Knitting In The North

A Bit of Paper

I did it!  After much futzing around, (far more than was needed, really) I sat down and made myself a paper Christmas wreath.  I used three sheets of scrapbooking paper, a piece of cardboard, a stapler and a bit of ribbon.  A large soup bowl made a great outside edge for the wreath, and I cut my leaves approximately 10cm long.  I cut something like 60 leaves, and had a fair bit left over at the end. 

All in all, a fun little project, easy to do with things on hand, well worth a try!  This one hangs in my kitchen, but it would be fabulous anywhere you need a little Christmas pick-me-up, and it is light enough to hang pretty much anywhere relatively dry.   Do you need a bit of Christmas cheer anywhere?

Just Swingin'

At the end of a long day, there is not a whole lot of crafting energy still hanging around.  However, there are still things to be done, and still children who need a bit of mommy time - finding the right crafts, that will be fulfilling for the kids, and yet not completely draining for me, has been the big thing here lately.

 

When I came across this book, Creative Play for your Toddler, I knew right away there were one or two things that Gwenyth in particular would get a real kick out of.  I was surprised, though, when she chose this little swing as the project she wanted to work on together.

 

Wonderfully simple, sewn from some thrifted fabric, with a bit of dowel for support, and some sparkly yarn for hanging, this seat has seen stuffed toys and dolls in regular rotation, and spends most of the time inside, hanging from the corner of the bunkbed.  Every now & then, on a freak warm day, it gets out to this little branch, to give whichever toy is in favour that day some "fresh air". 

 

This is definitely my kind of sewing project - straight lines, quickly finished, and useful in the end.  Now - back to my secret Christmas knitting; there's not much time left...
 

Handkerchief Bag

I did it!  After thinking and thinking and thinking some more, I grabbed a window of opportunity, some fabric & a zipper I'd picked up at the thrift store, and sewed up this little holder.

 

As I mentioned the other day, when I saw this bag for storing hankies, I immediately felt the need for one of our own.  It took me a while, though (just a few months), to screw up my courage and have at it. 

 

The bag itself works quite well - it has a 4" opening in the front for pulling a handkerchief out, and a zipper (gasp!) in the bag for quick reloads.  Now that we're using it, I wish I had made the strap a tad wider, and the bag itself a bit longer (we have more hankies than I originally thought).  Still, it's functional, it looks good in my kitchen, the kids love pulling out their own handkerchief, and it has a zipper.  My very first one!  Which I put in, without the aid of a zipper foot!  (I really, really need to clean up my studio.)  Phew, all this excitement has tired me out - time for a cup of tea.

 

Just in case you're not getting the idea of how exciting this bag is, here's a picture of the Very Exciting Zipper for you to admire...
  
 

Odds & Ends

 

 

I'm feeling all over the place these days; work is busy, daycare is busy, Christmas is only 39 days away (Yep, I said it.  Whatcha going to do about it?).  Here are some things floating around at the moment:

 

• It snowed a whole bunch.  The weather forecast is for rain this week, which means a lot of melting, messy slush.  For the moment, I'm going to ignore the thought of rain, and enjoy the fluffy white stuff.
• Feed Your Soul - an amazing art project with free downloads.  There is some fabulous work there.
• Spiced candied nuts.  They sound yummy.
• I needed a plan to get everything done this year for Christmas.  Organized Christmas has a Christmas Planner that saved the day for me.  There's nothing I like more than a useful list. 
• A bunch of free printables to tuck into kids' lunchboxes.  Or wherever.  I think it would be fun to stick these into rolled socks when I'm doing the laundry.
• I need a bag like this for holding our handkerchiefs.  Right now they're in a pile in the dining room, which is not ideal.  Do you think I can manage to sew in a zipper?  It seems scary to me.  

 

So - what's floating around in there for you right now?

Oh, Balls!

Liam has a great love of balls.  Ball was, in fact, his first word (far sooner than Mommy, or even Mooom - not that it bothers me or anything), and balls of all kinds hold his attention for ages.  He likes, as many babes do, to hold them and throw them and roll them and toss them at your head.

 

For Christmas, then, I decided Liam definitely needed a collection of felted balls.  I plan to stuff his stocking with them, so he can happily take them out and throw them at his siblings' heads, while they are busily sorting their own loot. 

 

The pattern, Baby's First Ball from the book  Knitting For Baby by Melanie Falick (oh, how I love Melanie Falick) and Kristin Nicholas, is wonderful.  Easy to memorize, so even when you're sick or overwhemed or grumpy you can still manage to work a few wedges on the latest ball.  I'm using four colours, and am shooting for six balls, although I'm enjoying the knitting so much, I might need to keep going.  We may well be buried in felted balls by Christmas.  I'll let you know.
  

The Bare Minimum

 

 

This week has been all about the bare minimum.  On the weekend, the kids & I took Stuart to the airport, where he flew off for a week of training in another city.  The day before he left, I was finally felled by the nasty cold that everyone else had last week.  Not to sound whiny, but being on my own with 4 (healthy, energetic, bouncy - thankfully) kids, while I crawl around feeling miserable is not my idea of a fun week.

 

It was good for me, though, as these things often are if we're willing to learn the lesson hidden inside.  Because I had to let go.  Let go of my wonderful meal plans, clean house ideas, crafting goals...  Admit that I'm imperfect, yet again, and that that's okay.  I'd venture to say, it's better than okay, actually. 

 

I came across the quote posted on my fridge over at Perfect Sentiment, just when I needed to read it.  It says, "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."  Exactly what I needed to hear, and my nice clean fridge door (about the only household project I accomplished all week) is just the reminder I need. 

