merry, happy, joyful

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 

Wishing you lots of time with family and friends, good food, strong drinks, and plenty of naps. ;)

cozy love

Here's the knitted and cross stitched project I mentioned in the last post: a hot water bottle cozy! This pattern has become a go-to gift for me to make; I made a couple cabled ones last year, and I know that I'll return to the pattern again, making modifications to keep things interesting.

This year I wanted a project that I could knit on for long stretches without even glancing at a pattern. Give me those relaxing swaths of stockinette! So I knitted the pattern without the cable and then cross stitched a simple heart at the end. I really love how the plump red wool pops against the cream yarn. The result is a decidedly homemade-looking hot water bottle cozy, but I love that too. You can tell someone took time to create each stitch.

* * *

We are finished with shopping, making, wrapping, decorating, and baking. Thank goodness! Now I'm looking forward to spending lots of time with family and eating all those holiday foods that I wait for all year. Happy holidays to you! 

* * *

See more notes on my cross stitched hot water bottle cozy here.

stocking stuffer

Thank you all so much for the comments you left on my last post. I love sharing sweet moments with you because those are the moments I want to savor, and it's much harder to relive or try to put words to the difficult moments. Thank you for being so kind. I'm lucky to have you all around!

* * *

And now, I really think we need to talk about this Christmas thing that's rushing full force at me. We haven't decorated yet, not even a measly paper snowflake, and we certainly haven't bought gifts yet. But all that will get done, this weekend I think, and then we'll still have a week and a half to laze about eating Christmas cookies. Ah, that's a nice thought, right? I'm going to try to keep calm during the Christmas frenzy festivities this year.

I don't have many handmade gifts to give this year because a certain baby doesn't leave much time for crafting. One of the few gifts is this bunny for my little guy. The pattern is called Nana's Bunnies and it's from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, a book I found at the library that has lots of patterns I like (especially the pixie hat and car coat). Anyway, this sweet bunny was featured on the book cover and was the reason I picked it up in the first place. I knitted mine from scraps of cotton yarn and stitched a jingle bell inside to add to the fun. It's a quick knit if you still need a stocking stuffer for a little person in your life.

* * *

Are you giving handmade/homemade gifts this year? I'd love to hear what you're giving!

cozy christmas

Merry Christmas to you all!

I hope you are happy, healthy, and spending the holiday with people you love!

* * *

I usually don't get too stressed about Christmas, but this year has felt overwhelming. I keep trying to slow down and enjoy the moments instead of going over my mental to-do list and rushing to the next get together. I'm thankful to have so many family and friends to visit; I just wish all those visits could be more spread out instead of squeezed into two days. 

I'll be back after the holiday to share many knitted presents, some pregnancy updates, and pottery.

In the meantime, I can share one gift I've already given: a cabled hot water bottle cozy for my dad. My dad never really bundles up in the winter, so I've never knitted anything for him before (a shame, I know!). I was really happy to come across this pattern. It's the perfect thing to warm up a bed in winter or snuggle with to ease aches and pains. The cable makes it look even cozier. Plus, you could make the project as easy or complicated as you want by leaving off the cable or substituting a more complex cable pattern.

I used Malabrigo Twist in the Sealing Wax colorway for this hot water bottle cozy. It's luxuriously soft and the color is bright and warm (not to mention, the color of Dad's favorite sports team). I made a few changes to account for the thicker yarn and so that I could make this project with only one skein. Dad seemed pleased with his gift, and I think he'll actually use it!

Find more details on my Ravelry page.

* 

yarn along: sleeves and socks

Whew...I feel like I've been in rush mode ever since Thanksgiving. That seems to happen this time of year, but I want to slow it down. Even though I've got a long list of knitted presents to finish (at last count I had three ready to wrap, three that just need to be sewn up, two on the needles, and one yet to be cast on), the making process itself forces me to slow down. I can sit and think while my hands work out all the stress I'm carrying around.

I cast on the first of a pair of pale gray socks for Korey over the weekend. I'd settled myself on the idea that he wouldn't receive a handmade Christmas gift from me this year, but Liesl's cozy socks for her brother inspired me. I'm using the Function Over Form pattern to make some simple ribbed socks. They're worked in worsted weight yarn, which is thick enough to make the knitting fly by, but I think still thin enough that he'll be able to wear these with shoes. I plan to use some darker gray scrap yarn for the heels and toes to make things a little more interesting (gray on gray = exciting!).

