A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

Design projects

As I mentioned in the previous post, I’ve been working on a few design projects . . . and I’ve added one since that post!

The “Mini-Must-Have” is finished except the buttons . . . and the pattern is currently in the test-knitting stage of things thanks to [Tallgal], Kim and Jen.  Once I’m sure we’ve worked out the kinks (writing is rewriting, right?) then I’ll make it available through Ravelry.  And once I have the buttons selected and on it we’ll take some photos with it modeled.  In the mean time:

Mini-Must-Have

I’ve also been working on “Simplicity”

Simplicity

I’ve also started a new design project that I’m very excited about . . . its a twisted stitch sock pattern in two versions, his and hers.  Here is a little bit of his . . .

sock

This one hasn’t been named yet, but if all goes well it will be available as a free pattern in the Butterfly Yarns Newsletter later this month so if you haven’t signed up for it, check it out!  This pattern will available on Ravelry as well . . .

Farmyard

I’ve almost finished planting our garden for this year . . . I wait until Memorial Day weekend every year to be sure we really are past any danger of frost; after all this is New England!

my garden

It isn’t much really but I don’t dare plant too many things since the garden bed is inside the play area.  I’m cautiously optimistic that the boy-child will leave the garden alone this year but have a feeling the girl-child is going to find flowers and tomatoes hard to resist.   That said, I’ve got tomatoes, basil, rosemary, peppers for Dom, Eggplant and a few other herbs and flowers.  We’ll have to wait and see how they do.

And a few chicken pics for you:

and these are the new Eggie chicks, learning to forage:

chickies foraging

I’ve also taken up coffee roasting, using the wood-fired oven which works out wonderfully since all the smoke and smell is outdoors.  We were given several pounds of coffee beans but I have not idea what type they are . . . here is them being roasted:

roasting coffee

coffee roasting 2

roasted

and on that note . . . see you next post!

Yesterday I got a skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick for a quick hat that I needed to make as a gift . . . I don’t knit with LB very often and rarely use anything that requires size 13 needles . . . but this hat was QUICK!

Last-minute Hat Pattern

Size: Will fit approx. 21″ to 23″ head 

Materials: 1 skein LB Wool Ease Thick and Quick, size 13 needles and a darning needle.

Notes: I knit this hat flat since I only had 1 circular needle that was too long for the size of the hat and then I seamed it up.  The whole thing really only took a few hours to make and seam.  You could easily knit this pattern in the round instead . . . just leave off the seam stitches and work the decreases as p2tog instead of K2tog . . .

Directions: Cast on 50 stitches (48 if knitting circular) For flat knitting, alwasy slip the first stitch and knit the last stitch, every row.  Work in K2, P2 Ribbing for 5 rows.  Next row knit all stitches.  Resume K2, P2 ribbing for another 9 rows.  Next row work a Right twist cable into each of the K2s.  Work 3 more rows k2, P2 ribbing then repeat cable row.  Work those 4 rows until hat measures 8 inches from the all knit row (it will be the bottom edge once you turn the brim). 

Decreases: Next wrong side row: Sl 1, *k2tog, p2, k2, p2* repeat across row and end K1.  Work next row in pattern, crossing cables if it is a cable row.  Wrong side row: Sl 1, *K1, p2, k2tog, p2* repeat across row, ending K1.   Right side: Working in established pattern, work K2tog into every other K2 across row.  Wrong side: Working in established pattern, p2tog into remaining p2 pairs.  Right side: K2tog, k1 across.  Wrong side: P2tog across.  Continue decreasing in this manner until approx 10 stitches remain. 

Finishing: Cut a very long tail on yarn to weave through remaining stitches and to seam hat with.  Thread yarn needle and pulling yarn behind stitches to the other end ot the row, run yarn through remaining stitches, removing them from knitting needle as you go.  Pull yarn tightly throught stitches to close top of hat.  Working from top down: use mattress stitch to seam hat.  Stitch to the all knit row then put yarn through to other side, turn brim edge up and seam that from the right side as well. Weave ends.

Baby update

I realized the other day I haven’t said much about the new baby for a while.  Things are progressing nicely with this pregnancy.  We’ve moved away from all the miserable First Trimester stuff for the most part, though I still get a migraine about once a week.  I’ve got a little more energy than before and I’m not sick to my stomach all the time.  Last month I actually gained the 4 lbs they recommend gaining . . . a pound a week.   I’ve had several other people (who aren’t pregnant) tell me they gained that much over Thanksgiving as well. . . .

I’ve also been able to feel the baby move for a few weeks now.  At first it was a very subtle little flutter that I would catch in the odd moments when I was sitting or lying very still.  Now the movements are getting stronger and I notice them several times a day on average.  She still isn’t quite big or strong enough to  be felt from the outside . . . that will be another month or so.

I’ve been doing a few things to get ready . . . I’ve been through most of the boxes of baby stuff that are in the storage area and sorted the things that we will need.  We’re using a few of the clothes and things from Mimmo but most of the clothes are actually from my nieces.  We’ve got most or what we’ll need for the first year worth of sizes; though if she grows like her big brother, that will only last about the first 9 months!  I’ve got the 0-3 stuff in the house, in a box under his bed, ready for a final washing and to go into the bureau (once we get her one!) and the small cloth diapers are ready.  I wanted to be sure that I had all the heavy lifting, the sorting through boxes etc done before I’m the size of a house and I’m feeling like we’re in pretty good shape there. 

