It has been a while since I have posted anything knitting related, but you need not worry. I have been knitting, and doing other yarn related activities. I have actually been doing a lot of dyeing lately.
I was trying to get a lemon yellow clor for this skein. How do you think I did?
What about now?
This cute little lemon was made following the lemonlime pattern from PeachCake Knits. I used worsted weight yarn, and US 6 needles.
Actually I have been back since last Monday, but I have been marathon knitting and haven't had time to blog. The kids and I visited my parents during the July 4th weekend while DH was in NY for a wedding. Since DH flew out of the city my parents live in, it only made sense to combine the trips.
The kids loved their time with my parents. They did a LOT of swimming in their pool, saving worms from hot asphalt (we have very little asphalt here), and even got to see dinosaur bones, and the effects of static electricity on hair at the local museum of science and history. They especially liked the area set aside for kids 5 and under, which had little to do with science or history, but had lots of stuff to climb on and water to splash.
DD climbing a fake tree.
DS playing in the water.
Since then I have been knitting like crazy trying to get my sister's birthday present finished before her next birthday. I knit so much in one week that the yarn from her bag actually dyed a line in my index finger where I wrap my yarn for tension.
However, my fingers and wrists held out, and I was able to finish her bag this weekend, which was lucky, since she was able to visit this weekend. She received her finished bag only one week after her birthday, and it looked great!
My sister also brought us some yummy lush products, including face masks that you can't mail order. My DD loved them.
Last but no least, DS had his very first haircut this weekend, and he no longer looks like my baby. Now he looks like a little boy. Pictures to follow.
For the second time in two months I spent most of the night in the emergency room with my husband. He again had symptoms reminiscent of a heart attack. He appears to be in no immediate danger, but we still have no idea what is wrong. So another barrage of tests is on the horizon.
Ironically, I spent yesterday in our doll hospital, performing plastic surgery on Isa, my daughter's iguana friend who was brutality attacked and mauled by our dog. She will always have the scars, but I believe that once she fully recovers from the surgery she will be able to lead a normal life.
The following pictures are of Isa post surgery. I will not be sharing preoperative pictures, as they are simply too gruesome.
On the up side I was able to do a lot of knitting in the hospital. I finished the large swatch for my sister's bag, and felted it today, Swatched for the Holly Jacket, and made an apple and lime which I finished today. Here they are;
See!!!!! I haven't forsaken knitting!
This pattern is Knit Strawberries by Pezdiva. I followed this patterned EXACTLY as written, which is very rare for me, but it is a really good pattern. It is actually my new favorite intermission pattern (that is when I need a break from a larger project). It takes only about 20 minutes to make a strawberry so they give me near instant gratification. Knitting one of these little babies helps me remember that larger projects will eventually be finished.
Knitting the fake food has also helped me realize that my kids don't need anymore cheap toys. Notice that I didn't say inexpensive.
According to Merriam-Webster cheap means "at minimum expense," and inexpensive means, "reasonable in price."
Christmas of 2006 my DH and I bought our DD some cheap toy food from the dollar section at Target. We bought a mix of fruit and vegetables. They were all one color, and about one size, regardless of the fruit or vegetable represented (the strawberry and celery were the same size). The following picture is a comparison between the strawberries I knit, and the plastic strawberry that was in the set we bought at Target. 
Sure there is a place for cheap plastic foods, but that place is not in my house anymore. Instead my kids are going to get inexpensive toys like these knit strawberries. The yarn was already in my stash, and it took very little time to knit. The cost to make these strawberries in both time and money was quite low, but they were not as cheap as $1 during a trip to Target. So now instead of supporting a big box store, the inappropriate use of oil (in the form of plastic), and instant gratification, I am supporting hand work, renewable resources (wool), and patience (waiting a little while for mom to finish the new toy). Most of all I enjoy making the toys for my kids, and my kids have already played with their fibery fruit than they ever played with the plastic stuff.
Speaking of reasonably priced, but not cheap stuff.......
After months of researching all of my options I have finally ordered a new knitting bag. It was a difficult decision to make. All of the options were really quite good, and the decision finally settled on preference alone rather than any particular strong point in the bag I picked or weak point in the bags I didn't pick. In only a few short days I will be receiving a Swift by Tom Bihn. It seemed the most utilitarian and adaptable for me. In a few weeks I plan to do a review on it.
Finally, a little something from the Tom Bihn website.
First of all, two days in a row. Whoo, hoo! I may be able to make a habit out of this yet.
In the past couple of days I started knitting my kids some play food, and I had to share the outcome. They are incredibly cute! The kids already have cheap plastic versions, but with all the talk recently about the toxicity of plastic, my DS's ability to fit the vast majority of it in his mouth, and the dog's unfortunate affinity for the plastic variety, I had to do something.
As a result, I present to you;
Realistic Carrot
For this carrot I used the Baby Fruit and Veggie Rattle Pattern by Allison Judge.
I modified the cute baby carrot pattern she created, to make one that looked more like it had just come out of our garden. I basically made it "ugly" by adding purl bumps, paired increases and decreases, small cables, and circular ridges embedded in the knit fabric.
I also made an apple;
(try to ignore the dog hair)
For this piece I used the Ms. Saucy Apple pattern by Peachcake Knits.
However, the original pattern had to be altered because it was incorrect. The modifications I made were as follows;
After k4, kfb around there are 36 stitches as stated, next the pattern indicates that you should kfb 3 times spread out across the row. This adds 3 stitches, for a total of 39 stitches, not 40.
There is 8 rows knit even (I knit 9), then the decreases begin.
The pattern indicates that you should k9, k2tog around. This implies that there is some multiple of 11 in a single row (k9, k2tog involves 11 stitches, and the pattern does not say what to do with the left over stitches). Instead, k11, k2tog around, knit 2 rows, skip the instructions to k8, k2tog around, and it's corresponding knit row, and restart the pattern at k4, k2tog around.
Hope this helps anyone struggling with this pattern.
As you can see my kids really like the new toys.
Finally, for you viewing pleasure.....proof that pit pulls are safe with children (at least my pit bulls with my children).
Crafting a Life.
Welcome to Gerwerken Crafts, Home of the Hang Your Hat Podcast, and information about DIY, crafts, home improvement and much more.
