Knittens

Remix

The process of making Thaya's "big girl room" has finally started.  Furniture has been moved out and disbursed to other areas of the house, including our room.  I like the new look of our room, but unfortunately it won't last.  We will need to make a space for the cradle in the next few months.

There is still a dresser and bed in the spare room, both of which need to be taken out.  We'll switch the dresser with one that is in the dinning room acting as a server.  It is white, as is the rest of the furniture that will be going into the room for her.

I painted some swatches, and now we'll start the process of choosing a color.  I don't think it is going to take too long, we already know which one we like.  We just have to make sure that we still like it at night, on a sunny day (today is cloudy), and with the white furniture.  We're also going to bring in the bedding and rug to make sure!

On another note, remember the lady I told you about last post?  The one with the attitude?  Well, she also likes seaming, so there is clearly something terribly wrong with her.  I mean, sure, I get some satisfaction out of seaming, but I certainly would never be as adamant about my love for it as she was.

Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater

Finally, a WIP to talk about.  I found this pattern on Ravelry when I was trying to figure out what to do with 3 balls of DB baby cashmerino.  When I saw that one person made the sweater and a hat out of just three balls, I knew it was meant to be.

This sweater has been a breeze to knit.  When I first cast on, I didn't realize it was a top down.  I kept thinking to myself, "I know newborns are tiny, but this waist seems really really small!"  I soon realized that the "waist" was actually the "neck", and started thinking that maybe this sweater will actually be rather big!

I'd say I'm about 1/2 way done - I just have to finish up the bottom and add the arms.  Since there is no seaming, I'll just weave in the ends, block this puppy, and add some cute buttons.  Perfect for a September baby!

I did some observations for school yesterday, and while there, one of the teachers came up to me and started talking to me about the sweater.  I told her it was for my baby girl that is expected in early September.  She looked at the sweater, then at me, and with a blank expression with just a twist of attitude she said, "But why brown?"

I think the hormones are getting to me this pregnancy.  I've been captain mood swing, protecting the world from evil with the perfect timing of "the look".  With a sugary sweet smile and a hint of insult I said, "Why not brown?"

Yea! why not brown?!?!

A Wonderful Weekend

We really had a fantastic weekend.  We celebrated Thaya's 1st birthday on Saturday by having some family and friends over for the occasion.  Above you can see a picture of the duck cake that I made for her.  Now I know why people just buy cakes.  Once I got the hang of the icing, it went pretty quick, but it was a bit of a time crunch.

Believe it or not, Thaya doesn't have much of a sweet tooth!  She wasn't really that into eating it, more just squishing her fingers through it.  She also doesn't like to get dirty.  The only reason why she smeared it all over her face is because everyone was egging her on.  She was very happy to be cleaned up.

Thaya got a bunch of really fantastic gifts, and I was really blown away by everyone's generosity!  Among her favorites are soft blocks, books, a duck pull toy, her new sandbox, mini picnic table, easel, and slide.  Of course she also loves the puzzles, the tree swing, duck stuffed animals, and clothes as well.

Ok, she loves everything!

On Sunday (her actual birthday) we had a quiet day at home.  The family started to trickle out, and we basically stayed in our PJs and recovered from all the excitement.  Matt has been working a lot of overtime, so it was nice for us to just have a day to ourselves.

I also had the "big u/s" on Friday!  We're having another girl!  We are so excited, we can't stand it.  We've decided to keep one nursery and when baby girl #2 is ready for it, we'll move Thaya into a "big girl" room.  I already have ideas in mind - but that is for another post!

So, here are some ideas for names.  Let me know what you think!

Aubrie Therese (Brie)
Lily Grace
Maisie Elise
Elodie Grace (Elle or Ellie)

Enjoy the pictures!

Sssam the Sssnake

Boy have we had a busy week or so. Not much crafting going on, but I did manage to finish Sssam the Sssnake for Thaya's birthday. He sure is a cutie.

