Hot-headed

I started to make a hat shortly after we moved in to the apartment here on Liberty. For those of you keeping track, that would make it March. I finally finished that hat the other day. It looks very nice with the cable and lace scarf.

I'm not really a hat person.


It's the same pattern as the hat that Ryan stole shortly after we met. It's actually the same kind of yarn. According to him, it looks tighter than his. I think it might be because I have more hair.

Block for Me

My birthday present finally arrived in August. It is a bunch of squares that connect in numerous ways to block your knitting. There are 9 blocks that you can lay out however you want...3 by 3, 9 by 1, or anything in between. They have a napped side to help hold your knitted fabric in place and the other side is waterproof. They are smooshy so you can stick pins in them. They're heat resistant so you can steam block right on them. They're pretty much brilliant. They come in their own bag with a press cloth.

They work very nicely one at a time for little baby stuff. Here's the sleeves to the brown sweater (finally) blocked. Next...the two pieces for the front of the cardigan.


Now, I just need more pins so that I can block more pieces at the same time. I swear I had more, but of course I can't find them anywhere!

Mad Dash

This is the Churn Dash quilt that I started a little over three years ago. I don't know why I didn't finish it. This picture is the halfway point of the top of the quilt. I didn't have far to go. I had to put one more row together and sew these three.


I even have the parts to two more rows of blocks. There are enough strips here to make all but one of the blocks for the fourth and fifth rows. Already cut, pieced, and sewn into strips. Jeez!


I even had sashing ready to go between the rows. I'm really not sure what was holding me back.


I think it's because I like to make things rather than have the finished thing. Once I finish it, it becomes boring. You can't do much with a finished quilt.

Sock it to Me

Another thing I started months ago...really, before the wedding. I have two-thirds of a sock done.

I finally understand the physics of socks. It makes sense now. No problem. Turning the heel was pretty cool. Makes you feel smart.



I mostly like the nifty little thing that keeps my needles from getting broken. That's really smart. Especially at $25 a set...that are the size of toothpicks.


I'm going to finish this sock soon. Then, I'll make the second one. Brilliant!

Update: Daddy Pants

So, I never got back to the pants a couple weeks ago. I did yesterday, though. I got everything done except for the snaps. They kinda look like pants.


I decided to quit while I was ahead and figure out the best way to do the snaps. I decided to work on some other things...like the quilt I started 3 years ago.


At this point the look a little like they did before I cut them apart...totally blown out in a very inappropriate place.

UFOs

I am finally finishing things!

The Fair Isle sweater and the blanket are at school and are being worked on from time to time.

I cleaned out eh craft room and found all of the UFOs (un-finished objects) and have started working on them...it's impressive how fast things go when they're halfway done already.

Olliver

So, the bear finally has a face...and a name. He is Olliver...Ollie for short.

His nose is a little funny, but I've been told that it's ok. It's been established that it is highly unlikely that baby is ever going to say, "No, mommy, I don't want your stupid bear." So, I just need to get over my perfectionist streak and move on with my day.

Daddy Pants

Ryan has a pair of jeans that he really likes. I let him wear them for a while when they started to blow out, but there comes a point where there's no turning back.

This is that point.



He was really upset, since they're his favorite pants. He asked if I could fix them. Well, no. There's no pretty (by which I mean you can wear them in public) way to fix a hole like that.

Could I make something else out of them?

Why, yes. I could.


I decided to make some baby pants. The good, old-fashioned kind that snap in the crotch...the way God intended.

I had to play around with the pattern, but I got that worked out and proceeded to cut into the flesh, I mean fabric, of his favorite pair of jeans.


This morning, I got everything cut out and started to sew. I forgot about the part where babies suck out your brains and screwed up a couple of minor things before I decided it was a good time to do something else (around the time I sewed the front together wrong sides out). I'll get back to it maybe this afternoon.


The pattern also has a little button down shirt. Maybe I can get Ryan to retire that blue shirt that barely has a neckband left...

Unstuck

I got needles to make Baby Bobbi Bear. He's actually become Paddington (with his black ears). Yes, I realize that he needs a face. I'm working on it.


I also took the opportunity to buy the needle I need while I was ordering yarn for some of my kids. So, the Fair Isle sweater might get back on track.

And...I took the blanket to school. So, on the rare occasion of some down time (study hall), I can work on that.

Yippee!