Archive for the ‘Knitting’ Category
Super Hero!
Posted on: July 17, 2011
- In: Family | Knitting
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My son has figured out the whole “super hero” concept and has decided that he is one. Who knew!? He asked my mom last week if she would make him a cape so he can fly. We went to Hobby Lobby that same day and bought the fabric. He picked out the colors and couldn’t wait for the weekend so Grandma could make it.
Last night she did just that and now my son thinks he’s the coolest thing since ice cream!
I finished my first baby hat yesterday and can’t wait to make many many more.
My current monster is taking it’s time coming off my needles this time. I guess I just kept working on my hat instead. Oh well. He’s coming slowly but surely.
Making The Most Of A Lunch Hour
Posted on: July 14, 2011
So, I really have nothing of super-importance to blog about today, but I do have something to say. So often, I will speak to someone about a novel recommendation, or about a really good film. I may encourage someone to pick up knitting or crocheting. And so frequently their response is, “I just don’t have time”. That has always really irked me seeing as I work, have a 3yr. old, have a husband, and dance twice a week. Yet, I still seem to have to time to read a book every week and to knit and crochet. So, today I decided to share how I manage those things. Life is too short, and if all people do is work and come home and watch T.V. then it is a very non-enriched life. Here’s one of my secrets to ensure time for personal hobbies and interests.
*Pack your lunch and embrace your lunch hour. So let’s face it. Most of us have jobs of some kind, and whether it’s in an office or at home, there is always at least an hour in which one can have some time to themself. Use this time for those important but easily pushed aside things that you enjoy so much.
If a person reads a page a minute, once you deduct the approximate 10 minutes that it may take to eat your already packed and prepared lunch, that devours 50 pages of a book in a single lunch hour. Seeing as the average novel is around 300 pages, a person could reasonably finish an entire novel in 6 working days. A book in about a week!
If a person knits 1 row per minute on a baby hat, then a baby hat could be completed in 2 lunch hours.
If a person pops a DVD into their desk computer, then they can watch an average length movie in two lunch hours.
Kind of amazing isn’t it?
Now. Here’s the kicker. If you combine hobbies, you can complete even more. For example, on a usual work day, I can be found drinking my soup lunch, watching a favorite chick-flick (which my husband definitely appreciates me doing when I’m not at home lol), and knitting. Triple the rewards in the same amount of time 
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| From The Life and Whimsies of Knitty Lou |
Now I realize that this might be a bit extreme in the beginning, but with dedication, you too can be a successful hobbyist!
And while this is enjoyable for the hobbyist, I believe that it also improves the person’s morale throughout the day. Prior to lunch, that person will be in good mood looking forward to this hour. Then, after lunch, this person will be in a good mood because they had a wonderful and enjoyable break in the middle of the day. It’s a win win.
And just to plant another little idea… Imagine what you could do with audiobooks in the car during your commute or bathroom/ cigarette breaks. Just a thought.
Hats For Newborns
Posted on: July 13, 2011
- In: Friends | Knitting
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Alrighty, so while my life can tend to already be pretty hectic, I have just added another project. My best friend of many years just had her baby as you all already probably know and she mentioned that she received a hand-knit hat for Miss Lily before they were discharged from the hospital. I spoke to a NICU nurse for Littleton Adventist Hospital ( http://www.mylittletonhospital.org/birthplace )here in Littleton CO and asked her if they are looking for donations. She said yes, absolutely. So, I’ve decided to knit hats and recruit as many of my friends to do the same as I can. I’ve already received support and promises of hats from Alicia and Laura. I’d like to add to that list, so please please donate your time and talents. My goal is to make as many hats as possible and to donate the package to the hospital before the weather gets very chilly. September maybe? There are a few stipulations per the NICU nurse.
1. No natural animal fibers (allergies & sensitive skin) A soft acrylic is prefered.
2. No chunky yarns. A fingering, dk, or sport weight is prefered.
3. Please make the hat stretchy. (Choose your patterns wisely) They want hats for the preemies as well as the healthy roly-poly full terms.
I’m sure that you all already have your prefered pattern resource, but I will link a few pattern that I am going to use myself. They are all free, therefore, there may be mild errors or inconsistencies. If you happen to come across one, please comment an errata here as well as notify the designer.
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| From The Life and Whimsies of Knitty Lou |
Photo & pattern courtesy of http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-baby-ribs-hat.html
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| From The Life and Whimsies of Knitty Lou |
Photo & pattern courtesy of http://carissaknits.blogspot.com/2007/07/preemie-hats-for-charity.html
Thanks to everyone who will help me to make this possible. Please post pics of your finished projects and when you are ready to get your donations to me, please just give me comment here or send me an email and we can figure it out. ooknittylou@gmail.com
Argus & Failli Assemble
Posted on: July 12, 2011
- In: Ballet | Knitting
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I had dance last night. For those of you that don’t know, I currently take 2 beg/int ballet classes each week. I started dancing 5 or 6 years ago but then took a 3 year sabbatical when I was pregnant and when Jack was little. I have officially been back reliably since Jan 2011. I love it and it’s great exercise. I’m not one for the elliptical if you know what I mean. We always do an intense Barre, then we move on to center, then we work on petite allegros and/or combinations. Last night we were working on our failli assembles. For those of you who know nothing about ballet, here’s a link to a video of that particular step.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYw1VYD6y4&sns=em
Yesterday morning a little monster thief decided that the two monsters in my house might just have to be his.
