Memorial Weekend

Family, fun, and fishing.... (and some knitting too :)

Beginnings of the bolero

I purchased the Little Sweet Peas pattern booklet by Sirdar this past weekend. I'm so drawn to darling babies in beautiful knits. The Sublime babies make my heart melt too. I have begun my gauge swatch for the girl's bolero with flowers. (Shhh! I've never done a gauge swatch before and it's kinda killing me that I'm not just digging in with the project. I feel like I'm wasting valuable time but I'm sure I'm not because everything I read says CHECK YOUR GAUGE so I am with this one) I want it to fit my daughter well. She picked out the yarn color. It's fun, bright, just as I thought she would select. It will be a great little sweater to have along anywhere we go because as I have said before she is my little 'freeze baby'. It may clash with some outfits, but really, currently it's no different than what she puts together for school :) I just try to keep my mouth shut and give her the independence she so wants.

My favorite M-Day card

I've received homemade cards from my daughter in the past but this is, by far, my favorite. I love her drawing of the needles (and spelling) and yarn and she told me that in the upper right corner is a picture of my arms with the yarn and needles knitting. But I treasure the inside even more; it wasn't a "copy this from the board, children" it was from her own blessed head:

It reads:

My Mom

My mom is very kind. (I appreciate that)
My mom likes to knit. (Yes, this is true)
My mom knows how to take care of sweet kids. (Sweet yes, but sometimes sour)
My mom can do lots of things. (Things can include knitting, baking, gardening, etc. but apparently not cleaning. see below :)
My mom says "I Love You" (Because I do)
My mom hopes to keep the house clean (hopes! bwaahaahaa This is so true - hopes! maybe it's because I'd rather knit)
My mom loves me. (Unconditionally)
My mom is very kind. (Thank you, Ella)

Oh, oh, oh, let's go fly a kite...

...up to the highest height. Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring Up through the atmosphere Up where the air is clear Oh, let's go fly a kite! Play Me
This is the day we've been waiting for. Not as warm as we'd like it but sunny and windy. Perfect for flying the kite that's been in the package waiting and waiting for this day. This evening we headed out to a wide open space and set Mickey free.

Ella's turn:

Then Anders' turn:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
These longer days equal an early riser toddler. I was so hoping to sleep in this morning. Didn't happen. This helped my morning though:While I was getting ready this morning I heard Anders in his room giggling and laughing hysterically. I snuck on over to see what he was up to and found him looking at a book:

I quickly got my camera and snapped this picture. I sure wish I had had my video camera. His laugh was priceless. He had this book we brought home from the library titled: Who's Hiding? by Satoru Onishi. I had never seen this book before but it's a rollicking good time for a three year old and apparently Anders find this page belly-laughable:

As you may not be able to see in the picture the question in the book is "Who's backwards?" and when we've read this together he thinks it's so funny that some of the animals are showing their backside.

Our morning consisted of a trip to Home Depot for the monthly kids workshop. Both Ella and Anders made this flower pencil holder. Very cute and fun and the best part is that it's free. Then we did a few more runs: Michaels, Costco (love this store but did I need to buy the ten pound bag of M&M's? I'll share the cookie recipe using the M&M's that I plan to bake at a later date) lunch at Culver's, and the library. I was hoping to hit up some garage sales but I got sick of driving around and getting a 3 year old in and out of a car seat so we headed home. I guess the thrifting will have to wait another week. (Hubby will like that :)


As far as knitting goes not much has been on the needles lately. Well, something is on the needles but moving very s-l-o-w-l-y. It's probably only another inch along since I took that photo. yikes! I better get busy But I actually have something started with a crochet hook. I've been teaching myself with various books I've had home from the library and it hasn't been too bad but I think I still want to take a class. It seems that the instructors at my LYS always have many tricks that you don't read about in books. So far I still enjoy knitting more than crocheting.

Happy Weekend!

Little Seedlings

Just in time for....next fall. Oh well, I'll have something to look forward to and use right away. This pattern is the Fetching fingerless gloves on Knitty. I think I'm going to like having these especially in my very cold work place! I changed the pattern a bit after reading some comments on Ravelry. I did a regular bind off and on the right glove I tried a different kind of thumb gusset to see if it was better. Unfortunately that change made me running to the yarn store for another skein. I was hoping to do it with one.

Pattern: Fetching from Knitty

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Needle: #6 dpn

Actually I'm very glad I won't be needing these gloves (now just watch, I'll have jinxed myself) because it was looking a bit like spring today. That put us in the mood for planning a garden. My daughter was home from school today with lovely strep throat which I also contracted so the three of us hung out together and did some planting. This is what it looked liked:

1. Pick out seed packets of things we might eat.
2. Scoop up dirt and place seeds in cup.
3. Poke seeds down according the depth required on packet.
4. Water.
5. Wait patiently.

I really hope something grows just because they worked so hard and are so excited. We've never had a garden before only perennials so this will be a fun adventure. Last spring we tried sunflowers only to see the sprouts go to the birds!!

Lil' Leg Warmers Pattern

For anyone interested in the leg warmers pattern here it is. Click on image below. (There's a link under iPaper to print the file)

More Booties, Pacifer and a Coffee Cozie

I've created another set only this time in pink, my favorite color! for a sweet baby due in July.

Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Needle: Size 3
Pacifer from Itty Bitty Nursery, Susan B Anderson

Last Tuesday was a very good coworker/friend of mine's birthday. She's a very happy girl when she's holding a hot cup of java especially from Caribou so I knitted her a coffee cozie and picked up her favorite light roast before school. If I hadn't procrastinated on this gift I would have embellished it a little but of course I was knitting it the night before I gave it to her. I was hoping she would wear something that coordinated with green but I guessed wrong because she showed up in pink. She has a "thing" about matching her writing utensil to her outfit each day, oh and her glasses too so I'll be making some more cozies to make sure we have the color spectrum covered for her wardrobe.

Pattern: here
Yarn: Cascade 220

If any of you like knitting toys you might want to take a peek at this magazine.

I broke down and bought it (at a Barnes & Noble) because I really want to make this Gnome. Susan made one and isn't it cute? A much needed addition for our partial Swedish family.
I know, tis not the season but I just recently learned of Alan Dart and I'm blown away by his designs. I also want to make his Saint Lucia tree topper. Speaking of knitting toys and Susan, have you heard that her next book will contain toys? I cannot wait........well, I guess I'm going to have to. I'm really getting into this crafty knit stuff. LOVE it. I'll get to the socks at some point but they kind of scare me and yes, sweaters do to. All in good time.

Toodles

Early Easter Equals Leg Warmers

I knitted up a pair of leg warmers for my daughter to wear with her Easter outfit. She is my "freeze baby" and hates to be cold so since the outfit involved a skirt we made sure she wore tights AND leg warmers. I didn't have a pattern for these so I made this one up. I'm sure it's pretty simple for many of you knitters but for my first pattern I was a bit challenged at times but I'm happy with how they turned out. And do you see that pile of yarn there in the picture? I was sweatin' it when it kept getting smaller and smaller and wasn't sure I'd have enough but phew! I made it with three and a half yards to boot!

By the way, there is a give-away going on over here. I have purchased one of her bags and her work is impeccable. Love the fabrics she used for the wristlet.