Clementina Sweater

Last week it finally began to feel like Fall around here. I've had this Clementina pattern for a while, but never made one so I figured now was the time!

I can't remember what I originally bought this I Love This Cotton yarn for, but I really liked working with it. It's brightly colored, nice and soft. 

The pattern called to slip the last stitch of every row while holding the yarn in front of the work. It created the most beautiful edges!!

When I am making a project, I usually end up getting slowed down by sleeves. I hate using double pointed needles (dpns). I always end up with gaps, that knitters called laddering, where the needles come together.

So I decided to try using two circular needles to knit in-the-round for the sleeves. ERMAHGERD. This is the way to go for me. Once I got the hang of it, I finished the first sleeve and then went on to not only start but also finish the second sleeve on the same day! This is a big deal for me. 

The pattern is very easy to follow with basic stitches that give it very cute details. It goes from newborn to 6 years and it's only around $5! It took me a while to make it, but I was just so busy in the month of September that I barely had time to sit down and work on it. I made her a cute little beanie to match it too!

Now I have no idea what to work on next!!

WIP Wednesday {April 29th}

I'm still knitting along on this Oriental Lily dress.  I didn't work on it at all over the weekend so progress is a little slower than I would like.  Oh and I did the first round of increases wrong so now there are little holes. Stupid little holes that now I will have to go back and fix later.

I don't have much experience with the M1 increase, I more often knit in the front and then the back (kfb).  So I picked up the bar for the M1 increase, but knit into the front so I created a hole.  Actually many holes.

*sigh* Live and learn, right?

WIP Wednesday

Today I started the Oriental Lily dress pattern by Georgie Hallam.  I'm making the 3T size based on my daughter's chest measurements.  Using Knit Picks CotLin DK weight yarn in Harbor and Sagebrush.

Other exciting things happening:

• My son is going to his first prom on Saturday.  I'm dying on the inside.
• There is going to be a late frost tonight.  Had to cover all my plants.
• I've basically become a vegetarian until my doctors appointment on the 30th.  I don't want my gallbladder to kill me.  But really, I'm just surviving on oatmeal, salad, and coffee.  Oh and...
• I've started drinking hot water with lemon and honey in the morning.  It's surprisingly good and after only three days, already feel a little bit peppier. 

Big B's and Lots of Strings

I decided to boost my craftiness this year by following along with a Tumblr blog, Craft Challenges.  Doing a new project every month.  Probably a lost cause before it even starts because I rarely ever finish a challenge.  I do try though.  And this month is already complete!

This month's theme was white.  You are open to interpret that however you see, but it must have something predominately white about it.

I was randomly searching through Ravelry for something I could use.  I definitely didn't want to knit something white for the toddler to wear because it wouldn't be white for long!  I happened upon a pattern for a pillow.  With a big B on it!  If you don't know, our last name starts with a B.

Turns out I learned two knitting techniques while doing this project, intarsia colorwork and how to use mattress stitch to seam a bound off/cast on edge.

I've done stripes, but not blocks of color.  I did not do it right.  At least for the first half of the B anyway.  I was cutting the yarn at every color change.  I hang my head in shame.  What can I say?  I'm still fairly new to this.  I realized that this just wasn't right, considered frogging the whole damn thing, watched a few videos, discovered yarn "bobbins", and finished it.

The original pattern called for using a crochet hook to weave together the edges with a nice contrasting yarn.  I wanted a more finished look so decided I'd go with what I know.  The mattress stitch.  Except when I got to the cast on/bound off edges, I realized I had to go back to videos.  Turns out it's pretty easy and I got nice pretty seams.

The B may not be pretty.  It's got tons of mistakes.  I think for my first go with so many new things (a pillow, colorwork, these kind of seams), I like it.  I hope to possibly make other letter pillows in the future.

Erryday I'm Ravelin'

I just published my first pattern on Ravelry.

I'm nervous, excited, like a deer in the headlights.

When I first began knitting, which wasn't that long ago peeps, I looked everywhere for patterns that were knit flat as I had no idea how to knit things in-the-round.  My daughter, Kaia Papaya, wanted me to make her a slouchy beanie (because she's a secret hipster), but I was having trouble finding something that I could create.