Birthday preparations are well underway. Thaya's gifts are all wrapped, decorations have been purchased, and the house has been successfully uncluttered. I am about 1/2 of the way done with all the dusting and vacuuming, and all of the laundry is done. I've even taken the time to do a test run on Thaya's cake. Apparently our oven isn't level because some of the batter leaked out making the duck pretty lopsided. I've been assured that once the icing is on, you won't be able to tell. I think I'll just prop the mold with a tinfoil wedge to see if that helps.

I haven't talked much about this pregnancy, and I'm not sure why. I think part of the reason is that it is moving along so fast. I'm already 20 weeks, half way to having a new bundle of joy. In fact, Friday is the "big u/s" and we're going to (hopefully) finding out if it is a she or a he.

Any guesses? I was convinced at first that it was a boy, but now I think girl. DH thinks boy, as does most of his family. My mom thinks girl. Who knows. It would be nice if it is a girl because we certainly have plenty of clothes. Not that I wouldn't enjoy shopping if it is a boy :)

Well, I hope you all have a nice middle to end of the week. I'll post on Friday with the big news, and then probably again at the end of the weekend with birthday pictures.

Happy Spring!

After I finished my patchwork top, I found a little baggie that had a bunch of leftover squares.  I used six of them to make this cutie pie cube.  It is perfect that the colors leftover are all primary!

I used London Mummy's tutorial found here.

I stuffed it with some poly-fil that I have leftover from Sam - you know, the snake.

My hand sewing leaves a lot to be desired, so please don't judge!

I just got this from DH in my inbox.  So sweet.  I hope you enjoy it too, and send it to someone who you "luff".

DH, you are also the Ren to my Stimpy and the olive in my glass :)  Lets go organize our books :D

I finished the dress/shirt today while Thaya was sleeping this afternoon.  Even though I made 4 straps, I wanted to try it on her after the first two were sewn on to see how it would look.  I really like it, so I think I'm going to keep it like this for now.  I'll hang onto those extra straps and maybe use them on another top.

So, I know a few of you were interested in the tutorials I had used to make this top.  I used a bunch of them!  I wasn't thrilled with how many of the tutorials had me do the shirring.  I didn't want to shirr the top as a tube, I wanted to shirr it flat and then seam it.  Also, I wanted to add the cute white hem at the bottom.  Of course the tutorial I found for the shirring, I didn't like the straps, so I had another one for that too! Overall it is so easy though.  All you need to do is get some measurements, and load up some elastic thread on your bobbin!

For the ties: House On Hill Road
For the shirring: Kuky Ideas
For the hem: House On Hill Road

I got the fabric at Walmart because I wasn't happy about spending more money than I had to on my first sewing project.  So, I got a yard of white and a yard of the blue with white polka dots.  I think it came out to about $4.50 for the two yards. 

I measured Thaya's chest and got 18", so I doubled that and added a little bit for the seam.  I cut the fabric at 40" x 10" and I think it really is the perfect size when the shirring shrinks it up.  It is literally going to fit her for 3 years I bet... if the material lasts that long!

So what is next?  Well, I finished the first block of the Aran Afghan, so I'll work some more on that.  I found the perfect sheet to back the quilt as well.  I traced one of Thaya's A-line dresses, and want to make an a-line for her next.  I am also "reclaiming" some of the material from Matt and my old shirts.  I found a cute tutorial on how to turn a button down shirt into a dress, and think I'll do that with them.

Oh, and our test drive with cloth diapers is going great.  I ordered a starter kit, and we've done two days of prefolds and covers.  I think I want to get some BumGenius 3.0 (as recommended by many blog friends!) to go along with them - I think they are going to be more comfortable for little miss.  The only issue is that it takes a bit of pocket money to get going on them.  We can afford them one at a time, but of course it is better to buy a whole bunch in order to get a lower price per unit and save on shipping.  Maybe I should start a "help me get my baby into cloth diapers" fund!

