Hawai'ian Dreaming

WIP Wednesday: Lacy Suri Alpaca Scarf

2012-02-01T04:31:00.000-08:00

Well, when I went to the fiber shop on Friday, I found some beautiful Suri Alpaca yarn on clearance. It is so soft and pretty. I decided I needed to knit something light and airy to show it off in the best light. I also wanted to do beads. So I decided on the Party Lace Scarf. But because my yarn was bulky and needed at least size 11 needles, I decided to cut the number of cast on stitches in half. So I cast on 20 instead of 40. I used 9 instead of 19 beads.

Here she is so far:

It's the feathers and fan lace pattern. I'm almost done but I still have another skein of this yarn.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Trying out Spinning Wheels

2012-01-28T04:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to try out the Ashford Traveller and the Schacht Ladybug. The Fiber store I went to is about an hour away and was filled with all sorts of beautiful fiber, yarn, wheels and even looms. It was a really neat place to visit and I can see driving the distance if I am in need of a particular yarn.

Ashford Traveller:
learned how to really spin on it
the treadles made my ankles hurt
the base bothered my legs

Schacht Ladybug:
I really like the way it is set up.
the treadles were gentler on my ankles
very cute wheel

Overall, the Ashford is out. The Ladybug is cute and might be a good wheel to learn on but it won't grow with me. I don't know that I will ever have the opportunity to buy a second wheel so I want the best I can get for my price range. Because the Ashford is out because of its style, I am thinking that the Kromski Ministrel is going to have the same problems with the base bothering me. I need a wheel that is open.

Next, I need to try out the Lendrum and it is probably the wheel I am going to buy.

But I did find some goodies at the shop. Suri alpaca yarn! You know these are the alpacas that look like they have long dreadlocks. Well, I found two skeins of yarn in blue, on clearance and they just had to come home with me.

Isn't it pretty? And it is so soft to the touch. I am thinking of making a lacy cowl with beads. I've not done beaded knitting yet and this just screams for it.

Errol the Owl

2012-01-27T04:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, the guesses are all in:

1--stuffed animal
1--a doll
1--a monkey
3--a bear
2--an owl

If you guessed an owl then you are correct. When I finished my first handspun yarn, it was very much a slump yarn:

And we immediately thought of Errol the owl from Harry Potter. That poor little owl is so tired and old and raggedy about the edges. And my first handspun would be perfect for it. Here he is:

I made little tuffs for the ears. The wings are a bit raggedy and you can see where the yarn was very thin across his chest. A close-up of the face:

I used coat buttons for eyes and some leftover sock yarn for the beak. My younger daughter has adopted him.

Want to see more finished objects? Then check out Tami's Blog.

WIP Wednesday: Guess the Project

2012-01-25T05:01:00.000-08:00

Guess what I am working on this week. Finished pictures will be up on Friday but here is the picture:

I am using my first handspun for this. What do you think it looks like?

Also, I have progress pictures on my Julia sweater. I am finally knitting beyond the first sleeve hole and I have the unraveling of stitches done. Want to see it?

I really like the unraveled effect between the lace pattern. This pattern is fairly easy to make but it gets boring so I make other things and then work hard on this for a few days while I think about what other small project to make.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Spinning Books

2012-01-23T04:23:00.000-08:00

I interlibrary loaned a few books on spinning that looked interesting. They have been very informative. Here is my list:

This book is very interesting with lots of pictures on how to do things. It is one that I would like to own.

This one is full of information and is more technical and historical. It's been a very interesting read.

This is a really cool book all about making art yarns. There are lots of pretty pictures and ideas.

It's been fun reading and looking through these books. Because of the ice storm, I was unable to try out the Lendrum this weekend but I am hoping things work out next weekend.

Helix Scarf in Gypsy Homespun

2012-01-20T04:33:00.000-08:00

I finished the scarf. It was really neat to do the whole process myself from spinning the yarn to knitting it up into something pretty and useful. I really like the Helix pattern and may make more but in a more delicate or lightweight yarn.

It is short so it is more like a loose cowl but it will keep my neck warm and not add extra bulk under my coat.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

WIP Wednesday: Helix Scarf in Handspun

2012-01-18T04:34:00.000-08:00

So I have subscribed to Spin-off Magazine and also picked up some back issues and there was this wonderful spread of all these pretty little curly scarves knit up in handspun. I fell in love. The pattern is Helix and was also on the cover of Interweave's special issue Jane Austin Knits.

So I decided to unply my Enchanted Knoll in Gypsy that I spun and plied and knit myself a pretty scarf. This is what it looks like so far:

It is not as delicate as most that you see because my handspun was a bit thick and thin. I also shortened the pattern and only cast on 18 stitches so my short rows are 6 and 3. I like it a lot though.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's blog.

Spinning Wheel Research: Hard Numbers

2012-01-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

I've been sitting with various charts, research and a calculator. These are my conclusions on my top 4 wheels.

Lendrum Original
double treadle ratios 6-10 is $570
Complete 5-17 ratios is $715
unless I go single treadle then complete is $575
I will need a storage bag for $100-200

So initial investment is $700-900 for 3 or 9 speeds. And upgrade later for 4 more at $176.

Lots of people love this wheel and keep it long term. It has lots of room for growth but it is really out of my price range.

Ashford Traveller
double treadle double drive with ratios 6-11 $585
I would need a kate and the maintenance kit.

Initial investment is $626 for 3 speeds. I would need to purchase the quill or lace kit for ratios up to 30. So I would need to tack on another $70 or $210 on to that price just to get started. Again we are talking $800 range to get started on a spinning wheel. Out of my price range.

Kromski Minstrel
double drive & double treadle with ratios 6.5-16 $539
I would want to buy the slow & fast whorl to add 4 & 18.75 ratios, an extra bobbin & a kate.

Initial investment is $641 including 6 speeds. I may want to buy the jumbo flyer later on for plying. This one is at the top of my budget. I love the looks of it and have not really heard anything bad about them.

Fricke
double treadle that folds up ratios 5-19 is $475
I would need a bag which I am having a hard time finding.

Initial investment is $475 including 5 speeds plus bag ($100-200?). Later on I may want the plyer or the woolie winder. So it may be $600 or so with a bag.

The Fricke and the Kromski Minstrel are really neck in neck in the competition right now. They give me about the same range and are around the same amount of investment. So those are my thoughts right now.

Ashford Traveller or Kromski Minstrel?

2012-01-16T04:35:00.000-08:00

I've been reading heavily on Ravelry about my prior list of spinning wheels: Lendrum, Ashford, and Kromski. After reading a lot of comparison threads, reviews and even asking some questions. I keep coming back to the Ashford traveller and the Kromski minstrel.

Why?

Because they are such pretty castle wheels.
They are at the top of my budget: $600 with extras.
They both do a lot.

I read that I can use the whorls from other Kromski's with the minstrel so that it has a range of 4 to 18.75. So I can make bulky to laceweight. I can use it for plying. It can be double drive or scotch tension. It has a double treadle which I can treadle with either foot or both feet. But the big drawback is that I am going to have to oil it a lot.

With the Ashford traveller, the ratios are 3.7 to 30. And can do a lot that I can with the minstrel except it doesn't need all the oiling and it is a bit more expensive especially if I want to buy the extras.

This will probably be my last post about spinning wheel shopping until I go to the shops and try things out unless I can track down the local spinning group. I've heard from 3 different people that there is a local group but I can track down information on dates, times and places for meetings.

So up and coming in the search:

trip to the shop that sells Ashford, Schacht and Louet wheels
trip to the shop that sells Kromskis
going to the spinning group meeting

Finished Object Friday: Large Rainbow Container Cover

2012-01-13T04:24:00.000-08:00

I finished the large container cover in a rainbow of cascade 220. Want to see the whole set up for my needles and fiber tools now?

I really like it. It makes everything easier to find and keeps it all organized. It also keeps things cheerful which is something that I need when the days get cold and dreary.

Want to see more finished objects? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Spinning Wheel Research

2012-01-12T05:26:00.000-08:00

I've spent quite a bit of time doing research on spinning wheels this past week. And I now have some serious choices. I am still in love with the Kromski Minstrel because it is so beautiful but I have to take into account what I am wanting to spin since I may only have this once chance to buy a wheel.

The top five wheels in the $500-600 range that have the most versatility are:

Lendrum Original--single or double treadle, ratios from 5 to 44, folds up for storage

Kromski Symphony--double treadle, scotch or double drive, ratios from 5 to 25

Ashford Traveller--double treadle, single or double drive, ratios from 3.7 to 30, small

Ashford Traditional--single treadle, single or double drive, ratios from 3.7 to 30

Fricke S160--double treadle, ratios from 5.7 to 19.4, folding version, very inexpensive

So over the next few months, I will be looking at these wheels used and around the end of February I will be ready to spend money on a wheel. I'm very excited. I have all sorts of fiber sitting in my bins waiting for my wheel. Including a rainbow of corridale.

