Tag Archives: Knitting

The Annabel Cardigan and a Turban

More finished knitting projects! I finished the turban quite some time ago, here is the information for that project. It was a fast and super easy little project, I have made a few for friends, not taking more than two hours or so per headband. It’s perfect for keeping ears warm in cool weather.

The cardigan though, oh my! This is the Annabel Cardigan, and is my absolute favorite project to date. It seems like such a simple, basic item, but pared with the most lovely undyed wool, and it has become something truly special. I took it off a few days ago, just long enough to block it and sew on buttons. Other than that though, I have been wearing it nonstop. Here is the information on the pattern.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged | Leave a comment

Washcloths

I knitted up these four washcloths last week for my brother and his wife, whom we are spending some time with this weekend. They were super quick, taking about five or so hours a piece. I am a little afraid to say it, but I think I may be slowing the needles down for a little while. It is getting so warm here, and my excitement over making cozy, warm clothing items is waning. I suppose I need to search out some patterns that will keep me interested in knitting during the spring and summer months, maybe a bikini? Maybe not.

Here is the Ravelry link to this knitting pattern.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged | 2 Comments

Thoughts on Blogging and Our Weekend

I wish I was a more devoted blogger. Some people have their blog posts lined up days in advance and a calendar planning out future topics. I, on the other hand, don’t usually have much of a plan when I sit down to write. Well, that is untrue, sometimes I have a recipe to type up, or a handful of pictures from a recently finished project. Most days though, I upload my photos and see if I can string together some sort of profound (or at least coherent) thought based on the moments I captured. I rarely succeed, but I keep trying.

Maybe that is just part of my personality. I hate feeling pressured into finishing things by a certain time, and I like a slightly unstructured life where I can do things at my own pace. I do however think I would like to start devoting a bit more of my time and thoughts to this space. I bought a little notebook that fits in my purse recently, and I plan on using it to jot down thoughts and notes. I haven’t used something like this in years (though I kept a journal most of my youth and into my early 20s), but I am hoping at the end of the day if I look back over it I might feel a bit more inspired to actually write something other than, “hey, check out my pics, yo!”.

So, look at my pics, yo! (just kidding, sort of)

We had another relaxing weekend at home. The first picture is of a spaghetti fritatta. I was a bit skeptical, but intrigued, when I came across the recipe in this book. Luckily we ended up really enjoying it, because we had enough to eat for a few days.

I knit up another baby hat. This on is for Russ’ aunt, who is giving birth to a baby boy this week. This is the pattern I followed.

The weather was so warm this weekend, we stuck Lucy in her swimsuit and filled a metal basin with water. She splashed around and helped us water the plants. I am excited for summer to arrive.

Posted in Personal | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Busy Working


My first loaf of bread in a dutch oven, from this recipe.


So much knitting. I invested in a swift, Lucy loves working it with me.


Chickpea feta salad, from this recipe (found via Pinterest).


A new top for Lucy, made with the serger I got for Christmas.

 

I have settled into a nice groove lately. I have been able to accomplish quite a lot in a short amount of time, all while spending maximum amounts of time with Lucy and Russ. It is funny thinking back to before I had a child how naive I was. I fully thought I would be able to continue on my life as it was, with you know, a little bit of story reading and snuggles throughout the day. How wrong I was. Having time to work on hobbies is something I missed, but I really appreciate so much more since my time doing them is limited.

We cancelled our cable this week. It is something I have wanted to do for many years, and it took quite a bit of convincing/nagging on my part (and only after football season ended). I’m just glad it is gone. I never had cable in my youth, but in recent years I have found myself watching pretty much the worst of the worst television programs. Lucy goes down for her nap, I pull the knitting out of the closet and I put on some mind numbing program, just because it is there. Those days are behind us now, and I hope for the rest of our lives. Now, if we could just cut back on the Netflix.

Posted in Crafts, Food & Cooking, Sewing | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The Honey Cowl

This blog has been a little knitting heavy lately. I promise to get some other types of posts up here one of these days. It may be a while though, I have so many projects lined up!

