More stuff Natalie won't wear :)

I really, truly, swear it...this is the last stuff I'm making for her.  She put the headband on for just about 25 seconds and has refused to try the skirt.  Instead she'd like me to send it to my friend Amy's daughter, G.  (Amy, if you like this let me know and it's yours.)

Anyhoo...  I nabbed the pattern for the skirt from here and then I changed it up a little bit.  Natalie is longer and thinner then the instructions called for.  And I did the ruffle differently.  That I actually crocheted directly on to the outer layer of the skirt using slip stitches and then the first row was a single crochet.  I thought, maybe, just maybe, Nat would wear this is I used the softest yarn and a flamboyant bow - but nope.  Too bad for you cupcake yarn.

I made the headband from a pattern found at Vallies Kids and stole the button off an old pair of pants I don't like anymore :)  Made that while I was waiting for Paddy to have his surgery.  So, obviously a very quick and easy pattern.

Here are the pictures.  :)

Sweater for me!

Yes, I realize I should NEVER appear w/out make up but I was pleased w/ my sweater and had about 3 minutes to take this picture in between running around outside w/ the kids and working in the garden.  So, confession, not only am I appearing sans make-up...I'm also dirty!  Anyway, hope you can overlook all of this and just focus on my pretty sweater.

I used Vanna's Glamour Yarn in diamond (sparkly white)!

and actually created this pattern for myself.  Will post details if I have a chance but essentially I used a chevron pattern and worked from the top down.  Once I get the details up at Ravelry I'll post the directions!

Can you tell I'm pleased w/ myself?  I am!

Made!

This past week has been busy.  Nat's preschool teacher is vastly preggered and delusional (as only a 1st time Mom can be) and has decided she'd rather have her shower after the baby arrives.  You know, when she's feeling all fresh as a daisy and so well rested and ready to entertain.  Yeah, that was some pretty heavy sarcasm ;)  So, the Mom's in the preschool decided that if we couldn't throw her a shower that, damnitall, we were giving her presents anyway.  So, for Teacher Appreciation we filled 2 baskets w/ baby stuff.  I included the afore-posted diaper cream that I love as well as this handmade baby blanket.  It was ooohed and aaahhed over to no end, despite it being a hand wash only item that is perfectly impractical for a baby, especially one w/ a likely arrival in late July :)  Whatever, it's pretty!

I'm still struggling w/ bling for "The Event" wedding coming on on 6/12.  I tried my hand at making my own last night.  Not what I want to wear to the wedding but darn cute and definitely worthy of blog spotlight.

Finally - let me shout it from the hills!  Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely ladies out there!

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Project Finished!

I've been working on this one for awhile.  This weekend all that was left was one sleeve and I was not going to let it beat me :)  It's done and I'm pleased.  the only downside is that I had to make it big enough for my arms (aforementioned issue) and to go around my boobs which said needed to be a size L sweater.  Well, it should've been a M.  Anyway, after I did that I also managed to lose some weight (Yay!) and so its now fully too big.  I will live thru it.  On to the next project.  A baby blanket for Nat's preschool teacher who is due in July.  I haven't made a blanket for awhile and I'm looking forward to it.

Okay, so here's how I did it...  Started w/ the actual instructions

Here's how I changed it to try and fit me a little better than the pattern was calling form.  As I was working the pattern I noticed that the arm openings were too small. 

-So, I worked the pattern for a size L and added an extra 10 stitches when I created the arm openings. 

-Cont. working a size L until the sweater length was just past my bust.

-decrease on each side under the armpits on alternating rows until stitch count was the same as for a size M.

-Finish pattern for size M.

** I made mine a little longer than what is pictured in the pattern because my belly (post N & P) is not quite crop sweater worthy anymore!

** In case you want to make the pattern you can find it here (username/logon required for this site).

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Random Thoughts....

Girl Scout Cookies...
1) Why don't actual girl scouts sell them anymore?  This year we've purchased from an Aunt, a family friend and a coworker (yeah, I know we have a problem with self control).  I have yet to see a young lady w/ a green sash on making a sales pitch.
2) What do they put in those things to make them so insanely irrisistable?

