Baby it's cold outside. . .

Excited to sneak in a warm and cozy knit for Christmas card photos.  

Hoping for more craft time soon :)

Wurm Cowl

Wurm cowl by CatReading.  A simple, fun, cozy, and relaxing cowl to knit.  

Aidez Sleeves . . its progress

And through the long winter months we go.  For most knitters this is their most productive time.  

Me . . not so much.  :(

Tax season is well in the works and with a 4 . . .almost 5 year old. . .I might get two hours of knitting a week if I am lucky.

But at least my life is full. . .there are lots of new challenges, lots of new experiences . . .and special people to share them with. . . so for now . . knitting progress can be slow.  The yarn will still be here when I am ready :)

Construction in progress

Brooke and I started a new project this weekend.  And a very exciting one at that.  About 6 months or so ago someone was very kind and gave us an unfinished doll house that they had once started but never got around to finishing.  Well we said heck ya!  But then got busy this summer with our own home repairs and just never got to it.  

Well Brooke is going on 5 in a few months and I started thinking . . .you know you better get to this doll house or you'll be passing it on to someone else in the same state you received it in.  

The structure is very cute.  Its a 1990's model I think from the look of the girl on the box but I think we can modernize it with some newer colors and some modern wall paper.  I have tons of great prints in my scrapbooking paper that will work perfectly.

We both decided that the first thing to go was the color. . .mint green is just not our taste and I told Brooke that she could pick the color.  And I think she went with a good choice too.  The girl really does have good taste.

So bye-bye mint green paint. . .on to some primer.  

One coat of primer. . .looks better already doesn't it!

And now for the second coat. . . .looks good white . . .can't wait to see when its painted (????).

That will have to be a surprise  . . .

Can't wait to start decorating. . .picking out wall paper and flooring. . .so much fun!

Aidez

Its January . . .its cold. ..and all I want to do is snuggle under a warm blanket in my pjs and knit something warm with cables.  This pattern is Aidez which is free and can be found on ravelry.   Its been around for a while and on my list of knitting desires.  After finishing my Christmas knitting gifts I decided to pull out the stashed yarn and cast on.

Unfortunately this is not my first attempt.  I previously knitted 18 inches of the back and then realized the sizing was not going to work for me.  I gave a quick sigh and then pulled it out to start again.  Oh well right??  I guess I really don't mind if the finished project is a good fit.  Its worth it in the end. 

Yarn is Cascade Ecological wool.  I like the look and the feel of the yarn and the price. . .great price point for sure.  

I am please to say that I am past the 18 inches and into new knitting territory.  But looking back at the new product after pressing it for sizing. . .I now know I made the right decision.  

My next dilemma will be the sleeves . . .from what I hear they knit very slim or narrow so I might need to go up a sizes for the sleeves.  Hmmm . . . I still have time to ponder.  

Poolside Tote

I recently finish my first Poolside Tote at Christmas time (Pattern - Here ) for my mom as a gift.  I actually started it at home and then dragged it and my sewing machine along with me as I was out of town for work right before the holidays.  A little risky as I had not read the pattern or sewn the bag before.  Not the best plan when you are in a hotel room for three days with only your travel tools.

Luckily I can say that this pattern was easy to follow and I didn't have any trouble with the construction of the bag.  I really like how it came out.  So much that I decided to make it again.  But this time I am going with a canvas base for the outside since it can still be a little floppy of a bag for my taste.

So for round two I am going with a gray canvas and a pink/plum print.

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Entrelac Scarf

Its challenging but simple at the same time.  I LOVE Entrelac!  Keeps my mind entertained and easy enough to pick up at any time and still remember where you left off. 

Noro Entrelac Scarf

Pattern Free - Here

Noro Silk Garden - 4 skeins

Another version with Plymouth Gina

Same pattern and only 4 skeins.  Love the color on this one!

And today was Pancake Sunday again!

Cowabunga Dude!

Vermont Red Barn Mittens . . .

Perfect touch for the first Vermont snow of the year.  

These mittens remind me of those classic pictures of a red Vermont barn in the snow. 

 You know the ones where the barn just pops out of the picture 

and makes you wish it was winter so you can be sitting cozy 

by the fire with the winter wind howling in the background (knitting of course)?  

Or maybe that's just me?

Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted

Colorway:  Burgundy

Needle Size: 8

Cast on: 28 stitches on 4 double pointed needles

Knit in the round until the cuff measures 2 inches

I then worked a basic thumb gusset of 11 stitches 

and knitted a 3 x 3 cable up the center of the mitten 

with a steep decrease at the top for a pointy mitten top.

The color really pops in the snow and has a very simple classic feel to them.

The yarn is soft, warm, and very enjoyable to knit with.  

A happy warm start to the long winter :)

2015 Happy New Year!!

To many new knitting projects in 2015

and many sewing projects

But more importantly . . .many precious moments with this little one :)

May 2015 be my year!

Cheers :))