Reds

Yellows

Oranges

Greens

Blues

Purples

Aren't they pretty? I have 26 ounces in 23 colors. I can't wait. There is enough variation of color to make pastel, bright, regular and just a bit off rainbows of color.

WIP Wednesday: Large Rainbow Container Cover

2012-01-11T04:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I got the trio of felted rainbow containers done but it wasn't enough. So I am in the process of knitting a larger container cover for this ugly clear container I have that holds all my large fiber stuff: needles, flick, spindles, etc. Here is a picture:

I am working on the orange which will be done in moss stitch (my favorite) and then will add some red. I may add a second red at top and have it flair out but I've not decided yet. The bottom has stripes of each color.

Also, here is a progress picture of my Julia sweater in Beach Glass and Bamboo Ewe:

I am about halfway to the first sleeve. This wraps all the way around my back and just over the beginning of my chest right now. So I am more than 1/4 but less 1/3 of the way done with the body of the sweater.

And to cheer you up on this Wednesday, a picture of our sleeping angora rabbit Honey.

She is now 8 pounds of lovey bunny. She asks to be held and likes to be with us. She also likes to play and does huge binkies. Her fur has grown out quite a bit since her hair cut 8 weeks ago.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Spinning Wheel Dreams

2012-01-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

I am planning on buying a spinning wheel sometime in February. I enjoy spinning my own yarn but want to use something a little more efficient and organized than my spindle. With a spinning wheel you have bobbins and you can ply off the bobbins rather than wind the singles off the spindle onto a stick or into a ball so that you can ply it.

So I have been researching. There are a few I really like. But my budget is limited and I want to get the most for my money.

Ashford Joy
nice to look at
compact, folds up, would fit under the couch
ratios between 6 and 14
double treadle
but it is really out of my budget

Kromski Minstrel
nice to look at
about the size of a kitchen chair but a bit taller, I have a place where it would go
double treadle
ratios between 4 and 16
bobbins hold a lot of yarn
in my budget if bought new

Schacht SideKick
cute
folds up and can be stored
double treadle
ratios 4 to 15
a bit out of my budget

I am really thinking that buying new the Minstrel is going to be the one that I will buy because it gives me a lot of choices, room for growth and it fits my budget. If I can find one used, I may take another look at the Schacht wheels though.

What do I want to be able to spin?
plied fingering weight (possibly lace) to bulky
all sorts of wool, alpaca, angora and mohair
plus camel, yak, silk and cotton?
maybe even branching out into some art yarns such as slump or boucle

What spinning wheel do think would best fit what I want to do?

Finished Object Fridays: Rainbow Containers

2012-01-06T04:42:00.000-08:00

I finished my little rainbow containers and felted them. They are really cute but to keep them from tipping over I did have to put cardboard inside of them. It ended up that the tall round one holds my short straight needles, the small one my 0-4 double points and the larger one my 5+ double points. I will need to make a fourth container that is much larger and taller for my long straight needles.

Here they are:

This is pre-blocking which really helped to stiffen them up and before the cardboard was added. This is what they look like now:

For the straights, I can just look at their tops to know what size they are but the double points are bundled with colorful hair bands and tags with their sizes.

Want to see more finished objects? Then check out Tami's blog.

Fiber Goals for 2012

2012-01-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of fiber and yarn. And this year, I would like to spend time knitting through my stash and building up my homespun fiber skills. Some of the things I want do:

socks--2-3 pairs (probably 6 pairs)
shawls--2 (1 needs to be spun before being knitted)
felted slippers--4 pairs (1 gets spun out of alpaca)
sweaters--3 (cotton yarn in stash)
purses--3 (2 need to be dyed)
hat--1 (probably more will be made)
scarf--1 (spun & knit)
Errol the owl

UFOs:
sweater in bamboo ewe
shawl in kimono ribbon

Other fiber projects:
angora fur--spin and knit a swatch for 4-H
mohair locks--flick and spin into yarn
26 ounces in 23 colors of corridale
1 pound of merino in white
1/2 pound of falkland in white

I am most excited about my wooly wonder kit. It is 2 ounces each of four types of wool (falkland, wensleydale, shetland in moorit, and blue faced leicester). It is all cream and brown and I think it would be nice to spin it all up and make a pretty shawl. Here is the kit:

Looks like fun?

WIP Wednesday: Rainbow Containers & Alpaca Spinning

2012-01-04T04:49:00.000-08:00

I got sick of digging in the bottom of a plastic storage box and searching through needle holders to find the knitting needles I wanted to use. So I decided that I wanted to have them on display on my desk. I am making three containers.

1--square, cool colors, for short needles
2--rectangle, warm colors, for double points
3--round, rainbow, long needles and other tools

I have the first two done and am on the second color for the last one. When they are all knitted then I will felt them. I am using my cascade 220 wool again that I used for the rainbow project bag.

Also, I am working on making felted slippers out of the alpaca cria that I bought. It has a lot of guard hairs and it was a very naughty alpaca. So far I have spun and plied 4 skeins which are around 25 to 40 yards each. I need 300 yards to make the slippers since it is a bulky yarn. It normally takes 600 yards of worsted weight held double.

I like all the colors in it. When I got the fiber, I thought it was so boring. Just brown. But there is so many different shades of brown, grey and white in it. I really, really like it.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Lego Diagon Alley

2012-01-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

So the big Lego present this Christmas was Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. It consists of 3 buildings that have all sorts of small details. It says on the box that it is for ages 14 and up but my older daughter who is younger than that put it together just fine in about 8 hours.

From the front, we have Gringott's bank, Borgin and Burkes, Ollivander's wand shop and in the front in the mini-Hogwart's express.

The inside of Gringott's bank includes a safe that opens and a chandelier.

Borgin and Burkes has a vine, a fireplace that turns, a vanishing cabinet and the skylight opens on top. Lots of movable parts on this one.

Ollivander's wand shop has two levels with lots of little bits and pieces of detail.

Legos can be so much fun.

The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook

2011-12-22T04:42:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this book yet?

They go through and analyze all sorts of different fibers (mostly sheep). There are pictures of the fiber before and after cleaning, small spun samples and even woven and knitted swatches. It talks about the history of the breeds/animal but it also tells you what kinds of things the fiber works best for and how to prepare the fleece for spinning, weaving and knitting. It's a very cool book.

So far I have found that I want to try out:

Hampshire--it looks so velvety when knitted and spun up because it is so dense. They are cool looking sheep as well.

Leicester Longwool--it looks so shiny and airy. It is supposed to be sot enough to wear next to the skin and very good for lacework.

Wensleydale Longwool--full of luster with a nice halo effect. After reading about it in Spin-off, I tought it would be nice to use to trim things.

From reading other places, I know I also want to try out cashmere, camel down, quivet, silk, cotton, and yak. As for fibers I have on hand right now: German/giant angora, alpaca, mohair locks, merino, corridale and wool from a sheep whose breed I don't know.

Wednesday WIP: Juliana in Beach Glass Bamboo Ewe

2011-12-21T04:59:00.000-08:00

OK, so last year, I won a bunch of yarn. I entered a contest at Jimmy Beans and forgot all about it and one day I got 9 skeins of Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe yarn in the mail in the color of beach glass. A couple of weeks later, I got 9 more in another dye lot of beach glass. So I have 3100 yards of this yarn.

What can you do with 3100 yards of a bamboo/wool blend in a light turquoise blue? Make a sweater. So I am knitting up Juliana by Berroco. This sweater is a cardigan that is knit sideways so that it wraps around you.

This is what I have done so far:

As you can see the dye lots differ just enough that by alternating every other row it gives it a nice gradient stripe pattern. I am also slipping the stitches at either end. I added an extra stitch so it wouldn't mess up the pattern.

The pattern up close:

As you can see there are two "holes" created every few rows. The stitches in between these openings will be unraveled when I bind off for the sleeves. I don't know that I will do the ribbed sleeves, I may do another pattern or even let the sleeves be loose.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's blog.

Rockin' Merino Hat and Mittens

2011-12-16T04:14:00.000-08:00

The hat and mittens are done. And here they are:

The hat has a really neat swirl pattern where I did the decreases. The mittens are a bit on the funky side with the way they are shaped. But I think they turned out cute.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's blog.

Thursday's Thoughts: DROPS Advent Calendar

2011-12-15T04:56:00.000-08:00

My children have an advent calendar every year. When they were little it had pictures, some years toys but most of the time they get the ones with chocolate candy. I had them growing up as well and I can still have one at DROPS.

