Yarn Along

I'm excited to have some knitting today to join up with Ginny's Yarn Along!  I haven't been knitting much these days, mostly sewing.

For my birthday I got a gift certificate to my favorite yarn store, Halcyon and that was all the inspiration I needed.  I started another Pembrook vest for my nephew in Vermont.   I call this a little man vest, I made him one early last year, and have been meaning to make another for a while now.  It's so stinkin' cute, I can't wait to see it on him.  I think that I may have used the same color for a vest I made his new baby brother it's of course Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino, one of my favorite baby yarns ever.
On the reading front it's that time of year, I've been digging out all my gardening books again to get ready for some spring planting. I'm just itching to get out there.  One of my favorite books is called Backyard Gardener, no link, it was put out in the early 70s by a now gone weekly paper called The Maine Times.  This book is all about gardening in the area I live it so I find it very useful, not to mention the old black and white photographs are pretty fun to look at every year.
New to me this year is Mini Farming which has lots of great info on raised beds as well as companion planting, crop rotation, extending your season and the such.  I have several others as well that I will be looking through as I get ready to head out and start with peas and lettuce...so very exciting!

Yarn Along

'Tis the season for knitting I guess, joining the Yarn Along again this week.  Nothing feels better some days than sitting next to the wood stove and knitting (with the smell of fresh baking bread of course).

I still haven't made any more progress on my own sweater, but I will, that yarn will be lovely in the spring I'm sure.  Right now I'm making up another Milo vest, this time for a special friend who's turning 5 very soon. 

I'm using some knit Picks Wool of the Andes from my stash that I've had forever (trying hard for the 2012 stash-busting challenge).  He's quite the adventure driven soul so I'll be calling this one some sort of magical Elvin tunic to make is special just for him.  I'm in love with the avocado color and wondering if it would be worth making my boy one to match.  Seams easy enough to make the pattern bigger, the question is will my boy actually wear it???  Maybe on Elvin adventures in the forest???
As far as reading, no new exciting book for me, I've been doing my usual perusing through a few that I have on the kindle reader on my computer.  The Unschool Unmanual, Unschooling Rules and Back to Basics: Raising Self Sufficient Kids.  Honestly don't have an opinion either way on any of these books as I've just started looking through so I'd love to hear what folks who've read them think.

Thanks to Ginny for hosting as always.

Yarn Along

Joining in with the Yarn Along this week.

Haven't made much progress on the hourglass as I've been quite busy with a few projects to send off to Vermont for a newest niece or nephew to be born very soon!  So I thought I'd show you that sweetness all finished up.  the vest is Milo and I'm in love!  Wow, I've seen this vest around the Internet for a while, now only wish I found it when my two were smaller.  It's so simple and fast, and I love all the different cable choices.  I also made these little cable booties from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.  Sort of forgot that I owned this lovely little book.  The yarn for both is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby, one of my personal favorites for baby knits, so soft and yummy...and best of all it's washable!
Haven't done much reading this week.  The bread book I mentioned last week is great, a sandwich loaf is rising right now, we've had fresh baked bread every day!  We haven't tried anything crazy yet, just the master recipe, but it's been super.  I've also been re-reading Simplicity Parenting, specifically the chapter on Soul Fever.  I read/listened to this post and thought maybe a re-read would be good to see if I could apply anything to the struggle we sometimes have around here with a certain 11 year old girl and the hormones that are swirling around.  So far, just a friendly reminder:)

Thanks to Ginny for hosting, looking forward to seeing what others have been up to.

Yarn Along

Haven't been in a while but today I'm joining the yarn along over at Ginny's blog.  Such a fun little community that I love to visit.

I just got Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day,  I'm excited to give it a try.  A friend at work has been using their other book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  I had read this recipe in Mother Earth News a while back and now I'm really looking forward to seeing how it goes.  The idea is basically no need, you make a mega batch (to last about a week) and every day you break off a piece and let it rest and bake....I'll let you know how it turns out for sure.
On the knitting side I'm actually knitting a sweater for myself!  Something I just don't do and I'm thrilled about.  It's the Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  I've had this Malabrigo silky merino forever with plans to make a tea leaves sweater for myself someday, but somehow I've ended up going this route instead.  It's such a yummy yarn to knit with, and I love the color.  I've actually got two dye lots so I'm alternating between them.   Working out perfect with the natural variation in the yarn color. 
Thanks to Ginny for hosting.
Heading out to see what everyone else is up to.

Yarn Along

Joining sweet Ginny for her yarn along this week, haven't joined in lately as we've been so busy, but it seems I'm finding a bit of time here and there.

I just picked up We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich, She and her husband literally took to the woods of northern Maine in the late 1930s and made a life for themselves and their family.  I've only just started it, but so far I'm finding it witty and beautifully written.  Reading only as little as I have I would still recommend it if you enjoy this kind of thing.