I finally came across a pattern that was 1) slouchy and 2) knit flat.  Hurrah!  I made one.  Another and then another.  I found I could literally make one of these in just a few hours.  The problem is that the original pattern disappeared.  It was posted online and is lost to the matrix.  And I had never copied or written the pattern down.

I sat down with one of her beanies, a notebook, pen, some yarn, and needles.  Several trial and errors later, I think I found a pattern that works!  Since it's not exactly original, I was working off of another pattern, I made it free!

You can find it on Ravelry here and there is also a link on my Shop tab.

Snow Day!

It's officially SNOW DAY #1 here in western Kentucky.  We have basically a half inch of snow on the ground.  I know for you Northerners this sounds crazy, but we take our tiny snowfall amounts VERY seriously.  I made my required trip to the grocery to purchase supplies for the forthcoming blizzard.

Bread?  Check.
Milk?  Check.
Most important item?  TOILET PAPER!  Check!!

Then I sat in my yoga pants and a hoodie for the whole weekend!  I'm a rebel.  A lazy, lazy rebel.  I was able to finish up a couple of knitting projects that I had going though!

I bought the Milo vest pattern from Tikki Knits waaaay back in 2013 and have kept putting it off because it's knit completely in the round.  I hope that after I have been knitting for a few years, my fear and difficulty with the beginning of rounds will go away.  Of course, I had a little bit of trouble at first, had to frog and start over.  Now that it is done, I absolutely love it!  I've never knit anything with a cable and it was easier than expected (I did chose what I thought was the easiest one though) and love the way it turned out!

Funny girl with her crazy faces!

The second finished project is the Margot & Iris Tunic by Fawn Pea.  I actually started this project back in September.  I got bored with it and it sat in a bag for a month.  I used a 100% acrylic yarn for it and I should have used something with a little (or A LOT) of cotton instead.

I've never blocked a project before, but this one really needs it.  Except everything I've read says to not block acrylic yarn because it will mess up the garment.  AHHH!  I haz the confusion.  As you can see from the above photo the bottom garter stitch edge is rolling up pretty badly.  To the point where you can't see the pretty decorative stitching!  And the arms....  I would definitely do them differently next time by adding more rows between the body and the decorative rows and them make them a bit longer as well.

Next project, a scarf!

Productivity

A gloriously lazy weekend was had by me.  Saturday I stayed in my pajamas and didn't even put on a bra all day long.  It was AWESOME.  I think I am still trying to recover from the band competition debacle from last weekend. *shudders*

Good news though.  I did manage to get another knitting project finished!  An earflap hat for Neil.  Luckily he pays no attention whatsoever to what I am knitting.  I actually started on Friday, but it just did not feel or look right to me.  I cast-on three times and frogged three times.  Finally just ended up sort of making up the earflap part of the pattern I was using.  I have not been knitting anywhere near long enough to be making it up as I go along, but you know what?  It worked.

This was the best picture I could get to show the color of this yarn.  It's a neon green, but so hard to get right on camera.  He loves that color for some strange reason, but I didn't want his head to look like a big neon green beacon so I mixed it up with some black.  Haven't really ever done a project with stripes before I am thrilled with the way it turned out!

Yay for lazy weekends in pajamas!

Remixed

It's almost Friday!!!  Three day school week as my kids were out on both Monday (professional development) and Tuesday (Election day).  Bless it.  We won't even start in on the politics, but let's just say I am disappointed in my state.

Monday I drove my son to Elizabethtown for his orthodontist appointment.  He wasn't looking forward to it because this visit meant they were putting on his bottom brackets and a pretty strong upper wire.  One that was bad enough that the doc called it "The Monster".  And it is.  He hasn't been able to eat anything that requires chewing since then.  Brings him to tears.  He and Aleve have become BFF's.

I made it one slipper into Kaia's Leethal Mary Janes.  I DO NOT like this yarn.  Maybe it's the particular pattern that I am trying to use it with, but it's hard for me to work with.  So I moved on to doing Rowan's Be Loving, Remixed hat.  Easy, quick knit.  I could have finished it in one day, but I stretched it out over two.  It turned out awesome and she loves it.

I thought it was going to be too big as I was knitting it, but nope, it's a perfect fit.  This was supposed to be a Christmas stocking stuffer, but as soon as she caught a glimpse of the pom-pom, she was all *grabby hands*.  Definitely could make many more of these!

On to the next project!

