Charm & Whimsy

The BEST instructional video for the Kitchener Stitch as well as adorable pixie hat from Vintage Baby Knits.

Ahhh - the Kitchener Stitch...the devil's worst torture!! I've been working on an adorable pixie baby hat for the little guy from the fabulous Vintage Baby Knits by Kristen Rengren.

I'm using a beautiful variegated merino sock yarn (lost the tag!) and whipped up the hat in a jiffy but then I got stuck on using the Kitchener Stitch to make up the back seam. It stopped me in my tracks for weeks. I tried it, ripped it out, tried it again - swore a lot, ripped it out again. This insanity was repeated about 5 times before I finally just put it away. I pulled it out yesterday to show my Mom and sister and lamented that I still hadn't figured out the freaking stitch yet to complete the hat.

So tonight I scoured the internet and found the BEST instructional video for the Kitchener Stitch. I watched many, I read many written instructions, this one is by far the best and I think mostly because of the fact that it's 4+ minutes long so she does the stitch set over and over again and it helps you pick up the rythym. I love you KnitWitch!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jIzwO5Nv4

Since it's 10:44pm on a "school" night I'm too lazy to find the camera, take a picture and then upload so I'll post a picture once it's completely done and blocked.

Lots of craftyness these days getting ready for baby. Still working on the nursery mural, started painting the details this weekend. Also finished another sweater. Will try to post them soon.

Have a great week!

How to block a baby sweater.

 So I've never actually blocked any of my knitting or crocheting...I know I know you die hards out there...judge me if you will. I'm lazy and just glad to finish projects. Actually, I mostly make toys, booties, etc so I haven't had the need to block often but still.

Fast forward to today, finishing a baby sweater for my sweet little bun in the oven. The pieces were terribly curled up (see below) and hard to sew together so I decided to try this blocking thing. It was pretty easy and although the pieces didn't end up completely flat, the blocking definitely made it easier to sew everything together. There are many different methods for blocking. I chose the the spray damp method b/c of the yarn I used. See below for some resources I found really helpful.

What you'll need:

• Towel(s)
• T-pins or other long, straight pins
• Spray bottle with water in it
• Tape measure
• Your pattern
• Your piece to be blocked

How to:

1. Fold your towel in half, you want a bit of thickness, lay it on a flat surface

2. Pin out your pieces to the measurements in your pattern or desired size

3. Spray the piece until it's nice and damp. Smooth out the edges and any rumpled stitches (I tend to knit looser than I purl so I always have a lumpy stockinette stitch. The blocking evened it out nicely!)

4. Measure once more to make sure the work hasn't shifted during your smoothing, adjust pins as needed.

5. Let dry completely and voila! Your piece is now blocked and ready to put together.

 
(sorry for the terrible lighting on all of these. Crafty time is late at night these days since work is so hectic)

I've also made two lovely baby sweaters from Sirdar patterns and their instructions require you put everything together and then block. Haven't blocked those yet, maybe this weekend. Will post those soon. Still missing the buttons and flower embroidery along the bottom hem and sleeves of this one (I'm still thinking I've got a girl in there - we'll know for sure later this week! Squeal!!).

The Basics of Blocking, part 1 (Knitting Daily) - basics
Tools for the DIY Knitter (Knitty) - this is a great page on blocking methods based on yarn used
Roll Your Own Blocking Board (Yarn Maven) - in case you want to get fancy and make yourself one

Lots of baby crafty in the works. We started the mural in the nursery over Memorial Day weekend. Today I painted the clouds, tree and leaves. I've made a rough sketch of what else will go on the walls but having difficulty figuring out where to put all the little goodies. Will post about this soon too. I forgot to take a picture of the room before all cluttered and full of furniture (although here is a good view of my mountain of a craft table the week before I cleared it out of the room) but I've been good about taking pictures of the mural in stages. Can't wait to share!! It's looking good if I may say so myself :)

Alrighty then...good luck with your blocking!

Good grief...it's been too long but it's been a good absence.

I've been meaning to write. I've started several posts. I even started a tutorial, actually two. What can I say - I've been a bit scattered lately. However, I have been prolific in my craftyness! This is what my crafty table looks like. Yikes!



Let's see what we have in progress...

