FO’s in action!

Well, the dad reported in that it does indeed fit!   YEAH!!!  Here’s a picture to prove it:

It looks like it won’t fit much longer (the jacket anyway).   That hat will fit for a while. 

The email with the picture also asked if I could make on in green with a hat.   She’ll pay for the yarn and my time.  Should I do it?  Don’t answer that.   I’ve already said I will.   (SUCKA!)

 

Baby Kimono Wrap & Hat

After sitting on beside my knitting spot for almost a month, the MDK Baby Kimono is finished.   The child is now well over 2 months old and there is no way it will fit.   Sunshine Husband took it to work today to give to said child’s father.   The hat will fit.  Small consolation.   I should have knit another Feb. sweater.  Oh well. 

Pattern:  MDK Baby Kimono & Simply Baby Hat

Yarn: Bernat Denim.  I really liked knitting with this yarn.  Comfy stuff.   The look grew on me. 

Needles: US 7 for the Kimono and US 8 for the hat.  

Thoughts:  Love, love, love this hat pattern.   The little stubby umbilical on top is too cute (IMHO).  The kimono pattern was good.  If I make it again, I will make it longer and the sleeves seem a little tight to me.   Hopefully, she doesn’t have chubbo wrists.  I would also put a ribbon tie on the inside.  I should have done this, but I was sick of sewing the ribbon. 

 

Fauxberry Pie

I am not a big fan of April Fool’s .   I just never really got into the whole practical joke thing.  Kind of mean really, if you think about 99% of the “jokes” out there.  

All that changed when I opened up Family Fun’s April edition.   An April Fool’s Day dinner trick.   Not difficult really, pretty healthy, I’m doing it! 

So what do you think of our Fauxberry Pie?  I pronouced it FOX-berry pie, in a vain effort to “fool” my children (who don’t read or know what “faux” means or how to pronounce it).

The review–the meatloaf filling was great!  I am tempted to try it with out all the rest.   The boys like the mashed potatoes better when pink.   Sunshine Daughter didn’t eat dinner even though pink and pie are some of her favorite things.   It would have been a much better gag if Sunshine Hubby hadn’t demanded to know “What is it, REALLY?”

Happy April Fool’s Day! 

 

Dressed up and no place to go!

I finished my Easter dress just in time for Easter (unlike the last time I was planning on sewing a dress…let’s not talk about that, ok?).  

Here is the Easter dress, freshly home from its debut at mass Sunday morning.   Sunshine son #2 took the picture, which explains the loss of hubby’s head (thank goodness he doesn’t have any hair up there anyway!).

Pattern:  McCall’s 5579 Version C sleeves & bodice with Version A hemline

Fabric: Hobby Lobby brand 100% cotton (totally not what the pattern called for)

Thoughts:

1. Can I tell you how depressing it is to make the size I made?   I don’t buy this size in the store, but apparently, pattern makers don’t give a whit about my vanity.   It certainly is a wake up call to know I am not the size Kohl’s has led me to believe.   I guess that is a rant discussion topic for another day.
2. McCall’s patterns truely do suck.  I don’t really appreciate McCall’s patterns.   Who writes these directions?  If the directions are clear, the diagrams are not.   Thankfully, only once, did the written directions and the diagrams not make sense at the same time.   I followed the directions, but let’s just say it took a few tries to understand them and move onto the next step.
3. My sister-in-law told hubby she like my dress.   I’m not sure what that says about the dress, my taste, her taste or any combination.   I guess I’ll just take it as the compliment she meant it to be. 
4. Overall, I like the dress.   I won’t use the pattern again, but it was a learning experience.   Hopefully the dress gets more wearing time than just the 45 minutes for church every few Sundays. 

Things I’ve learned:

1. Installing a zipper.  Yeah!!!! What power. 
2. Slipstitching?  I’m not into that. 
3. Patience and doing things right actually make a difference. 
4. I’m sure there is more, but I didn’t write them down. 

Stay tuned for some knitting FO’s.   I do have a couple.    Ravelry has been sucking all my time.   I’ve been surfing people, projects, groups, favorites, etc.   Death to blogging (at least mine). 

 

Paying attention

Do you ever have those days when you feel like you are getting it done?  You know, the laundry is moving through the whole process, you’ve done some things on the ever growing list?  The kids were all fed and happy (ok, maybe not happy, but not screaming or crying).   Today was one of those days.  Not the past tense.   Was.

Ten minutes ago, I was doing my usual routine of dishwasher avoidancefinally emptying and reloading the dishwasher when I was called to mediate a dispute.   Problem solved.   I think I’ll check out Ravlery and the email.  Hey, blogs, cool.   Wow, a minute to myself with quiet–well, the washer and dryer are running, but that is background Mom noise.  

Sunshine son #1: “Is someone washing dishes?” 

Me:  “No, that’s the washing machine.  Go outside and play.” 

