Winter Season's Round, and all that jazz...

When I was a little girl and taking piano lessons, there was one recital that I remember being particularly nervous about. My father, who has been a musician all his life, said to me, "If you make a mistake, just do it twice and call it jazz."

Well, let's just say we are going to call this one jazz!

Over the years the terms have changed for me, but the concept has remained the same. Now things are "original" or "artistic" and if all else fails, I can always slap on the label of "folk art" and get on with my day. It's my own sly way of saying, "yeah, I meant to do that..."


The pattern for this one was featured in this winter's issue of Living Crafts and it's a great little pattern. I'm planning on making quite a few for our own family. It's kind of large and rather floppy, so I do wonder how they will hang though. I imagined this one as the sort of thing one would lay out on a nature table.

The theme of this exchange was "light" and my partner expressed a preference for lighter colors; yellow and cream, blues and purples, as opposed to the traditional red and green of the season. The preference was a big part of my inspiration for our package.


The "jazz" of this project comes from my apparent inability to count while working in the middle of the night. Being off by say, 100 or so beads, really puts a crimp in things. As does not having enough beads and having to supplement with beads of a different size. Needless to say, the whole thing was a bit of a compromise.

This was my first time knitting with beads and the whole process was aggravating, fiddly, and slow. And... I *loved* it. It makes no sense what-so-ever, but let's face it, I rarely make any sense anyway.

Part II of the package tomorrow!

2009

WIP: the birthday sweater report

It's been a while since I gave an update on my progress with these!

Galen's is all but done. I worked in the ends, Thanksgiving morning, over a game of Scrabble. I do need to finish sewing on the buttons, but, seeing as his birthday is fairly late in February, I have some time!

~Màiri's dress in progress~

I took a chance and worked on this one out in the open. Sometimes Galen takes an interest in what I'm working on, sometimes not to much. I was careful to keep it in a heap in my lap, which was generally unrecognizable as much of anything. And he didn't take any notice, until I was working the very last button band. And then the conversation went something like this,

"Who's that for??"

"We'll see."

"I hope it turns out to be for me. I wanted something that was just that red....brown.....red-brown color! If it ends up being for me that would make me very happy."

"hmm"

"If it doesn't end up being for me and you have more of that yarn, can you make something for me??"

~Galen's sweater in progress~

I love this notion that he seems to have that I just make things at random and then see who they will fit. I thought it was funny that he never even asked with "it" was. Just so long as it was made of that yarn, he didn't care.

I'm ecstatic about how it turned out. And I'm with Galen, the yarn is beautiful. I'll be sure to get some better photos of the color when I post the finished project. It was a quick and easy knit and everything about it was exactly what I was looking for. I can't wait to see it on him!

I've got a bit of extra yarn and I'm considering making a hat to go with it.



I'm rather behind on Màiri's and Iain's. Figures, doesn't it? I finished up the back, both front pieces and the better part of a sleeve on Iain's. At this point I'm trying to decide what kind of buttons I want to use (thoughts?). I did find some that I liked in a cursory glace a few weeks ago. But 6 buttons at $5 a piece equals not a chance! They were neat though. They were made of tiger's eye.

~Iain's sweater in progress~

The sweater seems so long and thin. But then again, so is he. And it's got a ton of sideways stretch, so I think it's going to work out just fine.

I had finished the back on Màiri's, but then I managed to unravel a shoulder, so I'll have to go back and fix that now. I'm nearly to the bodice on the front, which then leaves the finishing the front, both sleeves and all of the trim.

I still have one more little knitting project that I'm trying to complete in the next 5 days (to go with a sewing project that still needs work), but all things considered, it's something of a long-shot. We'll just have to see how things go.

Some yarn for the Mama...

Remember that dyeing kick the Goosey Boy and I were on a while ago? Well, this is *my* Christmas gift from Galen.


All his idea, I swear! Though, I will confess to only setting out dyes in the colors I had in mind for a particular project...pink, yellow and peach. It puts me in mind of a sunrise or the colors of a Waldorf kindergarten. I'm thinking about this yarn, my Wee Girl, and springtime, all mixed up together.

It occurred to me this morning that I need to track down this yarn (and these too), because Christmas morning is just around the corner. Last time I saw this yarn, it was in a heap like this, on the floor, a few quick pictures later and it was unceremoniously tossed into a box, a box which ended up?!? I'd imagine it made it to the house, so that at least narrows it down a bit...


