What Next?

When it comes to crafting, many beginner projects are geared for girls (at least I've had a hard time finding EASY projects for the guys).

Having conquered the very basics of knitting, my wee one has got it into his head that he must learn to crochet (secretly I think he wants to make a pile of amigurumi friends).  So we fiddled with hooks and yarn.  After much trial and error, he finally mastered chaining. And he chained and chained and chained . . . well, we had lots of chains!

So we took three of those chains, braided them and made some lovely bookmarks.

Crocheted Bookmarks

Bookmark Detail

Not bad for a beginner crochet project, eh?  Now here's the kicker: what next?!  We tried working on the single crochet stitch, but he's not quite got the hang of it.  It's challenging if you haven't learned how to "read" your stitches.  

I found a beginner crochet booklet from Leisure Arts with good how-to photos.  We also checked out various videos over at YouTube.

Beginner Crochet Book

But as you can surmise from the cover above, many beginner projects are geared for girls: scrunchies, headbands, flowers . . . **sigh**  I suppose he could make a scarf, but that can get boring for an 8 year old (seeing as scarves can go on forever and ever and ever . . . 'nuff said).  I'm looking for small, quick items. 

The book did have a project that might be doable: a key-chain/backpack decoration that could be "boyish" with the appropriate colours (yeah, that stuff matters to 8 year olds).

Keychain or Backpack Decoration

If you've got some better ideas, please pass on the links, author, book title (whatever) . . . need a little help to keep my son's interest going.

DS Case Details

So after posting yesterday's blog update, I set about finishing the DS case. 

I seamed the sides and also part of the pocket opening so that the DS and plastic game holder would fit more snugly in its pocket.  And since the openings were a tad shallow, I added some single crochet trim 'round the opening.  Don't want the game holder or DS to accidentally slip out--that would be very, very bad.

Like the red?  My son thought it looked cool with the grey.  Used the same contrasting red colour for the wrap-around cords.  The instructions called for straight knitting of 3 picked-up stitches, but it was easier to just work I-cord on double-pointed needles--and of course I got carried away and made them a wee bit too long **sigh**  I guess I'll know better for the second case :S

Case with DS and Game Holder Inside

Be honest: doesn't this case deserve googly eyes?  I can almost hear it muttering, "Feed me!"

The recipient of the case chose his own buttons from my lovely collection.  Over the year I've amassed a bag full of lovely and interesting buttons (someday I must photograph it).  Even though I preferred black ones, my older boy went for metallic ones.  I think it looks right pretty--and vaguely creature-like, n'est pas?

Finished DS Case

I'm not sure if I ever posted a link to the free pattern?  You can find details here at the Ravelry pattern page (lots of other knitters have made the project).  Or just head over to the free pattern at the designer's blog Crayon Disaster. 

Now to get back to my own knitting . . .  

He Did It!

My boy persevered and finally finished the DS case for his brother--well, he finished the knitting part.  I'll have to seam it for him.  It's a wee bit too wide--not sure how we're gonna fix that . . . .

Semi-finished DS Case

Nevertheless, he was proud of himself--and rightly so!  Even his brother was excited (the older fella really wanted a DS case).  Flush with accomplishment, my little guy promptly cast-on for his own DS case (with momma's  help).  This time he's using stripes.

DS Case Number Two

The idea of playing with colours blew his mind away, especially when he realized how easy it was.  Since I've got loads of leftovers (mostly Bernat Softee Chunky), there's lots of colour choices.  Right now he's gonna follow his heart and just ad-lib the striping.  It certainly looks interesting and he's already got 7" completed.  This second DS case might be a quick knit.

The Jig Is Up :(

The boys figured it out on their own.  They devised an "experiment" to test their hypothesis and then they discovered the ugly truth: the tooth fairy ain't real.

A Special Box

Without telling anyone, my eldest lost a tooth.  When no one was looking, he put his tooth in the special box and then he waited.  And waited.  And waited.  After a week and no coin in sight, he figured that the great mythical fairy was just myth.

An Empty Box?

I suppose it was bound to happen eventually.  It just makes me a little sad.   

Sewing Stuff

Well, sort of sewing.  I'm hemming pants for my boys.  My heavens the children grow quickly!  Often the sizes needed are too long in the leg, necessitating a few cuts and **gasp** some sewing . . .

