tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174068062024-03-14T14:49:32.545-04:00annypurlsKnitting triumphs (and disasters) of a suburban mother of three.Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-55693115739187787202010-02-12T15:36:00.001-05:002010-02-12T15:37:38.143-05:00It's Olympic knitting time!!The laundry is done. The house is as tidy as it can be really with 2 boys barreling around. The hubby is on a two week paternity leave starting today at 5pm. The take out order has been placed for tonight. Friends and relatives have been notified of my hermit status for the next 2 weeks. And my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravelympics-2010">Ravelympics</a> project is on standby...<br />
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That's right! It's <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2010/02/10/the_2010_knitting_olympics.html">Olympic knitting</a> time bay-bee and I can barely contain all my excitement: all that knitting, all that cheering, all that pride in hosting the games, all that guilt-free telly watching for hours on end while completely ignoring all household chores.... Just bliss!<br />
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I'll be competing in the sweaterboard event on Ravelry and attempting to knit a (heavily modified) <a href="http://www.neoknits.com/patterns/free-patterns/">Sesame</a> cardigan for myself from stash Rowan All-Seasons cotton and another mini version for Abbey in 17 days.<br />
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Can barely wait until 9 tonight to cast on! These will be the best games ever!!<br />
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Go, Canada, Go!Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-61693855900246952222010-02-10T09:22:00.000-05:002010-02-10T09:22:09.622-05:00Mmmalabrigo!I've felt wool. Even merino wool. And I know that quality wool can be soft. Soft enough for next to baby's skin even. But Malabrigo? That is some kind of dreamy butta. And once you try it... well it's hard to stop!<br />
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I started with five balls last fall. It came highly recommended for soakers and since I was planning to cloth diaper baby I was primed with the perfect excuse to order it! With those five generous balls I knit her a pretty compete trousseau of yummy goodness starting with a placket neck sweater from Joelle Hoverson's <i>Last Minute Knitted Gifts </i>(one of my very favourite knitting books). It took less than a ball of Malabrigo and man has she gotten wear out of this one. It is just so darling. And comfortable. And dreamy. Love it!<br />
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Then came the picky pants. I used Theresa Belleville's pattern over at <a href="http://littleturtleknits.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_77&products_id=213">Little Turtle Knits</a> and knit them with both increases and short rows to accommodate her fluffy cloth diapered bottom. I knit the medium, small and extra small sizes and was pleasantly surprised that each used up just one ball of Malabrigo (in lettuce, glazed carrot and dusty pink respectively). There were even leftovers from which I knit a striped pink and orange soaker (in first picture above) using Radiant Twist's <a href="http://www.radianttwist.com/?page_id=232">trim-fit soaker</a> pattern.<br />
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Then came the most adorable thing I've ever knit: the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><u>Juliette</u></span><a href="http://hyenacart.com/Julibeans/index.php?c=12&p=35312"> skirt and soaker pattern</a> from Tia Novick for Julibeans. I knit the A-line version and finished it off with the tedious but lovely picot bind-off. Love, love, love it! She doesn't get to wear this one as much because it's just too cold really to keep a teeny baby in tights but I see lots more of these in my future for spring and summer. The colourway is Violetas (how fitting for my little Abbey Violet ;0) and it also just used up one ball (I knit up size small).<br />
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What? There is yarn left? Well then, let's make some booties, shall we? I knit up two pairs of<a href="http://www.fabulousyarn.com/babybootypattern.htm"> Dreambaby Booties from Fabulous Yarns</a>. Getting the pattern is kind of a pain because while it is free you still have to checkout from the site with it but totally worth it because it is the simplest bootie pattern you will ever knit. I only knit 6 rows of garter stitch at the beginning (3 garter bumps) and then knit the rest entirely in stocking stitch. Lovely. And they never fell off! She wore these lots and lots. Mine ended up being different sizes because I used different sized needles. Unfortunately, I didn't document that part so have no idea which needles I used :0/<br />
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And after all of that, there was still enough yarn for a little newborn hat. And a flower binky holder using <a href="http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/2008/06/flower-pacifier-clip.html">Susan B. Anderson's free pacifier clip pattern</a>. Isn't it great to knit for winter babies? Everything is so quick and uses so little yarn. I can't believe I knit all this from just five balls! The only downside to this yarn? It pills. Like mad. Better reason yet to use it for wee wee babes that don't move a lot ;0)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SErTrJzwjgsj2m_DGU6jpGf2L0jJNo9ebZUbAn29GG6I-ZpWyaGY84PgWUCbA-QLpmJSgLGh33lui37-ab0UQd67RsqMW6ThZqppOWVjsdUBUi00uyb4ROo4-JapvQ0zO9tb/s1600-h/3793082964_4a45768e5a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SErTrJzwjgsj2m_DGU6jpGf2L0jJNo9ebZUbAn29GG6I-ZpWyaGY84PgWUCbA-QLpmJSgLGh33lui37-ab0UQd67RsqMW6ThZqppOWVjsdUBUi00uyb4ROo4-JapvQ0zO9tb/s200/3793082964_4a45768e5a_b.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCLEGfcSQz2JlrKK85qyhkixC6GDte7jfKai1cMlGeJyJuhxus2g3eJMGbhKX0NxY_stvcXTYqIJjkirBQ2LrxItWv-9ffQ4BGizGkyF0UTEC3qWVJTNy6EUjs570GRrJ0ZxV/s1600-h/3793084454_765388e02f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCLEGfcSQz2JlrKK85qyhkixC6GDte7jfKai1cMlGeJyJuhxus2g3eJMGbhKX0NxY_stvcXTYqIJjkirBQ2LrxItWv-9ffQ4BGizGkyF0UTEC3qWVJTNy6EUjs570GRrJ0ZxV/s200/3793084454_765388e02f_b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Sigh. What a wonderful week that was. It was also what pulled me back into knitting after such a long break and it was just the medicine I needed. So if you've heard the malabrigo rave before but didn't believe it, believe it! It is that wonderful ;0)<br />
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So naturally, now that she started outgrowing that first lot of malabrigo goodness, it was time to hit the shops again in search of more glorious malabrigo for her 3-6 month trousseau! <br />
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More on that next time...Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-65279287230280713682010-02-08T10:00:00.008-05:002010-02-08T10:34:24.847-05:00I'm up for a Bobby? What?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I got a message a few days ago on Ravelry thanking me for my info on how to take better photos and wishing me luck for the awards. Awards? What awards? Turns out I've been nominated for a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bobby Award</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> on Ravelry for</span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/bobbys?award=161"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> "most educational post/thread"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.<br />
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The post was a response to a thread on how to take better pictures of your knitting and I thought why not reproduce it here for any of you not on Ravelry who may have been wondering about my photos. So here it is:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><br />
posted <abbr style="cursor: help;" title="Sunday, July 6 at 4:31 AM">about 1 year ago</abbr> (Sunday, July 6), edited about 1 year ago<br />
reply to <a class="parent_post_reference" href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/for-the-love-of-ravelry/249927/26-50#27" onclick="showForumReply(this, 5012651); return false;" style="color: #666666;">Gidgeflibbit's post #27</a><br />
I am a researcher by trade (actually I was a researcher, now I’m just a mom with knitting design aspirations ;0) but I did take a certificate in photography from the Adult Ed faculty of a local university (Concordia in Montreal) for fun as a hobby and found it not only super cool (this was in the days of film cameras and actual darkrooms with red lights and lots of chemicals…you know, like sooo 5 years ago!) but it has served me so much over the years. Most important thing I’ve learned: it’s not the camera, it’s you bay-bee!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><div class="body forum_post_body" style="min-height: 70px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">98% of the pictures on my blog and here on Ravelry are from a very reasonably priced Canon Powershot point and shoot digital camera that I bought 4 years ago.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Here’s my modus operandi for knitting picture taking:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">{1} As many have noted before, natural light is a must. Flash does terrible things to knitting and people. Don’t do it!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">{2} Neutral background is best. I take most of my knitting photos on top of my son’s white dresser.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><img alt="alt text" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/157368460_b518bfb5c0_m.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; max-width: 670px;" /></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">{3} Before you snap, take a moment to carefully look at your ‘pose’ through the viewfinder (or LCD screen) and remove any distracting elements in the background. I like to remove everything but the knitting (since we all know everything else is completely irrelevant anyway, LOL!) If you can’t remove a distracting element, angle your camera in such a way that you don’t see it anymore.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">{4} Check your angle! Sometimes it’s nice to have a low angle on your knitting especially with close-up shots of your handiwork for a nice artsy shot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><img alt="alt text" height="239" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2546693367_73340988a2.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; max-width: 670px;" width="320" /></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">But for each project, I try to also have a no frills shot which I take by standing up on a chair so I’m high above my project (which is usually laid out on my son’s dresser) and try to hold the camera as parallel as possible to my knitting project so that it is not distorted at all.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><img alt="alt text" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2151730747_b159382549.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; max-width: 670px;" width="320" /></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">It helps if you have a straight line as a point of reference: just keep playing with the camera’s angle until the straight line in your photo is also perfectly straight (see how the lines in the ribs below are parallel to the edges of the photo…)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><img alt="alt text" height="320" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/2547402108_9c1a26a8c7.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; max-width: 670px;" width="319" /></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">{5} If your camera has a “macro” setting which on most camera is represented by a little flower icon - use it ALL THE TIME for still shots of your knitting…even if you aren’t close. That’s how you get cool effects like sharp focus on parts of your knitting and nice blurry backgrounds (especially prominent if you are at a low angle so that parts of your knitting are closer and others are further away from the lens as it’s the distance from the lens that causes some stuff to be in focus and others to be further).</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I also use the macro for further away shots to stabilise the lens and avoid motion blurr, especially when the light isn’t great but I don’t want to use the flash. When you set your camera on macro and then hit the button to snap your picture, you’ll notice that it sometimes takes the lens a few extra seconds to get it’s focus and that it automatically takes the shot when it does get focus. This way, the camera won’t be ‘shaken’ with the pressure of your finger on the shutter at the very moment it takes the shot so your chances of avoiding camera shake with the macro are actually pretty good even in low light situations… Of course, the macro is fantastic for it’s intended purpose as well which is taking really close-up shots.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><img alt="alt text" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2388397618_4b08f2db86.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; max-width: 670px;" width="320" /></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">{6} For really nice saturated colours and great sharp contrasts, check your camera’s manual to see if you can set the “White Balance” or “Colour balance”. Most cameras have this feature. On my camera, if I go in the menu where I can set “black and white”, “sepia”, etc… there is also an option for “vivid” which I always select as the default. This makes the colours truly pop while being true to themselves. If you don’t have this option, see if you have a setting for “shade” which basically gives you the same result.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><img alt="alt text" height="240" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2383389510_aaae512bef.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; max-width: 670px;" width="320" /></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Finally, check out </span><a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> for lots of fantastic (really, really fantastic) tutorials and how to’s for great photos. You have t scroll down a bit to check out all the articles on every photography topic you can think of. This guy’s really great at explaining how to get the most from your camera in a real straight forward way.</span></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hope this helps ;0)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm so excited! I don't know who nominated me but I'm thrilled that someone felt it helpful enough to nominate. So thank you whoever you are!!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">p.s. - my Ravelry username is </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">annypurls</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for anyone who might be interested in friending me there ;0)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">p.p.s. - don't know what Ravelry is? Check it out at </span></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.ravelry.com</span></span></a>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-25104580297054093712010-02-03T11:03:00.000-05:002010-02-03T11:03:54.342-05:00Sewing?I've always wanted to sew. About 8 years ago, my honey bought me my very first (and only) sewing machine as a Christmas present. I was so excited to sew curtains, and placemats and slipcovers to decorate my apartment. But when I sat down with it and the operator's manual one afternoon, I was struck by a big dose of reality: I don't actually know what I'm doing!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOveZUwBYWMAsANLTrJPrDVEqDn1BUmesWsP1AeZs_gN5_wsisVeE84vLCY-BkwkSIJh_VBhcJI3DEMf1qYpVsg-Ds1ZRnRGSu3TwSfPT4oOH0f7aGdpr4oljc08xaH04ZQQEQ/s1600-h/IMG_1232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOveZUwBYWMAsANLTrJPrDVEqDn1BUmesWsP1AeZs_gN5_wsisVeE84vLCY-BkwkSIJh_VBhcJI3DEMf1qYpVsg-Ds1ZRnRGSu3TwSfPT4oOH0f7aGdpr4oljc08xaH04ZQQEQ/s320/IMG_1232.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I couldn't even thread the darn thing! It was such a disappointment that I tucked it in the closet and forgot about it. When Julian was a wee babe, I dusted it off and gave it another go, this time enlisting the help of Stephen's mom who is a phenomenal seamstress. But somehow those projects never quite worked out and most were never even finished. But each one taught me a new technique: cutting and pinning, sewing straight lines, pressing seams, zig-zag stitch, sewing along curves...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpLciWEo-JrQ8CZvvxE-pJ82lROdFZGe3XCpRSWf4PnFCoVdij9TjrGwEsjfhw6CEPAjsN3FCq3gYauxWU5X9TJIn9u8AzD3vZH8C1MKNc4DQVVUZW3YKRbKmKiMsi1zrzeN0/s1600-h/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpLciWEo-JrQ8CZvvxE-pJ82lROdFZGe3XCpRSWf4PnFCoVdij9TjrGwEsjfhw6CEPAjsN3FCq3gYauxWU5X9TJIn9u8AzD3vZH8C1MKNc4DQVVUZW3YKRbKmKiMsi1zrzeN0/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" /></a></div><br />
