Halloween Fun

Well, Halloween has come and gone!  We had a fun night- the kids trick or treated at a few houses and then went off to their aunt’s to have some “ghoulish” (otherwise known as goulash), eyeball soup and fun.  We had a game night at our house with a few friends.  Two of the three kids are now sickish- fevers, coughs, general touchiness, but they were SO CUTE in their costumes!

I also finished K’s birthday sweater yesterday- I’ll have specs and pix soon.  Happy November everyone!

Happy Birthday B!

My little man turned two a few weeks ago.  Such a sweet kid.  He needed nothing more than his happy cookie and a tractor.  He also got a really cute page boy hat, which he wears EVERYWHERE!  We just had a small, family party for him on his day and spent some time at a local pumpkin farm to celebrate on Columbus Day.  We topped it all off with cake and more happy cookies.  What more could he ask for?

I was a bit late with his birthday sweater.  It was ready on his birthday, but the neck was a too small to fit over his head and that just won’t fly!  So I had to rip it out and make a stretchier version.  No problem.  It fits great and is just so cute!

Project Specs:  V-neck Vest from Debbie Bliss’ Essential Knits for Kids.  There are some CUTE patterns in this book!  I used Rowan Kids Wash Day Wool (picked up on sale in Ithaca last summer).  I used a bit more than 2 skeins.  Quick and easy.  I did have to go up a few needle sizes to get gauge, even though the yarn seems pretty similar to cashmerino.

A note to my boy:  Little man- I am so glad to have you around.  You are my jokester- my funny boy.  You are FEARLESS and LOUD and BUSY!  But all those things are just a part of you.  You are so thrilled with little things, and although you really like to get your way, you are sweet and loving and happy.  You are talking so much, commenting on stuff constantly.  I can not believe two years have gone by.  You’re such a big kid already.  I so easily forget the trials and just look at your smile, your curious eyes, your desire to learn and love it all.  Happy Birthday!

Snuggle

Another free pattern from The Wee Sheep!

This pattern was created entirely as an experiment.  I saw a technique (knitting on the diagonal), knew my kids could always use quick and easy layers and I was off!  This pattern is completely customizable.  All dimensions are based on the wearer’s body measurements.  It is easy, straight- forward, adjustable to multiple sizes and makes a cute finished product! Personalize it, be creative, have some fun!

Materials

Yardage required will vary depending on the size vest you are making.  You can determine how much you might need using the wraps-per-inch method found at Wool Festival.  You could also make a 1×1 inch garter stitch swatch, unravel and measure your yardage. Then multiply that yardage by your total number of inches in the longest side of each piece. Of course, it is always best to buy more than you think you might need and return any unused skeins.   I used two skeins of Sensations Bellezza Dolcetto in peach, which has been discontinued.  However, any bulky yarn will work.  Be aware that striped or varigated yarn will produce a very different looking product.  Buy enough to match stripes or color patterns as desired!

Size US9 (5.5mm) straight needles

Size US5 (3.75 mm) DPN’s

Tapestry needle

Stitch markers if desired

Tape measure

Button

Sizes

My sweater is a child size 2T.  It measures 14 inches wide x 15 inches long with an armhole depth of 5 inches.  Determine the size you desire by measuring the length, width and arm hole depth of a favorite sweater or by using general clothing size dimensions.

Tension/Gauge

20 sts per 4 in/10 cm over garter stitch on the diagonal.

Abbreviations

CO- cast on

k- knit

k2tog- knit two stitches together

sts- stitches

m1- make 1

dc- decrease

BO-bind off

To make I-cord:  CO 3 sts using size 5 DPNs.  K 1 row. Without turning the needle, slide sts to the opposite end of the needle.  K the next row using the working yarn brought from the bottom st.  Repeat until you have reached your desired cord length.   BO by k2tog twice, sliding sts to the opposite end.  K2tog.  Cut yarn and pull through the last st.

Back

Determine your desired measurements for length and width of the back.  This is most easily determined by measuring a well-fitting sweater belonging to the intended wearer.  You want to have a few inches of positive ease as this is an outside layer.

CO 3 sts using long tail cast on.  Turn.

Row 2: K1, m1, k1, m1, k1.

Row 3 and all subsequent rows: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1.

Repeat until  your edges measure your desired width (mine measured 14 inches).

If your back will be a square, begin dc 1 st each side as follows: ki, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

If your back will be a rectangle, begin dc 1 st on one edge only as follows until you piece measures your desired length:

k1, k2tog, k to end

k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

When you reach your desired length, begin dc on each edge as written for square. Continue dc pattern until you have 3 sts on your needle.  BO.

