a gypsy caravan

Yarn Along

I have been working on a Milo Vest for Tess using Georgie Hallam's pattern.  The Plymouth Superwash Merino is so soft and nice to work with. I haven't been knitting nearly as much as I'd like because we are moving from the outlying township into the village, right off the town square.  I have been packing and picking out paint and appliances which is plenty fun but I miss having quiet knitting time. We will be moving into a large, historic house that was built in 1870. It should be fun to live there, in the midst of the village. There will be sidewalks for the girls to ride their bikes and scooters. And did I mention a coffee shop, library, antique shops and small town hardware store within walking distance? :)

When I can catch a few minutes, I've been reading A Child's Garden and The Family Kitchen Garden.  I'm looking forward to planting some perennnial beds, including a tea garden. I will miss the house in the woods (and especially all of the hummingbirds) but I am looking forward to our new adventure!  

I'm knitting the Milo vest in a larger size than needed in hopes that I actually complete it while she can still wear it. 

Sorry that all of my photos are taken in front of this same window, on this same place on the table. The current house is dark inside because it is surrounded by trees.  There is only a small amount natural light on the main floor of the house so all of my pictures seem to be taken there. :)

If you'd like to see more Yarn Along projects, stop over at Ginny's. 

winter knitting

I love to knit in January and February. The pressure to complete a project before Christmas has passed and the weather allows me to sit down on the sofa for a bit each day. Usually, a couple of little people snuggle up next to me or on my lap while I knit which makes the knitting a little more difficult but a much toastier experience. 

I have been reading Kate's blog for some time.  She has a whole slew of fabulous and affordable patterns.  I recently purchased both Owls and Owlet. I think the button eyes on the owls are so cute!  I've not yet started the adult version but have the children's Owlet on the needles for little Tess.   I allowed her to choose her yarn colorway from Knitpicks. She pointed her chubby little dimpled finger at the screen and chose Damson Plum which really looks more like the Blackberry colorway in real life. It is much deeper than the appearance of the photo on Knitpicks' site. I love the Swish Bulky because it is a superwash Merino--one of the softest I've felt.  It knits up so nicely and feels great in my hands. I haven't gotten to the owl cable on the sweater yet, a couple of inches to go before I begin that part.  I have never done any cable work before but am looking forward to creating those sweet little owls!

I read quite a few good reviews about the Harmony Wood interchangeable circular needles before I purchased a set for myself.  They're smooth and beautifully crafted.  There isn't a rough spot to be found and the connections to the cables is almost seamless.  Knitting with them has been a pleasure. Plus they are just so darn pretty!

I also recently bought Georgie Hallam's Milo vest pattern. I am making one both for Annie and Tess. I bought Plymouth DK Superwash Merino for Tess'.  There is no color name on the label but rather a number.  The shade reminds me of a spring strawberry so that is what I'm naming it--Spring Strawberry. 

(Nevermind the wrinkled tablecloth, ok?)

The Milo vest has a small strip of cable down the front of the vest.  There are several cable pattern options included but I'm not sure which to use as of yet. I want to try my hand at making a tiny vest for Tess before attempting Annie's in the larger size.  I'm kind of excited to be knitting two patterns with cable.  It's a new frontier for me. :)

{Side note: little Tess' real name is Teresa Mae.  I usually call her Mae. So if I slip and call her that, don't think we had another child and you missed the announcement. :) My maternal great grandmother's name was Anna Mae, which is why Tess has that middle name.  Anna Mae insisted on being called Annabelle, even by her children and grandchildren. Apparently, she also dyed her hair black until she was in her eighties.  I do not know much more about her, except that she had a farm, lived in the country and liked to crochet.  In fact, she was the one who crafted The Pink Pillow that was eventually handed down to her daughter, my grandma, and then eventually ended up in my home.}

My Mary is growing to be a young lady and is almost out of children's sized clothing.  I am looking forward to that transition because the older girls' department is much more difficult to shop than the ladies' section.  I intended to make a Milo vest for her as well but the pattern is only up to a size 6.  If any of you know of a similar ladies' sized pattern, please let me know. 

