Wait, thats not how the song goes...
Holy Dinah I've been busy! I'm ALMOST finished all of my holiday knitting. I say almost but I still have 9 or 10 little mini sweater ornaments left to make for family, and maybe one for me. I need to have at least 3 finished by December 2nd and in the mail to make sure it makes to Canada by Christmas. Hopefully that'll be enough time, right?
I just finished toque (beanie) for my bff's lovely little man. That kid's head is huge! He's barely six months old and his head is 17"... Is that normal? I have no idea. Babies are not my speciality! This is the second thing I've made for him. This hat was way easier and quicker. I used a pattern from Family Knits by Debbie Bliss and Knitpicks swish DK in Seaglass. I will post pictures after the holidays. I don't want to ruin any surprises.
I finished a scarf for my momma-in-law, it's lace! ooohhh! Again I'll post pictures once the holidays are finished.
I'm always thinking of the future, I'm looking for a throw pattern to make for my Dad for his birthday (in October!). I've never made anything for my Dad before, I think I've found the perfect blanket. It looks to be the same as one that his mom made forever ago that was on his recliner. I don't know what happened to that blanket, hopefully he'll like it.
I've never been a big holiday person, but this year I'm REALLY excited for Christmas, not because I'm going to be with family (because I'm not) or because I'm excited for presents (there really isn't anything I want). I'm really excited to GIVE this year. I can't wait for that specially little man to get his presents (we'll his mom mostly) and for my family to have little sweaters on their trees. I can't wait for my husband to open his gifts (they're good ones, lemme tell you. I can't tell you, he might read this).
After these next few projects are finished I'm looking to start something new. I really want to start making things for others, babies especially. I've just started googling children's hospitals in Southern California to see what they are in need of. So far it's been slow going. Really I only looked for 5 minutes.
I have been plans for the new year, and I'll share them with you in a little bit. Now it's back to work for me! Thought I'd just say Hi, hope you're well and give you a little update as to what I've been doing. I'll post pictures soon, I promise.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
I've been a busy busy bee!
Good morning bloggerverse.
Oh boy, it has been a while. I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. I hope you've been well. I've been bananas busy! So much to tell you!
I sent the blanket from this post, Momma and baby both loved it! I'm so glad, it was such a labor of love. Let me tell you, there were times when I was over it, many times my husband asked "Aren't you finished with that thing yet?" "Nope, not even close."
Since the blanket, I've made and posted the first item to my Etsy Shop! It's a 100% organic farmers market bag. I really do like it! I also made myself one and take it to the market every Sunday. This puppy can hold a ton!
I used Debbie bliss eco yarn. I loved it! It was a joy to work with. Very smooth and soft, sometimes my needles would separate the strands but nothing major. I may have found my new favorite cotton to work with.
My bff's family loved the blanket I made so much they've asked me to make them some winter things! It's starting to get cold in Canada, so I'd better get working! I've got requests for 2 pairs of mittens, a toque (Yes it's called a toque, not a beanie. I don't care how long I've lived in the United States, a knit cap will always be a toque to me.), and a scarf. All stripped! I'm using alpaca for the first set. Red and Black stripes. I've never made stripped mittens before.
At the beginning of the month we took a trip out East for a wedding (which was AWESOME!), which meant 2 cross country flights (yuck!), I spent my flights watching guilty pleasure TV, eating cookies (Thank you Jetblue!) and making mittens. I only have the scarf left (thank goodness!) which is about a third of the way complete. The mittens and toque are blocking and hopefully will be dry soon. I hate taking up counter space with blocking mats.
I'm headed back to Canuck-ville in October, I should have mittens for all! Or at least a few.
I'm off to knit the knits and purl the purls.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Way to be born, little baby boy!
My bff in the whole wide world just had a beautiful little boy. Well not JUST had a baby, I'm a little late on this one. This wonderful little boy made his grand debut May 18th.
I've wanted to make this blanket for a while, but never had anyone to make it for.
This is the largest project I've taken on, I'm not 100% happy with it, but about 94.2% happy. It took me around 200 hours of blood sweat and tears. Certainly a whole lot of trying to keep Honey from laying on it and pulling the stitches off the needles. All I wanted to do was get this blanket finished and in the mail to little baby the whole time I was knitting it. And then I ran out of yarn! I was on my second last stripe and I had no more yarn left! Oh course I had to order more from Knit Picks and I couldn't just order the 2 skeins I needed to finish. $50 later, and less than a week after ordering I had my yarn! (and blocking mats, T-pins and bunch of other goodies) After that I off and running.
This is the largest project I've taken on, I'm not 100% happy with it, but about 94.2% happy. It took me around 200 hours of blood sweat and tears. Certainly a whole lot of trying to keep Honey from laying on it and pulling the stitches off the needles. All I wanted to do was get this blanket finished and in the mail to little baby the whole time I was knitting it. And then I ran out of yarn! I was on my second last stripe and I had no more yarn left! Oh course I had to order more from Knit Picks and I couldn't just order the 2 skeins I needed to finish. $50 later, and less than a week after ordering I had my yarn! (and blocking mats, T-pins and bunch of other goodies) After that I off and running.
Once the kniting was finished then came the finishing. I HATE weaving in the ends of yarn. This was very tedious and took forever! Man, that was rough to get through.
Blocking this was interesting. Not thinking I thought for sure it would fit on my counter. Nope, the counter wasn't wide enough. Next idea- coffee table. Nope, not long enough. Ok well, thats all my flat surfaces that the dog can't lay on. Lets see what else i can use. Coffee table, storage bench, boxes and some towels. Oh yes and my shoes so the boxes don't fall over. What a cluster fuck! It certainly wasn't flat, and was very frustrating. Lemme tell you! The boxes fell over, the blanket wouldn't stay flat, the towels slipped. UGH! Eventually I managed to get it to stay and hoped for the best.