They taught me enough that when I came across Onegirl's <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35884044">Fleur Playmat</a> pattern before Christmas while looking for a cute girly playmat for my Abbey I actually thought that perhaps if I took my time and followed the instructions carefully one step at a time then maybe I could make it myself...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_CMR7PU9sTNVUBkyMZhQs5IUQmliGw5WGHCEk9fHq7Nw3pzDTDDpwmC9BkDzAZ3uBKYF75qcrO7jdJGLahFQeUrvb5xshB4RBzN6dbe06qMIHD7Wy7mlPbhro8Lo6MBTJkbe/s1600-h/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_CMR7PU9sTNVUBkyMZhQs5IUQmliGw5WGHCEk9fHq7Nw3pzDTDDpwmC9BkDzAZ3uBKYF75qcrO7jdJGLahFQeUrvb5xshB4RBzN6dbe06qMIHD7Wy7mlPbhro8Lo6MBTJkbe/s320/IMG_1244.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I started with the petals. Sewing curves is hard! Some are rounder than others but having to sew 36 of them gave me lots of practice and by the end they were looking great! I stuffed them with batting and stitched down the center and put the whole project on hold. For weeks! I was too scared to go on. I had picked up some lovely coral cotton at Wal-Mart of all places while shopping for good scissors and thread and ordered the cushiest plush minky for the face and frankly had no idea how I would put the two together since the minkee is stretchy, it's a circle, and it's front and centre (literally) on the playmat so any puckering would be really obvious. <br />
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Then yesterday, after a nice evening stroll with my neighbour, I decided to go for it! I think the stars must have been perfectly aligned because everything I tried worked out perfectly the first time. I wandered from the pattern instructions a bit and still everything worked out! I decided to apply the face to the big circle using heat bond and was pleasantly surprised that is worked and didn't melt! Then I zig-zagged all around even though the heat bond instructions said not to and that worked out too! I did the same for the cheeks (cut from an old accidentally felted sweater) and embroidered on the eyes using stash acrylic yarn. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc9RpvQSKUl_hV7sOL8yn2lvS1vcRHd5HItuNbNKgBg0_UYgmcZXOZ0-n_E2UmzFqYH4hyphenhyphenDfkVk9tDQjhd_j8wbb118kiKmk2LX41vm3qnlWSbDq7L8jexgpT3RxnpqEViiHG/s1600-h/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc9RpvQSKUl_hV7sOL8yn2lvS1vcRHd5HItuNbNKgBg0_UYgmcZXOZ0-n_E2UmzFqYH4hyphenhyphenDfkVk9tDQjhd_j8wbb118kiKmk2LX41vm3qnlWSbDq7L8jexgpT3RxnpqEViiHG/s320/IMG_1252.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Could it be? Did I just totally make this? It was 2am by the time I had sewn on the petals, the backing and stuffed it all with batting. I quilted through all layers by sewing around the face which caused it to pucker a little but I can totally ignore that part because OMG I totally made this!! I considered waking everyone to show them while giddily jumping up and down exclaiming "I made this! I totally made this!" But wisened up and went to bed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C-epdklVaDKr1_00lWQ_oTS7VM56iJV4BoWbN7sbV4SLl0_JkNGxPXATfQULbMCRI1Yg9ocG2NX62ZYw8d0S5v4nyuVFmYtGS2Nzgiw4j8uSs1e53gN7NEkMmfun9QKlrS1f/s1600-h/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C-epdklVaDKr1_00lWQ_oTS7VM56iJV4BoWbN7sbV4SLl0_JkNGxPXATfQULbMCRI1Yg9ocG2NX62ZYw8d0S5v4nyuVFmYtGS2Nzgiw4j8uSs1e53gN7NEkMmfun9QKlrS1f/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Here it is in Abbey's nursery. Oh, I'm so so pleased! Tired and cranky (after weeks of sleeping through the night Abbey woke up at 2:30 am, 4:30 am, and 6:30 am last night) but still beaming with excitement. <br />
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I think I can totally sew!Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-31060773998797824832010-01-29T17:32:00.003-05:002010-01-29T17:38:40.279-05:00Abbey who?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We decided to name Julian <i>Julian </i>because we liked the name, of course, but also because we liked the obvious nicknames: Jude or Jules. But as soon as we saw his little face, we knew he needed another interim nickname that was more fitting to his little tiny, pudgy, round-faced self. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stephen was the source of many of the first attempts like captain pipi pants, shoe-dini, and jubilee bubilee. Then came Oblio after the main character in Harry Nilsson (and Ringo Starr)'s <i>The Point</i>. But none of these stuck as THE nickname until auntie Libby coined jujube during one of our Sunday lunches at grandma and grandpa's. It was perfect! And 4 and a half years later, it's still endearing ;0)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGNomYY6DZA6OPokcvOqgPviQKUZCGr4yGQVACzlcddY8Z-pY44gJFqQTZk082G0-BrfVqiRy5X5Qb6ASpQdKj44eJa64A7uSXdICXZNUsydrcyBWj9hICQ-wVn3gf71IHneI/s1600-h/IMG_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGNomYY6DZA6OPokcvOqgPviQKUZCGr4yGQVACzlcddY8Z-pY44gJFqQTZk082G0-BrfVqiRy5X5Qb6ASpQdKj44eJa64A7uSXdICXZNUsydrcyBWj9hICQ-wVn3gf71IHneI/s320/IMG_1016.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lolo was a different matter. I had already started to refer to him as lemon and lemon drop in utero. But when we finally met him, lemon just didn't seem right. He quickly (and quite naturally) became lolo, lolobean, lolobear... I think we all came up with it simultaneously. He's a lolo! At almost three, he's starting to insist we call him <i>Logan </i>bean, but he'll forever be Lolo to us. It just suits him perfectly ;0)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6yurnaBFNblfXhFITM2Tqy_lVN0TkCJcpsoMEceL3OU2smPVAwP0qUz0BPdi6o7_-8QFy49PB5mmtTu1I3MjZ7jyglj4-Jrbm1-zq1ic-LsAPAB7N-H77Z1qftt_src2YbJ4/s1600-h/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6yurnaBFNblfXhFITM2Tqy_lVN0TkCJcpsoMEceL3OU2smPVAwP0qUz0BPdi6o7_-8QFy49PB5mmtTu1I3MjZ7jyglj4-Jrbm1-zq1ic-LsAPAB7N-H77Z1qftt_src2YbJ4/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
As for this little Abbey Violet of ours, well it's proving to be a little challenging because it feels like her very name is already a nickname. We considered naming her Abigail so we could <i>nickname </i>her Abbey for all of 3o seconds. When it came down to it though, it had to be Abbey with a "e" after our favourite Beatles album, <i>Abbey Road</i>. So here we are still trying out some </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">early contenders...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO53NVjDI0X4HRc54zDPbQovkp1vfwlCFfsAOhz4vcPt5CCaw1Bvs_x5JemLXFnw1L09kLDHsfL8BYjMX8BcuFxi1MrXdH_eIJcU82SZOFVASJwMARJjiDHG4t6vh46bloo41Q/s1600-h/IMG_1067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO53NVjDI0X4HRc54zDPbQovkp1vfwlCFfsAOhz4vcPt5CCaw1Bvs_x5JemLXFnw1L09kLDHsfL8BYjMX8BcuFxi1MrXdH_eIJcU82SZOFVASJwMARJjiDHG4t6vh46bloo41Q/s320/IMG_1067.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First was my little swiss miss. We had brought a little polka dotted baby bundler to the hospital with us, and seeing as my brain works funny in a crafty kind of way, it reminded me of swiss dots which in turn reminded me of the swiss miss hot cocoa I remember having (and loving) at my friend Amy's house as a teen. Little swiss miss. It has a nice ring to it but it's just not <i>the </i>one.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcNZBFHbnG-D_N8CSifSAAtzPgaiaQLJOBI4jGIR-hSdKRidJNy0bRLKQWlbKfE6s09fbaDxVHqU-7l_wXtJpfiOZACoPjFcWqVjwOaVO30XN9WCiLzYfb4OJimvQCWnMHd9k/s1600-h/IMG_1122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcNZBFHbnG-D_N8CSifSAAtzPgaiaQLJOBI4jGIR-hSdKRidJNy0bRLKQWlbKfE6s09fbaDxVHqU-7l_wXtJpfiOZACoPjFcWqVjwOaVO30XN9WCiLzYfb4OJimvQCWnMHd9k/s320/IMG_1122.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stephen came up with honey-bunny one afternoon during his paternity leave and it really stuck with the boys. They like to mush up their little faces and say "aaa-bbey, my little hunny bunny" It's the cutest thing. But I'm not sure. Too generic perhaps.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl2Qb8F-HsnX6lpsIMLZ7sM24sSqma3-TDTWoLKB-98O2v1Rv-5-jBIor4rCOFJAT2j13VXqQ3Ba-SyrAF5C2QUP181jE2keuLNmGQNUKpKf_8a78QHtKDSM5PpHEc0y_q_eV/s1600-h/IMG_1126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl2Qb8F-HsnX6lpsIMLZ7sM24sSqma3-TDTWoLKB-98O2v1Rv-5-jBIor4rCOFJAT2j13VXqQ3Ba-SyrAF5C2QUP181jE2keuLNmGQNUKpKf_8a78QHtKDSM5PpHEc0y_q_eV/s320/IMG_1126.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then one day Lolo came up with abbioshi - as in Abbey is Yoshi. The pink one! I got Super Mario Bros Wii for Christmas (LOVE!) and the boys are completely obsessed with it which is good because Stephen and I love to play it ;0) Well Julian insists on being called Luigi. Lolo wants to be Mario. And Abbey? Well she's abbioshi! Sweet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure there'll be many more try-outs but I just know that someday soon we'll have the perfect nickname for her too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until then, she can simply be <i>my Abbey</i>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ps - she's wearing the placket neck sweater I knit for Lolo when he was a wee babe.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pps - she's also wearing my first foray into sewing for her: pajama pants from Amy Butler's pattern in </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">little stitches for little ones</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Love</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-89988384041830585192010-01-27T14:12:00.002-05:002010-01-27T14:19:08.485-05:00Oh, snap!<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had been looking for a special critter scarf pattern for my lolobean ever since I finished </span><a href="http://annypurls.blogspot.com/2008/09/cooler-weather-and-six-balls-of-katia.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julian's slithering snake scarf</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> last year, but couldn't find anything that I felt lived up to the awesomeness of Julian's scarf until I fell upon </span><a href="http://www.terryrossdesigns.com/scarves.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Terry Ross' "what a croc" pattern</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on Ravelry this fall... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMX0H_5jSAhKMXKIv42PduQzZ4VvGgG_Q_XAp4YhjVwSrKkgLuLL_CGvRACoZVDRJMMe_r9zYVFGMQigWeaf9CB7rhBtiRYWvnXJu-SkLh5ntNgx-9vKdQ3XLTTl3Y3sxEYWF/s1600-h/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMX0H_5jSAhKMXKIv42PduQzZ4VvGgG_Q_XAp4YhjVwSrKkgLuLL_CGvRACoZVDRJMMe_r9zYVFGMQigWeaf9CB7rhBtiRYWvnXJu-SkLh5ntNgx-9vKdQ3XLTTl3Y3sxEYWF/s320/IMG_0951.JPG" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I cast on immediately with some stash Knit Picks Swish worsted (in bok choy) and flew through it using up just 2 balls of yarn. I modified the teeth by picking up stitches around the snout and knitting a short picot hem. I also sewed on some eyes I knit (cast on 10 sts in cream, K 1 row, P 1 row, switch to blue and K2Tog across, cut yarn an pull through remaining stitches and sew to eye socket). </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA2-DGA0g7oC5lZ6J37a5tc6D2bjALRUcbdv3N9NlgS4_aWEyl5ABB5VB6R__qQw0OEPj_nSyH39OONLmH5Hy9ymVM6yZsPR3TmPSnK5E2qKfGX40TCLYFhjopa8Z88DRWQMn/s1600-h/IMG_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA2-DGA0g7oC5lZ6J37a5tc6D2bjALRUcbdv3N9NlgS4_aWEyl5ABB5VB6R__qQw0OEPj_nSyH39OONLmH5Hy9ymVM6yZsPR3TmPSnK5E2qKfGX40TCLYFhjopa8Z88DRWQMn/s320/IMG_0973.JPG" /></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;"> </span>It looked a little plain and thin (and the sides rolled like crazy!) and since I was overdue with my daughter and looking for something mindless to do while I tried to patiently wait for labour to begin (it didn't for 5 days!) I decided to knit a striped lining using the same shaping instructions but without any features or scales. And then because I was really desperate and labour </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">still </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hadn't begun, I knit 120 inches of i-cord and seamed it together with the croc and lining!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IyormQR20-UIQex4bNhpcJfyo6BIV5xdJQyA7dHbU0PmNJNXi5XJ4qEIP_sOViR8bt7Ag9ucU3wnGxTG7VfSW9Pzd6efziVhyphenhyphenBGNYnwdytOCfNbQrrdRvAf0cw4x-6DwgE34/s1600-h/IMG_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IyormQR20-UIQex4bNhpcJfyo6BIV5xdJQyA7dHbU0PmNJNXi5XJ4qEIP_sOViR8bt7Ag9ucU3wnGxTG7VfSW9Pzd6efziVhyphenhyphenBGNYnwdytOCfNbQrrdRvAf0cw4x-6DwgE34/s320/IMG_3852.JPG" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Turned out super cute and warm. And my lolobean loves it. Of course every time I look at it I am reminded of how annoying it is to be overdue (especially when you thought you'd be early), but still, a perfect toddler scarf! Here he is wearing it to "the slope" near Stephen's childhood home: a little incline (it's barely a hill) by the highway where my hubby and his sister used to go as a child (it slopes </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">away </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the highway for those who are wondering like I was - </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">crazy</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">).