And So It Begins...

I got the yarn for Christmas presents today!!  

Promptly realized I don't have size 13 circular needles.

Second guessed the super thin sport weight yarn.

Started on the Leethal Mary Janes.

Ooo!  Ooo!  And I voted!

Whaat whaaat?!

Currently {july twenty fifth}

this weeks themes:

watching, searching, missing, growing, ignoring

Sooooo... I'm a little late again.  Whoopsie.  Shit happens.  And around here it's flying everywhere!  At least I'm getting it done today.  Better late than never!

a) I have been watching my knits and purls.  I found an amazing slouchy beret pattern this week.  It's knitted flat, which I LOVE.  I haven't quite gotten the hang of knitting in-the-round yet so this pattern gives me the warm fuzzies in my belly.  Also I knitted one for Kaia for her 13th birthday (OH MY GAWD! SHE'S THIRTEEN!) in just a few hours.

So quick, so easy.  I ended up making another and then another.  The third was an experiment that was meant to be one for Rowan, but it was too small.  No problem as I have a friend with a 6 month old.  Except it was too small for her head too!  Haha!

b) We have these trees in our yard.  We call them stick trees.  They are tall and skinny and are good for nothing but sticks because inevitably half of the tree dies.  Usually the bottom half while the top is still green. I've been searching like crazy trying to figure out what kind of tree they actually are.  No luck yet.  I took a photo of one of the leaves (see above) to help identify them.  I have a possible match, but it's just not quite right.

c) I am missing the Summer!  While Neil is the only one entering high school, Kaia was asked to be a part of the marching band this year as well.  Monday began band camp and I had forgotten what it meant to get up so early every morning.  I plan on driving the kids to school this year so this gives me an opportunity to get our schedules figured out as far as wake up times and leave the house times.

d) My first little girl is growing up.  She turned 13 years old today.  I feel like she was just born.  Now she is in the official teenager zone.  How did this happen?!

e) I have been desperately trying to ignore my want of sodas.  Or, as we call them here, cokes.  They are so bad and so good at the same time.  It's such a struggle.  (Ok, clearly I had to stretch it on this one...)

Bonus! Reading:  Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

next weeks themes:

needing, listening, learning, jumping, building

Currently link up is hosted by Harvesting Kale and OT & ET.

Seedless Watermelon

When I first started this knitting project, I didn't realize that the colors I chose would make Rowan look like a little watermelon.  A little seedless watermelon.

There are so many mistakes.  New pattern, new stitch, new bind off, still fairly new to knitting, and a very active toddler equal mistakes will happen. A few places I should have purled and I knitted and vice versa so the seed stitch/moss stitch pattern is slightly askew in a few places.

The back portion turned out great!  I had all that practice with the front section to help me along.  When I began the new bind off technique for the shoulders, I didn't realize that right sides need to be facing so my shoulder seams are on the outside.  Can't fix it, so all I can say is that now I know what to do next time.  It was an easy to follow pattern and great for beginners.  Plus it's free!  You can't beat that!

There are three sizes included in the pattern, 2-4-6.  I chose to make the size 2 even though she is wearing more 3T clothes now.  The top is smidge too large, but she will have room to grow into it.  I'd much rather it be too large to start than already too small to wear.  I haven't yet washed it so I think some shrinking may occur.

Soli pattern found here on Ravelry!

One Down

Heelllloo there!

After what should have been only a few days turned into almost a month, I finally finished this summery, light vest.

I had intended on selling it, but after I finished the front, I knew that I was going to keep it.  I used Knit Picks brand CotLin DK weight yarn in Whisper.  These pictures do not show how gorgeous this yarn is.

I want to buy ALL THE YARN.

Since I first learned to knit, I've worked mainly with worsted weight.  If you are newer than I am at knitting or yarn in general, it comes in different thicknesses or weights.  Worsted is kind of middle of the road and this yarn, DK, is a bit thinner/lighter.  I think it's great for more Spring-y/Summer-y clothing.  I even happened upon some buttons that were a perfect match!

On to the next project!

Pattern found here.

Guess Who's Back.... Back Again

I'm back bitches!  With a shiny new layout to boot so if'n you're reading in a blog reader or some other reason that you wouldn't be able to see my awesomeness come visit me directly!  Don't forget to check out the new About page!