We've got another little dyeing project in the works for tonight after the very little people are in bed (hmm...still have to track down the supplies for the one too!). This time it's *for* my little Galey-Boy and from his adoring brothers.

And now if you'll excuse me, I apparently have some box sorting to do!

Home

Home for her is being wrapped in a woolen blanket, made by Mama or Me-Mom.

It's diaper changes on a sheepskin by the fire and knowing that every day, Daddy will come and let her snatch his baseball cap.

Home is peek-a-boo under play silks when she's fussy, with a different face appearing each time.

Home is the sound of the wind in the trees, the sound of children running, stomping, singing, laughing...


Home is waking up to smiles and kisses, joining hands with everyone for a blessing at mealtimes and snuggling under a down comforter between Mama and Daddy at night.

Home is a belly full of warm milk and sips of tulsi-rose tea from mama's teacup.

Home is knowing that whenever the world gets too big or too scary, there is always a spot, just for her, on mama's back.

Home is where she nuzzles her sleepy head behind the curtain of my hair.


Home is lullabies lovingly sung in boyish falsetto.

Home is balls of yarn to tangle and chase.

Home is the rhythm of a rocking chair, a nursery rhyme, a steady pat.

Home is a candle lit at dinner time.

Home is dreams and prayers softly spoken at the drowsy hours of twilight and dawn.


This blanket is the knitting project that was featured in my banner early in autumn. It's one of the free patterns from the Project Linus site. The yarn is Cascade Eco+, left over from this project and that extra skein that accidentally found it's way home with me back in February.

Letting Go

As you might imagine, we are doing a lot of letting go these days. Letting go of certain hopes and dreams, letting go of ideas about how our life would be, letting go of projects, once started, never to be finished.

But there is also a lot of every day letting go (clearly illustrated by my serving lunch an hour later then usual today, lunch being....popcorn) and letting go on a more seasonal scale.

This letting go thing is not something that I am skilled at! In fact, at this moment, I am still in denial. Just last night, I was at the fabric store, buying the last bit of fabric I need to make robes for the kids (knock, knock, knock), to go over Christmas pajamas that I still haven't started yet (knock), all while Steve stands idly by, shaking his head (uh, Crazy Mommy? Is that you????). He knows better, but he also knows better then to try to convince me to give it up before I'm good and ready. The best he can do is wait for the train wreck and help to pick up the pieces when it comes. Poor fella.

I have made some concessions though. And I've required some of others. Last week the scene was in the yarn store. I needed one little thing and both Iain and Elijah declared that while we were there, they absolutely *must* get supplies for Christmas gifts.

Picture if you will, me running back and forth between two different aisles, trying to counsel two different boys, on the two different scarves, that they've separately and secretly, decided to make for each other. All while trying to keep Galen from emptying out all the buttons on the button display (Steve was sitting this one out in the car with a sleeping babe).

Time for a reality check. Ok, gentlemen, everyone come here to me! (by the button display so that Galen can amuse himself with supervision) Here's the deal. Christmas is in *counts off the days*, in that time we are moving and trying to *rattles off the list of things aiming to be accomplished*, there is no possible way for you to make everything you wish to make, entirely in secret. So, how's about, just for this one year you guys just tell each other what you are making for one another and that way you can help each other pick out the yarn and work on them together.

Quite thankfully, they agreed.

This is the scene that I came down to, a mere two days later...


These two are funny with their hand crafts. They might not show a lot of interest for a while, and then they'll go through a phase where it's all knitting (or sewing, or crochet...) all the time.

Elijah finished up his garter stitch "Gryffindor" scarf for Iain in 3 days. Now I just need to find the time to sit down and show him how to work in the ends.

And Iain is still chugging along with his "scarf to match Elijah's new coat". He's working it in seed stitch and it's a lot wider then the scarf Elijah made, so it's taking a little longer.

He came to me the day after we bought the yarn and said, "My yarn looks so pretty, all laid out at the foot of my bed, I could just take a picture!" So of course I handed him the camera! I guess for all of his being like he's father, in some ways he's an awful lot like me as well!

I might just have to show him how to adjust the white balance.

It seems Elijah got in on the action too...


