And I’m back!

I don’t know how you all feel, but I’m pretty sick of nursing pads monopolizing key space at the top of my blog. There’s really only one way to remedy that.

While the past couple months have produced little (okay, no) blogging around here, I have been crafty in bits and spurts. While I daydream about my sewing machine, it sits idle upstairs in the guest room because I have yet to find a suitable and usable home for it.

Instead, I’ve been knitting in spurts when I have time and the motivation. I hit a dead spot in my want to knit after I finished Clapotis (oops, I don't think the blog even knows about Clapotis!) and it seemed to last and last. For awhile, I didn’t even have a project on the needles. And sadly, I didn’t care. I was waiting for that must-knit project to reignite my knitting, but it never materialized. I started a project or two, but nothing grabbed me.

The beginnings of a Hemlock Ring Blanket aka the destroyer of my knitting. PS - If you think your circular knitting needle is too short for a blanket, it is.

Then we went to the Cape for a week. I brought a couple of projects, with an uneven ration of yarn to project, with the balls of yarn heavily outweighing the project. With me came my Shetland Triangle (or the ten or so rows I knit and a couple balls of yarn), my retro redux shrug (or three balls of Blue Sky Cotton), and my Anastasia Socks (a big cake of STR Rocktober). After sitting on our deck while Alice napped, I fumbled through my book waiting for it to engage me. When it didn’t, I picked up my Shetland Triangle. Within a couple of rows, I was getting back into the swing of things and felt oddly relaxed. The air felt fresh and clean and my shoulders light. Row after row appeared and I sank deeper in my chair. Gone were feelings of obligation to the project at hand and frustration that I forgot to mark my place in the pattern. I felt good and so did knitting.

The Yellow Blob that brought me back

I’m still chugging along on my lace, but I’m okay with taking my time. For once, I feel more of a process knitter than product and it’s a nice change.

Also, look how big she got! And she's even bigger now. This pic is about a month old.

Nursing Pad Tutorial

Thanks for all the lovely messages about Alice! We're getting into a groove around here and I've finally been able to do a little crafting. My sewing machine has finally seen some use and thanks to some sage advice from Elizabeth over at A Mingled Yarn (Thanks, Elizabeth!), I'm finally able to knit while nursing.

Speaking of nursing, after tearing through a couple of boxes of nursing pads I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own more environmentally-friendly version. I couldn't find an available pattern on the internet, so I thought I would share mine with you. There are probably better ways to construct them, but this worked for me.


Don't they look like ravioli?

What you'll need to make 12 breast pads (6 sets):
1/2 yard cotton flannel* (I used a natural color because I didn't want a wild print peeking through my shirt. You can go crazy with creativity, though)
1/4 yard cotton batting*
scissors
thread

*A note on fabric: I used cotton flannel and cotton batting because I had them around, but you can use whatever you'd like. I'd recommend using natural, breathable, but absorbent fabrics like cotton, hemp or bamboo. Also, feel free to add as many layers as necessary. I didn't want to add any bulk to my new, er, nursing figure, so I kept my pads on the slimmer side.

Step 1: Trace circles onto all fabrics. Trace 2 circles for every pad on flannel, and one for each on cotton batting. I used a 4.5 inch food container as my template. Use whatever you have around... mugs, plates, etc. Your template should be slightly larger (about 1/2 inch) than your finished nursing pad size.



Step 2: Cut out circles.



Step 3. Create pad "sandwiches." Flannel on the top and bottom with batting in the center.



Step 4. Cut out a wedge of fabric to make "pacman" shape. Do not cut wedge all the way to the center, but just before. This will prevent extra pointy nipples!



Step 5. Pin fabric in place.



Step 6. Bring two wedge sides together to make cone shape.



Step 7. Using a wide zig zag stitch, baste cone in place. Don't worry if some of the layers aren't secured by the stitches.


Use your sewing machine's widest zig zag setting.


I started on the outside of the circle and sewed towards the center.



Step 8. Flip cone over and stitch over your basting line. This will ensure all layers are stitched together.

Step 9. Zig Zag Stitch (or serge, if you're lucky enough to have a serger) along circle's perimeter.



Step 10. Use crimping scissors (or regular scissors) to trim egdges. If you serged your edges in Step 9, you can ignore this step.

Step 11: Enjoy dry shirts, while saving the planet (okay, this part might be a stretch, but every little bit counts)!

Alice Jane is Here!

