My time of day

If I don't get up early in the morning, I feel like my whole day is off.  Ever have those?  If I don't get up before my kids, I feel like I start the day behind.  Even as I type, my first child is waking up and calling me.  Fortunately, he's old enough to get up and climb out of bed all on his own.  Here's my last piece of deadline crochet:

This was a blanket crocheted by someone, and apparently it was sitting for a while and started to come undone.

It's made of basic granny squares, the center in bright colors and the outside in black or navy (some squares were in black, while others were in navy).  This became confusing to me, as I was repairing it and at first couldn't tell. :)

The edging was just a basic single crochet with a double crochet on top of every other one.  I think it was then topped off with another round of single crochet, so it was a basic plain edging.  It was just right for the Technicolor squares.  I was rather impressed with them to be honest - it made something that would have looked appalling and turned it into something wonderful.  It could have easily looked like a clown, but instead, was functional and non-garish.

Have you seen these?  Aren't they adorable?  They are from Blue Sky Alpaca, and they are new "vintage" patterns.  These patterns are written up and published as though they are old, but they're not.  They are all new designs and Blue Sky Alpaca has done a wonderful job of packaging.  The yarn you see beside the pattern is their Royal Alpaca, and it's soft and yummy.  The color is a little hard to see, but it's a dark grey with a hint of green.  Kind of an olive-y grey.  This continues the accumulation of Christmas projects - #3.  This one is for my dad, who was left out of last year's knit-apalooza.  I'm trying to get everyone in this year who didn't get something last year.  Maybe one year I'll get everyone with a handmade gift.  But for now, it's one at a time.

Finally finished by the deadline

Well, I completed the 2 patterns for Christmas in July.  Wanna sneak peek?

There's one.  It should look lovely.  It turned out really well.  Can you tell what it is?  It's a lovely crocheted shawl.  Here's the next one:

This one is harder to tell from the picture, but it's a headband.  I created two crochet patterns for Christmas in July.  I have a feeling they'll be some of the few, but crochet is growing.  The sweater for the summer knit along has to wait a little longer.  There's a repair that has to be made.  I'll post a quick picture that one later.  I've been so busy with finishing school that I hadn't had time to work on it, but now I promised it would be at the shop tomorrow, so I need to finish it.  If you get the chance, stop by The Whole Nine Yarns next weekend and check out Christmas in July - only $5 and so many free patterns!

What are your plans this weekend?  Anything fun?

Lagging behind

I've noticed that SO many people on the Summer Sweater Knit-along have already finished their sweaters!  I am no where near complete with mine.

I've finished one more repeat, mainly because I've been working on the Christmas in July project.  Here's a close up of the pattern, pre-blocking:

I have a terrible habit of starting something else when I'm under pressure, because in some weird way, it makes sense to add more stress when you are stressed.  Doesn't it to you?  See my latest habit:

This is a lovely trindle from Jeremy.  He makes them, the ingenious man that he is.  They are wonderful.  He's got to be smart - he's a science teacher at a local high school (and incredibly brave!).

He has trindles on all seven continents.  No, really - someone who spends time on Antarctica actually bought a trindle from him and uses it while she's there!  See that wrapped around the shaft?  That's my very first attempt at yarn.

I'm using a lovely Corriedale fleece that a generous sheep gave, and I purchased.  I'm hoping to pick up something a little different in a couple of weeks.  After I finish the Christmas in July project, I'm hitting the sweater, and then it's time to start Christmas knitting!  Look for more details coming up!

What's your latest obsession?  Find any hidden treasures?

Almost done

I'm almost done with the Christmas in July pattern.  I say "almost" like in 30 minutes I'll be done.  Ha!  That's wishful thinking.  I'm almost done with the main part, and then there's the finishing.  Here's another picture for you:

Can you tell what it is?  Check out a close up of the stitches:

I'm still learning on the camera, but I think I'm doing pretty good, all things considered.  I'm using this book:

to help with the finishing touches on the project.  So, have you decided to come to Christmas in July yet?

