A knitter with knitting ADD, that is.

Let’s go all the way back to the end of February.

I had just finished one of the socks for Josh that I was intending for a birthday present for him. Which gave me two weeks to complete the second sock. Totally doable.

Until I got bored and gave in to Marion’s requests for a G. Raffe of her own to match Eliza’s giraffe that was her (belated) Christmas present.

Which I did finish. And should have gone back to the second sock. But I had maybe forgotten about the sock already?

So I started something that in theory was supposed to be a birthday gift, to be gifted at Easter, since the recipients birthday was at the beginning of March. See any faults in my thinking yet?

Then, it was actually Easter and I decided that my girls needed knitted somethings in their Easter baskets. So I dropped the birthday present and picked up a bunny.

Which somehow did get done in time for Easter

But then, I couldn’t knit one for one girl and not for the other, right?

So I decided to make Eliza a bunny blanket

Which I got the blanket knit, but decided I hated the bunny.

So the bunny got knitted as a standalone bunny somewhat, while I decided to wait to be inspired for the border to finish the blanket with.

Looking for inspiration, I might add, required me to buy a new knitting book. Of course. Inspiration isn’t just laying around.

So while waiting for inspiration, my mom decided to visit.

And I decided to be a good daughter and knit something my mom has been requesting for no less than three years. Washcloths.

Anyone who has ever knit a washcloth knows there is not a pattern out there that actually uses a whole skein of cotton yarn. So in order to be thrifty and use my leftovers, I knit these tiny squares.

Oh, and then a friend had a housewarming party, which called for more washcloths!

Which meant even more leftovers. More tiny, useless squares.

But now, seriously, all the cotton yarn in the house is knitted up

And my needles are empty.

AND it’s a holiday weekend?

Perfect timing.

So what project do you think I spent all weekend working on?

Any guesses?

Did you guess this one?

Oh wait, probably not!

In fact, the knitting on it was actually completed last year!

But see, I got this shiny new toy

And Marion just had to have ruffle pants to match her dress top, right?

Then once again, not wanting to be wasteful

I had to make the scraps into something, right?

oooh look! More ruffles

Which was a lot of fun and a great way to spend my holiday weekend

But still leaves me with this.

Must focu….

Wait, were you saying something?

So I usually try to get in a run after drop off (without my little shadow)

4 miles in 41:24. Not too bad, even if I do run like a girl (and apparently look like I need a phonebook to sit on in the driver’s seat!

I even got some knitting done!

Marion is getting a new friend for Easter

It was good to get some knitting done while the girls were gone because someone was a grumpy teething fiend when we got home

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A sweet heart on a string hat for Marion!

(On a side note, I got a new iPhone4 that I adore, mostly. My old iPhone I loved to take photos with, but this one, something about makes the colors go all wonky. I can assure you the hat is not this blindingly colored in real life!)

My goofy girl

I’m marginally pleased with how this turned out, but only marginally. One day I’ll learn to trust my instincts and stick with what I know.

The pattern is Heart on a String by Susan B Anderson

And while I’m sure Ms Anderson knows her stuff (she is a published knitting author after all) I find all her hat patterns to be very generous in size. So despite my instinct to knit this hat in my tried and true top down fashion, I followed the pattern and knit it bottom up.

Let’s just say the hat has lots of growing room.

One day I’ll learn (but I bet it’s not any day soon.)

Thinking that it would be for Eliza Jane (it was crazy pregnancy knitting.)

Until I realized

It actually fit Marion (wearing it at the zoo with her BFF Tracey.)

So I decided that Beans needed her own sweater, one that would actually fit, given all the cold snaps we’ve had recently.

Enter, the Sweetheart Sweater

Super quick, totally yummy, stripey goodness projects like these make me so happy I’m a knitter

Shawl collars, how I love thee

If only Beans felt the same way! Haha!

I’m pleased to say the sweater actually has gotten a lot of use and she’s grown to love wearing it.

Or at least she tolerates it

Pattern is the Baby Sophisticate (pattern here) is a great knit. I also can’t say enough things about the yarn I used, Berroco Comfort Chunky. Easy to knit with, inexpensive and washes like a dream!

Another pair, I should say, since their dogs ate the first pair I made him last year

And these are some big armwarmers. They’d be elbowwarmers if there were such things.

Despite the length, these are a fast and fun knit, if you like simple cables (and lets be honest, who doesn’t love a nice simple cable?)

I have to say that I love knitting for my step dad. Out of all the people I knit for (next to Josh), I know he’s actually going to really use his knits. Greatest compliment you can give a knitter, use what they give you!

And yes, I’m still stuck back on Christmas. What can I say? January is just a really slow, boring, unbloggable month around here.

First up, my very first adult sized sweater! I’m not really sure what I was thinking deciding to knit an adult sweater and have a newborn, but I got it done and my mom got her gift before Christmas and without me paying overnight shipping on it!