Out he goes.  I blissfully read and waste time on the computer.  I then think to myself.   Wow, that washing machine is really loud all of a sudden and its been loud for a lot longer than it should have been.   Better check on that.   As I walk to the laundry room, I realize I had not shut the kitchen sink off!   It was not the washer, it was the HOT water running full blast!!!!   

Note to self:  look confused when the gas and water bill are exceedingly high next month.  Of course I will have forgotten this funny little story, so it is likely that I will be confused about it. 

I really need to start paying more attention.  

 

Delivery between 9 & 1

Can I tell you HOW much I despise that phrase?    Let me tell you how my day was wasted.  Ok, technically those hours were not wasted, squandered is a better term.   I did laundry, emptied the dishwasher, reloaded the dishwasher, goofed around on Ravelry.   Did I get the post office?  No.   Do I need to get to the post office?  Yes.   Will I get there today?  Doubtful.

Delivery between 9 & 1.  Ha.   The mattress arrived at 1:45.   They left and the doorbell rang.  Back again.   Wrong box spring delivered.   Lovely.    Will I buy from this particularly company again?  No, indeed we will not.   Unhappy all around–from shopping to delivery, they were one giant mess.  

I was tagged by Anne for a 6 things meme.   What the hey.  Not all of these are my random things, but they are indeed random. 

1. My husband always says wardrove rather than wardrobe (in reference to the collection of clothes in the closet, not the piece of furniture).  It drives me bonkers.   Sometimes I think he says it that way on purpose. 
2. Sunshine Daughter calls laundry her “hobby lobby”.   Do you think we visit a particular store often???  
3. I love forsythia bushes.   They are my favorite springtime surprise.   I think the yellow of the flowers with the brown of the wood is so beautiful.  Then they fall off and you are left with this unsuspecting, normal-looking, green bush.    It is Clark Kent of bushes. 
4. Sunshine Son #2 has a lisp.  He doesn’t always pronouce his “l” sound correctly.   It is cute.   It is one of those little things that I don’t want to forget.   
5. Posts without pictures.  Did you start skimming?  I would have.   Zero pictures = BORING.  Too many pictures = way too long to load the page.   So know you know.  I’m a skimmer.  
6. I don’t think I have gone one day without a load of laundry in some state of process.   Needing to be washed, washing, drying, needing to be folded, folding, needing to be put away.   I despise laundry–even more than deliver between 9 & 1! 

 

February sweater for a January baby

The EZ sweater on two needles (aka February sweater) is complete with the exception of the buttons, which are waiting for payday and some “alone” time at the Hobby Lobby! 

Pattern: Sweater on two needles from Knitter’s Almanac by E. Zimmerman.

Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in pink (??) 1.25 balls.

Needles: US 6

Thoughts:  What a great pattern.  I started last Monday evening and with the exception of the buttons, it is complete.   I had some brain wrangling to do when I started work on the second sleeve, but the simple solution worked the best.   The yarn is growing on me.   I love the colors, but when it is knit up into a garment, it doesn’t feel as soft as it does in the ball.   I am thankful for the TONS of information on Ravelry and the Zimmermaniac site for the insight into the pattern.   I think I would have had a couple of other problems with the pithy directions.    The sleeve looks pretty wide and short, but hopefully, the parents won’t care.   Booties and maybe a hat to follow.  

 

Baby love, my baby love.

I have been knee deep in baby knitting during the past two weeks.   My cousin is having a baby and this one is (for a change) a boy!  Hip-hip-hooray!   Baby boy F. is “scheduled” to be in utero for a few more weeks, but his knitting is done and will be making its way to Massachusetts for his mommy’s baby shower.  

Pattern: Elefante

Yarn: Cascade 220 scraps in red, orange, liliac, grey, light blue, and navy.

Needles: US 4 dpns

Thoughts:  This is Eli.  What an awesome knit.   My only modifications were the ears.    I don’t crochet (I don’t know how) and although I could have fidged it, it didn’t seem right.  I used the elephant ears from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and then totally changed them to garter and reduced their size and how they decreased.   There are cuter elefante ears out there, but I’m ok with that.     I hope my coz will forgive the use of a non-masculine color (read: light purple), but it was better than hot pink.  

Pattern: Baby Yoda Sweater

Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool in lake blue

Needles: US 8 dpn and circulars (go seamless!)

Thoughts: This worked seemless was awesome.   Next time, I’ll figure out how to pick up the sleeves though.   They seem a bit bulky to me.   I did I-cord for the first time.  WOW, what an awesome little trick that is.  Love, love, love it!   Need some I-cord?  I might have some extra around here….

Pattern: Saarjte’s Booties.

Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool in lake blue. 

Needles: US 2 dpns

Thoughts: These booties are actually three of a kind.  Bootie #1 and #2 were not the same size.  I lost track of my row count and that does make a bootie bigger.   Bootie #3 was the correct same size as #1.   These booties are too cute for words.    What is that noise you ask?   It is my ovaries asking for the road to baby-ville.  

