Posted in random knits on April 13, 2014| 1 Comment »
A special thank you to a thoughtful reader. Tia of Julibeans rebuilt the pdf for my Bear and Bunny Pattern to include the missing instructions for the jacket. Thank you so much.
The link in Patterns and Tutorials has been updated and you can also click on the picture below.
Posted in family life, random knits on March 11, 2014|
It’s spring break here. I find it silly to call it spring break since it isn’t even spring yet but I will take it. I have missed my big kids, Hollis has missed the big kids, and he and I are in heaven now that they are home. Being completely honest, my joy is partly because of the added help around the house they bring. It is so nice to have help with the daily household chores but also the company these big kids bring to Hollis. It has been many years since I’ve had a toddler to myself all day. I have been spoiled with so many years multiple children to occupy each other. Don’t get me wrong, I am loving our one on one time together but it is nice to be able to get things done and even have a bit of me time, at least more than a few minutes a day.
So far I have had time to finish up my green, pink, and red quilt top. The back has been started and should be done this week. Yay! I also picked up some colored thread and got to work covering this rock. It was a pleasant change to be working with color on that tiny hook. I really do like the finished product too.
Reading has also entered my day. A magazine no less. I have had time this week to read the first issue of Taproot cover to cover. I was a little nervous about ordering all the back issues without having read a single one but am so glad I did. Now I just need to decide which one to read next. Should I read them in order or skip to the next spring issues saving the other ones for their published seasons. Hmm.
All I can say is that it is Tuesday. Tuesday!! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings.
Posted in random knits on January 27, 2014| 3 Comments »
I don’t know when it started. Sometime after leaving Turkey and before Hollis was born I think. I’d have to look through the blog to know for sure. It feels like it’s been a long time anyway. What I’m trying to say is…it’s back!!! I think I can finally say that my desire to make and create is back. Yay! It’s so strange how my mind let this part of me go. And then, out of the blue it’s back again. Not the same as it used to be, but back none the less.
In its absence I learned a lot about what I was spending my time on and how it affects my family, my marriage, my friendships and my own personal growth.
With this desire to create back in my life, I find my self treading carefully and for now am trying to keep things simple and use up materials I have.
So… Along with my ongoing quilting project I have been crocheting some stones.
My goal is to have a few projects going at the same time. Ones that I can have ready and available to pick up and get to work where I left off. My quilting stuff is organized on a table in the basement and these crochet stones have been in a baggie in my purse. I love this new way of thinking. No longer am I in a hurry to get projects done and I am finding myself enjoying the process of making so much more.
Posted in family life, random knits, sewing on December 2, 2013| 2 Comments »
I think I am done with my crochet project. Well, I can’t decide. Maybe I’ll be finished for this year and work on it again for next year. Maybe not.
Quite a few years ago I purchased some yarn to make coordinating Christmas stocking for our family. I started out with Bron’s and then one for me because that is what we needed for that year. That is as far as I got. Mostly because I had altered a pattern to make the first two but lost my notes and then lost the pattern and could never find it again. (honestly I didn’t look too hard) I also started dealing with tendentious in my wrists which put all knitting to a halt and I quickly moved on to other types of projects. A few years later I tried to pick up where I left off but stopped just as quickly and decided that if we were to have matching stocking they would have to be sewn. This left the yarn in a box to collect dust and move to Turkey and on to Mississippi and now Nebraska. Last month enough time had passed and I was officially ready to move on and put that yarn to use in a different project. Not surprisingly on that same day I came across this tutorial. If you go and take a look at the link I bet you will be able to tell what happened first. I was smitten.
At first I wanted mine to have cream as a border as well but quickly realized that I didn’t have enough of that color or any one color to make that happen. So I went with it and was busy for a few weeks on all 50 squares.
I bound mine together using the same tutorial linked to, using the darker of the two colors. However, since I had different colors at each corner I decided to just skip the corners altogether leaving a diamond shaped opening instead. This is where I run into trouble deciding if I am done or not. I could close the opening with the darkest of colors and it actually looks good too. I would even say that I like it better. However, I really don’t like weaving in loose ends and that would be a lot of loose ends to take care of. So, we shall see if I get around to it next year. For now, I will pretend it is done.
As you can see my Christmas Countdown made it out another year. I had thoughts of making another but have decided that this one works just fine. If I ever make it again, it will be for my grandchildren (haha my oldest is only 15) and then I can make the changes I want.