Here's another quick announcement: July 27th, Helen, GA - I decided to have a meet-up.  If you can make it, please come!  Hopefully it won't be too hot (we're meeting at 10 a.m.) and we can move indoors to the coffee shop (I doubt they'd have a problem being invaded if we buy something to drink!).  Helen offers some great diversions from Atlanta.  There's all kinds of fun things to do: horseback riding, tubing, shopping, great restaurants, and a relaxing atmosphere.  It's a whole lot of fun, so if you've never been, or it's been a while since you've been, or you just went, please come join me!  I look forward to seeing you.  What occupies your time this week?

Forgotten

Thanks to Molly at DeepBlueRenegade for the header!  She's awesome and smart, and I'm not just saying that because she designed a rockin' header for me.  She really is.  Go check her out.  I also realized that I forgot a WIP yesterday:

It doesn't look like much now, but it's most of the Koguchi Shawl from The Whole Nine Yarns blog, designed by JennaB.  I just have the edging to go on this side, and then I have to finish the other side with chart 3 and 4.  Once that's finished, I can block it.  There's a reason you block lace: it makes it MUCH prettier.


Thanks for coming by and seeing what's happening!  I plan on posting an update on the Crossover Lace Sweater at least once a week, as part of the Luvinthemommyhood WIP check-in.  

I got some unexpected time today to work on it.  I was going to take my Christmas in July WIP with me, but I left it at home!  So, I got to finish another repeat.  I'm now up to 5 inches on the sweater back, and should start the shaping, but I still want to add another 3 inches to the bottom.  Hopefully, leaving details on the blog will help me remember when I start the sides! :)  We're having a good time.  Tomorrow, I'm picking up these two books from my LYS:

They are WONDERFUL books.  The encyclopedia is by Robyn Chachula, and is better than any other stitch dictionary I've seen.  The Curvy Girl Crochet book has some really good crochet sweater patterns, although personally, I'd change up the yarns.  Some of them would be better in a thinner yarn, with a smaller hook, which of course would change the gauge.  But the concept is there.  At any rate, it's a step in the right direction.

Maybe, just maybe, I can post tomorrow another picture of Christmas in July progress.  Have you guessed what it is yet?  Yes?  No?  Maybe?  Take a guess!  What are you working on now?

Works in Progress

Hey!  What do you know?!  I'm posting two days in a row!  Mark the calendar - it's a landmark!  :)  Okay, so here are my WIPs.

First up, the Crossover Lace Cardigan:

I finished the ribbing at the bottom, and have done 2 complete repeats of the lace.  The pattern calls for 5 inches before the shaping starts, but I'm modifying it to 8 inches.  I'm just working more repeats of the lace pattern before the shaping.

Now, for the swatches:

The one on the left is KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Nevermore.  That's going to be the body of a Cathode for me.  The blue swatch is Ella Rae Classic, and it will be a custom sweater for Little Man.  Are you ready for a tease?

Both are new patterns for Christmas in July at The Whole Nine Yarns.  If you'd like to see the finished results, you'll have to come by the shop on July 22nd.  Or, you can wait until I post the pattern here.  Whichever. :)  I'm hoping to have a lot more designs coming.  So, what about you?  What are you working on?

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day everyone!  Minor history lesson for you: this day was when independence from Great Britain was declared.  However, it was actually July 2nd , when the Continental Congress actually voted on the declaration, penned by Richard Lee.  It took 2 days for the Congress to debate over the issue and revise the wording - proving from the beginning that nothing in Congress was easy. I do think that 2 days is significantly faster than how our Congress operates - perhaps they could learn a lesson from those who debated the most significant issue ever faced.  It makes the current problems seem petty in comparison, doesn't it?  Be thankful for those who originally penned the act of freedom, and those who have defended it over the years.  Tonight, we're setting off fireworks

 and fixing S'mores.  We won't have a campfire, and although we could use a tea light candle for the roasting of the marshmallows, we're taking the easy route and doing them in the microwave.