Since she and her big brother are sharing a room which has already been decorated for a baby we don’t have much to do in terms of the nursery other than getting a bureau and setting up the crib which is all way less than the major rennovations (plastering, paint and paper) we had to do last time around. 

The biggest thing I have planned in terms of getting ready for this little one is probably the knitting I’ve got planned for her.  I’m 1/2 way through a blanket and have the yarn for a second one.  I’ve also got yarn for several sweaters that I’m going to knit her; small, light lacy sweaters for in the AC next summer and bigger, heavier sweaters for next winter . . . I’m just waiting until I finish up the gifts I’m working on before I really get started.

Father & Son Chunky Cable Hats, started November 12th, 2007, finished November 30th?

Pattern: My own, will be online soon 
Yarn: Sugar Maple Merino’s Bulky Natural Brown
Needles:
Dimensions: Small is for 20 – 21 inch head; Large is for approx. 23 inch head
Would I knit it again? Definately!

and priorities.

Now that it is September I’m thinking hard about my knitting projects and trying to prioritize what I really need to get done.  Its hard because I’m torn between wanting to work on what I consider my own projects and the things I’m designing . . .

I’ve got several patterns that are waiting for decent pictures to be taken and to finalize writing them up so I can post them to the site or submit them . . .

I’m also evaluating what the toddler needs for the fall & winter in terms of sweaters, socks, hats and mittens.  Since he just keeps growing he is going to need more . . . several of last years sweaters may still be big enough for this year but we need to dig them out to try on before I’ll know for sure.  I think his hat from last winter will still fit but as I expect we’ll play outside more this year a 2nd one probably wouldn’t be a bad idea . . . and I figure he’ll need at least 3 pairs of mittens to allow for drying time.  And of course, he’ll need more warm socks.  Those silly cotton ones from the store just won’t cut it when things get cold and wet . . . and he does love his handknit socks.  Luckily at 2 most of his stuff is still relatively small.

And with everything else that is going on I’ve got to reevaluate how much knitting time I’m going to have.  I don’t think I’ll wind up being able to finish all 3 of the larger projects I have going on right now: Prairie Blanket, Prairie shawl and Fern.   I think perhaps I’ll get 1 or 2 finished but not all 3.  I need to finish the blanet as I think the little guy is actually going to need it soon (the other 2 blankets he’s using are getting small) and of the shawl or the sweater which are both for myself I have a feeling I’ll use the shawl more often . . . therefore I think I’m going to return Fern to the UFO pile until next year . . .  I’d really like to keep working on it as I’ve finally been making progress but I just don’t think its the priority right now.  Perhaps I’ll do another couple of rows before I relocate the project box back to the storage area . . .

I’ve also decided to stop doing the baby gift sweaters . . . for the time being anyone we really need to get a gift for will get something purchased . . .  and I do need to do a sweater for the other niece for Christmas and finish off Megan’s but its basically done.  And it wouldn’t hurt to make them each a set of mittens as well . . .

Time for a new list!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  There have been some things going on that I have needed to take some time to deal with, nothing serious, no one is ill or anything like that, just some family stuff that  is too much detail to post about . . . though I can tell you its a bunch of ick!

All this life stuff has been seriously eating into my time to work on stocking the new site for the shop, has almost completely wiped out my knitting time of late and has even left me a bit low on sleep . . . not a good combination!

lack of sleep + lack of knitting = one cranky mama!

IY Site redesign

The work on the new site design is creaping along . . . I’m hoping to get to add some of the products to the new version today and I believe Daisy is working on setting up the shipping stuff.  I’m hoping to have the site functional if not complete by September IY’s 3 year Annivarsary! 

Knitting

I haven’t done much since last week, though over the weekend I managed to get 6 whole rows of Fern done! That is the most I’ve done in a stretch on this sweater since I started it!!! Of course, its only about an inch worth but its something.  And since I’m knitting the front and back at the same time its sort of a double something, right?

I also did about an inch and a half on the Prairie Blanket yesterday.  I had a rare hair appointment and was out for 4 whole hours! Of course, the only place I got to go afterward with my fabulous new hair was up to Topsfield to the Coop for more chicken feed! Oh well, it isn’t like I have a glamorous lifestyle at this point!

Chickens

They continue to grow, and they eat more and more . . . they are up to about a 50 lb bag of feed in a week to 10 days time now! Thats a lotta scratch

They also really enjoy their kitchen scrap treats, bits of fruits and veggies, some bread and pasta that sort of thing.  They go on a bit of feeding frenzy when I bring it down.  And they can’t wait (but may have to) for their run to be built so they can spend their days outdoors! They are almost big enough to let them loose, I’m just worried they are still a little too small to fend off our cats! I want the cats wary of them before I go turning them loose . . . I don’t think Mimmo would like having the cats bring him a chicken . . . ya know?

Bathroom

We heard back from the concrete folks.  They are going to do the right thing regarding our floor with bad batch which is great . . . now Dom has to go in an chip out the top couple of inches of stuff to get ready to pour it again.  He’s also ripping the siding off that part of the house, partly to put in the windows, and partly because it needs replacing anyway . . . but now he’s thinking he may replace the whole outside wall in that portion! And that we may be without a wall there for a couple of days depending on how it goes! Talk about a can of worms!

Seriously, I’d like a finished functional bathroom, with walls and a floor before the snow flies!

And on that note . . .