Fronts

Make 2  pieces, one should be 1 inch wider than the other for overlap at the front closure (mine measure 7×15 and 6×15 inches).

CO and knit as written for back.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams and side seams using mattress stitch.  Sew side seams leaving room for armholes (mine measure 5 inches).

Make 4-6 inch long I-cord (mine is 4 inches) over 3 sts using size 5 DPN’s and attach inside the smaller front in desired location for closure (mine is about half way between top and bottom).  Sew button on larger front (mine is sewed 2 inches in from the center edge).

Tack down lapels if desired.

Block and enjoy!  If you find errors, please let me know!

**This is a free pattern.  You may use it for al the non-commercial purposes you like.  You may not reproduce this pattern to sell, and you may not sell what you make with it.

Halloween Ideas

The kids and I have been tossing around ideas for Halloween costumes.  We’ve thought about being shapes, colors, fairies, witches, pirates, etc.  In the car today, K was brainstorming some other ideas.  Her list?  A clown, a butterfly, a ladybug (pink, of course), and a cement mixer made of yarn.  Don’t ask me about that last one.

Spring/Summer Finished Projects

A wrap up of some long overdue projects:

Hubby Approved Neck Warmer byDanielle Landes

Project Specs:  Made from my own handspun!  The wool is a blend of Shetland and Merino.  The Shetland is from a local farm while the merino was bought from a vendor at a local festival.  I navajo plied it- my first try at a 3-ply- and it turned out more camo than stripey.  I really liked the look of the yarn on the skein and Nate is happy with the result.  The green matches his coat perfectly!  The button is also handmade by a man out of Waterford, PA.  I used size 5 needles for a pretty quick knit!

Plain Ol’ Socks

Project Specs:  The prototype for my own pattern!  I loved the Sensations Socks & More, although I think it was a bit pricey for a big box store yarn.  The colors were fun and it was an easy knit.  I used size 2 DPN’s as always.

Playful Stripes Cardigan by Alana Dakos

Project Specs:  I typically don’t buy patterns.  I either get books with many that I like or I search for something free.  This designer is wonderful.  I want to buy all her patterns and will definitely be making this sweater again.  I used Plymouth Encore DK- my favorite yarn for kidswear.  Great price, great wear, washability.  What else is needed!  My color choices are different from the original.  My girl wanted pink, so we used three pinks (light, rose and bright) along with a khaki green and navy blue for accents.  Needles were right from the pattern.  Well written and well loved!

Shalom by Meghan McFarlane

I didn’t talk about my owls sweater, which was started, ripped, started again and pronounce too small.  I love that sweater- so cute- but the shaping just did not work on my figure.  So, I re-used the ripped yarn to make a real favorite.

Project Specs: I followed the modifications found in the projects on ravelry along with measurements from one of my other yoke sweaters.  If the yarn (Plymouth Encore Chunky) were not so forgiving I might have had to be more careful, but it eases well and is very cozy.  I did not decrease for the waist and used three buttons.

The Two Summer Sundress by Natalie Larson

Project Specs:  Quick, easy, fun.  I used kitchen cotton for the tops and a half-yard of quilting fabric for the skirts.  The girls LOVE them.  My only issue is that I should have reinforced the straps as suggested.  They are stretching. Although that might make the dresses last through three summers…  Needles and sewing instructions are straight from the pattern.

Works in progress:  Entomology (I won the yarn and beads for this one in a drawing!  It’s lovely!), Every Way Wrap, Clapotis, Ribbons and Lace Cardi, and Dunegrass Socks.  I think I have my plate full…

Plain Ol’ Socks

Another free pattern from The Wee Sheep!

I’ve made many a pair of socks, carrying patterns around with me, which can be a process when you only have the chance to whip off a row or two at a time.  I finally decided to be brave and crate my own basic sock pattern so that I wouldn’t have to cart around an extra piece of paper.  I hope you find this pattern easy to memorize, so you can quickly and easily make some simple, plain ol’ socks to enjoy!

Materials

I used two skeins of Sensations Socks & More (2.12 oz/60 gms, 262 yeards/240 meters) in colorway #1138.  Any sock yarn will work, however, so pick your favorite!

Set of four US 2 (2.75mm) double pointed or circular needles.  The pattern is written for DPN’s.

Tapestry needle

Stitch marker if desired

Sizes

My socks fit a mens US size 10.5 (9 inch foot).  You can size it up or down as needed.

