This is the first garment I’ve made in a long time. It’s a summer blouse pattern from Simplicity. This is my second time making the shirt and as a result, I made some adjustments to the pattern. The changes included making the sleeves less full and only gathering the front and back of the neckline; the original pattern called for gathering the whole neckline. The last think I changed is how the neckline was done; I really couldn’t understand the instructions and I had my own way of doing it. The fabric I used is *perfect* for this pattern - it’s from Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern line. It’s a subtle light pink on beige pattern so hard to see it in the photo (click for a larger view). I can usually find something I would do better, but I’m pretty darn pleased with the final result.

I’m diligently working on my circular shawl, except when it’s too hot to have a pile of silk and wool on my lap. It was 97 this weekend so I did pull out my sock for a bit. I felt like knitting but I couldn’t tolerate the shawl. Now that it’s cooled off, I’m focused on the shawl. I only have 5 repeats of the cable edge left and then I can bind off. I’m hoping to have it done in the next couple of days. Yay! This will be my first project where size matters so I’m really hoping I did the math and have my gauge right. I cannot tell you how bummed I will be if this doesn’t fit right.

I hope everyone has fun plans for the 4th!! Can you believe it’s July already???

Yay! Another Christmas FO!

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with what to get some people for the holidays. And “those” people are people who are looking to reduce the amount of their “stuff” instead of adding to it. It’s not really an age thing either, because right now Bill and I are looking to lighten out load and we’re 50 years younger than Bill’s grandmother. Since I do know that Gran has spent the last two years (off and on) going through closets and getting rid of things, I classified her as one of “those” people. And I don’t mean for you to think that I’m being negative about “those” people because I’m all for simplying (see new year’s resolution #1).

On my last visit with Gran, we had been talking about cute yet moderately priced grocery tote bags. I had an idea to make one of out burlap but never got around to it. So for Christmas, I was inspired to put my idea into action for Gran’s Christmas gift. My mom recently told me how to do French seams, and I used the French seams on the grocery tote so that I wouldn’t have any raw edges, and I figured it would give the bag extra reinforcement. For the edging on the top, I made my own bias tape, and used that same bias tape for the handles which are one piece going around and under the bag, again for reinforcement. The bottom is where things got tricky. I couldn’t figure out how to do the french seams on the bottom, and I was really short on time so I didn’t have the luxury of being able to really play with it, leave it, mull it over, take out what I did before, etc. So for the bottom, I used some of my left over bias tape to cover those two raw seams. Even as I think about it now, I still can’t figure it out; definitely something that will require “play” time. My other design decision was to do short handles. My giant tote has long handles which I could use to put the bag over my shoulder, but I never really do that, and I haven’t really seen other shoppers do that. So I went with short handles.

The fabric, which you can’t tell unless you see a detailed view, is pink and red strawberries! I love it! Strawberries for a grocery tote; cute right? The bag itself is made out of burlap which I figured would be strong. The only downside about the burlap is that it sheds. I am wondering if it will stop shedding. It would be really nice if it did. Really nice.

If you’re curious about the dimensions, so am I. At one point I did write it down and have a sketch. No idea where that is. I was in a hurry to get the gift wrapped and while I stopped for pictures, I did not stop for final measurements. But it is a generous size, probably about 13 inches tall and 4 inches wide?

All in all I am about 90% pleased. As I told Gran, normally I would have made a prototype and kept that one and then would have made a second that would have been the gift and corrected all the mistakes of the prototype. But I was really really under a time crunch and so Gran got the prototype. I will also say that I am pleased with how it turned out even though I would change some things, and that if I had been even the tinest bit unhappy with it, she would have gotten an IOU.

Now to make one for myself.

Is anyone else freakin’ out that Christmas is 8 days away??? So many gifts to finish and pack up and get in their merry way.

This scarf is one gift that has already begun its journey. I knit up My So Called Scarf using Manos on size 10.5 needles. I have been wanting to knit up this scarf for some time and I finally got around to it. This beauty is going to someone in a cold climate so I think it is perfect. The scarf took me about 3 weeks (working sporadically). I had a little trouble getting used to the pattern, but once I did it went fast. I didn’t measure the scarf before I sent it out, but if it were for me, I would probably have started a third skein of yarn. I have a feeling the length is about 55 - 60 inches and it’s about 6 inches wide. I like my scarves long, but I have a thicker neck than most. I just love this pattern. Check out more pictures here and here.

