Return to Neverland

Around our house, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Wendy, John, Michael, and the Lost Boys are pretty much everyday words we hear. Occassionally K.’s dog Lady will play the roll of “Nana“. The girls love to play pretend and L. always ends up being Peter Pan (maybe it’s because he wears tights, or maybe it’s because he can fly, who knows) Awhile ago I had purchased Simplicity #9862 with (good intentions) of making L. the Peter Pan costume for Halloween. After her changing her mind a gazillion times, I figured that it would just get put on hold (after all, these things take time ya know) and wait for her to decide “when” she wanted to be Peter Pan (whether it was for Halloween or not).

The movie Peter Pan Return to Neverland came out this past Tuesday and the girls are all excited about it. So, I thought to commemorate the occassion I would bring out the pattern and at least make her the Peter Pan hat.

(In the picture above, L. is looking for Peter Pan. At night, the girls look for the second star to the right and hope that Peter Pan will come and go “off to Neverland”)

I used some green wool felt that I had laying around and after sticking a feather in it (now I have the Yankee Doodle song stuck in my head for some strange reason) L. is officially ready for the new Pan movie.

PJ pants for K.

There’s no doubt about it that I love making jammy pants for my girls. They are quick, easy, and you can use the same pattern over and over again just using different fabric. I’ve had plenty of luck before in the past with this pattern (Simplicity #4336). The fabric I used is actually a bed sheet that (when I found it at the flea market years ago) was torn in half. It reminded me of that scene from Look Who’s Talking when Kirstie Alley and John Travolta were in bed arguing of the the covers and she took scissors and cut it in half.

They look so cute on K. and I had them completed by time she got home from school.

A new pincushion

As any sewer knows, you can never have too many of one item. (scissors, needles, pincushions, fabric, what have you) Every time I go to sew now I find myself fumbling around for my pincushion. When I’m at my pinning/cutting table, it’s at my sewing table and vice versa. I never had this problem at the old house because my pinning/cutting/sewing table was the dining room table so my pincushion was always right where I needed it.

Well, this evening I thought that enough was enough with the manhunt of my pincushion and I needed to make another one so I can keep one at the sewing table and one at the pinning/cutting table. I absolutely love the one that Sabrina made me for a swap that we did at the beginning of the summer so I knew that I would just take inspiration from that and make a replica.

The fabric that I used is vintage fabric that I picked up at a local garage sale this past summer. The bottom fabric is made from some chocolate brown wool that I had on hand.

Now I will no longer be on a wild goose chase for my pincushion. I will always have one right where I need it (unless L. comes and tries to steal one of them).

Granny Jammy Pants for L.

I’ve had these granny jammies that are my absolute favorite. They were soft and wore-in just right (and oh so comphy!) Everytime I would wear them L. would say that they were her favorite too and that she wants “granny jammies” just like mine. While we are saving $$$ right now for Christmas I knew that James would be upset if I told him that I needed to buy more fabric and another pattern (even though I know that Simplicity #3552 would look absolutely adorable on her) so that I could make L. some granny jammies. (Especially after everything I’ve just bought) So I put my brain in gear and (while I was a smidge hesitant) cut up my granny jammies and made L. a pair of granny jammie pants.

The pattern I used is Simplicity #4336 and it’s such of a nice pattern for just basic pj pants. I also used the hem from the bottom of the granny jammies as the hem for the pants.

L. absolutely loves them and I’m happy (and a smidge sad) that she can now wear Mama’s granny jammies.

Christmas Presents

Last week I was browsing around on Amazon.com for some Christmas ideas for the girls. I came across this darling book for K. called SEE and SEW and it’s a cute book that starts children out with the basics of sewing. Even has little patterns in there for them to trace, cut-out, and make little egg cozies and other little things. Plus, I love the fact that it is spiral bound (which I think ALL craft books should be) so that the book stays open when they are working on a project. SO CUTE! K. has been really wanting to learn how to sew lately so I know that this book will be just right for her (and I). (We’ve given up on the whole crocheting thing because I’m a leftie and she’s a rightie and it just doesn’t work for us. Any tips on how to teach her to crochet will be very helpful!)

Another book that I got is for both K. and L. that should be arriving this week (or next due to the holiday) is Birds of Ohio. It’s a nice book that allows you to look up a bird based on it’s color and even has a check list in the back of birds that you’ve already seen (or learned about either way). Personally, I think it is a wonderful idea for children to learn about their surroundings. I hoping that they will look at it as “something we can do together” rather than “why did Mommy get us this book?”. Knowing my girls though, I know they’ll love it.

