happy 2nd birthday tristan!!!

Doll Blanket and pillow!!!
My inspiration is here.
luckily, grandma got her the doll!!!

Hats and more hats

So, I've been busy knitting -- as always -- and this time actually have proof!

Aidan Montessori, where I work, has an annual fundraising auction. One of the cool silent auction items are theme-based "buckets" of stuff: gardening, cooking, crafts, etc. You bid to take home all the booty in the bucket. This year, I offered to make 4 hats (2 adult, 2 child) for a "four seasons fun" themed bucket.

I found a super easy but awesome cabled hat pattern, called the Snappy Hat. I used Lamb's Pride Bulky (and doubled worsted) to whip up a clutch of caps in less than a week. Most awesome of all, my good friend Erika and her kids were the ones that won them!

She's awesome and sent me a great picture of them on; blue and yellow for the kids, red and charcoal heather for the adults.

Little pillows, etc.

Haven't really been up to much so far this year,
except buying fabric for imaginary future projects (or
projected projects? ): some left over christmas holiday gifts
which are becoming birthday gifts and a quilt for my sister.

A lot of fabric...see photos

-sigh-

So far, in 2009, I've worked on:

• little pillows for my daughters "comfy" chairs
  (so far this is the only finished thing!!)

• 9-patch brown/pink quilt (for my niece's 10th birthday)

• finally quilting my "sunshine happiness quilt"

• emergency GUYS for kids birthdays - both upcoming and past

• and some lovey/doll quilt size work

I hope to finish something soon and to photograph it and blog about it.
LOL!

I don't seem to be using my creative time very wisely these days... BOO!

Mr. Moustache! - an emergency birthday gift!

Mr. Moustache - as a gift!





LOL!
had worked out fabrics and basic idea
for Mr. M beforehand - about 3 months ago.

Hubris...

I knew that I had a lot of stuff for knitting. You know, needles and hooks, yarn and projects. Well, today I started the long road to stash-a-holic recovery...

I entered all of my needles and hooks into my Ravelry notebook. At least, the ones that aren't part of a set. There are more than 100 of them! (Plus, I've got one Denise from sz 5 to 13 and one Knitpicks set from sz 4 to 11). Woah...

I also entered every single project that is on needles (or cables)...every one I say. Including the ones that I finished in December (so I could feel better about all the hibernated projects that I haven't worked on in months or years). That number is just over 50, but almost half are done. 25 ongoing projects--that's not too awful, is it?

I'm scared to inventory the actual yarn. It's going to be ugly.

My name is Rachel and I'm a fiber-holic.

Inauguration week knitting

So, I had a four-day weekend for the Inauguration and MLK Day weekend. I put the time to good use, though I did ignore all housework.

I know it's not necessarily rational, but I have a new outlook this week. I have visited the whitehouse.gov website several times, I've listened to our President's first weekly address, and I just feel inexplicably better about being a citizen. I'm ready to follow the lead of the Obamas, to step up and take responsiblity for making change. Maybe it's because, as Jay-Z says, "my president is black...but his house is all white."

Anyway...I've been busy:

• Cast on and more than half done with a Baby Surprise sweater for Amanda's son Henry. It's lovely: a blue-green mixed main yarn and grass green accents.
  
• A pair of gloves on the needles, which I'm knitting to test the pattern for a Ravelry friend.

I'm still trying to decide what style of hat to make for Nikki and the twins; a family of hats has been commissioned. I'm going to recycle the green from Nikki's sweater (neither of us liked it) and have found some lovely accent colors (rose, purple, gray) to add. Keep you posted!

Hats for Willem

OMG, baby hats are like knitting crack! I don't think I can stop...

I thought to myself, "I really like Jen, so why don't I make more than one hat?" Three (yes, three) hats later, I am seriously considering whether or not I could squeeze in just one more before I send the package off.

I'd better stop though, or I'll never finish my backlog!

PS: After Jen gets the hats, I'm sure we'll have some pictures (finally) of some of my work. Must. Get. Digital. Camera.