On a separate note, thanks for those who participated in my giveaway! The good news is that everyone who left a comment is a winner! I will be in touch to let you know what your pouch options are and to get your snail mail addresses. Okay, I’m related to 3 of you so I don’t need your addresses, but you still do get to choose your design. I’m looking forward to trying Keri’s candy cane cookies. I was able to do some Christmas baking last week with my mother-in-law. It was very fun! I ate way too much dough, and I was on my “good” behavior. We made oatmeal scotchies which turned out well (we’ve had problems with these being too flat in the past), pressed cookies (I even got to work the press!!!), sugar cookies and snickerdoodles. All in about 4 hours. CJ helped, but her strength is in the clean-up. (Here she is again.) I have been enjoying cookies all week and surprisingly enough, there are still some left. The holiday season has been flying by and I haven’t had or been taking the time to enjoy it. I feel like I’m running from one deadline to another. But the baking really helped it feel like Christmas. Thanks, Jeanne!!!

So this mess became these little hats. I decided at the last minute (Wednesday) to knit baby hats for a baby shower I was attending on Saturday. Granted they are baby hats and knit up quickly, but I was creating my own design (simple though it may be) and that does add a little bit of time. Especially when you don’t like what you did and have to rip half of it out.

I have no concept of the size of a baby’s head. These look small to me. But I have no idea. They are about 13 inches around. Suffice it to say, I am very curious if they will fit. I did think that since they are twins, they might be on the smaller side but I don’t know. I did tell everyone that if they didn’t fit the babies they would look great on a stuffed animal or doll.

My favorite part of the hat is the top, with the little nubbin tied in a knot. They are simple hats, knit in the round in two colors. I used Blue Sky Organic cotton yarn which I love. It’s so soft and I am a big fan of the natural colors. I am happy with how the hats are the same yet still different.

What do you think?

It was nice to have no real plans this weekend. I did have to clean up my craft room this weekend. It was a disaster. I wish I had taken a picture of it beforehand. In the course of cleaning up, I got inspired to work on a special project. Bill had a meeting Monday that he was making him a little nervous. I decided to whip up a new ipod case for him. He had picked out the fabric and I purchased it in New York. While he was downstairs, I started cutting fabric and sewing. Which of course meant that he found seventeen reasons to have to come upstairs and talk to me. I thought he had to know that something was up because each time he came upstairs, I met him at the door of my craft room and steered him toward our bedroom. How could he not know I was being sneaky? (’Cuz he’s a sweetie) I did finish the project, wrapped it up, and hid it in a bag filled with snacks for his flights. Well, after six hours in an airport, three of them on an airplane, he never got wheels up. So at one point, I told him to look in his snack bag and he found his surprise. The work meeting has to get rescheduled and I don’t know what new little treat I can whip up for the next trip. (But Cheli will be available to help him pack.)

I spent Sunday relaxing and organizing drawers (don’t be jealous), watching tv and working on some projects. It was a nice day. Then yesterday I wasn’t feeling 100% so I stayed home from work. I planted my butt on the couch and watched the Tour de France (very exciting mountain stage), Law & Order Criminal Intent and Mi-5 (awesome British spy show). I did some needlepoint and was able to finish my pear canvas (here’s the before picture). I am uber-happy with how it turned out.

I also got my ravelry invite yesterday and spent a little time playing around on the site. The timing is perfect because I’ve been inventorying my stash and planning out my projects. And is anyone else thinking about Christmas gifts yet or am I the only geek?

Here’s a few things rattling around my brain:

1. Are deer colorblind? It was an unseasonable 67 degrees today so I hurried home from work to take the pups for a walk. Our house abuts a wildlife fen and there are some deer who call the fen home. While walking, I saw my buds. As I always do, I told the deer to be careful when crossing the road and to stay away from orange VW Bugs. But then I wondered if they are colorblind. I guess I’ll have to give them my license plate number.

2. Finished projects make me happy. Here’s a closeup (click on the thumbnail for a bigger picture) of the quilted pear that I finished in TN. I stitched this up pretty quickly (a week). It came with a stitch guide and a materials list. The different sections used different fibers and stitches. Once I was done, I stitched a small border around the pair to get rid of the nooks and crannies so that it can be finished in a pear shape. Now to take it to the finisher!

3. Destashing makes me sad inside. It’s like dreams going unfulfilled. Everything was purchased with such good intentions… So rather than focus on that depressing thought, I’m focusing on the dough. I made some tough choices and am getting rid of some yarn and cross stitch projects. You can check it out here. Even Bill is destashing. Guess what’s his.