Posted in random knits on November 18, 2013| 2 Comments »
I haven’t moved on. In fact, I am feeling inspired to start some new projects.
These granny circles are quite addictive. I’ll share some details when I have time to sit at a computer properly.
For now, enjoy a sneak peek.
Or maybe a good read. My visiting teachers brought me this message today. So much to learn in this talk.
Posted in Life is good, Nature, random crafts, random knits on November 11, 2013|
That lovely fall air.
I am just loving all the fall splendor here in Nebraska. I can’t get over all the colors and beauty I see every day. I feel like a little kid getting so excited to go for a drive out of the city to see field after rolling corn field all golden and beautiful. As we head back to the city it is reds, oranges, bright yellows, acorns, pinecones, and the like everywhere. Up in the trees, flying in the air, and laying on the ground. I love it.
I don’t know if it is the change of season or what, but this last weekend I found myself cutting my fabric scraps into 2″, 3.5″, and 6″ lengths, looking up how to reupholster a chair on YouTube, and digging into the closet under the stairs looking for the box of yarn I have saved for christmas stockings. All on the same day!
I couldn’t believe it. I actually wanted to do something crafty.
By evening, my mind was going every which way and so I regrouped and decided on one project for now. After all, this sudden burst of creative energy could leave just as fast as it came. I decided to abandon the idea of matching knit stocking (it is so much faster to just sew them, and easier on my wrists too) and to use the yarn for another christmas decor project. I’ll let you more about it if anything actually comes of it. For now I will take a deep breath and calmly let this area of my life enter my mind and hands again.
****
I know it is late but I’ll have a Halloween post up later this week. I just can’t pass up the chance to show you our little frog this year.
Posted in give-away, random knits on April 3, 2012| 15 Comments »
Crochet projects were not on my list for this month. On the contrary, I made a conscious decision not to include any knitting or crochet projects. You’ll have to blame it on Ravelry. I found my self browsing though their thousands of projects late saturday night and I came across this doily and knew I wanted to work on it during General Conference the next day. I didn’t have the thread it called for or a hook that small but I did have some pretty thin (single ply?) DMC Cotton Perle’ and a 1.4mm hook to fit it, both much smaller/thinner than I had ever worked with, so I got started.
I followed the pattern exactly until I got to the first pretty picot edge and just loved it so much. I instantly started thinking about crochet stones and remembered I had one last stone from my spring trip to Hawaii last year. I tried it on and knew it was meant to be. It fit perfectly around the face of my stone. Perfectly!
So, following the pattern for a few more rows but modifying it so it would decrease, than winging it for the last few rows, I worked on this for the last few days whenever there was a minute I wasn’t busy with something else.
Now the joints in my hand are stiff and sore. Working with such thin thread and small needles proves to be a bit more trying than supplies I’ve used before. However, it was worth it. I love the results so much. You can get so much more design on a stone this way and it is so pretty and delicate.
So, happily I add this as my second gift for the month. I hope there are some nature lovers out there that will love this as much as I do.
Posted in random knits, Tutorials on March 25, 2012| 8 Comments »
Things have been very nonproductive in the making and creating department this week. I’ve actually been off my feet for some self proclaimed bed (couch really) rest. However, Saturday started look up again and so I took advantage of a slow Satruday morning to finish this little pattern up.
The size is for newborn only. I suspect that you could make it larger by adding some length and to the number of increase rows to make it just about any size.
(click on the photo to go to the pdf or look for it on the free patterns and tutorials page)
Enjoy
Posted in give-away, random knits on March 20, 2012| 1 Comment »
Yesterday I crochet up a couple of newborn sized Newsboy Hats. Neither of these are for me. The first is a newborn photo prop for a friend and the second is for a little lady who will be born this summer.
Pattern can be found here. My notes for these hats are on Ravelry here and here.
I love the texture of these little hats. I think I will make one up in a bigger size for my summer baby boy. I think in a chunky handspun yarn in undyed Merino. Mmmm, that sound wonderful, the perfect accessory for my little guy this winter.
More crocheting will have to wait until after April. I’ve got too many projects that need to be organized and prepped for my Birthday Give Away this year. Less than two weeks left!
Posted in random knits, Tutorials on March 18, 2012| 36 Comments »
when I saw it for the first time. There is was, all completed and ready to save as a PDF.
I admit that it was all a little rushed in the end but after stopping and starting this project again and again over the years, I decided it was time to just finish it.
And I did!
You can find it listed on my Free Patterns and Tutorials page or simply click on the pic in this post for a link to the PDF.