I'm a little late posting this, but it's been an exhausting couple weeks. Alice was born on November 20 at 8:05am and weighed in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. I'm hoping regular (well, what I consider regular) posting to resume soon.

Bird Mobile: Done

The baby has yet to make her appearance (5/6 days till my due date!), so I've been occupying my time finishing up some projects.

When I first saw this mobile, I knew I needed to make it for my baby's nursery. I sewed the birds for this project awhile back, but was a little intimidated starting the actual mobile part. The last time I made a mobile was in 9th grade science and I vaguely recall using elaborate formulas, scales, and maybe even a bunsen burner or two (okay, maybe not the bunsen burner). My group built a gum mobile and I remember, despite our elaborate calculations, still having to chew off bits of the gum to make our mobile balance properly.

Several years later and without fancy formulas or a scale (or the ability to chew off bits of the birds' tails), but with a glut of cobwebs in the portion of my brain dedicated to science, I was nervous. I turned first to my geeky husband for guidance, who I thought would jump at the chance to tackle a physics puzzle with me. At first, he bluntly shot me down. After my desperate pleas that this was in fact a science project and a real opportunity for both fun and personal satisfaction, he couldn't help but jump into the project. Unfortunately, his interest was shortlived and he left me with the advice, "use trial and error." Hmm, thanks, honey. He did saw the sticks for me before completely abandoning the project. I'll take what I can get, I guess.

Again on my own, I developed my own process for execution (this might be common sense for you, but I thought it might be useful for some)...

1) Arrange birds. I had 11 birds and 3+ sticks. I laid out the sticks and the birds until i found an arrangement I liked.

2) Starting from the bottom, sew the birds to the sticks with dark brown thread. Use several tight loops to ensure birds stay propped on stick and do not droop.

3) Determine center balance point by resting the stick on finger (obviously, very technical). Screw in an eyelet screw at the balance point.

4) Attach fishing line to eyelet screw.

5) Attach eyelet screw to bottom of next highest stick (just guesstimate where you think it belongs; you can work out the balance with the placement of the top eyelet screw) and attach fishing line.

Repeat steps 2 through 5 until you have completed all tiers of the mobile. To make minor balance adjustments, you can shift the birds around a bit.

MATERIALS
Fabric: Amy Butler, Midwest Modern leftovers from the Baby's Quilt and Belle scraps from a yet to be blogged quilt

Sticks: J and I went back and forth on this. I wanted to use plain ole sticks from the backyard and even carried home a bunch while on a walk with Miles. J was very against the thought of "dirty, bug-infested" wood hanging over our daughter's crib. I still wanted the appearance of sticks, so I bought painted bamboo pieces from the Big Box Craft Store. Perfect compromise. I still prefer the rustic look of regular sticks, but overall, I'm pleased with the mobile.

Thread

Eyelet Screws (bought in the framing section of Big Box Craft Store)

Fishing Line

Ceiling Hook

Lots more FOs to come, I'm on maternity leave and have been busy!

28 Thirty: Done

Thanks so much for all the comments on the Weekender Bag! My mom just received it yesterday and is really happy with it (or so she says!). The weekender isn't the only FO in these parts...

Over the past year or so, I’ve developed a bad habit of finishing a handknit, wearing it a bunch, but never managing time (or motivation) for a FO shoot. Even my ravelry project list is crowded with FOs that show only half finished project pictures. I’m going to blame it on the fact that my knitting picks up when it’s cold and dark out and I’m loathe to photograph a FO in bad lighting.

I swear, I used to be able to button it all the way!

Now that the temps are cooling off in New England, I’ve been pulling out my handknits, most notably one of my favorite knits from earlier in the year, 28 Thirty. I reach for this one not just because it’s cute and comfy, but because it (sort of) works with my belly. Who knew when I finished this project, the FO shoot would feature a pregnant me? Not me, that’s for sure!

Long Neck

Pattern: 28Thirty. Another top-down winner from the Zephyr Girls. This sweater really flew off the needles, despite a few project breaks. Comfortable and infinitely wearable, I would definitely consider making another. I could see going with the shorter version as written in the pattern or going in the opposite direction with a long sweater-coat.