In the midst of my flurry of gift knitting, I also decided to pick up my Rocky Coast cardigan again. I'm a master of timing! This one-sleeved cardigan has been hibernating in a bag for months, but I deem the best time to work on it when I have the most knitting deadlines to meet. Anyway, I knit most of the second sleeve on a long car ride over the weekend. After the initial frustration of trying to decipher my cryptic pattern notes to myself (really just a series of numbers and tally marks that I still haven't made complete sense of), the sleeve knitting hasn't been too bad. I'm excited to finish this sweater so that I can wear it. It would be great for holiday gatherings, right? I should probably just add a December 25 deadline to this project too, in case I don't have enough to keep me busy.

* * *

Lately I've been reading Alice Munro's new collection of short stories, Dear Life (not DEA Life, as it appears in the photo, which would be a completely different story!). Alice Munro is my favorite author because she writes about how ordinary moments shape lives; heartbreak, loss, and love fill the stories, but Munro shows how the characters reach these dramatic emotions through seemingly mundane decisions. This collection seems to give me just what I want; time slows down when I read her words. Events stretch out over pages as I get to know the characters in each story. I'd highly recommend this collection of stories.

* * *

I hope you, too, are finding time to slow down (even if only for a moment). 

Join the yarn along today over at Small Things.

marshmallow fluff scarf

Marshmallow Fluff Scarf

This is the scarf that started it all. I knitted my mother-in-law this squishy cable scarf for Christmas and developed a cream cable obsession. 

The yarn (Cascade 128 Superwash) was a treat to work with. So soft it felt like knitting with spun sugar. The needles slid smoothly, making effortless cables. The bulky weight and size 11 needles made for quick knitting. Maybe a little too quick because I soon added more cream cables to my needles (see my cowl, hat, and mittens...er...mitten). 

Details about the Marshmallow Fluff Scarf.

Free pattern--simple enough for a cable newbie.

* * * 

I hope you're having a good weekend and keeping warm. Louisville has not been a marshmallow world for even a day this winter, but we're finally experiencing a real cold snap. It has been bitterly cold this week, making for some eye-stinging waits at the bus stop. To reward myself for bearing the cold mornings, I've been starting each work day a little slower. I spend a few minutes sipping hot peppermint tea and studying for my new job. This little ritual carries a sense of calm through the rest of my day (at least until I have to battle the brisk weather again). Stay warm, friends!

striped shawl

Striped Shawl

A year and a half ago my friend Christine taught me the knit stitch. I was visiting her in Minneapolis and when she told me she could knit, I wouldn't leave until she taught me. Last summer she came to visit and mentioned that she wanted to learn to knit a shawl. Since she didn't stay long enough for me to teach her to knit one, I secretly started knitting a shawl for her. 

The idea was to finish it by Christmas. I started in August, so I figured there'd be no problem.  Oh, but there was a problem. At this point you should probably check out what the pattern is supposed to look like. Do a quick little comparison and see if you can spot the difference between my version and the original. Yep, mine is missing the beautiful lace edging. This is the first time I've been completely flummoxed by a pattern. Flummoxed to the point of hiding the shawl for months on end and hoping it would magically finish itself. 

No matter how many times I tried to follow the lace chart, the numbers just wouldn't match up. My stitches did not equate to the pattern. Stumped, I finally threw in the chart and did a garter stitch edge. It's simple and not quite so dreamy, but I hope Christine will appreciate a finished shawl more than one still waiting on the needles. I do love the Noro colors and the arrow-like striping. 

* * * 

Do you knit or crochet shawls? Do you wear them? 

I really like making shawls--I've crocheted a couple and knit this one--but I don't often wear shawls. I talked with Andi recently about shawls, and she mentioned she had the same problem.

homemade peanut butter cups

The women on my dad's side of the family make Christmas candy every year. My aunts and cousins set up little candy-making factories in their kitchens and churn out toffee, fudge, peanut butter cups, and more. I'm easing my way into candy making. My grandma let me help out with her Christmas candy a couple of years ago, and my one day apprenticeship made me bold enough to try out some simple candy on my own.

These peanut butter cups are the easiest candy to make. They're a great place to start if you're a beginner or if you just want to put in minimal effort for maximum candy deliciousness. I know Christmas is many months away, but peanut butter cups would be a perfect Valentine's Day (or really, any day) treat. These are much tastier than a box of store bought candy!

* * * * *

Peanut butter cups

Makes approximately 75 peanut butter cups.