*** Update***
It has been brought to my attention that I left out part of the pattern. I will add it here until I have a minute to put up a new PDF.
Jacket – Front Left
Front Left
Cast on 14 sts.
Row
1-3 Work in moss st.
4 K12, P1, K1.
5 K1, P1, K1, P11.
6-11 Repeat rows 4 and 5 three times more.
12 Cast off 3 sts, K to last 2 sts, P1, K1. (11 sts)
Place marker at last cast off st.
13 K1, P1, K1, P8.
14 K1, Skpo, K6, P1, K1. (10 sts)
15 K1, P1, K1, P7.
16 K8, P1, K1.
17-18 Repeat rows 15 and 16 once.
19 Cast off 3 sts, P to end of row. (7 sts)
20 K3, {K2tog} twice. (5 sts)
21 Cast off 2 sts, P3. (3 sts)
22 K across.
Cast off remaining 3 sts.
Posted in random knits on March 16, 2012| 2 Comments »
I’m almost done.
The pattern is completed, the animals are completed and so are the clothes. All faces have been sewn on and so have the buttons. Pictures have been taken and they have also been edited. Now I just need to cross my fingers that adding pictures to the pattern wont give me a headache like it has in the past, print it to a pdf and upload it to patterns and tutorial.
Soon. For real. It should be done soon.
Posted in random knits on February 29, 2012| 2 Comments »
There is nothing like a bit of crafting to get yourself impatient for your little one to arrive. About a week after finding out I was having a boy I headed off to the yarn shop and picked up a bit of cotton self striping yarn for a hat.
Each of my babies so far have come home in the same blue check outfit and a Mother made crochet/knit hat just for them. This little guy will be no different.
I even had just enough yarn with just enough stripe rounds left to make a pair of little booties (they seem more like socks) that actually match each other.
These are both crochet with just a simple half double crochet stitch. I’ll have a pattern for the hat sometime soon but the socks were just quickly made without taking any notes. For the hat I used one of my other kids newborn hats, that I knew fit well, as a guide and just tried to make the socks 3 inches long in the foot so it will fit on a little baby. Hopefully the ties will help to keep them on his feet.
I cant wait to meet the little guy who will wear these little items.
Posted in random knits on January 11, 2012| 1 Comment »
Lots and lots of them to be more precise.
Back in 2005 and 2006 I had grand plans to finish overhauling my knit bunny pattern. Adding instructions to make it a bear and some really cute clothes. I’d add a link but for some reason all my old links aren’t working anymore, hmmm. Well, here I am again. The pattern is finished. All I have left is to knit up a sample set for pictures. Correction, all I have to do is sew up all my little knit pieces and take some pictures.
My original plan was to make a cute little booklet full of illustrations and tips. Since the pattern has sat for so many years and to prevent 6 more years from passing by I’ve decided to scale things down a bit and simply get the pattern finished. Take out some of the bells and whistles and simplify the format so it works for a PDF that hopefully wont be a too long.
So, hopefully in the next month (I’m really hoping it wont take longer) I’ll have a pattern ready to show you.
Posted in random knits on December 5, 2011|
It has been quite a while but I’ve picked up my needles again. It took me a while to find them too. They were scattered among various started and finished projects in various places of storage. Sheesh! The last time I remember knitting regularly was when Bron was a baby and that was almost 6 years ago.
It’s about time!
Posted in Nature, random knits, Uncategorized on November 9, 2010|
*** Thanks for your thoughts on cleaning. I finished reading the book and am in the process of making the things I learned apart of my routine. I’ll let you know if it work out. ***
While teaching a new friend to knit the other day I became inspired to work with fiber again. It had been a couple of years since I picked up a pair of needles and was enjoying it again. I restarted some long unfinished stockings and realized real quick that I needed something different. That just wasn’t the project for me right now.
On friday I read this post and was reminded how very beautiful Margaret Oomen’s work is and also that I remember seeing a tutorial out in blogland somewhere. After a little search I found the tutorial and got to work. For some reason I was having trouble following the directions and decided to try covering a stone with an improvised pattern. There was a bit of trial and error but I love how it turned out.
I loved revisiting the crochet hook as well. It had been more years than I remember since I had used one of those. And just like the tutorial stated, I could not make just one. Here is my own little still life.
Now my brain is thinking colors. Wouldn’t a stone look pretty in a robin’s egg color or something. We’ll see if I get around to it.