I hope you are all well and staying warm.

Love, Rebecca

swift and ball winder

It has been almost 16 years since I learned to knit.  My firstborn son was just a couple of weeks old when a package arrived for him via UPS.  The UPS driver was always friendly and asked me whether I knew the lady, Chris, on the next street who had also recently had a baby.  I said that I hadn't met her yet.  Within a few days, we exchanged phone numbers via the UPS driver and became friends.  I spent many hours over her house when Ben was a baby.  We sat and nursed our babies and drank tea. She liked to spin and knit.  I liked to watch her. Chris soon asked whether I'd like to learn to knit.  I was so happy to learn and made my first project under her direction--a navy blue merino wool pilot cap for my new baby boy.  

One of my favorite things to do while visiting her was to watch her turn the skeins or hanks of yarn into balls using her yarn swift.  There was something so very Mary Poppins-ish about that umbrella-like yarn swift. I was mesmerized and always wanted to purchase one for myself.  This Christmas, sixteen years later, I did just that.  

My yarn swift arrived the other day. I am really pleased with the quality. I was concerned it might be poorly made since it was much less expensive than other swifts I've priced.  Quite the opposite.  It is sturdy, well-made and pleasant to look at. I ordered it from Knitpicks. We've had such fun using it!

I also purchased the yarn baller from the same company.  It works wonderfully and is highly addictive to use. Everyone in the family has tried their hand at winding the yarn into balls.  

The simple, useful, old fashioned things always bring my family so much happiness. Now that all of my yarn is ready to knit, I need to get going on my knitting projects! I have a little something in the works for baby Tess. More on that later. 

I hope you all are staying warm and enjoying the winter months with your families. Love, Rebecca

simple woman's daybook-march 3

Outside my window... bright sunshine on sparkling white snow.  It appears we only have a few inches left that hasn't melted.  And BIRDS! The beautiful sound of the birds singing as the sun came up this morning.  Such a welcome sound that spring is on its way! 

I am thinking.....about raspberry bushes and strawberry seedlings, about spinach and peppers and maybe even brussel sprouts.  The kids and I have been planning our summer garden.  Such fun to think about. :)

I am thankful for.... recent acts of kindness, thoughtfulness and love. 

From the kitchen....chai, hot blueberry muffins, fresh fruit.

I am creating.....quite a bit from upcycled felted wool sweaters: mittens, brooches, handbags and a lot of other fun things.  Here's a bag I made for Mary Kathryn.

 

I am wearing...charcoal grey warm up pants with a white stripe down the side, charcoal grey t-shirt, bare feet (sorry Flylady), a silver miraculous medal, a bracelet with my children's names engraved on it, little silver knot earrings.

I am going...out to the garage to see if we caught a possum in the catch and release trap.  I went out to put the cat away the other night and found a possum sleeping in the cat bed.  Aaah!

I am reading....The Shack by William P. Young.  It was a Christmas gift.  Not sure how I feel about it yet but I'll let you know when I'm done.

I am hoping....for a few days of warm weather so I can paint the bedroom. I am painting it blue.  And those of you who have been to my home know that is out of the ordinary.  Because every room in my home(s) for the last fifteen years has been a warm shade of sage green, warm yellow or dark red.  But blue is calling me and I am pretty excited to make the change.

I am hearing ...the girls playing in their bedroom, the birds singing in the rhododendron bushes, Tess babbling her sweet baby sounds as she crawls around the room. 

Around the house ... spent yesterday cleaning the storage closet, organizing games and puzzles.  We bought a high chair for Tessie and assembled it.  Feels good to accomplish things in spurts as the baby gets a little older. 

