Connor's Cap Day

Well - Connor's Cap Day at his school was a great success! We were just a couple of hats short of having one for every kid in the school!

Here's a video of all the hats strung up between the basketball goals!

It's so exciting!

We've been working on Connor Caps for almost a month now. (yup time does fly!) Today was deadline day, although we know that there are packages that won't arrive until tomorrow or later. Here's what was waiting for Beth at the post office this morning! 28 packages. Most of them with at least 2 caps inside (some of them have more like 7 or 10!) I can't wait to see the final total and all the hats!!

They're mine... all mine!

A dear friend of mine just made these gorgeous stitch markers for me today :) They're mine - you can't have them. Although I'm sure she could be persuaded to make more. Her Etsy store is here. Go check her out! (Her bracelets are here on my blog further down on the right hand side.

I can't wait to get them :)

Dad's Birthday

Pictures from the drive to dad's for his birthday party. And of course... dad. :) Gotta love him!

My first Connor Cap

Okay - it's not the most beautiful you've ever seen I'm sure. But it's done! Gray one to follow.

Connor's Caps

To any knitter who happens to be reading here (or friends of knitters!) I am working on a project that we can use help on!

There is a little boy named Connor (a friend of mine's, oldest son's, best friend - can ya follow?) who has been diagnosed with brain cancer. It's very rare. He needs our prayers for sure. He was apprehensive about the chemo he needs because he knew he'd lose his hair. (9-year-olds are so amazing!) Of course he's forging ahead but his classmates would like to shave their heads in a show of solidarity. HOWEVER, they live in Wisconsin!! They need hats!

We're trying to get about 200 hats to my friend by December 1 so that all the kids in school can have a "Hat day" in honor of Connor. If you might be able to knit a hat, please let me know! If not, prayers and good thoughts are definately appreciated.

Comment me if you'd like more info and thanks!

Sara

Another photo thingy - because they're fun

Here goes another one... thanks to Mel - Sheesh.

Instructions:
Answer the questions below, do a Google Image search with your answer, take a picture from the first page of results, and do it with minimal words of explanation.

Googling your life:
1. Your age at your next birthday:
****I think it's self-explanatory.

2. Favourite place you'd like to travel to:
**** to see E!3. Your favourite place:
****Valle Crucis, NC
4. Your favourite food:
****again, no words necessary
5. Your favourite pet:
****
6. Your favourite colour combination:**** It's called a white plum - got it? Good.7. Your favourite piece of clothing:
**** SERIOUSLY I just like the sweater!
8. Your favourite television show:****

9. Your Significant other's first name:
**** Okay it's Michael - but it came up so I had to share!

10. The town in which you life:

****Know where it is? Didn't think so.

11. The first job you had:

**** I think the pic says it all really12. Your dream job:
**** Being mommy
13. A bad habit you have:**** Too much talking!!14. Your worst fear:
**** NEEEEDLES

15. Something you want to do before you die:Okay so it's see....

THE Scarf

Okay - so here's how it's coming so far. I'm just over 20% done if I'm doing the full Season 12 version ( I really should have done season 14 or something shorter)

So here it is. It's coming along (and I've done more since the pic.) The stupid thing is that I'm still goign to try to do NaKniSweMo and I figured out last night that I need to be knitting 50 rows a day on the scarf to finish it in time for dad's party.

I can't really figure out how many rows I'm going to have to do on the sweater to get it done, as it's one of those "knit until it's as long as you'd like it to be" kind of deals. I did however swatch for gauge and that's in good shape at least!

In other things, life is just plugging along as usual. It's hunting season so that's where Michael is. Sam's doing great. She loves to play with my yarn which is sweet, but makes it slightly difficult to knit while she's awake! Still working, still playing, still here!

Dr. Who Scarf...

Okay having fun with this one so far. Sure, it's garter-stitch hell, but I keep getting excited about being able to give it to dad for his birthday.

