One thing I absolutely love about my pregnancies is how industrious I become.  I have some project going all the time.  I love the productivity!

Latest Projects

The brown hat is the Brattleboro Hat.  I found the buttons at a local fabric store. They were only 50 cents a piece!  The red hat is the Urban Shells Beanie and it is tiny!  I really liked the pattern though.  Both hats were projects to use up scrap yarn.  

The shawl is Carol's Clever Little Shawl.  It was a very pleasant knit although I don't think it's my style anymore.  It's very warm and cozy though.  

The scarf is the 5th Avenue Infinity Scarf.  That was a very pleasant knit as well.  I enjoyed knitting it very much.  Although by the time I finished it, it was no longer winter since spring decided to come early.  I look forward to using it next winter though.

The shawl and the scarf were knit using Paton's Classic Wool yarn that I got at Michael's. It seems like Michael's is no longer carrying it though which is a bummer.  It was a really nice convenience to just go down the road and get a good quality, natural fiber yarn.  

There's one more hat that I just finished but I haven't photographed yet.  It was another stash-busting project and I should have a picture soon.  I've got my next two projects lined up already.  I ordered yarn from KnitPicks for those.  Meanwhile, I'm trying to use a couple of ounces of wool/acrylic blend yarn I have to make some kind of newborn size sweater.  It won't be for my baby since he/she will be a summer baby but it'll be a nice thing to have on hand for any winter babies that will be born.  

Keeping my fingers busy has been good for me lately.  I like the feeling of productivity so I'm keeping the projects small-ish.  

A Knit Hat for the Hubby

One of my friends gave me a skein of Patons Tweed (Aran) yarn over the holidays which the hubby really liked.  I have some dark blue 100% wool yarn I got at the thrift store for ridiculously cheap (like 5 skeins for $1 or something insane like that).  The two yarns paired together really well.  I started the project using Size 8 16" circular needles and the Karlchen pattern for top-down hats for the crown.  I then went into a 3x3 ribbing for the body of the hat.  For the brim, I dropped needle size to 5s, decreased one stitch in each rib, and did an inch or so in 2x2 ribbing.  The hubby really likes it!  I completed it last night and he wore it today.  

Ravelry Link

I'm currently working on a Ridged Lace Cowl which is a pattern that requires me to focus from time to time but is not overly demanding on my mental faculties which is a good thing.  I think once I finish this, I will start working on another scarf of some sort.  I'm thinking maybe something bulky for a change.  We'll see.

A Knitting Project and Thanksgiving Cooking

This year, Thanksgiving was at my mom's house. It was my first paleo Thanksgiving and as far as that goes, it was really easy.  I basically ate turkey and vegetables (although I did sample some moi-moi which is made from black-eyed peas and a bit of jollof rice). This was my first attempt at paleo-friendly and vegan sweet potato pie.  This was the crust which was made with almond meal, coconut flour, coconut oil, sea salt and some cold water.  I pressed it into my baking dish and it stuck together just fine:

Here was the completed pie:

It was very, very good.  I basically used my old sweet potato pie recipe and switched out the organic can sugar for maple syrup and added some coconut flour to hold it together.  This was pretty experimental so I don't have a recipe to share.  I'm a pretty experienced baker at this point so I kind of just knew what to look for and I'm happy to say it turned out so well.  I wasn't sure if I could actually achieve a paleo-friendly AND vegan sweet potato pie but I did and it was great.  

I also made some collard greens which came out very well too. My trick is caramelized onions, lots of fresh garlic, apple cider vinegar, good quality celtic sea salt and liquid smoke seasoning:

Next year, I have to double the amount I make.  It was that good.  

And my latest knitting project, the Helmet Liner.  It was a great little creative project: 

I knitted it using KnitPicks Swish Worsted.  I love the color and the feel of the yarn.  Just beautiful.  And what made it even better was that mid-project, my HiyaHiya interchangeable needles arrived.  These are probably THE BEST knitting purchase I have ever made.  They are just wonderful and I have no complaints at all.  The join is smooth and secure and they came in the most lovely case.  I still have my Denise Set but honestly, I can't imagine choosing those over the HiyaHiya set for any project.  I still don't want to get rid of the Denise Set because they represent to me the day when I became a serious knitter.  

Projects!

