My Bit of Earth

A Wheel Of My Own

Sweet Husband scored major brownie points this weekend.  Like, a year's worth.  Here's how it happened.

Having nothing else we wanted to do on Saturday afternoon, we decided to drive over to the River Market Antique Mall and have a looksie.  The place is pretty awesome in and of itself--four floors of curiosities, all fairly well-priced.  We had already had awesome luck finding a few little goodies (more about those later this week), and were on the third floor when Sweet Husband said, "Hey did you see that spinning wheel down stairs?"

    "What?!"

    "Yeah, there's a spinning wheel.  I think it was, like, fifty bucks."

If you will remember, I took a spinning class about a year ago and loved it.  But after trying several wheels in class, the two I liked (the Traditional Ashford or the Ashford Traveller) were sadly out of the budget.  Although I'd been keeping an eye out for a used wheel on Ebay, I had just about decided it wasn't meant to be.

So, trying not to get my hopes up--because I was sure that something had to be wrong with it for that price--I frog-marched Sweet Husband back to the second floor where, with just a little hunting, we found it.

 

A pretty little Traveller, who knows how old.  (It has a single treadle, which I've discovered they don't make anymore, and l-shaped flyer-hooks, which are also, apparently, quite out-of-date.)  Although with my limited experience I couldn't say for sure, it looked like everything was in working order...or, at least, working enough that it wouldn't take much to get it back into ship-shape.  I may have done a little dance right there amidst the antique furniture!

A quick trip to my local yarn store Sunday afternoon confirmed that this was indeed a steal.  There's a slight problem with the knob that adjusts the brake tension (some fool varnished it in place), but a) it looks like it might be possible to get it out with a bit of work, or b) if not, the nice lady who looked it over for me showed me how to do makeshift adjustments.  Otherwise, a little oil in the joints and it's ready to start making yarn!

Big Butt Baby Pants

There are only so many times in your life that you can get away with wearing a garment that is designed to make your butt look big.  I don't know how long the window is (3 years? 5 years?), but it's very small.  And I think the Peapod should get to take full advantage of it.  Hence, the Big Butt Baby Pants.

(Digression: I was at the Gap the other day when I saw the first sweater dress of the year. I love the idea of sweater dresses, but their lack of structure tends to make me look pregnant.  I was gazing at the dress longingly when the light bulb clicked on....wait a second, I am pregnant!  While that particular sweater dress was not for me, I'm officially on the hunt.  I will buy a sweater dress this year and I will wear the hell out of it! But anyway....)

The first pair of these was a little bit fiddly, and I'm not sure I ever got the bit right where the butt panel and the crotch intersect.  However, once I got into the rhythm, they were...maybe a half an hour each from start to finish?  Not as easy as regular pants (which, to be honest, I'll probably stick to in the future), but not much harder.

And the little contrasting butt panels are pretty cute.  A fitting "end" to my flurry of making-things! 

T-Shirt Factory

One summer when I was ten or eleven-ish, I had the nicest babysitter.  In addition to a daughter my age, she had a petting zoo of farm animals (I remember the ferret and the pot-bellied pig, in particular), an unlimited supply of Disney movies, and a trampoline.  Also, as long as the messy parts were done outside, she was very encouraging of our art projects--I believe that was the summer I learned what a hot glue gun is.

One of our favorite art projects was a game called "T-shirt factory".  A box of puff paints, as many of my Dad's white undershirts as he'd let me steal, and we were in business for a whole afternoon of t-shirt decorating fun.  So when a co-worker gifted me a box of her son's outgrown clothes, I knew exactly what to do with them.

 

I decorated these with freezer paper stencils.  While you could easily draw your own, I used some from the Lotta book.  Although you can't see it in any of these pictures, it's very important that you put some sort of barrier (cardboard, a grocery sack) inside the t-shirt, so that the paint doesn't bleed through to the back.

I was super-happy with how these turned out.  Sweet Husband even commented that--with more grown-up stencils, obviously--he might like a few new decorated shirts!
 

