Tag: kids

One of These Things is Not Like The Others

One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong. 

Hurricane Hat
Baby Aviator Hat
Flat Top Hat
Knit 2 Purl 2 Ribbing
These hats are part of a package headed to Alaska, for our friends there.  I decided all four kids probably needed warm bulky hats to deal with the harsh winters.  The three pink hats are all made out of the same colorway, Kate from Three Irish Girls on Springvale Bulky.  I loved the way that the flat top hat was pooling, so instead of doing decreases, I continued until the hat was tall enough and did a 3 needle bind off.  I love that all three of the pink hats look so distinctively different.  The black hat, for the lone boy in the family, is made from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. 
I think I have a plan for the sweater for Addie, although I have not picked a winner for the 100th post comment.  Mostly I haven’t picked a winner because I know that I don’t have time to mail out a package right now.  I promise I will do so soon and will post a photo of the winner’s prize. 

There’s a Whole Lot of Pink Here

There seems to be an awful lot of pink around The Big Blue House lately.  I made a pink hat for Lily.  One of Addie’s friends at school just had a baby girl born at their house.  One of my husband’s cousins is having a girl.  And a charity asked if I wouldn’t mind making a hat for a baby that is associated with their organization.  So I’m breaking out the girly stash yarn (and some new yarn) to make up a batch of pink hats.

Lily wasn’t the most willing model for these shots.  I know she loves her hat since she wears it everywhere she goes.  She’s still at the age where almost anything that Mommy makes for her is cool.  She just doesn’t want her picture taken.  I tried to get some outside shots, but the days are definitely getting shorter and it was dark before we could get any pictures tonight.

Photographing a moving target is harder than it looks!

The Details:

Pattern:  Wisteria Waves Silk Merino Beanie from 101 Luxury One Skein Wonders.

Yarn:  Three Irish Girls Kells Sport Merino in Cosmos

Modifications:  I thought the hat needed something a little more.  I was going to make a long floppy tail on top, but my husband suggested knitting a leaf.  I whipped out some green worsted weight from my stash and knit up a leaf.  Otherwise the patten was knit as written.  After I blocked the hat, it came out quite a bit larger than I wanted.  It sort of flopped onto Lily’s head.  I’m sure it would have fit a large adult head.  I threw the hat into the dryer for a few minutes and it came out perfectly.

I did learn a little tip from a podcast I was listening to.  The hat had 4 lace rows interspersed with plain knit rows.  I took 4 index cards and wrote out one line of the lace pattern on each card.  That way I didn’t have to carry the book around with me and I could just flip a card over when I was done.  I didn’t worry about loosing my place!  I tend to watch tv while I’m knitting, so loosing my place is pretty common even on simple repeat rows.  Now as long as I don’t loose the cards…

Cranky Lily

Lily decided to be camera shy.

Bonus Recipe:

Northwoods Fajitas

Grilled venison tenderloin, sliced

1/2 onion, sliced

1 green pepper, sliced

1 clove minced garlic

wild rice, prepared

tortilla shells

shredded cheese

salsa

This is what we had for dinner tonight.  I would have taken a picture for the blog, but there wasn’t anything left!  Everyone devoured the food. It was a great way to use up the leftover venison and wild rice that was in our fridge.

I sauteed the onions, green pepper and garlic in a pan on top of the stove.  As the onions were getting caramelized, I added the venison to heat through.  Serve on tortillas with wild rice, cheese and salsa inside the shell.

Peace Out, Man

My daughter’s school had a concert last week, and the theme was Flower Power.  The kids were supposed to dress up in bellbottoms and tie dyed shirts.  What’s a crafty mom to do?  Make bellbottoms out of ripped jeans, of course! 

I remembered hearing about some of my Mom’s friends who, back in the day, cut out triangles of cloth and sewed it into the legs of their jeans to make bellbottoms.  I turned to the ever trusty source, You Tube, and searched for a video.  I half followed the directions and half winged it.  Since I managed to break my sewing machine bobbin holder in the midst of this project, I used Steam a Seam instead of sewing the seams.  My intention was to go back over the stitches with a whip stitch just to hold everything down.  However, I ran out of time and energy on the project.  I did cover up the ripped knee with a fun patch that my husband cut into a flower-like shape. 

For the final outfit, we added a flowered shirt, knitted headband, sunglasses and love beads.  Now she’s a flower child! 

 

Proud Momma

It’s no secret that I’m a proud Momma of my little girls. 

I’ve been struggling to write a coherent, well-written post telling you about how my children are the smartest and quickest children in the Northland, all the while sounding humble and greatful.  Something along the lines of Prairie Home Companion, "where the children are all above average."  I’m afraid it just isn’t going to happen today. 