Hope you guys are having a great weekend!  Ours is going well.  I have a lot of homeowrk to do, but the good news is that I've finished one assignment and I'm almost done with an outline for the second.  This whole school thing really eats up my sewing, quilting, digi scrapping, knitting time.

For starters, the mark on her upper lip is from a healing fat lip.  The mark on her lower lip is for the tip of the Hershey Kiss that I gave her... SShshhhh!  Don't tell, we don't want to get in trouble!

First attempt (ok, second attempt really, but the first hardly counts- it was more of a gauge swatch, if you know what I mean) at making clothes for Thaya. I decided on a shirred top. It was supposed to be a shirt, but I guess it will start out as a dress!  That is the cool part about the shirring! 

Now I just have to add the straps and I'm not sure what I want to do.  If I was smart I'd do ties with a little extra length so that  it can grow with her.  Regardless they are going to be white to match the hem.  OOoooh, I have an idea!  How about I do straps that go over either shoulder and tie... and where they meet the shirt/dress I'll put some pretty buttons - like big daisies or something!! Or is that too much?

So, my lines aren't very straight, my material wasn't square, my seams hardly line up, but I'm proud of my first effort.  I am certainly a beginner at sewing, but I think I'm going to keep it up!

So, now I just have to figure out how to get something to measure the same down the entire piece of fabric.  I think my issue is that my cutting mat, and rotary ruler are very small.  I think if I had bigger ones I would have an easier time of it.

Let's see... I guess Mother's Day is coming up... or how about "your the best wife ever and I love you and I know you are pregnant and working so hard at making the house perfect and raising our daughter perfect so here, have a cutting mat" day!

If you'd like to see more pictures of the dress, just click on the picture and it will bring you to flickr.  There are some more pictures there.  When I am done I'll put up an "all done!" shot and be sure to include the gazillion and one tutorials I used to get the job done!

I am very excited, I finished piecing together the top! I think it is pretty good for the first time sewing/quilting with a three year break. The corners don't all match up but so what?!

So from what I gather, I'm supposed to baste together the top, batting, and backing. There is only a small snag in this plan - something happened to the backing. It is somewhere in the house, lost in one of the moves that it went through, or, more than likely, sitting on a shelf in a store unpurchased.

Did I not buy backing thinking that I might not even finish this quilt? Oh well. I'll have to go and buy a backing. Unless there is something in the house I can use. Is it ok to use like, and old sheet or something? It doesn't feel that much thinner than the top...

In knitting news, "snake" is almost done. I bought the fill today, so maybe after class I'll seam that bad boy and stuff 'im. What fun!

Finished Square

After I finished my patchwork top, I found a little baggie that had a bunch of leftover squares.  I used six of them to make this cutie pie cube.  It is perfect that the colors leftover are all primary!

I used London Mummy's tutorial found here.

I stuffed it with some poly-fil that I have leftover from Sam - you know, the snake.

My hand sewing leaves a lot to be desired, so please don't judge!

I think you're the best

I just got this from DH in my inbox.  So sweet.  I hope you enjoy it too, and send it to someone who you "luff".

DH, you are also the Ren to my Stimpy and the olive in my glass :)  Lets go organize our books :D

It is finished!

I finished the dress/shirt today while Thaya was sleeping this afternoon.  Even though I made 4 straps, I wanted to try it on her after the first two were sewn on to see how it would look.  I really like it, so I think I'm going to keep it like this for now.  I'll hang onto those extra straps and maybe use them on another top.

So, I know a few of you were interested in the tutorials I had used to make this top.  I used a bunch of them!  I wasn't thrilled with how many of the tutorials had me do the shirring.  I didn't want to shirr the top as a tube, I wanted to shirr it flat and then seam it.  Also, I wanted to add the cute white hem at the bottom.  Of course the tutorial I found for the shirring, I didn't like the straps, so I had another one for that too! Overall it is so easy though.  All you need to do is get some measurements, and load up some elastic thread on your bobbin!