 

Unnecessary:: Perfect meals, spotless home, exciting activities, doing it all "perfectly"

Necessary:: Lots of tea, snuggling in bed with 4 kids & a dog, reading good books (still), watching an old movie or two

 

How about you?  What's necessary for you right now?  What's not?  

FO: Thorpe

My, how things can change overnight!  Just yesterday I was bemoaning the grey-ness out there, and today we're blanketed in white.  The first snowfall is always exciting around here, making me want to break out the Christmas music and build a snowman and go tobogganing and decorate and make gifts and bake good things.  Since I've got a sick babe at the moment, I've had to content myself with Christmas music and baking cookies, and planning to knit this for Brian (in green, to look like Link's). 

 

I did drag Liam out for a few quick minutes, for his first look at the snow.  What a puzzled little face!  He's so serious, when processing something new - he just stood there, taking it all in.  Which made me want to kiss his face right off.  (I'll ask him now, if he needs me to kiss his face off, and he'll shake his head.  No thanks, Mommy.  It makes it even sweeter when he offers me a kiss, all on his own.)  Anyway, it was the perfect opportunity to try out his new hat (you know - the one that fits!).

 

Particulars:

Yarn - Paton's Classic Wool for the body, with leftovers of Knitpick's Comfy Bulky for the trim

Needles - 5mm

Notes/Modifications - I held the Classic Wool doubled, which gave me just about spot on gauge.  It was a little stiff feeling while knitting, but softened up nicely for wearing.  The finished hat has a fairly thick finished fabric, perfect for snowy days, and it holds it's shape nicely, without feeling stiff.  This hat is fast becoming my standby winter hat pattern - once I get past the fiddly beginning, it's smooth sailing, and I am always thrilled at how smoothly the crocheted edging goes on, and how well it finishes the hat off.

 

 

Many Thanks

 

A most wonderful package arrived in the mail today - a gift from Lorette!  Lorette recently took a journey to Ireland, and came home with this fabulous Donegal tweed (along with some other good stuff).   She kindly offered the yarn up as a giveaway on her blog, and I was the lucky winner!  Along with the sweet yarn, Lorette included a fancy little box, perfect for holding stitch markers and the like, and an adorable black sheep tape measure (because every family needs a black sheep, right?). 

 

I must admit, this couldn't have happened at a better time - I've been feeling a bit, well, blue lately, and a bit tired and rundown from all my to-ing and fro-ing.  Having this appear at my door today was just the tonic I needed to get me though this week.  The discussions have already begun about what exactly this yarn wants to be (Gwenyth thinks it might just want to be a Neighborly vest - with a twist, of course - and I'm quite sure both Brian & Katie will know just what this yarn has in mind for itself).  I'm sure the ideas and plans will keep me entertained right into the weekend, when hopefully things will slow down. 

 

So - Thank You, Lorette!  You are very kind, sending a bit of bright blue cheer to us here in the grey, far North! 

Goings On

 

 

Lots of good fall things going on around here these days:

 

• Great thrift store finds (like Gwenyth's fabulous coat - wool, of course - and matching boots)
• Vegetable stock simmering on the stove
• Apple cake in the oven (as we put the batter in the pan, I asked Gwen how it looked.  Her answer?  "Slimy"  Oh, my literal girl.)
• Toasty armwarmers knit up for me & Katie
• Reading good books as a family (we're on #2, and the excitement is still building) 
• Homemade chocolate syrup
• And really, really good for me this week (helping me along on my journey  to embrace the Imperfect) - this quote

What are you up to?

 

PS - Miss Gwenyth has a request - she is in desperate need of some postcards to brighten her day when we bring in the mail.  If anyone is willing to send her a little piece of snail mail happiness, please let me know - she will be very, very grateful.   

 

Girl Time

Gwenyth has, I think, been feeling a bit like an empty sponge over the last several weeks.  The big kids have gone back to school, I'm working again (outside of the house - the stuff I do inside the house doesn't count, apparently), we're in the swing of fall programs and appointments and meetings.  At the ripe old age of four, this leaves Gwen kind of in the lurch.  And she's old enough to know it.

 

I've been making an effort over the last week or two to set aside some special "girl time", for just the two of us.  Even if it's as simple as taking her along on an errand, or stopping by the library for a quick visit, it seems to be helping.  The other day, she said it would be nice to have a day at home, and I couldn't have agreed more!  Once Liam was down for his nap, the two of us went into my studio, turned on Gwenyth's favourite music and whipped up one of these little hair kerchiefs.

 

I followed this tutorial, and it was simple and fun!  (It did take me more than 5 minutes, but I'm pretty slow.)   Gwen picked out the fabric from what we had around, and she chose a Care Bear remnant, and some rainbow-ish geometric Ikea print.  The kerchief is sewn onto one of those thin elastic hairbands, which makes it really functional (which is important to me - nothing makes me crazier than making something to have it sit around and become Stuff).  Also, Gwenyth has been growing out her bangs for the last year, and these kerchiefs are awesome at holding back any wisps that escape from whatever hairstyle she happens to be sporting.

 

Even if you are new to sewing, or afraid of your machine, I highly recommend this project.  It would be great, as well (and might show up in my own home) in grown-up size.  'Cause what grown up girl doesn't need her very own hair kerchief?

 

PS: Yes, Gwenyth is wearing the Pirate Sweater I knit for Brian.  Don't you love it when you can pass your knits down?  (And how on earth has Brian gotten so big?)