What… when did those get knit?

So, early this week, I was alerted to the Sweet Eleanor pattern on Ravelry.

The pattern proceeds go to help a family whose 2 year old daughter is undergoing chemotherapy.  It’s a very well written pattern and includes both charts and written cable instructions.  I love the star cable at the crown.  I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and US size 6 needles.  It fits pretty well, maybe even a bit loose.  After I finished the hat, I decided I needed to make some mitts to match.  I was going to try and design matching mitts, but Fetching was already written up and I decided I didn’t want to think about math for awhile.  It took less than a week for me to start and finish both projects.  It was like they just appeared off the needles.

Scraps

I’m scraping together a post.

Here are scraps of yarn from a new (but still secret) project:

And here are some scraped together pictures of the now finished Lace Ribbon Scarf:

Meanwhile, I’m still dealing with scraps from H’s second birthday party- leftover cake, streamers, balloons, etc.

I am going to attempt to make my own body butter later tonight or tomorrow.  We shall see, if it goes well I’ll tell you about it.  If it doesn’t, I’ll probably tell you about that too.  :-)

two

They say time flies when you’re having fun.  I must have been having a lot of fun these past two years, because I just don’t know how it could be two years since I had H.  He’s surprised me in so many wonderful ways.  He has such a great sense of humor, and tries to make me laugh on a daily basis.  He handled the move to TX way better than I did.  He loves to dance, play with his trains, and watch The Muppets (or muppies as they are called in our house).  I enjoy watching him grow and learn so much, because everything is wonderful and exciting through his eyes.  It sounds like a cliche and maybe it is, but it’s true nevertheless.  I love hearing him learn new words each day.  I don’t always love having to tell him  ’no’ or put him in time out, but he always rebounds from whatever it is.  I’m not sure what this next year has in store, but I can’t wait for it.

One day:

One year:

Two years:

Pictures

Henry’s Longies:

Seafoam socks- my own design.  Not sure if I’ll get around to writing up this pattern or not.  Interest?

Progress is being made on the Lace Ribbon Scarf:

Also, from now until Jan 31st, 100% of the profits from my Paul and Virginia pattern will be donated to help those in Haiti.

Monday Musings

So apparently my goals for the year did not include blogging more.

A few random things:

* I am obsessed with MI-5.  I’ve been watching episodes on Netflix.  Right now I’m on Season 4, episode 6, 7, uh 8.  I find it intriguing and infuriating that they seem to kill off main characters with a regard seldom seen on television.  It makes for great, if suspenseful, knitting tv.

* Due in part to the above, I am now halfway through the Lace Ribbon Scarf.  If I wasn’t knitting it as a sample for Liz at Femme Fatale Fibers, I’m pretty sure I would have given up a while ago. As it is now, I’ve got the pattern memorized and the yarn is delightful, so it is working out well.  I like that I have a specific goal for this project.  Until it is finished this scarf is my main weekday knitting.

* I’m also most of the way through a new pair of longies for H.  I’m using some Yarn Pirate aran weight BFL I got for Christmas from my brother and sister in law. They are turning out great, and they seem to be flying off the needles after the last pair.  I would love to resolve to knit all future longies out of aran weight, but there are too many cute worsted weight yarns.

2009 Wrap up and 2010 Ambitions

2009:

I feel like this has been an incredibly fulfilling, stress filled, but overall happy year.  I’m glad we are wrapping up on positive notes, because it makes the new year so full of excitement and happiness.  When 2009 started I truly believed things would go smoothly, but as usual, fate had a different plan.  It all worked out well, though.  We are all pretty much settled in, and our life in Texas is full of friendship and fun.  There just aren’t enough words to say how happy I am to stay home with H and watch him develop as a little person.  He is so fun to be around, especially now that his language skills are taking off in leaps and bounds.  Just for kicks, here are some quick statistics:

1 cross country move

1 new job for Steve

57 completed knitting projects (wow!  And yes there are only 52 pictures in this set, as some are ’secret’ and others never got pictures taken.)

first project: Thorpe                                                 last project: striped socks

6 WIPS/UFOs

4 patterns designed by me

many new words for H

18 new trains

many new recipes tried, only two or three real disasters

2010:

I’m looking forward to focusing on simplifying my life, spending time with H and Steve, and who knows what else.  Here are a few ambitions (not resolutions- those are too…. resolute.):

* Make at least two sweaters for me.

* Stop buying one or two balls of yarn at a time.  1500 yards minimum, unless I have a specific project in mind.  Sock yarn is exempt, of course.

* Finish all the single socks.

* Re-sew the curtains for H’s room so they all match.

(hmm, these are all crafty….)

* Figure out a system to rate/remember/review recipes.

* Plant a small container garden.

* Get my hair cut in a salon.

Here’s wishing everyone that reads this a safe and happy New Year’s Eve, and peace in the new year.

Why I Love Etsy

I love Etsy.  I love to browse around.  I love typing in random search terms and seeing what pops up. But most of all, I love getting the chance to support small business that I would have never shopped at otherwise (mostly because I wouldn’t know they exist).

First up, Yarn Pirate.  By no means is Georgia’s etsy shop new to me, but I always love getting her hand-dyed yarn in the mail.  She was (and still is) having a sale in the shop, so I used the opportunity to do a little stash enhancement.