I also sewed and stenciled a few tiny hats.  They're made from the Soulemama old-shirts pattern used for the wee Haitians, although I did hem the bottoms to make them a bit neater looking.

The colors were totally accidental, but in retrospect, a few pink ones were probably wise just in case Nice Mom and Ms. Redhead are right and the Draino is wrong.

A Lotta Lotta

The patterns for this trio came from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby.  

I'll actually be surprised if I don't make every pattern in this book before it's all said and done.  Some of the projects are right on the edge of my sewing comfort level (the little baby-burrito-bundler you see below, for example), so I'm learning.  But there are plenty of projects that are stupid-easy (the fleece hat and the nursing pillow).  And, although there's a sprinkle of just-for-cute, most of the projects in the book seem pretty practical.

Exhibit A:  Lotta calls is a Snuggler, but it will forever be the baby-burrito-bundler at our house.  Say it five times fast, I dare you.

 

Exhibit B:  A warm fleece-y hat.  

I believe this is the sixth or seventh hat to be slipped into the "for baby" drawer.  (Not counting half a dozen soft, cotton-y ones, which you will see tomorrow.)  They're just so easy to make, it's hard to find an excuse not to.

But no matter, either our kiddo will be the most well-hatted child in the world, or all of the other small fry we know will benefit from the surplus.
 

Exhibit C:  A nursing pillow.  

It's a pillow.  If you can tie your shoes, you can make this.  Further, the Google tells me that nursing pillows such as this one cost $30-$40.  The fabric in this was $8, and the stuffing a little less--call it $15 all together.  And it's not a ghastly pastel color or "baby" print, which--superficial little soul that I can be sometimes--I probably would have paid extra for if I'd had to buy one.

   

A Whole Lot A Makin' Goin' On

Spent Saturday making a mess of the dining room...and the dog.  (One of Porter's special gifts is her ability to find the most in-the-way spot possible and fall into a coma-like sleep there.  Here, you can see she was right in the place where all the sewing scraps were getting brushed off the table.)  

Even for us people-of-limited-patience-and-sewing-skills, there are so many adorable websites and books out there for making some of your own baby clothes and gear.  I confess, I've been sucked in, but it's all so cute and fun.  Some favorites so far?

• Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby
• Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures
• Craft Hope: Handmade Crafts for a Cause
• Made By Rae
• Made
• Sew Liberated

Since getting out the sewing machine and all the accoutrements is a bit of an ordeal, I decided to just tackle everything I could in one go.  We (Porter and I) made pants and decorated onsies and made all kinds of useful bits....which I'm going to post about in stages over the next few days so as to not overwhelm--stay tuned!

Knitting My Prayers (Or At Least Trying)

 

I've always thought "knitting a prayer shawl" is a bit of an oxymoron.  It's not that I don't love the idea--knitting as a way of thinking of someone--it's just that, really, all knitting done for others is a bit of a prayer.  

Every stitch is a little good wish sent off into the universe; every completed project a tangible way to wrap that person up in all the wonderful things you hope for them.  I mean, when was the last time you knitted (or sewed or baked or whatever nice things you do for your friends) something thinking, "I just hope this makes them so miserable!"

But, at the same time, I'll admit that some projects are more of a prayer than others.  And even some that you mean to be full of love can give you fits while you're making them.   

These two projects fall into both categories.

They're both stupid-easy patterns.  The vest (for the babe) is a Pebble.  The shawl (for a friend) is a Dummy Clap.  (It even says "dummy" in the name, for goodness sake!)  But for the life of me, things just kept going wrong with both of them.  

I misread the pattern on the vest, and got almost finished with it before I had to rip the whole thing apart and start over.  And that was after three false starts to get the sizing and gauge right.

The shawl went very well until it came time to unravel the stitches as the end.  I know it looks complicated, but truly it's a matter of being able to count--knit three, drop two, knit three, drop two, and so on.  Nonetheless, fifty inches of stockinette were almost completely destroyed because I couldn't focus enough to count to three!

But, despite the frustrations, now that they're finished I see...a tiny, fat tummy covered and ready for tickling...a soft, warm hug around the shoulders of one of the kindest people I know as Fall creeps in and she needs some comforting....they're prayers made of wool.

