Thursday, March 14, 2013
winter vacation
These are from a couple weeks ago. A winter vacation to somewhere tropical is something I never thought I would do. But last year, my husband worked very hard at his new job, and that is what he wanted to do with his first vacation. Now we're back home, at the grey cold end of winter, and I think we all wish we could have stayed a little longer.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
kyr at 2
Happy second birthday to Kyr! You are an interesting and complex little boy, and I'm not sure I quite know you yet. I love how you chatter, and are so friendly with other people. You adore your big brother, but you also know how to stand up for yourself. Daddy is by far your favourite person, but I'm the one you ask for in the middle of the night (I'm not sure who is luckier). Right now your favourite toys are puzzles, anything on the ipad, and your Pinkie-Pie doll. Your favourite show is Blue's Clues. You are starting to learn numbers and letters, but colours get you very confused. You love almost all kinds of fruit, but you dislike meat, except a bit of fish sometimes. You could play in the sand and water for hours, but I'm pretty sure you could do without snow. I love how you cuddle, and laugh so hard when we're silly together, and how happy you are to see me.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
media
There's a short interview with me in this month's Let's Get Crafting: Knitting and Crochet magazine. It's fun to be asked to write these (even if I always worry about my grammar)! I think I can get this magazine in Montreal, but if you can't find it where you live, here's what the interview looks like:
And this is the cover page, so you can find the magazine more easily.
It's probably all things you already know about me if you've been reading this blog for a while. But I would recommend buying this issue just for that bit of stuffing tutorial you can see on the same page. It's such an important part of making toys!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
mystery knit-along 2013
If you're in my Ravelry group, perhaps you'll have seen that I'm planning a mystery knit-along (KAL) beginning March 1. This was a slight planning error on my part, since we were on vacation for the past week! Anyway, my needles have been flying, and the keyboard clicking, and with some hard work everything will be ready to go tomorrow morning. There has been a bit of confusion about how everything will work, probably because I've never done this before, and I've been trying to sort it all out with a million other things going on. I'm hoping the information below will clear everything up. I really want it to be fun for everyone!
If you've never done one, a knit-along is a group activity where a bunch of people knit the same pattern at the same time. Via the Ravelry group, you post photos of your progress, and can ask and answer any questions that arise. A mystery knit-along is very similar, except you don't know what you're making until you finish (and you try not to spoil the mystery if you figure it out early!)
The mystery KAL pattern will be published via Ravelry. While you don't need a Ravelry account to buy it, you will need one to participate in the discussions and sharing. We will begin March 1, but you can join any time. To join, you need to purchase the pattern (here). A new segment will be added once a week for 6 weeks. So, every Friday for the next 6 weeks you will receive a notice to download the updated pattern (this also means that if you join late, you still get all the earlier parts of the pattern). Once we're done, and I have the final version of the pattern ready, you will get a copy of that as well.
We will begin with the garment, so the whole toy stays a mystery a little longer. There are 2 versions: one with stranded colour-work knit flat, one with stripes (or you could knit it in a solid colour). You can also choose between a more fitted garment with fingering yarn on 3 mm needles, or a looser garment with sport weight yarn on 3.25 mm needles. (Hopefully these options will mean you can destash if you don't want to buy new yarn).
The animal will be in a solid colour. I've been asked if it can be worked in stripes, but the animal in question isn't striped. If you want to use more than one colour of yarn, I suggest knitting the arms and legs in the alternate colour.
Here are the materials you will need, if you want to prepare:
Garment yarn: 25 g of fingering or sport weight yarn in colour A (a light neutral), 15 g of fingering or sport weight yarn in colour B, 15 g of fingering or sport weight yarn in colour C.
Animal yarn: 50 g of worsted weight yarn in medium brown, 10 g of yarn in dark brown or black, small amount of white yarn (or felt)
Needles: 3 or 3.25 mm (US size 2.5 or 3) for the garment, 4 mm (US size 6) knitting needles for the animal
Notions: 4 small buttons, pair of 9 mm safety eyes (or buttons or black yarn), tapestry needle, scrap yarn
If any more questions come up, I will add my answers here.
Q: Why are there black squares in the first 3 rows?
A: The black squares on the chart mark where there are no stitches. The first 3 rows are worked across only 30 stitches, then you increase 1 stitch on row 4. Also, when you begin to shape the shoulders, black squares mark where you lose stitches as you decrease.
Q: How do I know that I received all the parts when I buy the pattern?
A: When I update the KAL pattern each week, it includes all the previous parts. Part 1 is on page 1 and part 2 on page 2 etc (although the associated charts are at the end of the pattern). For example, if you've already printed out the first 2 parts of the pattern, all you need to do is print page 3 for the third part of the pattern.