</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxp87YcJT5Eqvj8O_LT4ih4XrQStcyy1nxUUychEfivCQmPKXb3g6GP2B9hEv4uJ-NtXVliOAHDAXtXriLdKKFMKRRkjwCC0r0D5Gv76SZ-zyybmHjjGC9FYqCNknIGCD9LfT/s1600-h/IMG_3825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxp87YcJT5Eqvj8O_LT4ih4XrQStcyy1nxUUychEfivCQmPKXb3g6GP2B9hEv4uJ-NtXVliOAHDAXtXriLdKKFMKRRkjwCC0r0D5Gv76SZ-zyybmHjjGC9FYqCNknIGCD9LfT/s320/IMG_3825.JPG" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the first time they got to try out their saucers on an actual hill and though I thought they were still little and might find the speed terrifying (I would) they actually found it thrilling! I stayed at the top of the hill with Abbey and could hear their loud laughter unfurling all the way down. Such fun!!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ik0N894zppHUMDVb_GU30-t62gsr2Nf2pTZHGD86HVGGiV6YqvmFiMbUkPHI2bqupiurr6LogyEGJJf3FnZepYhnibmAmsVtMRDg6yXlXYUOCeqmhyphenhyphen3YvlUQk-spzsFxT4Xq/s1600-h/IMG_3894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ik0N894zppHUMDVb_GU30-t62gsr2Nf2pTZHGD86HVGGiV6YqvmFiMbUkPHI2bqupiurr6LogyEGJJf3FnZepYhnibmAmsVtMRDg6yXlXYUOCeqmhyphenhyphen3YvlUQk-spzsFxT4Xq/s320/IMG_3894.JPG" width="234" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Guess this means we'll need to bring our snowpants, snakes, crocs, and saucers with us to Grandma and Grandpas on Sundays and stop by the "hill" on our way ;0)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW79N0vmMwyOAFfAp5VCvb3REFq-Az8zDI71MAWJKaeExCVtJOMDCNx4t2SVCW7QrhDWP-VAKVqShCoWAsAmD1I8A_wxLUHEMBiCyPNSXSqSFO33BN6y_tCElU-Pgfur7xuEGg/s1600-h/IMG_3847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW79N0vmMwyOAFfAp5VCvb3REFq-Az8zDI71MAWJKaeExCVtJOMDCNx4t2SVCW7QrhDWP-VAKVqShCoWAsAmD1I8A_wxLUHEMBiCyPNSXSqSFO33BN6y_tCElU-Pgfur7xuEGg/s320/IMG_3847.JPG" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh happy day!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">p.s.: Thank you all for such a nice welcome back! I didn't expect anyone was still hanging around these parts so it was really heartwarming to hear from you all. I am so happy to be back and have so much to tell...</span></span>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-46996900164527970112010-01-25T14:39:00.008-05:002010-01-25T16:15:57.229-05:00Abbey Violet<div style="text-align: left;">It's been almost a year since my last post, and what a year it's been: there were major renos {we finally finished our basement}, a new car {our 11 year old honda got really tired}, growing corn {yeah, that one didn't work out so well}, discovering lego with the boys {now 4 and a half and 3} and finally learning to sew {well that one is on-going}! But the best part 2009 was growing and welcoming a daughter!! Presenting Abbey Violet... </div><div>
<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQiPhp-HtIVhrsQvMyEo6P9a_BI7FhrAODkONaY521EWf8abLA4w22EO6UoKbPD9GMU04FREQOiGyBKVw7_b7mECNRObrIJCRRtTyDOqFDBcwWQEM3V-oqLT7uHClhHzqCLy8/s320/Abbey+Violet+004.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430782467583500498" /></div></div><div>She was born on November 19th. A full 5 days past her due date! We were just so thrilled to finally meet her. She came into the world to the tunes of Bob Dylan's highway 61 and to a handknit little hat that I made while in labour. It was a tad too big!</div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjywUCtCqQsWuiWEGevzIURvfBh0VIOZeTAJpKJuoFSfCQrrjw5x7nDZDf8ph4nmeekz_F7uljcJ_e1w1sdQzwz2KwHbzZ10vtBEjiapv_Yxv9kQiHowCzzF_fpY62xTDc0Xl1/s320/Abbey+Violet+181.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430782255828602546" /><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div></div><div>The delicious Countess Elite and the large size 9 needles were just the right thing to while away labour and I finished sewing on the pompoms (which I had made at home and brought along) just in time to push. Thank you knitting! It was just the thing.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHkQ9Ah4zRQva7Qd0TsMM6Kz_SpJuegynMmvS8EcbBbobucqs8JCfyYArBke3PIIztxsFJSRNxBDGaynAMhSABn1sGNs3SGzgLuqdrSKQs8w4pih8nYUF3wOor7-ciRxv2ha6/s320/Abbey+Violet+191.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430782732256873682" /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>And now of course so many knitting projects are calling...full of frills and lace and girly little things. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>My heart is so full <3</div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-71104800907259925382009-02-18T11:25:00.003-05:002009-02-18T12:39:16.881-05:00Life after knitting...<p class="MsoNormal">Way back in December, after that feverish bout of designing and sample knitting for those Buddy Sweaters, I took a deep breath and decided to quit knitting…for the holidays.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I always have these grand plans for the holidays and in the end, there are just too many chores, expectations, and too little time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And now that the boys are a little bigger, I thought they would much prefer spending some good quality time getting excited about Christmas than watching mommy go bonkers and pleading to be left alone for ‘just 5 more minutes’ to finish something or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So just like that, I tore up my holiday knitting list, put away all the yarn, needles and books strewn all over my house and just put it out of my mind.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And it was wonderful…<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the first time in my adult life, Christmas didn’t sneak up on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the time it rolled around, I was ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I accomplished everything I wanted to and had a blast with the boys getting excited about it all: we made all of our own decorations for the tree, made sweet treats for our friends and fun toy gifts for all the little people in our neighbourhood, we baked, we made bread, we celebrated Santa Lucia, had dinner with friends, went to a bowling party, saw Santa, went to Church, had picnics under the tree, opened our advent stockings every night, sneaked out to cafes after dinner for chocolate milk and fanciful deserts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We even went to see a movie in a real movie theatre! We had our neighbourhood buddies over for a Christmas party and just were really, really merry with no pressure, just fun and smiles and giggles.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And it was wonderful…<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now that Christmas is long behind us, I’m still enjoying the perks of my non-knitting lifestyle: my life is organised, we have fresh laundry (there isn’t even an ironing pile looming in the closet anymore), my house is clean and guest-ready at anytime, I’m reading a book (!), sometimes I even nap with the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I joined the gym with my buddy and have actually been going three nights a week, get to bed at a reasonable hour and am enjoying cozying up with hubby on the sofa at the end of the day.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And that’s why it’s mid-February and I’m still on Christmas break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s hard to get back into the groove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Actually, I’m not even sure I really want to get back into the knitting groove the way I have been for the past 4 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I need more balance in my life I guess and it took a good long knitting break to see that fibre had really started to take way to much room in my life.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I hope to get back into it soon because it did mean a lot to me and I got a lot of pleasure and self-esteem from knitting and have enjoyed sharing it with you all here and on Ravelry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I guess I just need to figure out a way to not get obsessive with it the way I think I have been in the past and that’s going to be tricky for me because once I cast on, it’s hard for me to put a project down before it is finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But there’s lots of yarn in my knitting chest and there are two perfect little guys in my midst to adorn with loving woollens so it’s just a matter of time, really.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But for now, I’m enjoying the no-pressure lifestyle…<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ll be catching up on the blog in the next few weeks with all of our holiday adventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ll cheat a little with the dates of the posts so that the dates match up more with when the activities took place so it makes more sense in the archives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And then, I’d like to get back into the blogging even if there is no knitting to talk about and I hope you won’t mind terribly ;0)<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for all the kind e-mails and all your support throughout the years, you’ve been good friends and while I haven’t missed the knitting so much, I have missed writing about life with the boys and sharing it all with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have so much to tell you…<br /></p>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-28562457335372142072008-12-17T00:11:00.001-05:002008-12-17T00:15:52.055-05:00Cables for JubileeI've known it was happening for a while now but chose to ignore it. I dismissed it. I even managed to convince myself it wasn't happening at all - especially when I peeped into his room at night and caught a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">glimpse</span> of his sleepy self in his little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">jammies</span>. But suddenly, there is no denying it anymore. My Jubilee <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bubilee</span> is not a baby anymore! He isn't even a toddler anymore. He's, well, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">a kid</span>! <div><br /><div> <div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWvHsyBxUsGS0iqwE-EnRQ_v_E7Gj88SMXfJ7k99o0WeeYEAc6P3VWQHrWUnU-1nyIWKxH_OjuI0mmSO1HIRUPOHmGV4AmTVVBEu2IEICOoFbrs4JNUuoAfmXVYCRboKg6o76lA/s320/phildar+sweater+008.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280607155321869106" /><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I came to this realisation recently as I flipped through my knitting books in search of a new sweater pattern to knit up for him. None of the little knits who's page corners I had eagerly folded long ago would fit him anymore. I have so many pattern books for babies and tots but only a handful are sized past that knitting critical (it seems) 24 month mark. It's like a big knitting abyss for the 4 year old set and my Jubilee and I are totally stuck in it!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissIU-ALJafOb2fdtcXBMKGV3mWh9hRWY6zM64TITgVMHUiESlWVd3kmBLYgkgR1k5VEQPJRv8naMSVXwG9vahfkXxtr8hKgRnng4Pj0t6iK4QHcq-IX0ngChyirpyZ4UStVj3nw/s320/phildar+sweater+020.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280605994584714658" /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>If it weren't for my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lolobean</span>, who is also growing but still small enough to keep the dream of many of these little knits alive, I think I'd be completely heart broken over this. I knit a lot. I mean A LOT! But I still didn't get it all in while I could and I have to say that the reality of it makes me really emotional. </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so thankful that my husband and I somehow manage to make it work on one salary and that I get to stay home and enjoy every precious moment of their fleeting childhoods. I'm also glad that I speak and read French and that I live in an area that doesn't lack in stockists for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Phildar</span> magazines! It seems they're the only place for delectable knits for kids 4 and up. That's where I found the pattern for this little cabled sweater. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>The pattern is 'Pull 004-T8-081' from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Phildar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Pitchoun</span> magazine No. 004. I knit the 4 year size using 5 balls of stash Valley Yarns Amherst in Regatta Blue. The yarn is a workhorse - nothing fancy but it did the job, doesn't itch and hasn't shown any signs of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">pilling</span> yet. The pattern, as always with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Phildar</span>, was delicious to knit and is very well tailored. I love this about their patterns. They are always fully fashioned and don't cut corners even for baby garments. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>There are a few more patterns in this issue that I may have to knit for this kid of mine in between madly rushing to knit the 24-month size of all those patterns I've earmarked before my little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Lolo</span> outgrows them too! Though even he is almost at that critical mark. He's 21 months!</div><div><br /></div><div> <p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-59.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-59.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=10176857&site=widget-59.slide.com"></object></p><p style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=10176857&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-59.slide.com/p1/10176857/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=10176857&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-59.slide.com/p2/10176857/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=10176857&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-59.slide.com/p4/10176857/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p><p></p></div><div>Here they are tearing up the lanes at Stephen's company's kid's Christmas party this weekend. It was held at a local bowling <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">centre </span>(as Julian calls it ;0) and was a total blast! Julian's been very eager to try bowling for a long time and so we were all thrilled to finally give it a go and it didn't disappoint! </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Santa even showed up with presents which totally freaked Julian out. He thought Santa was just a Christmas decoration for our tree... not a real person. Even the promise of a present was barely enough to get him in the same room with Santa! In the end, he got the mini-golf set he'd asked for and was thrilled to bits. I guess that Santa dude's not so bad after all!