Steadily Puttering Away in the AC

 

 
Inside.  On the couch.  In front of a blessed air conditioning vent with my feet propped up, knitting away for the small one--well, maybe not all for my small one, but certainly for some small one somewhere.

From the top down...a pair of Fall colored legwarmies...some wee tweed booties...an owl tuque (can you see the little owls peeking out?)...and another bib from cotton scraps.  

Bibs from Scraps

A little Sunday afternoon sewing project.  

The pattern is "The Best Bib" from JCasa *handmade.  I thought it might be a little fiddly to attach the straps, but the whole thing was actually very easy.  

And between using up scraps of fabric for the outside and recruiting some structurally sound, but not necessarily pretty, old dishtowels as "batting"--other than buying the pattern--these were freebies.  (I'm doing penance for the insane yarn splurge.)

I'll Just Be Here Knitting

Believe it or not, sometimes I know myself.  And I've known, pretty much since I learned to knit, that the second I knew we were having a small one, I would go into a manic knitting frenzy.  

I don't think it's all that unreasonable.  After all, the kid has to have clothing, right?  Particularly with a January/February baby--the little bugger could freeze to death without the proper sweaters, caps, and booties--this is not a joking matter!  

And--because I sometimes know myself--I have actually prepared a bit over the years.  I've tucked away a bonnet here, made a little sweater there, so as not to have to fit all of my knitting into just nine months.  But even with my little stash as a bulwark against child neglect charges--between myself and the steady stream of friends and family who have gotten themselves "in a family way" these days--I'm still going a little crazy on the knitting.  To knit, of course, one must have yarn and....

 

....well, I could keep dancing around this and trying to sound better all day, but the upshot is I bought a lot of yarn last week!  (That post about having enough?  Sometimes I don't know myself very well.) 

Despite the haphazard-looking-ness of this pile, I'm actually pretty well organized.  Thanks to the awesomeness that is Ravelry, I know, for example, that there are 36 different kinds of yarn in my stash and that 23 of them actually have projects to go with.  Further, I've started a scrap blanket for those wee leftover bits that are too small to put to another good purpose.

Whether or not 23 projects will get done in the next six months (or even in the next two years) is perhaps a question better left unasked.

The 26-Hour Baby Shrug

I have a thing where I have to knit stuff for babies.  I do limit it to people I know--well, sort-of, I guess--but, really pretty much all friends who have babies end up with something knitted, whether they want it or not!

But last summer, I somehow missed my Nice Boss's little lady, who did not receive a Meryl-knitted item to welcome her into the world.

Actually, in my defense, I did make her a sweater.  It was the one that got ruined with the rusty blocking pins, remember?  I kept meaning to remake it, but somehow--press-of-work, end-of-summer lethargy--it just never got done.  And, silly as it seems, it's been rankling me a little bit.  Like all was not right with the world somehow.

So, I decided that first birthday presents are just as good as birth presents, and set out to make this little shrug.

Now, I knew this would go pretty quickly.  It's not very big after all, and cotton is reasonably chunky.  But I never imagined just how quickly.  Like, as in, I cast-on at nine at night on a Monday and was casting-off by eleven the next night.  Granted there was a car ride in there, but there was also an oral argument and the ensuing prep, which does cut into the knitting time.  All in all, I'd say it was, maybe, eight hours of actual knitting...maybe? 

It makes me sad that I put it off for so long.  If I had know making the world right again could be done so quickly I would have done it much sooner!

Rationed Knitting

About the day yarn started falling out of my yarn basket, I decided it was time to use up a bit of what I have before I buy more.  I haven't set a hard and fast rule, but...well...let's just say I need to lay off for awhile.

Not to worry though, I really do have enough yarn to keep myself in knitting for a long time.  For example.... 

....a gnomey little hat.

....a pair of wee tweed-y mittens.

 ....a pixie hat.

 ....and a second ribbety bibbety (which is still crazy fun to say out loud).