Projects in the Kitchen

 Bone Broth

This is the first thing I used my slow cooker for and it turned out wonderfully.  I ordered soup bones from the farm and followed this recipe from Balanced Bites (one of my favorite websites and podcasts).  I try to drink a bit of bone broth at every meal and I want to get the kids on board too.  It's pretty mild tasting (although it has a strong smell).  Next time, I will add some other veggies and spices just for variety.

 Soaking Nuts and Seeds to make Crispy Nuts 

Starting at lower right and going counterclockwise: walnuts, pepitas (melon seeds), almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, cashews)

 Paleo Pizza

I followed this recipe for the crust (but omitted the seasonings).  I made the sauce myself and the cheese is the cheese we get from our farm (made from raw milk produced by grass-fed cows)

Handiwork Projects

 A hat and scarf set I made for my friend's daughter who just turned one.  It's 100% merino wool.  It was a very simple project.  I had wanted it to be a lot more complex but I just couldn't get it together and figure out how to make it work.  So basically it's a hat that uses double crochet stitch with a shell stitch border at the brim and a silver satin ribbon accent.  The scarf is double crocheted as well with a shell motif down the center and a shell border at each end.  

Hat number two for my friend's daughter.  This project started out as a tool for teaching my crochet class.  By the time the class was over, I had made so much progress, I just decided to keep going.  The flower pattern I used is here and I just embellished it with a pretty button.  

This is the Milanese Hat Topper.  Unfortunately, I don't like how this hat turned out.  It curls too much at the brim and I don't think the yarn did the pattern justice at all.  I ended up giving it away to one of my students.  It was a great knit though: very relaxing.  

So I've been pretty busy!

Some Simple Cooking, Some Simple Crochet

Turkey meatballs (I don't roll them in the topping), spaghetti squash and steamed kale.

To make spaghetti squash (I only make one half at a time if it's a larger squash)

1. Preheat over to 425 degrees.
2. Cut the squash in half and remove seeds
3. Rub the half all over with olive oil.
4. Sprinkle inside with salt and pepper.  
5. Place face down in a baking pan.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until you can easily stick a fork into it.
7. Let cool.  Scrape out flesh.  

I like it simple like that.  Some recipes add cheese and dress it up in all kinds of ways.  I think it's overkill.  Olive oil, salt, pepper.  Simple and delicious.  

To make the kale, I whip out my trust steamer.  I steam it then toss it in either olive oil (if the hubby's eating too) of butter with some sea salt.  Simple and delicious, again. 

This dinner is the kind of dinner my kids really like.  The flavors are all distinct.  

My first attempt at making jerky.  There were tons of recipes available but true to my mantra of "simple and delicious," I went with this one from paleoblocks.  I added just a touch of maple syrup and liquid smoke seasoning (really, just a touch).  I followed the directions and dehydrated for 8 hours in my food dehydrator (which I got from my wonderful sister-in-law years ago).  They came out very, very well.  I think next time, I won't dehydrate quite as long--they are really tough but it's all good.  Since they are some much work to chew, it keeps you from eating the whole bag.   The process for making the jerky was easy and I got a yield of about 4 or 5, almost $6 bags of organic jerky for Trader Joe's.  The meat cost about that (~$20) and I am able to control what goes in it (namely no soy sauce and not a lot of sugar).  

And here is my latest crochet creation: a simple camera case for our new digital camera, an Olympus X-935 (which I love because of it's simplicity).  

FO: Water Bottle Cozy

So admittedly, I haven't been knitting and crocheting much lately.  But I did manage to finish this water bottle cozy for my 40 ounce Kleen Kanteen water bottle:

Specs:
Yarn used: LionBrand Microspun 100% microfiber yarn (about half the skein)--I haven't been able to find a good project for this yarn until now.  I needed something that would be super absorbent and easy to care for and microfiber fit the bill.  I love the royal purple color (it won't show dirt easily).
Hook: F
Stitch: single crochet with a few embellishments.

It took me about 5 days to complete it which is really ridiculous but it got done and I can't wait to put it to good use.

3x3 Twisted Rib Gaiter

I really do no like scarves. A neck gaiter, basically a continuos cylinder of fabric that you slip over your head and onto your neck, works much better for me.  I can pull it up over  my head like a hood or pull it up over my mouth or nose for extra cold protection.