It caused a bit of an uproar, but I don't particularly care for the Vanna's Choice yarn that I'm using. It knits up fine, and the colors are great. I just feel like if I'm using man-made fibre, I want it to be super soft n cuddly. Personal preference - that's all!

So here's the infamous yarn, I'll post pics of the scarf one I'm a bit further along.

What's now...

Okay. So I'm starting another hat for Sam. I like the one that I made last year, but it's just a bit worn. So I'm adapting Claire Montgomerie's cotton hat pattern. I'll be knitting it on circulars and adding in a bit of eyelet . Wheeeee!

The other (and most pressing) is that I've decided to make dad a Dr. Who scarf for his birthday. (look here) I can't believe that someone has gone to this effort to put this pattern together! (well I take it back, I guess I can believe it.) At any rate. I don't think I'm going to make it quite as long as specified, but it's going to be gosh darn long! :) I'll post pics as soon as I make some progress. His birthday party is 11/8 so I'd best get a move on,

My Calorimetry

Okay - a little background here.

I have wanted to make this pattern since the first time I saw it. My head stays cold in the winter for exactly the reasons she states in her pattern. I have long hair which makes a hat pretty uncomfortable (and stupid looking really.)

So I started and finished this guy yesterday. However, this was actually the second time I started it. I had one that I got over halfway done and had to completely frog. The yarn was too bulky for it to not be huge. Or so I thought.

I cast on 110 stitches instead of 120. I should have made it 96. Then I also only stitched my decrease rows until I had 30 stitches outside of my markers (as opposed to 38.) I should have made it 26. And actually my gauge was dead on for once. *sigh*

This guy is HUGE for me! That being said, I do have a smallish head. But it's just that - smallish. It's not tiny. I can only suppose that this pattern was originally made for someone who either knits ridiculously tightly or has a really large head.

All of that being said, I will likely make another of these - just with major pattern alterations. The concept and style is great. The pattern just didn't quite work out as I would have hoped.

More Yarn and pics

SO - the sock is finished. It's a fugly sock. Oh well - my dear friend and next door neighbor is in love with it, so I suppose I'll give it a mate and then give them both a new home!

The yarn is now in a ball. I'm thinking that I'll make a Calorimetry with it. I frogged one already. The yarn was too bulky. It would have been great size for a Llama or horse, however much too large for me. We'll give it another go.

The last pic is of my (not leather) new furniture. I am so excited about it! It's the first new furniture that DH and I have ever bought. Previously it's all been cast-offs from loved ones or cheap things at yard sales. Most of which we hated when we got it even though it was better than what it was replacing.

I'm also going to try NaKniSweMo this year... yup you read right. I am not now (nor will I likely ever be) writing a novel. I am however going to attempt to knit a sweater (my first) in the month of November. This gal started it. We'll see how I go!

And here it is!

It's all done. Much easier and faster that I might have expected.

It isn't perfect for sure, however for my first time out I think it's GREAT! ;-) (JMHO)

YARN! DYE! Wheeeee!

Okay so here are the first pics. I neglected to take any while I was skeining it last night or when I first lay it out this morning. It was Lion Brand Wool in Winter white (not overly splurging until I am sure that I can do this.

** I am being sentimental at the moment. Although this colorway isn't something brand new (I'm sure we've all seen something similar) I'm calling mine Becky... the reason is that today would have been my mother's 65th birthday. She passed away 2.5 years ago and would have LOVED to dye yarn.

She never got the hang of knitting but was a mean crocheter. One of the neatest things I have is an afghan that she started for me before she passed on. One of the ladies I work with was kind enough to finish it. It's Sam's now and I love it. Anyway - Cheers mom, here's to you. XOXOXO
If you can sort of see - it's a bright green (leaves), blue (sky) and burgundy (turned leaves). The inspiration was found looking out my window yesterday!

And here it is in the pan ready to go - it's been covered with foil and put in the oven at 250! I will say that I did use a turkey baster to put the dye on. It went pretty easily for me. Samuari Knitter's tip's helped so much. I had hardly any mess and I think the colors did pretty well where they joined... at least before it's been baked! :)

More to come!