4. Heather Bailey is doing this cool theme for March about her favorite tools. I’d like to join in but I’m totally drawing a blank… But be sure to check our her faves.

5. Can you tell a real smile from a fake smile? I can 16 out of 20 times and Bill can 14 out of 20 times. I read about this fun quiz on How About Orange. If you have 5 - 10 minutes, take the quiz.

6. The difference between boys and girls. Last week, Bill brought down a laundry basket filled with my clean sweaters. It was upright, on the bed and when I saw the laundry basket and thought it should be moved as a cat was sure to find it an inviting place for a nap. Bill saw the laundry basket and thought there was no way a cat could get into it. Guess who was right.

7. Have you read Martha’s blog on witch hazel? It makes me wonder if she knew all that or if she had to consult a book. Oh, and it makes me wonder if she wrote it herself of had a minion do it. I have a lot of respect for the woman and can’t help but be impressed by how much she Knows. So, do you think she writes her blog posts herself?

8. I love blogging. Ellia told me I Make Her Day. She is a brilliant artist, a fantastic mom, and a wonderful person. And, she Makes My Day.

Hasta la vista, Baby. Oh, I think I’m mixing up my Mr. Eastwood and the Govinator. See, my brain is a scary place.

I hope that you all enjoyed Christmas and have recovered from the holidays. I am getting there. This was my most ambitious holiday season yet; I made the most Christmas gifts by hand that I have ever made. This made for one very tired me. But I was thrilled with how the gifts turned out and the recipients’ reactions. Here’s pictures of some of the goodies (some made it out the door without getting photographed - that’s what happens when you’re last minute):

The black and white bag with the flower was inspired by a design by Lisa at Pink Lemonade Boutique. I just loved the appliqued flower on the black and white background. I am very happy with how my version turned out. I made the bag for my mom hoping she would be able to use it as a work tote. It’s pretty big and would make a nice travel bag too.

Then there are the fetching gloves I knit. And a wristlet I designed. Plus some earrings to match a necklace my mom received from her husband (that he bought from my etsy store). Then there’s the pearl earrings for my aunt Lynn. And coasters and ornaments that I made for secretary gifts and my dad. And lastly, there’s the shawl I knit for my mom, in front of my mom, that I finished at 1am on Christmas morning.

Unfortunately, there’s some things that didn’t get photographed. I made a necklace for my mother-in-law and another necklace for my number one salesgirl. There’s probably others but I’ve forgotten in all the craziness.

My next post will be about some of the beautiful handmade gifts my husband got me from etsy.

On Saturday, I got back from a fabulous week at the beach. I rented an apartment in Ocean City, MD, for a week with a girlfriend because my husband had a big work deadline and couldn’t take any time off. He and another friend were able to join us for a weekend. It wasn’t long enough but he was able to recharge his batteries. The week was so relaxing. My days were spent on the beach under an umbrella reading. And napping. And getting a cannoli and coffee for a late-morning snack. For a change of scenery, we drove to Assateague and parked our umbrellas on a different island. It did have a different feel being a national park and not having a boardwalk. Plus there were the wild ponies and evidence of wild ponies. It was beautiful for a day, but it was so much easier to drag our chairs, umbrellas, mini cooler, towels and books a block and a half. And I swam with dolphins again! They were about a hundred feet offshore but it was the same water. They are so beautiful! I saw a pod on Friday and they seemed to be only 50 feet offshore. It seemed so close. I’m not sure if the dolphins were my favorite, or the amazing moonrise we watched. The moon was full and huge and bright orange. As it rose, at the very end it seemed like a drop was going to fall off but then it got sucked back in as the moon cleared the horizon. It was amazing.

Aside from my moonrise, my evenings were spent with Ugly Betty Season 1 on DVD and a project on my lap. If there was one thing I wanted to get done on vacation, it was Cozy. I am pleased to report that Cozy is complete!! More on Cozy in another post.

It was hard to say goodbye to the beach. As fabulous as vacation was, it is great to be home with my hubby and the dog and cats. Bill and I talked on the phone but it’s just not the same. And I missed my snuggly critters. It was especially nice to have two days to get ready for work instead of just one. And even with the extra day, I’m still not ready for work. I did get started on some ironing though.

