x love

Another hobby? Oh, of course. I can hardly find the time for all the others I have, but you can always use just one more. And it involves a needle, so it's more like half of a new hobby.

I had so much fun with my art show samplers that it was simply a matter of time before I imagined other things to do with little xs (x's? exes? x-es?) This bird is my first step beyond text, though I'm still very fond of cross stitched words. Actually, I just finished a sampler for Ragdoll, but I don't think I'll be sharing it here...I'm even more shy about what this one says. Let's just say it follows the same theme I started in the spring. But back to cleaner subjects, like this bird. Instead of using up pages of graph paper I downloaded a demo version of MacStitch and I can see how this might change my world. Sadie loved it too - we drew birds, tigers and some freehand words and you can immediately preview how it will look on fabric. Perhaps it's cheating a bit, but wow, is it fun. And it saves time, so overall it's win-win. The only thing the software can't account for is the wonky weave I use (instead of Aida cloth or even-weave linen, I use raw silk because, well, raw silk is wonderfully soft and beautiful). But I think I'll still buy the software. The text feature is very cool and I'll soon grow tired of drawing out the pattern on graph paper before shutting down the laptop (the "save" and "print" functions are disabled in the demo version).

So cross stitch projects are now officially added to my very long to-do list. Perfect.

prototype

Another vest in the spirit of all things academic. I can't help myself - vests are just way too cute on baby boys. I wrote the pattern up, but I think I'll try a second version at a larger size before sharing it (Milo is 18lbs...so I think I'll work with 12 months sizing next). I also want to slightly modify the neckline. I like the seed stitch border on the outer edge and I think repeating it on the inside (therefore making the center panel a bit wider) will just "neaten" the overall look. I can admit it - selvedges are just one of those things I care WAY too much about.

Anyone out there interested in this pattern? Is a 12 month size something you're looking for?

decision maker

I think the first comment I ever left on a blog was in response to something Lyn at Mollychicken wrote. Her daughter was five and no longer would wear dresses - or at least, dresses of Lyn's choosing. Sadie was only a few months old at the time and even though 5 years old seemed far away, I was surprised at how quickly Lyn's daughter was making her own decisions.

Sadie is now 5. And truthfully, she has been making fashion decisions for some time now, much to my entertainment (and I hope her teacher's). Most days it involves headbands with "stuff" attached, and there's a strong trend of layering different socks over leggings and shorts. Nothing ever matches and no matter how hard I try, I could never come up with the combinations she does. So when I got the Playdate Dress pattern from Oliver + S, I knew Sadie would have to choose the fabric or she would never wear it. And as we sifted through the options at FatQuarterShop, I was totally surprised at her choice. I was expecting her to choose something pink and girly, but she loved this holiday fabric and went for a real red-and-green theme. I didn't even get any say with the buttons. So in the end the dress is nothing like what I would have imagined, but it is utterly and absolutely Sadie (as is pairing the dress with grizzly bear tights).

Speaking of making decisions, Sadie also talked me into cutting her hair. I kept putting it off but she was determined. I shed a few tears when I did it - seriously - but it suits her. And as an added bonus, she looks younger now which helps me when I dwell on how fast this girl is growing up. Insert great big sigh here.

big headed

A little knitting for me and my gigantic head. The pattern called to cast 70 stitches, and I had to do 90 and the final hat is still a wee bit snug. However, I quite like the hat and I may try it again (minus the striping and with a few more increases - this hat is meant to slouch). I found the pattern on Ravelry and it's called the Felicity Hat. It's easy and quick - perfect for fitting in around Hallowe'en preparations, kitchen craziness (our counter is being installed tomorrow and we're ready to tile!) and general baby raising. I used more Sublime Organic Merino and again, I don't love knitting with it but the final product is lovely.

P.S. I've realized that I'm not too far off of Sadie's habit of drawing Milo into every picture - clearly I work his little face into almost every post. It's pure, unadulterated Mommy love. And speaking of Milo (did I mention Milo?), he has just mastered rolling from his back to his belly and back again, at the all-too-young-age of 4 months. So unlike Sadie who was relaxed and didn't care to roll and crawl until she was 8 months old, this guy is ready to go. A sign of things to come?

gasp

First let me say that getting new appliances is really not our style. Big purchases in general are not our style. But we've been in this house for 7 years and I've been drooling over a magazine clipping of this fridge the whole time and we finally just bit the bullet. I spend so much of my time at home in the kitchen and since I'm not entirely happy about that fact, I would like it to be the one room I love the most.