We have to wait until it's dark, which means around 9 p.m. here before we can set them off.  We found out that in Georgia, it's illegal to sell any fireworks that shoot up over 6 feet.  Which means our display will be WAY less than the one in the picture.  But, it should be fun.  We have a bag of old ones that my brother and I bought YEARS ago, which makes them about 50 years old (not really, but in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago).  These were ones we bought across the border in South Carolina or Tennessee or Alabama or somewhere that doesn't have such silly limitations on the height of fireworks.  Little Man is excited because this is the first year he'll be outside to set them off.  I hope the old ones work, but we got a few extras in case they don't.  The bad thing about the old ones is even if they do go off, most of them are the ones my brother liked, which means they just make loud bangs, no pretty colors.  He liked to make things explode (typical boy) instead of pretty colors (typical girl - me).  We'll put Princess down and go outside to have some fun, provided it's not raining.  It's threatening to do so now, with the dark clouds and the thunder and such.  We'll try it anyway, and if we don't get to do it tonight, we can always try Friday night.  Everyone likes some fireworks.

Here's another little interesting fact for you: I learned this week from a lady at work that in Ohio, during November, which is raining most of the time, they have something called November Rain (song title anyone?!).  During this celebration, they set off fireworks in November, kind of like we do in July, but it helps break up the monotony of the raining season for them.  I thought it would be great to add fireworks to all our birthday celebrations.  What do you think?  Would you do that for your kids?  Hope you all have a safe and happy Fourth of July, even if you're not in the U.S.A.

Casting On

So, in case you didn't see it, TLC has a new show called Craft Wars.  Tori Spelling hosts it, and the first episode was really rather cool.  Basically the concept is simple: three crafters are given certain materials and a challenge - think Project Runway for crafts.  The winner takes home $10,000.  That's a prize I'd love.  And talk about hacking - you hijack all kinds of stuff.  The first challenge this week was a duffle bag from sports equipment.  There were cheerleading skirts, karate belts, tennis rackets, baseballs and all kinds of other stuff.  The crafters were given one hour and a helper to create.  One person was eliminated, and then the second challenge started.  This one was to use old school supplies and create a kids' playhouse.  I have to say - I LOVED this idea.  What better use of all those extras than make something incredibly crafty out of them?!  Here's the winning design:

One of the judges commented that she should have paid more attention to the detail INSIDE the playhouse, as there wasn't much for the kids to play with.  This, I have to say, I agree with.  There wasn't much - not even flooring really.  But, the outside was AMAZING, as you can see.  Those flower boxes are decorated with pencils on the outside.  The perfect house would have been this one, with the losing house's inside.  In there, she had a corkboard painted red and shaped like an apple, a chalkboard wall for the kids to draw on, and a whole wall wallpapered with sheets of notebook paper.  Her inside was better, but this one was over the top for outside construction.

If you haven't visited Luvinthemommyhood, you should definitely take a gander at what she's got going on over there.  First there's this:

  

Have you signed up?  I did.  I cast on yesterday, and quite frankly, I'm rather disappointed with my progress so far.  I was hoping I would knit faster, or that the yarn would figure out how to knit itself during the night.  I'm also not sure that I am making the right size.  Oh, you want to know what I'm making? (Duh - as if I didn't know! :))  Here's what I cast on yesterday, when the whole thing started:

  

 

This is the lovely Crossover Lace Sweater from Juniper Moon Farms in Findley.  It wouldn't be mine if it weren't Midnight, or black.  Black goes with everything! :)  I'm making the 43" size, and I think I need to up it to the 47.5" size.  I could up it to the largest size (it only takes 2 skeins for the largest three sizes) but I'm back on my diet and exercise routine (although not so much on the exercise) so the weight should hopefully start dropping off again.  Those were the days - I didn't get much knitting done, but I sure did look good when I did it! :)  I'll get there again.  Now that school is over, I can focus more on me and the family, and the knitting.  And crocheting.  And did I mention the sewing?