Nicholas the Pig

This beautiful pig was created by Dylan. He drew the picture and asked me to find pink fabric and to make it asap! Too much influence from Noggin and their easy crafts in 60 second spots. I couldn't do it fast enough for him, He is made of some batik pink fabric, vintage buttons and some stuffing.

She shoots, she scores!

Can't post a picture yet (promise I will, really) but I'm so excited about the mittens I was working on. I thought the pattern seemed ginormous, but it turned out I can't add (6+2+3 does not equal 9) and they weren't that long...and then I realized part of the problem was these silly pointy tips. I made a few modifications to the tip (and to the top of the inside portion, which other folks commented were better ribbed). I'm happy to report that I've got JUST enough yarn to finish both.

BTW, Mia has even agreed that flip-top mitten might be cool enough for her. I think I'll be adding a pair to my knitting queue for her. It's only taken a year...

Nope, still no housework...

So, I've got a pair of shortie socks on needles for me now. I feel much better and they'll just lurk in my knitting bag as a back-up project. Phew...

I've been working on flip-top mittens to go with a hat for a holiday gift still unfinished. The pattern seems ginormous, but I'm going to keep going with it. I guess I could line them with fleece or something if they're too floppy...

Oh, btw, Yolanda and Salim loved the sweater and kufi for Jabril. He's a dollbaby; I got to hold and feed him, then cuddle him to sleep. Ahh...babies are good! (especially when you get to leave them at their mother's house)

Off to do some free knitting drop-in hours at the public library. Worst case, I get two hours of knitting with friends...

Socks!

I know, I know...I'm supposed to be focused on finishing stuff that's already on my to-do list. What can I say: I'm knitting ADD and I HAD to start something new. And I've been very good for the last week or so, right?

I've been wanting to make socks again. Correction, I've got a huge collection of sock yarn (pretty) and figure I'd better make something with them. True, there's just something satisfying about turning a heel, seeing a toe form, etc. Most sock patterns are pretty predictable (even if they are lovely), but I've had this book by Cat Bordhi (the queen of interesting knitting experiments) where she shows alternative structures. I've been wanting to play with them for almost a year...and today, I dove in. I've made two different toddler socks while learning new sock structure.

I'm gonna make them into pairs for Sophie and Pescha to wear around the house (or share with bigger friends). And then (probably NOT today), I'm gonna' make a pair for myself!

Using our powers for good

So, I know I've got a lot of knitting on my plate already...but this morning as I browsed my usual blogroll I came across a number of cause-related items that made me want to do more. I've chosen things that I can do in my spare time, with scrap yarn and almost no effort...

• HelpSudan: pencil cases to raise money for (and be used by) children in the Sudan
• KnitOneSaveOne: a Save the Children program collecting hats for low-birthweight babies (which especially hit home because Mia was only 4lbs13oz when she was born and I know how delicate those infants are). I may even sponsor an event in 2009.
  

I just finished working on a 2009 family budget, so I know that I don't have a lot of money. But, compared to 95% of the world? And, I decided that I couldn't NOT sacrifice some of my personal spending for a worthy cause (teach by example, right?).
I've chosen Tricoteuses san Frontieres. Knitters donating to Medecins San Frontieres have raised more than half a million dollars in just a short time. I've been thinking about MSF since last spring when I saw a 60 Minutes show and went to an event raising money to produce "plumpynut," a therapeutic ready-to-use food that's saving lives...a miracle food, really. My $10 a month commitment was made this morning.

Spread the word...crafters are caring people and we CAN make a difference.

Progress is good...

So, I've made progress. The Rogue sleeves are done...

It only took so long because I taught myself how to do something new. The sleeves are set-in and this usually means that the sleeve cap (the part that fits into the shoulder) is shaped using ugly bind-offs. Instead, I used short rows to make a single smooth edge. Yea!

And...I've finished the toddler tunic and started a matching kufi for little Jabril, Yolanda's son.

FO 2009 ... The pressure's on

So, each year I try to set myself a few challenges.

In 2008 I have focused on identifying and purging things I don't need in my life. I wanted to stop working retail in my local yarn store (done). I wanted to weed through my craft supplies and find a way to create a manageable craft space for Mia (I'll be done before the holiday break is over). My car died (sob) and we've managed to carry on anyway. I also moved towards the things that I DO want: teaching classes, working more with young people, teaching myself some new techniques. Mia and I even pulled off a hand-made holiday season!!!