Ingredients
2 lbs. chocolate (I used milk chocolate; Mom uses white. Dark chocolate would be divine.)
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar

Equipment
Candy molds
Paint brush
Double-boiler

Peanut butter filling:

Make the peanut butter filling first so that it can chill in the refrigerator overnight or at least a couple of hours. It's much easier and less messy to work with when it's cold.

Cream the butter. When it's soft and smooth, add the peanut butter. Beat until completely combined. Whip in the powdered sugar. Refrigerate overnight.

Assembling:

Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Drop a small teaspoon of melted chocolate into each candy mold. Use paintbrush to spread a thin layer of chocolate over the bottom and sides of the mold. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until the chocolate has hardened.

Roll peanut butter filling into marble-sized balls. Place one ball in each candy mold, pressing down slightly to flatten. Cover with melted chocolate. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes. When the chocolate has solidified, unmold the candies. They should slide right out. These peanut butter cups keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge, but they never last that long at our house.

christmas knits

Wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, mitts, driving gloves. I'm not quite sure what to call these, but I spent the weeks (and hours) before Christmas knitting lots of them. The wristwarmers were a hit with the recipients and were fairly quick to knit, too. Knitting the thumbs and sewing in ends took the longest because I'm not fond of those tasks. I put them off as long as possible.

The brown and pink ones on the left were made using the Susie's Reading Mitts pattern, which is the same one I used to make my own fingerless gloves. These mitts are wonderfully fancy and very ladylike. They make me want to curtsy and attend afternoon teas. Sadly, the pattern is unavailable now. Apparently there were some copyright issues between the designer and the publisher. However, after poking around Ravelry a bit, I found that there's a loophole so that you can still access the pattern. Just check out the recent comments on the pattern page. Nothing ever really disappears on the internet, does it?

I knitted the shorter brown and yellow mitts by modifying the pattern. The honey-colored ribbed gloves would be perfect for plain jane days, and the cream embellishment really perks up the garter stitch wrist warmers. I'm excited to try more modifying and much more embroidery on knits.

* * * 

I haven't joined in the yarn along in ages, but I happen to be blogging about knitting on a Wednesday. So, I'll go ahead and throw in my reading, too. I just devoured Agatha Christie's Crooked House on my new Kindle Fire, a gift from my sweet sister. Paper and ink are still my thing, but now that our library is lending eBooks, I can definitely see myself using the Kindle. Oh, and Crooked House? Meh. Yes, it was suspenseful and fun to speculate, but ultimately the oversimplified midcentury take on genetics turned me off.

{Ravelry links}

Marie Antoinette Mitts

Fancy Forager Mitts

Honey Mitts

Driving gloves

*

brown paper packages

a peek at the packages.

merry making!

free gift tags from hey look. 

crochet stars. 

free pattern from a foothill home companion.

* * * 

and just so you know, only hours before the gifts looked like this.

 knit mess.

More photos to come, of course.

christmas sweets

Hello there. These last few weeks have been busy at work and busy at home. I've logged plenty of hours in the kitchen--mixing, rolling, baking, icing, sprinkling. I had four generations of family over to help prepare the Christmas sweets this year! I've never been able to do that before, but with the new house we finally have enough room. Hooray!

We actually didn't go overboard with Christmas baking and making this year, but we definitely made enough to share. We made butter cookies, peanut butter cups (the best!), butterball cookies (I'm noticing a butter theme here), fudge, chocolate-covered pretzels, and Italian Cream cake.

butter cookies

Christmas pretzels

[these disappear as fast as they're made]

Italian Cream Cake

my sweet love-

roasting marshmallows in our living room

I've also kept busy with Christmas crafting, but I'll save the photos for after Christmas. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. I love surprises!

* * * * * 

Remember this? I was spot on for winter. 

Here's hoping I was right about the rest of the year, too.

levenwick

It's time for sleeves. Ugh.

My Levenwick knitting has been humming along in the background, filling time between other projects. When I wanted long stretches of stockinette, I picked up the Levenwick. Seeing miles of knits and purls before me soothed me. My hands worked without any thought, leaving me free to daydream. I thought of how this cardigan would be perfect for Christmas get-togethers with skinny jeans and boots, how the color reminded me of cranberries, how the scalloped collar will keep my neck warm.

Now I've got two sleeves to knit, all purling in the round. Daydreaming time is over. If I daydream on the sleeves, my stitches end up in an uneven, ugly spiral all down the sleeve. I know this from experience. I've already ripped back once, but I'm facing the slog of sleeve-knitting with determination because I do want to wear this on Christmas Eve.