Tension/Gauge

32 sts per 4 in/10 cm.  Row gauge is not needed as length is variable.

Abbreviations

CO- cast on

k- knit

p-purl

k2tog- knit two stitches together

p2tog- purl two stitches together

ssk- slip two stitches knitwise and knit together

sts- stitches

Leg

CO 72 sts using long tail cast on.  Join for working in the round, evenly spacing sts acrross 3 DPN’s and placing st marker at the end of the row if deisred.  Work in k2, p2 rib for 1 inch. On next row knit all sts.  Continue knitting until leg is desired length (my leg length is approximately 9 inches).

Short-row Heel (Please refer to The Knitter’s Compainion by Vicki Square for more details)

Short-row Decrease

Move sts on needles until you have 36 sts on one needle (N1) and 18 sts on each of the other two needles (N2, N3).  Working only with N1, k 35 sts.  Bring yarn to front, slip next st, bring yarn to back and turn work.  One wrapped st.

Slip first st and p 34 sts.  Bring yarn to back, slip next st, bring yarn to front and turn.  One wrapped st on each end of N1.

Slip first st, k until one st before wrap.  Bring yarn to front, slip st, bring yarn to back, turn.

Slip wrapped st, p until one st before wrap.  Bring yarn to back, slip st, bring yarn to front, turn.

Repeat last two rows until 12 unwrapped sts remain on N1.  Turn.

Short-row Increase

On next row, k to first wrapped st.  Insert needle under wrap knitwise and k2tog.  Turn.

P to first wrapped st.  Lift back of wrap onto needle and p2tog.  Turn.

Repeat last two rows until all wraps have been re-incorporated into knitting.

Foot

Begin to k all sts on N1, 2 and 3 in the round.  You should continue to have 36 sts on N1, and 18 sts on N2 and 3.  K in the round until two inches less than your desired foot length (I stopped at approximatley 7 inches).

Toe

N1: k1, k2tog, k across to last 3 sts, ssk, k1

N2: k1, k2tog, k across

N3: k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1

Next round k all sts.

Repeat these two rounds until you have 12 sats on N1 and 6 sts on N2 and 3.

Finishing

Move N3 sts onto N2.  Cut a long tail and graft toe using kitchener stitch.  Weave ends. Repeat for second sock.

Block and enjoy!  If you find errors, please let me know!

**This is a free pattern.  You may use it for al the non-commercial purposes you like.  You may not reproduce this pattern to sell, and you may not sell what you make with it.

Going to School

Two of my kids are in school now. Well, one is still in PRE-school, but it is away from me none-the-less. M is in full day Kindergarten, which has been a huge change for us. She just loves it, and is excelling already, but it is hard for me to give up that control and know that other people are spending more time with her each day than I am. Crazy. And little Miss K is going three mornings a week. It’s the same program we used last year. The teachers are very caring and it’s a good Christian based program. She’s already having fun, although she’s the oldest in her class. Fall birthdays are tricky- you’re either the youngest or the oldest. Not sure which is better, but we’ll see how it goes. I’ll leave you with their day one pix. My lovely babies. Growing up.

Summer in Pictures

M at preschool graduation.  The hats are upside down bowls with carboard on top…

MOPS “float” in the Memorial Day parade.

How to fit 4 people into the cab of a tractor.

Vacation in Sandbridge Beach.  Nice family shot.

Family picnics at the camp.  Home made bubbles were a real hit!  It’s not been a real warm summer…

Ladybug, lion/lamb and peek-a-boo!

We’ve had a fun, but odd summer.  Seems like the traditional “stuff” wasn’t in the cards for us this year.  We didn’t camp or have many camp fires.  We missed a couple of local festivals and my HS reunion, but I did get a great showing in the Warren County Fair!  I spent a wonderful weekend in Ithaca with my Mom- the town has redeemed itself for me!  We’ve started playing music for church again.  What fun it has been to get up there and worship!  It has rained a TON- major flooding ensued, but luckily we’ve been dry at our house.  I finished my class on exceptional children (got an A!) and learned that I may have to work for an IEP for my potentially gifted children.  I also found several mistakes in our text book.  We’ve cleaned and re-arranged 5 rooms in our house.  The house is feeling much more of a home now!  And we’ve spent many a lazy afternoon visiting with friends and planning fun fall ideas.  Kindergarten starts next week and preschool the week after.  My life will never be the same.  I’m hoping I can remember this odd summer as we go on.