Using my powers for good...  I have a ton of yarn balls leftover from finished projects and I have no idea what to do with them.  So, I'm going to start making baby & kid stuff to donate for next winter.  I figure some sweater/hat/mitten sets will take care of any extra yarn laying around and have the added benefit of keeping some kiddos warm next fall.

Trash...  The last 2 mornings I've witnessed trash blowing down the street and up to the feet of another VCU-MCVH'er walking to work.  It's early, barely light, and everyone is in zombie/tired mode.  Instead of continuing on their path they've picked up whatever it was and carried it with them to the nearest trash can.  This sort of stuff totally restores my faith in the inner goodness of people.

Natalie's "barney" dress

As promised here is the dress/tunic I just made Nattie.  She chose the color - Barney Purple - ack!  Anyway, she decided she wanted it short to wear w/ leggings so it comes to her mid-thigh.  I'm going to do my best to post w/ instructions in case anyone out there would like to give it a try.

and for the record...the model went to bed before the pictures so I'll see if she'll humor me tomorrow and try it on.

Instructions....Size slim 3

Yarn - Caron Simply Soft, 7oz, Iris, 1 skein

***Please note 2 sized crochet hooks used.

*** size M hook,

CH39

Row 1 - skip 2 ch, HDC into next Ch, skip 1 Ch, *HDC into next Ch, Ch2, HDC into next Ch, skip 1 Ch, repeat from * to last Ch, 2 HDC into last st.

Row 2 - Ch3, 2 DC into first st, skip 1 st, *(2DC, Ch2, 2DC) into Ch2 sp, skip 2 st, repeat from * to last Ch2 sp, (2DC, Ch2, 2DC) into last Ch2 sp, skip 1 st, DC into last st, 2 DC into Ch.

Row 3 - Ch 3, 2 DC into first st, DC into next st, skip 2 st, *DC into next st, (2DC, Ch 2, 2DC) into Ch 2 sp, DC into next st, skip 2 st. Repeat from * to last st, 2 DC into next st, 2 DC into Ch.

Row 4 - Ch 3, 2 DCst st, DC into next 2  *DC into next 2 st, (2DC, Ch 2, 2DC) into Ch2 sp, DC into next 2 st, skip 2 st.  Repeat from * t 2 st, DC into next st, 2 DC into last st, 2 DC into top turning Ch.

Row 5 - Ch3, DC into first st, DC into next 3 st, skip 2 st, *DC into next 3 st, (1DC, Ch2, 1DC) into Ch2 sp, DC into next 3 st.  Repeat from * to last 3 st, DC into next 3 st, 2 DC into top turning Ch.

(Row 5 establishes the stitch pattern)

ADD STITCH MARKERS to divide yoke and sleeve sections.  I put the yoke on my daughter and placed them so her arms would fit - note post about too small arm sections. 

OVERLAP CHEST SECTION - I pulled one side evenly over the other to match up the 'wave' in the chevron pattern and tacked it.  At point of overlap I added another stich marker.

Row 6 - ***size H hook - Work in pattern across front to first stitch marker.  Ch 10 and attach to 2nd stitch marker with slip stitch.  Continue to work in pattern to 3rd stitch marker.  Ch 10 and attach to 4th stitch marker with slip stitch.  Continue to work in pattern to 5th stitch marker and attach the yoke so it is one circular piece with slip stitch. 

Row 7 - Ch 3 (counts as first DC) and continue to work in pattern across front, arm chain stitches and join to first DC w/ slip stitch

Repeat Row 7 to desired length.

Spring...are you out there?

I'm pretty sure while I was driving to work and admiring the pretty Richmond skyline from a distance that I heard SNOW in the forecast for today. ??? I live in VA, right? It's March, right?

In other news... Paddy is dangerously close to walking and that makes his parents quake with fear and dance with joy. I wish I could say that its all just because I'm thrilled that he's so 'advanced' for his 10m age bracket...but I'll confess that it's mostly because I want to wean him off the prevacid and stop shelling out $40/month for a maintenance drug for my infant...and of course the extra time not spent dosing him every morning during the mad dash would be helpful too. Last night he was walking while holding Jame's fingers and when Jame let him go he took 3 more steps. I don't think these qualify as official first steps because he was already in motion...but like I said, he's dangerously close!