Speaking of love, I heart these appliances. The enamel finish is perfect, and they have totally transformed the room. Our fridge, which stands on its own, is now like a piece of sculpture that we're happy to see from the living room. And while I may not understand how to use a ceramic cooktop yet, or know why the cooling fan goes on while I use the oven, gosh is the stove pretty. When they unwrapped it on the front sidewalk I thought about the neighbours wondering where the Betty Crocker stove came from, because Betty Crocker it is.

And now it's time to go bake something. Thank you Northstar. We'll be using these appliances for the next 30 years or so.

bingo!

A certain very special girl turned 5 last week (insert heartbroken sigh here). Like every year before, we chose to have a party with Sadie's grandparents and uncles with a solemn promise that next year she can have a kids party. But to help make this year's party more fun we figured we could introduce games. Sadie and I came up with this bingo idea and we really enjoyed putting it together. She drew all the animals and watched while I scanned them (which was an interesting lesson - I could literally see her processing the info). Then I showed her as I set the cards up in Photoshop. I went to a print shop and had the cards printed on cardstock and voila - Sadie's very own bingo game. Her grandparents and uncles loved it and now she can play it with any group of kids (or adults) we have over.

I have a hard time choosing my favourite drawing, but the giraffe in the second photo is pretty awesome...I mean, check out the little boy on the giraffe's back. In true Sadie fashion, Milo had to make an appearance, even in Bingo.

whistling pixie

Okay - this is the cutest hat ever. It's an easy pattern and I finished it in 2 days (yay for quick projects!) I found it through Ravelry after spying Soulemama's adorable son wearing one, and you can find the pattern, called the Pixie Hat, here. The wool I used is Sublime Organic Merino DK and it feels lovely once knit though it wasn't my favourite to knit with. It isn't really spun, so it's easy to miss part of the ply with your needles. But the ribbing is really soft and squishy and I think I'll use the rest to make a hat for myself soon. Obviously Milo is the recipient of all my knitting these days.

Lucky little gnome, isn't he?

baby t-shirt vest

After a few adjustments I think the pattern is ready! Milo wore the vest all day after our wee photo shoot and it was perfect for this weather plus it really stayed in place. Vests are great over onesies and add that extra bit of warmth without bulk. I don't think the pattern is hard but you do need to be familiar with working in the round and raglan increases. I'm a lazy knitter and don't like seaming. Also working in the round allows you to size as you go - for instance, you can make the body as long as you want here (we all know some babies have long torsos, or tire-sized bellies like my guy). The pattern would be a lot easier if there wasn't a buttoned shoulder, but at this age I like the extra space for getting clothes over a tender noggin'. I've tried to be as clear as possible, but if anyone has questions or suggestions or finds a mistake, please let me know!

Baby T-Shirt Vest

You will need:
DK wool, approx 130yds (I used 1 skein of Elsebeth Lavold’s Silky Tweed)
4.5mm needles (16” circ and DPNs)
8 stitch markers ("pm" in pattern stands for place marker)
3 lengths of scrap yarn (for holding stitches)
2 buttons

Gauge 20 stitches over 32 rows = 4” square
Size is roughly 6-9 months, finished dimensions are: 9″ wide, 10” long (or longer – the body is up to you!)

YOKE
CO 68
R1: K8, pm, K1, pm, K18, pm, K1, pm, K12, pm, K1, pm, K18, pm, K1, pm, K8
R2: (increase row) *K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB into this stitch, slip marker, K1, slip marker, KFB into next stitch* repeat until last marker, slip marker, KFB into next stitch, K to end
R3: K all stitches
R4: (increase row) *K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB into this stitch, slip marker, K1, slip marker, KFB into next stitch* repeat until last marker, slip marker, KFB into next stitch, K to end
R5: K all stitches
R6: K4, P until 4 stitches remain, K4
R7: (increase row with buttonhole) K1, K2tog, yo *K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB into this stitch, slip marker, K1, slip marker, KFB into next stitch* repeat until last marker, slip marker, KFB into next stitch, K to end
R8, R10, R12: K4, P until 4 stitches remain, K4
R9, R11, R13: (increase row) *K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB into this stitch, slip marker, K1, slip marker, KFB into next stitch* repeat until last marker, slip marker, KFB into next stitch, K to end
R14: (buttonhole row) K4, P until 4 stitches remain, K1, yo, K2tog, K1
R15: (increase row) *K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB into this stitch, slip marker, K1, slip marker, KFB into next stitch* repeat until last marker, slip marker, KFB into next stitch, K to end
R16: K4, P until 4 stitches remain, K4
Break yarn (you have ended on WS). 124 st.

