February of Doom

February has been the month of doom at our house.  From colds to colic to more colds and more colic … lets just not talk about it.  Between bouts of screaming, crying, whining, packing, hot tea, more coffee than I should admit to drinking, and desperate prayers for just a hint of spring, I have been keeping busy 😉

I’ve been knitting a few things, felting a few things, reading books and magazines made of paper (old school, right?), and I finally finished up my first “for sale” dolly.

Isn’t she cute? Genie Marigold is the name, playtime is her game!

We will be moving soon, and I am fairly preoccupied with that.  Packing with two littles underfoot is not a treat.

I picked up a new rotary cutter for sewing that I am dying to try out.  And I think I have completely forgotten about the Art Journal project I was working on.  I should check to see how behind I am in that one.  Life never stays on that even keel you find when you sign up for things, does it?

Ah well, no worries.  I have goodies coming in the mail!  I am having so much fun getting back into sewing and knitting bigger projects, add to that the awesomeness of packages in the mail, and I think I can probably deal with just about anything.  I may have to do more of my shopping online.  Would that make me a shut in? I do go out for groceries … and coffee when it is not -20 (we all need the exercise when we can get it).

I have also become addicted to the magazine Taproot.  I may subscribe after we are settled in the new house.  I am in love with the simple life.  I like that even in a busy city like Calgary, I can live at my own pace.  I have discovered that that is what is keeping me sane out here.  I don’t need everyone around me to live the small town life.  I can do it in my own neighbourhood on my own block.

Well, it’s time to get dinner going – have a coffee on me 😉

In Knitting Colour

 Today I have discovered that February is the month when we knitters (and other fibre artists presumably) return to colour after a long fall and winter of neutrals and grays.

I am all for this convention as February marks not only my birthday, but also a festival devoted to fire, warmth, and crafting.  It’s short, but February is an awesome month!

My ‘In Colour’ projects for the month of February will be the Lizzie Shawl in Tea Rose,

Tea Rose Lizzie Shawl (Photo credit: Phae Talon)

And a new pair of baby legs since the Little Girl has pretty well outgrown the pair I made her when she was 6 months old (she hasn’t outgrown them completely.  She has skinny legs, that kid).  The new pair will feature pom-poms.

Baby Legs

What are your plans for getting back into colour?

Fibre Art Goals for 2014

Andi’s post about her 2014 knitting goals has gotten me thinking about some projects I’d like to tackle in the new year. 2013 was a year of small projects that could be completed in a few hours to a single weekend.  It helped to keep me engaged and made sure that I always had something new on my needles.  This year, I want to take on a couple of bigger projects.  I want to make sweaters for myself and the kids.  I haven’t made a sweater since 2008, and it took over a year to finish.  Hopefully, I will be able to complete them quicker this time around.

For myself and my daughter, I am in love with the matching patterns Ease and Abate by Alicia Plummer.  For the cuddle baby, the cozy cardigan, Mossy Jacket by Fawn Pea.

I also want to take a bash at improving my skills with a few pairs of grown-up socks; maybe work on a couple crochet critters.  And who can resist bunny slippers?

Aside from knitting, I mean to learn needle felting.  I want to make little soft sculptures.  Of what, I’m not sure yet, but I will come up with something.

I’m going to stop there before I get ahead of myself.  If I plan too much, then it gets daunting and nothing gets done.  I was informed that my camera is back and waiting for me to get out and pick it up, so I should have some lovely progress photos for you all throughout the coming year.

Happy 2014, all!

A Handmade Wardrobe

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This post was inspired by Christine Chitnis, though, though it has been something that has been on my mind for a good long time.

I used to sew a lot of my own clothes when I was a teen.  It was a way for me to build a wardrobe of more stylish, well constructed clothes without having to pay the inflated price tag that those clothes often come with.  Now that “artisan” and “handmade” are all the rage, making your own clothes doesn’t save you a dime, and often the materials cost considerably more than a finished garment would.

And yet there is still a part of me that longs for a wardrobe of mostly handmade items.  I envision sweaters, shawls, dresses, tops, mitts, shoes, slippers, etc – all with memories of construction and a beloved, timeless design to them.

I’ve begun collecting patterns on Ravelry for knitted items I want to make – someday when I have the time to knit for myself.  That’s what long winters are for, right?

A few of my favourites are listed below:

First up is one I have loved for years, Shipwrecked by Knitting Harpy.  Then Ease by Alicia Plummer, Greenwood by Ann-Marie Jackson, Shallows by Bonnie Sennott, Atwater by Sara Gresbach, and the cuddly looking Woodsy Cardigan by Jennifer Wood.  They’re very simple, classic designs with a bit of colour work and/or lace thrown in for pretties.

These will definitely be good for a start.  It will probably take me a good year or so to get this lot knit up.  Though, at some point, I would like to get to sewing my own clothes again as well.  I have a lovely piece of linen that is begging to be made into something.

 

Look What I Made!

I’m still in the midst of prepping a bunch of holiday gifts, and I don’t really have much to write about, so I thought I would share a few of my newest FOs.  Enjoy the pretties!