Yes, I've started sewing too.  That's where the Sash with Beaded Fringe came from.  I have LOTS of fabric for quilts.  I say "lots" - probably not as much as some, but I do have enough for about 4 quilts currently.  Granted, they are all small ones, but they're there.  I hope to work with what I have for the rest of the year.  

Do you know about Christmas in July yet?  NO?  Well, let me inform you then.  Christmas in July is at The Whole Nine Yarns in downtown Woodstock on July 22nd.  There will be LOTS of free patterns, and some for sale as well.  You pay $5 at the door (or at least we have in the past) and you get a folder.  In this folder you collect the free patterns (please, don't take the for sale ones, it cause all kinds of heartache and indigestion when things get taken) and they are all fabulous fast gift ideas.  I've had a couple there, and I plan on having at least 2 this year.  I've already completed one, and the second one will be coming soon as well.  Once I have them done, after Christmas in July, I may just post them here.  Wouldn't that be fun?  I've been having a huge brainstorm of ideas recently, so I've been taking diligent notes so that in the coming months I can create them and let you all see what's floating around in my head.  Okay, maybe not so much...but at least let you see the PATTERNS floating in my head.  Sound like a plan?  Okay.  So, go forth my lovelies, and sign up for the Summer Sweater Knitalong on luvinthemommyhood site, and then tell me you're joining me!  Oh, and PLEASE don't worry about time - you have until September 30th to finish your sweater!  I'm super ambitious and want to finish 3: one for me, one for Little Man and one for Princess.  Hubby doesn't wear sweaters often, so unless it's really lightweight, he's not in the market.

Still working on it.

So, I'm done with school.  It's been a long hard journey over the past 2 years, but I'm done.  I'm now the proud possessor of a Master's degree in Business Administration and a huge pile of loans.  At some point, those will be paid off, but it will be far into the future, unfortunately.  That would be part of the surprise I keep promising.  The other part should work itself out in the next week or so, and I'll be able to announce it here too.

In other news, here are some lovely pictures for you:

This is the Bella Dress, and I fixed it.  It didn't take long, but it did take a little time.  It still looks lovely on Princess.  This was out of Merlin from Louet - it's lovely and drapey and a combination of merino wool and linen.  The linen gives the merino just enough stability without killing your hands.

This is the supposed Ann Norling #27 vest - that isn't.  This was a completion project and the woman who had started it thought it was a published pattern.  It wasn't.  I bought a copy of the supposed pattern she used, but she made so many changes to it, it was hardly recognizable anymore.  If anyone would like details, I'd be happy to share the changes, and I may at some point write them down and post them.  For now, I'm just glad it's done.  I'm not sure what yarn this was, but it felt like Noro of some kind.

This is another one of those easy, simple, stupid-fast scarves from Rowan.  It uses Kid Silk Creation and about 2 hours of your time.  Really - it is that fast.  The results are fabulous and it looks like you spent WAAAY more time on it than you really did.  Here's the model shot:

I know - the model isn't wearing the best shirt for the pictures, but it was all I had at the time. :)

Someone had asked about a model shot of the Sash with Beaded Fringe from Amy Butler, so here it is.  Again, probably not the best shirt to wear with it, but ta-da - there it is.

I don't think I posted a picture of this one yet - this is the Little Red Riding Cowl by Francine Toukou. This one was easy, fast, simple, and terrific.  This is definitely a quick, gratifying project.  Like one you need while finishing graduate school. :)  Here's another model shot for you:

Here is Francine Toukou's Fireside Capelet (this link is the closest to it I could find).  Again, another easy fast crochet item for instant gratification.  I think it took me a weekend to work it up (great for gifts!).