If you've never done one, a knit-along is a group activity where a bunch of people knit the same pattern at the same time. Via the Ravelry group, you post photos of your progress, and can ask and answer any questions that arise. A mystery knit-along is very similar, except you don't know what you're making until you finish (and you try not to spoil the mystery if you figure it out early!)
The mystery KAL pattern will be published via Ravelry. While you don't need a Ravelry account to buy it, you will need one to participate in the discussions and sharing. We will begin March 1, but you can join any time. To join, you need to purchase the pattern (here). A new segment will be added once a week for 6 weeks. So, every Friday for the next 6 weeks you will receive a notice to download the updated pattern (this also means that if you join late, you still get all the earlier parts of the pattern). Once we're done, and I have the final version of the pattern ready, you will get a copy of that as well.
We will begin with the garment, so the whole toy stays a mystery a little longer. There are 2 versions: one with stranded colour-work knit flat, one with stripes (or you could knit it in a solid colour). You can also choose between a more fitted garment with fingering yarn on 3 mm needles, or a looser garment with sport weight yarn on 3.25 mm needles. (Hopefully these options will mean you can destash if you don't want to buy new yarn).
The animal will be in a solid colour. I've been asked if it can be worked in stripes, but the animal in question isn't striped. If you want to use more than one colour of yarn, I suggest knitting the arms and legs in the alternate colour.
Here are the materials you will need, if you want to prepare:
Garment yarn: 25 g of fingering or sport weight yarn in colour A (a light neutral), 15 g of fingering or sport weight yarn in colour B, 15 g of fingering or sport weight yarn in colour C.
Animal yarn: 50 g of worsted weight yarn in medium brown, 10 g of yarn in dark brown or black, small amount of white yarn (or felt)
Needles: 3 or 3.25 mm (US size 2.5 or 3) for the garment, 4 mm (US size 6) knitting needles for the animal
Notions: 4 small buttons, pair of 9 mm safety eyes (or buttons or black yarn), tapestry needle, scrap yarn
If any more questions come up, I will add my answers here.
Q: Why are there black squares in the first 3 rows?
A: The black squares on the chart mark where there are no stitches. The first 3 rows are worked across only 30 stitches, then you increase 1 stitch on row 4. Also, when you begin to shape the shoulders, black squares mark where you lose stitches as you decrease.
Q: How do I know that I received all the parts when I buy the pattern?
A: When I update the KAL pattern each week, it includes all the previous parts. Part 1 is on page 1 and part 2 on page 2 etc (although the associated charts are at the end of the pattern). For example, if you've already printed out the first 2 parts of the pattern, all you need to do is print page 3 for the third part of the pattern.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
lovey for Spring
While it's been awfully quiet around here for the past month, my knitting needles have been busy! I have a new toy design for you, just in time for thinking about warmer weather and the cute baby animals that come with it. The new pattern is called "Flat Foot Floogie" (named by my so-serious husband) and is a lovey with both lamb and rabbit variations. A lovey is not a toy I'm very familiar with, but there seemed to be a lack of cute patterns for them, so I thought I would fill the gap for you.
The pattern is fairly basic and knit flat, but with some nice shaping to keep it interesting. You will need to know stockinette stitch, garter stitch, increasing, decreasing, and how to cast-on stitches at the end of the row. There is some sewing and finishing, but not as much as my usual toys. Plus, the heads are very similar to my other toy patterns, so you could easily make other animals into loveys. I would just recommend adding 2 rows to the stockinette section of the head, to make up for the gauge difference between worsted and chunky yarn. Because thicker yarns vary so much in gauge, the pattern also gives lengths for the yarn requirements. If you're in doubt, make sure you have enough meters or yards - this matters far more than the weight.
While I designed the toy mainly for babies, my two boys (who are 4 and 2) love the test samples I knit. But they both insist the toys are better with a rattle in the head. I made rattle inserts from plastic cosmetic sample jars, by placing a metal jingle-bell inside and then glueing the lid on. However, small ones are fairly cheap to buy on Etsy (just search for "rattle insert" under supplies).
You can now purchase the pattern on Ravelry, Craftsy, or Etsy. If you buy it on Etsy, you will have to wait for me to email the download link (although I'm working on a solution to this).
The pattern is fairly basic and knit flat, but with some nice shaping to keep it interesting. You will need to know stockinette stitch, garter stitch, increasing, decreasing, and how to cast-on stitches at the end of the row. There is some sewing and finishing, but not as much as my usual toys. Plus, the heads are very similar to my other toy patterns, so you could easily make other animals into loveys. I would just recommend adding 2 rows to the stockinette section of the head, to make up for the gauge difference between worsted and chunky yarn. Because thicker yarns vary so much in gauge, the pattern also gives lengths for the yarn requirements. If you're in doubt, make sure you have enough meters or yards - this matters far more than the weight.