</div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-13497616639956196992008-12-13T23:19:00.000-05:002008-12-14T19:09:16.393-05:00Happy Santa Lucia!So we're not Swedish. Or Scandinavian. But we do dig Ikea, swedish meatballs, lingonberries and a reason to celebrate...so this year, we decided to have ourselves a little Santa Lucia feast ;0)<div><br /></div><div> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0-OvYoE87WJbN6qgpyRRSBC206OaXOWCtkUUdmpuFx8KM1-oQkZ7rK_5IfAjITxupmOrh4DF1MFmlnbb_D5FITh7wIxouTQiV86UC4ic3JIa-K5S6fSvzu_yz9BlJ8UmhzuZ/s320/Santa+Lucia+142.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279790843125973106" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>I found a yummy sounding <a href="http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=40574">recipe for Santa Lucia bread</a> and thought we'd give it a try this morning. It was a real collective effort. I measured all the ingredients and Julian helped me mix them together and then everyone had a hand at kneading the dough.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg2vPLLmCRGeIGdARxorHZkDm9UaXWWWH_yJqFX9lv91ZYgfhaMqOMaMTTTOJAS0sHeG0ZwfqDh0VfEuA0DCGKIYjn8rDLr3Rs92YOIEIfIFushHOyHFQBeyv2-Jfw25Ilkxu/s320/Santa+Lucia+021.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279793757937608498" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>It didn't rise properly though so I think I may have killed the yeast when I unwittingly poured some scalding milk into the yeast mixture (don't do that). But I baked it anyway and it still turned out pretty okay. It certainly was pretty ;0)</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH0KbfsE_qBI22IekUd6cHQ7sVv79UyYxjeccowCfXYCS5rC8jywTjYEQWut1DH6JHaZ-an046dN-C4kCJg91tKJeaFssJy_xUniWkV4Mw6qV9IPS72iQPreH-fRpZKJ-bXN2/s320/Santa+Lucia+bread+010.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279794179410181970" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div>Oh, and there was crafting too (thank you <a href="http://kiddley.com/2006/12/13/paper-santa-lucia-crowns-and-hats/">Kiddley archives</a>)! According to Santa Lucia tradition, the eldest daughter wears a crown of leaves and candles on her head while boys wear pointy hats with stars. But since we have no daughters and the dunce-like boys caps just didn't have the right pizazz for our two, we decided to make ourselves some crowns anyway. <br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rjknDQKzV5Z7bf_vtlZqxsxfBaZxSR_QITWQPHn3EibrbuKmFobsJO6JivYSvoDjgx6D5ZiJ8CEeAvOdcBdvbER8c9VLfR1HZ3-DhxrfNWdt_Q4Cstfy0Qec-IUIGXBKm8X4/s320/Santa+Lucia+043.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279795430677324866" /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">I cut out leaves from sticky craft foam and everyone helped to stick them onto the crowns. Then came some pompom berries, popsicle stick candles and feather flames. What a glorious way to craft away a snowy December morning! </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYKsIG2bWnZPSLyR6cvvhYBZ6NHkEis2yFiXmsNFuM04MJm2BAztxIyDsd1keEdCTZqfpwBwjJqC1HXRa9jbxMHQV-5M-xCgvanCaly4X9nBvNkFEetPv4-fc6QrUBCOBIz5i/s320/Santa+Lucia+052.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279798886028566450" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF24maoWn4HfA3ZPrTQLKeQgWAvq9sTcacQ7iW2P400N4Tu1-s8nU5-yRL3xRLpV-trTql6IFsojejtf-U_0VAGR64YpQ6f3nKXE5ft_Nmox9VJLJprkRDij-Pt9FJjZzGcdu/s320/Santa+Lucia+061.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279798340155788450" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>We put it all together with a feast right out of Ikea's grocery section: swedish meatballs, cream sauce, lingonberry jam and cider and some fries and salad to round it out. Perfect! The boys especially liked the little plastic wine glasses filled with apple and lingonberry cider.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ItbA023EMyyBhu0SI9ZX0CV62Y6ObvacZEsvZIqf8s-f09_uBz5gTazV0XagJsC5LZzTGVyQBewOgZjudEYaA_M4YM1tKo39WbEOdhE2PKP0N_dwMQ8g7rj9z7bdZsKKWq9H/s320/Santa+Lucia+120.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279799605222711266" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Our bread wasn't ready in time for lunch (I was giving it more time to rise but it really didn't want to) so we had it picnic-style around our tree during our advent stocking celebration at the end of the day. It was pretty good and the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful day feast day ;0)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQN6D808AJcW_fde7qO0QU89MqFtpDSOMeMeD7juYxE-wqeOzZReS8fs5-ZpkrUstqhFGJVoxKuytWTFKkuAVWK9bTLBEUgpCxbpRO8goybxh0Va9HhBUaORcXGV1qY9YD0NA/s320/santa+lucia+bread+026.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279800727932694706" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Santa Lucia!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-26886697771069459262008-12-08T23:45:00.013-05:002008-12-09T09:22:45.650-05:00A new charity pattern...<div>I wanted to do something special with my Jujube and Lolo for the holidays this year. Something that would bring a little meaning and humanity to our celebrations, especially in these difficult economic times and that would bring them a taste of the joy that comes from giving...</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGoX8-Aq9zyN34QglWSzmsPd12NYuClEys7DzXj6I7n6i_cfTc7xKCHvpR6YTbYiUL0Y4X4ZFeG95R6xdP4yAZUAIskdc3qEyFU3ycBZRjk3rVEwABikbkAXdip4GPiO_bNog/s320/buddy+sweater+020.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277794799721226978" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>So when a blog-reader and friend told me about MOST's Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, I was on board from the get-go. The program is now in its tenth year and has helped nearly 200 families and 1000 children in need. The idea of families helping families just warms my heart and it's been a fun project for all of us to get involved in. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_237iOJzHNhPHdZXPa8JUdj3OTWaXYSQFqh2vSxa3hJKt6QLyFXdcfMWRw-ZKCrD0Uyqwi-O-YXMtgY8xuDrqTSwW7ENSL5DPPC1in_t6X2oVBVVG-MGssgyW-_75Mnt2fPXw/s320/buddy+sweater+039.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277786083542436626" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I recruited daddy and the boys to pick out some toys and books for the baby triplets we 'adopted' and they were so eager and proud to help. Naturally, I contributed some fiber love and designed and knit little holiday sweaters for 'the babies' as they came to be known in our house these past few weeks (Julian is so invested in making them happy...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">so sweet</span>). <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-8dpUljgH8q4YgLZoMruD_CwWA_zB1CTRve4RN_2A2IdCFzTpa7TyAdAMFz7bZ7aldiY7cJSL9TIWbWgBsO026p70_SUzo-LjtaENWupDUtH3fjokILVfYy-eZgu5B5axrI2/s320/077.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277785492469808434" /></div><div><br /></div><div>When I heard that MOST's Holiday Adopt-A-Family program had been underfunded for years and may not be able to continue to operate unless they succeed in raising $10, 000, I thought we knitters could do something about that ;0)</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk5_KFPdGbYVGjSWAnaIFtTTsH81bzMtUn6HePBoneZzUGA2bsbs2UP1dV4wxDDWfZEgfZGzG8msOMn4JN-P3rhAyzpPqg7CZOdChZ9c2eF9BYrxcxI2puzaj8ubq46m4b1A2/s320/buddy+sweater+160.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277783966897924866" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div>So I wrote up the pattern for these <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Buddy Sweaters</span></span> and am making it available for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">free with any contribution to MOST's Holiday Adopt-A-Family program</span></span>. Find out more and download the pattern from Jujube & Lolo <a href="http://jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/buddysweaters.php">here</a>.<br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dupo9uK3pMMDe1wo3JLKSYrIOV7ckfC25N0yg_iN7LAQD-bt7M12U-deSb23HqEUSbc4eWJs7RMg057KKjj5wXtGig5c63-nRcDsgg7NgJiyP5UojpsM8Y5U5ZUVTfyqjmTS/s320/buddy+sweater+029.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277784177465688018" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div>The pattern includes instructions to knit the seamless yoked sweater and all three holiday-themed finger puppet buddies (elf, snowman and penguin) and pockets (north pole, gift box and ski slopes) in sizes 3 to 24 months. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSXx6Cdkt8-9LuM4sP0Po-jpw2S7Scsz3UPXB8lQUVPJqfteB1UZxudGGYkuRsVb0V8Ee0Z0FKuYKETipeQRC3yjil2dqdCaGTSF5AuPzVf8coCi4qzZDV0ZAD8MqEk4m6G8p/s320/buddy+sweater+136.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277784730542812994" /></div><div><br /></div><div>{Hint: the pockets and buddies are also the perfect size to adorn <a href="http://jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/buddybags.php">Buddy Bags</a> if you need a quick knit for a special little one on your list}. Thank you in advance for your support (as always)! If you have a blog or knitting group, plese help me spread the word about this charity project. I know we can make a big difference for this organisation and bring a little extra cheer to families in need. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2JZpOGt4wDKO4ev07VnNf-AJm5-gxApEPoOzf7qgpDxtuqJzW7tjDhkT3gVbtRgSI9AKGWvOrVYVcywcMTCQocFWRl86Rus9GRgCBblRRd9zldVsIMuVjTlmAcuQmeqQA9y9/s320/tea+party+and+adopt+a+family+053.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277782200705665810" /></div><div><br /></div><div>You can find out more about MOST <a href="http://mostonline.org/">here</a>. </div><div>Get the Buddy Sweater pattern <a href="http://jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/buddysweaters.php">here</a>.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers!<br /></div><div><br /></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-8961065613773532842008-11-17T12:16:00.009-05:002008-11-26T01:30:43.005-05:00Rockin' robots!<div>After warming Lolo's toesies with his puppy bootees, the time had come for a little Julian warming so I got right to work last week concocting the 'perfect' slippers for this eccentric 3 year old of mine. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtT_1bkQElb5EeSyjU6miegWVXVIi63LDjx123-_rikGUnUCUA7cHVQKSYEE4W6REmiDTsAGSBzWSB0omja6NvHqGthLmWLba62KRza4E33C5NhWLDp0ybTiuLIEVe_uBbBxdY/s320/Robot+boots+060.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269677219862651570" /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And here they are. The quintessential rocking robot slipper boots for the boot wearing, rock and roll obsessed, robot loving, red favouring Jubilee Bubilee of mine ;0) And how I loved making these for him, the whole time anticipating how much he would love everything about them. This is one project that brings together all his (current) favourite things and for all of those things they mean to him (and to me) they just might be my favourite thing I ever made for him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZV0CThZiBKWHHt_YbYgThcQYxdDgu-6ktldKaG6Wwx2WrUFwrjIwmkE8vH-fmoY8gyZeAMhCHxwFx9sxyehL9S-1Gon3hOwPfCMLeN5-1n9_CRosC0I0b-azrgpVwKV-6bEb/s320/robot+boots+unfelted+012.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272849664744249538" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You see, my little guy is totally obsessed with his bright orange winter boots (a steal from Land's End overstocks which I got in the middle of summer). Completely and utterly obsessed. So obsessed that despite the high temperatures of July and August, my little guy would sneak on those squall boots anytime I wasn't looking. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t7Dwzye6Up3wpgshjBRS_ObeAwh36pvG6Hkz6-3DjV-nBgXfvHgSnmmfeXh8YOjq3rDGMUoD_E1q8Lc_GFler-jmgdhpoFfR8P08pEUEAYJTAmZGTp2gULKLncTMw1t7czyN/s320/boots.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269680037858565602" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I insisted he took them off, he would carefully placed them in his little blue cart and take them for walks around the neighbourhood, to the park, out with friends and of course to bed. So when I started thinking about the perfect indoor slippers for him, I knew they would have to be boots! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They also had to be red, his new new favourite colour (it sure beats his previous favourite colours, brown and black!), but since all I scavenged from the stash by way of feltable wool was but 8 yards of red yarn I decided to go in a different direction and add some embroidery of his two other favouritest things: robots and guitars (a nod to his favourite thing to do with his dada: watch him play guitar hero with the tv robot character, the red guitar, on the truck stage preferably playing "I want to rock and roll all night" or "Slow Ride")!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDVLJ8lLCRK_JSyunFPEILCtENPf0Orxh_hyrP4dJEOQGKU9G5_Tn6Q4pkWG3nS16rkxUScoNiR9I8St-UDGN82sgjV37ti8t4ADAoKg0RHLY4Er3U70qQfGMxlP1-7H2KfPB/s320/Robot+boots+070.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269679791225292082" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used Knitting at Knoon Design's <a href="http://www.knittingatknoon.com/slipperpatt.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Family of slippers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> pattern and modified it by working 1 row stripes in gray and cream Lopi (I used about 2/3 of each ball), working the cuff for 30 rows , adding an i-cord for stability, knitting an afterthought heel and adding some embriodery. Oh and I painted on some morse code with puff paint on the soles to make them less slippery.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">W</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">hen he first saw his new slipper boots, the first words out of his mouth were: "They're perfect!"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Indeed ;0)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-56878958601523928152008-11-12T17:57:00.007-05:002008-11-12T18:43:15.774-05:00Woof!The leaves are raked, the tires are changed, the pool is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">winterized</span>, the snow removal pickets have been <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">picketted </span>at the end of our driveway, and my little Lolo bean has some brand new puppy slippers. Winter? Bring it on mother nature...if you dare!<div><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUidbEtdZ0DHG9kOdmWqfO_N7SktxbIEdNAFShgNF1iryiihFrgmob63DL4RXNeUP_aZ7rLlq3t4OXHcaRwrvrGSH8rpSzXpFY7qYlMPR5aHcKWBZylRw60-ylFTayZgyVoYh0/s320/puppies+post-felting+020.