And finally, some finished knitting on my head.
This is the Bad Hair Day Hat, pattern and deets found on Ravelry. I like it a whole lot because it'll come down over my ears and keep me toasty warm for the rest of this winter. (Yarn is Andy's Merino II from Farmhouse Yarns.)
This weekend I'll go back to Charlie's sweater - the body is finished, and I've begun an arm. Can I do it by Valentine's Day? Could I be issuing myself a personal challenge? Hmmm....
Round and round and round, repeat. I'd say I've only got a few more inches to go before shaping the armholes and neckline, so it's coming along. And boy, I love me some mindless knitting in the round, but a gal can only take so much. Which leads me to this weekend.
This weekend, what with it being so cold outside and both Juliet and I fighting colds, I took it to the machine for awhile...
...and made two new nighty-nightgowns for my girl. For the pattern I used Butterick #4910, and let me just say, I whipped right through it. The last time I used this pattern (and the first time I made a nightgown for her), it took me quite a while. But now? Now, while sewing, I felt totally confident in my sewing skills and in my ability to piece a pattern together while not questioning my every move; all the practice and time I've spent at the machine is paying off. I love that feeling, of teaching myself something new and getting it down, to the point of being able to put together two new garments within a day. Is that a good feeling or what?!
Okay, back to the knitting. I am making a personal vow to finish this sweater for Charlie before winter ends!
The other day was perfect for sliding; it was a warmish 28 degrees, so hubby and I took the kids and Toby to one of the local parks for some exercise and fresh air.
Anyone remember playing "Snow Tag?" Where you essentially stomp out a big circle in the snow with intersecting lines in the middle, like a pie...?
So you play tag, but the trick is that you have to stay on the lines you've stomped-out while running away from and/or chasing each other.
We had a blast, and I'm glad we got out and enjoyed the day because we're back into a deep freeze now. All told, though, I think we've been making the most of winter thus far - we've been ice skating a couple of times, sledding quite a bit, and even snowmobiling with friends once. (As soon as I went to take pics of the snowmobiling expedition (Charlie drove a sled by himself for the first time!) the camera told me it's batteries were dead. I held my tongue and let the profanities fly about in my head...frickin' Hoover Dam!)
Here's to the beginning of a new week...
Happy Martin Luther King Day. Happy Monday!
So I was at the library the other week and came across this title as I was perusing the knitting and sewing books. I pulled it off the shelf and commenced flipping through the pages and there it was: the perfect pattern/idea for sewing dresses for my girl. Oh, happy days are here again!
The thing is, Juliet does not like wearing pants or shirts. Or socks. Around here it's all dresses, all the time, maybe a skirt with a shirt. So, what to do with that handful of unworn shirts in her dresser upstairs? Why, cut 'em up! Then go to your stash of fabric, find something to coordinate with the shirt, and get busy turning it into a dress...
These little numbers are so quick and easy to make. After you cut the shirt off just a few inches below the armpit, you sew the edges of your skirt fabric together, finish the bottom hem, do some gathering around the top edge so that it matches up with the bottom of the (now) cropped shirt, and then sew the two pieces together. That's it!
And if you have vintage fabrics that you'd like to find new uses for, check out this book. I've mostly had it open to the section for children's clothing, but I've skimmed around a bit and I think there's some great ideas for repurposing vintage linens and such. Goodness knows I love me some antique tablecloths and doilies!
I know you probably don't wake up in the morning and look forward to delivering the mail to our house because our dog goes completely out-of-his-mind-berserk every single time you come by. I'd apologize for him, but a) I don't think he's sorry, and b) he really can't help himself. Anyhoo, I like it when you deliver the mail each day because once in a while I get a package with awesome stuff in it, like this:
And thank-you, dear Mr. Mailman, for braving the sub-zero temps, freezing rain, snow, and sleet, as well as the many other weather anomalies specific to Minnesota and delivering the goods every day. Toby may not appreciate you, but I sure do!
(Ewww. Please excuse the grimey window; I seem to have misplaced my magic-window-washing-wand once again. Between Toby and his unhealthy obsession with mailpersons, UPS trucks, and squirrels, and the consequent spittle that spews from his mouth to the window during his crazed state(s), it seems I can't keep up with the warshing. Guess I'm doomed. And I guess I don't really care!)
Soup's on, courtesy of Jessica at Turkey Cookies! Here's my recipe for Chili, a household staple around here. The recipe originated with my mom, and has been tweaked by me over the years. Here it is:
You'll need:
2 lbs. ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
5 stalks of celery, chopped
3 cans of tomatoes (chili-ready tomatoes are best!)
1 large can of tomato juice
2 cans of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans of chili beans, drained and rinsed
1 package of chili seasoning mix
Various seasonings to taste
Brown the ground turkey with the onion, green pepper, and celery. Add the tomatoes, tomato juice, kidney and chili beans, and chili seasoning mix. (Here I also add more chili powder, salt and pepper, a little cayenne, a dash of garlic salt or powder, and a cup or so of water. I like my chili to have some zing to it.) Bring to a boil and then simmer for an hour. Serve with lots of hot sauce, crackers, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Yum!
(Sorry I don't have an action shot of the chili to share - gotta grocery shop today and make it later this evening. Rest assured if you make this recipe you'll come up with a hot-n-spicy little number to fill your bowl and tummy. Go here for more soup recipes!)
He likes them a lot, which makes me happy. I've got a fair amount of the yarn leftover, and a similar color in the stash to coordinate - I think I'll be casting-on for pair number two real soon.
I didn't use Malabrigo Chunky yarn as called for in the pattern, but chose Misti Alpaca Chunky instead, a super luscious and soft yarn. The only thing is that the cowl tends to fold-over on itself, which kinda bugs me...next time I'll try the Malabrigo and see what happens.
Me in the land of motherhood and craft.
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