2's Daisy Cardi

I finished this in March...and I couldn't get 2 to sit still for pictures. Last week, I decided to take action shots at the park. Really, I had to get some pictures before the sweater met it's fate. I love this sweater, 2 loves this sweater, but it almost had a run in with a safety pin someone placed on the sweater...for her name tag in her little class. I almost had a heart-attack! I refused to remove said name tag at the class and took it home for surgical removal with wire cutters and needle nose pliers. Seriously, who would put a safety pin on a sweater?! Aren't name tags supposed to go on the t-shirt in case the child gets warm and removes the sweater? I'll be soooo careful from now on.

Anyway, the pattern is Marie Grace's Daisy Cardigan. She just added more sizes! I knit the sweater in the size 4 with sleeves the length of a size 2, and the bodice length @ 16” (or size 6). In knitting this, I realized that little one’s height is all in the torso. If I hadn’t lengthened the bodice (from the 4 to the 6), then the cardi wouldn’t be longer than her shirts. And I debated taking the sleeves out to re-knit them (adding stitches like the size 6), but decided against that. They’re not really swingy like the bottom of the sweater (chunky little arms), but I’m realizing that little one doesn’t like long sleeves. She keeps pushing them up…which cause them to roll again. I may never see that pretty little picot edging at her wrists. I learned a lot about knitting to your own measurements. And Marie Grace was super helpful since this was my first fitted item and I had questions. I didn’t use a contrasting color or add the daisies. My yarn is cascade cherub kaleidoscope…something or other…acrylic blend. I needed machine washable!

Memorial Day Yarn!

(And I'm posting now, because it took me over a week to get my post together. Maybe I'll get the hang of this someday.)



For Memorial Day…my dad took me on a shopping spree at my LYS. He believes in stash enhancement! This is what we picked out…

Muench Big Baby Yarn in Spring Mix. This is the SOFTEST yarn…and its machine wash cold. Perfect for 2! I love the bubble gum pink, sunny yellow, clear aqua, and leafy green. There were only 4 balls left, so I couldn’t get the cardigan pattern. 4 should be enough for the V-neck pullover, but if it’s not, I’ll make it into a vest. That shouldn’t be too hard?! Just leave off the sleeves? It’s a bulky yarn…it should hide mistakes if I decide to wing it.

Cascade Cherub Kaleidoscope in Rainbow (color 1321) Aran weight… 4 skeins. It’s like 2’s daisy cardi, but mostly white with the same red, yellow, blue, and green mixed in. With almost 1,000 yards, I should be able to find a pattern.

I got 7 balls of Universal Classic Worsted LP in Indigo to make a ¾ sleeve sweater for me. The LP here is long print…so it should be pretty stripes of blue. The pattern I bought is Knitting Pure & Simple, split neck t-shirt for women. I think I only need 5 balls for the sweater…but this blue is a color I love, so I bought the rest.

I got 3 balls of Universal Classic Worsted LP in Rainbow for 2. And I got the Knitting Pure & Simple children's neckdown sweater.

Rowan Cashsoft Aran in Foxglove (a so subtle lavender) to make a few pairs of Fetching for Christmas gifts. My LYS doesn’t carry Debbie Bliss anymore…not because of the yarn…because the vendor was never available. This should be a good sub for the yarn called for, but I'm not sure if I'll get 2 pair or 3.

A grab bag of Felis in Pink & Purple. There were 10 balls for $35. That yarn is destined to be small felted purses for little girls birthday parties. I’ve already knit up one purse. From the Ladybug pattern in Pursenalities…my favorite little girl purse. I just need to finish the handles and I’ll felt one.

And 5 hanks of Cascade 220 in Sea (4005) for my mom. I’m going to attempt to duplicate her favorite bag for her. Back when I was in college, I worked at the GAP. I bought myself this brown bag that has a perfect square shape, and perfect handles. Now, if only it had been real leather. But alas, this was the GAP in 1997. Not the place for quality leather bags. In spite of it’s beginnings, this has become my mom’s favorite bag. She used to borrow it so much I gave it to her years ago. Now this bag has seen better days…and after a decade of preferred status…I’ll try to replicate, but the old faithful may never be put out of service. The only thing my mom would have ever changed about the brown bag…was its color. She loves NAVY BLUE.

And a pair of leather straps for my Sunset Bag.

WOW! And my dad said if I finish with this…we’ll go back Labor Day. I’ve got to get knitting!

ETA

I don't want to make a new post repeating the Birthday Yarn, so I'm ETA that post. Go see it if you want the yarn photos. KM

Exchange - Final Question

• Go visit some blogs for people who are participating in this swap.
• Find THREE people that you have something in common with - BESIDES the fact that you knit ;)
• Make a post linking to those 3 blogs, and tell what it is you have in common with the person on that blog!