Blocking this was interesting. Not thinking I thought for sure it would fit on my counter. Nope, the counter wasn't wide enough. Next idea- coffee table. Nope, not long enough. Ok well, thats all my flat surfaces that the dog can't lay on. Lets see what else i can use. Coffee table, storage bench, boxes and some towels. Oh yes and my shoes so the boxes don't fall over. What a cluster fuck! It certainly wasn't flat, and was very frustrating. Lemme tell you! The boxes fell over, the blanket wouldn't stay flat, the towels slipped. UGH! Eventually I managed to get it to stay and hoped for the best.
TA DA!
It all worked out pretty well I think. I'm so excited for have a lovely little boy for knit teeny tiny things for.
It all worked out pretty well I think. I'm so excited for have a lovely little boy for knit teeny tiny things for.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Knit & purl
Hello bloggerverse,
My mother taught me to knit when I was around 8 or 9. I don't remember what the reason was, but was probably because of my Nana. My Nana would knit all the time. Whenever she'd come visit, she'd sit on chesterfield working on stockings or mittens in the round. I was so fascinated with how she could take ball of yarn and turn into something so wonderful. She'd tell us stories of people we'd never met from 'back in her day' never looking down at her work, never dropping a stitch or messing up her cabling.
My mom taught me to knit one afternoon in the middle of summer ( I think I might just be making that up). She taught me when to knit, when to purl and how to pick up the stitches I'd dropped many rows ago. Dropped stitches happened a lot! After a week I had expected to have a fabulous scarf and be so thrilled with my new skill. Yeah, that didn't happen. I had a maybe 5" square and was frustrated, thought knitting was dumb (Hey, I was 9!) and gave up. I don't remember what happened to those first needles I probably gave them away.
A few years later, more like 10, I asked my mom to teach me again. This time I was eager to learn and master the needles. This time I learned, and practiced, practiced, practiced, practiced. The only thing I didn't know how to do was cast on. My mom was at work when I wanted to learn how. so I figured it out on my own... sort of. I made a slip knot, knit the one stitch and then kept knitting into the front and back of that one stitch. Not exactly the proper way to do it but it served my purpose. I asked my mom who taught her to knit, expecting her to say her mother or even my Nana but it wasn't. It was my grandpa. He learned in the army while he was enlisted during WWII. I had never known his about my grandpa and I feel like its a little something we share. Our little pass time that we share together. Even though he's gone.
Over the years, I have mastered the knit, concurred the purl, cast on and cast off millions of stitches and loved every minute and every hour, there have been many hours spent knitting. Many movies knit through.
When my hands are idle, I am dreaming about my current and next projects. I dream of knitting. I want to spend every minute of every day knitting. I love being able to make things for the ones that I love. Every stitches is made with love, care and enjoying every minute. Now I have friends baby's to make tiny little adorable things for, nephews, and of course friends that always need mittens.
Maybe this is my way of paying homage to my family, especially my Nana who inspired me all those years ago when I was just a little girl wondering how she was doing that. I miss those itchy mittens she used to make and would give anything to have another pair. Thank you Nana for giving me this amazing gift that I love and cherish so much,
Knit hard for life.
My mother taught me to knit when I was around 8 or 9. I don't remember what the reason was, but was probably because of my Nana. My Nana would knit all the time. Whenever she'd come visit, she'd sit on chesterfield working on stockings or mittens in the round. I was so fascinated with how she could take ball of yarn and turn into something so wonderful. She'd tell us stories of people we'd never met from 'back in her day' never looking down at her work, never dropping a stitch or messing up her cabling.
My mom taught me to knit one afternoon in the middle of summer ( I think I might just be making that up). She taught me when to knit, when to purl and how to pick up the stitches I'd dropped many rows ago. Dropped stitches happened a lot! After a week I had expected to have a fabulous scarf and be so thrilled with my new skill. Yeah, that didn't happen. I had a maybe 5" square and was frustrated, thought knitting was dumb (Hey, I was 9!) and gave up. I don't remember what happened to those first needles I probably gave them away.
A few years later, more like 10, I asked my mom to teach me again. This time I was eager to learn and master the needles. This time I learned, and practiced, practiced, practiced, practiced. The only thing I didn't know how to do was cast on. My mom was at work when I wanted to learn how. so I figured it out on my own... sort of. I made a slip knot, knit the one stitch and then kept knitting into the front and back of that one stitch. Not exactly the proper way to do it but it served my purpose. I asked my mom who taught her to knit, expecting her to say her mother or even my Nana but it wasn't. It was my grandpa. He learned in the army while he was enlisted during WWII. I had never known his about my grandpa and I feel like its a little something we share. Our little pass time that we share together. Even though he's gone.
Over the years, I have mastered the knit, concurred the purl, cast on and cast off millions of stitches and loved every minute and every hour, there have been many hours spent knitting. Many movies knit through.
When my hands are idle, I am dreaming about my current and next projects. I dream of knitting. I want to spend every minute of every day knitting. I love being able to make things for the ones that I love. Every stitches is made with love, care and enjoying every minute. Now I have friends baby's to make tiny little adorable things for, nephews, and of course friends that always need mittens.
Maybe this is my way of paying homage to my family, especially my Nana who inspired me all those years ago when I was just a little girl wondering how she was doing that. I miss those itchy mittens she used to make and would give anything to have another pair. Thank you Nana for giving me this amazing gift that I love and cherish so much,
Knit hard for life.
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