many crafts of may

This May has been filled with a little bit of everything for our family. David had a show to attend, the Janesville Renaissance Faire, and his preparation kept him busy in the weeks leading up to it. The rest of us? Well, we spent a lot of time in the garden, writing on the sidewalks, cutting shapes out of paper and fabric, sewing, knitting, gluing, painting...

My favorite project of the month goes to Esme. She made a very creative and lovely fish windcatcher. She colored two sides of a fish, cut them out and glued them together (back to back), and then glued orange, plastic newspaper bags to the tail. She also cut strings to attach to the fish's mouth and hung everything from a pencil.

And while Esme's fish started things off with a bang, this next project is perhaps a bit less exciting. Last month, a friend of mine birthed her second son, at home, as planned. She is an avid breastfeeder, so as a mama gift for her, I made a few pair of nursing pads with waterproof backing to help prevent leaks. I chose a soft, pretty tie-dye print cotton for the side against her skin, a couple of cotton layers inside for absorbency, and a layer of PUL on the outside to prevent any moisture from leaking onto her clothes.

With so many new babies on the way, I spent a few hours here and there knitting tiny, striped newborn hats to crown the little heads of all the new arrivals. This turned out to be a lovely stash-buster of a project, and is still continuing with a pink and gray hat that is halfway complete. As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised with some of the color combinations on these hats, including one for a happy Gryffindor supporter!

Summer is here, unofficially, perhaps. But with its arrival also comes free time and opportunity for family crafting. We all have a list of things to get done, and my own list is only getting longer. One things is absolutely for certain: getting dirty and clay covered together sure makes for a wonderful way to spend summer vacation!

knitting in progress

It is only the first week of May, and already eight brand new babies have arrived, born to friends and family. Eight! That means a whole lot of baby caps and sweaters. And busy knitting needles.

As of now, I have three wee projects in the works. The first one is the pattern Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker at knit.so.quaint, a simple sweater designed for new parents to easily dress their newborns in the weeks after birth. Done in stripes of green and white cotton, this little sweater will be a fresh layer for cool spring mornings.

I have been hem-hawing around in my stash, looking for some luscious yarn that would make a few  unique newborn hats. Requirements? Something ultra soft, sturdy, rich, and surprising. Modern. And textured. Move aside, rosy pink and powder blue! Make way for something more rowdy. Maybe that is not exactly the right word. But take a look at what I came up with:

Oh, I love the colors! Next? A pattern hunt! I narrowed it down, and decided to go with Jared Flood's Turn a Square. The pattern has been on my to-do list for ages, and with a few simple alterations to the pattern, will make a lovely little newborn hat.

Using a nice grey in Bamboo Ewe, I cast on 56 stitches to size 7 US needles. Here are my notes:

Knit 2x2 rib for six rows.
Continue in stockinette stitch, knitting until hat measures 4" from cast on edge.
Place stitch markers every 14 stitches.
Work decrease rows and continue pattern as written.

The first hat turned out perfectly. With the next one, I might consider knitting 3 3/4" before beginning the decreases, just to make a slightly smaller, more fitted hat.

Only two more wee gifts to go. For now!

french press

Slippers are a must-have. They make wonderful gifts for friends and family, for birthdays, for new mamas, for no reason at all. One thing is for certain, though: every mama needs a favorite pair of slippers to keep her toes warm and comfortable on chilly days and dark nights.

My favorite slipper pattern is Melynda Bernardi's French Press, a felted wool design which knits up in no time at all and is then felted in the washing machine in less than 15 minutes. Pairing this pattern with my favorite felting wool, Cascade 220 in 9421, these are the second pair of French Press slippers that I have knit. This time, I followed the pattern for a size 9/10, and, after felting, they came out to be around 8.5. The pattern leaves quite a bit to personal interpretation and inspiration, which is why I love it so much.

I really like the look of French Press knit up in natural, earthy tones paired with metallic buttons, but this pattern has such wonderful potential with vibrant colors! The very first pair of French Press I made was done in a darker blue with neon green buttons. This time, though, I wanted to make something very springy and light, which is why I chose this clear sky Hawaiian blue.