While I designed the toy mainly for babies, my two boys (who are 4 and 2) love the test samples I knit. But they both insist the toys are better with a rattle in the head. I made rattle inserts from plastic cosmetic sample jars, by placing a metal jingle-bell inside and then glueing the lid on. However, small ones are fairly cheap to buy on Etsy (just search for "rattle insert" under supplies).
You can now purchase the pattern on Ravelry, Craftsy, or Etsy. If you buy it on Etsy, you will have to wait for me to email the download link (although I'm working on a solution to this).
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
busy new year
Sitting here, wrapped in flannel pyjamas and a Shetland shawl my Mum gave me for Christmas (and maybe feeling groggy after a late night and a little too much bubbly), I'm thinking about all the things we have planned for this year. I'm also thinking about all the things I learned last year, which will help me make this new year a good one.
This Winter is going to be busy for us! Next week I start French classes, after 8 years living in a French-speaking province. I don't remember much from the French I took in school, and my accent in atrocious, but I feel like it's time I made an attempt at learning this language. Lev, my older boy, will be starting gymnastics and swimming classes soon (the pool cleverly combines them, so I only have to get him to one place for an hour a week). My husband will hopefully be taking portrait classes, something he's been wanting to do for years. At the end of January my Mum is coming for a visit, and my husband will be flying off on a trip to China! (I know he's excited about that, but goodness, it's so far away). My husband's parents will be visiting near the end of Winter, so I finally get to meet his father. We also have a family vacation planned, to somewhere warm and sunny!
On top of all this, I've been wanting to overhaul the blog for a few months now. I think it's time for a new header, some brighter colours, and a more functional layout. I have a couple of ideas for new patterns I want to get done before the Spring. I'd like to start on a couple of collaborations with some friends (it's so nice to know talented and inspiring people, who are also willing to listen and help with my ideas). I've also been meaning to make video tutorials for several techniques I use, but I'm not sure if I'll get to those, since I'll need help. Maybe I'll save those for the Summer.
And we'll continue to be busy for the rest of the year, with house renovations, lots of hiking and swimming, and maybe some other new designs for you.
Some of the things I learned last year, which I'm sure will help make this year successful (and all the years to come): I am responsible for making myself both miserable and content, and I get to choose which. Even if I don't start out with the strength and skills to deal with something, I can learn them. Balance in all aspects of life is one of the most difficult things to achieve, but the most worthwhile goal I can imagine. Old friends are worth hanging onto, even if our friendship has changed over the years. New friends are worth cultivating, if I carefully choose a few who will enrich my life. I need to be creative to be happy. Each moment will only exist once, so I will savour and remember the good ones, and know that the bad ones will pass, and I can let go of them.
I hope this year is a good one, for all of you.
This Winter is going to be busy for us! Next week I start French classes, after 8 years living in a French-speaking province. I don't remember much from the French I took in school, and my accent in atrocious, but I feel like it's time I made an attempt at learning this language. Lev, my older boy, will be starting gymnastics and swimming classes soon (the pool cleverly combines them, so I only have to get him to one place for an hour a week). My husband will hopefully be taking portrait classes, something he's been wanting to do for years. At the end of January my Mum is coming for a visit, and my husband will be flying off on a trip to China! (I know he's excited about that, but goodness, it's so far away). My husband's parents will be visiting near the end of Winter, so I finally get to meet his father. We also have a family vacation planned, to somewhere warm and sunny!
On top of all this, I've been wanting to overhaul the blog for a few months now. I think it's time for a new header, some brighter colours, and a more functional layout. I have a couple of ideas for new patterns I want to get done before the Spring. I'd like to start on a couple of collaborations with some friends (it's so nice to know talented and inspiring people, who are also willing to listen and help with my ideas). I've also been meaning to make video tutorials for several techniques I use, but I'm not sure if I'll get to those, since I'll need help. Maybe I'll save those for the Summer.
And we'll continue to be busy for the rest of the year, with house renovations, lots of hiking and swimming, and maybe some other new designs for you.
Some of the things I learned last year, which I'm sure will help make this year successful (and all the years to come): I am responsible for making myself both miserable and content, and I get to choose which. Even if I don't start out with the strength and skills to deal with something, I can learn them. Balance in all aspects of life is one of the most difficult things to achieve, but the most worthwhile goal I can imagine. Old friends are worth hanging onto, even if our friendship has changed over the years. New friends are worth cultivating, if I carefully choose a few who will enrich my life. I need to be creative to be happy. Each moment will only exist once, so I will savour and remember the good ones, and know that the bad ones will pass, and I can let go of them.
I hope this year is a good one, for all of you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)