More Fun With Great Grandma Minnie

My aunt and I were going through a box of textiles at my Grandmother's house when I lifted one up to my nose.

"Mmm, this smells like Grandma-Great's house...."

"You mean, like mothballs?"

"Oh....(giggle) yeah, I guess that's it, isn't it?"

I ended up bringing home a quilt, a few tablecloths, and a whole stack of doilies, but I didn't really get a chance to look at them until last weekend.  

I had just piled everything into our spare bedroom and shut the door until I had time to sort through it.  When I opened the door back up a few days later, the entire room was starting to smell like mothballs. I wrapped everything in a big ball and bundled it out to the clothesline for some much needed airing out.

 

I had noticed the quilt had names embroidered on each square, but I hadn't taken time to read them.  There it was, right in front of me:

Not only that, but both of my great-aunts names are on squares, and there are some family last names that I recognize, as well.  It's literally a family quilt, and it's in wonderful condition too!  Squeee!

As for the tablecloths, they've already been put to good use--and even received a baptism in red wine--and I hope to turn the doilies into this sometime soon.

An Entirely No-Sew Backyard Banner

I was having poor luck with the sewing machine Sunday afternoon.  It was the first time I'd tried quilting on it, and I just don't think my little $75 Brother is up to the task.  It was shaking so badly I thought it was going to explode.

So, I put it away and decided to no-sew instead.

As you are all (painfully) aware, I'm kinda into banners.  And when I saw this one the other day draped across a back yard, I decided that I must have one.  But it involved sewing, and as we have established, I was done with sewing for the day.  

What to do?  What to do?  How about something like this?

See, instead of sewing I just cut out big squares of fabric, folded them into triangles, and tied the ends together.  Then I strategically tied it to my clothesline in a few places to make it nice and drapey.

Voila!  A no-sew banner to make the yard festive for Spring!

 

Four Finished Objects

I'm on a bit of a knitting binge here, folks.  Casting on left and right, probably giving myself carpal tunnel--enjoying every second!  

The finished objects for the past week or so?  First, a little aviatrix hat....second a Shroom hat (this didn't quite turn out big enough for a grown-up, even though I made the larger size--but, eh, some little girl always needs a cute hat, yes?)....third an ipod sock for my g-phone (that's got to be illegal!)....and last, my completed February Baby Sweater (which I'm so proud of that I keep unfolding and refolding it just so that Sweet Husband will say, "That's a nice sweater!").

In Progress

A bit unfortunately, knitting occurred this weekend.  I say unfortunately because, had the weather been what it should be at this time of year, there would have been less knitting, more playing outside.  But, hopefully that will improve soon!

In the meantime, I'm discovering that I really love Elizabeth Zimmerman.  Like, want to play a boom box outside her window, love her.  The pattern for this sweater?  Not even a full page.  Completely concise--not one extraneous word--but everything I needed to know is there.  I did have to do a little research to figure out exactly how to modify the pattern to do the sleeves in the round--I avoid seams whenever possible--but otherwise EZ says it all!

And not only that, the pattern--the February Baby Sweater--has worked up beautifully.  This little guy was just to use up some CotLin in my stash--and honestly, I've got about six or seven little projects in line before I'll get back to it--but next winter I'm so making one of these in my size!

The other weekend project?  An ipod cozy.  Again, trying to work through some leftovers--my stash basket is overflowing, and my poor, abused cell phone could use the cushioning. 

The Sunny Blanket

I've had this done for a bit now, but kept thinking I should block it before I took pictures.  Then I laid it out today and, lo and behold...it don't need no stinking blocking!  It's a "Ribbons Baby Blanket" made in Noro Matsuri (full info on Ravelry for my fellow knitters).

This project really was my survival blanket during the nasty, cold months this year.  It's all about the yarn, which sadly is no longer being made.  The colors are so saturated and bright that it's just almost impossible not to get a little glow from working with it.  I have one skien of it left, and it's going to take a very special project, indeed, to get me to part with it!  Or maybe just a very big snowstorm!