I had this red (itchy) wool yarn hanging around for the longest time.  I have no idea where I got it from or the brand.  I only know it's wool.  It was not a lot of yarn so I had a hard time figuring out what to use it for.  It was, however, just enough to make a nice sized gaiter. I love how this yarn has flecks of orange in it and it leant itself well to the 3x3 rib pattern. A quick and easy knit with great results. I am going to treat it with some hair conditioner to make it softer/less itchy (hopefully it works). I can't wait to wear it.

 

Link to the Pattern

Link to my project on Ravelry

I'm currently knitting one for the hubby with the most beautiful, softest angora yarn that we got from Smiley's a couple of years back.  I don't know when I'll be done with that one but hopefully it'll before before winter is over.  :p

Last Completed Project of 2010

The last project I completed in 2010:

I used a bulky acrylic (?) yarn someone gave me a while back.  I love the color (green is my absolute favorite color--all shades).  I used an "N" hook and this pattern.  It was a quick, easy project worked entirely with triple crochets around posts. I think it came out nicely.  The only problem:  I have no idea where, when or with what I'd actually wear it.  If you think you could rock it, e-mail me and I'll send it to you.

I haven't really been focused on crocheting and knitting, at least not enough to purchase new yarns.  I'm just using up whatever is in my stash.  Maybe later on in the year, I'll get inspired.  I definitely want to try knitting myself a sweater with some luscious yarn and using an amazing pattern (suggestions welcome).  Maybe this is the  year for that.

Foiled Project!

I wanted to get my fingers busy working on a project.  Something simple and easy that wouldn't take too much thought or attention.  It needed to be something that I could make with some of my stash yarn because recently I've spent a lot of money (mainly on cold-weather running gear).  I decided on this hat (Ravelry link).  I have some bulky acrylic yarn someone gave me ages ago.  It's a pretty color (green is my favorite) but it feels like . . . acrylic.  Anyway, I figured I might as well use it up and maybe give it to a charity or something for this holiday season.

I happily cast on and was knitting away on my cheapie bamboo circular needles.  The stitches were hard to move because of the friction created by the cheap yarn and the cheap needles.  So . . . I decided to switch to double points.  At that point I realized the hat was incredibly HUGE.  I don't know what I did wrong!  I cast on the right number of stitches using the right needles . . . there's no gauge listed in the pattern so I guess it serves me right!

The hubby joked that I could use it as a neckwarmer/scarf and I seriously considered it.  The picture just really doesn't show how ginormous this thing is!  Nonetheless,  I would have just continued on knitting but the pattern with it's 1 stitch cabling was just too fussy to keep going long enough to make a neckawarmer.  So I just cut my yarn and decided to start this pattern today--an actual scarf/cowl.  No big deal.

I'm going to make another scarf (which are really good stash-busting projects). I'm going to make this scarf which I saw someone wearing the other day and I thought was cute.

Anyway, here's a blanket I finished crocheting.  I just used stash yarn (Caron Simply Solft) and this pattern.  I love the pattern and I think the results are pretty.  My only complaint is that it doesn't lay completely flat.  But the only time you need a blanket to lay completely flat is for a picture. :p

Quick Little Hat!

I had the wonderful opportunity to go and visit my good (newlywed) sistren in California.  I had a great time on my first visit to California!

This despite the fact that the trip got off to a rough start.  There was a little mix-up and I missed my flight on Friday.  Priceline had sent me repeated emails saying my itinerary had changed and somehow I never looked closely enough at my departure time.  I thought the flight left at 10.  Turns out it took off at 6.  We were in the car at 7:00 AM ready to go when I finally realized it.  We went to the airport and fortunately, I ended up flying standby to Houston where there was a 2 hour layover.  From Houston, I flew standby again to San Francisco.  It felt like it took all day to get to Cali!  And I knew it would be a long travel so I brought ample reading supplies, what I thought was a good knitting project, and some new music.

Well, I finished reading Dreaming Me (review soon to come) and by that time, my eyes were weary.  I started in on the knitting and I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to bring lace knitting on a flight.  Decidedly bad idea.  So then I decided to listen to some music only to realize that I didn't properly sync my IPod!  So there was plenty of The Wiggles on there.  Not exactly what I wanted to be listening too. 

