On the tree

This Christmas has snuck up on me, though I suspect I say that every year. This year, it's really true. I haven't finished my shopping yet, even when I thought I had; even when I would normally be finished (except for the last minute "making") by now. And I definitely would have done more "projects" with the kids than I have so far.

Fortunately, some inspiration came from Sew Mama Sew blog in the form of the kids sewing some felt tree ornaments.

Ellie's creative juices are limited at the moment, but I foresee progress. First, though, she needs to not drop the sewing needle on the floor a thousand times.

I drew a tree in chalk on Noah's and had him outline it. It looks great, but it did involve sitting with him, holding the piece of felt and telling him where exactly to put the needle each time. It was totally worth it.

Anna went for a button theme. I love all the different styles she choose.

Abi wanted to do something with ribbon, so she hand-stitched the ribbons criss-crossed and the button in the center. I like the way she was so independent in her design and execution.

All that was left for me to do was stuff them and add a loop before sewing them up. I even managed to hang them on the tree the evening they were made - uncommonly quick finishing, for me - for the kids to find the next morning. And the best part was seeing how excited they were at being add a little something of their own creating to the Christmas tree. Me not feeling like a totally craft-negligent mother was (a close) second.

Halfdome

This hat took a little Noro Kureyon for the brim and exactly one skein of Noro Cash Iroha. Unusually, it's knit flat and seamed, rather than knit in the round.

Toby wears it all the time. I think that means he likes it. Thank goodness, too - it took ages to choose a pattern he liked.

Apparently, this hat is much preferred by bald men; I'm told this is because the hat doesn't cover the ears. I don't know what that has to do with anything, but what do I know? I'm not bald.

Little Jacques

This has been finished and worn for about a week now, but I've only just uploaded the photos. What can I say - time seems to run away from me...

So, this is the Jacques Cousteau hat. Notes and pattern links here. He loves it. He claims that orange is his favorite color (for now), and it looks really cool on him. Plenty of growing room (essential for a big melon), he should be able to wear this for the next couple winters. I hope.

Gratifiying

It has been so nice to spend some more time in my sewing room. This week, the girls have been the recipients of new dressing gowns (bath robes).

Everyone is outgrowing their stuff (still trying to figure out how to make them stop growing), so the little ones have hand-me-downs, but I wasn't in the mood to spend loads on new things for the girls. So, I took the dressing gown that Anna's outgrowing, cut larger pattern pieces based on that one, and viola! Warm, fleecy girls. I had the red for Abigail already (I think it was a remnant piece from JoAnn's) and bought the fleece for Anna in one of their recent sales (I don't remember how much it was, but I bought two yards and didn't use it all).

It was terribly easy to put together, especially since I serged the edges, rather than hemmed them. (For the unsure, a serger or overlocker is that scary-looking machine that sews with up to 4 spools of thread and creates that chain-type stitching you find in your t-shirt.) You could easily leave the edges unfinished, since the fleece is unlikely to fray, or you could use a wide zig zag stitch on your machine, or even blanket stitch by hand. Me? I'm all about speed.

I can definitely foresee making these more in the future. Sorry, Land's End and Mini-Boden, I don't think I'll be needing your dressing gowns anymore!

Gooseberry Swirl

Eleanor's hat was so easy and fun to knit. With more of that lovely Louisa Harding yarn, it was a pleasure to make. Of course, with just knit and purl and some decreases thrown in, it was perfect "looks involved but was pleasantly mindless"-type knitting. The only thing is that even though Ellie likes it and has worn it, I never got a picture with her in it. So Dan kindly filled in...

Abigail's hat was different - the swirl pattern was fun and funky (much like the girl herself), and fortunately, very forgiving (also like her). I made a ton of mistakes, but once it's on, not at all noticeable. Thank goodness! Yarn is Lorna's Laces, "Valentine". So pretty!

Anna's Beehive

Basically, I'm on a hat-making mission.

Everyone needs a new hat.

Dan's is done. Ellie's is also done, but photos

need to be downloaded.

So here is Anna's. Also known as the Noro, it's gorgeous. I made some modifications, but it was so fun to make, and the yarn is lovely - wonderfully soft, but really sturdy. Just right for kid heads.

Ellie's coming soon, Abigail's currently on the needles...

Costume day

We celebrate Reformation Day...by dressing up in Halloween costumes...

It's just so hard to get a good photo

of "wild animals"...

Musical Prodigy

Vacation knitting

We went on vacation to the wilds of West Virginia last month. I had taken great pains to plan the knitting projects I wanted to bring, but despite the best laid plans, the yarn I'd ordered didn't arrive in time. So, the day before departure found me at my favorite local store, where Maggie kindly hooked me up.

The small, portable car-project were a pair of Dashing fingerless mittens, also known as my first ever cabled project. I love them so much! It only took one skein of Rowan Felted Tweed, so it wasn't very expensive, either.

The second project was a faith-based project for me. That is to say, I had to continue in faith that it was all going to come right in the end. The Baby Surprise Jacket was my first true foray into Elizabeth Zimmerman knitting (very clever lady that combines math with knitting and makes it interesting, unlike 11th grade algebra). No line by line instructions, it was new to me, but fun. The best part is how it goes from a blob like this...

to a cardigan like this...

Hint - it's all in the increases and folding!

So, now Ellie has a sweater of her own that Mommy made. Of course, she's also inherited Abigail's Libby, since Abi accidentally threw it in the dryer! I was horrified for about 10 seconds, then thought, "Oh well, I guess I'll have to knit another one!" So, that's all right, then.

Baby Gnome

Because a kid this cute needs a hat to match

Pattern here.