digging our way out

It would seem to be that many people believe winter means nothing but cold weather and snow lasting from the Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox. However, that does not seem to be the case here in Ohio. Of course we get cold weather (nothing like negative degree weather to freeze the inside of your nose shut) but I have always swore that February is the worst winter weather month in Ohio. James kept saying I was exaggerating and that we get bad weather all winter long (and occassionally lasting well past that Spring Equinox date), but Old Man Winter helped prove me right.

That is our oak tree above with so much snow on the branches that they are touching the ground. When there is not snow on the branches, they are at least 6 inches above my head (and I am 5′2″).

So now that we had to dig our way out to go anywhere today (which we did not other than for a sled riding trip) there is talk of more snow.

Of course each of us have our own way of making it through these bad snow storms. James loves to watch movies, I love to curl up on the couch and watch movies while knitting (anyone else seen 500 days of Summer? very good movie), and the girls have their own things.

Miss K. has decided this is the perfect time to practice her funny faces.

Miss L. has decided that now is the perfect time to work on her Spring wardrobe (I swear that girl is either going to be a chef or a wardrobe consultant one day).

And our puppy is trying to break some sort of record of the dog who can eat and dash through the most snow.

out of necessity

This love I have for coffee has turned into more of a childish obsession. When my brother and I get together there is always coffee in tow with both of us. And as my brother says “Cold coffee is still good coffee” as he sipped the last little bit from his travel mug.

But I on the other hand cannot take cold coffee. The point of coffee is to sip it slowly, let the aroma travel through your nose, feel the hot steam on your lips, and simply enjoy it. Not to make coffee in the french press and have a contest on whether you can drink it fast enough before it turns cold.

So after much (still good coffee) was tossed in the sink, I had enough. And luckily enough it was pretty easy to find a french press cozy pattern as I seem to not be the only knitter who enjoys a good cup of french press joe.

I used the pattern from Design Sponge as a jumping off point. CO 60 sts on size 5 needles and WW yarn then worked a 5 stitch wide by 5 rows high basketweave pattern. Worked for 45 rows in basketweave stitch. But unfortunately, the cozy was a bit too small width wise to fit my 8 Cup Bodum French Press coffee maker. Which was fine because I did not account for buttonholes along the way. So I added a few rows of single crochet to each side with one side including button holes. Blocked it, wrapped up in towel to remove excess water, stitched on 3 mismatched vintage buttons from stash, then while it was still wet I placed it on Frenchy, that way as it dried it would be the perfect fit.

Pattern: Knitted French Press Cozy by Design Sponge (rav link here) with much modification
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease in Blush Heather (left over from Miss K’s fair isle hat)
Needles: Size 5
Mods: Besides the obvious of using a 5 stitch wide by 5 rows high basket weave pattern, I also had to work till I reached 45 rows rather than 32 rows as Design Sponge’s pattern stated. Worked 4 rows of single crochet along each edge using a size G crochet hook with one edge having buttonholes placed evenly (almost).
Overall: LOVE IT!!! James thinks it quirky that I made my french press a “sweater” but it does keep the coffee nice and warm – I will say warm, that last cup isn’t as hot as the first cup but it’s still nice.

Now after browsing Bodum’s website, I am coveting this here.

per her request

I have to admit that I have never really been one of “those Mom’s” to dress their daughters all matchy-matchy. Of course past evidence on this blog would beg to differ, but with a switch-a-roo of color and I figure it is not all that matchy.

So after I had completed Miss K’s fair isle hat, I had noticed that a little someone had a pouty lip.

“What’s wrong honey?” says the Mama, knowing what is wrong but giving the girl with a pouty lip a chance to plead her case.

“Lala (that is what L. calls Miss K) has a pretty hat but I don’t!” says the girl with a pouty lip.

“Sure you have pretty hats, you have ones from the thrift store and ones that Mama has already made you” says the Mama, knowing exactly where this is taking her.

“I know, but those aren’t the same! They don’t have a pretty picture on them!” says the girl in a conniving manner.

“Ok, so what if I made you a hat as well with a pretty picture on it” says the Mama thinking what has she gotten herself into.

“Ok Mama, but it has to be purple – because you know how much I looooove purple, and have braids!” as that pouty lip turns more into a smile….knowing that she has Mama wrapped around her little finger.

So, I set off and again casted on for the fair isle hat following the pattern exactly this time so little miss L could have an earflap hat (I love earflap hats on children! Keeps their ears and little cheeks so warm!).

Pattern: Norwegian Star Earflap Hat (ravelry link)
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Violet and White
Needles: Size 6
Mods: Nothing really other than I crocheted a white border around the hat to keep the brim and earflaps laying flat. Also added braids in both Violet and White (which I am not sure if I like the two mixed together).
Notes: So as I said with Miss K’s hat, some people on Ravelry had said that even the child’s versions of the pattern could fit an adult. Now I did use a smaller needle size which gave me a smaller gauge (notes are somewhere) so either that worked, or my babe has a big head. Now Miss L does have a bit of room with the hat meaning that it is not tight but does not fall off her noggin. But as my Grandmother would say “Just wear it! You’ll grow into it one day!”

One final thought:

it makes for a great snow angel hat, or so the girl with the big smile in the photo above would say.

Stranded in daisies

After the holiday rush was over with, I went back to my knitting routine. For about a month now I have been knitting the continental way rather than throwing. Sometime in December we all came down with a 24 hour flu thing that passed one by one through our house and ending with James and I for about a week. So I got some Elizabeth Zimmermann videos from the library and came to the realization that I wanted to learn fair isle. Of coure EZ (and her daughter Meg) make it look easy peasy by simply knitting and adding color, but truth be told, it is a little more trying than that.

