Entries in Crafts (86)
Stitch Nation
Jan 17, 2010 I have never been a yarn snob — prided myself on it, actually. Out where I live (in BFE) I don’t have a lot of yarn options (Red Heart, Vanna, and Caron pretty much) and it’s all acrylic. Which, let’s be honest, is the red-headed step child of the yarn world. Utilitarian, sometimes garish, often scratchy, and, well, plastic. But cheap!
I gravitate towards colors and I really care if the yarn is soft. Washability is a big deal to me, and I’m not about to make a hat for a 4 year old that I can’t toss in the washing machine, so acrylic works fine for just about everything.
BUT THEN. The godmother made Thea some longies (wool pants that go over cloth diapers) and she used this wool that was so soft I had to have it. HAD. TO. I’ve never really felt that way about yarn before. It was Paton’s Wool, nothing fancy, but it won me over, handwashing and all. So, I bought one or eight skeins, and while thrilled about the softness, was disappointed at how drab the colors were.
And then I got one of those e-mail blasts in my inbox from Joann Fabrics, and how they had this fancy new Stitch Nation yarn. I had to check it out immediately because I have two of Debbie Stoller’s books, and think anything with her name on it would be pretty kick ass. And kick ass it is, my friends. Wool, lovely soft wool, in bright candy colors. Oh, the joy!
I usually hesitate buying yarn over the internet, but took a chance anyway because I couldn’t resist the purple and pink and teal green loveliness. I’m so glad I did, because this yarn is the bees knees. The colors! The softness! And it was on sale!
I have a hat to make for the hubby next (I promised), but am itching to get my hands on my new stash and make Thea some kick ass pants with the fancy new yarn. I will never turn my back on my trusty acrylic, we’ve been through a lot together, but I think I like this new expanding-my-horizons thang.
Knitting for the bebe
Aug 23, 2009 The godmother was a knitting MACHINE while she was out here visiting — I managed to take some photos of just a few of the many, many things she knitted. And by “many” I mean “a bajillion.” Check out these cute longies:
I have also been knitting, although very, very slowly. I’m sticking mostly to hats because they’re easy.
I can’t wait until there’s actually a tiny little baby body to fill up all this knitted goodness. Not much longer now!
Oliver + S Swingset Skirts
Mar 12, 2009 Oh, how I love Oliver + S patterns. I want to make them all, and if they ever come out with adult patterns I will be in heaven. Here are two (out of two) of the skirts. Both a size 4T, I thought about making the other two in a size 5 for Phoebe, but I think we'll stick with this size for now. Love, love, love.
All I ever do is bitch and moan
Mar 9, 2009 That's what if feels like, lately. You may not want to hear (read?) this, but man have I been puking a lot lately. So much so that my abdomen is sore. The worst? When we were out running errands and I had to vomit in a public restroom. A) grody! B) very hard to maintain dignity, and C) difficult to do discreetly. There was a lot of flushing involved.
For the past two nights in a row the neighbor's dog has woken me up with its barking and howling. This is not the first time we've had this problem with them. It pisses me off to no end -- once I'm up, I'm up. There is no going back to sleep, so the next day I'm a bitchy pukey mess. I have considered spray-painting some obscenities on the side of their house, because I'm vindictive like that.
I did finally manage to pull myself together and make a skirt for Charlie, she gets another one (and two for Phoebe) very shortly. They are so quick and easy and are so dang cute it gives me lots of satisfaction (between the puke sessions). I'm making them in solid cotton colors (grey, navy, red, dark green) so they'll match just about any shirt they throw at them. It gives them a preppy/uniform-y feel, but cute nevertheless. Pictures to follow shortly. Of the skirts, not the puking, I promise.