Sleeve

Source: Zephyr Style
Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns, Andy’s Merino in Cranberry (1 skein), Mahogany (3 skeins), and Wine Berries (1 Skein). I bought this yarn during the Farmhouse Yarns bag sale (you pay $100 for all the yarn you can fit in a shopping bag. Pay $200 and you get to fill up one of those ginormous Rubbermaid bins!). I bought two different colors of the yarn convinced they were close enough to blend. I didn’t start to question this until I wound the yarn and found one was a bit more of a cool berry pink (Cranberry), the other a warmer rich pink (Mahogany). Because the yarn is more of a semi-solid and I only had one skein of the Cranberry, I just decided to roll with it. I didn’t introduce the third color (Wine Berries) until I finished the rest of the yarn and the sweater was a couple inches about my waistband. I always add a few inches to my sweaters (apparently, at 5’5/5’6, I’m an Amazon woman in the world of knitting patterns), so I decided to keep knitting with the Wine Berries, which I had leftover from a hat I made my mom over Christmas. The Wine Berries is significantly darker, more red than pink, but I think it creates kind of an ombre appearance (or so I’ve convinced myself). For a merino, the yarn isn’t super soft like a Malabrigo, but it’s certainly next-to-the-skin wearable. I still find veggie matter caked into the sweater, but that’s just a friendly reminder that at Farmhouse the sheep are raised and sheered, and the yarn spun and dyed, then sold all in one place. I’ll take a little VM over an over processed wool any day! While visiting the farm for the yarn sale, I even saw Andy, the merino who made this sweater a reality! Where else does that happen?



Needles: Size 9 Addis
Time to Knit: February to March 2008
Raveled: Here
Mods: Other than the obvious lengthening of the sweater, not much. I added some waist decreases and just kept knitting until I was happy with the length. I think it’s longer when I don’t have a huge belly, but it’s been so long I can’t remember!

Action Shot

I'm still plugging away at my dad's sweater - it's my only WIP, the first time that's happened in a LONG time! My fingers are already itching to cast on for another project - my baby's Christmas stocking!

FO: Weekender Bag, Version 3.0

When I finished my first weekender bag, I claimed it would be the last. When my sister requested one a few months later, I couldn’t help but give in, but swore this one would definitely be my last. Even then, I knew I would eventually make one for my mom. While the three of us have slightly different taste, there is definitely a common current within all of our style aesthetics. I credit my dad for this, the most opinionated and eager fashion critic in the family. (Seriously!) Anyway, I think his unique guy perspective taught all three of us to take a second look at various garments and bags and realize that some of our initial castoffs are actually fashion jewels in disguise. This phenomenon worked both ways. A sour facial expression of his could also soil what we originally found to be the “must-have” essential of the shopping trip. Now that I’m pushing 30, I don’t often bring my dad in tow when I go shopping, but I still find myself relying on his perspective, which invariably influences nearly every of my fashion purchases, and I’m sure those of my mother and sister.



Every once in a while, all three of us will stumble upon something that we all “need.” Most often, it’s my mom who discovers something so uniquely wonderful that she’ll buy one for each of us. My sister, who has the keenest eye for high fashion (while I was wearing homemade dresses and Birkenstocks in college, she was wearing Dior sunglasses and toting around Louis Vuitton bags), manages that arena. With the weekender, it’s my turn to give back.


A compilation of handmade goods - a handknit sweater and handknit bag. Oh, and a 8-month pregnant belly, but that's not really handmade, or is it?

Nearly two years after finishing the first, I completed my third weekender bag this past weekend. Lucky for my mom, version 3.0 is by far the best technically-executed of the three. I never even finished sewing the lining into my bag!



Pattern: Weekender Bag by Amy Butler
Exterior Fabric: Joel Dewberry, Ginseng Collection from Purl. 2 yards, Sand Spade Damask 1/2 yard Camel Modern Bud
Interior Fabric: Home Dec weight cotton in Mustard from Joann.
Other notions: Gunmetal Grey Zipper, Cotton Cording, Template Plastic, Interfacing, Timtex, etc. All from Joann.

I fell in love with Joel Dewberry fabrics while making this bag. I’ve been loving "grellow" lately and knew my mom would also love the colors, so choosing this palette was a no-brainer. I didn’t realize it until I started cutting, but the main fabric looks like little owls and the strap/cording fabric look like either little flowers or like the Family Circus cartoon characters (I flipped this fabric, so it looks more like flowers). Just a random observation :)



There’s really not more to say about this bag that I haven’t said before (or hasn't been said by others). Like the two other bags, I added a zipper pocket to one side of the interior and a wall of pockets on the other side. I would be lost without those pockets on my bag, they really are a must. I used a walking foot this time around in place of the standard foot, which helped a great deal. I still went through 3 or 4 needles while making this bag, one area I can’t seem to improve upon. Also, when the needle breaks, it usually bends my walking foot, which requires me to pry it back into shape with pliers. Fun.