I will tell you, however, that I was extremely happy when my 5 year old came up to me yesterday and asked me to teach her to knit.  I didn’t have high expectations, since she’s only 5, and she and I are a bit like oil and water when it comes to me teaching her anything.  She surprised me though, she picked up the knit stitch like she had learned it through osmosis over the years.  Come to think of it, I’ve been knitting since before she was born, so perhaps she did pick it up through osmosis in the womb.  Regardless, she knit 3 rows before she decided that was enough for the day.  This morning while watching cartoons, she was able to do another half of a row before she got distracted.  At this rate, we’re hoping to have a tiny blanket for her dolls made by next fall.  There’s no rush.  If she’s happy knitting here and there, then I am too. 

Little Pig, Little Pig, Go Away!

Swatchity Swatch Swatch

 

I would like to ask the swine flu to please leave my home.  We’ve been battling this bug since last Wednesday with one child or the other. 

In the meantime, very little knitting has been happening.  It’s hard to knit when you’re playing nurse to a 5 year old and a 3 year old.  I finished up one sock last night during the Packer/Viking game and got a start on the second.  Much of my day today has consisted of rocking the 3 year old who’s got a 103 fever.  The poor thing is miserable.  Even with Tylenol (whoever invented that should be sainted!) it only brings the fever down to 100. 

So today, I have a picture of a swatch.  Yep, pretty exciting.  In Knitting 101 (if I had taken the class, which I didn’t) you learn to do a gauge swatch before starting a project.  This one I actually did mostly correct.  That means I knit a 4 inch x 4 inch square.  Or at least I would have if I hadn’t run out of yarn.  I made this one from scraps of Debbie Bliss Merino Aran.  Then, I washed it and blocked it.  To be honest, I normally skip this step.  After it was dry, I took out the pins and measured gauge.  I’m really impressed with how soft this washed up. 

It’s important that this project fit correctly as the recipient is picky.  And since I only have 1100 yds of the particular color I want to make sure it will work out.  I’m thinking it’s going to be the Cobblestone Pullover from Brooklyn Tweed.  Or maybe an Elizabeth Zimmerman cabled sweater.  What do you think?? 

Keeping Up With the Joneses

I’ve never really considered myself a trendy person.  It’s not like I’m lagging far behind the times, I just don’t feel the need to run out and buy the latest skinny jeans or whatever is new this week. 

So why is it, that when it comes to the flu, my family needs to keep up with the Joneses?  We’re on Day 3 of Addie being sick.  Technically, I suppose it’s day 2.5, but who’s keeping track?  Fever, stomach ache, body aches, cough, extreme tireness.  Ugh.  The poor kid is miserable.  She missed her Halloween party at school today.  Although she was sad about it last night, she really just didn’t have the energy to get too upset about it. 

I’m going on less than the normal amount of sleep today, and when I get like this I feel the need to organize.  So here’s a run down of the projects I’m working on.  In my defense, I’m getting ready for Christmas.  Yes, it’s only October, but a knitter has to get going early or she’ll never finish. 

1.  Socks for Oma

2.  Cabled Scarf for Richard (my husband’s aunt asked me to make a scarf for her son for Christmas)

3.  Sweater for ___________ in Debbie Bliss Merino

4.  February Lady Sweater for ___________ in ___________ yarn.  (You don’t think I’m going to spill all my secrets do you?  Not started yet.

5.  Wisp (no intended recipient yet)

6.  Slippers for Sharon

7.  Branching Out Scarf for my sister.  Technically this isn’t a Christmas gift.  It’s a swap from 2 years ago.  She agreed to make me a bag if I would make her a scarf.  I bought the fabric.  She bought the yarn.  I just got the bag, so I think it’s time for me to break out the scarf and work on it again.  It’s got some bad memories associated with the scarf, so I may have to rethink the pattern. 

The completely bag – fabric purchased at Fabric Works in Superior. 

Flu-Like Symptoms

I meant for this to be a really cool post.  Perhaps some Gifts for Knitters.  Or a nice little story about how my boss bought me yarn today, which I think is quite possibly the coolest thing ever.  Instead, I got a call from daycare that my oldest child got off the bus with a 102 degree fever. 

So no real posts today.  Maybe tomorrow during nap time.  My daughter is insisting in a way that only a 5 year old can that she MUST go to school tomorrow because it’s the day before the Halloween party and it’s going to be SOOO exciting.  Poor kid.  I hope she does feel better tomorrow so she can go to the Halloween party on Friday!