The most difficult part of making these slippers was picking out the buttons. Bubblegum pink popped against the blue wool, and purple was a wow, too. But I fell in love with the contrast of the yellow against the vibrant blue. It is so simple and so lovely, and reminded me of the bright sun shining in a clear blue sky.

This pair of French Press slippers is destined for a friend. And I have already started knitting my third pair of French Press, to hopefully be finished very soon.

oh, spring!

The garden is in bloom. Everything is green and thriving. The sun is shining and the wind is blowing. Birds are busy building their little nests. Neighborhood children are playing hop-scotch and the sidewalks are littered with chalk. A herd of bikes graze the front yard of one house, soon to migrate to another yard. Projects are making progress as the days grow longer still. Spring is here, and it is beautiful.

My birthday has come and gone with perfectly soundless fanfare. Friends and family surprised me quietly with little gifts hidden here and there for me to find. Love and laughter filled my heart as I held those dear to me, and they whispered, "Happy birthday to you, Shana!"

spring knitting

Today, I bring you a recently knit project. I wanted to make something sassy for my five year old to wear with her trademark leggings and spunky shoes. Using the pattern Girl's cap sleeved spring shirt by Shellee Floyd at Soulfulhues, I chose Loops & Threads Cotton Club in Wild Rose for a lighter-weight sweater as we head into warmer days. 

It seems I always have to make a few variations from the pattern as it is written. With this sweater, I lengthened the body slightly to be more of a tunic and only used one size needles throughout. Also, instead of doing a rolled hem along the bottom edge, I opted for a cleaner look with a band of ribbing.

My notes:

CO 92 sts. Follow pattern for medium sweater.
Begin changes: Sixth row (or so) after underarm joining, increase three additional stitches under each arm (104 sts). Do not switch needle sizes.
After piece measures about 16 inches, begin bottom hem with following:
Row 1: K2 P2 until end of round.
Row 2: Knit.
Repeat these two rows for about two inches, then bind off.

I loved how this sweater turned out. It's simple and comfortable and darling. Esme loves wearing it, and it's the perfect weight for long spring days. And perfect for a sassy little girl!

potter in polymer

My oldest daughter, Evelyn, is currently reading the Harry Potter series. "It's really good. And really funny!" was her response when I asked her what she thinks so far. Evelyn is quickly making her way through the series, one book at a time, and then watching the film (with me!) after she finishes the book. Even though she has already seen the movies before, she is still enjoying the comparison, but, like the rest of us, maintains that the books are much better than the movies!

Evelyn inspired me to work on some new Harry Potter art. I have been dabbling in polymer clay lately, and thought about how cool it would be to make some little figurines. So I had a go and my attempt did not turn out too bad at all.

Starting out by making a flamboyant little Dumbledore, it struck me how much of a perfect contrast he would be paired with a tiny, red-eyed Voldie (who is as cute as Voldie can ever be). Love! 

 

The only time these two characters met face-to-face in real time is at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, for the best battle of the entire series. Now they will be ever side-by-side as complete opposites. I cannot wait to make the entire cast of Potter characters. Next up? I'm not yet sure. Perhaps a scruffy Hagrid or a greasy Snape or maybe even a rough Mad-Eye?

Turkey Awareness Dye

It's that time again--holiday craft season has begun! I started my annual elving about a month ago, but I have only finished one project so far. It only took a day plus a few hours to finish, most of which was drying time, which took up Thanksgiving Day. Most people cook a turkey, but me? I cook yarn.

Using nine envelopes of Kool-Aid powder and 200 yards of wool, I made a very colorful skein of hand-dyed yarn for a friend's Christmas gift. My inspiration for this yarn came from the following image, which is a photograph taken during the Leonids:

 I took the better part of a skein of natural colored Cascade 220 and soaked it in a vinegar-water solution then laid it out in a casserole dish. I separately prepared the three blends of Kool-Aid in three individual jars.