Inside Zipper Pocket

I'm not a huge fan of hand-sewing, so sewing the lining to the exterior of the bag has been a problem area for me. I never finished it with my bag and my sister's is a little schlumpy. Rather than ultimately being disappointed with the final product, I sat down and watched Ironman and SNL and resigned myself to painstakingly finish the bag. I'm so glad I did. A few hours of work yielded a polished product, one of which I am proud. Now if I could just force myself to do that all the time...


Wall of Side Pockets

I’d say this one is definitely the last and that I will never make another weekender bag, but I’ve seen crazier things happen so I’ll just keep my mouth shut.


Zipper (duh)

In any case, Happy Birthday, Mom! I hope you enjoy the bag (once I finally send it to you). Now we just have to worry about all three of us not using them at the same time!

FO: Flore and Bounce

With the cooler temps settling in and my due date quickly approaching, my knitting pace has picked up. Amongst my recent pile of FOs, I finished a few hats in that past couple weeks.

First, Flore...



The details:

[Ravelry Link]
Pattern: Flore by Tina Whitmore
Yarn: Takhi Cotton Classic in deep pink, grass, pink, olive, and blue-greyNeedles: Size 5 Addi Circs. I only have one set, so I had rotate needles a bit.
Size: Infant, although I think it looks a bit big. We'll see when my baby gets here. I'd rather it be too big than too small.
Time to Knit: One week

I think it turned out super cute, but I don't know if I could knit another one. The construction of the hat itself is facscinating: you alternate between two sets of needles as you knit each color, then bind the two pieces together with a modified 3-needle bind off. It's the finishing that killed me. You have to tack down each petal and wind in a bazillion ends. I just veged out and watched some TV, so it went by relatively quickly. Still, it will be awhile before I cast on for a second one. It's too bad because a bunch of my friends have hinted around about getting similar hats for their daughters. Maybe if I were a nicer person, I would suck it up and knit a few more, but I just can't make myself. Not for a few more months at least:)



Oops, now I'm worried I'm talking you all out of knitting this hat, which is opposite my intent! The hat is adorable and well worth the time and effort - I just think one hat is enough! I can't wait for my little one to arrive so she can wear it!

Because I can't let the baby be the only one with a stylish hat, I cast on for Bounce...



From the moment I saw this pattern, I knew I needed to make it. It was just pure luck that I had a perfect skein of yarn languishing in my stash, just waiting to be knit into something fantastic.



The details: [ravelry link]
Pattern: Bounce by John Brinegar
Yarn: Sheep Shop Yarn Company, Sheep 1, 1 skein
Needles: Size 10.5 Bamboo Circs, Size 10 Addi Circs
Time to Knit: October 1 - October 4

I absolutely adore this hat, but I'm not sure how well I can pull it off. I don't know why I'm having such a complex about it when usually I'll wear whatever and not think twice. We'll see if I can boost my confidence with it over the fall. It's super cozy and warm, though, so I have a hunch it will eventually become a favorite.

Knitting this hat was not only humbling for me, but a true test of perseverance. It's been awhile since a knitting pattern really stumped me, but I was at a complete loss with the brioche stitch. I literally frogged this hat FOUR times. It was only self-preservation that got me through. I had to prove to myself that I could do it. Turns out, I never did master brioche rib as written in the pattern, but was able to grasp the stitch after flipping through my stitch dictionary. Hey, whatever got me there, right

I have a couple other FOs to blog, but those will wait for another time.

I have a WIP that can't wait, however. After scouring both my LYSs and the internet for a perfect yarn and then hemming and hawing about ordering, I finally received the yarn and cast on for my dad's birthday/Christmas sweater!



I'm knitting Joseph from Rowan's A Yorkshire Fable, which calls for Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky. I would have loved to find some, but alas it's gone extinct, like so many of my Rowan favorites. I waffled between the replacement Scottish Tweed, Beaverslide McTaggart Tweed, and Cascade 128 and 109 before eventually settling on the Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Chunky. So far, so good, although I have a sneaky suspicion I'm going to run out of yarn. I'm already halfway through my second ball (I bought nine) and about 1/3 finished with the back (I've progressed significantly farther than shown in the progress shot). I'm going to knit the back, then one sleeve and make a judgment call on whether or not I need to start panicking.