This year of 2009, I'd like to focus on finishing things that I've started. I need to clear the psychic clutter of unfinished projects ... so that I can spend the energy I use feeling guilty to be creative. So, I'm going to publicly make the declaration that the following projects are going to get done and delivered to the intended loved-ones:

• Rogue hoodie - Nikki
• Habitat hat - surprise gift exchange DONE
  
• Des Colores sweater - Mom
• Hey Teach - Nikki ... didn't like the fit; maybe frog and knit a new thing?
  
• Ribbed Lace bolero - Mia
• Woodland Lace bolero - Mia
• Seraphim shawl - Jessica ... or shall I frog and reuse this beautiful red silk-alpaca yarn?
  
• Queen Anne Lace shawl
• Swallowtail shawl

I've also got a bunch of baby gifts in various stages of overdue...some started:

• Toddler Tunic (and kufi)- Yolanda's son DONE
  
• February sweater (and matching cap) - Jacqui's granddaughter DONE
  
• Baby Merry Janes (to go with Daisy hoodie already done) - Gillian's granddaughter
  

And some great excuses to try out new patterns:

• Yyonne's grandson
• Stephen's daughter
• Jenn's son, Willem DONE (a trio of hats)
  
• Amanda's son, Henry
  
• Amy's son
  

To really up the ante, I'm going to try to have the first few things done in January.

Steve the Cat

Steve the Cat
Thanks Nikki for inspiring me to make Steve the Cat!
The kids love him so much i started to make a family. The best part is he made
from old family buttons from grandma, corduroy from an old job and stuffing from an unfinished blanket. Dylan helped to make Steve which is probably why he loves him so much. So thanks for the post you kick started another project. And well you gave me that pattern over a year ago. Wait til you see the new additions. And no, Steve is not a pole dancer!

Because I can't just make ONE!

Welcome LONG ARM! or LA for short :)

Hippy had some liposuction or whatever the stuffed bear version would be...
filloremovous? and the little buddy was created and finished yesterday.
Boy can I procrastinate or WHAT! :)



By making this second one, I fixed some issues, and found some new ones.
I would like the arms to be filled from the chest instead of stuffing and then sewing them on.
I need to work out how a collar is actually constructed. And little details like, different button eyes, and "snaps" and "buttons" for their clothes - maybe rhinestones??
what wouldn't be a choking hazard since these are for my 16M girls?
suggestions?

Inspiration translates to weird knock-off!

I've been walking past this window for weeks now,
kind of in LOVE with these homemade bears.
I finally went in over the weekend and wouldn't you know,
they cost $85!!!!! Can you even stand that??? They're
super cute, but not Eighty-five Dollars cute. LOL!

So, yesterday when we went into my DH's old office,
we happened to be next door to the City Quilter, and
I popped in - in search of a backing for my Sunshine Happiness Quilt
and came out with the makings for Hippo the Hippee Bear!

Combine that with a miraculous 4 hour nap today... and VOILA!
(girlies needed their beauty sleep, i guess!)

My bear is a little HIPPPPPPPPY wouldn't ya say :)
A little bit cute and a whole lot wonky.
I didn't have a pattern, just an idea, it's not so bad!!!

Even so, still a warm welcome into the family :)

Now I have all sorts of plans for the next one
and ways to improve it or really, just do it differently!

Yah!

Finished!

Black and White quilt number two! here's how it ended up...

satin blanket binding and hot pink satin for the back

Today's WIP

a second black and white crib quilt (1-1/2 yr later) for my other daughter...
to go with the first one here.

cut and pieced today during nap time (un-ironed and -trimmed)
pink satin will be the back...i think I'll fill in the long narrow pieces and make it square 40x40"

Classic White'ish

A finished project done mostly in white which I prefer not to work in again. For me it was the ultimate challenge since I am anything but white. This is the only time I have ever cut with right angle precision and sewing. Every square lined up. This was for Stephen Martone.