Posted in paper goods, random knits on February 27, 2008| 1 Comment »
With a big paper out of the way this last Friday, I took a much needed break from schoolwork on Saturday. In order to rejuvenate myself I got to work finishing up the bunny I started the weekend before and then knit up her dress on the way to IKEA.
That evening I got to work on these books. I think they turned out so cute. I didn’t think that I would like the binding but I really do.
Update – If you would like to have one of these books for your own, I have added the one on the left to my etsy shop.
Posted in random knits on September 22, 2007| 1 Comment »
upon request i have been trying to figure out the pattern to this hat (the cream one). here’s bron modeling my first try.
the hat was intended for a baby, obviously my sizing was off. i should have used different sized needles since i knit so loose. now i just need to work on the size, find a good gauge, and knit it up again. i’ll post the pattern in free patterns when i get it done.
Posted in random knits on August 29, 2007|
ok, i can check them off my list.
i just love how they fit in my hand. soon there will be a little guy who will fill these with his tiny feet. too sweet. holding these make me hungry for a little one again.
for these booties i used a pattern from this book. (classic bootie pg 13) i did however make a few changes. i made a rib cuff instead of the roll top increasing the number of rows to 15 and did seed stitch instead of the written sockinette on the top of the booties. i also added the ties. they give a little extra help with keeping them on extra busy feet. i used super soft and yummy baby bamboo yarn in snuggly blue, with size 4 needles.
Posted in quilting, random knits, spinning on August 27, 2007|
wow! thanks for all the quilt love. did someone link to my blog? i have received so much traffic and so many e-mails the past few days. anyway, thank you.
so, my summer is coming to the end. i have one more week until we start homeschooling again, and than at the end of september i will start taking classes again. last year once school started for me i had very little time to do anything other than school related stuff for my kiddies or myself. it was kinda depressing not to be able to hang out with friends or go to church functions (other than sunday) or anything. if i had finished my homework and was willing to stay up late i could squeeze in a little crafting time but that didn’t happen very often at all. oh well. i figure that this year will be the same, so i dont have any grand plans in the works as far as projects go. i do however have a short list of things i want to finish before i start classes.
first let me show you the cute blankie i finished this last week. i followed the happy things tutorial again. it turned out way cute. i took my time and top-stitched each stripe since i wasn’t going to use batting and quilt it. when i finished the top i simply cut out some flannel the same size and bound it pillowcase style. i also added a few ties using embroidery floss, to keep the back from shifting away from the top. oh wait, before i sewed the flannel to the top i appliqued on an “e” with matching fabric. than i stitched around it with contrasting floss. i love blankies like this. just perfect for wrapping a little one.
the e stands for elliot. a little boy who just arrived last week.
ok, now for my plans. i want to finish up these projects before school starts at the end of september.
the robot quilt: the top is done now i just need to quilt and bind it. the only problem is that i am not sure how i want to quilt it.
the self striping yarn project: i knit up a tube when i was on vacation in idaho but decided it was way to big to make as a purse so i frogged it, reset the yarn and started over with a smaller purse. the tube is completed as well as the strap. now i need to sew up one end of the tube add lining and a zipper and sew on the straps. i am much happier with the size. the biggest dilemma with this project is that i can’t decide if like the side showing or the inside better. i turned the tube inside out a realized that i like that side as well.
and than i have this fabric that i am dying to make into another quilt.
oh and one last thing. i have a friend who is need a pair of booties. i think the booties will come first since this week i will be traveling and they can come with me. i could also sew up the lining on the purse and bring it since it needs to be sew in by hand. yes, i think i will do that.
so anyway that is the plan. who knows how much of it i’ll get done. i’ll see you again if i make any progress.
Posted in quilting, random knits, spinning on July 24, 2007|
i left town last week and took my spinning wheel with me. i almost didn’t bring it but was so glad that i did. the yarn turned out to be very beautiful on my self striping attempt. here’s the wip. the stripes are subtle but they’re there. hurray!
it’s going to be another lined bag.
here is another finished quilt. why am i making baby quilts? who knows, but there are two more tops waiting for me to finish.
Posted in random knits, sewing, spinning on July 11, 2007| 1 Comment »
yesterday i headed over to laura‘s and got to work on the skirt for thisbe. i was surprisingly painless. i hadn’t sewn clothes for her since she was a toddler. i have to say that i wasn’t a fan of the fabric she picked out at joann’s the other day but when put together as a skirt it turned out pretty cute. it was made from the 3 peas tutorial here at kuky ideas.
i also finished the purse i started at the black sheep gathering. adding the lining and zipper was much easier than i thought it would be.
i also think it’s pretty cool how the yarn i spun up self striped. now that i have finished this i am going to try and dye my own roving to see if i can get it to self stripe again.