DROPS is a Scandinavian yarn company that puts out all sorts of cool patterns for free. I've heard a lot of people say they won't use them because they have pretty models posing on the beach in heavy knitwear. Well, those beaches are really cold. But here is a link to this year's advent calendar full of all sorts of fun Christmassy things to knit or crochet: DROPS. This is the American English one. You can get the patterns in a whole bunch of different languages.

Once you are on the site, it is worth looking around at the Christmas workshop (patterns from previous years) and their catalogs which are just full of all sorts of cool patterns for knitwear and crochet. I like to look through it just to get ideas sometimes.

Thursday's thoughts are sharing of ideas, links and inspiration. Want to see more? The check out the Bits and Bobs Zone.

WIP Wednesday: Rockin' Merino Hat

2011-12-14T05:14:00.000-08:00

I finished the mittens and now I am working on a hat to match. Here it is so far:

I also have the singles spun up of my corridale roving. The next step is dyeing them rainbow with food coloring. Here they are right now:

Hopefully, on Friday I will have a hat and mittens to share. It will take a bit on getting the singles dyed and then they have to dry before I ply them.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's blog.

Frilly Alpaca Sweater

2011-12-09T04:59:00.000-08:00

I finished the frilly alpaca sweater for my youngest daughter. It turned out cute and she wore it for the first time yesterday when it was so cold.

This is the full view of the sweater with the knitted flower and embroidered flowers on the front. The sleeves are ruffled like the bottom.

Here you can see more details including the ruffled sleeves. I used homespun for the flowers.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's blog.

WIP Wednesday--Mittens & More

2011-12-07T04:52:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a number of projects recently. The big one is the frilly alpaca sweater:

It it made out of alpaca yarn and I've made a ruffled edge at the bottom and will add flowers and ruffles on the sleeves.

I've started spinning corridale wool in white:

I have 4 balls that are about 1 ounce each. Each ball is being split into 4 parts that I will draft out and spin into fingering weight. Then I am going to try and dye these rainbow with food coloring and then make a 2-ply yarn. I should get 2 2 ounce skeins of 2-ply rainbow yarn to make some cute purses out of.

And for me I am finally using the socks that rock yarn that I won from Affiknitty last year and I am making myself some warm and colorful mittens and a hat to match. So far:

I will do the fingers and start the decreases today. I am hoping to have these done by Thursday evening so I can use them after work. It is so cold when I get off work now that I want something toasty covering up my fingers.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's blog.

Shearing Honey

2011-11-18T05:06:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we decided that it was time to clip our angora's fur. This picture shows how long her fur was as I started to clip her back:

And this is the final bunny:

I still have to clip her belly and legs but she likes to nip me so I have to be sneaky about it. She looks a bit like a poodle.

I got a large baggie full of use able fur. I am going to spin it and knit up a little swatch for my older daughter to use in her 4-H project.

Changing the Blog a Bit

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

The main focus of this blog for many years has been our homschooling journey. It has changed and evolved over the years and currently we are using online public school. This is fitting our needs better even though it is frustrating at times. I still consider us a homeschooling family because I still spend quite a bit of time teaching and supervising the schoolwork that is done.

But I feel like this blog is evolving into more of an artistic expression place. A place for our family to share what we have been working on. Mainly my knitting and spinning. But also to share the 4-H projects and other things my children create.

So Hawai'ian Dreaming is going to be more about the creativity side of our lives and less about what we are doing homeschooling wise because frankly, the online public school curriculum is thorough but it is quite boring.

Finished Object Friday: Cheerful Purse & First Yarn

2011-10-21T05:09:00.000-07:00

I finished the purse, except I need to buy a zipper and sew it in and I might put a liner in it but all the knitting is done.

I decided to put the flowers on the front.

But on Wednesday, I had my lesson to learn to spin on a spindle. And I have my first yarn made out of brown sheep's wool. It's not a very pretty color and I've made it slumpy (thick and thin) due to the fact that I was learning how to spin and then learning how to make it consistent.

I am thinking of either making Errol the owl from Harry Potter with it or dyeing it purple or blue and seeing what sort of color I end up with. I really want to start playing with dyes now that I know how to spin. Next I need to go shopping for a wooden spindle and fibers. I'm thinking I want some merino and maybe something exotic like silk or camel? I don't know. What's your favorite fiber to knit with?

Want to see more Finished Objects then check out Tami's Blog.

WIP Wednesday: Cheerful Purse

2011-10-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

I work in a bakery part-time which is a fun job because I do get to be creative and I work with people who are interesting to talk to. One of my co-workers has a roommate who recently went to Belgium and was pick-pocketed. I have an upcoming trip out of the country and decided that I wanted to knit myself a fun and cheerful purse that was secure.

So I pulled out my Bernant felting wool. This stuff is nice and thick and knits up so easily. And started making this:

I am in the embellishment stage. Currently, I am working on making I-chord flowers. Two will be yellow with green buttons and one will be green with a yellow button and they will be sewn on with the lighter blue wool. These will be on the back of the purse. It fits perfectly over my head and across my chest. I do need to find a zipper of the right length and will get one in yellow or pink.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Regia Socks part 2

2011-10-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

I am at the toe decrease on the Regia socks. I like making socks but for some reason by the time I get to the foot of the socks, I really hate knitting socks. It's a time thing, I think or else it is all that ribbing along the top of the foot. Well anyway here are the Regia socks:

I think they are turning out really cute and I like how there is no pooling just a nice blending of the colors.

My next project is in the planning stage and will be a purse for me to take on vacation. I have decided that I am going to be using some pretty, cheerful yarn:

The main yarn is Bernant Felting wool and will be the body and straps of the purse. The other yarn is some homespun I was given and will be the flap and possibly a tassel or fringe. I have big pink button all picked out too. Isn't it cheerful yarn?

Check out more works in progress at Tami's Blog.

WIP Wednesday: Regia Socks

2011-10-05T04:55:00.000-07:00

I am working on a pair of socks for my oldest daughter. She likes purple and I found some nice Regia yarn in that color scheme. I am doing 2 at a time socks and am working on the foot.

Also, in two weeks, I am going to have my first lesson in learning how to spin on a spindle. If I like spinning, maybe in a few years I can buy a little wheel. But right now my budget is going to be stretched to cover hand cards and a spindle or two (one for wool and one for cotton/angora). In honor of spinning, I found a great deal on baby alpaca wool (cria) that is ready to go.

And just so you can have another look at the whole reason, I want to learn to spin, here is a current picture of Princess Honey Bunny, our little angora.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Norse Studies

2011-10-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

My youngest is entering 4th grade this year and we are starting the year with a study of the Norse peoples. We are doing a lapbook from Hands of a Child, Viking Lapbook. It is rather thorough and covers mapwork, customs, daily life, history, etc.

We are also reading:
I like this book a lot. She picked out the best myths and really made them easy to read leaving out quite a bit of the ick factor. We are enjoying it as well.

Monday Morning

2011-10-03T04:29:00.000-07:00

Today is a busy day. We have schoolwork of course and lots of errand running this afternoon. Life had perked up lately. I enjoy my part-time job and my husband got promoted so we are hoping that things will smooth out soon. The last year has been a real trial for us.

On the school front, my oldest has an art test today. My youngest and I will be exploring more Norse myths. And for our current read aloud:
We've enjoyed this book although it is not as fast paced as Harry Potter was. It has been impossible to find something that was as good as that story. But they have enjoyed the adventure and the treasure hunt in this book.

I hope you have a good Monday and start to the week as well.

Homeschool Update

2011-09-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

We are now over a month into our new school year. Online public school with my oldest is going well. She really enjoys the positive reinforcement of grades and is doing well in math. She also likes the movies and her live lessons where she gets to be a part of a class. She does not enjoy the work she has to do toward studying for standardized testing. Overall, I am happy with what she is doing. She is being challenged and is working towards improvement in areas that I struggled with teaching.

Her curriculum is mainly by Pearson and the subjects include:

math, language arts, social studies, science, technology, health & PE, and art.

My youngest is doing a mix of child and parent led learning. We are learning about the Vikings, finishing up the work for the 4-H Cat project and she is working on multiplication and division. Her reading has improved and she is probably only a year behind in most areas of her work.

Her curriculum for this year:

math--Rod and Staff 3
science--4-H
social studies/history--lapbooks
phonics/spelling--Reading Treasures Spelling & Practice books
grammar--Scott Foresman
reading--easy readers

I am fairly happy about this year even though we are spending quite a bit more time doing schoolwork.

WIP Wednesday: The Shawl

2011-09-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

We've been so busy with our new year of homeschool and my oldest daughter's online school that I missed WIP Wednesday last week. It has really been hectic but I am impressed with Connections Academy. The school is a lot of work and takes a lot of time (6 hours a day most days) but she is learning a lot.