Back to Normal

We just got back from a vacation down in Virginia.  We had a really nice time, with the exception of a cold that made the rounds.  The kids LOVED the ocean.  We were concerned that they wouldn’t want to go anywhere near it, but after a few days they were at least at the edge.  M was so brave!  She had her face in, was being bowled over by waves and was loving every minute of it!  The youngers were a bit more hesitant- after all, the waves were bigger than they were- but they loved the sand.  We visited Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, the eastern shore, and spent many a day just hanging out and relaxing.  Thanks to Gog and Pop for the trip!

I brought along lots of yarn, of course, thinking that I would be knitting the whole 11 hours each way and many days in between.  I started three projects, ripped two, and got about 1 repeat into the third.  I have a very busy lace weight yarn that just doesn’t lend itself to lace!  Go figure.  So ultimately I settled on the infamous Clapotis.  I just wasn’t inspired to spend much time knitting on the beach.  A bit counterintuitive, I guess.

I did get to stop at a shop we found in Williamsburg- Knitting Sisters.  I was very pleasantly suprised by the shop.  The ladies were very nice and helpful, directing me to find local yarn.  I ended up getting some Claudia Hand Painted (in a custom Knitting Sisters colorway- see last listing “KS light”!) to help me remember our trip.  It’s not hand made, but it is made in Virginia!  I’ve used Claudia before and it is a wonderful yarn.  Wish I lived a bit closer- I’d go back!

Now we’re getting acclimated to the NWPA life again.  It’s sunny and beautiful, but certainly not 90 degrees!  The laundry is washing and the house is aired out.  Ahhh…..  It is good to be home!

Oh, the Lives of the Delinquent

I have not been good about posting.  I just haven’t.  This year has not been a good one for blogging.  I can blame it on the Fb, or my busy kids, but really I’ve just been plain lazy about it.  I haven’t taken pix off my camera since Easter, I haven’t updated my gallery…  Oh my.  I won’t make any resolutions, but I do have some catching up to do.

Easter was wonderful.  We had great weather (we have had alot of great weather, actually), and the kids seemed to really have fun hunting for eggs around the house.  We got them all gardening tools, which have been put to use in our backyard redo!  

Yes, our boy is getting big.  Isn’t he handsome?  I’m biased, of course…

My family came to visit the next weekend and we were blessed by a viewing of our visiting bears.

I made this one a bit bigger so maybe you can see the black lumps in the pine above that roof.  The largest lump to the left of the tree is a bear as is the smaller lump just below.  This house is right in the city- on a main road.  There were apparently 5 bears in that tree.  Crazy.

We had a nice visit- spent some time painting B’s room (or really, painting over the area where the Santa Fe border used to be) with the residual mauvy paint.  We’re going to switch the kid’s rooms, since the girl’s room is navy blue, rather than repainting both rooms.  Now we just have to figure out the configuration of each and we’ll be good to go!

The next week was M’s 5th birthday.  She’s 5 and I can’t believe it.  Here she is in her birthday sweater:

She wanted pink, lots of pink!  We had a flower fairy party for a few friends, although I don’t have pictures to post at the moment.  The girls squealed, giggled and had a wonderful fairy time.  We’ve also been introduced to the world of miniature toys!  Life will never be the same.

Over M’s birthday week we took an overnight to Ithaca for a web conference.  The kids and I spent some time visiting friends (thanks for the hospitality, Dennis’!) and touring the town.  Stewart Park was a HUGE hit, as was the food at Shortstop (subs as good as I remember), but IC left a bit to be desired.  Sorry to all those who still love it there, but it’s become a bit too modern and industrial feeling to me.  There was construction (when was there not?) so I had to stop at the Alumni building to figure out where to go.  I wasn’t very impressed with their willingness to help -I didn’t even get a parking pass to the union lot-so I had to drag 3 hungry, tired kids across campus through the construction to find the snack bar.  Once we were there we found some good food, but there was not a seat to be found (and nobody was observant enough to help find three hungry kids a table).  Were we that inconsiderate as students?  As a parent, that certainly changed my perspective of the people who go there and who I want my kids associating with.  IDK- maybe I’m becoming too idealistic in my “older” age.  Anyway, we did get the chance to visit with an old professor of mine, which was nice.  So I give the visit an “eh.”  I’d go back to visit the town (which has been really brought back since my last visit in 2003), but probably not the school.

So that brings us to now and another gratuitous cute kid picture from the JCC picnic yesterday.  I have one more week of class (what? you didn’t know I was taking a college class?  I’ll have to talk about that sometime.) and then I’m all caught up with my continuing education.  I can renew my license with confidence.  I’ll update my gallery and descriptions of a few FO’s in the next few days.