I AM GOING TO DYE YARN!!!

There - I yelled it out so everyone can hear. Ever since I started working with yarn I have (like most of us) been frustrated when I couldn't find that exact colors that I wanted.

So - with help from the Samurai Knitter and Knitty (look here) I am going to try! (Can you smell the excitement and vinegar?) I'm going for the cold pour method. I want all over color, but don't have the time to commit today to the dip dye method (although that is surely next!)

I'll post pics as soon as there is anything to post!

Funness

I am totally swiping this off of the Rainy Day Goods site. I changed the questions a bit to see what would happen, but it's still fun!

questions. Here is how you play:

• type your answer to each question below into Flickr Search
• using only the first page of results, pick an image
• copy and paste each URL into fd's mosaic maker
• blog it!

The Pictures:

The Questions:

1. What is your middle name? ann
   
2. What is your favorite food? thai
   
3. What is the name of the first street you lived on? Heather Lane
   
4. What is your favorite color? purple
   
5. Who is your celebrity crush? John Cusack
   
6. What is your favorite drink? coffee
   
7. First Job? McDonald's
   
8. Favorite dessert? chocolate mousse
   
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? graceful
   
10. What do you love most in life? family
    
11. Your shoe size? 8.5
    
12. Your ravelry name? spitfire

Fun. Try it!

Socks and other things...

Well I have actually made a bit of progress on the sock. I took up knitting a seed stitch facecloth just to have something brainless to do when I feel I need a break. Wheeee!

On to the other things. I type for a living. I'm one of those very lucky people who actually makes money at home transcribing. I love it. I love the wonderful, adorable and very sweet woman that I work for (Even if she thinks that she's an evil dictator... she's wrong!)

So here's the thing. Most of what we do is teleseminars... generally bland. No problem. Sometimes it's the same stuff over and over, but that makes it easy. Yesterday we had a little treat. It was a lovely man (using the word lovely VERY loosely here) who teaches men how to seduce women in a short period of time. Uhhhh - yeah.

The part that was the worst was the fact that he's roped all these poor geeks into thinking they're going to use these stories and techniques to take a woman home TONIGHT. Sheesh! Oh well. It's done. Everyone has had their gripe about it and now I'm moving on to one of my favorite clients. Wheeee!

And another thing...

I love that my best friend and next door neighbor has laying hens... and she shares her eggs. :)

Just one more thing...

I guess it's all or nothing for me with blogging. Tons to say or nothing.

I do just have to add this though. I went yarn shopping this weekend. I didn't buy a ton, but I really wanted to visit a store that I had been to once before that's about 45 minutes from home.

I packed up Sam (which can take quite a bit of doing) and head up the hill. Of course, I was doomed to be stuck behind a group of 8 goldwing riders that for some reason decided to drive 20 mph under.

I finally get to said yarn shop. Okay - here's my dilemma. It's heaven (of course) there are just tons of gorgeous yarns there, hand-dyed and otherwise. I could have stayed there all day. One of the lovely ladies there was good enough to even play with my daughter so that I could check out. It really was lovely. However...

WHY is it that some knitters (i refuse to label it further than that as some are older, younger, etc.) must overly offer opinions. The lady who owns the shop knew that I was looking for sock yarn ( I said as much.) She pointed me in the right direction - which was perfect. Then however she proceeded to run a commentary on what I should and should not buy. She thought one handpainted that I picked up was gorgeous, but I shouldn't buy it (great sales technique by the way). It didn't contain nylon. It would fall apart. I would have holey soles.

NOW - let me just say, I am absolutely all for experienced advice. But for heaven's sake, if I see a beautiful yarn that I love and must have, don't talk me out of buying it.

I did buy some gorgeous handpainted (that she approved of) but it's not the other. That shade of green was just one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen.

Oh well. Just goes to show I might be doing a bit more of my yarn buying online from now on. Which I hate to do. I 'd love to shop at my local shop. But the ladies there are snobby and some of their prices are $5 or more higher than what I can find online. *sigh*

That's my vent I guess. Don't mean to be bitchy, but really. Let me have my pretties if I want them! It's my $15 to spend!!!!!

my socks!

