Sunday, December 11, 2011

Something New...

Why is there a picture of jewelry here?

Let me explain.  The other day was my birthday, and I decided to do something I've thought about for about 3 years.  I opened an Etsy shop.  I'm taking Kev's advice and just having some fun (i.e., not stressing about it, or having expectations, etc).  I know you may be thinking that I'll be selling hand knits, but not so.  At least not right now.  I love, love, love knitting, but I've only dabbled in designing my own hand knits.  However, I do have another craft love but just don't blog about.  I've been making jewelry since I was in grade school. 

As previously stated, I celebrated a birthday recently.  My 29th to be exact.  So if you add up the years...you get a whole lot of jewelry.  Add to that the fact that my Little Miss still likes to grab and yank at any jewelry I wear (including earrings...ouch), and you get a whole lot of jewelry not being used.  Instead of letting it sit, or not making jewelry anymore, I thought I'd share it.  So that's my little story.  The shop will also be a place for me to share other crafty things that I love.  Right now, it's got some Christmas ornaments that I think are kinda neat.  So check it out if you feel like it.  It's called bhuey designs, and it's wee and fledgling.  But you never know...stranger things have happened.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

After much debate, I decided on the Matinee Jacket for Evy's Fall sweater.  I actually finished this months ago, but I just couldn't get around to blogging about it.  So without further ado, the Matinee Jacket:
My friend Rachel gave me the glass buttons, which were here grandmother's (ok, maybe great-grandmother's - sorry, I can't remember!).  The buttons totally make the sweater!

The sweater is knit in Swish DK, because washable really is important at this age.  Evy's has worn this this down already!  I'm a little sad about the amount of pills on the sweater already, but she is pretty tough on her clothes.

I've also made her a had and a pair of mittens, but I probably won't get around to blogging about them.  Still to come are Kev's birthday socks and my cabled hat.  On my needles right now:  Kev's Christmas stocking and Christmas log cabin throw.  One's got cables and the other is nice and easy garter stitch!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Heartwarmer....for me?

Yep.  I found Heartwarmer on ravelry, and immediately wanted to make it for Evy.  It's such a wonderfully old-fashioned looking piece, and I thought it would be perfect for early Fall wear.  So I picked out a lovely pink color of Knit Picks Andean Silk, which is a blend of alpaca, merino wool, and silk (note: pretty sure this yarn has since been discontinued).
Ok so long story short, I knit the thing up in the bigger size, blocked it using my kookaburra wool wash, sewed the buttons on, and tried it on Evy.  Who promptly refused to wear it.  She emphatically told me, "No! No!" and then pointed to me, "Mommy, Mommy."  Which is Evy speak for, "You do it."  So after taking a deep breath and reminding myself that Evy is all of 18 months and cannot be expected to appreciate hand knits, I tried on the shawl.  And you know what?  It's itchy.  This yarn of merino wool, alpaca, and silk is itchy.  Maybe the girls in my little family are just uber-sensitive.  So I'm using it, as a scarf neck warmer type thing.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Here Comes The Sun

I knew I wanted to make sundress for Evy for the summer, so I searched ravelry to find the perfect one.  Very Pink had just the thing - the Fiona Baby Sundress.
I worked this in I Love This Yarn Cotton, from Hobby Lobby.  The yarn was pretty nice, although not my favorite cotton yarn.
It took me forever, but only because I could only work on it a row or two at a time.  Also, I couldn't seem to get the placement of the straps right.  They kept digging in the Evy's little arms.  But I did finally manage to place them correctly.
That's my little flower child.
I've started the Lore Hoodie now, in the hopes of being able to finish it by fall!  We shall see.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Better Late Than Never

I actually have been knitting since February, I just haven’t posted about it.  Can I take a moment to blame my computer?  It’s a wee bit out of memory right now, so uploading pictures takes for-ev-er.  And with Little Miss Evelyn walking/running/climbing everywhere all the time (I swear the girl does not stop), it’s hard to wait for pictures to load at the end of a long night.  More often than not I look at my computer, glance at my finished projects, and then flop into bed.  But enough complaining, let’s get to the point of this here post – the finished project!

