Whimsy

Happy Wednesday Knitters,

These little guys are the things I was talking about showing you on Monday. Sorry about skipping them yesterday in favour of 10 on Tuesdays, but I really wanted to start something new for the blog so I pushed these to today's post.

I wanted to use these fun beads and thought they would be great for stitch markers. After making one, I decided to make 5 for a gift and then make 3 more for myself. I thought they'd look so cute marking the beginning of a round especially if you're using a very plain, basic colour of yarn.

These ones are mine :-) I've decided to be on the lookout for more fun beads next time I'm at Joanns or Michael's. It's always good to keep a supply on hand, they make perfect gifts - especially stocking stuffers! Imagine some Christmas themed ones to use when you are making Christmas gifts? Too cute!!

Happy Knitting!!!

Ten on Tuesdays

Hello Knitters,

I thought it was time to add something new to the blog. A while back I came across this wonderful blog and seen her "Ten on Tuesday" post and thought, "what a great idea! I have to do this on my blog!" So, here I am, beginning my very first "Ten on Tuesdays"!!

This week's theme is going to be My Favourite Things About Fall. It's undeniable that the season is almost upon us and I thought instead of dreading it, I'm going to embrace it with open arms!! So here we go!

1. The crisp autumn days that let you know Fall has arrived.
2. Adding warm layers to my wardrobe - especially when the layers are of the knitted variety.
3. Seeing gourds and pumpkins for sale, and of course purchasing them to decorate our home.
4. Knitting hats, scarves and mittens to protect myself from the chilly air.
5. The deep, intense blue of the sky.
6. Catching up on all the new trends for the season.
7. Watching the leaves turn an array of amazing colours!
8. Baking warm and spicy desserts such as apple crisp and pumpkin pie as well as making more soups and stews. Nothing quite says Fall like warm harvest soup with fresh hot dinner rolls.
9. Drinking more tea. I view it as one of the best ways to warm oneself up. Plus, it's so soothing and relaxing making it great to unwind with at the end of the day.
10. Planning Christmas gifts....sorry, but I had to say it! It's best to start doing this now so that I end up having enough time to get everything I'd like to make done, and if things don't work out as planned, I have a buffer so I can go out and purchase something that is still very nice. When left too late I'm always scrambling and end up not enjoying the holiday season at all. This year I've decided to do things right! (Or at least I'm going to give it my best shot!)

Thank you everyone for reading my list, I hope you all enjoy this new feature on the blog as much as I do.

Happy Knitting!!

P.S. I want to wish a very happy birthday to my wonderful friend and cousin!! I hope you have a fantastic day!!

A Slight Problem

Hello Knitters,

I have to start by saying that my sister's bridal shower on Saturday turned out wonderfully! We couldn't have asked for a better day, or a better group of people. There ended up being over 50 women and a few children and they all seemed to have a good time. My sister enjoyed it as well, so the whole thing was a hit! The Lord really blessed the whole day :-) I wanted to get some pictures to share but I was so busy that I never got the chance. I know a few other ladies did though, so maybe I will be able to share some with you all yet.

On to the fiber-related news....I do have a project picture today!! It's a bit of a yay/oh-no type of project though.


It is my first crocheted shawl that I'm making for a present. It turned out lovely, however, it is not nearly as big as it should be and I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe I am a tight crocheter since I'm a tight knitter and somehow that affected the overall size? I followed the pattern exactly so I don't think that was it. I did make it out of acrylic instead of the mercerized cotton that it called for because I couldn't find any, maybe that could be the problem. I'm not really sure if you can block acrylic so my plan of stretching it while blocking is not really working. If any of you have a suggestion or advice on what I should do I'd greatly appreciate it!!

This project has been the one I've been focusing my attention on the most as of late and now that it's done (well sort of), I've moved on to some knitting for my swap partner's final package that is due at the beginning of next month. I've also made a few other little things that I'll share tomorrow. I should be getting back to my knitting though. It's so nice to just be able to relax and knit now that the shower rush is over :-) I'm going to enjoy this time while it lasts before the wedding rush begins! Have a wonderful afternoon everyone!

Happy Knitting

Swap Package #2

Hello Knitters,

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted, I've been super busy baking and helping my Mom get things ready for my sister's bridal shower that's tomorrow. I did want to write a quick post to say that I am still working on finishing up some of my WIP's (and thank you everyone for your great support and encouragement!!) and I'm also working on a special something that I hope to share next week. However, the most exciting thing I want to post is pictures of my package I received this week from my amazing swap partner!!

What a great package she sent me! It was just what I needed that day to brighten up my spirits :-) She sent me the most adorable porcelain tea set, four packages of sweet little buttons - blue bunnies, white teddy bears, pink iridescent round ones and wooden ones with flowers on them, a tweety bird wash cloth that grows when you put it in water (how cool is that?!), a pink lemonade lip gloss (I so need that now that the weather has turned cool), and last, but certainly not least a skein of Noro Sekku in colour #4. This was all packaged up in a cute little box that you can see in the picture. Thank you, thank you, thank you dear swap partner!! It is such a fantastic package and I feel so blessed to have received it!!