After having spent 4 hours in the car driving home on Saturday, Bill and I got in the car and drove 50 minutes to The Stitching Post to pick up my custom framing. The pieces were ready on Friday and I had to get them ASAP. It was worth every minute in the car. Everything turned out so well! They do a great job. There will be pictures of the framed pieces, once they get hung. I’m so happy!! And of course I had to pick up a new project and I’m trying out a new fiber. So exciting!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day. My day was labor free. Except for the picking up and ironing. Poor me… I certainly enjoyed my time off. I foresee Bill putting me in the car kicking and screaming tomorrow…

And I believe in happy endings. Here is my burlap experiment: a beach bag.

I am extremely happy with how it turned out. Of course I would do a couple of things differently, but isn’t that always the case. My original plan for the bag was to only have one zippered pocket. As of last night, all that needed to be done was for the straps to be sewn in place. As I was laying in bed, ready to go to sleep, I thought that for the next bag, I would add in a pocket for my book. That’s one of the things that always gets buried in my beach bag. I knew exactly how I would do it so when I got home from work, I ripped out yet another seam and put in the pocket. I’m glad I did.

When I make another, I’m going to make sure I measure things. Most noticeable is my zippered pocket which is not centered. Or maybe it’s centered but the straps aren’t? Oh, details!

My husband’s head will be warm this winter. What were you thinking? This is not that kind of blog. Maybe it should be…

Seriously folks, I have finally knit my husband a hat. Actually, it is the third hat I’ve made him but the only one that fits. For Christmas 2005 I knit him a scarf. It is very hard to surprise a spouse with a handmade gift. There was a lot of “Gee, Dear. You look tired. You should go to bed early.” and “Honey, can you run a few (six hours of) errands for me?” I finished the scarf late one night and realized what good is a scarf without a matching hat? One thing you must realize is that my husband has a big head. Regular size hats do not fit. Rather than eyeball it, I decided to sneak up to the bedroom and measure his sleeping head. It was late, I was tired, and this seemed like a perfectly good idea at the time. Except that my husband woke up mid measure. I scared the crap out of him, he scared the crap out of me, but I was able to convince him I was just giving him a good night kiss. We got a lot of laughs out of this later.

Suffice it to say, the hat did not fit. It was huge. Then I tried again, with real measurements. Knit a gauge swatch. Again, huge. What is going on? I took that hat and figured out how many stitches I needed to reduce and tried again. I finished it late last night while Bill was still at work. It was sitting on his bedside table for him when he got home. I was sleeping when he got home, but woke up enough to ask if the hat fit. It did! Success! Thank goodness because I was really not up for doing it a fourth time.

The hat is knit in Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Yarn. It’s 100% cotton which is a little unusual for a hat. Most people do it in wool, but I like that this is softer, and I think it will still keep his head warm. It should be good for the milder Maryland temperatures in winter. It may not be warm enough for a harsh Chicago winter. But that’s okay because we don’t live in Chicago.

Here are the boring details for those who are interested. The pattern is my own. I cast on 88 stitches on size 8 circulars. At 4 stitches per inch, this gave me a measurement of 22 stitches. With the stretch, it fits his 25 inch head. (I think that my problem was not taking the give into consideration. But I’ve knit other hats without taking it into consideration and had no problems. Anyway…) I did a rib of knit 3, purl 1 for 10 rounds (or rows). On the 11th round I changed to size 9 needles and started to knit every stitch. I changed colors when I felt like it. My rough formula was to change to the white when the hat measured 3 inches, and then changed back to the caramel color at 5.5 inches. Total hat length is 7.5 inches. When the hat measured about 6 - 6.25 inches I started decreasing. To decrease, I knit 2 together (k2tog), knit 6 stitches repeated to the end of the round. Then I k2tog, k5 and repeated through the round. Then k2tog and k4… etc. until I was left with 8 stitches. (When you get to 24 stitches left, you need to switch to double pointed needles, it is too tight to knit on the circulars. Or you can use two circulars, knitting off one onto the other. In my opinion, the double pointed needles are easier.) My decreases took 10 rows. I prefer to have more decreases in a row to give the hat a more rounded look on the top. You could decrease every 16 stitches (k2tog, k14 and repeat) and have the top be more pointy. It is all personal preference and experimentation. My only suggestion is to make your decrease factor a whole number. To finish up, I threaded the yarn through the stitches, pulled it closed, secured it, and wove in the ends. Hat complete!

Husband is happy, I’m relieved, the dog is adorable. My wifely duty is complete. For today at least.