And the Knitting Mojo Returns!

December 2, 2009February 1, 2015Leave a comment

Let me tell you, I have missed my quality time spent with yarn and sticks. Now that I’m over my nausea (for the most part), I can once again stand to look at a project for more than two minutes without wanting to throw up! Yay!

This is mitten #1 of the pair of “Bella’s Mittens” that I started back in September. It had been left abandoned on the shelf until a few days ago. I know of a few young ladies who would probably like it very much if they became the owners of such a pair of mittens.

The idea that they might be done in time for Christmas gifting has been hampered by occurences such this:This is commonly referred to as “pride goeth before the fall.” I got cocky about doing the cables and stopped looking at the directions and then did them backwards and didn’t realize it until about ten rows later. But the mistakes have been corrected and I have moved on.

Oh knitting, I have missed our daily chats. Let’s not ever stray from each other ever again.

Peacock Feathers Stole Swatch

September 9, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

I was browsing through knitting patterns while I was staying at my granny’s house in Seattle and she really liked the Peacock Feathers Stole. So I offered to make it for her. (Ignore all the weird mistakes in the swatch–I do it on purpose, to make sure I understand the stitch pattern and to see if I could feasibly fix mistakes without having to rip back to them. Obviously, that will not work with this one.)

The swatch blocked perfectly to the preferred 5 1/2 by 5 1/4 inches. Excellent.

I’m using JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk #036 Juniper. I bumped up my needle size to US4 instead of the recommended US3 because I tend to knit tight.

I was going to try to be a super knitter and have it done for Christmas because, seriously, how awesome would I be if that happened? (And hey, Eunny Jang finished her Peacock Feathers Shawl in nine DAYS.) But after trying to stick to “the schedule” of completing eight rows a day for that to happen, I developed a perma-headache and a slightly nauseated feeling whenever I thought about picking up the thing again. In my book, that points to TOO MUCH. So, much to my knitting pride’s disappointment, I am mandating that this project be downgraded to “slow-and-steady.” It will be ready when it is time for it be ready. No more than 2-4 rows a day, with the occasional day off. Not as much bang for your buck, but it will still get done. Eventually. (Boring.)

Also, in beginning to knit this little darling I have come face-to-face with my worst fear: What if this truly is above my skill level? My knitting skills are definitely being stretched with Lil’ Ole Mr. Peacock here. It’s 109 stitches across, NINE DIFFERENT charts to follow, 304 rows…and that’s just half of it, you get to knit the other half when you get to that point.

Why keep on with the crazines and the mental exhaustion? Because it’s for my granny, whom I adore immensely and would do almost anything for. I have wanted to make something “big” for her for forever, and she has finally given me my head to do so and darn it, I’m going to do a spectacular job with it. I have created the odd knitted article here and there for her, but nothing that I would actually want her to confess to having been created by me. I made her a scarf when I was first learning to knit and I really wish I could somehow locate it and burn it–Fun Fur was involved. And then I made her a very nice Lopi Earflap hat–that was two sizes too big. This stole needs to be drop-dead gorgeous and as near perfect as possible.

I did have a great idea last night that kept me from sleep for many hours: BEADS. How gorgeous would this be if I incorporated beading into it?

So much potential for such unproven hands…

The pattern is good; the yarn…

July 24, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

I bought this particular skein of Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn because the outside of the skein looks like this, which I think is rather pretty. The pattern, Spring Ripple Scarf, looks so good with this yarn!

The problem with Noro yarns is that sometimes the inside of the skein hides other colors; colors you would never have thought any person with working eyesight would choose to go with the colors on the outside of the skein:
Seriously…egads.

I’m thinking this one’s going into the frogging pile. Anyone interested in buying a skein of Noro sock yarn from me?

Now what am I going to work on? *sniffle*

Lazy Day Hat

July 1, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

You know how you’ll sometimes wake up in the morning and say to yourself, “I’m going to accomplish something today”? I awoke today in such a mood and now Rabbit has a hat to show for it.

Pattern: Make It Perfect’s “Lazy Day Hat“
Fabric: I know it’s still available in stores, but my particular cuts of both do not have the fabric information printed on them. Sorry!

There is a mistake in the pattern at the end–turn fabric B RIGHT SIDE OUT in order to match it up with the brim when you’re making the huge hat sandwich.

A quick project that is reversible and downright cute! There are moments where you just have to trust the pattern and go with it…it’s gets a little “Wha…?” at times.

Bluebird now wants a hat made from the sock monkey fabric and some random American Flag print I’ve got in the stash. I told her she needs to wait until I make an apron and a shoulder bag for myself. It’s time to reward myself for all this sewing I’ve been doing for everyone in the past week.