Posted in random knits on December 28, 2006|
I have finished two stockings. Well I do still need to put names on them. I figure that I will wait until I finish them all and then put names on, just incase someone has strong feelings toward or against a stocking. I didn’t finish knitting mine until christmas day and I didn’t finish weaving in loose ends until last night. I plan on having it ready for next year.
I have been doing a little sewing. I have made a baby blanket for a little girl due to arrive next month. I plan on making a matching bib if I can get around to it.
Posted in random knits on November 1, 2006|
So, I’ve got Bronwyn’s stocking all knit up. Now I need to duplicate stitch her name or something, probably the letter B, and than Bron’s will be done. I don’t plan on starting my stocking until after finals as knitting is very distracting and addicting.
Posted in random knits on October 30, 2006|
I finished all my homework. Really, I did.
I finished the heel and gusset and I am now working on the foot. I don’t know how far to go before I start decreasing for the toe. I am hoping homework is quick and easy this week too. I want to finish this so I can start on mine.
I am so unhappy with my pictures. It is not a finacial priority to buy a new camera right now. I am sad that all my pictures are tuning out like this and that I was forced to make the choice to:
Post with no pictures, or Post with blurry ones. I went with the obvious for me but someone else may have choses the other.
Maybe I’ll ask Santa for a new one. Do you think he can make quality cameras in his toy shop?
Posted in random knits on October 20, 2006|
Well school has picked up and it seems I only have a couple of hours for myself each week. I have been cutting into my study time a little and started Bronwyn’s Christmas Stocking. I am following Laura‘s pattern except I am making it a little bigger so I can knit it on 16″ circulars. I plan on duplicate stitching her name or maybe just a B or maybe something or nothing else. I have finished the leg and now I need to divide for the heel but I need the recommended book to do this. I have ordered it from the library and they say it’s in but I really need to focus on homework for an other day so I’ll let it sit for now and maybe if I am desperate (I probably will be) I will pick it up tomorrow and cut into my homework just a little. It’s so hard. Doing crafts is so addicting. It is all I can do to keep myself focused on anything else. Balance right? It’s all about balance.
Posted in random knits on October 2, 2006|
I had my first day of class on Thrusday and I dont start my other class until today. So I got in a little knitting time this weekend. These are for a friend of my dad’s. My camera broke so I am using my daughters and it is very overcast. This explains the poor photo. My dad is coming to get them this morning so I had to do the photo shoot now if I wanted to document them. They turned out cute, good photo or not.
-Update- My dad decided not to pick these up that day so today I decided to give it another go with the picture. The results are better but sadly not as nice as I would hope. I was really hoping I wouldn’t need to get a new camera. Thisbe’s just doesn’t seem to take as nice of pictures. Oh well.
Posted in random knits on August 10, 2006|
This little guy was knit up with cotton yarn using my pattern again. I made him for a child so he has saftey eyes. I followed the pattern with the exception of the eyes and I used size 4 needles instead of the recommended 5. The sweater is not with the patter either. I needed one that didn’t have buttons.
Posted in random knits on August 8, 2006| 2 Comments »
For some reason I have always been against circular needles or double pointed needles. If a pattern says to use them I always try to convert the pattern to two strait ones. I don’t know what I was thinking. I knit up the pink striped hat on two strait needles and it took me the whole weekend. I decided to give it a go with 16″ circular ones and I finished both the green striped one and than the cream eyelet hat in one day. Granted I did have more time to give the hats that day but I was blown away by how much faster it is to knit in a round. From now on I will not hesitate to knit in a round.
Posted in random knits on July 4, 2006|
I have been taking a break from making things, trying to figure out why I make them and where my time doing it should lie on my priority list. High on my list of craft things is this Bear/Rabbit Pattern. I need to finish it. The pattern is done. Someone has test knit it for me and I have done all the fine tuning I want to do. I just need proofread one more time, maybe add another illustration, make a couple of little guys for a cover photo and print it out. Ok I guess I’ve got a ways to go, but I have come a long way.
Here is a little guy dressed in green overalls. I made him in cotton with safety eyes so he’ll be ok for a child.
Posted in random knits on May 15, 2006| 2 Comments »
Just wanted to post a picture of my latest knitting project, I have finished the bib pattern now all I need to do is post it.
by small means 