Another Secret

I know it seems I dropped off the blogging radar.  I did.  The children and I traveled back to the U.S. for a few months (which we are in the middle of), we've been on several road trips, our sweet little 13 year old dog passed away,  then SOMEBODY knocked my computer into the floor and it needs some work.  (I'm actually typing this on my iPod so we're going to stick with short and sweet.). It's been a crazy, adventure filled few weeks.  I am knitting though.  

This is another "secret project".  I'll give you all the details later, I promise.  I'll also fill you in on the last "secret project".  I'm so pleased with how that one turned out that I'm making another one for myself.  

I'm also reading The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick.  I loved the movie and since books are usually better than the movies I figured it was a safe bet.  So far it's great.  

I'm yarning along with Ginny at Small Things again.  (I'm not too sure how to link to her site just using my iPod though so we'll see how that turns out). 

http://www.gsheller.com/

That may be the best I can do for now.

Secret Knitting

Mom...don't read this one.  For real.

My mom AND my MIL have birthdays coming up in April.  I plan to knit for both of them but I've started the one for my mom already.  (I'll show you MIL's when I get it started)  We will just call them my "secret knitting projects" for now.

Don't you just love that yarn?  It's Louisa Harding Yarns 'Amitola' in color 108.  It's delicious. 

Side note:  I love those green leaves.  It's snowing in
Frankfurt today and that green just makes me happy.

I'll share all the details once I get it finished and gifted.

I'm not really reading anything right now.  I've got a massive stack of books to read but nothing is happening with that. 

Joining in with Ginny again and her lovely Small Things.

 

 

Finished Path

I finished my Crooked German Path hat last week and I LOVE it!  What a beautiful pattern that is.  I already cast on another one for my sister.  I'm a little freaked out that the yarn I chose for hers is slightly thicker that what I used the first time.  I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle adjusting the gauge.  Maybe I'll just buy some smaller yarn. 

Sorry for the ipod pictures here, but at least you
can see what it looks like.

 

My fantastic husband's Valentine gift to me was...yarn.  I know, he's such a keeper.  It's a beautiful yarn and I started some simple toast  arm warmers.  Here are my Ravelry notes as I'm using different yarn and needles than called for.

I'm still reading The Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett.  Lately though, I just read half a page before I fall asleep so I'm not making much progress.  It's Wednesday so I'm yarning along with Ginny at Small Things again.  I just love it over there!

 

 

 

Kristin

 

 

Crooked German Paths

A few weeks ago I found a lovely (and very tiny) yarn shop here in Frankfurt.  Wolle-Boutique Elflein is one my husband had actually found before we arrived and he was also excited for me to be able to take a look. The lady there is so kind and speaks excellent English.  I bought a nice ball of Rowan yarn thinking I would make a warmer hat for myself.  I looked on Ravelry for days to find just the right hat pattern.  I decided on Crooked Paths by Melissa LaBarre. 

My new skills for the week are ssk, k1f/b, and charts!  I learned how to read knitting charts!  I am really enjoying the new pattern.  It's the first one I've actually purchased and I'm very pleased with it.  (It's funny how paying for a pattern will push you to learn the skills you need to use it.)  I did have trouble with the charted row 7 and had to frog the whole thing.  Boo!  But, I figure that's just extra practice and it'll look awesome when I finally get it done. 

I'm reading The Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett but not while I knit.  I just can't do that yet.  Yarning along with Ginny at Small Things again this week. 

 

 

Kristin

 



Just kidding...this hat.

Remember how I was knitting the Jacques Cousteau hat for my dear husband?  Well I finally finished it right before his birthday.  (score!)  It took for.ev.er. and I swore I'd never knit that pattern again.  Tiny needles.  Anyway, turns out it was HUGE.  Like, we could have both fit our heads into it, huge.  So....I had him choose another pattern (which I followed the alternate directions for - he likes to have his ears totally covered) and started knitting another hat.  We decided on The Boyfriend Hat and I'm so glad we did!  I knit it while unraveling the first one which just felt wrong, but this one fits SO MUCH BETTER!  I'm so happy I redid it.  I think he's much happier with it too (although he'd never come out and say he didn't like the first one - he's awesome like that.).

I couldn't get picture in natural light.

I tried to take one this morning with Little Man wearing it but
it's just too cloudy here.  He's cute anyway.

So that's what I've been knitting.  I just visited my new yarn shop here in Frankfurt last night and bought something for a warmer hat for myself.  I imagine I'll cast that on tonight and you'll see it next week sometime. 

I'm finally finishing up Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett on my nook.  I'm also working my way through What Your First Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. 

Linking up with Ginny at Small Things today for the Yarn Along.  Can't wait to see what everyone is working on!

Kristin

A Hat for the Hubs

My sweet husband requested a hat.  I happily agreed to knit him one if he chose the pattern.  He settled on the Jacques Cousteau hat and I hit my new favorite yarn store for the perfect yarn.  It's taking for. ev. er.  I think it's the tiny needles.  Apparently I have "knitter's block" with this one.  I'm just going to have to get it done though. 

