a word, my word

The word I've chosen for 2014 is acceptance.  It’s a big one…

I need to face up to the fact that I’ll be turning 60 this year, as I’m approaching a kicking and a screaming.  I know my feelings about it are much more dramatic than need be, I learned that when I turned the big 5-0 ten years ago.   How does one prepare for such milestones? I guess it is such a personal journey for each of us.

I know I’ve much to look forward to, as changes are a coming big time…

I’ve joined in with Kim Klassens’ 14 in 2014 this year – What fun!

My list includes;

-De-clutter, especially my closet

-Tidy up computer use, including

   Unsubscribe to sites that continually send me e-mails that I systematically delete

   Un-follow the blogs, twitter and instagram sites that I no longer read on a

   regular basis

-Organize files for 2014 including photos, patterns and documents

-Continue to work on strengthen my left knee since I’ve a ragged meniscus (what

  ever that is)

-Exercise regularly to strengthen core for an upcoming trip

-Find a common interest for hubby and I to enjoy outside the home

-Learn more about retirement and begin planning my own

-Knit a pair of socks (I planned on this last year, but didn’t get er done)

-Decide what projects I want to knit and/or crochet this year and try to not get side-tracked when I see something new that I just have to make

-Continue learning about knitwear design, take an on-line class and read all I can about the craft

-Make time for friends and family

-Paint my bedroom – as I’m ready for a new color to wake up to

-Continue to learn and improve my photography skills

-Watch more sunsets...

Cheers to 2014!

I know, I know, where the heck have I been?  It has been way too long since I've checked in here at Knitalatte to let you know what I've been up to.  Since my last post, I learned that the baby I've been making the crochet star blanket for is a GIRL!  So down with the stars and up with the basket weave knit blanket in pink (more on that later)...

Can you believe it?  2013 is coming to a close.

I love this time of year, when we allow ourselves to reflect on past accomplishments and failures.  To let it go of it all and look forward to the New Year.

I’ve had such fun with the knit and crochet projects that I worked on (completed, ufo’s and frogged items too).

I’ve bought way too much yarn, I mean seriously, do I think I can really produce mass quantities of knit objects within the timeframe that I’m not working, taking care of things or sleeping?  Jeeze!

I thought it would be fun to share with you the books that have peaked my interest and I plan on diving into in 2014.

Woodland Knits by Stephanie Dosen

Stephanie has been one of my favorite knit designers for some time.  I was so excited to see that she put together a collection of her patterns into one book.  I want to make the Dragon Watchers hood, and can’t wait to get started.

Knitting Gifts for Baby by Mel Clark

Who can resist baby knits?  I love Mels patterns and baby knits work up so quickly. The finished product is well received by the proud parents to be, a win-win in my book!  I’m crazy for the Leia Bonnet and have already gotten the yarn to make this up for a special baby.

  

The Yarn Whisperer by Clara Parkes

I’ve read such good reviews about this little book and I’m sure it will be a quick, satisfying read for a Sunday afternoon by the fire.

Knitting Yarns by a collection of writers and edited by Ann Hood

I’ve already read the Knitting Circle by Ann Hood and loved it, so I thought I’d give this a go.

And for pure inspiration; Running with Nature by Mariel Hemingway & Bobby Williams. My sister suggested this read and I’m glad she did!

So I’m wondering what is on your reading list for next year?

I want to thank each and every one of you who have stopped by for a visit, left a sweet comment and allowed me to be apart of your blogging adventure this past year.

Have a safe and Happy New Year.  Cheers to 2014!

some patterns are just magic...

I recently learned some wonderful news, we have another great niece or nephew on the way.

How lucky are we that our family keeps growing!  My lovely niece Hailey is expecting her first child.  Now what is a great auntie to do when the parents to be are not going to find out if it is a boy or girl?  Why create two blankets of course.  I’m knitting a pink basket weave patterned blanket for a little girl.  I’ve knit the pattern numerous times so a pink version will be a fun easy knit.  For a baby boy? 

I found this adorable pattern ‘all star blanket’ by designer Doris Chan to crochet.

The yarn is elsebeth lavold Eucool that I've in stash.  The colors; blue, red, tan and creame for the squares and brown for the connecting rows and trim.

 The magic of this pattern is how the shapes of the individual squares change with every round; Round one a circle, round two creates the star, round three a circle again and round four the square shape that will make up the blanket. 

Magic!  