Anyway, I decided to hit up Michael's while in Cali so I could get some yarn (Paton's Classic Merino Wool in this colorway) and a crochet hook for the trip back.  I bought a skein of wool yarn and a G crochet hook, found a great pattern and printed it out.  

Since my trip back was an overnight flight (which, I realize, is preferable to me), I alternated between sleeping and crocheting.  This project was perfect for traveling and now I know what makes a good choice for travel crochet/knitting!

I love the color and I think it will be perfect for brightening up those dreary winter days.  I have a bit of yarn left over and I might combine it with some brown wool to make a short scarf (maybe a bowtie scarf or Bainbridge scarf).  We'll see.  This is the first project I have completed in month and it felt nice to finally get something done.  As an extra treat, I discovered a great show called Lie to Me--perfect to watch while I knit or crochet. 

And here's the blanket I made for the shower . . .

Specs: 

Caron Simply Soft Yarn--I cannot emphasize enough how much I hate, hate, hate working with acrylic.  It is a special kind of hell to work with it when it is hot. And it feels like plastic.  Simply Soft is the only acrylic yarn I can even begin to contemplate working with but I really needed the blanket to be hassle free for the mom.  

I used a Size F hook.

The pattern is Rectangle Granny Square which is one my favorite patterns.  It's very easy and you get into a rhythm with it so it's a relaxing project (if you are not up at 12:00 PM furiously crocheting trying to finish it for the shower that's happening the next day).  A few notes about the pattern: I never break my yarn to start a new round.  I simply slip stitch over till I get to the starting corner of the new round.  I bordered the blanket with two rows of single crochet and one row of crab stitch.  I had grandiose ideas of what I wanted to do with the border but ran out of time.  But I think the simple border worked nicely. 

Here it is on Ravelry. 

I was very pleased with how it turned out.  I'm not sure if the mom I made it for will like it but I put a lot of energy and sweat into it so hopefully that counts for something.  

A Hat for Z1

One key difference between making hats when crocheting versus knitting is the direction.  The vast majority of knitted hats are started from the brim and worked up to the crown.  Most crocheted hats, on the other hand, are worked from the crown down.  I prefer this top down construction for a number of reasons but most especially because you can control the size of the hat a lot more.  Also, if you're not sure if you have enough yarn to complete a project, it doesn't matter as much because you can stop wherever and have a finished hat. 

The vast majority of patterns for knit hats are bottom up.  A while back I found Karlchen, a pattern for a top down hat.  Well, it's not really a pattern but a schematic for making a top down hat.  I decided to give it a try to make a little quick hat for Z1.  I had this lovely red yarn lying around--the hubby lost the yarn label (this is what happens when a guy takes up crochet--he has no idea what's so important about the label) so I haven't a what it is but I have 2 balls of it.  It was wonderful to knit with--really lovely.  I used one ball for this hat.  

I did a very simple stitch alternating between 5-6 rows of stockinette and 5-6 rows of moss stitch (a sticth which I really like).  I had wanted to do some kind of cables but I had a very hard time figuring out how to do it.  I will admit that when it comes to designing in knitting, i.e. creating my own stuff without a pattern, I have a really difficult time.  This was one of those instances where my inability to design was frustrating and so I went with something basic and simple that wouldn't stress me out.  One thing that my knitting needs to be is relaxing. 

But I'm still itching to do some cables. 

And just like I refuse to knit sweater's flat (i.e. in pieces) I refuse to go back to knitting hats from the bottom up.  It just doesn't make sense to do it that way . . . well, at least not to me.  So since there are precious few hat patterns incorporating cables that are knit from the top down, I have to bite the bullet and learn at least rudimentary design in knitting or at least figure out how to convert some bottom-up patterns I like to top-down construction. Shouldn't be too hard, I hope. 

I think I hear Elizabeth Zimmerman calling but I don't want to answer!!

Oh, btw, Z1 loves the hat and is wearing it right now.  :D

Did some sewing

So one of the mamas at the homeschool playgroup I started a few months ago sews and offered to show me a few things.  To say that this mama totally opened up the door for me to begin seriously sewing is an understatement.  I was reminded of something:  the tools of the trade make the trade possible.  Honestly. 