In order to get the colors of the dye to replicate those I observed in the meteor shower, I experimented with flavor combinations. I used three packets for each third of the yarn dyed to get good color saturation. For the green, I used Lemon-Lime exclusively, and for the darker blue, I used Berry Blue. For the blue-green in the center, I combined two envelopes of berry blue and one envelope of lemon-lime.

Once the dyes were mixed in their jars, I poured them individually over the yarn, the green on the top third, the blue-green over the middle third, and the blue over the bottom third of the casserole dish.

 I put the casserole dish, yarn and all, in the oven and baked it for over an hour at 250 degrees. When I rinsed the yarn, some color bled out still, which makes me think it could have baked longer, though there is still a natural color definition between much of the color changes. Finally, I hung it to dry, and made a lovely skein.

yoda, baby!

Star Wars. Well it has a following, right? Maybe just a little one. My dear husband loves Star Wars. Everything about it. He saw Return of the Jedi for the first time in the cinema when he was a boy. 

He does not know it yet, but for his birthday this year, I made him this fabulous knit Yoda hat.

I took Sunshyne Leland's pattern, Felted Baby Yoda Hat, and edited it in order to fit an adult head. Next year, I hope to sew David a Jedi robe so that he can go all out as Yoda for various costuming events. David also has this idea of making lightsaber whips, which are weapons that Sith warriors use during the Clone Wars and in some of the Star Wars novels. If he made one in green (Yoda's lightsaber is green), it would give the perfect touch.

Here is what I did to make the pattern fit an adult (see full notes on my Ravelry project page):

With US 11, CO 90. Begin decreases after 11 inches.
Ears: With US 13, CO 23 with two strands held together. Follow St st for 3.5 in inches/12 rows
  decrease row
  cont 3 rows
  decrease row
  cont 3 rows
  decrease row
  cont 3 rows
  k2tog
Decrease every other row until 13 sts left.
Follow pattern from here until end.
Flaps: Pick up 24 and continue in St st, decreasing every 4th row.

fresh off the needles

 I finally finished knitting another scarf, just in time for another round of cold weather! I used Rowan Cocoon on US 10 1/2 needles, and followed Whitney Van Nes's Mistake Stitch as a basis for this project, though I made some simple alterations to the pattern to make a long, skinny, striped scarf. Here are my notes:

Using main color, CO 23.
Follow mistake rib for four rows.
Alternate colors every other row, following mistake rib. End with four rows of main color.
Bind off.

My scarf ended up being about six feet long and four inches wide after light blocking and lengthening. The pattern looks relatively complex when it was very simple. The yarn, a merino-mohair blend, is quite possibly one of the softest and squishiest I have ever had the pleasure of working with. It sheds an unbelievable amount, though. I should have just enough yarn left over to make a matching Calorimetry.

malabrigo swap winter 2011 - spoilage for my victim

This latest round of the Malabrigo swap has a great theme: The Simple Life.
Things are simplified, as we are only permitted to send a total of FOUR items to our partner. 

• 2-3 skeins of Malabrigo (they can be sent as is or knitted/crocheted into something for your partner)
• Something edible or drinkable
• Something to read or listen to (book/pattern(s)/CD/audiobook)
• Something your partner can’t live without (something THEY say they can’t live without

It was rough. And I cheated a little with the edible/drinkable, sending a few little things as one. Included in my package to my partner were two skeins of Malabrigo Silky in Ravelry Red; chocolate, tea, and a gorgeous mug [something edible/drinkable], The Hunger Games on audio CD [something to listen to], and Burt's Bees Lip Balm [something she cannot live without]. I would have loved to receive this package, and it was a real challenge to come up with only four things.

luxurious lavender bath

To be honest, there isn't much I enjoy much than a hot bath scented with lavender. On a rough day, I can count on a bath to have a calming, rejuvenating effect on my body and my mood.