I'm thinking 30x30, so I'll need about 36 squares.  I’m loving watching it progress.  Stay tuned for the ta-da…

oh chapeau

Did you notice the change this morning?  It really felt like fall!  The outside air so crisp and clear.  The perfect time for hats...  

abbey, zoe, libby, mara and sam model their new hats

My girls insisted that I make them each a new one and with that, I worked up a crochet hat pattern using noro sock, oh how I love noro sock yarn.  So pretty, long colorways, the texture is rustic and soft at the same time…If any of your blythe girls are in need of a new hat, the pattern is below...have fun!

Blythe doll Chapeau

Construction

Crochet

Abbreviations

ss…slip stitch

sc…single crochet

hdc…half double crochet

st…stitch

sts…stitches

Gauge

7 stitches and 7 rows = 1”
Finished Size 9-1/2” circumference at hat band and 3” tall

Difficulty

Easy

Material

Sock yarn- stash is good! I used Noro silk garden sock in the color way 269

Equipment

Crochet hook size 3.5/E

Darning needle (for sewing in ends)

Pattern

Create an adjustable loop and sc 6 into the loop.

R1: 2 sc into each stitch around (12)

R2: (2 sc into the 1^st st, 1 sc into the next st) (18)

R3: (2 sc into the 1^st st, 1sc into each of the next 2 sts) (24)

R4: (2 sc into the 1^st st, 1 sc into each of the next 3 sts) (30)

R5: (2 sc into the 1^st st, 1 sc into each of the next 4 sts) (36)

R6: (2 sc into the 1^st st, 1 sc into each of the next 5 sts) (42)

R7: (2 sc into the 1^st st, 1 sc into each of the next 6 sts) (48)

R8: (2 sc into the 1^st st, 1 sc into each of the next 7 sts) (54)

R9-R16: sc into each stitch around

R17: sc around and decrease 4 stitches evenly

R18-19 sc around

R20: hdc around

R21: (2 hdc into the 1^st st, 1 hdc into the next st) around

R22-24: hdc into each st around

R25: (2 hdc into the 1^st st, 1 hdc into the next stitch) around

R26: sc around

R27: ss into each st around

Finishing

Break yarn. Use a darning needle to sew in ends.

a bit of summer knitting

Want to make some cool washcloths?  Yes, I do…I was visiting the Yarn Harlots blog back in August and read Stephanie’s post about knitting up some washcloths and it sounded to me like the perfect summer knit.  Holding cotton in lieu of wool during this heat, how refreshing!

After stash diving I found my Sugar n cream yarn and started in on a very simple yet satisfying knit using the Bee-Stitch pattern.  Our really hot spell starts late August and goes till about the middle of October.  Another 6 weeks, oh boy. I imagine I can make up a pile of these...

As Stephanie suggested, cast on 31 stitches, knit 6 rows, then on the next row follow the 4-row Bee Stitch pattern, leaving the 1^st 3 and the last 3 stitches as knit. When almost square, finish up with 6 rows of knit before bind off.  Give this pattern a try if like many of us, you need a break from wool. 

The Bee-Stitch gives such a nice puffy texture, perfect for soap and water to mix into a nice lather before using, sweet as honey! Thank you Stephanie i.e. Yarn Harlot for such a great idea.

a bit of cozy for the girls

I found an adorable little bed frame that came with a mattress and pillow inserts on the bay and I thought they’d be perfect for a makeover.

Zoe and middie girl hanging out

After a good cleaning and light sanding, I spray painted the bed frame off-white.

Then once I had the dimensions, I made a dust ruffle out of a bit of stash cotton fabric.

The mattress and 2 pillow covers are sewn from a set of cloth napkins I purchased from the Rachel Ashwell collection (love the little flowers). The accent pillows are knit with crochet trim out of bits of Noro left over from the bedspread.  

The bedspread is crochet, single crochet using Noro silk garden sock yarn.  The fringe was added for a bit of whimsy. 

 Zoe seems to like sleeping on her new bed way more than the box she was put away in. haha… Such a fun little project and I’m glad to see that she is willing to share too! 

he is a diver boy…

I’ve completed the Dustland mitts for hubby, and I think he must like them,

as he let me take photos. 

It was a really fun photo shoot.  We went down to the boat at Oceanside harbor and I posed him in various positions. He turned out to be a very cooperative model, which I wasn’t expecting, haha…I think he will like these mitts because they are so lightweight and warm. 

Brooklyn tweed yarns, both shelter and loft are, in my opinion, the best for these qualities. Loft yarn along with this pattern by Stephen West are a great combination.

I’ve asked my diver boy to put them to the test this week and report back if they are doing the job I’d envisioned for him, warm hands after a cool dive in the beautiful pacific blue.