Here's a close-up of the tea set, isn't it gorgeous? And I have to mention, that it was so cool she sent me some Noro because I have been wanting to get some but there isn't any available to me here so I was waiting until we went away in a few weeks, and now I have some right now!! I was so excited when I opened the box to see it tucked in there! I want to start knitting with it right away but I can't until I finish up a few other things that are due very soon, but in the meantime, I'm going to do some pattern dreaming :-)

Well, I should get back to my baking. I was taking a quick lunch break and thought I'd write a post at the same time. I hope you all have a lovely weekend since I probably won't be able to post again until Monday, but I'll try to take some pictures of the bridal shower to share!

Happy Knitting!!

Projects, Projects, Projects....

Hello dear knitters,

Ok, I have a confession to make: I have WAY too many on the go projects, and half-completed projects and projects that are waiting to be started....and I'm embarrassed to admit that instead of having a case of finish-itis, I'm having a case of start-itis. This could not have come at a more inopportune time! All of this unfinished-ness has been going on for a while now, but I've been turning a blind eye to it until this evening when while catching up on the IBK board, Mel asked the question of how many projects we had that were current, long-term and hibernating. I couldn't honestly say! I really don't know, and I'm not sure I want to.... But then I got to thinking about how much all of this "need-to-finish" knitting has been weighing on me even though I've been trying to ignore it, it's still been there. For example: I will go to get something out of a box, and oh look, there's that pair of socks I started three weeks ago, or I drop something by my yarn basket and go to pick it up and spy the hat I have almost finished. Then I start thinking about the baby sweater that just needs buttons, the one the just needs the ends woven in and buttons sewn on, the pair of rainbow socks that I started for my Mom so long ago that I can't even remember, or how about the pair I started for her last night? Oh dear, I think this is all getting to be just a little bit too much! So, here is my conclusion: I am going to spend tomorrow as a day off from other things and spend my day finishing off some of these projects and working on the ones that aren't at the finishing stage to get them at least closer to being done. What do you think? Think I can do it?? Think I can turn this case of start-itis into finish-itis? I sure hope so!! I think getting some of these things done will help reduce at least some of the stress I've been feeling lately. I'm at least going to give it my best shot!!

Now I will go check out my Ravelry project page to see what I've got listed there that needs to be done, then I'm going to make my list and get to work!

Happy Knitting Everyone!!

Back to School Time

Hello Knitters,

Well it's that time of year again.....I don't know how it snuck up on me, but I've already been seeing the big yellow school bus drive by the house. Even though no one in my immediate family is in school, I still get excited for what this time of year brings - new beginnings!! I've always felt that way. Not really sure why, maybe it was getting new school text books, and a new backpack or brand-spankin' new school supplies!! (I've had a love affair with paper products since I was a wee child) or maybe it was all the new information and techniques I would be learning that year. Whatever it is, I still feel it every fall. Of course this is also the time when my knitting seems to get into high gear, but more on that another day. Today I want to focus on kids and back-to-school things. More specifically the newest edition of Petite Purls - Fall 2010. This is seriously one of the best issues yet! It's completely back-to-school themed :-) So I thought I would share my top 5 favourite patterns and why.

1. Audrey's First Day by Elizabeth Smith - I've always liked the different styles of the 50's, 60's and 70's and this 60's style preppy cardigan is adorable! Elizabeth has taken the original sweater design and given it a more modern flair for the "now" little girl. This was the first pattern that jumped right out at me as a "have-to-make."

2. Little Letterman by Danielle Reiner - Keeping with the whole preppy theme, this little coat for the boy in your life is so cute. The idea of the letter being your little one's initial is so fun. I'm also really fond of the colours she chose.

3. First Grade by Marina Hayes - Could there be any cuter socks?? I remember my sister and I having ruffle socks that we would wear to church with our "good shoes"....these are so sweet and I just have to make them sometime soon!

4. Birdie Backpack by Alison Stewart-Guinee - Ever since they days of Mr. Dressup (he was my childhood hero - craft time was THE BEST!!) I have had a thing for owls :-) This birdie backpack reminds me so much of being a kid. And come on, those bird wing pockets are way too cool!

5. Ewan by Sarah Grieve - Ok, this cardigan is seriously cute. I think the idea of a little boy in a grown-up style cardigan is adorable. This one is made to resemble a boyfriend cardi (which I just think was the best thing we girls stole from the boys ever!) and what I like so much is that you can easily make this to suit a little girl as well, or just have her look like the older girls wearing her boyfriend's sweater :-) The styling of it is great since it has cables and texture to keep the knitter interested while still being a quicker knit since it's done on a smaller scale than an adult size. Sarah has also included a range of sizing from 6-12 months all the way up to 5 years which is great. I could see myself knitting this one for sure.

Wow, that was hard to choose only 5!! There are so many great patterns: pencil cases, a head scarf that reminds me of the 70's, an adorable vest, more socks and sweaters, a rocket toy, and even a pair of overalls! If you haven't already, head on over and check it out!!

Allegra and Brandy also have some fun and great features, including some new categories that you should check out as well. My favourite is "Crafting at Home" since being a home-schooled child, that's where I learned all my crafting skills. Allegra's story about her and her daughter reminds me so much of my Mom and I. By the way, "Origami Pack for Children" by Mari Ono and Roshin Ono looks like a book I might like even for myself!! You're never too old or too young to learn something new in my opinion :-)

I hope you all enjoyed my review. I had such fun looking through this new edition and would like to get the chance to start on something from it soon! I hope it has inspired you as well, there's no better time than fall to start some new projects.

Happy Knitting All!!

What I've Been Working on in 10 Words or Less

Fall Project:




Cabled Hat:

Surprises:

Picking colours (with help):

Progress!!