For a swap that I participated in last year, one of my partners gave be a bunch of fizzy bath bombs in various aromas. My daughters loved them and went through them so quickly that I did not get a chance to try them. I figured that, since almost anything can be made from home, there was likely a recipe for bath fizz out there, somewhere. With the help of my good friend, Google, I discovered a good half a dozen. They all used similar ingredients and the steps were nearly identical. I sort of did a pick-and-choose maneuver to come up with my very own recipe.

Fizzy Bath Bomb

Ingredients
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 1/2 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1/2 teaspoon or so essential oil (2.46 ml)
Food coloring


Additional supplies
Large bowl
Spray bottle filled with water
Silicone ice cube tray or other mold
Jars or bags for storage

Directions
1 In large bowl, stir together baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salt, and cornstarch.
2 (Optional) Add several drops off food coloring to spray bottle filled with water, tighten nozzle, and shake to mix.
3 Spritz mixture lightly with spraybottle until mixture can be packed with your hands.
4 Mix grapeseed oil and essential oils together and add to baking soda mixture. Continue mixing/packing until aroma spreads evenly throughout. If mixture begins to dry out, spritz lightly as necessary.
5 Press mixture firmly into molds and let air dry overnight. Gently pop out of molds and store until use.

I made these on Saturday and used one today. It fizzed and was heavenly! When I made them, I added several drops of blue and red food coloring to get a nice, soft purple color. I am very pleased with how they turned out, and I might make them for favors for my future sister-in-law's bridal shower this coming fall.

another baby gift

One of my beloved friends from college just had her baby yesterday (congratulations, Beth!). Last month, her sister threw her a baby shower. I unfortunately could not make it to the shower, but I made it in spirit. I knit up a little something for her baby girl and sent it to get there in time for the party. She loved it! Take a look!

I searched through my library and found a pattern for Small Things Bonnet by Carina Spencer and decided that the pixie hood would be perfect for a little girl. I raided my stash for some soft yarn and came up with a skein of Vermont Organic Fiber Company's O-Wool Balance, a lovely cotton blend. The pattern worked up quickly without a hitch, but I did braided ties instead because I was afraid I would not finish in time otherwise. The hat is the second largest size, so it should fit next winter and hopefully beyond!

For the wrapping, I purchased a cutesy wet bag from BABYbydanish on Etsy.

I wrapped the hat in pink tissue paper and set it right inside the wet bag, which doubled its purpose, making it a green alternative to gift wrap! Plus, there's no denying, it's extra cute. I also included two natural infant prefold diapers, which can be used as diapers if they choose to cloth diaper, which they have been contemplating, or as absorbent burp cloths.

I love the yarn, and I have a couple more skeins in a more natural color. Cotton blends tend to have a nice, clean sheen when knit up. It is a major bummer that the yarn has been discontinued. If I come across any in the future, I have to remember to pick it up for future baby projects.

creations

I knit this scarf for my Oma for Christmas. The pattern is Drop Stitch Scarf by Christine Vogel, and can be purchased from Frazzled Knits. I used an wool-acrylic blend and cast on almost twice as many stitches in order to make the scarf wider.

This round cloth was knit for a swap using cotton and is from 1870 Pearl's Pinwheel pattern.

For the same swap, I also knit another cloth, also with cotton, using one of my favorite patterns, Chinese Waves from Maggie's Rags.

This little scrubbie, also knit for the swap, is another of 1870's pattern's--Tribbles. It was easy and fun, really only took an hour or so to finish.

I made this pair of shoes for my cousin's newborn little girl. They are lined with extra soft fleece to keep her toes warm this fall.

This bag has taken me forever to finish. It has been knit up for ages, I just never quite got around to the felting. Over four years later, it is finally done--and may be my longest knitting project! I’m really pleased with how the colors turned out. The pattern is Fulled Lopi Tote from Adrian Bizila.

I knit this pair of Sartjee's Bootees for a friend’s gender neutral layette. I used scrap wool-blend yarn for this excellent, fast-knit project! Finished one bootie in June in just one brief sitting, but didn’t get around to the second bootie until September.

I sewed up this little drawstring project bag for a swap this past spring. I loved the alternating patterns of the fabric. It is the perfect size for a small project, like socks or a hat.