I have been knitting though. And my shawl could be half done or almost done depending on if I want to end it with the fifth ball of ribbon or go for ten balls. Want to see?

It falls to the middle of my back right now. After a fifth ball, I think I will be able to have the ends meet easily over my shoulders. I really like it. It's all scrunchy and soft but a little scratchy on the edges. I think it looks very elegant but looks better in person than in pictures.

Also, for those of you who didn't see Monday's post. I am starting a small yarn farm. We adopted a little German/Giant mix angora. She is 8 weeks old and so fluffy. We are calling her Princess Honey Bunny:

Here she wears her princess crown and surveys all she owns. She loves her toys and is very playful. The bite on her nose is almost gone but she has a few others that are healing more slowly. Being the only girl amongst rough and tumble boys has made her a bit of a scrapper too. In November, we will give her her first hair-cut. Currently, I am trying to track down hand carders and am looking for an inexpensive spindle so I can learn to spin.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Monday Morning: New Rabbit

2011-09-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

We have a new addition to our lives:

Honey is about 8 weeks old and a mix of German and Giant angora. Right now she is about 1 pound but should be about 7 to 9 pounds when fully grown. She is all fluff and fur right now. She's a very sweet rabbit and a bit of a tomboy. She likes to hop and explore but also cuddle and be brushed.

I am looking forward to learning how to spin and using her excess fur which will need to be clipped every 3-4 months to make pretty yarn.

WIP: Shawl Part 2

2011-08-31T04:59:00.000-07:00

You won't see the socks here today. You will get to see them Friday. My next pair of socks will be made with:

My oldest loves purple and I tracked down some Regia to try for a good price.

But the big project that I am working on is my shawl. I'm glad I invested in longer cables and cable connectors because it looks like it will be really long when I get it done. The 40 inch cable is not wide enough.

It is not silky smooth like the ribbon but really squishy. I think it will be really nice for formal and semi-formal occasions and will make a nice conversation piece. Sometimes it is so hard to think of things to say at banquets and such.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Finished Object Friday: Owl Purse

2011-08-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

I finished the owl purse for my youngest daughter. It turned out really cute. I used homespun for the flap and tassel and also to outline the owl on the back.

I used cascade 220 wool for the main yarn. The owl button was the inspiration for the purse. We added the zipper pull to the tassel to add a little something else. She wanted a shorter strap but can still wear it across her chest.

On the back, I did the cabled owl. We used tiny buttons for the eyes and I used needlepoint yarn to sew them on.

She loves this purse and has filled it full of her owl treasures. A love of owls was inspired by the Harry Potter books.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's blog.

Wednesday WIP: Kimono Ribbon Shawl

2011-08-24T05:22:00.000-07:00

I've started a new project. Along with my order for my ball winder from knitpicks, I also ordered some longer cables for my interchangeable needles. So that I could make a shawl. This yarn is called Kimono ribbon:

It is so soft and silky even though it is made of rayon. I need to have it done in 4 weeks though so I can wear it to the annual banquet for my husband's work.

And I am still working on the socks. I am ready to do toe decreases:

But I now have incentive. I bought some really nice yarn for making socks and I can't wait to try them out but I have to finish this pair first.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Goodbye Sweetheart

2011-08-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

Sweetheart left us yesterday morning. She was bouncy and happy on Sunday and fell ill during the night. We will miss her so much. Bunnies are truly special pets and she showed us that.

WIP Wednesday: My New Ballwinder

2011-08-17T05:50:00.000-07:00

I have a few projects that I have been working on this week. There are the socks:

I have about an inch more to go and then I can do the toe decreases. This yarn is going OK but I can only work it for a little bit at a time because it hurts my fingers.

Then because I wanted to do something quick and easy, I started on my younger daughter's owl purse:

I looked at pictures and counted out the stitches to make the cabled owl pattern. She wanted a red purse and so it wasn't too much, I added the homespun for the flap. It will close with an owl button and have a tassel.

But the big news is that I finally got a ball winder and I can now turn all of my yarn into nice little uniform cakes:

See that messy skein? Well, we won't have anymore of that. All of my yarn will be in nice little center-pull cakes like I like them. So all my sock yarn will be workable from both ends so I can do 2-at-a-time socks.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Read Aloud: Rascal

2011-08-11T06:59:00.000-07:00

We finished Harry Potter. It was great to finish it but it is sad that it is over and there are no more adventures in the Wizarding World for us.

So we have to find new books to read. And since my girls both love wildlife and animals we are starting with Rascal.

We are on the second chapter and having so much fun reading about the antics of this raccoon and the other animals that Sterling North kept as a boy. The story is set during 1918 and is a true one. It takes place in Janesville, WI which is near where I grew up.

My husband loved this book as a child and we hope to track down a copy of the movie once we are finished and watch it as a family. This book could make a great unit study as there is a lot of great rabbit trails:

the state of Wisconsin
WWI
anthropology
wild life as pets (raccoons, skunk, crows, woodchucks, etc.)
fishing
woods and waterways
Winnebago tribe
canoe making

And as I said we are only two chapters in and I know there are lots of great things further in.

WIP Wednesday: Square Dance Socks

2011-08-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

I have been working on the 2 at a time socks in square dance. I hate this yarn! But it is OK and I will finish them. But this yarn is sort of hard and round and it hurts my fingers to knit it. I am finishing up the gussets and will be starting the foot of these right now.

They are doing a cute pattern and I like the colors. The yarn itself feels soft and spongy. I also got in my Harry Potter House stitch markers. I am using the Gryffindor and Slytherin ones for this project.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Organizing Circular Needles

2011-08-09T05:59:00.000-07:00

I've seen ads and such for all sorts of systems for keeping your circular needles organized. For the last year, I've been keeping mine in plastic baggies. But while shopping at Target, I found these cute little 13 divider organizers in the dollar spot:

I bought two. One for all the 16 inch circulars and one for the larger sizes. I may get a third for 40 inch circulars but I don't have any in that size yet but I know I need them.

Now, these did have open bottoms so I took notebook paper and cut it in half, folded those in half and stuck them in all the little openings. This is what it looks like inside:

I labeled the sections: 0s, 1s, 2s, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10s, 11plus and the back space is for 7mms. It worked out really nice. Most of my needles have their mm size stamped on them so it is easy for me to see which ones are what sizes. But for those that are not stamped, I left them in a marked baggie.

Hope this helps you get organized.

Finished Object Friday: Orange Socks & Blue Hat

2011-08-05T04:17:00.000-07:00

I have two finished projects to share this week. The first is my first pair of socks made with the magic loop method. I did these one at a time and used Ann Budd's pattern for Undulating Rib socks. The yarn is Knit Picks stroll and the color is hearth.

They each turned out a little different. One is knit more loosely and the other tighter. One has the pattern going almost to the end of the toes while the other I stopped it a little sooner.

I like them and they are the first pair that I have knit to fit me. The other four pairs of socks I have made were for my daughters.

And the hat, I created is finished. I am so happy with it.

It was knit with Red Heart homespun not boucle. I checked out the cheap yarns at Walmart and tracked it down. It is very soft and I love the color. Here is what it looks like on a head:

I really like the flower and am looking forward to exploring more fancy embellishments.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's Blog.

WIP Wednesday: Boucle Hat & 2 at a Time Socks

2011-08-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

I have two projects going this week. I couldn't resist the cheap blue boucle yarn I picked up at Goodwill for .49. It wanted me to make a hat and matching fingerless mittens. So I started on the hat:

I am just making it up as I go. I used size 9 needles to do the ribbing and am knitting the rest with size 10. I made the flower out of some other yarn that I had. It is a simple I-chord sewn together in the shape of a flower and then I have a wooden button as the center. I found the pattern for this flower in:

Yes, I am starting to get fancy. A little bit. I really wanted to make the cabbage rose but I didn't have enough yarn for that one.

And I am attempting my first set of two at a time socks on the magic loop.

I am using a discontinued yarn from Knit Picks called Dancing and this color is square dance. My youngest daughter loved this yarn and so these are her socks. To help me get started I went to YouTube and found this helpful video:

It really helped me get the socks started.

If you want to see more works in progress then check out Tami's Blog.

Organizing Buttons and Beads

2011-08-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

We have a ton of beads for doing various crafts and buttons that we have collected over the years. Instead of just having them thrown into baggies or the bottom of my sewing box, I decided to make use of bead boxes.

First, I sorted my buttons:

I have a bin for metal, hearts, menswear, bright, wooden, flower, and various animal buttons. This makes it a lot easier for me to find the perfect button for whatever project I am working on. I often use them to finish off my knitted projects.

Then we went onto the beads. My daughters helped me sort:

We have all of this plus pony beads. We sorted them by type. Now they are much easier to go through and find the perfect beads for whatever we are wanting to make.

