Last night, William asked me to sing a new song to him before bed. I had no idea what the new song was so I asked him to sing it to me first. I quickly called for Gerald to come back into the room to listen as well. This morning I brought my camera with us on the way to school and asked him to sing it to me again:
This is after just one day at the new school. We are definitely happy with the results so far. Plus, he actually came home CLEAN yesterday afternoon - a first in a long time!
I'm sure his old school taught him this too as did I and other family members but after learning several new songs in class yesterday this is the first time he sang it to us. We're so proud!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Finished Object - Kansas' Purse
Thankfully I have a wonderful mother-in-law with amazing sewing skills, otherwise this purse would never have been finished.
The yarn called for is ribbon yarn (Berroco Glace) and I will never, ever knit in ribbon yarn again. I'm documenting this just in case I see something pretty online and think that it won't be that bad. It was a nightmare to knit with and just twists and twists. Maybe I just have just knit it from the hank. I don't know. It took twice as long as it should have to knit and then required sewing skills.
I think I might have the sewing skills but just not the sewing patience :)
So, this purse was loving knit by me and sewn by her Grandma. Just look at that button - just perfect! Thank goodness I was using my Rosewood luxury needles . . . it dulled the anger and kept me from hurling it across the room! I love my niece Kansas but I was this close to just sending her a gift card and letting her go shopping. I hope she loves it and I can't wait to hear from her!
Details
Pattern: Girly Bag by Amy Polcyn (free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Berroco Glace (thankfully discontinued)
Needles: US 6 rosewood straights
Time frame: June 5-20, 2009
The yarn called for is ribbon yarn (Berroco Glace) and I will never, ever knit in ribbon yarn again. I'm documenting this just in case I see something pretty online and think that it won't be that bad. It was a nightmare to knit with and just twists and twists. Maybe I just have just knit it from the hank. I don't know. It took twice as long as it should have to knit and then required sewing skills.
I think I might have the sewing skills but just not the sewing patience :)
So, this purse was loving knit by me and sewn by her Grandma. Just look at that button - just perfect! Thank goodness I was using my Rosewood luxury needles . . . it dulled the anger and kept me from hurling it across the room! I love my niece Kansas but I was this close to just sending her a gift card and letting her go shopping. I hope she loves it and I can't wait to hear from her!
DetailsPattern: Girly Bag by Amy Polcyn (free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Berroco Glace (thankfully discontinued)
Needles: US 6 rosewood straights
Time frame: June 5-20, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Just a thought
Sitting at my computer this morning working, no shoes on and the AC on. I thought to myself "man, it would be really nice to throw on a pair of hand knit socks right now"
Yeah, imagine that.
Knitting for all these years and still no socks for myself. What a shame! I'm going to remember this for my next "me" project . . . not that it will be happening anytime soon though.
Yeah, imagine that.
Knitting for all these years and still no socks for myself. What a shame! I'm going to remember this for my next "me" project . . . not that it will be happening anytime soon though.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Success!
It fit and was determined to hot to wear right now but was a success!
We were at camp so this was just a fitting for later this fall when the cooler weather comes in. Very nice pattern, yarn and experience overall!
We were at camp so this was just a fitting for later this fall when the cooler weather comes in. Very nice pattern, yarn and experience overall!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Finished Object - Dad's Vest
It couldn't have been finished with any later and still be a present for my father. His birthday was this past Tuesday but I got a few extra days since I won't see him until tomorrow. It's currently blocking/drying in our spare bedroom.
I would say that while the pattern is beautiful and very well made, it's short. I tried to add length to it here and there hoping to make up for it since I read others knitters opinions on the Ravelry project page claiming it ended up way short for them. My Dad wanted it longer than what the pattern stated so I definitely kept that in mind the whole time. I'm hoping that by blocking the wool strongly it will give me another couple inches in length. We shall see when he tries it on tomorrow . . .
Details
Pattern: Zipped Vest by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in charcoal
Needles: US 4 (Knit Picks Options were awesome)
Time frame: 3/23/09 - 6/5/09
I would say that while the pattern is beautiful and very well made, it's short. I tried to add length to it here and there hoping to make up for it since I read others knitters opinions on the Ravelry project page claiming it ended up way short for them. My Dad wanted it longer than what the pattern stated so I definitely kept that in mind the whole time. I'm hoping that by blocking the wool strongly it will give me another couple inches in length. We shall see when he tries it on tomorrow . . .
Details
Pattern: Zipped Vest by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in charcoal
Needles: US 4 (Knit Picks Options were awesome)
Time frame: 3/23/09 - 6/5/09
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Mid Year Update
It's June 4th and time to gauge what I can do this year and what is probably impossible to accomplish. First step is to make a list of project with deadlines:
1. Dad's Vest - Knitting is done and the zipper will be sewn in tonight! Deadline is this Saturday when I see him at camp.
2. Kansas Purse - Haven't cast this on but it should be quick and I bought the clear purse handles yesterday while I was at AC Moore looking for a zipper for Dad's Vest. Deadline is July 11th, her birthday.
3. Football Socks - Team colored yarn was purchased and patterns have been queued up in Ravelry. I'm really liking the looks of Gridiron and School Sock. Very manly. Deadline is August 9th, beginning of NFL pre-season.