This is the honey cowl, called so because of the lovely honeycomb pattern it forms. I made this as a gift for my mom who has a birthday coming up. She lives in the mountains of New Mexico and skis quite regularly. I am really hoping she can get some good use out of this before Spring rolls around.

I was originally worried about how well this cowl would drape, it seemed so stiff looking at it, but once I tried it on it looked beautiful. I actually loved it so much I am considering making another for myself.

Here is the information on the honey cowl.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Kitchen Helper and a Hat


Mama’s helper


A hat for a very special two year old friend, info here.

 

The days have been zipping by. I look back at the past week and all I can see is fog. What did we do? Where did we go? I haven’t the faintest clue.

Lucy has been growing faster than ever. In the blink of an eye she has become such a smart and charismatic little girl. She has quickly become fascinated with helping me in the kitchen. Last week we bought a learning tower, and she and I have been having fun working together. I cook dinner or clean dishes and she plays in a bowl with a little bit of flour, some spoons, and a whisk. We make a great team.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Finished Cowichan


(Thanks to my friend Erin for taking these pictures)

Remember the cowichan I posted about way back in August? Well, it is finished and has been for quite a long time now. I have been meaning to get pictures of it for the past two months, but in all honesty I don’t really like taking pictures of myself. It is sort of funny that one of the reasons I wanted to start this blog was to post outfit photos. I think I have finally come to the realization that I am neither that great at them nor do I enjoy doing them–I always feel so silly standing around showing off the clothes I wore. So, there it is. I think I am done with them, well, unless it is an item like this that I made and feel the need to document.

Anyway, back to the sweater. It came together very quickly. I think it took a total of six weeks, working mainly in the evenings for a few hours after the baby went to bed. It was still very hot here when I finished knitting so I didn’t finish stitching it all up until mid November, when the leaves finally started to change and the cold set it. It is so comfy and cozy on cold days. I wear it around the house and out to early morning park dates with friends. It does get a bit too hot to wear once it reaches about 65, but we had a recent cold streak where I pretty much lived in this sweater.

Here are the details.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged | 8 Comments

A Yellow Hoodie

I started this little yellow hoodie for Lucy the day after Christmas. Two weeks later I was surprised to find myself sewing the pieces together for her to wear. It was such a quick and easy pattern. My only complaint is that it isn’t going to fit her for long. I made her the 24-36 months size (she is 20 months), and the sleeves are already a bit short. If you do make this pattern, be sure to take that into consideration.

I also knit up the hat for her. I plan on putting a nice fluffy pompom on the top, so the info on that one will have to wait until it is completed. Until then though, here is the info for the hoodie on ravelry.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged | 4 Comments

Baby It’s Cold Outside


This weekend was full of food, fun with friends, gingersnap key lime pie (recipe from A Year of Pies), and tons and tons of knitting. I finished a sweater for Lucy, cast on and completed a hat for myself, cast on and almost completed a hat for Lucy but ran out of yarn (and the shop doesn’t open again until Tuesday!), I put Lucy’s hat on hold and cast on another for a friend.

We are in the coldest part of winter here in our neck of the woods. Having grown up in the much cooler Pacific Northwest, I sometimes feel silly even mentioning how cold it is here in San Diego–but it has been. 28 degrees at night is really quite impressive for these parts. I am trying my hardest to enjoy it, I know it will soon be over. SpringĀ  comes early here, and shortly after our hot and endless Summer will arrive once again. Soon I will yearn for these cold days when I need all the covers on the bed and have to bundle up in layers and hand knits to leave the house.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Baby Doll’s New Sweater

I made this little doll sweater for Lucy’s baby doll in early December. It was super fast, I think it may have taken me three or so hours (over two evenings) to complete. The pattern was Little Kina. Lucy isn’t able to put clothes on her doll yet so she asks me over, and over, and over again to put it on her doll–just so she can rip it off. I look forward to making more doll clothes for her when she gets a little older.

Posted in Crafts | Tagged | Leave a comment