The Joys of Cotton Yarn

2011-07-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite fibers to work with is cotton. It is soft to the touch and inexpensive to buy. Cotton can also be very easy to work with or a little tricky. It all depends on what brand and/or type of cotton you are working with.

First we have the inexpensive cotton that you find at Walmart. There is the Peaches & Creme which is the "better" brand or the Sugar & Cream. This cotton can be stiff and hard to work if you are using smaller needles or knitting too tightly. I use a bigger needle and knit loosely to keep the flow going nicely. Many people use these brands to make towels and dish cloths. I used this to make a purse.

The next step up is the "baby" cottons. These are "spun" a bit differently from the first cotton. It is super soft and squishy. I haven't worked with it yet but have plans to make some gloves out of it.

cotton is the next in line. It feels wonderful and is a dream to knit. I used these to make a towel and bought enough to make a sweater because it felt so good and knit so well.

There are many different types of cotton yarn and each is unique. Cotton is a great yarn to knit with.

WIP Wednesday: Magic Loop Socks

2011-07-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

I am knitting my first pair of socks using the magic loop method and I have to say that it is a time saver. The socks are going so quickly and there are none of those unsightly ladders. I am using Knitpicks Stroll in hearth and using the undulating rib pattern by Amy Budd. Wanna see?

I started the top of the first sock a bit loosely but I think they will be nice and they do fit me. I really liked being able to try on the socks as I go. Magic loop and socks go together for me from now on.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Monday Afternoon

2011-07-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

It was library day again. I picked up a stack of Knit Simple magazines from the library. They are OK and sometimes I get some ideas from them. I really like Knitter's the best.

My girls picked up a bunch of books about cats and various breeds. They have really enjoyed watching Cats 101 on Animal Planet and learning about all the different types of cats.

Our current read aloud is

We are about half way through the book. The first Saturday it was out we watched the last movie as well and really enjoyed it. The deaths of certain characters were rather stunning and made me cry. I get rather attached to characters in books. My girls wore their Harry Potter gear and really enjoyed the movie.

Things are starting to look more positive here. I am signing my oldest up for the online public school this year as they have some good electives that she would like to take and we really can't afford to pay someone teach her. She is looking forward to taking art and digital arts.

My youngest will continue to use Oak Meadow 3/4, Rod and Staff math 3/4, Spell to Write and Read with McCall-Harby Test Lessons in Reading and the occasional lapbook.

I also got a job in the evenings baking quick breads, pies, and cookies and such. So we have been rather busy. Not to mention all the knitting I do.

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the summer, while looking forward to the new school year.

Magic Loop: Nightmare or Dream?

2011-07-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

When I first decided that I wanted to learn how to knit socks, I went on YouTube and found some videos by knitpicks. Included in these were ones on the magic loop. I tried to use it to make my little I-pod holder and it was a disaster.

A video on the magic loop:

But this week, I used the magic loop to make a change purse. I was tired of using the double points on the cotton yarn. It worked and worked well. So now I am making my first pair of socks with the magic loop and I am so happy with the results.

First of all, it knits so closely that you don't get those unsightly ladders. And because of how the yarn is kept on the needles, my place marker floats away from the yarn rather than getting in the way of the yarn.

It is worth taking the time to learn this method but a few things to keep in mind:

use at least 29" loop to make socks or smaller circles
use needles with flexible cords otherwise you won't work
use needles that feel good in your hands

Have you tried the magic loop?

WIP Wednesday: Card Holder

2011-07-20T04:59:00.000-07:00

Now, that the summer purse is done, I want to make some matching accessories. First up is a card holder:

I came up with the idea from scratch. When the entire set is done, I am thinking about typing it all up and making it available on pdf. Is that something anyone would want?

Also, I continue to work on my palette shawl. I've made mistakes and now the newer squares are smaller than the first ones I did. But here it is:

I made that pink square too short. I may have to do something different as I go along to make it all look like it goes.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Finished Object Friday: Summer Purse

2011-07-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

I finished my summer purse. I am going to have to reinforce it though because it stretches a lot. I think I just have too much to carry. Here are some pictures:

I like the way the different stitches made different pooling designs with the yarn. The moss stitch and garter stitch scatter the colors while the knit stitch makes this pretty design.

My feathers and fan didn't turn out great but I think the buttons go well. The straps ended up being striped nicely.

I am really happy with this project and will be making a change purse and card holder to go with it.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's Blog.

WIP Wednesday: Palette Yarn and Modular Knitting

2011-07-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I posted some videos and such to figure out what to do with all those 5 yard skeins I have of palette yarn. This is a fingering weight yarn and 100% wool. Well, I really want to make a shawl out of it. You know one of those with lots of different colors going from light to dark. I decided to make squares like quilting blocks and have started with the blush (very light pink) and custard (very light yellow) yarns. Here is what I have so far:

Now, I bet you are wondering: "How is she getting all those connected while knitting them?"

Well, I knit the first block, picked up the stitches along one edge to make the second block and did the same for the third. It was the fourth block where things got tricky. When I knit toward the middle, I leave the last stitch open. Like this:

And then I get out my little crochet hook, push it through the slip-stitching on the side of the next block and pull that last stitch through. It looks like this:

Then I put that stitch back on the needle and knit it. The other side of the blocks show where everything is joined. This has been a fun and challenging thing to work out. I think it may take me some time to complete this project and I will post progress pictures as I go.

I am finishing up the cotton purse. Currently, I am working on the strap. Here it is so far:

I tried the feathers and fan for the edging on the flap. The strap is wide but it curls in on itself which will make it a bit cushy (I hope) when I use it. I still have about 6 inches or so of strap to knit before it is done and then I can sew on the buttons and finish everything off. I may redo the edging on the flap though. I cast off really tightly so it doesn't do that wave thing like it should.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's blog.

Trying New Techniques

2011-07-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

I have 200 5 yard bundles in 100 different colors of the palette yarn from Knitpicks. My mom bought into one of the sampler co-ops on Ravelry in hopes that she could use them to make all sorts of colorful crochet squares. But she doesn't like fingering weight yarn. So she gave them all to me.

What am I going to do with all these little bundles of yarn? What can I do with all of them? They are feltable. I could do Faire Isle knitting?

But, I would have to drag a pattern around with me after deciding on one and picking two colors for each row or so. It would be a lot to put this together. So I was thinking: Entrelac?

But this looks like it would take a lot of yarn of one color and I want each square/triangle to be a different color. I want to make a shawl with the bulk of the yarn and I don't have long cables for my interchangeable needles yet. Then I thought about: modular knitting?

I have a book on it but I can't find any helpful videos. It is basically knitting squares or triangles or other shapes and having them eventually evolve into something. I think I am going to research this a bit more.

What do you think?

FO Friday: Felted Notions Bag

2011-07-08T04:35:00.000-07:00

As many of you may remember, last October, I started planning on making a felted project bag in rainbow. By February I had tracked down all the yarn in Cascade 220 and made this bag:

I've since entered this bag in the fair and I will let you know how it all turns out. But you know, having a project bag is not enough. You really need a notions bag as well to keep all those small items such as yarn needles, tape measure, cable needles, etc. in. I've been using a plastic baggie but it has all sorts of holes poked in it. And I finally took the time to make a notions bag to match:

Isn't it cute? I started at the top with red and did 5 rows of each color in the round then did that Kitchener stitch at the bottom. After felting I sewed in a nice little zipper.

I picked up a whole bunch of old zippers from Goodwill for $2. I think it turned out just like I needed it to be. Everything fits nicely.

Want to see more Finished objects? Then check out Tami's blog.

4-H Projects for Fifth Grade

2011-07-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

It is now time to post pictures of the projects my fifth grader did. She did wildlife, present wrapping, fine arts (colored pencil drawing) and caged critters. Here they are:

She drew her rabbit from a photo that we had printed out in black and white. I think she did a nice job. She got a white ribbon and was given a lot of good criticism on how to improve with details and showing depth.

This is her present that she wrapped with a bow she made. She got a red ribbon and was told that the box was 1/2 inch too big long and wide. She was also told that she needed to wrap the box with a ribbon.

Her wildlife poster shows good and bad habitats for various local animals. She chose the rabbit, raccoon and the deer. She got a blue ribbon and into the honor group for this.

Her last project includes showing her rabbit and a binder of how she cared for her this past year. Each year, she adds new information to the binder. She will be showing her rabbit on Tuesday and is really excited about it.

4-H is a really great club and we enjoy it so much.

Wednesday WIP: Summer Purse

2011-07-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

I usually like to carry a straw purse in the summer months but they always end up dying on me before summer is over. So this year I am making a purse out of cotton yarn for summer. Here is what it looks like so far:

I am making up the pattern as I go along. I like how this yarn made these funky stripes on the body of the bag. It will have a large flap and a wide strap to carry it with. Almost like a messenger bag.

