Things other than knitting....

I have decided that I would love to become a sewer as well as a knitter and so I have been trying new things out lately. My mother is an amazing sewer and quilter and she is teaching me as I go. She has given me a wonderful sewing machine and now I am off. I think that knowing how to sew is something that is always useful...especially when you are 5'1" and ALL of your pants need hemmed.
First on my list of projects was a pillowcase dress for Baby C. I finished it today and I am in love. It is exactly what I was looking for. I can't wait to make more for her and for gifts. Here is a pic:

I cheated and didn't use a pillowcase on this one because I didn't want to ruin it on my first stab at this. I just used about 1/3 a yard of quilting fabric and that was it. I bought a spool of ribbon and some frill for the bottom of the dress to spruce it up some. Here is another picture of my photogenic daughter. After 1400 pictures, she has learned to smile when we bring the camera out. Next up on the sewing list besides more pillowcase dresses is a soft book that my mom bought me a kit for. Baby C can chomp on this!

Tea Swap

All right, so I decided to join the Knit One Tea Too Swap. I am pretty psyched since these are two things that I love and I could always use a cup of tea! Here is the questionnaire that we were asked to post:

Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try?
I like tea bags... I am not such a fan of loose tea, I know I know, it just takes too much time!
What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)?
So I love English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, Earl Grey like teas and Raspberry Bigelow, but mostly the non flavored varieties.
Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white) (keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up).
I am up for trying anything, but I mostly just drink black tea now.
Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind?
I love my electric tea kettle that I scored for Christmas last year.
What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself?
Hmmm...Scented tea coasters, any kind of honey....
How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc).
Mani/Pedi Absolutely!
If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why?
I would be a soft merino yarn, worsted weight, nice and cozy.
If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why? Ooh, that is a toughie. I am split-part fair isle for the challenge, part baby booties for my love of knitting baby things.
What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?) A nice power yoga class.
What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?)
Definitley sweet no doubt.
When buying yarn for a project how do you choose - do you buy the one called for or do you substitute? I usually substitute with a yarn on sale. I am not rich yet, haha
What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go?A Vera Bradley Tote or a nice small shopping bag with handles.
Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting? A good drama... maybe historical drama.
Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match? I love a good set of non-matching mugs. Particularly the oversized mugs...has to be oversized!
Favorite childhood birthday party? Strawberry Shortcake
Favorite type of scone and jam?A buttercream scone with strawberry jam.
If you use candles, what is your favorite scent? Vanilla, lavendar, citrus
If you could choose 3 people to have 'tea' with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead). My mom, my nanny, and my Aunt Jackie or my Aunt Kate
You've been invited to a tea party, what 'props' will you wear (formal or casual)? Definitley casual jeans with birkenstocks and a t-shirt or comfy sweater.
Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to? Just bees
Anything we missed that you want your pal to know? Nope thats all!

Sockapalooza Comes to an End!

Well, they are finished and sent and awaiting approval. I finally finished my Sockapalooza socks after many times of starting over and switching yarns... I ended up using Reynolds Soft Sea Wool in a mustardy color and a pattern that is out of a Reynolds sock pattern book. It was called Barber Pole Socks. I ended up really liking the pattern with the exception of it looking a little more bulky than I had anticipated. As for the yarn, it was a really nice feel. The color is a great fall color too. Anyway, I hope she likes them and they fit too! I can't wait to hear. Here are some pics of the socks:
I also included in the package 2 skeins of a reddish-orange blend of Lorna's Laces as well as some stitch markers...you can always use those right? Here is a pic of the whole package:
As for my Sockapalooza 4 package....IT WAS WONDERFUL!! I received it today from Gloriana and I loved the socks! They fit like a glove and were perfect. She used Koigu in a bluish-purple-green shade and I loved it. I can't wait to wear them this fall/winter with my Birkenstock clogs! She also included in the package a great pouch that she sewed out of some fabric from London and the book Knitting Rules by the Yarn Harlot! Here is a pic of all my goods:
So, that is it. It was a great experience and I loved knitting my first pair of patterned socks and I would do it again in a second. Now, onto other things. Next on my craft list is to make a pair of curtains for Baby C's room... They are waaaayyy overdue and need to be done. As far as knitting goes, everything is a Christmas present for the next few months. Tata

I'm back....