First came a little swatch to see if I could actually balance two needles and two strands of yarn (one in each hand).

It was so stinkin’ easy, even with purling, and my strands were doing pretty good. So I felt confident enough to go through and make an actually project in fair isle. So I browsed Ravelry for a simple but fun pattern so I can show off my newly learned technique (thanks to EZ and Meg), and came to Norwegian Star Earflap Hat (rav link) by Tiennie Knits (link to the blog where the pattern is located on the lower right hand side bar).

Pattern: Norwegian Star Earflap Hat
Source: Tiennie Knits
Started: January 2, 2010
Finished: January 3, 2010
Yarn: 0.5 skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Blush Heather
0.25 skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Oxford Grey
Needles: Size 6
Mods: No earflaps since I have already made Miss K an earflap hat last year. Casted on 90 stitches and worked 1×1 ribbing for 1.5″ then on the plain knit round I increased 6 stitches evenly to bring me up to the 96 stitch count. Worked the remaining of the pattern as written.
Notes: The pattern is very (and I do mean very) well written. She put a lot of time and energy into it making sure that even the most beginner of all beginning knitters would be able to read and understand the pattern (or at least that is how I feel). Also note that some comments I had seen while browsing other people take on the pattern stated that even the child size pattern could fit an adult but I am assuming that this would be going the earflap way. But if you decide to make the pattern, take that into consideration.

So there you have it, a new skill learned and a new knitted FO for 2010. Pretty proud of myself!

Oh, and I did say daisies didn’t I!?

I finished a pair of socks last year (December 29 to be exact) and I am so glad they are complete. Every time I would open my knitting bag there they were taunting me to complete them.

Notice the difference in toe grafting? That would be a big THANK YOU! to EZ and Meg for showing the correct way to do kitchener stitch.

So there you have it, my last FO from 2009 and my first FO from 2010.

after it’s all said and done

The aftermath of Christmas has more of a lingering affect on me.  Perhaps it’s being able to actually sit down and relax for an evening without traveling plans or friends and family visiting, or perhaps it was a smidge too much holiday wine…..either way, following the holidays I like to take the days as they come and relax with my family.

So I will share a bit of the past week and all the goodness that it has brought.

Kitchen table was decorated with care (sans my sloppy ironing job)

The Christmas tree was decorated with care

The Christmas tree was decorated with care again.

Letters to Santa were written by another virgo-lefty gal in our house.

Presents were handmade by one gal……..

…..and handpicked by another gal.

Christmas decoration were taken down and put away for next year.

And just like that…..Christmas was a blur.

Happy Holidays!

From my family to yours! Last minute gift preparations are in the works and the smell of fresh baked cookies travels through the house (hopefully some will make it Santa’s way)!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!!

holiday spirit

9 days until Christmas!!

Making my way through the Christmas holiday. Every year the girls receive a new Christmas ornament. A little tradition I started for Miss K’s first Christmas almost 10 years ago. So this year I thought it would be extra special if I made both girls their ornaments.

Pattern: Mini Sweater Ornament by Greens and Jeans
Needles: Size 0 since my size 1’s are currently holding another project
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Cotton for both
Mods: Miss K’s was made as the pattern was written, Miss L’s is suppose to be a dress. I increased every three rounds on hers till I was happy with the little flare.
Cost: FREE! Well, I did buy the yarn sometime last year, but everything I used was already in my stash.
Overall: These were so fun and so simple to make. Probably the best mini sweater pattern I have found. If I can get off my tooshy, I am hoping to make many more for our tree next year.

In other holiday spirit news, the Christmas tree is decorated, stockings are hung with care, and two anxious children patiently await.

I heard that reading by Christmas light is the best way to make the time go by.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

it’s snowing!!

I’ll admit that this year has thrown a bit of a curve ball. Going from 64 degrees last week and now this week it is 23 degrees. So the year has not really matched with the season as far as weather. Not believing only 18 more days till Christmas.

But this morning as I sat in the kitchen drinking my morning coffee, I noticed little white flakes falling from the sky. And this time it seems it is going to stick as more and more white flakes make their way down.

As K and I were talking this morning (both excited about the first snowfall of the wintery season), we both agreed that we can say it with excitement and joy as we welcome the new snow…….come February or March (or April) there will not be so much excitement to the “it’s snowing” comments going throughout the house, but will be said with more frustration and irritation.

In crafting news, I have been bitten my the Christmas ornament bug. This past week I have been busy making little ornaments for the girls that (hopefully) I can go into further detail later in the week. So I have been on the search for inspiration to strike for cute and simple ornaments I can make for our Christmas tree.

(image shamelessly taken from Pottery Barn, but with credit mind you)

So later last week I came across Pottery Barn website and found the cutest Christmas ornament above that could be whipped up in a hurry if need be. After all, it is not that hard to draw a fancy shmancy heart and if you are not into the peace symbol, there are many embroidery patterns out there (both free and money worthy) that you can stitch on there. So I thought I’d pass along a little crafting inspiration your way.

Enjoy the snow, sun, or rain wherever you live!

A thankful day!

There have been so many things to be thankful this year. So much has changed this year that I am still trying to wrap my head around all of it. But the most important thing is that I am (very, very, very) thankful for the 3 people I can prepare a feast for.

Help in the kitchen is always warmly accepted!

(I am really loving the place cards K. made this year!)

Hope everyone had a very thankful holiday!!!

Warm November

The weather has been strangely warm lately, almost an indian summer. We have our turkey dethawed, and all ingredients to have a very thankful Thanksgiving.

Hoping that you and yours have a very Happy Thanksgiving!