1. Kristine B.
   http://krisboksman.blogspot.com/2007/05/auction-fun.html
   We both have Mary Jane Crocs
   Also, my initials used to be K.B. (maiden name) now I’m K.M.
2. Kris W.
   http://knottyknitterkris.blogspot.com/
   Another homeschooling mom.
3. Jessica O.
   http://snowmoon3.livejournal.com/
   Lived in China. I spent 2 summers studying at TianJin University. Back in the day, I could speak enough Chinese to tell the taxi driver where I wanted to go, bargain hunt and haggle for prices, order food…even from the vendors (where there’s no menu…and these folks definitely don’t speak English).

This was the most fun question. I searched all the blogs for the first contest, and I thought about all the things I had in common with other ladies on the exchange, but I never would have posted about it. And I hadn't seen that Jessica O. lived in China until today. Of course I could have listed more than 3, but these said fun things about me too. It's not as interesting that I'm trying to lose weight...or become a Fitter Knitter (although I haven't joined that group). KM

Exchange - Question 3

Where's your favorite place to knit or crochet? Describe (or show!) us where you sit and how you most enjoy your craft!

Well, I'd like to really show you, but this is the best I can do for now. It's Wednesday now...and I have to post. I'm still working on getting the "Birthday Yarn" pictures I took out of my camera and on to the computer. I knit in my super cozy chair. Sorry the picture doesn't show the whole chair. This photo was already in my computer. I made this blanket for 5's birthday...and it totally matched the chair. I took this pic way back in 2006. Usually, I knit while M watches ESPN. It's a good thing for our marriage. I definitely couldn't sit still for ESPN without my knitting...and even though we're doing our own things, we're together. We bought these chairs about a year ago. They're fantastic. We like to read to our kids and purposely bought chairs that could fit one adult tush and one little kid tush for sitting and reading. Our house isn't big enough for the chair and half we liked...but now I like these over sized chairs even better. For me, it's all about being able to sit indian-style while I knit. My other favorite place to knit is Starbucks. I go there with a friend and we sit outside by the fountain. Can't go wrong with knitting and coffee!

Blanket stats...if anyone is interested. Homespun in Fiesta. Knit diagonal, like a giant warshcloth. I used 6 skeins and it took me about 4 weeks. Finished October 2006.

Birthday Yarn

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday! I have an awesome husband who took all 3 of our little ones yarn shopping for mommy! The picked out 4 balls of Trendsetter Tonalita 2374. And they stacked them in a yarntainer. The yarn is gorgeous. And the container is great. Before these containers, I would find yarn strung all through the house. I did a quick look to find a pattern, and I think I'll make More stripes. Even though he asked, one ball is a different dye lot. That's ok though...I can exchange it for a different color, and get 2 additional balls to make this vest.

About a month ago, M visited a yarn store by his parents house with the boys. It was to be birthday yarn. But the boys couldn't hold it in. The boys each picked out a hank of clip. In orange and yellow (their favorite color and mine). Not sure what I'll do with that. 2 balls of Maggi's Linen. I don't want it to be the most expensive hand towel I've ever owned...any other patterns for small amounts of linen?

2 balls of Trendsetter Legacy. This is a really fun yarn, and in a terrific color, Plum Paradise.

And a ball of Plymouth Yarn Heaven.

M has great taste in yarn, but it's hard to find patterns for small amounts of yarn...even from the one skein book.

My parents bought me yarn for the Lutea Lace-Shoulder Shell from IK summer 2007.

I'm using Cotton-Ease in Violet and I love it. I'm thrilled to make a tank for $16. I cast on Saturday night, and I'm about 4"or 5" in.

Schoolwise: My mom and I spent Saturday together. We went to the Curriculum Fair for JCS. Not what you'd normally call a Mother's Day treat, but M had all 3 kids, and Mom & I had 10 hours together. We drove down to Murietta (1hr drive)...loved the short seminars on Math and Science...toured the library and resource center...chose curriculum for the fall...stopped at the Lake Elsinore Outlet Mall...then stopped to pick up 4 skeins of Cotton-Ease for me. We came home with dinner from Marie Calendar's. I was exhausted. It must have been the thinking...all that school talk can make your head tired.

We did settle on Sing, Spell, Read & Write (K-1 Combo) for Language Arts, Zaner-Bloser Handwriting, Saxon Math with the Math Manipulative Kit (most of our math will be hands on), and Excel Math (just to have a few worksheets for documentation). For Science and Social Studies, we'll check out a few thematic units throughout the year. I'm still planning on working through 5 in a Row. And we'll use that to give our "school time" cohesion.