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267911561521782322" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div>My little Lolo's been sniffly for a few days and it occured to me that his socks needed some knitterly reinforcement ;0) So naturally, I raided the stash and found a ball and a quarter of Lett Lopi in a dark brown heather with which to knit and felt him some slippers!</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdfCx8B_l9Jg6KyeB2HEaK4iW-aZVnG28CfDXFSA7GN-HeLPdhFbtqUNjXyuT2gfymiBWMw34ztfc_jRV6E8k2nJC-8O-TEKjpYlXflFsejvmFF3g6DNqhW1kZniWE3QWnhEf/s320/puppies+post-felting+159.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267919436241485218" /><div><br /></div><div>The pattern is from a book called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Baby Knits Heads & Toes </span>which is filled with cute hats and booties but alas they're all too small for my 18 month old, 5.5 inch footed little dude so there were a bunch of mods which I pretty much faked thinking felting would hide a multitude of sins which it did! Basically, I took the figures for the largest size and multiplied by 1.2 where it made sense and ignored the "you should now have" numbers since mine were seriously wonky.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklkYKJ5kwwJqWbZyM8qVeSqQH-TVy5sKOsxOk-YuNfgxX3XjJfKJ02yhCDJcFC3GMfOL4F5dkS-e1WYnf7F9ggGDIO-Rsj5ITtqFPj-BHyXax2iYrfAddXHVt5LlaB3YgFJcX/s320/puppies+pre-felting+015.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267919787469388226" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I added little i-cord stump eyes and noses pre-felting (above) and improvised a little eye patch and off to the washer they went. 3 cycles later, they were just the right size! I knit up the cuffs with stash Knit Picks shine in a light gray and am really impressed that these stay on. Though until I get some puff-paint on the soles, these are sooooo not safe to wear. He's like bambi on ice wearing these around our house. Cute, but deadly! </div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DwNEKnzcVgVMgGJbYz2V2WWyRQFOKom8FQleelaXVzkm0rLnboZFwCK8mfHSxgHyTdwk4N1rj9eGFB96MsaJmHCfy2b-ZM0n0ItvWJP3NkeJwusTN1zOZdJTl3cWJtBNjQAB/s320/puppies+post-felting+060.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267918697531976498" /><div><br /></div><div>Ah winter! How my knitterly heart loves thee ;0) Now for some rocking felted boots for my Jubilee Bubilee...</div></div></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-39141107811553721042008-10-31T22:27:00.001-04:002008-10-31T22:27:36.445-04:00Happy Halloween!<p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-0e.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-0e.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=10150158&site=widget-0e.slide.com"></object></p><p style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=10150158&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0e.slide.com/p1/10150158/ms_t001_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=10150158&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0e.slide.com/p2/10150158/ms_t001_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=10150158&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0e.slide.com/p4/10150158/ms_t001_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p><p></p>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-4218898178697860902008-10-17T08:41:00.001-04:002008-10-18T09:44:25.020-04:00Halloween Buddy Bags!Trick or treat<div>Smell my feet</div><div>Give me something good to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">knit</span></span></span>!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">With halloween at our doorstep, I couldn't resist knitting up a couple of spooky Buddy Bags for my little Jujube and Lolo to trick-or-treat with. I used my original <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/buddybags.php">Buddy Bag pattern</a> to knit up</div><div style="text-align: left;"> the drawstring backpacks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIW-ZaJC2e-6b-3ql2dqclEVCZMj0PlKksUN3rfWqc9urZd8BkR_w2T-eb_wAs-8XqxbC4kn96XH37ns2jsdmvGQpfjZ6loItw7ZNhwmwcgJNTC5q2LclFOdUueE3cqncI_Xx/s320/halloween+buddy+bags+141.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258474835213406466" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I knit Lolo's to spec, but made Julian's a little larger by casting on an extra 20 stitches and knitting for 10 inches before working the eyelet row. I also made his I-cord a little longer so that it would fit well (and hold more candy of course)!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI6d3-QIInuuSFs4f74ii2TC84-j7oz4GsQRAQn86zrSh0v5j4m8AVsIdN3T9g5iEIIjdzf7UoRQfHF9fOpbVa6Av1lVKdTrBQJZW1oawbgNgx8emvKm4BspVEsDrtDQgMKah/s320/halloween+buddy+bags+110.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258487692029226450" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>I came up with three new spooky pocket/buddy variations. First there's the witch in her cauldron with optional logs and flames!</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuF3apM_tAGpHkKuhxqQ3tDdg4vf-ZRH5Z85KGrVlFmLP1phcQbfaGgKLc4IVVdmMtCk_NSja8J-_B28y2PGlCdWgjhfyJiljjCyy5pVGan3tgiXURyhsQ7-h05pf3VX1eVo1Z/s320/halloween+buddy+bags+184.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258483583008048210" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Then there's the glow-in-the dark one-eyed goblin in a jack-o-lantern. If you haven't seen this glow in the dark yarn yet, head off to Michael's, Mary Maxim or Zellers right away! It's the coolest thing ever. Nasty to knit with to be sure but it really does glow quite brightly. Julian's been sleeping with a ball of it waiting patiently for me to turn it into something funner. It's made by Bernat and is simply too cool for school!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPeLVVmbOpc7FKbMTO7IAZvyp2qR_R9WEiEBV9WiTtj1OACtw1za4DtmCsOtDgGP5rbzQTC1tg1uhHGbkbu79dn-MTyFQTcPQtsQxiNuwRsGOTHXGNTfId_3GxOrMcXZlhgHp/s320/halloween+buddy+bags+175.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258482537683333298" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then, perhaps spookiest of all is the ghost in a tombstone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Boo-ooo-oo! </span> It doesn't have a face yet but I plan on getting some of that glossy fabric puff paint to 'paint it on'! If it works, it will completely revolutionize my approach to eyes on knitted toys. I'll let you know how it works out ;0)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3Dz2x_CowyF81RFlaEQICrCr164vGcn0_ZowJuev6pvdBN_6NKmqvE9b3U2ZCnuAssp_m2vgBCQC2NfXRSJs_elB8XzlYdy9FoOAG4uwRK1YiFUUCkXyeeEOoRqXbRYbLAdK/s320/halloween+buddy+bags+093.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258482929460082066" /><div><br /></div><div>As a special holiday treat (and thank you) to all my patrons, I'll be including the pattern for all 3 halloween variations with my <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/buddybags.php">Buddy Bag pattern</a> at least until the end of the month. That's all 7 variations (4 original + 3 halloween) for the price of 1! Ravelry downloads going forward will also include all 7 variations.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkSGpvHsTvUrdjM6i7_nZjogWGPArdS9ejQqiKrtnuevFW6nKtekXhTnROQuAoWf8ZraIQGi2xM4RSoNv9X83w6V5nW6Y4uEWvlvb5yZhCg8l7P8w7m9oJVqIgmVzMeXAyERv/s320/halloween+buddy+bags+213.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258485808817608770" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Already bought the pattern? No problem. Check your e-mail, it's on it's way to you too ;0) I am sending the pdf pattern file with the halloween buddies to everyone who bought the original Buddy Bag pattern. Due to quotas from my e-mail provider though, I can't send them all at once so you might need to be a little patient. If you haven't received the new pattern by Sunday night, send me an e-mail at anny {at} jujubeandlolo {dot} com and I'll hook you up.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG47ICLHsE8g7oLRZYGBqmOI-oit6kQ4joDc4incwNtXWVPkJt2lytd0i0bTaUB2MyB6BGDKizGxBQmRsoukoFxxSIbfWXBMY8pdPwUmkl4gSvpyXaBromLSkDBs6xbxkaq3Zh/s320/halloween+buddy+bags+225.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258488781634787442" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy {early} Halloween from Jujube & Lolo!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-73812121290779433242008-10-13T22:42:00.007-04:002008-10-14T01:24:11.140-04:00A L'illo for Lolo...I think I cast on for <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall08/PATTlillo.html">L'illo</a> the very day it was released on <a href="http://www.knitty.com/">knitty</a>. It was one of those projects that just was meant to be. I had just the yarn in the exact right quantity and just the boy to wear it too! And so it was, a little L'illo...<div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDzAWLQ7FEkLtaRQZfOwPR3MHR2oKGxx7ZHUvrwH4nquljJEgH6GXca8fEXAu3z-iugD-3RCWb2RESEjyDQt6r9KjCYv9ipYvgQLoSaX1RPR_tF2o8iCP8wWKWRXrtHuGxzmW/s320/l'illo+and+boo+029.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256840520151977026" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>...for my little Lolo ;0)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoU05Q7jaepTpVTdnkGBwvJS4sXCryOsAwjW3NAFrjH9U1MCG8vKQsPUXiDdLBVfMLBfJBZw5OU4EWaGjDMG-_aDtjmVQu_LF71Nn-E2sU3wN-KXcFCrjTDNOc0T679ld39om/s320/Thanksgiving+and+l%27illo+016.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256845392437974834" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>The sweater is super cute in a modern vintage kind of way: the woven stitch and construction makes it feel vintage, but the assymetric ribbed placket and collar is cool modern. Love it! </div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpg6ht_HGZsQpri5505l0qW5X4PFPJG88d2LeFO76eMisqhiQXhL6l-r71n4Z9d_CppsrR-g2IA-JdVAFvCIuyQFFsABA73q31bGxgKITxuf_CPPoXvt_O4W2PDCum_BtBv4V/s320/l'illo+and+boo+039.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256843790601163858" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div>Though I have to admit that the actual knitting on this one was less than pleasant. I knit it from RYC Cashcotton which is deliciously soft and shows great crisp stitch definition but it's utter lack of give makes it really hard on the hands and wrists. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHtYgpRV63gmxzFeNxCHGlTHqnEj-Nh4jkr4Yddd6Y6QWDRajp59MQHY9tj4ekmAMS2yxOzlgeV6TBaF490pRJ_Kaa2L0ERpWUflZOPvbgLqjQbpw7kvLYF7g9and0n_9j-12/s320/l'illo+and+boo+042.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256844139557027858" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>So much so that knitting this sweater gave me my very first taste of carpel tunnel pain - loss of grip and strength in my right hand, sharp shooting pains to the elbow, cold hands and numbness in my thumb, ring finger and pinky. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Scary!</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswv027v0-CjtqVMpMYnv7jIipDWkFR1r8bc0gm1Oa4lmvWBEJy7DjWLjOC_ubXhiRwTeLlMGa4cAbrRXUhmHKC1hFQ9FN2PBXJXGvnvLv2YrFDQ9f32XEuDnYO9MxUCtLWv-t/s320/comets+and+apple+picking+013.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256875668289038722" /></span></div><div><br /></div>Thankfully, now that it's done, the pain is gone. It's one of the many things I was thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend. Of course I was also thankful for my family, grandma's turkey, a delightful walk in the woods (above), my sister's ham and fiber...naturally! <br /><p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-9a.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-9a.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=10138778&site=widget-9a.slide.com"></object></p><p style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=ffb&id=10138778&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9a.slide.com/p1/10138778/ms_t016_v000_s0ffb_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=ffb&id=10138778&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9a.slide.com/p2/10138778/ms_t016_v000_s0ffb_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=ffb&id=10138778&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9a.slide.com/p4/10138778/ms_t016_v000_s0ffb_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p><p></p><div>Happy Thansgiving to you and yours! Oh, and if you're Canadian, don't forget to vote on Tuesday, eh?<br /></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-67880112331572465302008-10-08T12:25:00.003-04:002008-10-09T02:00:15.302-04:00A is for Apples...<div>...and for Abigail! I had such fun knitting for Ceilli last week that I just couldn't resist knitting for the daughter of another one of Stephen's office buddies, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Abigail</span></span>, this week. And that's how these cute little piggies charmed their way onto my needles ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIrc7Afdueb6eKqx3wm4isgbdDi-s2qCnzuWqZyqkmMf56KgtUmkmFgt9J_nDPqp8TXGefyHUiga49KchE8rcaRIcEM9Dj5iQPbQcx0qdv4wTNvLYbYdxt6l5cu0BhZmU_F3j/s320/piggies+too+036.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255019218375135746" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>The pattern is Spilly Jane's <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/spillyjane/Piggy%20Mittens.pdf">Piggy mittens</a> and the yarn is Knit Picks Shine Worsted. I was worried about running out of yarn (I only had one ball of each shade) so knit the rolled cuffs in a lighter shade of pink which turned out to be a good thing because by the time I finished the second snout, there were just a few yards of the darker yarn left! I used it to knit a striped I-cord to make sure these little piglets don't loose each other and by the time I was done, there was no yarn left, just cute little mittens. Oh how I would have loved these when I was a wee one. I hope Abby loves them too and that they keep her little hands nice and toasty in the cooler days ahead...</div><div><br /><p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-94.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-94.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=10135700&site=widget-94.slide.com"></object></p><p style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=ffb&id=10135700&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-94.slide.com/p1/10135700/ms_t016_v000_s0ffb_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=ffb&id=10135700&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-94.slide.com/p2/10135700/ms_t016_v000_s0ffb_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=ffb&id=10135700&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-94.slide.com/p4/10135700/ms_t016_v000_s0ffb_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p><p></p>The days sure are getting shorter and cooler around these parts. The tempertatures are a-dropping, the leaves are a-falling and the apples are ripe for the a-picking! So we made the most of the season by taking the boys to a local orchard last weekend for an afternoon of ladder-climbing, crisp-apple eating, tractor-riding, farm-animal-petting and of course, just plain running amuck in an orchard. And what fun it was. </div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq89D03StUnoj-dUOppv6sEHqyO58v2HDCq-jKN90trJfI747hvv_7EEYoIZtjc_OJ7KVRU0XcjtaeMKq102D_cBuU52eGkOzVxdijPBqWs8B9BGCNBKyU1CtSs7iZTO_oDNUG/s320/pie+making+130.