4. Cable Blanket for Baby Craig - One ball knit and 4 to go. Very enjoyable project to work on so it shouldn't take long to finish if I work here and there on it in between other projects when I need a break. Deadline is pre-October 17th, her due date but most likely given as a shower gift.
5. Duke Dog Sweater - Measurements have been taken for the pattern calculator, colors have been selected but design elements are still being debated between a dog bone motif or skull and cross bones. Deadline is this fall, before it gets too cold.
6. Manly Socks for Christmas - Requests came in from my husband, father and father-in-law for more wool socks in specific colors. I purchased several balls of yarn already from AC Moore when they had a ridiculous sale on Paton's Classic Wool (and later retracted the flyer costs). I'll probably use my patterns from Knitting Pure and Simple. Deadline is this Christmas.
Ah, that doesn't seem so bad. The problem is that it doesn't include my current WIPs:
1. Mystery Stole 4 (aka Serendipity Stole) - I've got the first half done and about half way through the second half. Since I started this project as a learning experience for larger lace projects there's no intended recipient at this time and no deadline. It will sadly have to wait for the deadline projects to get finished up first.
2. Dainty Bess lace scarf - This is my travel project and perfect for airport/airplane/hotel knitting. Absolutely no rush on this one either.
That's not too bad either. It's nice to have true pleasure projects to work on with no pressure for finishing. But then there's the Shakespeare in Lace club that I joined. Now that's true pleasure knitting. I had initially hoped that I could finish all 4 shipments this year but realistically I'd like to just be able to cast on for one before the end of the year. The first two shipments are beautiful and will make great presents some day:
1. Desdemona Shawl - The yarn is a pinkish peach and super soft.
2. A Midsummer's Night Dream Lace Shawl - The yarn is again very soft and the blue has great depth to it from being kettle dyed. Plus, it came with BEADS! Good thing I know how to knit with beads after working on the MS4 stole!
So, while I feel good about organizing my To Do list and that I only have to buy yarn for one project (Duke's Dog Sweater - Caron's Simply Soft won't be expensive at all) I do have some anxiety about finding enough time to get everything done. I only knit a couple hours each night. Plus there's that nagging feeling about not knitting on my GAAA at all this year and all of the other gorgeous yarn in my stash that I'm excited to work with.
Maybe I just need to schedule a few "mental health" days and just knit all day. Yeah - that would be nice . . .
1. Dad's Vest - Knitting is done and the zipper will be sewn in tonight! Deadline is this Saturday when I see him at camp.
2. Kansas Purse - Haven't cast this on but it should be quick and I bought the clear purse handles yesterday while I was at AC Moore looking for a zipper for Dad's Vest. Deadline is July 11th, her birthday.
3. Football Socks - Team colored yarn was purchased and patterns have been queued up in Ravelry. I'm really liking the looks of Gridiron and School Sock. Very manly. Deadline is August 9th, beginning of NFL pre-season.
4. Cable Blanket for Baby Craig - One ball knit and 4 to go. Very enjoyable project to work on so it shouldn't take long to finish if I work here and there on it in between other projects when I need a break. Deadline is pre-October 17th, her due date but most likely given as a shower gift.
5. Duke Dog Sweater - Measurements have been taken for the pattern calculator, colors have been selected but design elements are still being debated between a dog bone motif or skull and cross bones. Deadline is this fall, before it gets too cold.
6. Manly Socks for Christmas - Requests came in from my husband, father and father-in-law for more wool socks in specific colors. I purchased several balls of yarn already from AC Moore when they had a ridiculous sale on Paton's Classic Wool (and later retracted the flyer costs). I'll probably use my patterns from Knitting Pure and Simple. Deadline is this Christmas.
Ah, that doesn't seem so bad. The problem is that it doesn't include my current WIPs:
1. Mystery Stole 4 (aka Serendipity Stole) - I've got the first half done and about half way through the second half. Since I started this project as a learning experience for larger lace projects there's no intended recipient at this time and no deadline. It will sadly have to wait for the deadline projects to get finished up first.
2. Dainty Bess lace scarf - This is my travel project and perfect for airport/airplane/hotel knitting. Absolutely no rush on this one either.
That's not too bad either. It's nice to have true pleasure projects to work on with no pressure for finishing. But then there's the Shakespeare in Lace club that I joined. Now that's true pleasure knitting. I had initially hoped that I could finish all 4 shipments this year but realistically I'd like to just be able to cast on for one before the end of the year. The first two shipments are beautiful and will make great presents some day:
1. Desdemona Shawl - The yarn is a pinkish peach and super soft.
2. A Midsummer's Night Dream Lace Shawl - The yarn is again very soft and the blue has great depth to it from being kettle dyed. Plus, it came with BEADS! Good thing I know how to knit with beads after working on the MS4 stole!
So, while I feel good about organizing my To Do list and that I only have to buy yarn for one project (Duke's Dog Sweater - Caron's Simply Soft won't be expensive at all) I do have some anxiety about finding enough time to get everything done. I only knit a couple hours each night. Plus there's that nagging feeling about not knitting on my GAAA at all this year and all of the other gorgeous yarn in my stash that I'm excited to work with.
Maybe I just need to schedule a few "mental health" days and just knit all day. Yeah - that would be nice . . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)