I've sewn before.  I made a mei-tai (ABC) for Z1 and hemmed some things and made pillows and all that but it has always been a laborious, super time consuming task.  Such an undertaking.  Such a struggle.  Why?  I didn't have the right tools! 

So this mama showed me some basic things I needed and I will be well on my way.  I found a kit with everything required on Amazon:  a cutting mat, rotary cutter and acrylic quilting ruler.  This eliminates cutting fabric with scissors and using chalk to get a straight line.  Also, she taught me about a magnetic seam guide which helps you keep your work straight when pushing it through the machine.  I'm sure seasoned sewers are like, "Well, duh!"  But really, it's like the novice crocheter not knowing that the key to crocheting is the tension . . . you can crochet without it but . . . it ain't pretty. 

Anyway, I turned out a pillowcase in two hours!  The kids were wide awake and I had to stop every so often and still!  Unbelievable!!

And would you believe as I'm writing this post . . . the same mama calls and offers me . . . a wheatgrass juicer and everything needed to grow wheatgrass since they are moving back to Ireland in a week or so and can't take it.  No more expensive shots from the health food store! 

Oh, let me be a blessing to someone the way she has been a blessing to me!

The sewing session also brought up some sad feelings for me.  My mother sews and crochets but never taught me--I taught/am teaching myself/learning as an adult (and grateful for my teachers who are coming to me so easily).  It was actually a little disconcerting the feelings that came up because I struggle with not being wanted/being a disappointment.  Maybe I will work up the courage one day to ask why she never taught me these things.

And while I'm on the topic of craftiness, the crochet class I proposed to a local college over a year ago is a go if I can get one more student in the class.  Keep your fingers crossed!  This is as close as I've ever gotten! 

Photo Credit:  "Sewing Kit" by mrjoro on Flickr.com

Two FOs: Old Shale Scarf and Monkey Socks (Finally)

Old Shale Scarf (Ravelry Link)

 

  

  

This was a wonderful knit.  The pattern was so easy that I memorized it in minutes yet the results were beautiful.  I started February 3 and finished February 26 which means it took me less than a month to complete which is an achievement! I used Knit Picks Gloss Sock Yarn, which is a merino wool/silk blend, in the Dolphin colorway.  It took two skeins although I could have stopped whenever I wanted to.  I hope the recipient loves it as much as I loved making it.

Monkey Socks (Ravelry Link)

 

 

 

  

  

  

I'm trying very hard not too be too critical of the job I did on these socks.  After all, this is my first attempt at sock knitting.  Perhaps I should have selected a more straightforward sock to work on as my first but that's neither here nor there.  I do know that from here on out, it's my destiny to knit simple socks.  It was just a nervewracking experience especially since I was using 8" double pointed needles instead of 6" or 4" sock needles.  It was awkward to knit these--the needles were too long and I felt the yarn was too fine for even US 2/2.75mm needles.  Anyway, these socks took me a very long time to complete:  I started February 18, 2009, and finished yesterday--over a year to complete.  But, I'm happy to say, they are finally, FINALLY, done!!  Wahoo!!  These socks are incredibly warm.  I used Regia Silk with is a wool/silk blend.  I purchased 4 skeins but I only used up 3.  The colorway is 181 and I love the mix of colors.  Reminds me of the beach.  Which is great because it's cold as anything these days and I would give anything to be on a beach right now!

So there it is:  not one but two completed projects!  I'm not sure what to knit next but I think I want to do another hat.  I'm also thinking of frogging my Sideways Grand Cloche to use the yarn for something else.  It's just too big on my head and, frankly, I think I look silly in it!

I did realize one important thing while finishing up these two projects:  I am not a stash knitter/crocheter.  I have a whole bunch of odds and ends yarn in my yarn bin that I've collected at thrift stores, yard sales or that folks have just given to me.  Apparently, I'm not creative enough to figure out what to do with it.  It just sits there and collects dust setting off my allergies something awful when I'm looking through it trying to find inspiration for another project or trying to find something that would work for a pattern I like.  I realize that the way I like to go about things is to find the pattern I like and then find a yarn that I can work with (that usually means quality yarn that's still affordable which means I buy from KnitPicks a whole lot).  Of course, there will sometimes be leftovers from projects which I don't mind but I am not the kind of crafter who buys yarn in hopes of finding a project for it.  Nope, the project is what dictates the  yarn.  I hope I remember that!