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255028196466047058" /><div><br /></div><div>And then to top it all off, there was homemade apple and sugar pie! A perfect end to a perfect weekend. <br /></div><br /><div>Martha would have been proud ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-61024495167334298592008-10-02T10:22:00.004-04:002008-10-03T10:38:48.152-04:00Knitting for Ceilli<div style="text-align: left;">I love having two boys. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Love</span>! Of course I would love to be putting bows in curly locks too, but when I see the beautiful relationship that is developing between my little guys and how much they enjoy playing together, I'm pretty happy it turned out the way it did ;0)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGhyphenhyphenArZHbxToydKRgUge3x15Ri-EtK0djvrPMF2C5zmLSZG36S2Hb55sdQ5e90GOtMqFy0_QGM1UveA5Teulx8mGbAMt0uwTLcw86OlynxDVmmD1x5SN2m4o-g_4_yF0pu4yf/s320/079.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252930563793352786" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>But every once in a while, I get an urge for cute <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">girly</span> knitting...you know, with lace and ruffles and flowers and eyelets and picot edges! Ah, the stuff of dreams! Luckily, there seems to be a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">girly</span> baby boom around us and a sweet little girl was born to friend of Stephen's a few weeks ago and I was more than happy to get knitting on a little frilly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">knitterly</span> gift ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwwqM-uCd_IvZvFCwk9EwS753ruj7FIWD1UgZfsHgIq3REP4GLOeDlquJ_xwY3Su0Y2d7JCHfjLHNrC2lTNxCpXrwlpy484RttTXpOs3DdsK-nPlrJTeJTF03nwW0UjEBLfgx/s320/ceilli+011.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252933545705414594" /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's the upside-down daisy hat from Susan B. Anderson's <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/itty-bitty%20hats_BD30783.html?"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Itty</span> Bitty Hats</a> and the flower pacifier clip from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/itty-bitty%20nursery_BD30967.html?"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Itty</span> Bitty Nursery</a> (though you can get the flower clip pattern for free <a href="http://ia341239.us.archive.org/2/items/KnittedBrochure/knittedbrochure1.pdf">here </a>just like I did). The yarn is stash <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/shine%20worsted%20yarn_YD5420140.html?">Knit Picks Shine Worsted</a> and both were knit with US 7 bamboo needles.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4kwjVkAlBQtGdfXmq2HQQy1QXndKV6lApyxl-Kbr8p3uD9foZsTD4RlEsIxC2QZAIh8H6y9FEol_hPYUFA66i9LxhSn7krV0bwiaPqtgD3MFSbwozkkHyp1F4ElYW2vw0949/s320/049.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252933092516562722" /><div><br /></div><div>Both were quick to knit but long to seam. I don't mind that because I actually really enjoy seaming and finishing. I'm strange that way. I ended up making a few mods to the pattern, some intentional, others quite by accident. For the hat, I sewed on five of the petals instead of six. I knit the newborn size and found that there was too much overlap with six petals...so much so that it looked like a circle up on top rather than a daisy.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kf5oUjnacMFgFi8zXrKVTv3ZOJtMYBOg3VAox2m32ourCCUkYm3rCcY3Oev3xkMouiVkxoihrzkcjWjdrAwoCe6rqbmztMerFnQ0rAdizWVL3bYoaC62Bt9zEFjvJjl0NsRj/s320/180.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252931957455870418" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>For the flower clip, I found the instructions for the petals confusing and figured there had to be errata there. I thought I fixed it by knitting one, moving the yarn to the front, slipping one, passing the yarn to the back and continuing this way across the row. I continued this way and ended up with what I think is double knitting! Quite by {happy} accident! </div><div><br /></div><div>I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">thought</span> this is what the pattern meant but then the pattern says to turn it right side out with the purl bumps on the inside when finishing and mine didn't have any purl bumps, just nice stockinette that laid flat on both sides. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tres</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span>cool!</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6cfVfp20-4FZa50iLseuCM55AAisFxgtSrcJx8l4iYwOE96O-cDhMD6uzEA9vEDBYfmJ2NG06v6gbA87mLj6yxBCme2RJHk636N17D_qPGkbBB8RyhqvMEG3P51hccGxIHyv/s320/188.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252932265909459218" /><div><br /></div><div>For the pacifier clip, I sewed two pieces of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">velcro</span> on the end instead of dismantling an actual store bought pacifier holder to harvest the hardware. It just seemed wasteful to me. I used the clip from an old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">name tag</span> holder I got at some convention in another life when I had business functions! Seems like ages ago. It felt very fitting to be dismantling office supplies to turn them into pacifier holders ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGJYVputavR5KM4e_dlHCZw18pRpNPaUPTlyXUCpJQt48XlbfXKqNd_kcAsofoVAEOiFEO9snxTZW2HtFpXQboDTSy2UdaabI0QZrAov6I56uwA5VlGSm8GSPcVBgDwcZGEng/s320/185.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252932552720755378" /></div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out and hope that baby <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ceilli</span> will enjoy them for a while before outgrowing them. I guess that's the nice thing about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">binky</span> holder, it will <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">fit </span>for a long while!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now off to knit something blue...</div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-91768787314506623472008-09-25T20:03:00.009-04:002008-09-28T00:48:04.755-04:00More soup!I nestled myself on the sofa with a nice cup of green tea and the most decadent and buttery yarn I've ever felt last weekend to cast on for another Duck Soup, this one in the largest size for my {not so little anymore} Jubilee Bubilee.<div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ub2gM-SglUK2avRiq3wITOtW12H_UxqqlbUs3BHk2eqO-CrSTkNIEug4_u_knBs-NFZIehtrRKkLn3Qevsv6vpOTLz8KTFZ-o7s81IeNEfX3ZFQfvqJRp-C6_tQL7JCfsliJ/s320/duck+soup+038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250885586710176354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /><br /></div><div>The yarn is Frog Tree 100% merino wool and even though it is technically worsted weight, I got the required gauge of 4 sts per inch with it on US 9s. It's nice and drapey, but not holey. This stuff is surely the closest thing to butta I've ever knit with and I can't tell you how many times I had to put down the knitting to check the label because I was in total disbelief that 100% wool could feel this soft and cooshy. And it has great yardage too boot - I used just over 6 balls to knit the 4/5 year size (that's how much Classic Elite Countess I used for Lolo's 18 month size)! </div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmEjTC1XkVe4pH8OuzgI-xCsZ813fqvW20u0sp0mRApXdzOB3Ytv5mI2qq78MrFbPo7Vk5nQhzQO3g5-NZeWQKP2CW3e1fR8Vtwqrn4RSfJc2Z2obEwwQMPC0DnpbLmDrI0NZ/s320/duck+soup+187.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250891525272722370" /><br />I really like the sagey gray-green too, but couldn't think of any colours that would work well for the frog closures. I didn't want it to be too babyish but didn't want it to be too grown up or serious either. It suddenly came to me just as I was finishing the sleeves: <a href="http://www.behr.com">Behr's Color Smart</a> tool! </div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk6jQtunv1H2bSOk0RpAsltug4cC1eHEMgpYMx_UgSBP6dihZ0v9Y2H0XcQ4oNlT5wANFkaLmkLRlGQ8NzPvtDbxXd5cEqSpI1kNXIuINROgQgOR3g9GRXHf00mQehzFS7vj-/s320/Duck+soup+behr.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250900487388675186" /><br />It's this really nifty tool that generates colour ideas. I started by searching for a colour that most closely matched the yarn ('celery ice') and then asked the tool to find coordinating colours and it generated 8 different palettes. I ended up going for the 'cool details 1' combo (the last one in the screen shot above) because it happened to be most compatible with my stash and ended up with this...</div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdL_dGG38KDl_K0Uj1uU0f5xbSAU8Do001K9k0i0Uf1B6GVFCv9GFWdTeKM2W-hQtM-nO_B3ie_8VlyfzqO4IviuhCa2ZlNNqoyucBqNqwYLyrW65y4kCWsx-KvhxiH1fvIhp/s320/duck+soup+196.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250893071142573634" /><br /></div><div>Not bad, eh? I think I'm going to use that tool a lot more from now on. It completely took the guesswork out of the equation and gave me ideas I wouldn't have even thought of on my own. This one's definitely going into my knitting bookmark folder ;0) <br /><br />I ended up knitting the frog closures from stash worsted weight yarns and it worked out really well though I did have to knit the i-cords for the buttons a little longer to be able to knot and fold them with the thicker yarn and still end up with a 2-inch button frog. I ended up knitting 4 inch i-cords for the loops and 7.5 inch i-cord for the buttons. <br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJSf2RamUJr-ObdjurWsowDjfIYITTGOnUw13vvpiVCjPvbQLGAtOhLq6hyCc4k8k7obQI8D6Avj4ihnU4775JHZJXbUqaRLsSmf1wDJMPKGQw0ViZkbR7fcRyXQ_ctWblVCM/s320/duck+soup+136.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250894317882556578" /><br /></div><div>I'm thrilled with how it turned out in the end and would love to wrap myself up in it myself. Julian wouldn't have a problem with that, because even though he looks perfectly happy with it on in the photos (he was bribed with a chocolate race car ;0), he decided he can't wear it because it's "not his favourite colour"! Well thats a new one. Hopefully he'll change his mind again soon and make green his favourite colour just in time for cooler weather. <br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2Bi1MdR4ykSMR9ZzNEUPvpulepwOkqW8YjZTDX-XGuslnbcptiZ-HFdTrL6Dl4JHDGuO2Nm4LvWrJNnI2Kt1uLsRpIBF_DSJ2cXtKGwO2BbcB3iLhyCyvtHk1A5k7a-sODtx/s320/duck+soup+134.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250893231443586114" /><br /></div><div>Fingers crossed... <br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ps -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> I ended up making a few edits to the pattern after knitting this one to give the sleeves a bit more ease in the larger sizes (the baby sizes are not affected). I issued revised pattern to all buyers on September 22nd (it says 'v.3' on the cover). If you didn't get it or if you suspect it might have been deleted by your spam filter, send me a note at annypurls{at}hotmail{dot}com and I'll send it along.</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-345704116697211492008-09-17T21:28:00.009-04:002008-09-17T22:46:37.030-04:00Eighteen months......of Lolo cuddles and giggles, warm milky cheeks and smelly feets. That's a year and a half of being an excellent young apprentice for our resident big brother. Five hundred and forty seven mornings of pure sunshine and as many evenings of loving bliss. It was 18 months ago that our Lolobean graced us with his enchanting cuteness for the very first time on that peaceful spring morn.<div><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_orpNpSlnVK2dLREb7HfG9SCIsOGlrnrcPVpYR5aXugsUdv7FVNGyWvaDewerDr8xap8-ecJEDGwi-KQKm_78IC09x6NG5JYsu5IbZyJ3pYbyy0e5LFILF1EcYda2hZxnd320/s320/Lolo's+18+month+029.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247172429461855618" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>So naturally, because we love ourselves a little party, we celebrated the occasion! Julian and dada baked our traditional half birthday half birthday cake, this time we tried the most simple and delicious Boston Cream Pie recipe ever - you can get it from Kraft Canada's website <a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/boston-cream-pie-111428.aspx">here</a>. And we had ourselves a lovely lunch with grandma and grandpa and autie Libby and uncle Gary and even cousin Neil who was visiting all the way from Vancouver. It was great ;0)<br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpv-qykBSPXLzmX5Wq9aqY3UCMUjgvPm-qHUPkp6lE-OKhSG6bTvyUaJZigLJsQrp6IlNb2Ie1rTWpNXdm-tEHJDmKhyR0g-OPoXg6VfacLGnbHsLMj4SC8b5LGuoSQo-sD2-/s320/Lolo's+18+month+002.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247184508092712034" /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also wanted to mark the occasion with a little bit of knitterly goodness but since it took me so long to pick just the right project and to find just the right yarn from the stash, I didn't get started on the actual knitting until the night before. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeIGJrgMmmLGeE6D5EfxLkaCr7AwlPkub19otXufWYNX2PK_xDJagPB-QkL7ixpA7fuy_9_W3UfNFzz_N04h_zIw5FoiyJJ9tZHBo2mkIO8Jr_tuesLljYwrPD4ZcalMkKC4v/s320/Lolo's+18+month+061.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247185909879622658" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">I tried really hard to pull it off though, knitting into the wee hours of the morning but despite my best efforts to keep my eyes open, I fell asleep on the couch and didn't get it done to gift to him on his actual half birthday. So he had to wait a few more days for his present, but he didn't seem to mind at all. He's great that way! <br /></div></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqFuntbu8nYFltzgFtj-u7zzMsUx5_2kE5MUjsd9-Ws8RWPTwa5d-5CPXR5u4fakwK4myHcHPtNlYHhyphenhyphen0A52XJrkv9dhYJor98UX1tYKXh6fLPgrMzYw3MFbvDenQt2k5P5U2/s320/Lolo's+18+month+033.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247182475371767298" /><div><br /></div><div>The pattern is Mochi Mochi's<a href="http://mochimochiland.com/shop/items/snakemouse.php"> Sleepy Snake and Mischevious Mouse</a> and I knit it using a full ball each of green and blue Karabella Aurora 8 (oh, how I heart that yarn) and less than a third of grey for the mouse. <br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqtENiyVI3G-4vFiYeUDgAryB50HE0u-ZczP-QpnSQDEn-dP5-0JE8_OrOO12esX_GhUig3Sny88CG-hvWZ8ov1HypIS9l-oDu6L3NqwlDWQK6NoAE7NnwflHBBsTKN6YTAsX/s320/Lolo's+18+month+040.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247186892769783090" /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I added a squeaker in the mouse and a jingle bell in the snake's tail to up the play value. Turns out a big empty tube for chubby little hands to stuff with cheerios, hotwheels and magnetic alphabet letters is all the entertainment this little guy needs though!