Pattern: Sweet & Simple Baby Hat

Yarn: Oh, you know…

Needles: US 8 dpns

Thoughts:  Could my hat problem be fixed?  I hope, though the hat seems  a bit large for a baby’s head.   Simple, quick and, hello, I-cord!   Just as the name implies, sweet & simple!  

I hope she likes these.  She is a non-knitter and I just don’t know.   They have AMAZING oooh and ahhhhh value and I am counting on that with a house full of girls, someone will dress the child in the booties at least (please God, let him get his mother’s small feet!).  

 

Hold fast.

Sunshine Daddy and I just finished watching “Bridge to Terebithiah” and it reminded me of a poem.    It is one in which keeps resurfacing in my life.    In honor of Silent Poetry Reading, I’d like to share it with you. 

Right now, as a mother of young children, it seems something to instill in them.   As we adults worry about money, life, and the future, the kids are living in their world of imagination.   I hope they continue to hold fast to a dream, no matter how small. 

Hold Fast Your Dreams

Louise Driscoll

Hold fast your dreams!

Within your heart

Keep one, still, secret spot

Where dreams may go,

And sheltered so,

May thrive and grow-

Where doubt and fear are not. 

O, keep a place apart,

Within your heart,
For little dreams to go!

Think still of lovely things that are not true.

Let wish and magic work at will in you.

Be sometimes blind to sorrow.  Make believe!

Forget the calm that lies

In disillusioned eyes.

Though we all know that we must die,

Yet you and I

May walk like gods and be

Even now at home in immortality!

We see so many ugly things-

Deciets and wrongs and quarrelings;

We know, alas! we know

How quickly the color in the west,

The bloom upon the flower,

The bloom upon the breast

And youth’s blind hour.

Yet, keep within your heart

A place apart

Where little dreams may go,

May thrive and grow.

Hold fast–hold fast your dreams! 

Although Driscoll’s poem isn’t the first one I think of when someone asks for a favorite poem, it is (as all “good” writing should) striking that resonance in my life right now.    May you hold fast your dreams. 

Happy St. Brigid Day!  Only six more weeks of winter. 

 

All is forgiven, move on.

Wow, November 1st was the last time I even looked at WordPress.   There are reasons, most of them not worth the time to write out.   All is forgiven, move on!

Completed objects since last blog:

• Gave Dad his felted slippers.  He says he wears them all the time.   I do believe him.  Gifts of the wearalbe type have been known to languish for YEARS in this man’s closet.   Never one to use a gift before its time, Dad is making me feel good about making this gift. 

• Hats for the men in the family.   ALL OF THEM are too big.   I won’t bore you with the pictures, but here are the deets: variation of the Seaman’s Cap but for giants or least giant sized heads!   Sunshine Dad’s hat has been frogged.   He is coveting one of Mandy’s hats, but he better pray the Giants go to the superbowl in 2009, because there won’t be a Giants hat for him in 2008 (unless he can bribe/beg/plead/pay Mandy to do it!). 
• Angelina Ballerina was completed and given to Sunshine daughter.   Her clothes are a little wacky looking and the slippers are missing, but I love Angelina and hopefully, so does SD.   I used the mouse pattern from Knit2Together and then made the clothes, tutu, and shoes myself. 

• Sunshine son #1’s Wallaby was completed.  It is big, the yarn is pilling and looking particularly craptastic, but he likes it and wears it.   Considering the abuse it gets, the price tag for the yarn–$7.47 for the whole sweater, one big hat, and two mittens with LOTS of yarn leftover–is perfect.  

• My cousin’s baby is due in the next month or so and the Baby Yoda sweater is complete for little Master F. to arrive.   I hope she likes it, because I LOVE it.   Is it normal to be SO enamored of ones handknits???
• Pair of Saarjte’s are finished.   Confession, there are THREE done.  bootie #1 and #2 were not the same size.  Too many garter ridges.   Bootie #3 matches #1, so there is a matched set.  
• The Quinn purse is finally lined.   I used an old pair of jeans and some pick striped fabric for a cell phone and pen pocket.   The handles are bamboo attached with chocolate velvet ribbon.   I love it.   The handles look a bit big, but I don’t care.   The cables came out awesome.   The lining was a witch to get in and no you can’t see the inside (does that say something).   A fellow PTAer said she like the purse, so I’ll take that as a compliment of the highest order.  
• I made another crown for a princess birthday.   Anyone need a crown?  I LOVE making those things.   SO QUICK!!!
• Mini sweaters for the christmas tree.   They were fun and I did each one a little different, but three was enough.   I used my sock yarn samples from Cider Moon and my sockapolooza pal.  The hangers were pipe cleaners chenille stems.  These are my kind of sweaters!!!   :) 

More regular posting, because really, what else have I been doing?   See ya!