Vroom, Vroom Goes the Sewing Machine

Have I mentioned how much I dislike sewing?  I dislike it so much that I often forgo any ironing-- just to get the job done quickly.  And often I don't even pin down the hem (I know it's crazy, but its true).  I just eyeball it 'cuz I wanna be done with the whole affair (although I will  mark off measurements on the wrong side so I know where to fold the fabric--and yes, I did just use permanent marker).  Its rather surprising how often my hems end up straight (must be in the genes as my mom worked as a seamstress for many, many years).

Another Completed Hem

Two pairs of pants hemmed.  Four more to go.  Maybe I'll save those for next weekend . . . my nerves are feeling a wee bit frayed.  Perhaps some nice crocheting or knitting can soothe away the tension . . . . 

Hope your weekend was full of crafting goodness. ;)

More Kids Knitting?

Perhaps?  Maybe?  Out of the blue, both boys decided to knit again.  After my youngest finished his teddy bear's scarf in November, he started a hat but soon lost all steam.  The item sat in a basket until I needed the yarn for mittens.  The older boy frogged his scarf (he'd lost interest too) and decided knitting was not for him afterall (too bad 'cuz his stitches and tension were neat and even).

How things change!  This week both boys picked up their sticks and decided to make blankets.  Right now, they're knitting strips of garter. 

Beginning of One Garter Strip

Another Garter Strip

Once one strip is complete, they'll make another in a different colour.  When all the strips are completed (say 5-6), I'll seam them together to create a blanket (similar in concept to the item pictured below). 

Blanket Made From Stripes

I thought that would be the easiest way for them to make a blanket.  Casting on hundreds of stitches would just be . . . well, too challenging and frustrating.  Besides I have tons of matching mega balls of acrylic (I'm not called acrylic-girl for nothing).

Big Balls of Red Heart

Hard to get a sense of the ball size without any reference, but these are truly "mega" balls.  They're huge!  The larger white one (pictured below) runs just over 1800 yards while the "smaller" ones probably run over 400 yards (small and large being relative of course).  I had to guess-timate yardage, as there is no amount given on label, only weight (each weighs about a pound).

As Big As . . .  A Dinosaur Egg

Cozy and Soft 

Then it hit me: why not teach the boys to crochet?  If I showed them how to work a granny square, they could make a huge blanket, but they'd only have to worry about one stitch at any  given time ('cuz unlike knitting, crochet does not require live stitches).  Both boys seemed keen to try it.  So that's my task for one of these nights (but not this weekend as they're trying out a new video game).

Happy crafting :D

Happy Knits

Just had to share.  Remember I'd taught my boys to knit a little while back (blogged about it here)?  One of my boys finally finished his project!  He was so proud of himself (and rightly so).  I promised him I'd share his handy work online for all to admire.  Here's teddy with his new garter stitch scarf.

Yes, there's a dropped stitch that needs repairing.  The stitches are wildly uneven, but he improved towards the end and kept his tension more consistent (I gotta admire his perseverance).  The ends still need to be weaved in and I'm trying to convince the wee one that fringe would look nice (of course I'm only making more work for myself 'cuz I'm the one who's gonna have to put it on) .  Still not bad for a newbie. 

My son is already making plans for his next project.  He wants to make a hat for teddy.  After that, he's hoping to work on a blanket--for teddy I hope. 

I Believe . . .

As my children get older, I often wonder when the magic of childhood will disappear.  Know what I mean?  The moment when magic and imagination disappear?  Yet, I need not have worried.  Witness the conversation overheard at our dinner table a few nights ago:

Secondo: Some kids say there's no Santa and its really their parents.
**short pause as I quickly glance at dear hubby**
Me: What do you believe?
Secondo: Oh there's a Santa.  I still believe.
Primo: Yeah, there's a Santa.  I also believe in the Easter Bunny and the Toothfairy . . .
**another short pause**
Primo: But I don't believe in leprechauns.