And the gratuitous model shot of the capelet:

I think this one turned out better than the others, mainly because it was so BLAZING HOT in the shade.  And we did this at like 10-11 in the morning.

This are the lovely Foundling Mitts, which are to be published in What Would Madame DeFarge Knit? Volume 2.  The book isn't out yet, but the test pattern was beautifully written and it will be well worth the wait.

These are the Marietta Mitts, designed by Mariana from The Whole Nine Yarns.  I think the pattern is still up on the blog - another well written, easy pattern.  These would be a great first pattern for someone to learn knitting in the round.

I couldn't add pictures without adding my own creation.  These are the Skolnick mitts, sans the double stitching on the palm.  The picture doesn't really show the cable - maybe next time.

This is yet another Francine Toukou pattern: her Simply Slippers pattern wasn't the one I bought, but it's still the same (I think).  The pattern I purchased was Flowers from Head to Toe, and it added a flower pattern to the slippers, but you could just take the flowers off if you wanted.  Again, another super-simple fast crochet project.

Here is the model shot again.  There are a few changes I'd make to the pattern, but I think it's because my feet are so HUGE (I wear a size 10 in women's, and I'm only 5'6"!).  I'd make the top not so wide - it has a tendency to slip down around my little toe.  I did make them longer than the pattern called for, thinking that I'd need the extra length.  I don't know that I really do.  In any case, that's all for now.  Watch for some more updates and possibly some new patterns!  I'm hitting a really big creative phase at the moment and my fingers can't fly as fast as my brain! :)

Finished Objects

So, I've finished a few things, and promised pictures.  Here's one thing I finished:

How do you like that?  Not the Princess, the dress. :) It turned out really well, and just barely soon enough.  She's almost too big for it now, which is sad.  She may be able to wear it through the summer, and then we'll have to put it away.  Here's something else I made:

This banana pudding is a recipe from Bakerella, and it's easy.  I mean, seriously easy.  Like, in 20 minutes, you're done making it.  You wait 20 minutes or so for it to set up in the fridge, and you dig in.  Make it right before dinner, and by the time you're ready for dessert, it's ready for you.  I've made this 3 times by request from Hubby.  How do you like that?

Here's my latest adventure:

I have ventured into the world of sewing!  I made the Sash with Beaded Fringe from Amy Butler.  The trickiest part was the beaded fringe (go figure).  I couldn't get my zipper foot to work with it (the beads kept getting caught) so I just hand-stitched the ends.  It wasn't too bad really.  Easy pattern and a fast sew.  Here is one more shot for you:

I really like the way it turned out.  And unless I point out the problems with it, you'd never know.  So, I'm not going to.  I'm going to take a lesson from Deborah at Whipstitch, and just say "thank you" if someone complements me on it.  Oh, and one more picture, because I'm a slacker with pictures, and I have to add in this shot of Little Man:

Giving Up Sleep

The week before last, I had a terrible problem sleeping.  Apparently, I can give up sleep (I averaged about 4 hours for 3 nights) but it really takes its toll.  Last week, I was exhausted, both mentally and physically.

This week is somewhat better, although my nights have been later than I'd like.  However, things have been accomplished.  Not always as much as I would like (I'd really like to finish everything, but that's just not possible), but I did get a few things done.  I do have pictures, but for now, here's a list:

The Bella Dress is completed, and Princess is adorable in it.  It's a good thing I finished it now; she's almost too big for it!

The vest from a friend's mom is done.  I still don't know what pattern she used, so I had to make it up.  She also knit the fronts longer than the back, so I had to undo those and redo the armscyes (in case you are wondering, that's the proper name for armholes).  See?  I'm edu-macated. :)

Kidsilk Haze Creation scarf for my friend.  This is a complete surprise for her, and when she picks up her mom's vest, I'm gifting it to her.  By the way, if you haven't made one of these scarves, you should.  Although the price of the yarn is a bit high in comparison to others, they make terrific one skein fast knitting projects.  Start thinking quick and easy Christmas gifts now. :)

That's all for tonight - I'm still working out some issues with the blog, and other things.  Once a few more details are settled, I'll have great news for you.