I'm getting very excited for a girls weekend coming up soon. Have I told you ladies how much I love you? How I would be lost without you? Well, I do and I would. xoxoxo And because this will be my first weekend w/out kids in tow in more than a year I'm panicked and exhilarated all at the same time. 2 nights! I seriously hope my body will sleep past 6am!
Jame got another A+ in his first BS class and so his fabulous GPA continues to hold. Natalie has been WOUND UP and I think we need many, many days in a row of outside time. Spring is coming, I think, maybe, someday....

I'm currently revamping the garden (as you all know)...seeds were ordered yesterday from High Mowing Seeds but I'm in a quandry over tomatoes and eggplants. And right now I'm making Nattie a crocheted dress (she won't wear) in the most atrocious purple color you've ever seen. She chose it. I am desperately hunting thru my leftoevers looking for a color of secondary yarn that will tone down her "barney costume" and so far have come up w/ nothin'. There has to be a way to make that color look less awful....  It'll be done tonight (I think) so I'll post pictures!
That's all from here :)

Complete

This project was tough for me.  I had to start it over 4 times before I got it right and then discovered (too late) that the arm holes weren't the right size for my beefy, baby hefting arms.  instead of unraveling it again I decided to ask my friend Emily to copy me a work out DVD to target arms and will make my arms fit the sweater rather than the other way around :)  If it works she gets a free something of her choosing out of the deal!  So, its done.  Here are the photo's to prove it :)

And I would like to add that regardless of the arm situation I am feeling very proud of this.  I'm definitely getting better at this crochet thing!

For Sara :)

A very dear Forever Friend had her 2nd baby on the 11th and I immediately got to work making goodies :)  I think the sweater/hat set is insanely cute and was thrilled to give it as a gift.  Natalie rightfully decided that Big Sister Gianna should get a gift too so she picked her out a princess sippy cup and a singing Happy Birthday card.  I thought it was hilarious and an insanely sweet gesture on Natalie's part.  Here's a link to Amy's blog in case anyone is interested in her musings and pictures of her insanely beautiful children.

And here is my handiwork...

I got the pattern for the sweater from bella bambina and managed to confidently put my own twist on it.  The hat is thanks to String Theories and Other Whimsy and once again I put my own twist on to make it teensy and matching to the sweater. 

The pattern for this came from Vallie's Kids and once again I messed around a bit to put the butterfly in the back and the scallop on the edge to ensure that no one would look at Sara in this yellow hat and wonder if she was a boy :)

It has been a busy week!

Seasonal hobbies I think

Today it is gorgeous outside.  I have always loved how the first 50* day felt in spring - amazing how cold 50* is in the fall and quite the opposite in the springtime.  It's not supposed to last but its wonderful.  Anyway, its making me itch to garden.  I intend to finish up a few crochet projects I have in the hopper.  This one is the purse I almost completed before Natalie stole it, brought it to school and refused to bring it home for several days.

My next project is a light sweater for myself.  Called the Chevron Lace Cardigan.  I'm using this yarn. 

Should be interesting to work w/ bamboo for the first time.  So far it appears staticky (is that a word?)

Just completed a project and will post it soon.  :)

Complete(ish)

Here is the purse I started a few days ago from this pattern. I ran out of the red yarn right at the end and decided the Raspberry might be cute. I decided to give a try to 2 backgrounds. The lighter backgound gives a better idea of the colors and the darker seems to show the pattern. And then of course, as predicted, Natalie took it immediately upon seeing it this morning. She told me she does not want me to put a ribbon on it and would prefer a flower so I'm going to make one and attach it. I think I will find an equally bright, 3rd color for that and will post pics when its really finished. :)
The best part of this is that I have made that kid 2 sweaters, a poncho and 2 hats. She refuses to wear any of it. I make myself something and she steals it immediately.

Disclaimer...pics taken w/ cell phone so sorry for the quality.

couple o' things

Its supposed to snow again tomorrow. Messy snow but I'll take it. :) The Govenor has already declared a state of emergency. As my young friends on FB would 'say' SMH (shaking my head).

And... I started a new crochet project last night. Then I unraveled it and started again. And again. Here's what I'm tring to make. Its called Nordstrom's Hobo Bag. I'm currently using a yarn that is a similar deep red but if I continue to unravel and start over I'll wreck the yarn and will start over with a new color. We'll see how it comes out.