Month: November 2013

Knitting-Baby · NaBloPoMo 2013

It seems only fitting….

Vicki3 Comments

…that there are two FOs today — just in time for Ali's baby shower this afternoon!

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Katie left this yarn behind when she moved to Scotland, so I looked for a project. I loved the color and sometimes chunky looks so cute on little. I knit the jacket in the 12-month size, and found the buttons in my stash.

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The bonnet is knit flat with a small seam up the back; the chin strip worked separately and attached. It's apparently both vintage & modern! I like that. Either way, warm baby head.

Happy St. Andrew's Day!

VoteLoLa.com!

NaBloPoMo is a wrap!

OK! I'm off to make final preparations!!

 

Knitting-Baby · NaBloPoMo 2013

Chevron Baby Blanket

Vicki8 Comments
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  • Project:  Chevron Baby Blanket from Whit’s Knits at The Purl Bee
  • Yarn:  Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller “Washable Ewe” (discontinued) – 2 skeins each of Dragonfly, Robin’s Egg, and Duckling
  • Needle:  US 8
  • Start to Finish:  July 29 – November 27, 2013
A folded chevron baby blanket featuring a pattern of teal and yellow stripes, placed on a white bedspread with another knitted item visible in the background.

I suppose that if I was the very best Nana in the world, I’d give Parcheesi to Zim; instead, we’ll snuggle under it together at my house.

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The overall size is 28″ x 38″ — basically “stroller” size. It’s shown atop my queen-size bed.

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I knit an entire skein each of Dragonfly (dark teal), Duckling (yellow), and Robin’s Egg (light teal) to begin; I then knit up another skein of both Duckling and Robin’s Egg in a random stripe pattern; finishing with another skein of Dragonfly — two skeins of each color.

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I’ve already washed it and dried it — using cold water and the Permanent Press cycle in my front-loading washer, and medium-low heat in the dryer. It softened up a little and even has a little bit of halo.

A plush giraffe toy sitting on a colorful knitted chevron baby blanket, featuring shades of teal and yellow.

 Beanie Baby giraffe for scale. And because he’s my favorite.

 

NaBloPoMo 2013

Soup’s on!

Vicki5 Comments

We are doing Thanksgiving completely out of order this year, what with making the spatchcocked turkey already on Sunday, and tonight (Thanksgiving Eve) there's turkey soup on the stove.

Tomorrow, it's lasagna on our Thanksgiving table again. That's twice now — not in a row, and not with full approval, but that's what's happening. We have the turkey thing covered!

Cara told me once that if you do a thing three times in a row (like go to Rhinebeck) then it's a tradition. Almost, not quite… I really wouldn't mind.

There will be pumpkin pie. That's the most important tradition! 🙂

* * * * *

I started my day cutting out paper onesies for baby shower decoration.

I made turkey soup.

And two trips to two grocery stores, one to Target, and other various stops.

Picked up Mom and took her to physical therapy (an issue with her shoulder — it's getting better), and then to do a little shopping.

Did a lot of cleaning — Maddy's here and what began as your basic cleaning/organizing has now turned EPIC.

She also helped with me with a BUNCH of baby shower stuff.

Soup's on and I'm hungry.

Hope your day went well!!

* * * * *

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NaBloPoMo 2013 · Ten on Tuesday

Ten on Tuesday: To Be Thankful

Vicki9 Comments

Ten on Tuesday:  10 Things For Which I Am Thankful

1.  I am thankful that I have a husband who can — and likes to — do things… and who indulges (most of) my little whims, even when it means bashing a big hole through a wall. We have been do-ers together from Day 1!

One of my goals for today, getting the soon-to-be-installed French doors from the other side of the wall to this. They'll need some time in the basement before all is said and done, but this is good for now. #remodeling

There will soon be a hole in the wall where those doors are leaning — for those doors to be installed!

2.  I am thankful that Katie is able to follow her dreams (and earn her Master's at the same time) in Scotland. And that she'll soon be home for a visit. And that the possibility of visiting her there next summer is still very real.

3.  I am thankful that Alison is a happy married lady and soon-to-be mum. To see and feel her happiness is… always amazing.

4.  I am thankful that Maddy has found her path. It's a little longer than she'd like and there have been some bumps, but she is getting it done. Her excitement about teaching is infectious.

5.  I am thrilled — and thankful, of course — that I will not only become a grandma as the new year begins, but that I will have (hopefully) helped & supported Ali and Rod through the process, and that I will be part of Zim's welcoming committee.

6.  I am thankful for ALL of my family — parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Due to the natural ebb and flow of relationships, there are various measures of connectedness at any given time, but we are connected to the core and I wouldn't be the same without every last one.

7.  I am especially thankful for the makers among them, and for their inspiration. I am grateful that from an early age I had a full arsenal of tools at my disposal for making all sorts of things — and people willing to teach me how. Sewing, embroidery, knitting, cooking, painting, quilting, basket-making, furniture building… the list goes on.

8.  I am thankful that my mother taught me how to knit. Where in the world would I be without knitting? I bought an Elizabeth Zimmermann "Quote Tote" from Schoolhouse Press a few years ago: Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises. It is so true! My tote is a little different from the current version, and I think quite a bit bigger, so I only use it for big projects — but those are exactly the types of projects I choose when there's a crises to knit through!

9.  I am thankful for blogging, which stems directly from knitting, and all that it's brought to my life. I am thankful for you, dear reader. Thank you for following along… reading, writing, and often encouraging me with whatever my whim-of-the-day, including spatchcocked turkeys!

10.  I am thankful for my hearth and home. I have been wrangling quite a bit lately with stuff and trying to reconfigure things — not easy — but I am grateful that I have a home that I love, near to so many of the people that I love.

Happy Thanksgiving!