</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2U3BZoR753gLSo_jE7FqFGeV8RpvYKxLO82XPxZ2EK52dB_9CsvWvrL90JjYxtG1wzCV0NFoEI-h5XhgHwex9GOw_yeI49nNKAI5NcSBODqVTm5tFhEpZ6oBHNRY52RnsULx/s320/Lolo's+18+month+048.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247183111470123298" /><div><br /></div><div>Happy half birthday lolobear, we love you ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-48170827831049327332008-09-15T08:35:00.014-04:002008-09-15T09:48:07.121-04:00Cooler weather and six balls of Katia VenusThe temperatures are beginning to drop around these parts and I am giddy with all of the woolen possibilities that fall is sure to bring along: apple-picking with the boys, hats and scarves and mittens {oh how I do love them mittens}, comfy cozy little sweaters, and lots of cuddling with my family. You know, for warmth! <div><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36qEj3Gz0X5fcCrwphKhYb737BrbHfF4LwcCW4tMAq9CzOhvjJ2EIJTXrZG-V4jg118G6CD3FnfIJFIsdszsoUOItmSBfRPBEygrAZVwT5cMbLBLdM9sr8QWz1FiYumpiTH_p/s320/picnic+and+woolens+062.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246227036179493538" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">So I was thrilled to see the mailman walk up the driveway with 6 balls of Katia Venus in a red and orange colourway and 3 balls of Elann Sierra Aran in a dark brown last week and cast on immediately for this slithering snake scarf for my Jujube (get Sarah Bradberry's free pattern <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/scarves/slithering.html">here</a>).<br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftbQR0KwKJMhzvDp34GfcFWHtNOI8OThKO_jC6h614JEaPM_fdNLeGVg0EXtNygJOl89yBBVEfTzqj37l-uZ5tKbTLxHyQahPIa7q6CAuE9SU0BESE05R34pffVydgvPf30yf/s320/fall+knitting+009.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246229720695126434" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I only ended up using 2 and a half balls of the Venus and just over 1 ball of Sierra Aran to make it so I put all the leftovers to good use by rounding out the set with a matching hat. Of course ;0)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9es7TIKNfB0a7EYI1caWDV3tOgdq1VLAsTZdUBULEQvbQ9IZ7V0l2o5FddJkXz-bDa0sfyorb7d5HTQCQ8En8rzfUQIkwsp0yXWcB7s0jeN2XonnEY0WNjie_XxJJI7DRq54/s320/fall+knitting+021.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246230419537175074" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used <a href="http://yarnsticks.wordpress.com/category/free-patterns/earflap-hat-pattern/">this </a>free pattern from yarnsticks' blog, working the brim and earflaps in the Sierra Aran held double to get gauge and then alternating with the Katia Venus also held double for 2 row stripes all the way to the top where I finished it off with a little I-cord loop. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtwLlqoydHHtXXNUcQJzPB9UQYkOrOuRTy8e7oxiYBVmXlOfeW3-B-jVOsIVDYmy7Kqu_prVK4SNF-4mfHdGUFfQhSIoxGxZwwSNYZllMgO2pk5L0ILDgu74SZd_g-VZNZHXt/s320/fall+knitting+014.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246232861041130098" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then, since there was still leftover yarn, I knit some target wave mittens from Norah Gaughan's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Knitting Nature</span>. I knit the smallest size which is slightly big for my Julian, but he doesn't seem to mind at all. Turns out he looooves the woolens! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW_eF5laIcfIGohawMZkWDQtCORgPCj7HmtVBfzAnjthlv3Vgr22VE3GCE6xKjmCWhdo8mkUXRzk00E9VOXraEL0HZefnFrh0qGkHtARw1cKgU0c_UpX6KCrQBbqzErfKBPk-/s320/picnic+and+woolens+010.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246233734205211186" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He's been wearing them lots and lots around the house with his big chunky firey orange winter boots that the mailman also happened to bring us this week. Never mind fall, this kid just can't wait for snow!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmu9R2OoBL6MQ6qkZRhTMovSKUylO55N7OIY9BDmVxlhpXT2SYqrk0AZQxhB_rCGsx_m2Yj2uBqKyVfCgipuAq57yEdhXb0AC73rwRn2NE9sWQ3ps7XJg5gkKhstSKC0vkZtr/s320/picnic+and+woolens+110.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246238613127794322" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then it was Lolo's turn! Would you believe that after all that, there was still enough leftover Venus to make Yarn Harlot's <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/11/06/an_unoriginal_hat.html">unoriginal hat</a> for Lolo! It was meant to be a hat for me, but it was not so flattering (it's not the hat...it's me!) so I tried it on Lolo just for kicks and it was the cutest thing ever!!! <br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MvTMalbOnrvG90Wea0dzyxqd8riAWFX5W_9cc8Mr4aVV5ZsWm1FnivcXsw9irLd40rY2hpwJ2_YFk9t_Ome7Zeye62WxpECF_fYyGymm5LF6UV60ACfGCqb7kAYcmqhFfZeZ/s320/picnic+and+woolens+142.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246238183015848690" /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I made a few mods to toddlerify the pattern. I unravelled the top down to the 2nd row 16, knit 2 together all the way around and then pulled the yarn through all the stitches to finish the top. I then picked up stitches around the bottom edge and worked a garter stitch brim and earflaps just like Julian's hat making the earflaps slightly smaller by working them over 12 stitches instead of 14. And to top it all off, I taught Julian how to make a pom pom to adorn the top. He did the winding and I did the tying. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpOjVsGVVL5JxmJQClKP8U8KeFBJuSTia0toj4eIPXoZKDQpTyI7k434h8IP9svhFpF8BtRo9wQqGJfqIw1GWLEiQKY5Rn6O8z0mutt7mcruNKII5sOUXLfz3fqbNhFhYbSWz/s320/fall+knitting+041.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246233234585960002" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I finally ran out of the Venus, I pulled out the leftover Filatura Di Crosa Andina I had languishing in the stash and knit a simple garter scarf to match Lolo's new hat. I held two strands of the Andina together to get a gauge of 3 sts per inch, cast on 125 stitchs, worked in garter stitch for 4 inches and cast off. Voila, a sideways garter scarf sized just right for a baby or toddler ;0)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsMxnzdDQ5tTLdJohNUjtKTbdnOlFFiEuYlrd-b1zAlXj8gu5kpKSssC2HcdKwGFUsYR0D3cwW-BKEW-tiLqApZpp8sSNuy-HgP0yTACZ58nd1ZR_zpFPkRe3od9xRtYuQF1e/s320/picnic+and+woolens+101.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246239698198646706" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then when it was all done and I was finally done with the photos, we took off our woolens and set up our picnic under the biggest tree we could find because it turns out there is still a little bit of summer left ;0)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrU45OYUv5_UKGiriTR4tMGb-_HF3idplbW9i5kQJ2BKJXx4rrhdTnrOr1me0DY1ov3jXdR1EtjqB6sFK2doQCY85l6vW0GMUBtRv6RfbaRlsG3c23EMW0wuJouqAmgszueOi/s320/picnic+and+woolens+078.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246240731934930082" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">fall-is-coming</span> to everyone!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-57055819872337001902008-09-10T22:41:00.007-04:002008-09-11T00:34:48.653-04:00A little postscript...<div>How lucky am I? No really? Many people pour their heart and soul into their passion and have no one to share it with, no one to shower them with ooh's and ahh's, and no one to do a happy dance with when it's all done. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2abB0VIloxpXlyXaR1Rhk-bJYQS1u36b50KZjEwj2emWinHjPHK5DKw_sEim0yZt035DZffhI4apxkkjdSoML52jxNn8iJtFYs163SpdHcGX4xCx8TCOuF__yXdS88vGFZBDv/s320/166.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244616529629931186" /></div><div><br /></div><div>And here I am with a great supportive and helpful husband who doesn't mind that I spend his hard-earned money on yarn, who doesn't mind helping me solve tech issues when he comes home after a long day at the office, who can always be counted on to help me figure out knitting math, and who will stay up until 3 in the morning with me many nights in a row because it's the only time the house is still enough to get <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/">our website</a> organised for the launch of a new pattern.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LsgWv3xsP8l7npKK2GIP9hpsU6M6Lu4YhkbCNMTtbrHhy6oyberJ8MX6Ofr3dt0Ky-_7xCMw_VNokSRVy4vbcv1tm7QhPLU753Ly8BDgKbfBNUS34FHpL14BCFGFKqR1urf4/s320/171.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244616052267771426" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>And then, as if that weren't enough love and support and kindness, when it's all done, when all the photos have been taken, when the pattern has been written and proofed a million times (or so it seems), when the website is done and the e-mail updates have been sent out, when it's all done, done...I have you ;0)</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-FdaPsHbs4brWEo2Ki77xqLVLAa2_GF61TaduF51tiuwRfapggjUdxihpOpZ2K0UenDf-44DgiEYdeI4Dt76mlaj08foe-IuuEIyt34c-AOhb9BzC7DRvlb9ZSF_SWtdl9WG/s320/183.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244615681160757602" /><div><br /></div><div>I really am one truly lucky knitter! Thank you all for your kind words, your encouragement and your support. You are making a dream come true for this knitter and for the two sweet-as-pie little guys who's education funds grow with every pattern sold {because that's where all the money goes...the best way I could think of to contribute to the family while I'm at home with the boys}.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHscH6W06gQYyHAB8tNv-jduL9IaaZkIDvcZ7XrmDrQ8JdTeKKP56vl03kTRNu3FpPkhW1ypSzvTcC9PRaFaJnbe0h3d9zLLUvuAAhTOTze-qsz2ISpqM2HnKXvhJ6npL6v9z/s320/245.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244613752534160674" /><div><br /></div><div>I was relly sad to hear that the yarn I used for my<span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/ducksoup.php">Duck Soup</a> </span></span>was discontinued and have spent a lot of time this week trying to find a good sub and haven't found anything just so. But here are some suggestions for you anyway. If anyone has any other suggestions, please do share in the comments ;0) </div><div><ul><li>Valley Yarns <a href="http://yarn.com/webs/0/0/0/0-1001-1294-1323/0/0/1637/">Berkshire</a> (cooshy and lofty wool/alpaca blend, inexpensive and lots of colours including great baby pastels...I've actually used this one for this pattern and like it a lot but it does pill so you'll need to 'comb' your sweater every once in a while to keep it looking like new)<br /></li><li>The new <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/Swish+Bulky+Yarn_YD5420176.html">Swish Bulky</a> from KnitPicks (it is washable and comes in lots of colours)<br /></li><li><a href="http://cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Greenland.asp">Cascade Greenland</a> (machine wash and dry, soft merino, great cheery shades for babies and tots)</li><li><a href="http://cascadeyarns.com/bollicine-BabyNight.asp">Cascade Bollicine Baby Night</a> (shrink resistant merino, classic baby pastels)</li><li><a href="http://www.karabellayarns.com/yarndetail.aspx?yarnID=90">Karabella Merino Superwash</a> (super soft and washable and lots of great gender-neutral shades)</li><li><a href="http://www.berroco.com/shade_cards/peruvia_sh.html">Berrocco Peruvia</a> (great heathered shades to mimic the look of the Countess but not many 'baby' colours)</li><li><a href="http://www.karabellayarns.com/yarndetail.aspx?yarnID=74">Karabella Aurora Bulky Melange</a> (has the same multi construction as the Countess but the colour range is very limited)</li></ul><div>Note that I haven't tried most of these and suggest them simply because they should give you the correct gauge of 16 sts to 4 inches, are suitable for a baby or child (not too scratchy), and come in colours I might use for a baby or tot myself. All have also received at least 4 out of 5 stars from Ravelers. A note on yardage, the Countess offered 100 yards per 50g and was used to determine the estimates for yarn requirements so keep this in mind when shopping for a substitute yarn.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginR_xzm6J_NcJLyTXcVReQLH4BbOCb5NuSOF07r2QBbX7eoxmuxTqueX0KtllZwBEKr-5g6CuQUU_BC-PQjTWK9rzBXgAHIY-GhUNfBLb76Tlzpgr9-WYG35YPoXh_MP5frsM/s320/256.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244614470716563330" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Before I go, I should mention that I updated the <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/ducksoup.php">Duck Soup</a> pattern on September 8th and sent this revision to all those who had already purchased the pattern, either from my site or from Ravelry. If you didn't get it or if it was caught by your spam filter, just send me an email at anny{at}jujubeandlolo{dot}com and I'll set you up.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy knitting!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-18365890823752638902008-09-01T23:46:00.009-04:002008-09-02T00:43:47.395-04:00Duck Soup!There's a new pattern for wee ones hanging around <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/">my shop</a> today, meet <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/ducksoup.php">Duck Soup</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NaJj0PcffBdw4cjwHGk7zq0hN0rPbWpHKql6uy8Sy52EJQem2vrG_zFu2iaJiN7VX9ynSOFdA6AyowOnXnzQCEGZSh8htwz_mPuhL4q863nARvlzMNBOoYr7vnUGf5CnFxO7/s1600-h/duck+soup+088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NaJj0PcffBdw4cjwHGk7zq0hN0rPbWpHKql6uy8Sy52EJQem2vrG_zFu2iaJiN7VX9ynSOFdA6AyowOnXnzQCEGZSh8htwz_mPuhL4q863nARvlzMNBOoYr7vnUGf5CnFxO7/s320/duck+soup+088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241278521025480130" border="0" /></a><br />He came about one winter night as I tried to imagine the simplest, sweetest, freshest, and most practical baby garment ever. It would have to be really simple. That means no fancy stitches (just stockinette and garter), not too much shaping, as little counting as possible (aka, can be worked without looking at the pattern too too much), no buttonholes, no frilly bits, minimal seaming, supercute, current, warm, sized to grow with those kidlets who never seem to pause for the knitting, and fun to make. It took about 8 or 9 months of tinkering and tweaking until it was just right, but it's finally here!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3aHAlkQvfmFV8_8KbtsQuCOUxsZjcY_DwTH0XuF0ZGsjGPVUbS4qixItMyyaKJqzL625RCqBTKWy0PXmkebuudKQXeI376DTr8MOZbrCB2G4WkL6txeF-HFioaThyH89r9TX/s1600-h/duck+soup+063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3aHAlkQvfmFV8_8KbtsQuCOUxsZjcY_DwTH0XuF0ZGsjGPVUbS4qixItMyyaKJqzL625RCqBTKWy0PXmkebuudKQXeI376DTr8MOZbrCB2G4WkL6txeF-HFioaThyH89r9TX/s320/duck+soup+063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241276478785943090" border="0" /></a><br />It's is a fun to knit and wear (nearly) seamless jacket featuring a knotted hood (too cute), knotted i-cord buttons and loops (fancy lookin' but easy peasy, you'll see) and grow-with-me sensibilities.