As soon as I can finish up the other six(!) projects that I’ve already got going, these are going to be turning into some fabulous bags.

If you haven’t noticed, there has been quite a lack of posting here. One of the reasons for that is that I just haven’t been doing much knitting. Since I want to keep this site going, I’m going to change things up a bit and form it into more of a general craft blog so that I can include more of my other projects and hopefully update a bit more frequently. So, look for a name change and hopefully more frequent updates soon!

As far as knitting goes, I seem to have lost my drive a bit. I want to knit. It just feels so time consuming these days. I suppose that’s why I have about five unfinished projects going. I’ll start something and then lose the drive to finish it. I guess that’s why I prefer hats, scarfs, and other quick projects as opposed to knitting sweaters.

Just before Christmas, I decided I wanted to give some handmade gifts. I was a little too ambitious with my plans and didn’t get them all finished, but I did actually complete a couple of knitted items. Hubby’s mom had requested a pink scarf a while back when she saw me knitting the pink Grace Beanie last summer. So, I pulled out my leftover yarn and knitted her up a quick scarf. Then, for lack of any better ideas, I found some camo colored Red Heart yarn at Michael’s and decided to knit my father-in-law a hat to keep his noggin warm. He’s big on hunting so I thought the camo colors would be perfect for him. (Yes, I’m aware the picture quality totally sucks and you can’t really make out the colors.)

With all of the holiday rush, I barely finished those items in time to get them mailed out. Instead of fooling myself into thinking I could actually get anything else knitted in time, I decided to do a little sewing for the third gift.

My sister-in-law was due to give birth to my niece about a week after Christmas, so I wanted to make her a nice tote bag for all that baby stuff she would soon be carrying around.  With my procrastinating, I ended up staying up until about 4:00 Christmas morning finishing the bag up.  The pattern was actually very easy, but apparently sleep deprivation is not very helpful when you are trying to follow even an easy pattern.  I love how the bag turned out am hoping to find the time to make myself one soon.

Projects that I will hopefully finish soon:
Baby blanket started nearly a year ago! (um, baby will be here hopefully in 7 weeks or less!)
Baby bib started last summer sometime (not really sure what the holdup is on this one, just bored with it)
Baby hat (should seriously have finished this one already)
Birthday gift for a birthday that has already passed (started, um, yesterday)
Scarf for myself (not yet started)

And if I can ever get all of those done, I picked up some really cute chunky yarn (Yarn Bee Mosaic in Sunrise - for $.99 a skein!) last night at Hobby Lobby that I’m just dying to play with.  I’m thinking it would make some cute hats and/or ponchos for my baby girl and my two new nieces.

A very, very long time ago I followed a link somewhere that led to another link somewhere that led to another link and eventually I found a pattern for this super cute little tote bag. I would link to it but I have no idea where it originally came from now. At the time, I had just gotten a new sewing machine and was really wanting to learn to sew so I copied the pattern and had grand plans of giving the tote bag a shot.

As usually happens with my big plans, I never got around to starting it. You see, it required me going to a fabric store and actually purchasing the fabric and supplies needed to make the bag and I never managed to find my way there until last week. I decided Thursday during my lunch break to check out one of the local fabric stores. I was on a search for some cute Halloween fabric so that I could make Zach a Trick or Treat bag that he wouldn’t drag on the ground. I was apparently a little too late to find Halloween fabric, but along the way I fell in love with some coordinating flannels and decided they would make the perfect little tote bag.

I couldn’t wait to get started on my project and started cutting the fabric that night. By the time I got all the pieces cut and the interfacing ironed on I had to quit and go to bed. I couldn’t wait to get home and start sewing on Friday. I didn’t actually get started until about 9:30 that night, but after many toddler interruptions and a couple of sewing machine difficulties, I finally finished it. My seams are far from perfect and I could have possibly measured a little more carefully, but I absolutely love my little bag. Plus, I’m very impressed that I made the whole thing from start to finish. It is my first “real” sewing project and it actually turned out okay!

I also bought enough material that I can make a second one (because I figured I would manage to screw up the first somehow) so I’m thinking of trying again and possibly doing some experimenting with the size. We’ll see how it goes!I meant to write about this earlier this week, but somehow let it escape my mind. A very, very long time ago I followed a link somewhere that led to another link somewhere that led to another link and eventually I found a pattern for this super cute little tote bag. I would link to it but I have no idea where it originally came from now. At the time, I had just gotten a new sewing machine and was really wanting to learn to sew so I copied the pattern and had grand plans of giving the tote bag a shot.As usually happens with my big plans, I never got around to starting it. You see, it required me going to a fabric store and actually purchasing the fabric and supplies needed to make the bag and I never managed to find my way there until last week. I decided Thursday during my lunch break to check out one of the local fabric stores. I was on a search for some cute Halloween fabric so that I could make Zach a Trick or Treat bag that he wouldn’t drag on the ground. I was apparently a little too late to find Halloween fabric, but along the way I fell in love with some coordinating flannels and decided they would make the perfect little tote bag.