Check out more works in progress at Tami's Blog.

4-H Projects: Third Grade

2011-07-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. Time for the 4-H fair and we have been busy putting projects together. Today, I am going to post pictures of my third grader's projects. She did 4 projects this year. Here we go:

Fine arts

Colored pencil drawing of Harry Potter by Quidditch goal

9 patch quilt square

Wildlife habitat poster

Present wrapping with hand-made bow

Yarn: Cascade 220

2011-07-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Reasons I love Cascade 220 wool:

1. it knits easily, never catching
2. it looks beautiful when knitted
3. it felts
4. lots of colors
5. it works well with needle sizes 7 to 10 (my favorites)

Cascade is great for beginning knitters because of many of these reasons. Most new knitters start with Red Heart or something similar and find that it is hard to learn to knit. Cheap yarns are great for some projects but when you are just starting out they can be frustrating because they catch and split and are hard to move from needle to needle.

I thought I would start sharing some of my experiences with yarns.

FO Friday: Grape Sweater

2011-07-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

It is done. The mystery yarn sweater in the mock-mohair and grape coloring is finished. It is super soft and my daughter really likes it. Want to see?

My girls found a couple of old Harry Potter puzzles at Goodwill yesterday and they are in the middle of putting them together in my picture-taking spot. Lol. But there it is. The neckline and bottom have the same amount of ribbing but I did the sleeves a bit deeper because I thought it would give it character.

It was a bit of a chore to make because I had to figure out needle sizes and such. The neckline was ripped out three times before it was right and I had to rip out all of the work I did on Wednesday on one of the sleeves (about 6 inches) and redo it yesterday.

I have enough yarn left over to make a matching hat and gloves.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's blog.

Organizing My Mom's Quliting Supplies Part 1

2011-06-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

My mom collects everything including numerous hobbies over the years. Currently, she is wanting to do a home improvement project but needs to have her stuff sorted, organized and put away. So she is having me do the job for her. We are starting with her quilting supplies first as her fabric needs to be moved out of her basement and into the quilting room so that the craft area can be organized so that the electrician can get to her breaker box.

So one thing I started with was her quilting blocks. I sorted them by size and then by color. Different sizes had different amounts and we decided to use different clear boxes to keep them in.

Sandwich or kitchen storage boxes work great for quilting squares as does decorative boxes. These are her 2 inch, 3 inch and 4 and a half inch squares.

She had a lot of 4 inch squares so we used a larger storage box for those:

You can see where I sorted the squares by color for easy use. I started with red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, then did brown, white, black and multi-colored. This should make it easier for her to add in new squares as well as find what she wants to use.

As I work on this project, I will share more pictures.

WIP Wednesday: Grape Sweater part III

2011-06-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

I am almost done with the grape sweater. Just one arm to finish up. It has taken a bit longer to do this one for a couple of reasons:

1. my older daughter is bigger than my younger daughter
2. I am using smaller needles 4/6 compared to 8/9

Want to see it?

It looks really cute on her when she tries it on.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's blog.

WIP Wednesday: Grape Sweater

2011-06-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

I am working on the arms and should be done with this sweater soon. I love working from the top down because I can have my daughters try on a sweater as I go along to make sure everything is going to fit right.

I'm going to use this as trim for a matching hat and I may make fingerless mittens as well.

FO Friday: Peach Sweater

2011-06-17T04:24:00.000-07:00

I finished the peach sweater on Sunday. To make the sleeves smaller and point the right direction, I did decreases on the bottom part. I also used a sweet yellow yarn to finish it off. Pictures:

From the Front

From the back

I think it turned out to be really sweet. The ribbing gives it texture. My youngest daughter really likes the sweater.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's blog.

WIP Wednesday: Grape Sweater

2011-06-15T04:59:00.000-07:00

My oldest daughter loves purple and I found this soft mock-mohair yarn at my mom's house:

I have 7 skeins of this and decided to make her a sweater. The pattern I had called for using size 8 & 9 needles but it was too big and almost lacy. I went down to size 4 & 6 needles which seem to be the right gage. That was the first time, I pulled it all apart.

Now it is a bit tight and she needs to have it wider on the shoulders so I will be pulling these three rows apart that shape the arm holes and add more rows and make the arm holes and the sweater a bit wider. She is in the process of growing a lot so I need to make it a bit roomier otherwise she won't be able to wear it this winter. This will be the second time I've pulled it apart back to the arm shaping.

I do love making sweaters but this is mystery yarn and so I have to be a little bit more creative. The next sweaters will be made with nice yarn that has names and labels and information about weights and suggested needles sizes. I think that will make it much easier. At least with top-down sweaters you can keep trying them on to make sure they fit before moving on to the next step.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's blog.

A Trip to Greece

2011-06-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

We are currently in the midst of Greek history in our schoolwork and guess what? My mom gave me a flyer from her church for a trip to Greece next spring and she wants me to go with her. So I am going to go to Greece. The trip follows in the footsteps of Paul (my favorite).

So where are we going?

Athens
Myknonos
Ephesus & Patmos
Rhodes
Crete
Corinth & Mycenae

We will spend several days traveling by ship from island to island and will be able to see some of the historical sites as well as the sites important to events in the Bible. I'm so excited! I will get to see places that I have only read about. Greek literature is some of my favorite. I love Homer, the plays, and even some of the histories are very interesting.

Just wanted to share.

WIP Wednesday: Peach Sweater

2011-06-08T05:04:00.000-07:00

I have the body of the sweater done and am now working on the sleeves. I messed up the arm holes and made them too big and am trying to "fix" that somehow. But here is what it looks like right now:

I figure first attempts are for figuring out and playing with making something. I have a good pattern picked out for my second sweater and will be following it.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

FO Friday: Baby Kimono and Hat

2011-06-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

I finished the baby kimono and made a little hat to match. Want to see?

I still need to sew on the snap or ribbon to hold it closed. I think it is a nice gender neutral set. The hat took no time at all to make. I can see why people like to make them for charity.

Want to see more finished objects? Check out Tami's Blog.

WIP Wednesday: Peach Sweater

2011-06-01T06:18:00.000-07:00

I am making my first sweater. I've learned not to waste good yarn when you make a complicated project for the first time so I am using some recycled peach acrylic yarn. This sweater will fit my youngest daughter when it is done. Want to see so far?

I used a pattern as a guide to get started and then sort of took off on my own. I keep measuring it against my daughter to make sure that things are where I need them to be. It has a wide neck hole and once we got past the top, I am doing it in a 3 by 1 ribbing for the body just to give it some texture. The sleeves as you can tell by my waste yarn will be picked up and knit into the sweater once the body is finished. It is going rather quickly (2 days work) and I hope to make a sweater out of my nice yarn soon.

Want to see other works in progress? Check out Tami's Blog.

Monday Morning

2011-05-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of excitement at our house. We found a little squirrel who had broken back legs. We called animal control and they came and got her and hoped to find a wildlife rehabilitator to help her out. She was very sweet.

Here she is resting after digging up and eating some nuts she had buried in the fall. She is hiding in our raspberry patch. It took a bit for her to be caught and she even tried to climb up the tree with broken legs.

Hope you have a good Monday and a wonderful week.

Chunky and Fingering Weight Hat

2011-05-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

I had some beautiful yarn in Sausalito from Crystal Palace yarns. I made fingerless mitts and decided to make a matching hat but had an awful time finding a pattern I liked so I created my own. First, pictures of the hat:

View from the top

Folded in fourths

What I used:

Chunky Mochi (a small bit) chunky
Sausalito (1 skein) fingering weight
size 6 and 4 needles dpn & 16 inch circular

How I did it:

cast on 98 stitches with chunky yarn on size 6 needles
5 rows of knit 1 purl 1
knit 5 knit 1 front and back
knit

knit front and back every stitch with fingering weight on size 4 needles
knit 35 rows (6 inches)

decreasing
knit 5 knit 2 together
knit
knit 10 knit 2 together
knit
knit 9 knit 2 together
knit
continue until you get to knit 2 knit 2 together
knit 1 knit 2 together
knit 2 together
knit 2 together
weave yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight
finish

I love the hat. Enjoy the pattern.

4-H Tye-Dye Fun

2011-05-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

For our last 4-H meeting of the year, we decided to have the kids tye-dye shirts and draw up ideas for the trash can that they will decorate sometime in June. Want to see pictures of the shirts my girls made?

My oldest wanted to make something with purple. She also added in green and blue. I think it turned out very pretty.

And my youngest wanted to do something in gold and red that would look very Gryffindor. It's a very bright shirt. They had lots of fun and now we are busy with getting our projects ready for the fair in July. Just over a month away. I will post projects here as we finish them.

