Baby's Here!

Lovely little boy

Just in the nick of time!  My nephew arrived on Thursday and he's a healthy--albeit sleepy--little boy.

Completed hats, bib and booties

I hope he'll get some use of the booties, hats and bib (although I wish I had made more bibs).  His parents appreciated the gifts.

Finished baby booties

Although everything was completed when my nephew arrived, I was still finishing off Friday evening--mostly weaving in those pesky little ends.  I'm somewhat pleased with the booties, although they look a little big.  Maybe when I use the same worsted weight yarn (it was Bernat Handicrafter Cotton), I'll use a smaller hook (instead of using 5.0 mm, maybe 4.00 mm would been a better choice.).  I'm a loose knitter, so I may very well be a loose hooker (that doesn't sound right, but you know what I mean, LOL).

Off to finish some readings for my classes.
Later,
 :)

2014 in Review

Not sure I had a great crafting year.  It felt as if my productivity had greatly decreased.  Did I even make much this past year?  It hardly seems so.

Finished Projects from 2014

Yes, there was a pretty hat, some baby things, a costume and a few outfits for brown-haired Barbie.  Yet, there should have been more.  After all, I usually had a hook in my hand, working on something . . . .

In progress Rainbow Bedspread

In my defense I started something a wee bit too big.  Yup, the lovely rainbow bedspread in all its colourful glory.  And that, dear friends, has taken up a fair amount of my time.  The small projects go quickly and you can make lots of them.  As for the big projects . . .well, they take up more time, don't they?

Another view of bedspread

I've got another row of squares ready to get attached.  Too bad I've started my classes for the winter semester--and I'm already up to my eyeballs in homework!  Still, that bedspread makes me very happy. :)

Here's to a more productive year in the wide world of crafts! :)

Winter is Here :(

The tree in the front yard

Yup, winter is here in full force, complete with sub-Arctic temperatures and plenty of snow.  I'd love to say that winter is not without its charms, but honestly I despise the cold days, the even colder nights and the short days.

Snow-covered road out front

The sidewalks are slippery and so are the roads.  And the frigid temperatures make it difficult to get out with the wee ones.  Anything colder than -25 C is wee bit too frigid--too easy to get frost-bitten cheeks.

The shed in the corner of the yard

What's a gal to do?  Just cozy up with her hook or needles and while away the time . . . at least until the semester begins. ;)

Something interesting in the garden

Hope it's not too cold or too snowy where you're at.  May your basket be filled with fun and interesting projects.

Babies and Small Things

Some small things were finished and some small things were started.  Yay!  Crafting on a regular basis energizes the spirit, invigorates creativity, and gives a sense of purpose.  And finishing small projects provides a break from bigger projects as well as enough motivation to push ahead on those bigger projects (I'm looking at you, Rainbow Bedspread.  Someday you will be finished).

Meanwhile, I can derive satisfaction from these simple, but pretty, baby items.  This free basic beanie pattern can be found here on Ravelry.  And truly it is a good basic pattern.

Basic Beanie

Sadly the final item seemed rather small--as in freakin' wee!  The above photo doesn't really give a sense of its size until you compare it to something else--like a doll.

Above is my 18" American Girl/Maplea wanna-be and the beanie fits her melon perfectly. Me thinks this is proof that the beanie is too small for a baby--although it might fit a preemie--and I used the 0-3 month size (Worth noting that since my SIL is well into her 8th month, the baby should have a bigger head circumference). To be fair, the pattern included instructions for bigger sizes up to adult size, so I would have found the right size.  Instead I tried my hand at something else.

This second beanie pattern came from Baby Crochet by Lois Daykin.  It was the same book from which came the rainbow baby bib.  Unlike the bib, these instructions were easy to follow and I had no issues with it, other than minor modifications.  Since the original pattern called for yarn thinner than worsted, my mods included:
1) using a 50 st chain instead of the 60 st chain called for in the pattern.  Thankfully this mod did not mess up the decrease rows.
2) using five 30-st chains for the tassel instead of the twenty 30-st chains called for in the pattern (although I need to trim my ends on the tassels a little more).

I also started some booties.  It's a free pattern from Bernat (aka Yarnspirations--whose website is currently being "updated" so I used the Rav link above.  It will take you to the appropriate link at Yarnspirations--once their website is up and running again).  Since the pattern is one I've made before (see here and also here.  Or you can check out my meager notes on Ravelry), I know two things: the directions are easy to follow and the final item is of acceptable size and dimensions.  It's win-win. ;)

With variegated yarn, there's always the danger of bad pooling, but it's not too bad--at least on the side visible in the photo above.  

Whatcha think?  What's in your project bag?

Happy New Year's!

Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.com:  http://mrg.bz/Kz2Gp3

With the start of the new year, I look back on 2014 and am amazed at all the changes and personal adversity I had to slog through.  And amidst the struggles and challenges, there were happy moments too.  Nothing like stress or conflict to help one discover one's own strength.  Through adversity, one reflects and hopefully grows.  To the future I go with new-found hope and strength.

To all my family, friends and followers, I say "Merry, merry!  Happy, happy!"  May the new year bring joy, happiness, good health, much prosperity . . . 

Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.com:  http://mrg.bz/mcI2Bf

. . . and lots of crafty goodness!  Have a good one! :D