One of my favorite things ...a photo of my grandfather's shop.  More on that later. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: swimming at the YMCA, making potato kale soup, working on Mary's First Communion album, knitting when I can catch a chance. :) And happy that Ben is finished with his wrestling season so we'll be seeing more of him after school this week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing~my recent knitting project.  A bramble stitch shawl in teal mohair.  Perfect for a summer evening. :)

More Daybooks at Peggy's. 

knitted rucksack

My little Annie recently turned five years old.  For one of her birthday presents, I made the heart rucksack from Little Badger Knitwear.

I am so pleased with how it knitted up.  Annie was all smiles when I gave it to her.  :)

popping in to say "hello"

I finally completed the Toasties for my sister-in-law.  The pattern is from Leslie's site which is such a lovely place to visit. I have been knitting in spurts, a few minutes a day.  Her birthday is next week and I am going to ship them off sometime soon.  The good thing is that we have plenty of winter left here in Northeast Ohio.  So I am hoping she is able to get some use out of them. 

 
I have started another pair for a different birthday gift, this time in charcoal grey.  I'll post photos when I am further along. 

In other news, there have been some mighty sweet cowgirls running through the house, yelling "Giddyap" and generally creating a ruckus.  Funny, I thought the Sheriff was supposed to bring about law and order.  Apparently, not in these parts, badge or no badge.

I hope you all had a relaxing weekend with your families.  Thanks for stopping by this winter evening.

we're having a heat wave

It's a balmy 8 degrees here in Northeast Ohio.  Balmy compared to yesterday's -11 degrees!  We are used to Cleveland winters but it is pretty amazing when it gets so cold that your breath freezes in your nose after being outside for a few minutes.  There has been a lot of tea brewing this weekend as I recently received my shipment from Adagio.  Adagio has so many delicious teas but my favorites are the peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, Masala Chai, Jasmine #12 and Foxtrot.   All of them smell heavenly while brewing and they taste so good on these chilly days. Today, I am drinking the chai with a splash of maple syrup.

If you like Jasmine tea, the #12 is the best I have ever had, hands down. I love to watch the little buds unfurl in the hot water.   Two or three of them make a delicious cup.  No need for an entire teaspoonful, in my opinion.

Because I had a chance to sit a spell late last night, I picked up my knitting again.  Not working on the Tasha Tudor shawl as I should be.  Instead,  I started a pair of Toasties for two of  my sister in laws who have February birthdays.  Leslie has a very lovely, simple pattern posted on her blog "a Friend to knit with".   I am using Debbie Bliss' Donegal Luxury Tweed which is 85% wool and 15% angora.  It is just enough angora to make the wool ever so soft.   I am fond of angora though I don't like the mess it leaves behind.  This is just a touch of angora so it doesn't have the fuzzy effect.

This afternoon,  I have floors to sweep and laundry to do but, this evening, we will be here knitting, sipping and playing games by the fire.  I hope all of you are warm and well. 

Fingerknitted Flowers

I think my Mary would love to make one of these sweet flowers.  I was talking with a friend recently about the purpose of fingerknitting.  I realized that I have no idea what the specific purpose is, other than to make pretty things with your hands.  :)

Fingerknitting has been a favorite of Mary's since last autumn when she learned how to do it.   She make belts, headbands, stuffed animal leashes and bracelets.  It makes her happy and keeps her peaceful so it's alright by me. :)

How to Finger Knit--a Demonstration

I thought this was very helpful.  Perhaps now we can make something other than leashes for Mary's stuffed animals.  :)

Korknisse Ornaments

I've yet to add the ribbon for hanging.  Here is the pattern. 

I think they are so darn cute.

Finger Knit Garlands

Last summer, during my investigation into Waldorf homeschooling, I was intrigued by the concept of finger knitting for young children.  While I don't ascribe to Rudolph Steiner's  philosophy or the esoteric reasons for introducing fingerknitting, the handcraft itself sounded like a whole lot of fun in its own right.