WIP Wednesday: Baby Kimono

2011-05-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

I won some wonderful yarn from Crystal Palace Yarns blog for my "It's All About Me" project in March. It is their new Cotton Twirl yarn and I won 3 skeins in green:

It is a very soft cotton. And so because a friend of mine recently made a little announcement and I thought it would be good practice, I decided to make a baby kimono:

I am almost done with the first side of the front. It is all knit in one piece and then I go back and finish up the other arm and front side. It's a pretty color that would be nice for a boy or a girl.

Want to see other works in progress then check out Tami's Blog.

Yarn Surprise

2011-05-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

The mailman stopped by today and it seems that I won a contest at jimmy beans wool that I signed up for back in March. I had completely forgotten about it and they had my address from a previous order so I was in shock when I got a package of 9 skeins of:

So I have1593 yards of this in a pretty beachy blue. I am thinking of making a sweater or maybe a cover-up for the pool. It's nice and soft.

This was a real nice thing that cheered me up.

Answers to Comments

2011-05-19T06:16:00.000-07:00

Next year's plans:

Fourth grade will start in January but my plans are to use Oak Meadow 4, Rod and Staff math 4, Scott-Foresman free language arts worksheets, and have her start reading some material on her own.

Sixth grade will start in June and our plans are to use Oak Meadow 6, Rod and Staff math 6, Scott-Foresman free language arts worksheets, Lively Latin Big Book 1, and some free spelling stuff I found online.

What pulled us down:

There are so many factors that pulled us down this past winter. One of the biggest is that my in real life homeschool support network took some major blows this year. We did not have a place to meet weekly during the winter months and so we all missed out on each other's support. Also, I normally get depressed during the winter months but I usually have my friends to help keep my spirits up. This year I did not have that.

So I felt pulled down by the fact that my family continues to struggle financially. My husband is in sales and people just aren't buying things right now. I also struggled with where my children are at academically. Despite the fact that I try to make learning engaging and fun, my daughters both hate school and don't like to learn. Thinking is something they try to avoid. At times I felt like I have really failed them but I know that I have tried my best to encourage learning and make it fun.

So all of this really pulled me down. I spent a lot of time feeling disillusioned, disappointed and depressed. I've avoided all the homeschool forums, I would regularly visit because they just made me feel worse. I avoided a lot of things.

But with spring comes rebirth and the chance to start anew. I am feeling better again. My playgroup is able to meet weekly again and I am ready to take on life and homeschooling.

Monday Morning

2011-05-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

I've taken some time to reorient myself. Some time to reflect, plan and get over the things that really drug me down this winter. I am feeling much better now and would have to say that this year was not so good.

Where are we now?

I am starting to feel more focused. Life is what it is and I can only accept it and there is little I can do to change things that are not within my power to change.

As for homeschooling, we continue to plug along. Our line-up includes

Oak Meadow 3 & 6
Rod and Staff math
Scott-Forseman free language arts worksheets
4-H projects
Famous Men of Greece
Lively Latin

My girls are still in the midst of Harry Potter mania and I've brought back Latin since all of the spells in the books are based on them. Sneaky, aren't I?

I continue to knit and will post some of my finished objects in the weeks to come. I've been very silent online and have only been reading e-mail, facebook and fan-fiction right now. In the coming weeks, I may start to read forums again.

I hope everyone has a good Monday.

Wednesday WIP: Wand Holders

2011-04-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

With the Harry Potter craze going on around me, I have been busy making my own girls and their friends wand holders. These take about a day to make at a leisurely pace. Would probably only take an hour or two if I wanted to just focus and knit instead of knitting while I read. Here are some finished ones:

And the one I am currently working on:

This is a pattern I created myself. I didn't care for the pattern in the Charmed Knits book, so decided to do my own thing. In person they look best in the fuzzier type yarns than the flat yarns.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Finished Object Friday: Fingerless Mittens

2011-04-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have pictures to post of my mittens today. They are finished and I am happy with them:

Now, I just need to finish the hat and I will have a nice set for next winter.

Check out more finished objects at Tami's blog.

WIP Wednesday: Sausalito & Chunky Mochi Hat

2011-04-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

I am designing a hat. With the rest of the sausalito yarn I wanted to make a hat but I was worried about running out so I decided to make the brim with my leftover chunky mochi. It is beret style and when I am done, I will post the pattern which I am making up as I go along. Here it is so far:

It is really soft and I love how it has been coming out in stripes all over.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's blog.

Finished Object Friday: March Projects

2011-04-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

I thought I would catch you all up with my finished objects for March. Here they are:

A towel in Plymouth Yarns cotton. I've ordered some of this yarn in a different color to make a sweater.

A wand holder in eyelash yarn from Jo-anne's that my mom bought.

Another wand holder, this time in a fingering weight cotton. These were fun to make.

A Gryffindor scarf in the wide stripes. This took me a couple of weeks to make. I also made another wide stripe Gryffindor hat and a small stripe Ravenclaw hat for my girls' best friends.

It has been a busy knitting month. Check out more finished objects at Tami's blog.

WIP Wednesday: Fingerless Mittens

2011-04-06T04:30:00.000-07:00

I am still working on my fingerless mittens. One is done and the other is almost there:

They are really nice and warm. Currently, I am looking at patterns for a matching hat. I may use my Chunky Mochi in this color for the brim and the Sausalito for the rest of the hat. The hat will probably not be cabled but we will see what I can come up with.

Want to see more Works in Progress? Check out Tami's blog.

Library Bag

2011-04-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd do a post on what we have been picking up at the library recently. My youngest is in a big Harry Potter stage and has been scouring the bookshelves for related materials. Her current picks are:

and
She has really enjoyed looking through these.

My recent picks have been:
Lots of great information in this tiny book.
I would like to make some sweaters over the summer for myself and my daughters.

My oldest has been reading:
Well, the first book anyway. I loved the series when I was younger and thought she would like it but she says that there are too many words and no pictures. Otherwise she is still spending most of her reading time with graphic novels.

What books are you enjoying now?

Monday Evening

2011-04-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

I am feeling much better now and things are perking back up with our school days. My youngest is about to move up a level in math and we are working on word retention in her reading through the use of Dr. Seuss's books. We are also moving into a nice unit on Native Americans.

My oldest is plugging along with Oak Meadow 6. She is currently studying plants and ancient China. She thinks the stories in Rainbow People are sort of weird. We are also working on spelling and trying to ease her fears of writing.

As a family we are now reading Order of the Phoenix. That means we are more than half-way through the series. Everyone is really enjoying these books.

I hope everyone else had a good Monday.

WIP Wednesday: Sasaulito Mittens

2011-03-30T04:55:00.000-07:00

Last week, I won a contest on Ravelry for the Crystal Palace Yarns group. They had a thread about their new yarn line and would draw a name for every 10 people who entered. I won two balls of Sausalito in Mediterranean.

So what should I do with this beautiful yarn? I decided to make the mittens I have always wanted. I need them since all of my store bought ones have holes in them. And I wanted them to be pretty. So I went to the Crystal Palace website and went through their patterns for this weight of yarn and found Sausalito Fingerless Gloves.

Here is my first glove:

This is my first time doing cables on a project. I tried them out one time on a square. What do you think? I'm loving this yarn and the pattern is fairly simple once you have it down. I am still undecided over whether I will make them mittens, gloves or leave them fingerless. What do you think?

Want to check out more works in progress? Then take a look at Tami's blog.

Monday Morning

2011-03-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

I am ready to get back to the normal schedule. We had a weekend break away from the girls on top of spring break last week. So I am ready to start this week out good. It is back to schoolwork and the regular routine. Wish me luck.

WIP Wednesday: Gryffindor Scarf

2011-03-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

I have been knitting a lot lately. Over the course of the last three weeks I have finished a large felted purse, a towel, a hat, fingerless mittens and most of a Gryffindor scarf. Want to see how the scarf is turning out?

I am on the 14th of 19 stripes. It is going quickly but I do have to say that I don't care for the cheap circular needles that I bought from China. After a while the wood starts to hurt my fingers and by the half way mark one of the needles was starting to break off. I taped it up but that makes it awkward now.

Why am I knitting so much? It is dreary outside.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's blog.

Books on Sweater Knitting

2011-03-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

While I was knitting my last towel in the Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Natural yarn, I just knew that this yarn would make a beautiful cardigan to wear on chilly days. It knits nicely. It's cotton so not too warm and it comes in just gorgeous colors. So I ordered the yarn this past week and have checked out a number of books on top-down and seamless knitted sweaters.

This one is good. It talks about set in sleeves and such. Basically, it tells you how to make it so that you don't have to sew the sleeves to the sides of the sweater. You just pick up the stitches around the armhole and go at it. It all looks very interesting.