And on the subject of letting go, obviously, regular posting here has slipped by the wayside. We move on Thursday, so I'd imagine that these last few days here and a handful of days or so on the other side are going to be hit or miss, but I'm sure I'll be stopping in from time to time.

WIP: Light Exchange

This week I'm working on our exchange package for the winter Season's Round Exchange.

The theme this season is 'light'.

I want to be sure to get these done and out the door before we move!

I don't want to ruin the surprise for my partner and her family, so this is just a little sneak peek.

Knitting for Màiri

I know, y'all are totally shocked that I would knit something for my daughter, aren't you? This one is special though. This is the first project that I started after she was born (uhm, yeah, that would be nearly 11 months ago now). After spending so many years admiring, but never having reason to make all of those sweet knitted dresses, lacy cardigans, and darling skirts, I was so eager to cast on a feminine little knit for my brand new baby girl.

I cast on for this dress when she was 4 days old. I remember being so awed by the fact that *I*, wonder of wonders, had a daughter. Truth be told, I still sort of am. I suppose this little dress was my way of celebrating that joy.


This vintage duck button came in a tin that my Mother-in-law sent me. I actually wanted to use a little Scottie dog button I have, but couldn't find that particular button jar. I'm sure it's been lost somewhere in the process of packing. No doubt it will turn up at some point.


And look at my baby girl now! I can't believe how big she's getting.

I took these pictures before blocking (silly of me) which is why the hem keeps rolling up. If you can't tell, it's the same blue color as the rest of the trim.


And now for the story of how this dress came about and why it's taken me so very long to finish it up. Well, so here I was, 4 days postpartum, with my tiny love bug all snuggled up with me, I only had one knitting book out from the library at the time (sometimes I have upwards of 20!). It was one of the Debbie Bliss baby books, though I don't remember which one (I do know that it's not "The Baby Knits Book", as I have that one out right now and it's not in it). And this dress here was the one pattern that screamed, "Girl!" I think it was called 'dress with eyelets' or something like that. The pattern is for all one color, I added the stripes, which nearly became my downfall, as you'll see later.

The yarn I had on hand from a package (mentioned here) that my friend Claire had just sent.


What happened was this; I started knitting and made it all the way through the skirt part of the back, at which point I was faced with the knowledge that there was no way that I could continue with the stripe pattern that I had started with and have all the colors make it all the way up the bodice. There was plenty of yarn, just not enough to continue with the same size stripes.


Now my poor befuddled postpartum brain had two problems with this:

1) I would have to come up with other options and that would require what seemed like a whole lot of thought, and *gasp* possibly math.


2) I would then have to make a decision as to which option I liked best.

Both of these things being utterly beyond me at the time, I kept picking it up staring at it for a couple of minutes and putting it back down again. Rather then continue to torture myself, I finally just put it aside for a while.


It's just that "a while" turned into a very long while indeed. I'm so, so glad that it still fits! And, when I did finally come back to it, I took the easy way out and introduced an entirely new color for the bodice.

I really should get more original about my pictures, I think that nearly everything I've ever made for her has been photographed in our bed. But it's just such an easy, comfy, sunshine-y spot. And well, I should have a whole new range of settings to explore soon enough.

Mardi (a.k.a. the rainbow dress/tunic/tank)

note: I'll be updating this post with some new photos later in the week. I was just so glad to finally have it typed out that I thought I should put it out here!

I finally typed up the pattern for my one-size-fits most 6 months-6 years, grow-with-me dress-tunic-tank (it also looks adorable when worn as a jumper or sweater vest). More photos and information can be found here and here.

I think that for a larger child, going up a needle size, using thicker yarn and adding a bit of length should do the trick. If anyone tries this, let me know how it turns out! As is, it fits up to a 24" chest quite comfortably.

I've decided to call it Mardi, after the friend that sent me the yarn to begin with!

Mardi

Materials needed:
Size 2 circular needles
dk weight yarn
stitch markers

Gauge:
6 sts= 1"

Straps:
CO 125 stitches, join round
*Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl*
Repeat from * to * 3 times
Round 9: knit


Front Shaping:
Row 10: K15, bind off 35, k25
*You will now work back and forth in stockinette (knit one row, purl one row) on these 25 stitches, working the first and last 2 stitches in garter stitch (knit every row)* for 4 rows.
Row 5: k 2, kfb, k to last 2 stitches, kfb, k2*
Repeat from * to *
Break yarn

Shoulder strap shaping:
Join yarn and bind off the next 35 stitches

Back shaping:
Work as front shaping for a total of 3 sets (note that you will be working across 30 stitches instead of 25). Remember to keep the first two and last two stitches in garter!