(picture above downloaded from a photo website--which one I cannot recall.  My sincere apologies to the photograper)

Knitting Trials and Tribulations

After I finished Baby Sophisticate, I thought I should make a matching hat.  I settled for Earflap Hats from Knitscene (that's a Rav link).  I've had the pattern in my 3-ring binder for ages (I downloaded it a while ago when I first discovered free knitting patterns online--I lurve the internets).

The pattern is meant to be top-down in the round.  Do ya think I could do it?  Even if my life depended on it, I could not get the hat started in the round.  I kept twisting the stitches or messing up the needle order.  Ugh!!  Soooo frustrating!!  It's not as if I've never worked in the round: I've made plenty of socks on tiny fiddly needles; I've made gloves and mittens and even a sweater in the round.

Determined not to give up, I modified the pattern to knit flat (I know, I know . . . I'm still hanging my head in shame).  I just added an extra stitch to each end for a seam allowance.  So you'd think I was all set, but no.  The knitting gods threw another wrench my way (and really I've only myself to blame because (a) I didn't swatch, (b) I didn't research the pattern yarn for a proper substitution and (c) I didn't research baby hats).
    

Initially I used size 5mm and the hat looked too small.  Even my kids wondered if I was making a hat for one of their teddy bears.  So, I frogged and switched to 6.5mm.  Unfortunately the thing now looks too big--more of a toddler or child hat rather than a baby hat.  **sigh**

On the plus side, I did finally learn to make I-cords.  I have never used I-cord before and quite frankly, I was a little intimated by it.  Sure I'd read the directions in my how-to books, but it just seemed "wrong" (No turning?  Really?  How does that work?).   Lo and behold, the whole process was really quite easy--super-duper easy.  Go figure!

Happy knitting! :)

One Last Hurrah

The last day of nice weather?  Perhaps . . . the mercury in the thermostat keeps dipping.  Even under the sun, its a cool day.  See the leaves turning red on my dogwoods?  I just love the deep crimson against a bright blue sky (and I discovered the macro feature on my camera.  Who knew reading the manual would be so enlightening?).  Even the branches look red.

What better way to celebrate the end of summer than with one last hurrah of outdoor fun?  There's a place just outside of town that's got go-carts, bumper cars, bumper boats, batting cage and mini-golf.  Nothing fancy, but its a nice way to spend a few hours with the kids.  The place closes on Monday.  That's how I know its officially fall.

Here's hoping your first fall weekend is full of fun. 

Oopsie!

I don't know how it happened, but I cast-on for a new project.  A few balls (four to be exact) of Vanna's Choice in gray were sitting in my stash asking to be made into something useful.  I finally obliged: here comes the Baby Sophisticate!  This particular pattern had been in my Ravelry pattern library for a little while.  I like that its a top-down construction AND its a baby sweater.  Hence a quick knit and no seams--gotta like that!

Judging from other knitters' experiences at Ravelry, this sweater should be done in a weekend (converting that to an acrylic-girl timeline that takes into account my turtlesque speed, estimated time for completion should be approximately one to two weeks.  Have I mentioned my lack of speed in the knitting department?). 

Here's hoping your days are full of knitting goodness :)

Adventures in Knitting

So my boys have been asking to learn to knit for a while. Finally this week I obliged. My boys are between 7 and 9 so I thought they'd have enough dexterity to manipulate the needles.

After digging through some left-over balls of acrylic and finding some short stubby plastic needles, we embarked on our first knitting lesson. I cast-on and slowly worked through the first row as the boys watched each step. Then we worked a few stitches together, hand-over-hand, so they could get the "rhythm". We made up a "story": go in the door, put on a scarf, poke your head back out the door and then close the door. Despite the dropped stitches, unintentional increases and other wonky weirdness, they've done an awesome job. Best of all, they're enjoying themselves!

Right now, we're focusing on the knit stitch. We decided to make garter stitch scarves for their teddy bears. Once they've successfully completed the scarf, we'll move onto roll-brim hats (knit flat) so I can introduce the purl stitch. The hats too will be for their teddies. Smaller projects will be easier to complete. From there, who knows?

I just think its neat that they even wanted to learn! They're so proud of the work they've already completed. My oldest couldn't believe how much his scarf had grown in a few days. A visit to grandma and grandpa included a tag-along knitting bag for the boys so they could show off their new skills.

I hope your weekend is filled with happy knitting joys. :)