I've decided to reenter the blogging community with a new outlook and what I hope to be more regular postings.  The last couple of months of the school year were pretty hectic.  In the end, it all went smoothly and I am now the proud parent of a fresh new high schooler and an 8th grader.

So what have I been up to for these past two months?  A whole lot of everything.  Staying true to my nature of being distracted and overwhelmed.

I've been knitting, but not as much as I'd like.  I have three projects going right now.  None of them done. Well, one close to done, but finishing it seems to be just out of reach.  Maybe I'll do that today.....

I've said this before and I'll probably say it many more times in the future.  I have abandoned my DSLR camera.  I didn't mean to do so and it pains me to see it sit on the shelf.  I use my phone far too often.  There was a time when I NEVER left the house without my camera.  *gasp* Who would leave it at home?!  Now I have to dust it off (literally) when I go to use it.  This is part of my new outlook.  At the beginning of the year I vowed to take a photo of my children (at least one of them!) once a week for the whole year.  I have failed miserably at this task.  Miserably, I say.

Reading.  I've made the same goal of 25 books this year as I have in years past.  This year, I am actually tracking on goal!  If you are on GoodReads, look me up (or just click the little yellow circle in the sidebar!).  I love to have new suggestions and see what everyone else is currently reading.

And lastly, cooking.  The Husband gifted me (ok, so I just bought it myself) a new Kitchenaid stand mixer for Mother's Day!  She is pretty and shiny and the most beautiful damn thing I've ever seen.  I've made more whipped cream than I really want to admit, but I'm still trying to find the right combination of recipe and my skills to make the perfect loaf of bread.  Throw your recipes at me so I have something new to try!  It doesn't have to be bread either.  Gimmie your recipes and no one will get hurt. *waves hand like it's a gun*

Here's to returning to blogging and the hope that all goals will be met!

Basketball and Needles

Knitting needles.  Not needle needles because ack, who likes those?!

I just realized that I haven't been around for almost two weeks.  I fear it's just a sign of the times. Springtime! We've been going outside any time the weather was above 50F and on the weekends, we've been cleaning the Winter out of the yard.  Cutting down dead trees or half dead trees, cleaning out dead bushes and overgrowth.  We've been busy.

I couldn't help myself this weekend.  I planted some flowers.  Even though I know that later this week the temperatures are going to be below freezing.  The label said to plant after the threat of frost has passed.  Except I live in Kentucky and we may still get frost in June.  I've just covered them all.  It was simply too warm and beautiful outside to not be in the Spring spirit.  I would show you photos, but I've been consciously leaving my phone and camera inside.  It so easy to get distracted from the moment because I feel the compulsion to check my FB or IG.  It's better to just leave that behind and have fun.

Back to the needles...  it's March Madness time.  That means that there is perpetual basketball games on our television.  I've been using the time to get in some knitting.  I mean, I am already sitting here so I might as well make use of my time.  I put a few items in the Etsy shop.  Knitting is relaxing.  I'm glad that I made that a goal for myself last year and that I achieved that goal.  I'm excited to make new things.

But the yarn... oh the yarn.  It's all so lovely and soft.  And pricey.  I think I need to buy a sheep.  Then someone will need to teach me how to sheer it.

Happy Spring everyone!!

Disappearing Act

I kind of ran away from the internet this week.  I'd love to explain and show you pictures from all the awesome things I was doing all week.  Except really I was just chillin' at home.  In my new chaise lounge chair.  Not NEW new, but new to us new.  Shout out to the in-laws for getting a new sofa themselves.  The one we had previously been using was about 15-16 years old.  It was still in decent shape, needs a good cleaning, but it was a nice dark green.  The darkness of that green sofa, chair, and loveseat made this living room so dark.  The new one is a nice light beige microfiber.  Probably a bad idea to have microfiber with a toddler, but we'll manage because it's lightened up the room so much!  Now I want to paint and buy bright pillows and curtains.

I haven't been eating bonbons in my chair though.  I've been working on a pair of knitted bell bottoms for Ro.  I finally finished them.  And they are so super cute!

I made the 24 month size, but I think I should have gone with the 18 months.  They are a little big on her skinny behind, but at least she can grow into them.

In addition to all this purling and knitting, my son had his last home basketball game of middle school and his last middle school basketball tournament game this week.  He wasn't phased by this at all.  I, on the other hand, had to try not to cry at both games.  