* * * 

How is your Christmas crafting coming along? I've got four presents I've started but not yet finished, plus this sweater for myself. I'm only really worried about one of the projects because it requires reading a knitting chart. I haven't mastered that skill yet. I'd love to hear how your projects are going!

* * * 

P.S. Thanks for the podcast suggestions! I love This American Life and plan to try out On Being. I also recently discovered Here's the Thing with Alec Baldwin (I could listen to him talk all day) and CraftLit (a combination craft podcast and audiobook--I started with Dracula, but can't wait to listen to The Woman in White).

crafting

Lately my mind is buzzing with projects that I want to make right now. Nevermind that I've got several Christmas projects that I haven't even started. No, now is the time to make myself some bunny slippers, knit myself a cardigan, and crochet stars for Christmas package decorations. I may end up with nothing to put in those packages, but rest assured that they'll be gorgeously decorated empty boxes.

I've been logging plenty of crafting hours, which means I get to spend lots of time in my upstairs craft room. It's so cozy up there! I've also been listening to a ton of podcasts and thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.

Patient Zero - Radiolab Fascinating exploration of the history of HIV and SIV. This podcast episode made me long for my days as an anthropology major when my favorite professor deemed everything "fascinating." I think she'd like this.

Unintentional Spinners - Just One More Row Um, so, I have this urge to add another craft to my repertoire. It started when I watched women spinning yarn at the state fair. This podcast episode only added fuel to the fire. The hosts of this show, Brittany and Dana, always sound like they're having so much fun (and they have lovely twangy voices). I've promised myself not to start spinning until after Christmas.

[Every episode] - The Moth The Moth makes me happy. If you don't listen to it yet, you should start. It's real people telling true, unscripted stories, and it's always compelling.

* * * 

Are you a podcast listener? What are you favorites? 

I'm always looking for new ones to try!

Lovely Christmas Days

Though we're quickly heading into a new year, I'm still savoring Christmastime. I do love the gift-giving and getting, but my absolute favorite part of Christmas is the time spent with my family and friends. There's such a rush of busyness--cooking, baking, making, wrapping--followed by a restful lull. Here's what I did with my lull time.

Ate Italian Cream Cake with lots of coconut and pecans. Mom and I make this every year for Christmas. When all of the party guests have left Mom's house, we each have a slice for a late night snack. 

Of course I crocheted during my downtime. It's what I do. 

The drive to K's hometown was beautiful. The roads were clear, but the surrounding fields were covered with a dusting of snow. The cows and horses looked so pretty silhouetted against the white, munching their Christmas hay breakfast.

I had a hickory nut-cracking party with Korey and my friend Kristie. Hammers pounded and shells flew. Now I've got a bag full of hickory nuts to use up. I'm thinking cookies or bread because it's not enough for a pie. Any other ideas?

Gin! K and I became a little addicted to gin rummy. 

We drove through downtown Maysville with K's parents to look at the Christmas lights. 

K played Christmas carols. He doesn't usually play piano anymore, so this was a special treat. Thanks, K!

* * * * * 

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! I will see you back here next year.

In case you were wondering about my bobble-y pattern, I've extended my self-imposed deadline to January 10th. Wasn't that nice of me?

Whole Wheat Cable Blanket

Finally, the big reveal! This is the lap blanket that I made for my mom this Christmas. It only took me four months and eleventy-billion hours of crocheting. Well, it felt like eleventy-billion. I lost track of the exact number of hours sometime after a billion. I think it had to do with each row being only single crochet. Those tiny stitches took a long time to build a blanket. Seriously, this blanket was time- and yarn-consuming. The cables seemed to just gobble up the yarn. The end count was around 2850 yards of yarn, making this by far the biggest crochet project I've ever undertaken. 

Was it worth it? Yes yes yes! The cables came out just as I imagined they would. This blanket would be right at home in a mountain lodge or woodsy cabin somewhere. It's so warm. I fell asleep under it on the couch one night (What? I had to try it out.) and woke up sweating. So maybe my mom can save a little on her heat bill this winter. I hope you like it, Mom.

Once you get the hang of this pattern, it's pretty mindless work. However, I wouldn't recommend it if you've never tried Front Post Double Crochet (Fpdc) before. Here's a pretty good video tutorial that shows how to do Fpdc. I'd suggest trying a simple pattern to learn Fpdc first. Something like this potholder is a good place to start. Before you know it, you'll be addicted to the textures and designs you can make from Fpdc and then you'll want to make lots of cabled projects.