 

A Wee Pussy Willow Hat, Among Other Things

My major knitting project these days has been this:

The bright little Noro Matsuri blanket that I started back at the beginning of February is about 15 more rounds short of being finished.  I'm actually going to be a little sad to be done with it--the yarn is so very yummy to knit with!  In fact, I made it a little bigger than the pattern says just so I could order two more skeins.  (OK, actually, I had to order two more skeins because I misread the pattern, but it wasn't as vexing as it would ordinarily be!)

In addition--as sort of as a break from the blanket--the other evening I popped out this tiny hat.

The pattern is called Pajunkissa, which means Pussy Willow in Swedish, I think.  (I looked it up when I started the project, but I'm being lazy right now!)  I couldn't find a head small enough to model it on, but when it's all stretched out it does look like little Pussy Willows twining up the hat.  (Ravelry info here.)

You can kinda see it, right?

My Brain Lives in a Moleskine

Not even kidding.  I bought this little moleskine (it's the 3.5 x 5.5 hardcover sketch book--I like the thicker paper) with the intent to starting a gratitude journal.  While it does still occasionally function as such, it's actually become more of a vault of ideas, things to remember, and other jottings that I might need at a moments notice.  

From the top left and clockwise...a little daily gratitude...the deviled egg recipe, furiously scribbled down while watching my mom make them...a list of crafty to-dos...the outer cover...some important email addresses clipped in with a safety pin...ideas for a new haircut tucked into the back pocket.

Mr. #4's Hoodie

It's a real, live sweater and it made me feel like a real, live knitter!

OK, so it's not quite the commitment that a me-sized sweater would be--I'm working up to that--but I did modify the pattern all on my own-some.  

The basic idea was inspired by the Easy Baby Cardigan (full yarn and pattern details here), but I did not want a cardigan, I wanted a hoodie.  (Don't ask me why, but my heart was set on it.)  So--non-knitters can tune out here--once I thought I had enough space for the kiddo’s head to go through (as a guess, about five or six rows before I took the stitches off for the sleeves), I joined in the round in the front. Then I just continued following the pattern, except that I didn't do the garter stitch border on the front (just knit those stitches), and, of course, I didn't have to switch between knitting and purling.  (Which was delightful--I don't know why, but purling always seems to take longer.)

The mystery Mr. #4 is Nice Cousin's wee urchin, who is expected shortly and may be--if the parents-to-be stick with one of the names they were considering at Thanksgiving--named for his daddy.  (And, note to Nice Cousin, I'm holding you to your word on the pictures!)

 

 

Vintage License Plate Magnet Boards

This is my office.  It's actually kind of cozy as far as state employee offices go.  I have four walls, a door, and--absolute joy!--a window, all of which are major perks in a land where cubicles are more often the norm.  What I didn't have, before a few days ago that is, is a place to put my sticky notes.  

I just recently became a convert to the sticky note as a way to remember things.  Most often, they're thoughts that don't have a designated place yet, but need to not be forgotten.  

"Call Fred." 

"Watch senate bill #2." 

"Ponder weird issue x that will be coming up five cases from now."  

I was originally just sticking them to my wall, but then they would fall off into the no-man's land between the wall and my desk.  Then I had nightmares about forgetting something important because it fell behind my desk, and becoming a cautionary tale to young attorneys....beware the lost sticky note!

Bottom line: my clients' freedom should not depend on the strength of post-it glue.

So, I wandered to the antique mall.  I was originally looking for a metal tray, when I found a big box of old license plates.  I wasn't sure if they were made of metal or not, but--right at that perfect second--an older man walked by who looked like he might be able to tell me.  (He just had that look about him--like he knew useful stuff.)  

He did not actually know, sadly, but he did have a magnet in his pocket which was just as good.  Turns out, all Kansas license plates before '76 were made of magnet-able metal.  A trip to the hardware store for some super-duper strong magnets, and I can sleep soundly again.

The reason I'm posting this, however, is not to assure you all that I'm sleeping well.  It's that I think these would also work great for by the phone, in the kitchen, near the door--basically any place you need a bulletin board, but would rather do somethin' vintagey.  

Go forth and find some cool license plates!