In hopes of teaching Mary to fingerknit while the rest of us used needles, I bought the book Finger Knitting by Katsuno Suzuki.  I expected to find directions for teaching children to make some simple projects.  There are a couple simple projects but most of those in Suzuki's book are downright complicated even for an adult! 

Needless to say, my Mary is still making single crocheted chains with her fingers.  We haven't progressed past that yet and I am not sure we will any time soon.   She has made several leashes for her stuffed dogs, some reins for her horses and lots of pretty belts and headbands for her mommy. :)

Today we began to make some garland for the tree.  I brought out the red and green yarn and the kids had much fun making chains.  I was inspired to do so from these posts over at Soule Mama. 

Even Annie got in on the act, trying to finger knit with her chubby little hands.   

When we finish the garlands, I will post some photos for you to see. 

Have a beautiful day and thanks for visiting. :)

Update:  How to Finger Knit video clip here.

 

Complimentary Knitting Patterns

I just had to share this link. There are hundreds of free patterns at Knitting Pattern Central available for knitters to use. With all of these lovely things to make, one might never have to buy a pattern again!

You might also find this instruction page useful. It explains many basic knitting techniques such as casting on, binding off, knitting in the round, adding a ball of yarn and more.

But do me a favor, don't sit in front of the computer and try to knit. Print out the directions and sit on your sofa with your children. Play some classical music or an Irish jig. Turn off the ringer on the phone and enjoy the moment. It will be much more satisfying than knitting by the glow of the computer screen. :)

Tasha Tudor Shawl

A couple of people have asked about the shawl in my knitting photo album. It is based on Tasha Tudor's own shawl which she is never without on a chilly Vermont day. My friend Chris sent me the pattern as she knows I love Tasha Tudor. Chris is the patient woman who taught me to knit when Benjamin was just a tiny baby. :)

You can view and print out your own copy of the pattern here. It knits up beautifully and is a relatively simple design as the entire shawl, sans the lace edging, is done in garter stitch. Tasha and her family have a lovely website with many of their wares available for purchase. Enjoy!

Homemade Gifts

Our family has been busy preparing gifts to give as Christmas gifts.  I am not a very crafty person, though I can knit and make some other simple items.   We not only share gifts within our family, but also have two other gift exchanges with our extended families.  That means 6 people x 2 gift exchanges=12 additional gifts.  I have been making scarves for some of the family members this past week.

This one was knit using three different types of yarn, an eyelash, a boucle and a ribbon type.  Knit together, it makes a soft, fuzzy, very touchable scarf.

Below is another that I am making for a teenage cousin.  She likes funky looking things so I made hers in a brown eyelash, bright pink worsted weight wool and a bumbly ribbon of mixed colors.  While I am done with the knitting, I plan to add some pompoms at the end, where the fringe goes, for a fun effect.

I am also making some booties and other baby items.  Here is one, made in a variegated cotton of dark and light pinks, white and lavender.  Its mate is not yet finished.

Here is yarn for my next project, another scarf.  I like the soft purples and pinks.

I am fond of making these decoupage vases.  They are really very simple.  I choose colors and patterns from home decorating catalogs.  I cut out triangles of color from the pages and dip them in white glue and a bit of water.  Then, I smooth the triangles on a glass vase.  After drying, the vases can be displayed alone or with flowers inside.  They make a nice gift and can be made to match any decor. 

Ben likes to make rosaries and sacrifice beads.  He makes many different styles with various crucifixes and bead colors. 

We will be busy in the upcoming weeks, preparing more gifts for Christmas.  Our immediate family also has a tradition in which we draw a name among ourselves.  During the twelve days after Christmas, we do small acts of kindness for the person we chose and also give them a handmade gift on Epiphany.  My kids are up to their ears in my scarves (literally and figuratively)  so that means I will have to glean some new ideas from other creative moms who are participating in the Loveliness of Handmade Gifts!  Thank you, Dawn, for hosting!