Knitting In The North

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?) 

Shades of Elmer Fudd

 

I've been reading the Angry Chicken blog for some time, and have felt inspired to try sewing things that seem far too "scary" and advanced for me.  When she issued this Mudflap Hat pattern as part of her mailorder series, I knew I had to give it a try.

 

Since repurposing is important to me (and there is no fabric store to speak of around here), I decided to take apart a few things floating around.  I ripped up a pair of Brian's corduroy pants (they had a hole in one knee) for the outer layer, and used a thrifted flannel shirt for the lining.  Iron on velcro finished it off, and I was thrilled!  Look what I made!!  Wowee!!!

 

The thrill didn't last, sadly, because I had forgotten two important things.

1. Liam has a very funny, melon-shaped head.
2. Sewn objects are not quite as forgiving as knitting.

The hat is adorable, and I plan to make another (with some modifications for babies with melon-shaped heads), but sadly, the crown is too shallow for this particular melon.  It's getting a lot of use, though, just being worn around the house, by a little person who is suddenly obsessed with hats. 

 

I have knit him up a Thorpe hat this week, just in time for snow to fly.  (Pictures to follow, of course.  But not today.) 
 

  
 

A Little Sewing

Wow, are the days ever flying by!  Are you feeling that, too?  Our summer list has been really helpful, keeping our days intentional, and keeping children from the dreaded "B" word.

In the last little while, two great blogger friends have had beautiful babies.  (Is it just me, or are knitter's babies particularly scrumptious?)  Obviously, a care package of knitted goodness was in order, but in these cases, there are big siblings that must not be forgotten.  I thought a few little sewing projects would be just the thing.  And, maybe just a bit of sewing for the babes as well.

I've been seeing crayon rolls all over blogland, and have been planning on making some for ages.  Like so many things, I just need to stop thinking about it and do it!  I followed this tutorial, which was really easy to understand, and used a bunch of fat quarters and bits and pieces I had in my studio.

  

For the sweet babes, a couple of bibs of super soft cotton.  I used an old cotton curtain for the lining, and big, sturdy snaps (which will hopefully last better than those little ones can).  I got the pattern here, and it was so satisfying to turn out a little stack of these - I wanted to keep going! 

In other news, the Good Stuff socks are crawling along slowly, but the yarn is so pretty, I don't mind a bit.  I also just ordered some yarn to make Liam a little sweater for the cooler weather.   

Oooooh, cooler weather seems soooo far away right now - I've never known our area to have such a long heat wave, it feels just like Hawaii!

Lazy Days

The weather has been incredible here the last few weeks - I don't remember a time before now when we've had such a stretch of sunshine and warmth.  Gwenyth has taken to delightedly telling everyone she meets, "It's summer now!"; I agree, and feel with every bit of me that we need to gather up each of these days and hold them in our hearts. 

Naturally, Princess Gwenyth of the Universe needed a new skirt, and I chose to follow this wonderfully simple pattern from Oliver + S.  I mistakenly cut the fabric far too long, but Gwen seems to enjoy it anyway, evidenced by the difficulty I had taking a picture of her wearing it.  (She's far too busy dancing the hula, or waving a magic wand, or performing her latest song, you know.)

Both the fabric and elastic were thrift store finds, and I was pleased at how quickly this came together.  The Princess approves, and I'm sure we'll see a few more of these in days to come. 

 

Dishtowel Totebag

I would call myself very much a beginner sewer, but over the last year or so I've been longing to do more.  When my mum came out last summer (just after Liam's arrival), she bought me a new, basic machine as an early birthday gift.  I've had a great deal of fun with it, learning how to use it properly.  I just sat down at the machine with the manual, and taught myself how to thread it, wind the bobbin, change the presser foot and needle, etc.  There have been a few little things for Gwenyth sewn up of late, which I'll show you when she's in the mood for a photo shoot (I've worked every day for the last week.  She is not amused.)

My very first project with this new machine was a Tea Towel Totebag.  I came across this wonderful tutorial, which was very easy to follow.  I borrowed Stuart's laptop, and took it down into the studio, so I could follow along each step.  It was a very satisfying project, and since I finished it I've been on the lookout for fancier towels to use!  Simple, I know, but nice looking, and extremely useful.  I feel that if you can combine both of those factors, you've found a winner.  My library books seem to agree, they look perfectly content being packed around in this bag!

New Obsession

Thanks, everyone, for all your concern and notes and good wishes for Stuart!  He's fine, although a little sore still.  It's such a strange feeling, though, seeing someone that is usually so... invincible, sitting there in a hospital bed.  We joke around here that Stuart's kind of like Superman, but it's not that far of a reach.  He's one of those big strong guys, who can do pretty much anything he sets his mind to.  Not one who is generally vulnerable, or needs to be taken care of.  But also, it's been fun to have so much time with him - we've had lots of time to sit around together, talking, watching shows, just hanging out.  I love that.

I've been overtaken by a serious urge to do some sewing lately.  Because I'm me, I of course have a super-duper plan in place to accomplish this.  First, I've bought some small pieces of fabric to take to Winnipeg with us later this month.  I can get my mum to help me with a couple of crayon rolls, while I refresh my machine skills.  Then, when I come home, I can start on a cradle-sized quilt for Liam.  (This is where I got a little impulsive - while buying fabric for the crayon rolls this weekend, I feel in love with this fat quarter selection, and had to buy it for the baby quilt.  Aren't they beautiful?)  Finally, if that all goes well, I can progress to other sewing stuff, and believe me, my mind is churning out more sewing projects than I'll ever be able to keep up with, especially since I don't want to lose any of my knitting time.  Where to fit it all in?

I'll leave you today with a shot of Gwenyth this morning, all ready to do the two most important things in a little girl's life - jump in puddles, and go shopping!