. And I could make it for either a baby or a small child depending on the pattern I purchased. I promise it looks much cuter on a human being than it does on a hanger.

Option 4: Gramps Cardigan (ravelry link here).

I know I just made the Baby Sophisticate, but I can't resist this grandpa sweater. There is something adorable about little babies in old man clothes. I found this particular cardigan here on the same site I came across the Owlet sweater above. This sweater will be made at some point this year. Probably not this month, but eventually. I need to wait until I'm feeling particularly wealthy because I am going to have to splurge on some delicious yarn for this.

Option 5: Sunnyside (ravelry link here).

I personally prefer the green more "manly" option. I like the cable stitch on it... something else I don't yet know how to do. And the best part is that the pattern is free on ravelry. Seriously, if you knit or crochet at all then you should definitely join ravelry... it's free and there are so many ideas. I can see this sweater being done in a deep but bright blue or maybe in a yellowy-green. Who knows!

Option 6: Maile Sweater (ravelry link here).

I know it is very similar to the one above, but I like it better than the purple one. I think it's the pattern along the bottom that makes the difference. And I love this colour. Love it! And look at it in the blue. And how cute is that baby??

And these are only a few of the many many many patterns I gawk at daily. I really do want to make something adult sized one day, but yarn isn't cheap and it's much easier to buy one or two skeins than it is to fork over the money for seven or twelve!!

Feel free to weigh in. Which is your favourite??

a little of this and that.

I've been dabbling in sewing the past week. I'm trying to meet my goal of sewing something other than squares. I chose the Quick Change Trousers from Anna Marie Horner's book Handmade Beginnings. Soulemama has made many a pair, her most recent being these beauties, and because I love everything Soulemama does I know I will love these too. 

Notice the phone?? It is always right beside me when I am crafting because I ask my mother about 101 questions. That woman is brilliant! She knows almost everything there is to know about anything. I found these fabrics the day I ran into Kim at the fabric store and I adore them. Well done Amy Butler!

I didn't finish the trousers yet, but I'm slowly but surely working on it. Actually, I have set my sewing aside cause my Mama is coming to visit this week and I figure things will come along a lot quicker with her in the room rather than on the phone. I mainly need her assistance on the quilt I still have to finish. The one I have been making for about two years. I'm so close and yet so far.

I got to see this little guy last night at Bible Study. Isn't he adorable? He's getting chubbier and chubbier. And he is so grunty. And he smells so good. And he is adorable. And he kept his eyes open for the longest time I have ever seen them!

I love seeing my husband with babies. Don't they look good on him? I keep trying to convince him he should have one of his own, but he isn't buying it. Sadly that means I don't get one of my own... yet.

For now I will love my pseudo-babies. And I will sew and knit to my hearts content.

my baby sophistocate

My dear friends, I am happy to share this little number with you. And I am proud to say it is 100% complete. Yes, I actually finished a project. And I must say that I love it!!

I have had this yarn up my sleeve for a while now -- with the intention of making this very sweater. I bit the bullet in January and finally embarked on my baby sophisticate journey and now I can't tell you how happy I am about it.

Isn't it adorable?? I especially love the old man collar. It's a like a little grampie sweater. A darling little grampie sweater. And the buttons -- just darling. I wish they were leather, but these will do just fine.

I had a brief moment of inspiration today which offered enough motivation for me to put the final touches on this. Under the armpits were a bit dodgy looking (some holes from where I picked up stitches), but a little bit of weaving in magic pulled them together nicely. And measuring where to put the buttons was a little stressful. I only had to re-do one. The second one I put on because it ended up being a little too far to the left. But that was only a minor mistake.

And now look at it! I can't wait to make more!!! I may even make the next one in a bit of a tweed. I think that would be darling. Maybe grey? I like things that can be put on either little baby boys or little baby girls. The more I can get out of these things the better!!

And this concludes my knitting updates as of late. I really need to slow down a little bit as knitting is a bit pricey -- I'm a bit of a yarn snob. Next month I have a smaller project lined up using yarn I already have lying around the house. I'm still very much excited for March's knitting project.

Have a good weekend!