1. 3 baby sweaters (knit & crochet)
2. 2 crochet baby blankets
3. crochet baby booties
4. flannel pantyliners (I'm doing my part to save the world)
5. crochet footstool cover
6. crochet teddy bear
7. flannel baby blankets
8. applique onesies

Hmmm... are you thinking what I'm thinking? Why all the baby things?

Well we're having a baby!! Yippeeeee!!! So, besides my schizophrenic craftyness (I haven't finished one thing) I've been busy making a human being so I'm going to cut myself some slack for not posting. :)

I'm 15 weeks along and everything is going great! It's been a long road to this point. We're thrilled everything is going so well so far. Our last ultrasound showed her (I'm convinced it's a girl although we don't know for sure) kicking and punching and flipping around. Very exciting!

More to come soon. Thanks for stopping by - hope you're all doing well and enjoying Spring!

I love you Joan Odle.

May God bless you and your incredible talent to make the best cookie in the entire world!

Butter cookies with frosting (drool). Yum yummy yummmmmmmmm!! I am basking in the glow of your glory. My tummy loves you (my hips don't) and I can't thank you enough for the tasty treats this weekend.

For those of you who need some tasty cookies yourself, you're in luck, she runs a cookie store in Palm Desert, P.S. Cookie Co and she ships! Yahooooo!!!

I love our kitchen table.

Is it the tablecloth? Is it the little red enamelware tray? Maybe the Schlitzerland tray on the wall? It's likely the IKEA lamp with plastic cover still on the lampshade (I channel old lady sometimes)... I think it's everything and that we've started eating there again which is so much nicer than eating on our laps in front of a TV not really talking to one another.

Although it pained me to cook this spread (I'll bake a cake any day but cooking is not my thing), this was the Valentine's Day dinner last month that got us eating at the table again. For that, I'm thankful :)

Mini Extreme Home Makeover on our street.

Hello again! It's been awhile and there is so much going on. Been working on so many things at home, work and in little old Redwood Village, San Diego (our neighborhood).

The big thing to share is the recent volunteer community project that took place in my neighborhood. It was a beautiful day and we changed someone's life. It was fantastic.

Linda is our neighbor across the street. She is an 81 year old widow on a fixed income. She is going blind and both she and her house needed some TLC. Our neighborhood council (led by a selfless, community-minded superstar - Anna you rock!!) organized a mini Extreme Home Makeover. In 6 weeks, donations were gathered, materials were purchased and neighborhood volunteers were signed up.

With approx 50 volunteers over 2 days we patched cracks inside and stucco outside, cleaned up her yard, reglazed windows, installed security features, took care of 3'x5' bee hive in her back wall (with Africanized honey bees aka killer bees no less!) painted inside and out, installed a new fridge, stove and lights among other things. It was great! Here she is after all was said and done in her "new" living room.

If you're interested in helping someone in your community there is an organization called Rebuilding Together that does similar projects. There may be a local chapter where you are and you can help improve someone's life :)

Sweet peanut butter bear toast for your sweet.

Check out this beary cute snack over at Little Nummies. There are some really cute food and snacks that look like animals. Wouldn't this be a great afternoon snack for the kiddies when they get home from school?

Speaking of afterschool snacks - what were your favorites growing up? My favorite was an open faced toast with melted swiss on top cut into little strips. The edges were crusty and the middle was squishy, bubbly and melted. Oh so tasty :)

David after the dentist and a gorgeous Victorian in Newburgh, NY.

I'm sitting in a DC hotel room in a daze after a very long week of work and travel (yes I know it's only Wednesday). Watching LOST, reading some favorite blogs, trying to get some work done (not very well) and blogging.

Found this via Door Sixteen and couldn't stop laughing/crying. He is so cute poor little guy. "Is this going to be forever??" Oh my goodness it cracks me up.

Also spent a good chunk of time loving the tour of Anna's gorgeous Victorian remodel. BTW, doesn't her bathroom tile floor (above) look like a black pebble beach? Awesome.

My Christmas Cactus flowered!!

 

Someone at work was going to throw this plant away so I took it in, planted it in a bigger pot and gave it a little friend. Alas, a year went by and it never bloomed. 

After awhile I googled how to make it flower and it said to place the plant in a dark room for about 14 weeks. So I did and lo and behold - it began to form little buds and now they are all opening. It's beautiful!! New buds are still forming too, see the itty-bitty little pink bud there?  :)

Burgertime - Level 9 and a score of 98,200

I ROCK! Take that you wily pickles and weanies.

Challenge me if you dare...