Also, last weekend I spent two days on youtube trying to decide if I think I'm a "magic loop" kind of gal. (exciting weekend huh?)  I've figured out the double pointed needles pretty well but it does get a little crazy with all those points.  So....any input about magic loop v/s dpn's? 

I'm yarning along with Ginny at Small Things.  My husband has been encouraging me (or driving me crazy about) reading Game of Thrones so that's the book I'm getting ready to start.  We'll see if it's as good as he says it is.  I figure if he can ready Harry Potter for me, I can read Game of Thrones for him.

In case you missed it, you should check out Part 2 of my knitting needle tutorial.  (here's Part 1)  They turned out great if I do say so myself.  Oh and come back Friday to check out the knitting needle roll I made to keep them all in.  Three posts in one week...whaaaaat?

Kristin

A hat or twelve.

We've had some "technical difficulties" here at Sewtastically Made.  My computer sounds like it's grinding coffee.  Yes, that's bad.  Apparently it's a little thing called a hard drive.  And it's crashing.  So that means I've got to figure out a way to quickly get ALL my important information (i.e. pictures, homeschool files, itunes...yes, I know I need a "cloud".)  on to an external hard drive.  I'm scared.  I'm a giant, technologically un-gifted, scaredy cat.  (I'm just going have to put on my BGP's - big girl panties - and do it though.)  Thankfully, my wonderful daddy took the time to fix my "old computer" for me to have as a back up. 

Now for the crafty talk...

I've been knitting like a crazy person.  Or maybe just knitting like a knitter.  I swear I even dream knitting.  In the shower the other day, rinsing my hair, I saw knitted stitches on the backs of my eyelids.  Am I going insane?  Don't answer that.

I've been working on lots of small projects.  Hats mostly.  One for me.



I apologize for all the ipod photos.  It was raining to boot!

One for my oldest.

Lord he's cute.

Even one for a tiny peg person.

I love the unintentional braided look.

I started another one for a sweet, soon to be born, daughter of a dear friend.  (I can't wait to see it on her tiny head!)

Apparently it's the week of the hat.  In the wings I have lined up one for my cousin's brand new baby and even one for my husband.  Hats all around!  (And don't worry about my daughter, she received one of the first ones I made.)  

Oh, and I finally found a sweet little yarn shop with super friendly (and very helpful) staff and "yarn snob" yarn.  I'm excited to try upgraded (but NOT insanely expensive) yarn. 

I also discovered the joys of a knitting, homeschooling mom.  I think that's how I accomplished so much with knitting this week!  It's the perfect thing to sit quietly and work on while my son works on a particular problem.  Along those lines, I've currently been reading homeschool math lessons and not much else. 

Yarning along with Ginny and the gang at Small Things today.

 

 

 

 

 

A String and Two Sticks

So I'm a knitter.  I am.  I crocheted for years but I haven't once since I picked up the needles.  I started back in January and the progress felt pretty slow for a while.  I seem to be getting faster and (maybe) even better now.  I had done some basic dishrag patterns but nothing super complicated.  Well, enter Wee Folk Art and their beautiful Spicer's Scarf.  It's by far the most complicated pattern I've ever done.  Lots of K2, YO, K1, YO, K5 SL1K, K2T, PSSO, etc.  And I CAN READ THAT!  Crazytown.

We went camping this past weekend and I had quite a bit of time for this...

 

and this....

and this...

It was so relaxing.  Maybe I'm still in the "honeymoon phase" with knitting but I'm always amazed at what can come from a string and two sticks.

This will look even better once I block it!

I'm yarning along with Ginny at Small Things today.  I'm reading Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett and I've also started Pompeii by Robert Harris.  Both on my nook.

 

 

Not A Dishrag

I have been a crazy, dishrag knitting fool lately.  I feel like I knit them all the time.  They're so portable and easy to work with.  Plus I can practice new patterns on a small scale and still end up with something useful.  Win win.  Here's my latest.

A friend of mine recommended a new website the other day called New Stitch a Day.  It's a fantastic website filled with easy to follow instructions and videos.  Plus they email you a new technique or stitch everyday.  Somehow, through their site, I found this little knitted bunny nugget.  I had also seen it on Pinterest and I just decided it was time.  Time to knit something "not a dishrag".

I finished it up after the kids went to bed and it was actually not that difficult.  I'm kind of proud of it...even if it looks like a little kid knit it.

Those circular needles with the skinny little ears were by far the hardest part.  But still, not a dishrag. 

I'm linking up with Ginny at Small Things for the Yarn Along.  I'm reading Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.  I'm not too far along yet but enjoying it. 

Oh, I almost forgot! My knitting that pattern is NOT the most exciting thing that happened in the world of knitting today. My 6 yr old son learned to knit with needles. Needles he and I made together no less. He is thrilled.

So am I.