Month: February 2016

Optimistically Speaking

  1. My Optimist Club is doing a hat knitting contest.  We do this every year or so. We see who can knit the most hats and we have a prize for that person.  The prize generally consists of a homemade dessert that the winner shares with the group.  There are very few rules.
    1. Everyone is welcome to make baby hats.
    2.  The hats can be knit, crocheted, knit on a loom, or even sewn.  Newborn and Preemie sizes only.
    3. Any material is fine.  I just ask that you use soft yarn that a baby would appreciate wearing.
    4. The contest runs now through April 15.  All hats will be totaled and prizes will be awarded.  The hats will then be donated to the 2 hospitals in the area.
  2.  Lily is now knitting hats on a loom.  I started her off on the loom because that’s what a lot of the Optimist Club members do.  It’s fast (about 1 hour for a baby hat) and I thought she would have some success with it.  Truthfully, I also think it would be fun to show that a 9 year old girl can out-knit the adults.
  3. I’m bribing her.  I offered her lunch with the Optimist Club if she’ll knit.  I’m not above bribes.  Because I really like the idea of the 9 year old out-knitting the adults.
  4. I’d offer the same deal to Addie, but she’s really not interested in knitting.  (more on this in a future episode of “Ask the Wee Ones.”)

  5. 2016-02-24 19.23.55
    Lily’s first hat on the loom

Macgyvered

Lily is about as fierce as a 9 year old can be.  This is something that will serve her well as an adult, but sometimes causes concern for her parents and teachers.  She is intense, she is rational, and although she’s got a huge heart, people often overlook it.  I like to think of her as a Viking Warrior Queen in training.  She likes to think of herself as a Secret Agent Ninja in training.

So when this fierce little thing (who hates the cold) asked if Momma would knit her a cowl to keep her face warm, what was I to say?

We came to agreement on some Three Irish Girls DK that I had in my stash.  I pulled out the Honey Cowl Pattern that I’ve knit before and loved.  I wanted to make it the larger size so that Lily could loop it around her neck several times.  Lily disagreed.  She knew what she wanted and what she wanted was a tight fitting cowl.

Codename "L"
Codename “L”

So I knit the small size.  She periodically checked up on my knitting progress (“Momma, are you done knitting my cowl yet?”)  She’s a bit of a taskmaster that one.  But how do you not love someone that wants knitted items so badly?

image
She’s so happy!

Lily was very excited when she was able to wear her cowl to school for the first time.  It was a good cowl.  A pretty cowl.  But it wasn’t quite as functional as she wanted.  See, she wanted a ninja mask tight-to-the-face cowl.

What’s a Momma to do?

I MacGyvered it.

image

One button, one little I-cord loop sewn in place.  Viola!

image

We decided I might have to move the button just a bit as she’d like it even tighter to her face.  The really great part about the button is that she can still get it over her head and glasses without a problem before she buttons it up.