OK - so I am making socks... my first pair. And I might had better revise that statement. I am making A sock. One sock.

I have a very distinct feeling that I will not be making the mate to this one. I have several reasons:
a)this one has some "first-time" problems. I am working them out.
b) this is a fantastic first pattern. However, I don't like stockinette socks because I have skinny legs and they get slouchy. I don't really even like them in commercial socks. I'm a ribbed or patterned kinda gal.
c) The pattern on these things is FUNKY! ha!

I like it though. I think it's going to be a keepsake sock - maybe even a Christmas stocking?? Who knows???

I'll post more when I get it done!

New "hobby"

To date, my few entries have been about my sewing. While I will continue to smock and quilt (for sure!) I have a new "hobby" (if you want to call it that, addiction works too.)

Knitting.

I learned to crochet from my mom when I was very young, but as she never got the hang of knitting, it's not something that she was able to teach me. I learned about a year ago, made the requisite hat for Sam and that was about it.

Well 2 weeks ago I thought to use up a bit of yarn stash by knitting a little bunny cuddler for my niece's baby shower. It started a storm!! Now I'm doing my first socks... one of them is almost finished. Although I don't think that I'll be making the 2nd one. (I don't particularly care for the pattern. It was GREAT to learn with though!)

Anyways - that's it... so we'll see where this goes. I'm quickly becoming a sucker for hang-dyed yarns. I see how people get so deeply entrenched! :)

Birthday dress

Samantha is now 1 year old! It's hard to believe that time passes so quickly. This dress is one that I made from a Collars Etc. pattern called Hannah's Sundress and Pinafore. There are a few really cute variations for this one. With the help of a wonderful woman that I work with I constructed the yolk differently than the pattern indicated. It looks just the same, but I found it to be a bit easier.

Here's the dress (covered in cupcake!)


What we did differently with the yolk was this. Sew the front yolk to the back at the shoulder seam. Do the same with the lining. Place the lining to yolk, right sides together. Sew neck seam and armholes being careful to follow directions regarding the square neckline. It must be clipped properly to lay right. Turn through one shoulder and press. This should leave you with enough room at the bottom of the lining to hand stitch it down after the skirt has been attached. I did put the skirt fully together, gather then stitch on, matching seams.

It goes quickly and I think makes a lovely dress!

I did use bloomers with this dress. I used the bottoms that go with the Frannie Baby pattern by Children's Corner

Here's another little bishop dress I made for Father's Day pictures this year. (OK you caught me, it was supposed to be her going home outfit, but it didn't get finished in time - which was just as well, it would have been huge!)

I got this pattern out of Australian Smocking & Embroidery. I really enjoy that one - they have some great patterns & articles.

So here' s a poll... What kind of sewing machine do you use? Do you have more than one, and why?

I sew on a Bernina aurora 430. I think that Bernina's are great machines, and I loved that this one will do machine embroidery as well as regular sewing. The feed is just as good on fine batiste as it is on jeans. So - what's your machine of choice?

Bonnets... the newest project.

So lately I've been working on bonnets. Sounds strange doesn't it? But it's so hard to find really sweet and classic hats for little ones in the winter time. I don't need my 7 mo. old to be too funky quite yet (fine for many, just not my style!) So I designed this little bonnet in fleece for her.

I'm making it now in knit for newborns for a local midwife. The pattern is available for sale - just $6! Or you can buy one pre-made (choice of ribbon colors) for $8!

So that's what I'm working on now - what are you working on? Email me, and we'll get to posting different projects, tips etc.

Here's my other latest, I smocked Samantha's Christmas (Winter) dress. :) Here she is in it!

Tip #1: When working on constructing a Bishop, the bias neckband can be tough. Try running a row of basting through the pleating very near the edge, before attempting to baste on the neckband. It helps the pleats not shift, and stand up nicely!