So, it has been a long time since I have blogged....Things have been busy here. I say that like they will ever not be busy anymore. Little C is doing fantastic. She is sleeping a little better thanks to the discovery that she has acid reflux pretty bad and is now on Zantac. We are all a lot happier. I have decided that this is the most fun age so far, but that said, everyone tells me that from now on, every age is the best for different reasons.
I haven't had a ton of time to knit...mostly just on my way to and from my parents house and on any other car rides that we take. So, here is where I am:

-The Branching Out Scarf never made it in time for Mother's Day, but it is now finally done! Well, the knitting is done...all that is left is the blocking. It will now be a Christmas gift. Yay, I am done my first Christmas gift.

-Mock Cable Socks: I have turned the heel on them. Actually, I did this this morning while I was driving home from night shift...well, sitting in traffic with the car in park. There was a trash truck that caught on fire. I sure am glad that I had my knitting in my car!

-Apricot Jacket: So that is another story. To be perfectly honest... I have had such trouble picking it up. I don't have a lot of time to concentrate for a period of time all at once. I have been just knitting a little here and there. The other night, I finally got some good knitting done on it. I found that I need to do the left front over again because of a mistake. I am all ripped out, now I just need to reknit from about halfway on. I finished the right front though and it turned out good. Here is the progress:


So, what is next? I always have to have at least two projects going at once. I get bored easy. February baby sweater...in Flake Cotton. What a lovely yarn. I can't wait to see what it turns out like. I will be starting this or at least working on it at Tuesday's Pitch in Stitch where the Phillies meet the Reds.
And also, to my knitting pen pals....your letters will be in the mail by the end of this week. I am so enjoying getting to know you!

Sockapalooza 4

So, I just got the sockpal that I will be knitting for. I am really excited about this. I have never participated in a knit along before and can't wait to start. Browsing all of the fun sock yarns on etsy is wonderful and I am already having trouble deciding just which yarn to pick. I can't wait to knit with a hand-dyed yarn, something I haven't done before. I can feel myself becoming addicted to knitting socks...uh-oh.

So Its Been a Long Time...Lots To Do

All right, so it has been forever since I posted. A lot has been going on. Baby C started solids last week, she stopped breastfeeding, I started working again, and I have a ton of knitting projects to work on.
First and foremost, Apricot Jacket. I have finished the back, one sleeve, and the left front. Here she is so far:There a couple of flaws, but I think it is more of my own perfectionism and really unnoticeable. I have been jotting down some comments about the pattern, so I will post them when I finish. I have started the right front and so then I will only have a sleeve left. I do have to say that it is a really quick knit. I can't wait to finish it.

The other project I worked on was a sweater that I began knitting for Baby C almost a year ago. It was supposed to be the sweater she came home from the hospital....BUT...I never finished it in time and good thing because it never would have fit her. Now it is done and it fits. I think we will have a few more cool days that she can wear it. Here it is:

Pattern: Cashmere Sweater from Simple Knits for Cherished
Babies by Erika Knight
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Needle Size: 8
Start to Finish: You don't want to know

Next project is a pair of socks that I started with a mock cable pattern and Tofutsies yarn. It is a soy silk yarn and I am in love with it.
I also just received Knitting Without Tears and Knitter's Almanac in the mail the other day and I am so excited to start the February Baby Sweater. I just love reading Elizabeth Zimmerman. I have to admit, I have never been the best at figuring things out on my own and I am hoping that by trying these Elizabeth patterns will help me to really learn the art of knitting. Don't get me wrong...I feel like I can conquer just about any pattern, but, I want to really know what I am doing and why I am doing it. That being said, I was at The Lamb's Wool today for the first time in a long time. I bought a bunch much to my husband's dismay. For the February Baby Sweater, I bought Reynold's Soft Sea Wool in a rose color. It feels so nice knit up. I also bought a couple skeins of this for a pair of socks. Then I bought some bamboo to make a combination knit/fabric dress for Baby C. Also, some Stork yarn to make a cardigan for Baby C's baptism gown for May 27th...better get on that. So, I continued my bad habit...to buy much more than I can chew.

Fun Blog Stuff

So, I am pretty excited about all of this blogging stuff. I just signed up for Sockapalooza4 on the blue blog. I can't wait. It is another reason to start knitting socks. Then, a couple of weeks ago, thanks to Domesticat, I signed up for the knitterly letter swap. I just sent off my first letter today to my pen pal. Now I have all the more reason to go but more stationary and more sock yarn!