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXMt31yTsKDsIR_dtlFGMza7-HLdJZw8ud-QaQX6e7c6r3zWZ7NqblSRMnSBEZWe2TTGnfQ1Nl8UzTDxRQ6-oBXzo-mjTwikro_HBne-udEjTe-tse-29gm913jZvoj9Pl0GQ/s1600-h/Duck+soup+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXMt31yTsKDsIR_dtlFGMza7-HLdJZw8ud-QaQX6e7c6r3zWZ7NqblSRMnSBEZWe2TTGnfQ1Nl8UzTDxRQ6-oBXzo-mjTwikro_HBne-udEjTe-tse-29gm913jZvoj9Pl0GQ/s320/Duck+soup+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241279002331597426" border="0" /></a><br />Frustrated with sweaters that seem to only fit my tots for a few weeks, I designed this one with multi-season wear in mind.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwVuuNpmgcUHEUTntdvXr0G6CSqJY5mwnFBZYrhqu4p9E4bQ7p1-qm66rh-p4o1L4g9nJKWWBpC9Z9qt2ymi_panCOjLWTKIWClpGahWKLV01thIagFxOuo9Yafkujb_JN9o-/s1600-h/duck+soup+175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwVuuNpmgcUHEUTntdvXr0G6CSqJY5mwnFBZYrhqu4p9E4bQ7p1-qm66rh-p4o1L4g9nJKWWBpC9Z9qt2ymi_panCOjLWTKIWClpGahWKLV01thIagFxOuo9Yafkujb_JN9o-/s320/duck+soup+175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241276914557734754" border="0" /></a><br />This jacket will fit as a roomy overcoat with a folded brim and cuffed sleeves this fall and as a more tailored-fitting sweater perfect over a light layer come spring. I've also worked out sizing to fit wee ones from 3 months to 5 years so there really is something for everyone ;0)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhV1Y5ZqD6ZdF9wSOGb-rrOi6fKM_LBrZz4qJB5afErkf3geCbzcM5698rl6gd2829LU1rPzMXM-KJhj-qLomaucxf6qD-L9FMBQBjgW3BP681QZutsj8UWXEAn3p_7Gwfvxa/s1600-h/duck+soup+071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhV1Y5ZqD6ZdF9wSOGb-rrOi6fKM_LBrZz4qJB5afErkf3geCbzcM5698rl6gd2829LU1rPzMXM-KJhj-qLomaucxf6qD-L9FMBQBjgW3BP681QZutsj8UWXEAn3p_7Gwfvxa/s320/duck+soup+071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241277158342775634" border="0" /></a><br />The frog closures are such a fun (and deceptively simple) detail and I've included a thorough photo tutorial for making them in the pattern. Mine were knit from Knit Picks Palette (fingering weight) yarn I had lying around in the stash, but they would make perfect use of sock yarn oddments you might have lying around. You can make coordinating multi-coloured ones using the different colours in self-striping sock yarn since each only uses but a few yards of yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuzv0MJu7O9yMRbOr3tqoTgR_9b9xHgo-hiQsHeEhhq5pm96-K1E4o1SMP_hvadccOpkVrILlJwaISoa_tOwHFMs3yDIUNjKnMMVO4qLXsi9rsNB7FwPAWdPSl_s28Tt2w27C/s1600-h/duck+soup+146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuzv0MJu7O9yMRbOr3tqoTgR_9b9xHgo-hiQsHeEhhq5pm96-K1E4o1SMP_hvadccOpkVrILlJwaISoa_tOwHFMs3yDIUNjKnMMVO4qLXsi9rsNB7FwPAWdPSl_s28Tt2w27C/s320/duck+soup+146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241276699544484242" border="0" /></a><br />As for the main yarn, I used Classic Elite Countess which I purchased from <a href="http://www.yarn.com/">Webs </a>during boxing week last year (told you I've been thinking about this one for a while!) The yarn is a beautiful multi and is made up of lots of strands of different coloured yarns which I picked up on when choosing colours for the closures. It is also so soft and cooshy and a pure pleasure to knit with it.<br /><p></p><p class="MsoListBullet2" style="text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; line-height: 118%;">This is my favourite pattern so far and I hope you'll enjoy it too. You can it <a href="http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/patterns/ducksoup.php">here </a>or as a Ravelry download for $6.50.<br /></p>Happy knitting!Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-40787410208573301602008-08-30T13:17:00.000-04:002008-08-31T02:06:57.181-04:00Anyone for some tea?There are two toy closets in my house: the one the kids know about right in the middle of our family room, and the one the boys have never seen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3Da79MzG9wSjM8y2iioxL1Gmnb2eN0NUdinlMjNLcU5_ZAA153XU-sthQWAo9CC_uvRwhnB4BsO7TAI9fNNIw5oZ75wTtr1oKQr3vQ4w1H8S2c5RszX203hFEABc653YBMbR/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3Da79MzG9wSjM8y2iioxL1Gmnb2eN0NUdinlMjNLcU5_ZAA153XU-sthQWAo9CC_uvRwhnB4BsO7TAI9fNNIw5oZ75wTtr1oKQr3vQ4w1H8S2c5RszX203hFEABc653YBMbR/s320/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240554065367870706" border="0" /></a><br />That's where I keep all the wonderfully crafted wooden toys and such that I've been finding here and there for years. I snatch them when I find a deal and since they are not always age-appropriate...up in the upstairs closet they go just waiting for the rainy day when either of my little guys needs a little cheer me up or better yet a day that calls for a special reward.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-KxYVW-Lya-i1HJJwbh6xs-_vB2XdoETFSsVdClEha8sILFbSawGGRHqrmK7M18xslp_V8iQ2BvV21dCwEGv7rS5NtUeSFGlsqk3oxOkprleOGUZpVOguWnqZ2FEk35ObGa0/s1600-h/068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-KxYVW-Lya-i1HJJwbh6xs-_vB2XdoETFSsVdClEha8sILFbSawGGRHqrmK7M18xslp_V8iQ2BvV21dCwEGv7rS5NtUeSFGlsqk3oxOkprleOGUZpVOguWnqZ2FEk35ObGa0/s320/068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240555949196469122" border="0" /></a><br />When Julian was sick with his first "big boy" cold last winter (you know, the first one they are too old to just sleep through?), I climbed up on a chair in that special closet and found just the thing, a tiny little porcelain tea set. We wore our jammies and robes, stuffed tissues in our runny noses (oh so chic!), plugged in the humidifier and had a delightful tea party right there in his room and all the stuffies we could find were invited. It was the sweetest thing ever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoGWnBZN3auVfKKzJeveVhbcjsZlPnl-3AvCM6vdSNYSuHBQPKbUCjVZFCQPvFBEDpEtgBKy_VWqTutthWLP2daUboTtX9dGDZ-lHuHdDQM4BWzt-Cq8VbEyUNl9VG24iv6XR/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoGWnBZN3auVfKKzJeveVhbcjsZlPnl-3AvCM6vdSNYSuHBQPKbUCjVZFCQPvFBEDpEtgBKy_VWqTutthWLP2daUboTtX9dGDZ-lHuHdDQM4BWzt-Cq8VbEyUNl9VG24iv6XR/s320/023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240554610141180258" border="0" /></a><br />It's been almost a year already, but my heart can't help but swell just remembering that special moment. He was so happy to handle the tiny tea set and though he didn't say anything about it, I could tell by how careful he was that he knew it was a privilege to get to play with such a grown up toy that would otherwise have been reserved for when he was older.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXlUDWVj2guSp81oYmBETvwCh6j1x6nEo1D5wG7KMoPj0akU92dsmtDQL012dlonkLJuKxMjCummmAp6c4SkGZtl_YLVVpbR-PDAJ_TrqT-lMkNLPqqOoKOhXIx8NXA2mjHQm/s1600-h/021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXlUDWVj2guSp81oYmBETvwCh6j1x6nEo1D5wG7KMoPj0akU92dsmtDQL012dlonkLJuKxMjCummmAp6c4SkGZtl_YLVVpbR-PDAJ_TrqT-lMkNLPqqOoKOhXIx8NXA2mjHQm/s320/021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240554340581355314" border="0" /></a><br />It was so adorable to watch him pour tea and offer sugar and cream to all his delighted guests. He played tea party in the morning. He played tea party in the afternoon. And he just couldn't wait to take it all out again and play with daddy too when he got home from work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNLRbQLUnEps5arNlvSg_u7K9fmEdUej_ikQ5lFz_W6yAff7035CaftI2raJ4R5B3xJMmppRCdvKPStTvVtWme-qDwRKZX-ZxnzOr624axi4wLGgrIOoOCcYBlU2n_DCgzgwe/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNLRbQLUnEps5arNlvSg_u7K9fmEdUej_ikQ5lFz_W6yAff7035CaftI2raJ4R5B3xJMmppRCdvKPStTvVtWme-qDwRKZX-ZxnzOr624axi4wLGgrIOoOCcYBlU2n_DCgzgwe/s320/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240555098158648834" border="0" /></a><br />It is one of my fondest memories of his toddlerhood and I hope I never forget it. When his cold was gone a few days later, we packed up the tea party and put it away again...for another time. And he was okay with that too. And I was so proud.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b5ZNqzdXdAIBqqV6sx64zpt0Yz1uhJIIfFWuf-iHdmTEJZ8RwDhN9jow59KYqeSsyx-6AzXjoOFGw0YLP0u_BXls1lrAbLbBTZ3VePXGQF5_eNgMrDMOfNLvBbldJivi390U/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b5ZNqzdXdAIBqqV6sx64zpt0Yz1uhJIIfFWuf-iHdmTEJZ8RwDhN9jow59KYqeSsyx-6AzXjoOFGw0YLP0u_BXls1lrAbLbBTZ3VePXGQF5_eNgMrDMOfNLvBbldJivi390U/s320/027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240555490394493330" border="0" /></a><br />That's what I thought of this week as I knit all these wonderful tea sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres for my boys. So as the autumn chill draws near, we all get to look forward to special tea parties to help us chase away those colds...and this time, there'll be food for everyone!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8t3w0ZQR2rU3owHVrrkU2cyZSjXeKuCOCc-BkaqQGADZt4pz-siy4RSj-gOX7dQw8O5yzL9cXIeTo5KVWVbv2mukmL7O2tmxj1HVJWo7Y3gmUgxdzDsSydygM95RtegFbbTE/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8t3w0ZQR2rU3owHVrrkU2cyZSjXeKuCOCc-BkaqQGADZt4pz-siy4RSj-gOX7dQw8O5yzL9cXIeTo5KVWVbv2mukmL7O2tmxj1HVJWo7Y3gmUgxdzDsSydygM95RtegFbbTE/s320/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240557434812360242" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and by the looks of this, I think Lolo might be looking forward to cold season too ;0)<br /><br />Cheerio!<br /><br />Ps - Should you feel the urge to knit some of the tea party treats for a little someone too, you can get the free pattern directy from<a href="http://jeangreenhowe.com/patterns.html"> Jean Greenhowe's site</a>. It looks complicated, but every piece is but a strip of garter - no shaping whatsoever! It was a true pleasure to put this little spread together using US 8 needles and scraps of leftover Bernat Satin. I see Jean's knitted deserts in my future too someday, there's a free pattern for those too from that same site ;0)Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17406806.post-44555170019421638612008-08-27T21:27:00.009-04:002008-08-27T22:29:15.824-04:00Ravelympics: Days 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16!Oh my! Has it really been that long? And to think I was on a roll with two posts in one week! Well, let me catch you up with my Olympic knitting: meet the lovely and completed right on time, Natalie Coat...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLlzpPHvvgNWIvIYhxrAqxP11plql2w9WaoHvhZKYe9rDO-l3HvrQSqe0g5nID2UP8alz9IlYMJ8pVdTV0IqVkpw06NTqEuRbbvDMzotUxsk7dKSPqH1aKAYHoBBFG3NS5E8Z/s1600-h/316.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLlzpPHvvgNWIvIYhxrAqxP11plql2w9WaoHvhZKYe9rDO-l3HvrQSqe0g5nID2UP8alz9IlYMJ8pVdTV0IqVkpw06NTqEuRbbvDMzotUxsk7dKSPqH1aKAYHoBBFG3NS5E8Z/s320/316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239379882875951682" border="0" /></a><br />The pattern by Libby Baker is from Big Girl Knits. I knit the smallest size (not sure without looking at the book whether it is large or extra large), using 17 balls of Filatura Di Crosa Andina in camel and US 9 bamboo needles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYB0xGZQAN6Ka5aCRmMlvQ5s10sryS_Pbr8XEVzH1di-yZe6sW6TZLMni3oAdrj9jslx8mqMwLsO64grnDe7qWEwtYuXfZoR8vg9JvxTny0mCi4RM33nEsOn__xD-aB9_uJXB/s1600-h/344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYB0xGZQAN6Ka5aCRmMlvQ5s10sryS_Pbr8XEVzH1di-yZe6sW6TZLMni3oAdrj9jslx8mqMwLsO64grnDe7qWEwtYuXfZoR8vg9JvxTny0mCi4RM33nEsOn__xD-aB9_uJXB/s320/344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239381794136957330" border="0" /></a><br />The pattern was smooth sailing until I got to the second front on day 7. I did well at first knitting up to the waist shaping. But when I laid it down next to the other front piece, the daisy stitch bands didn't quite look symmetrical and so I ripped back about a foot and a bit! Ouch!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzOZHJ4EYGZq3bgWnwGP7URcrb_zQdtalTq0c8hVSTnmWhKyhK40WNCEponGIPdeXebgCuBouYl799o8iBSqZsqEbO9BMpOf1WBqoW2b4YxNILMNOHGzeTXJWOIegy47HVyY2/s1600-h/340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzOZHJ4EYGZq3bgWnwGP7URcrb_zQdtalTq0c8hVSTnmWhKyhK40WNCEponGIPdeXebgCuBouYl799o8iBSqZsqEbO9BMpOf1WBqoW2b4YxNILMNOHGzeTXJWOIegy47HVyY2/s320/340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239382178155901426" border="0" /></a><br />Demotivated a bit by the ripping, I found it hard to pick it up again and since I was doing really good on time, I allowed myself to procrastinate for a few days while partaking with fun-filled vacation activities with my boys, watching lots and lots of CBC and SRC Olympic coverage and mostly hanging with my honey and enjoying spending so much time together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw7F-Yw7Quf_dfnRxbbLoFVUEomyn9AmqaNlxeVMcEBi3cYoQGliyO2j-pTSUmhujrmFtMPxU5bay3V24ZIY3go4yVshAck42ZfP6CcoynFA9u_IfgrJQsIGIi9rkafkpCyto/s1600-h/338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw7F-Yw7Quf_dfnRxbbLoFVUEomyn9AmqaNlxeVMcEBi3cYoQGliyO2j-pTSUmhujrmFtMPxU5bay3V24ZIY3go4yVshAck42ZfP6CcoynFA9u_IfgrJQsIGIi9rkafkpCyto/s320/338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239385715131393266" border="0" /></a><br />But it was back to the needles with a fury on day 13 and I finished that second front that evening. I seamed it all up on day 15 and completed the collar on day 16 just in time to claim my spot on the podium and accept my award.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_7bfR_FliPI7SFixi8GBjXBoc1S3Osc-GXEs3LoKRYqI-FIAoNU2EnxCXcedVEvcsA1DowgOYdBR4eAADpbkjB0tFBqQhzRNVuOZn_l5JJtahavimB307cSYgPbajya4Ql_p/s1600-h/2741948098_03393f1c8a_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_7bfR_FliPI7SFixi8GBjXBoc1S3Osc-GXEs3LoKRYqI-FIAoNU2EnxCXcedVEvcsA1DowgOYdBR4eAADpbkjB0tFBqQhzRNVuOZn_l5JJtahavimB307cSYgPbajya4Ql_p/s320/2741948098_03393f1c8a_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239386783668182914" border="0" /></a><br />Yay !!!<br /><br />Oh, and of course the cheering robots Stephen and I made with the boys and hung in plain view of my knitting spot helped me bring it all home<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0corT4YdVWUc3rYYJxtAagdZTtFJAEsE2jiTbgOjAaICvv6ALacECOkAzpWs-UVjXlAID0rGMS-wd1Xe6Rvo0aZnrB88lxs81GmSZ1OpKTwDP9I3TetFCkeqNBQwxY0Rn37J/s1600-h/049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0corT4YdVWUc3rYYJxtAagdZTtFJAEsE2jiTbgOjAaICvv6ALacECOkAzpWs-UVjXlAID0rGMS-wd1Xe6Rvo0aZnrB88lxs81GmSZ1OpKTwDP9I3TetFCkeqNBQwxY0Rn37J/s320/049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239389654701643442" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and Simon Whitfield provided some awesome inspiration too...watching him make his way back in contention in the final minutes of the triathlon and bringing home the Silver was my highlight of the games and watching team mate Colin Jenkins' enthusiastic last place finish is an olympic moment I will not too soon forget!<br /><br />Forget Jacques Rogge, these <span style="font-style: italic;">were </span>the best games ever!Annyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541055233565063754noreply@blogger.com15