Oh and I've been reading.  Books.  I have 62 blog posts that I need to read in my Bloglovin feed.  Guess I better get on that...

Is it Friday already?!

*view of Russellville, KY town square through a dirty windshield*

I had fully intended to blog something this week.  Instead, not only were my kids out of school on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr Day, but they were also out Tuesday through Thursday.  We can pretty much kiss any plans for Spring Break goodbye.

I have been trying to spread my time.  I didn't read as much as I wanted too last year.  I didn't knit as much as I wanted too last year.  I completely stopped journaling, which is a problem.  I spent too much time online, not enough time offline.

So far this year, I've read a whole book!  Look at me go!  I'm currently working on a second.  I bought an inexpensive journal and new pens.  I've made it this far....

*that's a leg, people*

...on my first knitting project.  They are baby bell bottoms.  This is leg one.  I've cast on the second leg today.  Since I'm still fairly new to knitting, I'm a bit worried about putting the two side together then joining in the round for the upper portion.  But I'll never know if I don't try so if you don't hear from me for a while, I've gotten myself snagged in a ball of yarn.

Post With No Name

Gosh I really don't understand how people can post blog updates every day.  Occasionally I think to myself...

"Oooo!  I should blog about this."

Occasionally I actually DO blog about it.  But mostly I just do my thing around the house.  Lately my thing has been trying to catch up on my book goal for the year.  Somehow I've managed to make my way to only being one book behind.  I'll read one more book this month and only have to read three in both November and December.  I'm determined to reach this damn goal.

When I'm not reading (or doing general Mom duties) I've been really working on my knitting.  Mostly everything I do right now is for either my daughter or my friend's incubating kicky girl.  I really enjoy knitting.  It is only occasionally frustrating when I come across a pattern with stitches or things I've never done or things I'm not sure how to do.  I've only been at it for about 9 months, but I'm proud of my progress.  The only problem I have is that I get so excited to see the final product that sometimes I get in too much of a hurry.  That's just who I am though.  I do that with every project.  I have to stop and tell myself to slow down.  The goal here is to begin selling handmade with love in the stitches baby/toddler items.  Fingers crossed.  And it wouldn't hurt if you crossed yours too!  Thanks in advance. 

Free Baby Bow Hat pattern found here.

Free Aviatrix pattern found here.

Also this week, I've made a couple of bloggy changes.  I've added a Pinterest mouse over element to the images here and made the decision to stop putting the watermark over photos.  I know there is great debate about watermarking and image stealing.  I'm still on the fence, but what a pain it is.  I've always had a statement at the bottom of my blog stating that all images are copyrighted and are not to be used without permission.  So please ask first.

And just because I haven't put enough gobbledee gook in this one post...  I've always gotten distracted by all the shiny things.  Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr, etc.  All have shiny things that are attractive.  None of them have them all.  I'd just like to throw out there than I also have a Tumblr.  It's mostly my Instagram photos in bloggy form.  I've been working on trying to integrate these blog posts over there too.  So if'n you feel the need, you can follow over there.

Last, but not least, it's the weekend y'all!  Happy Friday!

Yarn, Yarn, Yarn

I suddenly have a strong urge to buy lots and lots of yarn!  To make lots and lots of little knitted things!

I've made one thing with my Knook.  A scarf.

Though I can now check an item off of my list of goals for the year.  #28 - finish my first "knitting" project with the Knook.  I think that knitting with the Knook would probably be faster than traditional knitting, but I wanted to learn to do it the real way.

Insert Ravelry.  Have you been to this site?!  Oh my geez... patterns and patterns and patterns.  I thought that for starters I should stick with something super basic.  Like a nice square washcloth.

Woo hoo!  I knitted something.  Like, for real y'all.  With needles and stuff.  

Ok, to be honest, this is the second washcloth.  The first one I made I was a bit confused on the pattern.  Instead of a basketweave pattern, it was just chunky lines.  Oops!  It'll still wash my butt though! Ha!

With this, I can now check another item off of my list!  #29 - learn to knit with knitting needles!

You can find the Basketweave Baby Washcloth on Ravelry or her site and it's free.

Needles:  US 8 - 5mm (10 in. long)

Yarn: I Love This Yarn in Gelato Stripe (for both the Knook project and the washcloth)