I *HEART* Crochet

I am loving crochet these days.  I am lining the Bella Dress tomorrow night; I had to call in reinforcements.  My mother is coming over tomorrow to help sew it up.  I should probably block the dress first though.  I guess I'll be doing that in the morning.

I've been making sketches of some pattern ideas, and I think next week I can get started working on the samples.  They should be pretty little things.  The joy of crochet is that it is fairly quick, if you know what you're doing.  I have a drawing, which should make the crochet a little faster.  I've crocheted things before without a sketch, just off the top of my head, but it takes a lot more concentration and focus that I have recently.

This weekend will be completing a vest for a friend's mom.  It shouldn't take that long, but again, takes concentration.  Here's a picture of the pattern:

It's Ann Norling's pattern #27, in case you were wondering.  She wrote it for multiple stitch counts, so you can make each view based on the type of yarn you're using.  If you use a worsted weight, fingering, etc., all you have to know is the number of stitches per inch.  If you know your gauge (there's a word we hear often enough as knitters), you don't have to do anything but follow the directions for that gauge.  I think it's a cool way of writing patterns; it makes substituting yarn far easier than doing all the calculations yourself.  These days, I'm all about ease too.  

Hopefully, the dress will be done on Friday, and Sunday when Princess wears it (yes, I made my daughter a dress for Mother's Day - it's a mother's prerogative), I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.  

Have fun stormin' the castle!

Think it'll work?  It'll take a miracle.


I have 7 weeks.  Seven weeks and I'm done with my master's degree.  Once that is finished, I will definitely have more free time and less stress.  Hopefully, I will also have more finished projects, more pictures, and time to update things the way I want them.  In the meantime, here's a quick rundown:


1. Bella Dress

It's done, with the exception of lining it.  I have the lining all cut out; I just have to sew it up and stitch it into the dress.  I'm going to try and get that done either this week or next, so the following Sunday, Princess can wear it to church.  I even had enough leftover yarn to make a cutey-patuty headband with a flower.  And a matching button.  


2. Cloudy Day

This hat is about halfway done.  I have trouble picking it up, because it takes so much concentration, and I just don't have enough brain power to go around.


3. Kiama

I know, I know.  I'm stressed, I'm ridiculously busy, and yet I start ANOTHER project.  I needed something simple though, and this one fits the bill.  It's definitely an easy knit right now, and that's what I need.


4. Crochet Slippers

I have the flowers, the slippers, the clip for my hair...just not all together.  The ends need to be woven in on the flowers, and they need to be attached to the slippers and clip.  This weekend should afford the time to get this done, I hope.


As for the other promised news, I PROMISE I'm not trying to string you along.  Once I can get this blog sorted out and it's looking all nice and wonderful, I can write it all out for you.  I know, it's like the promised land for the Israelites - so close and yet so far, and delays keep happening.  This weekend, I'm taking an extra day off work, and even with school work, I should be able to do a few things around the blog and make it nice and pretty.  I may have to wait until next week, when I get my computer back.  It got knocked off the chair (yes, I know - it shouldn't have been there to begin with) and the screen cracked.  It had to be sent for repair, and fortunately I was smart enough to get the extended warranty so it's covered. That being the case, it just has to get back all nice and fixed, and then I'll have all the right tools for the job.  As it is, I'm making do with another computer.  In any event, I hope to have big news next week, but I'd love to give you a preview before then.  We'll see how it goes.  It's going to be a lot of work, but once it's done, it will be worth it.

Under Construction

You will notice some changes - it's all because of some new things that are coming.  Please, pardon my dust as I continue to adjust things.  Be excited!  There are great new developments, including pictures, coming and all will be revealed soon. :)  Enjoy the anticipation!