This is BFL Aran in Olive Grove (variegated) and Olive Juice (semi-solid):

It is supremely soft and squishable.  I’m hoping to make a pair of striped longies for H.  Or maybe something else if I get inspired… sweater?

I also picked up a skein of the organic merino:

This is for me, probably.   This skein is a generous 260 yards.  I’m still deciding what I want to make with it.  Maybe matching winter accessories?  Not that I really need them in TX.  Also, I just want to mention the softness of this yarn.  I figured it would be a little rougher, like the other organic merino I’d touched before, but this yarn is definitely soft enough for next to the skin wear.  So soft that I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for a baby sweater.

Next up is a shop I found by searching for bath bubbles.  As a side note, Etsy really isn’t the place to shop for bubble bath.  That said, Red Leaf is a great bath and body shop.  I was so intrigued by  their bubble bath dough that I had to order some.  I got the oatmeal, milk, and honey scent.  I also threw in a shave cube in plumeria.

In the notes to seller I requested a scent sample of the black tea, since I wasn’t sure I’d like it, something like the room spray spritzed on a piece of paper.  Instead, Chris sent a soap sample to try out.  Super customer service!

The soap and shave cubes are completely awesome.  I’ve never used a coconut oil based soap before, and whether it is that or some other magic, my skin has never been so soft after shaving in the winter.  The cube also lathers up like crazy, which is fun in addition to being practical.  I mean, who doesn’t love soapy bubbles?  And I was pleasantly surprised to find the plumeria nicely floral and not at all overpowering.

Now to the bubble bath dough.

I cannot tell you how happy I was when the mail came during H’s nap time and I could hurry up and try out this product.  And then I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when I couldn’t get my dough to bubble.  Seriously, so bummed out.  I got in the tub, and rubbed the dough under the running water.  All I got was a few measly bubbles, but a very nicely scented bath.

I had the feeling something was wrong, so when I got out of the tub, I tried a little bit in my bathroom sink.  Holy bubbles batman!

I really should have re-read the product description before I tried out my bath: “The key to lots and lots of bubbles is agitating the water.” Uh, yeah.  On to take two. Run water, rub dough, agitate water, agitate water, agitate water, then get in.  Much better bubbles this time around.

The oatmeal, milk, and honey scent smells more like almond than anything else, but still nice.  Just a bit different than I was expecting.  I really can’t wait to order more in the lavender scent.

The key to lots and lots of bubbles is agitating the waterThe key to lots and lots of bubbles is agitating the water

Quick Knitting Update

This year I feel like the holidays are approaching faster than previous years.  Or maybe I wasn’t as organized as last year.  Or perhaps it is because now that I’m in Texas, my bio-rhythm doesn’t believe that 67 degree weather belongs in December. (Seriously, it’s hard for me to reconcile the weather to the calendar date.  I still ‘feel’ like it should be early September, which would mean that I was doing great with my knitting instead of feeling hopelessly behind.)

I thought I was doing pretty well on my knitting list.  But then the more I looked at Versatility they more I didn’t like it.  I like the pattern, but I do not have the time to order new yarn and knit it up before Christmas.  My mom also requested a sweater the other day, and that is just not going to happen.  I wouldn’t mind knitting it, but again, I’d have to order yarn and then knit it.  Plus, I like to get input on what kind of sweater (cardi vs pullover, cables/lace/plain, ease, etc) a person wants before pouring many hours of my time into something that could end up in the back of the closet.

Since the last update, I’ve finished a few more things and started some others.

Here’s a photo of the two Kate kitties sitting side by side:

I also finished up some longies for H.  They are getting much tougher to whip out quickly with a 12″ inseam.

And here’s a mosaic of some Christmas ornaments I’ve knit up:

The wee little stripy sock is my favorite.  I knit it out of a mini-skein of Yarn Pirate sock yarn and it just turned out so super cute.   I also want to make a me-sized version of the red sweater.

Stay tuned for more, including some Etsy purchases.

send help or chocolate

I’m stuck in the middle of Christmas knitting.  Even with cutting several planned projects out of my queue I’m still struggling to find the motivation and time to get through the rest.  Plus I need to make more longies for H so I can rotate between two actual fitting pairs (vs the polar bear pair and the pair I sort of shrunk in the laundry).

Here are some random pictures to spice up this post:

Lace ribbon scarf                            New pair of manly socks

versatility (thinking of frogging)    saroyan scarf/shawlette

stripy socks                                       give a hoot mittens

I’m also knitting ornaments for the tree (so far two mini socks, two mini sweaters, a fig, and some cherries) and two Kate kitties (from knitty.com).

Oh, and I posted them on my design blog, but I have a new sock pattern up.

Black Friday Socks

Thankful and just plain full

I am very full, even the day after we ate all this food plus turkey.

I am thankful for my husband, who is wonderful and kind and helpful. For H, who continues to surprise me, makes me laugh daily, and is generally a great almost 2 year old.   Having him challenged everything that I thought I would do when I was a parent.  It’s both hard and wonderful.  I’m thankful for the chance to stay at home, even if it does drive me batty at times. And for knitting, without which I would have surely gone insane.