Craftster.org Apron Swap

A while ago I had signed up for this swap over on Craftster and it was so much fun. After I received my swap partners information I had been slowly piecing everything together. It was alot of fun and in the end, I ended up with the most beautiful apron that I own. She really did an excellent job on it and I love everything about it. Even how the pocket lines up with the print of the fabric.

Then, somehow, she had ESP and knew that I loved pomegranate (any form that it comes in). I swear, I did not tell her. Anyways, she gave me the BEST smelling pomegranate candle ever. I put it up in my bedroom and without it even lit it smells up my whole room. YUMMY!

As well as those, she also gave me some handmade soaps.

As well as some other little goodies.

On my end of the swap, I made her a reversible apron with a nice little pocket on both sides and then appliqued on some stars.

Side A of her apron

Side B of her apron

I also made her some dishcloths out of some cotton yarn I had. The pattern for the dishcloths I seen on The Carol Duvall Show.

Then last but not least, I put together a little “fabric package” that consisted of the remaining of the lime green fabric, some of the black fabric and finished it off with some black ribbon that I figured she could use for one of her future projects.

It was a very fun swap! Maybe (after the holidays) I’ll sign up for another swap over there.

Two Down, One To Go

I got L.’s hat completed last night! She absolutely loves it. I adjusted the pattern just a bit to fit her and instead of knitting for 5″ as the pattern calls for, I only knitted for 4.5″. Fits her perfect. There is one slight problem though. These two hats are the first hats I’ve ever knitted and was wondering if the peak (seen on L.’s hat, K.’s hat also has it) at the top of the hat is normal or not. I followed the pattern exactly for the decreases and was wondering if there was any way to fix it? It doesn’t look bad just I was expecting a more “fitted” look to it. I still love the hat though and they both love them as well.

Now I just have to complete my hat and then my hat marathon is complete. Next up, scarfs (for K. and I).

WIP

After I completed K.’s hat I immediately casted on for L.’s hat. Using the same pattern just adjusted it a little bit to fit L. and instead of knitting for 5″ as the pattern states, I’m going to knit for 4.5″ because I tried K.’s hat on L. and it came down to far.

This picture (above) was taken yesterday evening. I had completed the first 5 rows of the pattern.

Then last night the girls and I watched The Wizard of Oz so I was able to get alot more done on her hat.

I just have to knit a few more rows then begin the decreasing. After her hat is done then I get to begin my hat.

One down, two to go

K.’s hat is done! This was my first time using DPN’s to work in the round (for the decreasing) and after a few (almost) eye pokes, I finally got the hand of them. Not to bad I might say. The hat is a super easy pattern. I love the lace edging on it too. So beautiful!

Now I just have to complete L.’s and mine and our noggins will be nice and toasty this winter. (Oh, then a scarf for K., scarf for myself, and 2 afghans).

On a side note, my Apron Swap is finally complete and I already sent it out. I’ll post some pictures soon of the apron I made for my swap partner.

Just the beginning

This is just the beginning of what is yet to come for me. I’ve decided that the girls and I needed hand knitted hats this winter. Luckily I already got James’ hat done quite some time ago so I can just focus on the girls’ and I.

After much (much) searching for the perfect hat for each of us, I had made up my mind and went with the Laced-Edge Woman’s Hat by Headhuggers.org. Not just for me but as well as for K. and L. For some reason I just think that it would be cute if we all had the same hat (different colors of course), and I figure that they are young enough that I can get away with it without them thinking it was dumb or embarrassing. So, now that L.’s scarf is complete I needed to start on K.’s hat and got the lace part all complete. Super easy and was a lot of fun to do. Also, (IMO) if you want to start in lace but don’t want to invest time and effort into a full on shawl, this would be the perfect starter project for you because you only work the lace pattern for 13 rows and then knit in stockinette stitch for the rest of the hat.

Being that K.’s favorite color is pink, I ordered some Shine Worsted in Blush from Knitpicks.com. It is an absolutely beautiful color and works up so lovely.

I’m thinking about going ahead and casting on for L.’s and I hat and working until the lace is complete especially since I’m using different size circulars for each hat. That way the “worst part” is behind me and I can just knit knit knit.