This one has a lot of neat ideas and very pretty sweaters. I plan on making a "test" sweater for my youngest daughter before making my own. I will probably use one of the patterns in here to make hers.

This is a really cool book. The top half is different bodies that you can knit and the bottom is sleeves and collars. I have found a lot of really neat ideas in this one and may use it for the second sweater for my older daughter.

There are some really neat books out there on sweater making. Now, I just have to figure out what I want to make for myself. Enjoy.

Monday Morning: Spring Break

2011-03-14T03:54:00.000-07:00

We are taking a much needed spring break this week. This will help us adjust to the time change and refocus. Things are getting back on track here after feeling very down for a while. I feel much more up and I think next week we will be ready to charge forward again.

Sometimes in homeschooling just like life you do hit ruts, walls and get depressed about the output. When that happens you need to take a step back. Take a break and let it all go for a week or so and then come back refreshed and recharged. That is what we are going to do this week.

I wish you all a happy Monday and a good start to the week.

WIP: Fingerless Mitts

2011-03-09T04:50:00.000-08:00

My mother gave me some yarn and a magazine and pointed out to me that she wanted some fingerless mittens. I've been putting it off since I had other projects to do and I didn't know how to make mittens much less fingerless ones.

This week, I decided to pull out that yarn. It is awful stuff, black, acrylic in some sort of fuzzy weave. It is almost as difficult to work with as eyelash. And I took a look through the Ravelry database for a pattern for bulky yarn using a 10 or 10 1/2 needle.

The gloves started out sort of slow but I quickly found my rhythm. The first one is done and the second is just cast on:

It's a very simple pattern and the black and white looks sort of neat.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's blog.

The Quest for Yarn

2011-03-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

There are times when you have a project in mind and you decide that you want to use a particular yarn. Like in my project bag. I wanted to make it rainbow and I decided to use Cascade 220 because it felts and my local yarn shop carries it.

But then, I realized after buying a few skeins that my yarn shop didn't have the exact colors I wanted. Only a few of them were in stock. So I had to go online and it took me a couple of months of scouring the yarn store, swapping and buying from other people's stash before I had my rainbow and was able to start my bag.

Other times, the quest is much simpler. When I decided that I wanted to make a shawl out of silk ribbon, I quickly found what I wanted for a great price and had it in my hands within a week.

The quest can be fun. Sometimes I just like to look at pictures of yarn online just to see what is out there and what people are doing with it. I get lots of ideas about what I want to use in future projects and even what I want to make.

Yarn, it is something that is very intriguing. What are you on the hunt for?

WIP Wednesday: Easter Egg Purse

2011-03-02T04:49:00.000-08:00

I have a new project to show you. On Sunday, I cast on what I had named my "Spring purse." It is another felted purse but it uses wool and novelty yarn. The pattern I am using is stained-glass-felted-bag. Although my looks more like an Easter egg. Here are some pictures:

The "right" side, which doesn't have as much fun fur being pulled through.

The "wrong" side which is probably the side I will show to the world once it is done.

See what I mean? It is all glittery and shiny and the colors are so pastel. But it will be a fun bag to carry for spring time. I am using up some of my supply of fun fur that my mom picked up years ago as well as the Bernant felting wool that I recently picked up in five different shades.

Want to see more works in progress? Then check out Tami's Blog.

Read Aloud: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2011-03-01T05:01:00.000-08:00

We are in the midst of our latest read aloud:

This book is much longer than the previous ones and it was chapter 11 before we even boarded the train to Hogwarts. Currently, we have just witness the arrival of the students from the other two schools. So we really haven't gotten to the meat of the story yet, it is all still building up.

These books have inspired my girls so much. They play various games they created based on the books, created characters for Wii and have been introduced to proper English and "big" words. I get stopped while I am reading to explain what these "big" words mean. Hopefully, they will start to creep into my girls' vocabulary.

Overall, we are really enjoying these books greatly.

Monday Morning

2011-02-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

The end of winter/spring blues have set in. The rainy season is here and everything is a challenge to do. School work progresses but sometimes, it is so hard. But we push through and get it done. I would like most to just curl up with a good book or a movie and my knitting but we continue to struggle through the days.

This is where a good rhythm really keeps up in line. With it, I know that I need to do certain things on certain days and they get done. Whereas without the rhythm, I had a tendency to just let everything go at this time of year.

Hope your Monday is a good one.

FO Friday: Two Projects Done

2011-02-25T05:03:00.000-08:00

I finished both of my big projects for February this week. On Sunday I finished up the undulating rib socks in Alpaca with a Twist. Here they are:

I like the way the pattern shows up when you wear them. I did modify it a bit in that I didn't keep the pattern up while working on the toe decreases. My daughter really likes them.

And I finished the towel for my dryer. It took 3 skeins of Sugar 'n Cream:

The pooling shows up in this one. I really like the subtle blue darts across the yellow with just a hint of green. It is bright and cheerful and sitting on my dryer right now.

If you want to see more finished objects then check out Tami's blog.

Weekly Report

2011-02-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

We continue to push ahead. Nothing much exciting going on just the dull plodding of schoolwork. We are in the boring part of the year where I feel uninspired, tired and a bit uncreative when it comes to school. I think we are really in dire need of a break. We should have taken one this week with the Monday holiday and in honor of my oldest in much pain because she had 4 springs put in on her braces and I am just not feeling well this week.

So what did we do?

Third Grade

She totally gets sounding out now and it is only a matter of time before she edges me aside and picks up the books and goes off on her own. She loves books. It was just a matter of everything clicking. In science we tracked weather and in math she is almost through working with the triplet facts as Rod and Staff teaches it and ready to start her new math book and explore new worlds.

Fifth Grade

My oldest did well with her spelling list and I think it has finally clicked that if she sounds out the words that she can figure out how to spell them. Once we are past this then we can really dig into working with composition. In science she continues to study plants and in history it is ancient Egypt. In math we are working on English measurement which is very difficult for a child who has only been taught metric in the past. Metric makes so much more sense--so why don't we shrug off the illogical system of English measure and switch to it?

Overall, it was a decent week but I am tired and feel like hibernating for a while. Hopefully things will perk up next week.

WIP Wednesday: Moss Stitch Towel

2011-02-23T04:55:00.000-08:00

I am on my third skein of cotton yarn and I have three sets of blocks left to go and I will have my towel and all my February projects done. Here is a picture:

I think it is turning out nicely.

So what do I have planned for March?

a present for my oldest daughter's best friend
a pair of socks for me
or possibly a shawl in this:

another view:

Louisa Harding Kimono Ribbon in blue/black/deep purple. It is so soft and silky and I can't wait to work with it and make a shawl to wear with my formal dresses which all happen to be black.

Want to see more works in progress? Check out Tami's blog.

Monday

2011-02-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

It is wet, dark, damp, raining and I feel sort of chilled and quiet. School went OK this morning. We got the job done. We also made it to the orthodontist and the library despite the downpour.

My library picks this week:

This was waiting on me. I had requested it.
I found this. There are some neat projects on Ravelry involving this method.

And the kids picked up some books too:
My youngest still loves all things Ancient Egypt.
My oldest loves these books.

There really needs to be more graphic novels, comics and manga about/for girls. We can't be the only ones that love this sort of stuff?

So how was your Monday?

Weekly Report

2011-02-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

We are at the point in the year where we are running full steam pushing through the material and getting a lot of work done. There is not a lot of exciting things going on as we are trying to just master the material. Here are the highlights:

Grade 3

reading: Flip and the Morning by Wesley Dennis
language arts: verbs and working on phonics and reading
math: 14, 7 and 7, 15, 9 and 6, and working on regrouping with addition and subtraction

Basically, we are working really hard on the three r's and making good progress.

Grade 5

reading: Tourist Trap by Charles Ogden
language arts: verb tenses, composition
spelling: easy words to gain confidence
science: seeds
history: Egypt
math: turning improper fractions into whole numbers or mix fractions, things like 3/4 of 24 and 3 1/4 times 9

Again, she is making lots of progress and we are working our way through some tough material. We are working through it all though.

It has been a good week. A week of progress and a week of hard work and teaching. I am happy with it.

WIP Wendesday: Still Working

2011-02-16T05:31:00.000-08:00

I am still working on my socks in the undulating rib pattern. I have one done and am working on the foot of the other:

I hope to have them done by Friday.

And I am also still working on my cotton towel in the moss grid pattern:

I have two rows of squares done and am getting read to start the third set. Once I have the socks done, I want to finish this before starting another project.

The weekend was busy and so I didn't have a lot of quality knitting time.

Song of the Week: Mummification

2011-02-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

I really like these history songs and we listened to "Mummification" done to the tune of Green Day's "Good Riddance."

Enjoy.