I couldn’t wait to get started on my project and started cutting the fabric that night. By the time I got all the pieces cut and the interfacing ironed on I had to quit and go to bed. I couldn’t wait to get home and start sewing on Friday. I didn’t actually get started until about 9:30 that night, but after many toddler interruptions and a couple of sewing machine difficulties, I finally finished it. My seams are far from perfect and I could have possibly measured a little more carefully, but I absolutely love my little bag. Plus, I’m very impressed that I made the whole thing from start to finish. It is my first “real” sewing project and it actually turned out okay!

I also bought enough material that I can make a second one (because I figured I would manage to screw up the first somehow) so I’m thinking of trying again and possibly doing some experimenting with the size. We’ll see how it goes!

While I was on vacation, I successfully completed the Grace Beanie!  I made both of the hats to the left while riding in a car and they both turned out well.  The pink one on the right is the gorgeous Grace Beanie.  I used Red Hearts Baby Clouds for both hats.  Now I just have to figure out which lucky babies on my list are going to be the recipients.  I’ve got another Grace Beanie on the needles now in a lighter weight yarn and it is turning out really well so far.

Speaking of babies, I found out last week that I am expecting again.  We are very excited to bring another little monster angel into our family.  I also found out that a good friend of mine is expecting as well.  She’s just a few weeks ahead of me, so we’ll get to experience everything together.  How fun is that?

I’m guessing that I’m going to be knitting a whole lot of baby stuff in the near future.  I might even try a baby cardigan if I start feeling really brave.

I’m really impressed with the site after getting just a quick look around.  I think it will definitely be a great resource for me as I learn my way through the knitting basics.

Speaking of learning, I’m still working on that darn Grace beanie.  I started (and actually finished) another one during a car trip this weekend.  It was coming out perfect until I got distracted by a toddler and let my stitch count get off.  I went ahead and finished it out anyway as it was just a test with some spare yarn.  I’ll be starting another one soon to go with the blanket I recently finished.

I also knitted up another quickie infant hat over the weekend that I have yet to take pictures of.  It may be a while before I’m able to post pictures though as we are heading out of town on vacation on Friday.  I’ll have a very limited internet connection while we are gone unless I can find some free wi-fi somewhere.

Technorati Tags: ravelry, grace beanie, baby, hats, knitting

Zach stayed at his aunt’s house last night, so hubby and I took the opportunity to have a nice child-free dinner out and then a quiet evening. My plan was to get ahead with some of my blog posts at Tot TV Watch as we’re going to be vacationing soon, but I just couldn’t motivate myself to write. After a couple of hours of staring at the screen, I finally put it away and pulled out the scarf I’ve been working on.

Before I knew it, it was 11:00. I was tired and my eyes were aching, but I was so close to finishing it I just couldn’t stop. I finally finished the scarf up. It was my first scarf ever and I am totally in love with it. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. It is beautiful and soft and fuzzy. I love it so much I’m going to have a hard time giving it away. I suppose I can always make another one.

While talking to my sister last weekend (about the beautiful scarf that she is getting) she said, “You know you could make something for yourself some time.” When I started thinking about it, the only things I have ever kept for myself were Zach’s baby blanket, the first afghan I ever crocheted, and a couple of hats. Everything else has been given away as gifts. Now I’m wondering, how many knitters and crocheters out there actually keep the things they have made. What percentage would you say you give away as gifts or donations?

Technorati Tags: knitting, crochet, scarf, gift, donation

I got this great blue and brown novelty yarn in a sale a while back and have been really wanting to play around with it since then.  I decided to pull it out and have a little fun with it this weekend.

Since I was going for simple, I decided on a scarf.  When my sis found out what I was making she asked if she could have it.  I still haven’t decided whether I’m going to give it up because I’m already a little bit in love with it.  The picture does it no justice at all.  It is so soft and snuggly!  Plus, it is my first scarf ever.

I’ll have to post a better picture when it is all finished, but I may not get back to it for a few days as I have a certain little boy’s 2nd(!) birthday to celebrate this week.

Technorati Tags: scarf, novelty yarn, grace beanie

I was knitting along as happy as could be on the beanie when I discovered that the heart pattern wasn’t looking so much like a heart. The holes in the pattern weren’t lining up correctly. Trying not to get frustrated, I pulled out my trusty knitting books and double checked to make sure I was doing the slip, slip, knit and the yarn overs correctly. Apparently I was doing something funky with the yarn overs, so I decided to back up a bit and rip.

With my new knowledge, I started in again. It still didn’t line up. I decided to put down the beanie I was working on and grab a different yarn so I could see my stitches better. I figured I would make a quick swatch of the heart pattern and figure out what I was doing wrong. Three tries later and I still can’t seem to get it to come out right. At this point, I figure either the pattern is wrong or I am just doing it wrong. What do you want to bet it is the latter?

I’m still working on it though. I refuse to give up because I really want to make the beanie. In fact I have plans to make several of them if I can ever get it right. It is times like these when I wish I had some knitting friends around here to help me out.

Technorati Tags: knitting, grace beanie, slip slip knit, yarn over