Speaking of monsters (I’m sure this will come as a surprise to no one) I’ve cast on for another monster. This one is Argus the Attic Monster. More pics to come when he’s finished.
Baldwin the Bathroom Monster
Posted on: July 10, 2011
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| From Knitting Projects |
He’s finished! I initially thought the yarn was absolutely hideous, but it actually knit up kind of cute for a monster. The pattern was very, very simple and I have come to love magic loop. I’m going to cast on for my 3rd monster tommorrow.
My little helper, LuLu helped me to “tie up” my loose ends with Baldwin tonight.
Lily’s Baptism
Posted on: July 10, 2011
- In: Family | Friends | Knitting
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Lily’s baptism was absolutely beautiful! Jenny and Tony were both just glowing. And that wonderful little girl was as happy as a clam. There wasn’t any crying or squirming at all. The church was very pretty and the stone pool with the Holy water was quite impressive. It was a treasure to be asked to be a part of the whole affair. I am so proud of my friend and I am already goo goo for that baby. Lol.
I gave Jen and Tony the bear and was fortunate enough to get a picture with it and Miss Lily. I hope she likes it as she gets older. Every child needs that special animal.
A Bear For Lily
Posted on: July 10, 2011
- In: Friends | Knitting
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I thought this little bear pattern was very sweet. I’ve wanted a bear for my sweet little niece, so there you go. A perfect match. There’s just one problem. My nephew fell in love with her bear yesterday so I think another one is on the way. Lily’s baptism is today so I’ll get to see her and give her the bear.
Current Works In Progress
Posted on: July 9, 2011
- In: Crochet | Knitting
- 3 Comments
This cardigan was hanging up in my local yarn shop as a sample and I just loved it. I’m using the same yarn that Jane used and it’s a light cotton and alpaca blend. I have the back done up to the arm holes but then put it down until I could figure out the specific decreases that it calls for. I haven’t touched it in probably 3 months. I need to pick it back up again soon. I really want to wear it!
Yarn: Rowan Alpaca Cotton
Needles: US 7 – 4.5 mm
Designer: Julie Weisenberger
Pattern: Katarina
I started this blanket for myself after I had learned the basic granny square. The first few were very difficult for me until I got the hang of the pattern. It uses SC, DC, HDC, cluster Stitches, and weird spacing but I think it looks like a sun and love it. I wanted a patchwork blanket (or three) because it would be easy to carry around.
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Hook: 5.5 mm (I)
Designer: Margret Willson
Pattern: Sunscape Throw
I wanted this blanket for Jack. It’s really sweet and simple. It’s a free pattern from Spud & Chloe and I get to use my Harmony Straights for it.
Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Wool
Needles: US 8 – 5.0 mm
Designer: Susan B. Anderson
Pattern: Dream Catcher Baby Blanket
A basic granny square blanket was a great way to learn more crochet. I had this yarn in my stash and decided the colors would be really cute for my nephew, Connor. I think it may be his Christmas gift.
Yarn: Baby Bee Sweet Delight Baby
Hook: 4.0 mm (G)
Designer: Myself
Pattern: None
Another monster. No surprise there I’m sure. My sister-in-law has already named him “Chuck the Vomit Monster” because the yarn is disgustingly colored. I didn’t think it would be so bad in the skein but it’s definitely knitting up kind of gross LOL. The magic loop is coming along quite well and I have to say, that Alicia was right. It rocks!
Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Ombre c. perpetual sunshine
Needles: US 4 – 3.5 mm
Designer: Rebecca Danger
Pattern: Baldwin the Bathroom Monster
Oliver the Office Monster
Posted on: July 7, 2011
- In: Knitting
- 2 Comments
OMG! I have completely fallen in love with Rebecca Danger’s “The Big Book of Knitted Monsters”. I want to knit every single monster in it as well as a few that she has on her Etsy page that are not (yet, hopefully) published. I do have to say that her pattern was a little challenging. I am not the greatest at magic loop and was, therefore, thrown for a loop (pun, of course, intended). But, I kept at it and now have this adorable creature to show for it! Even with the challenges, I still had him knit in 3 days of sporadic knitting. (It has taken me a few days to attach body parts though) I know these pics aren’t the best quality, (Camera phone) but I will post some that are better when I can. I just finished him about 15 minutes ago and just couldn’t wait to show him off
Error? I hate to say there’s an error because I am by no means a knitting genius like most designers, but on the ARMS, I had to change the pattern in order to make it work out. So I’m posting the correction more as a Note-To-Self than a fact for others.
R37: K6, K1f&b, knit to end. (16 sts)
R38: Knit all sts.
R39: K7, K1f&b, knit to end. (18 sts)
…..
R49: (K2tog, K5) twice. (12 sts)
Yarn: Caron simply Soft Brites
Needles: US 4 – 3.5 mm
Designer: Rebecca Danger http://www.etsy.com/people/dangercrafts
Pattern: Harold the Houseplant Monster
Alicia’s Blanket
Posted on: July 7, 2011
- In: Crochet | Knitting
- 2 Comments
This is my favorite project I have ever worked on. When my friend Alicia said that her and her family were moving to Santiago, Chile, Laura and I immediately decided to knit something for her. We wanted a patchwork throw made up of tons of different patterns and yarns. At least for myself, I purposely used yarn and patterns from projects that I have done, as kind of a reminder of all that we have done during our friendship. We gave it to her on the last night that she could attend our knitting group before her move. Needless to say, it was very emotional and the gift could not have possibly been better received.