Rabbit’s Monkey Apron

July 1, 2009February 1, 20152 Comments

I had hoped to complete this during last week’s “Super Homemaking Week,” but fell short by a few days. We just finished it this evening–me sewing, Rabbit standing by my elbow and cautioning me to “Watch yo fingahs…”

Pattern: Apron B from “Little Retro Aprons for Kids” by Cindy Taylor Oates
Fabric: Sock Monkey by Erin Michael #15071 (Moda), Red Gingham and some random piece of red with colored dots that I’ve had for forever, Canary Rick-Rack

I love little people in aprons. This is a size 4 (the smallest size in the book), so it’s a teeny bit big, but she’ll grow into it soon enough. I have enough Sock Monkey print leftover to do something big with…perhaps someday I’ll don a sock monkey apron myself, very fun.

Rabbit LOVES her apron! The first thing she said when I was fitting it over her head was, “Huwway! Now I can help Mama make some pancakes!” She loves her pocket and is convinced that there is a “liddle spoon” somewhere in the kitchen that she can carry in the pocket and whip out in a baking emergency. Oh, to be two years old and the proud owner of a brand new sock monkey apron…

Portabello Pixie "Claire" Peasant Top

June 24, 2009February 1, 2015Leave a comment

Ignore the pants, it was an impromptu modelling session.

Pattern: Portabello Pixie “Claire” Peasant Top
Fabric: Dots–from the “Smores” collection by Me and My Sister Designs for Moda, Gingham–from my stash, more than likely bought at JoAnn’s some years ago.

This cute little top was pretty easy to make and a great way to break in my serger. Bluebird thinks it’s so funny that we made her a shirt from the scraps from her apron…I hope she doesn’t get it into her head to wear the two at the same time.

Shirring with elastic thread is fun stuff. Just be sure that you wind the bobbin without stretching the elastic at all–there’s a part where the elastic was stretched a teensy bit when I wound it and there’s a part where I was careful to keep it loose, and the loosely-wound stitching does look better. I don’t know what makes it look better, but it does look better.

I really want to make the dress that comes with this pattern, and Bluebird wants me to purchase the pants pattern so that she can have something to match her shirt. (Personally, I think it would be a little too much pink gingham on one little person.)

Making Blueberry Jam

June 22, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

OR “A Masochistic Way to Spend a Beautiful Summer Morning”

Homemade Blueberry Jam is one of my most favorite things in the world. I actually look forward to the summertime and to berries ripening throughout the land so I can replenish my blueberry jam hoards. Rabbit and I had fun this morning making jam together:

She’s my go-to girl whenever something needs “smashing” in this house, so it was only natural that she help me out with crushing the blueberries.

Now, to the uninitiated, I must warn that making jam can be rather painful because it spits like nothing else, which covers you with a smattering of burns. Cover any skin that you can, stir with a very long handled spoon and do not lean over your concoction while it cooks. (And shoo away any little ones from the kitchen!)

What things look like after you’re done boiling it all down:

Yep, it’s messy; you acquire a few burns and you’ll definitely spend the entire processing time cleaning up the kitchen.

But it’s worth it, because you end up with beautiful jars of gloriously tasty blueberry jam. It’s practically ambrosia.

And, in the words of my granny, who includes an extra step at the end of all her recipes: “Yummy”

Amber’s Apron

April 23, 2009February 1, 2015Leave a comment

My cousin, Amber, turns twelve this week; and she likes to help her mom out in the kitchen, so I thought an apron was a good birthday present choice for the dear girl. She’s one of my favorite people, and she’s named after me to boot (same middle name). You gotta remember the ones that are named after you! (I was even present at her birth…quite the experience for fourteen year old me!)

It’s Apron A from Retro Aprons by Cindy Taylor Oates and I used fabric from Sandi Henderson’s Farmer’s Market collection.

I am completely smitten with the fabric and I’ve been racking my poor, worn-out and exhausted brain trying to figure out a way to use the scraps in something else, but there aren’t too many scraps leftover. Wah.

Happy Birthday Ambone!

Midnight Frost Necklace & Earrings

April 22, 2009February 1, 2015Leave a comment

No offense to all the other pieces of jewelry I’ve made, but this set is one of my absolute favorites! It’s for my cousin Ashley, who turned 17 this month…where did the time go? I was in the fourth grade when she was born and she starts her senior year of high school this coming September!

Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcakes

April 13, 2009February 1, 20152 Comments

I am loving the Hello Cupcake! cookbook that we gave to Bluebird for Christmas. This is just one of the cute ideas in it. I made them for Recipe Club at the end of March.