Citron – finally!!  I started this just after Evy was born (in March of 2010), and it became my pick-up-when-I-have-a-moment project.  For an entire year…

I know the pictures are not the best, so bear with me here.  I live in the basement and it's been raining forever.  We've actually started work on our ark.  This project was a great first shawl.  It was also my first use of lace weight yarn.  I used Knit Picks Shadow – 100% merino wool.  And this shawl is for me, thank you very much ;-)

Although I do think it looks much better on Evy.
I'll update Ravelry and links sometime...maybe.

Monday, February 14, 2011

First Project of 2011

Hooray for finished projects!  I've recently decided to up the challenges with my knitting.  Why just admire cables from afar?
This is my first finished project of the year - the Breckenridge Cowl.

Of course I just realized that I sewed the buttons on differently than the designer...but hey - who's to know?  I don't think Nancy, my mom-in-law, will notice!

And the buttons look ok I think.
This is a thank you gift for Nancy, I hope she likes it!  The cables weren't that hard at all!  I've been putting off learning how to make cables for years now, but they were really very doable.  This was a great first cable project.  There is absolutely no shaping, so you can focus on the cables alone.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Goals

It’s still January, so I feel like I can still post some goals for 2011.

Goal #1:  Be happier.  My default state of mind seems to be “stressed.”  I would like to change this to “happy.”  It might take me all year, or the rest of my life, but I’m really going to renew my efforts this year.

Goal #2:  Be more organized.  I’ve got myself a mommy planner, I’ve updated my ravelry queue, and I’ve started an account on Mint.  Surely this is my year for organizational success.  I used to be organized.  But then I graduated, and slowly began to unravel all the organizational skills I had picked up over the years.  So 2011 is my year to change my lens from “student” to “mommy” and get my home and my mind into shape (organizationally speaking).

Goal #3:  Knit myself a sweater.  Seriously, 2011 is my year.

Goal #4:  Knit a pair of socks.  I’m thinking I might tie this in with Goal #5.

Goal #5:  Knit Kev something.  Sorry Kev, baby knits are just so tempting.  But this year, you’ll get one too, I promise.

Goal #6:  Be a nicer, more patient momma.  This is directly connected to Goal #1.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m no terror, but patience has never been a strong suit of mine.  Maybe this year, I will learn patience.  Hey, it worked for Luke Skywalker, the learning patience part I mean.



And now let’s check in on my goals from last year:

Goal #1:  Success!
Goal #2:  Well...almost.  No projects for me, but one is in the works!  And no projects for Kev.  See Goal #5 above ;-)
Goal #3:  Ha!  I've just deleted the list entirely.  I think I read about 3 books, maybe.  It's read or knit.  We all know what wins.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Updates

And it's about time.  No apologies, life moves on as quickly as a river in spring.

A few finished projects to round out last year!

I made a hat for Evy some time ago.  It kinda turned out not so great...
Winging out a little, isn't it?  But I do like the fleece lining I sewed in.  I just wung it pattern-wise.  Wung it?  As in "wing it" but past tense.  Anyways, I wound up buying Evy a fleece hat from Old Navy, which is working out nicely.

Evy's Christmas stocking came out great!  After a few false starts, I wound up with this:
(I know, bad picture.  We don't have a fireplace, so the bookshelf is our mantle.)

It's made of two lovely yarns - Stitch Nation's Full O Sheep and Hobby Lobby's Enchantress.  The Enchantress is the red yarn, and it has tiny little sequins in it :)


The only trouble is that it doesn't come in green, so I shall have to find a different yarn for Kev's stocking (next year).  The pattern is loosely based on the Striped Christmas Stocking in Holiday Knits.  Mostly I looked at the stocking my Grandmother made for me years and years ago and went from there.  Holiday Knits helped with some of the more math orientated sizing stuff.

Last but not least, I made Evy's First Christmas ornament.  No pictures yet, but they're coming soon!