Details

Name: Whole Wheat Cable Blanket

Pattern: Crochet Cable Afghan (free pattern)

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted

Hook: J

Made for: Mom, Christmas 2010

Washing instructions: Washer and Dryer friendly!

* * * * * 

I hope you're all staying warm! One more day of 2010 to go. I'm busy thinking up resolutions and getting excited about the big UK/U of L basketball game tomorrow. Go Cards!

Slouchy Hat

My sister asked for a slouchy hat for Christmas. She wanted one like Ashlee Simpson wears. That girl and Ashlee Simpson. She's always been a fan, even during the SNL lip-synching debacle. 

I found a pattern on Ravelry called Combination Summer Hat that looked like something my sister would wear. The original pattern calls for using cotton yarn, but we don't really wear hats during Kentucky summers. It's too hot and humid around here. So I switched the cotton for wool and figured it will keep my sister warm on sunny winter days. She could probably stretch the wear into summer and fall if she wants. 

Details

Name: Slouchy Winter Hat

Pattern: Combination Summer Hat (free download on Ravelry)

Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Coal

Hooks: K and H

Made for: Julie, Christmas 2010

* * * * *

And even though I already revealed this present a few weeks ago, I'm showing you the Lemon Drop Swirl Hat again. It took all the will power I have to pry it off my head and give it away this Christmas. I made it for my goddaughter Jill whose favorite color (like mine!) is yellow.

Thank you everyone who gave me advice on the flower. I ended up sewing a pin back on it so that Jill has the option of wearing the hat with or without it. I see more flower brooches in my future.

This photo shows the true color.

I realized this morning that I forgot to include washing instructions on the gifts I made this year. Yikes! I'm having visions of tiny felted crocheted hats. I better send out some "Handwash only" emails.

I hope the final days of 2010 are delightful for you.

Orange You Lovely Headband

This is the first of my "Christmas presents revealed" posts.

The moment I saw this headband pattern (via virginia blue), I knew I had to make one for my friend Christine. She lives in Minnesota and has to battle with cold and snow for months on end. Christine also hates hats. She favors warm woolly headbands for keeping her ears from getting frostbite.

Back in May, Christine gave me my first knitting lesson. While I sat around practicing stitches, she whipped up a green headband for herself. So I knew I needed to make this headband a little different to entice her to wear it. I picked a bright orange color called Mulling Spice (mmm...just the name makes me feel warmer) and a pattern with a bold flower. I met Christine in Japan, where she pedaled around the city on a fancy orange bike. It stood out from all the other bikes, so that when we met up at a restaurant I could quickly scan the bikes parked outside to see if she had arrived yet. Orange always reminds me of her.

This is a really fast project. It came together in a few hours for me. All the stitches used are basic, so this would be a satisfying beginner's project. I finished the headband with a cream-colored button, which I forgot to take a photo of. You could also stitch the two ends together to finish it. 

Details

Pattern: Crochet Flower Earwarmer from Cut out and Keep

Yarn: Brown Sheep worsted in Mulling Spice

Hook: H

Made for: Christine, Christmas 2010

Ravelry project page

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a happy day filled with family, friends, and good times!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Cards have been sent. These pine cone stamps are what motivated me to send cards in the first place. Sure, keeping up with old friends was a factor too, but I really wanted to use these stamps. Aren't they pretty?

The tree is up. Isn't it lovely? I think I outdid myself this year. 

Parties are in full-swing. My mister and I got all fancied up for a party at the Brown Hotel. And if you must know, the tree above is in the Brown's lobby. I played total tourist and snapped lots of photos of the place.

Christmas records are in near-constant rotation. The Dean Martin one is my favorite because I love "June in January" and "Baby It's Cold Outside." 

We also have an autographed copy of "Christmas with Colonel Sanders." It may be the most unusual album we have in our record collection. I'm not certain, but I think it came from my Grandma Trudy. She used to work for KFC, so perhaps that's how the autograph came about.  

And finally, the nativity is set out. It's up on a table this year instead of under the tree. I like being able to see it more. I'm very curious about what new addition my father-in-law might be making for it this year. Wise man? Sheep? Angel? 

As much as I love doilies and lacy things, I'm not usually one for covering my tables in them. However, I made an exception because I think it looks like snow and because this tablecloth was crocheted by my childhood next-door neighbor, Mrs. Piper. I wanted her hard work to be put to some use.

* * * * * 

I hope you're enjoying the holiday season!