If you can’t find it, design it!

August 20, 2010

Babble

So this is where I get to babble about what’s going on in our house. Not much has happened over the last few days. Our lives have pretty much settled in to a pattern of drive forty-five minutes to work, work all day, drive forty-five minutes back and then take care of dinner and feeding the zoo. If we have errands to run that just prolongs the whole process.

Work has been a little rough this week because poor Little Man (20-months old) is cutting molars. This week he has ranged from slightly annoyed to absolutely miserable. I really do feel bad for him... poor little pumpkin.

The big news around here is that I’m finally starting to teach again. A few weeks ago a student of mine from Michaels contacted me and asked if I was still teaching. When I said yes she was excited and set up a private lesson time for tomorrow. That private lesson has turned into a group class since she is planning to bring a friend or two. She was one of my crochet students who, if I remember correctly, was a fast learner and loved a challenge. It’s going to be great to see her again and I am very excited to be back to teaching.

Fibery Confessions

I am done with the bulk of the knitting on “Classic Camel Vest” by Tara Jon Manning. All that is left is to block it, assemble it and knit the button band. I’m very happy with this pattern so far. It’s a quick knit which is great for Christmas knitting. I can’t wait ‘til it’s complete and I have pictures! This weekend’s task: block the three pieces and knit the button band.

Since I’m waiting for the weekend to start blocking I needed a new project. I was looking everywhere for a fairly simple, top-down, raglan sweater to make for Little Man’s Christmas present and just couldn’t find anything I liked in the yarn that I had set aside, so what did I do? I designed one. I found this great website that gave all the formulas needed to design a custom fit, top-down raglan. Since Little Man was absolutely not going to allow me to do measurements I used the chart that they gave to approximate his size. Well, that would have been fine and all except I made a 2T and it fits him now which means by this winter he will have out grown it. No worries! That one is going to our Hope Chest once I finish the sleeves on it. For now that project is going to be put on the back burner until I get a little more Christmas knitting done.

Jr. Carolers Cable Sweater designed by Charu Anne Slawek Robertson
Not a very good picture because of lighting :(

Yesterday, I did all the calculations again… this time for a 4T… and cast on. I have worked down to the sleeve divide and am about to start the body. I’m hoping I can work a braided cable on this one to make it slightly fancier. Not that Little Man will care, but I think it’ll look nice.

In other news, I have finally decided on my Mom’s Christmas gift. I found a beautiful afghan on the Lion Brand website that I am going to crochet up for Mom. The colors are perfect and it’s a beautiful afghan. I am currently looking for a good deal on the yarn. Hopefully, the afghan will be started no later than 1.Sept.2010.

Picture from the Lion Brand Website

Favorite Thing

Rain! We got rain twice this week and I loved it. I love the smell of rain and the cool clouds. It was wonderful to come home and see everything wet and happy. So this week my favorite thing is rain. Thank you God for rain!

Binding Off

Have a great weekend all and don’t forget “Memories are knit with love.” ~ Author unknown

The Confessions Begin

August 16, 2010

Babble

So this is where I get to babble about what’s going on in our house. It’s been pretty exciting around here lately. Sean, my hubby, is getting busy working on my craft studio. He has the holes in the wall where he will be building recessed shelving for knitting notions and scrapbook supplies. He is in the planning and designing phase and hopefully soon he will be in the constructing phase. Until my studio is finished I have my knitting stash spread out in different areas of the house and my scrapbook supplies in boxes in the garage and closet of the studio.

Our 5-month old puppy, Zuke, is growing like a weed. He is now 38.5 lbs. I have to say he is just the best little puppy anyone could ask for. He has only once grabbed my knitting but luckily did no harm. Since he will happily watch me knit but has no interest in stealing my yarn.

Our two kitties, Alice and Joshua are finally starting to adjust to having a puppy in the house although they still would prefer that Zuke just let them be. We have many moments around here of Zuke attempting to herd them and the two of them running and hissing. Prayerfully, one of these days they will all just get along.

I have been knitting away and trying to keep up with the house. We still don’t have a washer or dryer, so I am doing laundry by hand…yuck! I guess I’m just spoiled and haven’t found the beauty in hand washing our laundry. I do love hanging laundry outside to dry because it leaves everything with a nice fresh smell. Besides laundry, I have been working on saving my dying garden. The heat this month has made my plants very sad. Everything indoors is doing well though. I have lots of fresh basil and oregano growing in my kitchen window box along with lettuce and some flowers. Hopefully as it cools off the garden will start to look better and produce. If not there’s always next year 

Fibery Confessions

I am currently working on a “Classic Camel Vest” by Tara Jon Manning. The vest is going to be for my Dad who loves sweater vests and cardigan vests. I would have loved to do this project in merino, alpaca, or any other natural fiber, but I ended up settling for Lion Brands Wool-Ease in Wheat. We simply could not afford the nicer stuff this time around.

So far I have finished the back and left panel and am feverishly knitting the right panel. I am trying desperately to get this vest done (knitted, blocked, pieced together, etc) by the end of the month. Right now I think I can totally do it but you just never know when a snag might come up. The project to date has been fairly easy with the cables being my play time. Today, I finally got up the courage to try working the cable without a cable needle and I love it! Thank you Cat Bordhi for your video podcast on cabling. It was my inspiration to drop the cable needle and try a new technique.


I also have a pair of baby booties that I need to finish up for a couple at church. Those will need to be done by the end of the week. Last but not least I have a pair of wrist warmers that are finished but are waiting to be blocked and have the buttons added.

Binding Off

Well folks that’s all for tonight. I want to leave you with a scripture from the Bible that I found very appropriate:

"As I live and breathe," God says, "every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God."
So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. – Romans 14:12-13 The Message Bible

Welcome!

Welcome to Confessions of a Serial Knitter. I'm a craft and photography loving, earth-crunchy Christian wife and nanny who loves to knit. I learned to knit years ago from my grandmother in India and am proud to carry on her love for knitting.

We have a Hope Chest that I knit for quite often. I pray that some day we will have little ones to wear all the sweaters and hats that I have made, but until then I am continuing to learn new techniques by knitting baby sweaters, diaper covers, blankets, hats, etc. Of course I also knit for my family, and I do a lot of Christmas knitting. Year ‘round I’ve got a project and when I don’t, I’m finding one. I knit a lot at work while the toddler I care for naps and at home while hubby and I are relaxing, not to mention in the car and church, etc (too many places to mention)

I hope you enjoy reading about my knitting adventures. I plan to blog at least twice a month if not more. I will base the layout of this blog loosely off of one my favorite podcasts “Stitch It!” by It’s Just Megan. I’m not going to use all her sections but I will have a place for Babble, Fibery Goodness (which I will call Fibery Confessions), a Favorite Thing, and Binding Off (my final closing thoughts).

So lets get started and let the confessions roll.