And I’m assuming that she likes it

But since I haven’t actually seen her (or a picture of her) in it, it’s just an assumption

It’s the February Lady Sweater – Ravelry page here

Also for my mom, the calorimetry headband

The neat thing about this project (at least to me it’s neat) is that I dyed the wool using coffee grounds

It turned out a really gorgeous shade of tan I think

I liked it so much I almost kept it for myself

Minus the fact I have absolutely no use for wool headbands here in Houston

I refuse to think how our lives are going to be turned upside down and instead, prefer to think of a quiet, sleeping, peaceful newborn who will allow me to have coffee or lunch with friends, lots of time for knitting and sewing and still maintain an immaculately clean house.

HA!

I can’t even think that without laughing hysterically.

So instead of knocking out some projects I’d like to get done, say, before Christmas, being productive finishing the nursery, maybe making some baby clothes or at least organizing and washing the clothes we have, I’ve been doing every thing I can think of to avoid doing anything practical.

Namely, I decided it would be a great time to start a new hobby! Brilliant decision on my part, yes? It was such a brilliant decision, I decided to take up two new hobbies!

The first at least uses a skill I already know and doesn’t take up much time. It also has the added benefit of helping me use up my yarn scraps (something Josh appreciates very much.)

However, on the practicality scale, it’s non-existent. I’m now marginally obsessed with knitting doll clothes.

Marion was going through a period of not wanting to get a bath and so we got her her first baby doll to take into the bath with her (and maybe, hopefully? help with adjusting to baby sister.) Since she’s made to go in the bath, her accessories included bath toys, baby powder, a towel, diaper and PJs. But no real clothes. Let’s just say she was in our family for less than 24 hours before I started making her a new wardrobe.

Like the little hand reaching up to grab her from me? And it took less than 24 hours for that dress to find it’s permanent home on a teddy bear of hers. Also, yet another lesson in toddlerhood, for mama. The lesson being that baby dolls are meant to always be naked.

That lesson didn’t stop me from knitting some more though.

A little summer skirt and top.

And since it is still summer, a pair of shorts.

I can guarantee you that this winter, she’ll have more sweaters than you can shake a stick at.

My other hobby, not quite so “practical” and infinitely more time consuming. It’s yarn dyeing. Why, why would I need to dye yarn when you can purchase it in any shade imaginable and know the color is colorfast, lightfast, usually washable, etc. I have no answers for that. Simply that this baby is making me crazy.

First up, a little dyeing with coffee.

On the left, the undyed wool. On the right, after a nice bath in coffee.

So I made Marion a little slouchy beret. Because exactly what she needs in this, the hottest summer ever in Houston, is a wool beret.

This baby is eating my brain. Maybe I’ll turn out something practical by the time she’s five.

I’ve also been trying for my second experiment, dyeing with black beans. It’s not been as easy as the coffee and I’m on attempt three right now (well, it’s in progress.)

This is the result of my second attempt. The first attempt just resulted in mold. Don’t ask. Maybe one day I’ll get the denim blue I’m aiming to achieve.

Which do you think will come first? The baby, or color results I’m happy with?

Oh yes, Marion and I wore our boots with our Easter dresses!

Happy Easter, Texas style!

After nap time, it was Easter basket time!

Or in this case, Easter brown bag time!

Where, in true toddler fashion, she was more interested in the empty plastic eggs than in any of her proper toys

She got a little gnome

Quickly discarded in favor of another egg

Jackpot!

Toys vs eggs

Finally a toy gets her attention!

Her Farmer Jane gnome

It goes very well with her new tractor

Her itty bitty school bus

And her most favorite

Her elephant!

We bought her wooden toys from this fabulous Etsy seller Woman Wood Worker. She has a great selection of handmade toys at very good prices and her shipping prices can’t be beat. We’ve ordered a few other hand made wooden toys for Marion and none of them compare to her quality. The little windows in the bus are totally smooth for little fingers to inspect. We’ll be ordering Ginger quite a few baby toys from her I’m sure. So if you’re looking for a good gift, I can’t say enough good things about this shop.

Gnome pattern found here.

And for a cute video

Easter basket fun!

Like a lot of girls, I love the winter Olympics solely for the sequin content alone. This year, I have another reason. Knitting. Winter, snow, ice, Canada, knitting, they all go hand and hand.

Several friends and I have started a knit-a-long (commonly called a KAL) of the Cascade Christmas Stocking. We do realize it’s not the holiday season anymore.

I’ve found myself with the usual post-holiday crafting ADD and while some in our KAL are overachievers (coughEmilycough) and have already finished their stocking, I haven’t even started. I can now call myself not a procrastinator, but a multi-tasker as I’ve decided the stocking will also be my entry into the world famous (okay, knitter’s world famous) 2010 Knitting Olympics sponsored by Yarn Harlot.

The rules: cast on during the opening ceremonies, finish by closing ceremonies.

Focus, dedication, willingness to work through cramped fingers and thumbs, patience to deal with knots, loose ends, and toddler who keep running off with your needles. Very much like the real Olympics, no?

Wish me luck and cheer me on! Perhaps I’ll even find some sequins to wear.

Today, the internets taught me to make the most amazing yarn swift.

I give you Tilta Swift.

After two weeks of trying to wind 1000 yards of laceweight yarn by hand, I was at the point of rathering to knit with my own hair.

A quick google search later, my sanity (and my hair) are saved.

It’s a thing of beauty I tell you.

Oh yes, a thirty second video of it in motion.

(PS – I’m also happy and thankful Florida won )