Healthwise: Mother's day was quiet. No church for us, 2 of 3 had bad coughs. We're clearing through that now though. I ran to the grocery store, then we all headed to pick up some lavender for the yard. M worked on the lighting in the back yard. I think that the best times can be had by just spending family time at home.

Blogwise: I wish I had pictures of all this yarn. I'm not used to that yet. At least I'm writing though. I may edit to add pictures...if I get the chance.

ETA: It's 2 weeks later, but that's how long it took me to photograph the yarn, download the pictures, save them as smaller jpg's, and upload them to blogger. I have so much respect for those who add images every day. I love looking at them...and I KNOW how hard they work to publish each post. With 5, 4, and 2...images may be few and far between.

Knitting Survey

(Mark bold the things you HAVE done in knitting, in italics the things you PLAN or WANT to do in knitting, and do nothing with the rest)

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn (saw a camel at the nativity...oh, this is so soft)
Mittens: Cuff-up -hard to imagine knitting Mittens in California...maybe for charity knitting.
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting- Is there really any other way?!
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange- Right now my first The Spring Felted Bag Exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental) When trying to help a friend out after she learned to knit at the LYS...they teach English.
Knitting to make money - I've sold a few things I've made...just because a friend asked..."Could I buy that to give to so&so?"
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca - thanks Nancy
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton-Does Cotton-Ease count.
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public -all the time...you'll find me at Starbucks! Coffee and Knitting!

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life?
BLOGGING! Before I knew of the internet knitting world, I was limited to the LYS. It was there, that someone mentioned Mason-Dixon Knitting, and WOW...I was amazed to learn so much from other knitters. I love Knitty! I've made many of their patterns. I love Mag Knits, and The Garter Belt...and there's too many to mention. Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's made my knitting richer!

***Edited Dec 31, 2007***

Peanut Butter Play Dough

Kidwise: Awhile back when I googled play dough looking for the standard recipe my mom used to make for us, I happened upon Peanut Butter Play Dough. It has since become a staple in our house.

1c. peanutbutter
1c. powdered milk
1/2c. honey
Mix well.

That's it. I have discovered that it matters what kind of powdered milk you use though. The store brand leaves the dough kind of crunchy. We like Milkman lowfat best. It's in an orange box. I let the kiddos use my cookie cutters and rolling pins with about 1/3 cup serving. I hand them whole wheat crackers or pretzle sticks and sometimes grapes or an applesauce cup. There you go...play and lunch all at once. And they don't drop pieces of this playdough. It's too precious. And there isn't the clean-up like with traditional play dough. They've eaten all the evidence.

So guess what we had for lunch today?! Let me know if you try this out.

Oh...and for a desert...try peanut butter play dough on a graham cracker decorated with chocolate chips. YUM!

Exchange - Question 2

Where you live, what signifies the beginning of Spring? A favorite flower blooming? Snowmelt? Pollen (Cough cough, gak, here in ATL, thanks) Post something up describing how you knew 'Spring had Sprung' for you!

My other hobby is gardening. We live near Cal State Fullerton, and at the arboretum, each spring is GreenScene. We head out to choose native plants for our yard, and buy heirloom varieties of tomatoes. This year though, that weekend was the only rainy weekend we've had. And it's not fun to choose plants with toddlers splashing in the puddles. All the paths are dirt! So we went to Armstrong...and just today when I checked on the garden, I saw a crookneck squash about 1" long. I'm so excited to taste the fruits of our labor.

Exchange - Question 1

This Week's Question:

How did you get interested in felting? Did you learn it from someone, see a bag you liked? Just want to try something new? If you have a picture of your first project, please include it!

Last June, my friend took a knitting class at the LYS. I went down to see her project and I was hooked. I bought the Pursenalities Book and yarn for my first bag. I finished it in about 2 weeks. I get compliments on that bag everywhere I go.

OK...so blogger is all screwy. I can't see what I'm typing, but if I select the text, thenI know it's there. I'll have to edit this tomorrow.

Supermom

So, is it just me...

Last weekend we had a Hello Kitty birthday party. I did all the normal stuff...cake, party plates and napkins, favor bags. And that's fine. But, why do I obsess that my house must be perfectly clean. Or freak out if the decorations aren't perfect. I'm trying to remind myself that the kids really will only remember the fun, and not if the vacuum lines were still in the carpet. They'll remember that the food was good...and not that everything matched the theme. So, why is it that I struggle with giving my kids the best party on the planet. Why do I try to be "Supermom"? My kids will love me regardless. I need to not stress out about the details.