Next step, joining in the round. This looks tricky, but essentially the stitches on scrap yarn are the tops of the armholes and the CO stitches are the bottoms, which along with the regular stitches create the body of the vest. Once you join, you get to do some mindless knitting in the round – perfect for watching a movie with!

BODY
Here’s the set-up:
Place the first 16 stitches on scrap yarn. Start with vest yarn again and K32, turn work and continue in st st for 6 more rows (ending on the right side). Break yarn. Place the next 28 stitches on scrap yarn. Start with vest yarn again and K32, turn work and continue in st st for 6 more rows. DO NOT break yarn, but place the remaining 16 stitches on scrap yarn. With your vest yarn (that you have not broken!) CO15 stitches and continue knitting across the next 32, CO 15, and knit across the next 32. You have now joined the body and can keep knitting. For this size, I knit about 6” of st st before I started the bottom band.

If you haven’t CO stitches in the middle of a project before, there is a good tutorial here.

BOTTOM BAND
When you are ready to start the band, remember that you are knitting in the round and will need to alternate purl and knit rows. You may want to place a marker to remind you where to switch. Do at least 8 rows of purl and knit and bind off purlwise.

LEFT ARMHOLE (the buttoned/open side)
Transfer first 16 stitches on scrap yarn onto your needle, using vest yarn pick up 12 stitiches to get you to the middle of the armhole, pm, pick up another 12 stitches (24 stitches in total) and break yarn. Transfer the remaining 16 stitches from scrap yarn onto your needle – you now have 56 stitches on your needle.

With the wrong side facing you, join yarn.
R1: knit.
R2: knit to 3 stitches before marker, K2tog, KI, slip marker, K1, K2tog, knit to end.
R3: knit.
R4: knit to 4 stitches before marker, K2tog, K2, slip marker, K2, K2tog, knit to end.
R5: BO all stitches.

RIGHT ARMHOLE (knit in the round)
Place all 28 stitches from scrap yarn onto 2 DPNs. Determine the bottom center of the armhole and start picking up 12 stitches from this point until you reach the first DPN. Knit across all 28 stitches and then pick up another 12 until you meet up with where you started. PM.
R1: purl.
R2: K1, K2tog and knit to 3 stitches before marker, K2tog, KI.
R3: purl.
R4: K2, K2tog and knit to 4 stitches before marker, K2tog, K2.
R5: BO all stitches purlwise.

Weave in the loose ends and you’re done. No seams to finish, hooray!

brother love

Sadie is back to school and she comes home with a new drawing every day. The truly fantastic thing is that she puts Milo in each one! In the masterpiece above, she is a ballerina (of course) and when I asked what was on Milo's head, she matter-of-factly replied, "Mama, he's a cowboy". Well, of course - how couldn't I see that? I don't know why the arrows, the raining hearts, or the red clouds but I'm framing this one. It makes my heart explode.

Oh, and she also brought home from school a wicked cold which has chosen Milo and I as its current hosts. All crafting has been put on hold until I can distance myself from a kleenex box.

crafter's ADD

I've come down with WIP-itus. Starting everything all at once and not quite finishing anything substantial (the head kerchief was a much-needed fix to feel like I was completing something). In order: 1) a quilt top in crib dimensions, but mainly to be used on the sofa to save the slipcover from endless washings (Milo is a bit of a spitter); 2) the second t-shirt vest to test the pattern (and I've made an adjustment to allow for deeper armholes); 3) head kerchief to help with no-time-to-blow-dry hair days and 4) paint chips for repainting the kitchen. As for the paint, Sadie and I are leaning to the second from the top chip, called "mountain air" (we visited Ragdoll's BEAUTIFULLY renovated home and this colour graces her main floor - and we both thought it was lovely. Sadie talks very seriously about colour with me. She is definitely my girl.) Lots to finish and do - I mean, how does one paint with two small children around? Or baste a quilt?

Perhaps it's time to call in reinforcements.