Joining:
Cast on 10, place marker (this is the new beginning of a round), cast on 10
K across front, cast on 10, place marker, cast on 10, knit across the back to join the round.

Body:
*Kfb, k to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, slip marker, kfb, k to last stitch before marker, kfb*

Repeat from *to* until front measures 13” or to desired length

Trim:
*K one round, P one round*
repeat from * to*
Bind off all stitches

As always, I'd love to see it when you're done!

Work in Progress Wednesday: a flop

I've never really attempted one of these theme type days (the work-in-progress Wednesdays, book sharing Mondays, gratitude Fridays, wordless Wednesdays and so forth) for any length or time because that doesn't tend to be my posting style. I post what's on my mind, when it's on my mind, and go from there and it's suited me just fine for many years now. But at the moment I'm actually feeling like I could use a bit more discipline in several areas of my life, blogging included and crafting especially! I'm feeling what a friend refers to as "pixilated", as in lacking focus. So I'm going to try one theme day for a bit and see how it feels.

I had an unofficial work-in-progress post last week too, did anyone figure out what I was working on? Or did come off as a crazy women with that one???

The pictures in this post are from a crafting failure. This little hat was supposed to be part of Màiri's Halloween costume. Only it ended up far too little. As I new it would the entire time I was knitting it. I have no idea why I decided to keep knitting and trust the pattern instead of myself. Not sure what I'm going to do with it now. I may just frog it. I have some friends who are pregnant right now, but as far as I know, all are expecting boys. Galen says Teddy might be in need of a new hat, but only if I finish it with ties (apparently Teddy has no tolerance for his hats falling off). We'll see.

Most of my crafting over the last two weeks has been Halloween related. And I'll get around to sharing all of that eventually. We were invited to a costume party mid-November, which will be a good excuse to get into those costumes that didn't see much use at Halloween.

Meanwhile, I woke up this morning and realized with a start that it's really and truly NOVEMBER now, making Christmas, not some far off, distant event, occurring sometime in the vague and far off future, but a very definite reality, occurring next month. Eek!

Suddenly those meager beginnings at preparations seem very, very limited indeed. It's time to really and truly get a move on now.

knitted me a sock....

found me a stick...

Gotta get this horsey going, lickety-split!

uhm, how many days do I have left before Halloween again? (she asked while biting her nails)

A Little Elf Cap (and lots of baby sweetness)

So, as I'm pulling pictures aside as possible images for this post, it occurs to me that I have 43. Yup. Forty-three pictures of one hat on one baby. And that's just the ones I was considering. You can imagine how many I must have took (I would tell you, but I don't even know since I was deleting blurry and unflattering ones as I went along). But honestly, it couldn't be helped. I mean you understand, don't you? Show me a more darling baby and I will eat that hat.


Right. That's what I thought. So, many, many pictures of a baby in a hat it is. Though I did manage to whittle it down a little...

Those little over-alls that she's wearing came from my friend Claire, who made them for her daughter Esmé. Màiri has been wearing them since she was around two months old, and I just keep squishing her in them because I love them so. Really that time is coming to an end though. I do have to give up at some point and admit that they no longer fit.


Oh my goodness, can you see this goofy smile?!? Ssssoooooo, funny. I've been joking that she should be Dracula for Halloween. She cut two teeth front and bottom and her two 'eye teeth'. And so far that's all, making for one very silly baby grin.


The yarn is called 'Poems' by Wisdom Yarns. The colorway is 517. I spotted it on a clearance table and grabbed two skeins with plans for a soaker, but being gifted a few hand-me-down ones, the yarn went towards this hat instead. I am, as of yet, undecided as to what the remaining skein and a quarter will be. This work in progress picture gives a better view of the colors, back when I was focusing on the yarn and not the gorgeous girl wrapped up in it (priorities people).

~psst....I think this one's my favorite! ~

The pattern comes from the Fall 2008 issue of Living Crafts magazine. I like it a lot. It was quick, easy, and *clearly* adorable (even if Steve does think it looks like a Romulan helmet).