For the ties: House On Hill Road
For the shirring: Kuky Ideas
For the hem: House On Hill Road

I got the fabric at Walmart because I wasn't happy about spending more money than I had to on my first sewing project.  So, I got a yard of white and a yard of the blue with white polka dots.  I think it came out to about $4.50 for the two yards. 

I measured Thaya's chest and got 18", so I doubled that and added a little bit for the seam.  I cut the fabric at 40" x 10" and I think it really is the perfect size when the shirring shrinks it up.  It is literally going to fit her for 3 years I bet... if the material lasts that long!

So what is next?  Well, I finished the first block of the Aran Afghan, so I'll work some more on that.  I found the perfect sheet to back the quilt as well.  I traced one of Thaya's A-line dresses, and want to make an a-line for her next.  I am also "reclaiming" some of the material from Matt and my old shirts.  I found a cute tutorial on how to turn a button down shirt into a dress, and think I'll do that with them.

Oh, and our test drive with cloth diapers is going great.  I ordered a starter kit, and we've done two days of prefolds and covers.  I think I want to get some BumGenius 3.0 (as recommended by many blog friends!) to go along with them - I think they are going to be more comfortable for little miss.  The only issue is that it takes a bit of pocket money to get going on them.  We can afford them one at a time, but of course it is better to buy a whole bunch in order to get a lower price per unit and save on shipping.  Maybe I should start a "help me get my baby into cloth diapers" fund!

Hope you guys are having a great weekend!  Ours is going well.  I have a lot of homeowrk to do, but the good news is that I've finished one assignment and I'm almost done with an outline for the second.  This whole school thing really eats up my sewing, quilting, digi scrapping, knitting time.

1st Dress

For starters, the mark on her upper lip is from a healing fat lip.  The mark on her lower lip is for the tip of the Hershey Kiss that I gave her... SShshhhh!  Don't tell, we don't want to get in trouble!

First attempt (ok, second attempt really, but the first hardly counts- it was more of a gauge swatch, if you know what I mean) at making clothes for Thaya. I decided on a shirred top. It was supposed to be a shirt, but I guess it will start out as a dress!  That is the cool part about the shirring! 

Now I just have to add the straps and I'm not sure what I want to do.  If I was smart I'd do ties with a little extra length so that  it can grow with her.  Regardless they are going to be white to match the hem.  OOoooh, I have an idea!  How about I do straps that go over either shoulder and tie... and where they meet the shirt/dress I'll put some pretty buttons - like big daisies or something!! Or is that too much?

So, my lines aren't very straight, my material wasn't square, my seams hardly line up, but I'm proud of my first effort.  I am certainly a beginner at sewing, but I think I'm going to keep it up!

So, now I just have to figure out how to get something to measure the same down the entire piece of fabric.  I think my issue is that my cutting mat, and rotary ruler are very small.  I think if I had bigger ones I would have an easier time of it.

Let's see... I guess Mother's Day is coming up... or how about "your the best wife ever and I love you and I know you are pregnant and working so hard at making the house perfect and raising our daughter perfect so here, have a cutting mat" day!

If you'd like to see more pictures of the dress, just click on the picture and it will bring you to flickr.  There are some more pictures there.  When I am done I'll put up an "all done!" shot and be sure to include the gazillion and one tutorials I used to get the job done!

Patchwork Top

I am very excited, I finished piecing together the top! I think it is pretty good for the first time sewing/quilting with a three year break. The corners don't all match up but so what?!

So from what I gather, I'm supposed to baste together the top, batting, and backing. There is only a small snag in this plan - something happened to the backing. It is somewhere in the house, lost in one of the moves that it went through, or, more than likely, sitting on a shelf in a store unpurchased.

Did I not buy backing thinking that I might not even finish this quilt? Oh well. I'll have to go and buy a backing. Unless there is something in the house I can use. Is it ok to use like, and old sheet or something? It doesn't feel that much thinner than the top...

In knitting news, "snake" is almost done. I bought the fill today, so maybe after class I'll seam that bad boy and stuff 'im. What fun!