As for knitting I just finished up a sweet little neck-warmer/cowl in my usual favorite malabrigo (I do kit with other yarn really I do).  The idea for this came from my dear friend who knit Molly the gorgeous owl cowl.  She then knit up one for herself with her own pattern, I wrote it down tried to whip it out at the hospital at 4:00 am and somehow couldn't manage it!  But at that point I wanted my own neck-warmer so the eyelet pattern was born.
This is a super simple pattern if you want to give it a try, great for a quick knit gift for yourself or a loved one.
I used malabrigo merino worsted and size 9 circular needles
the pattern is in multiples of 5 so it's very easy to make smaller or larger
this one is about 18 in around with a gauge of approximately 5 stitches per inch
CO 90 stitches and join for working in round
R1 p2, k3 around
R2 p2, k3 around
R3 p2, sl 1, k2 psso around
R4 p2, k1, yo, k1 around
continue in established pattern until desired length!
That's it, super easy and super quick, I think I'll link it up to Tonya's handmade holidays to share.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone is up to!

Yarn Along

This week for the yarn along I've pulled out some unfinished objects that need to be dealt with.  This has nothing to do with my frustration for having to pull out that pesky vest again I assure you (wink wink).

First this is the gorgeous yet long forgotten sweater I started for Corey probably 3 years ago!  It's the Children's tunic from Knitting Pure and Simple.  If you haven't knit their patterns before they are "pure and simple", I love them and have knit this particular sweater several times.  Always in malabrigo which is one of the only wools that my sweet boy will wear without complaining.  Obviously when I started this sweater I went big because it's old and it fits!  He and I did decide this morning that we would make it into a vest so that he can wear it today:)  If anyone has thoughts on finishing the arms I'm open to suggestions, the neck also since I don't think I"ll make the hood.
Also I was trying to think of something quick for a friend at work about to have a new grandson when I remembered my "How many baby socks does one skein of opal sock yarn make" project.  I'll finish off this 4th sock and this little guy can have toasty toes for this cool autumn weather.
As far as reading this week, I've been looking at The Birthday Book a bunch due to the fact that my soon-to-be 11 year old daughter is having a birthday sleepover this weekend with 7 girls!  this book is full of great hand-made gift ideas as well as party favors and party games for different age groups, a wonderful resource that we have used for years.
Looking forward to seeing what others are up to  this week.
Thanks to Ginny for hosting.

yarn Along

Oh that chill is in the air.  Our days are gorgeous, we wear shorts/skirts and short sleeves, but in the evening or early morning it is there...which of course puts me in the mood to knit.  This week I've started thinking about hats and mittens that we'll soon need for early morning nature walks long before the snow flies.

Last night I started the ear flaps for this hat.  I love that the ears are double knit for extra warmth just where you need it.  I'm using a bunch of different colors of malabrigo worsted from my stash.  This stuff is so soft and yummy...great for warm winter hats and mittens. The first color combo I'm doing for Miss Molly is orange, pink and purple...yup we get a little nutty around here sometimes, but she'll wear it with pride and her ears will be warm.  The cover mittens on  this book are pretty much a go to for me.  They are pretty fast and fairly easy, the color work is small and simple enough that I can do it!  I'll use crazy color combos as I've done in the past, and I usually have the mittens mismatched...more fun that way.
That's it, no other reading right now...just too busy with school and teaching a child birth class.

What are you knitting?

Joining Ginny's wonderful yarn along again this week.  Thanks for hosting.

Yarn Along

Joining yarn along this week with the excitement of a finished pattern! I did it, I finished Molly's Autumn Snuggles Sweater and it looks great!

Adorable and she loves it!  The pattern can be found on ravelry here I hope!  It's been a long morning of trying to get the silly thing up on line, but I think we have success.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me!  It was a fun easy knit and using such bulky yarn gave me fast results (something I need sometimes).
As for reading, I've been quite busy getting our first week of homeschooling in order so nothing new for me.
Excited to see what others are up to this week.

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny again for the yarn along at smallthings this week.

I've made a little progress on Molly's sweater this week though not as much as I'd like.  I first posted about it here.  This yarn is such a dream to work with and I am truly disappointed it will no longer be available.  The way this sweater is coming together has made me quite happy and I will absolutely share the pattern (once I actually write it).
Any reading I've done this week has really been focused on getting ready for school.  All of the sudden it is upon us and decisions must be made.  I mentioned Nature Connection in this post and honestly just love this book for a wide age range.  The kids also have Rip The Page! Adventures in Creative Writing again a book that could be used for a wide age range (I'm thinking I may need one).
I've been reading through the What Your 5th/6th Grader Should Know.  Not using one curriculum I feel like these books are a good resource for us to know a bit about what is out there.  Of course I've been doing tons of on-line browsing as well and found some great lesson plans to go with Treasure Island as a free download.  That should be a fun read with the kids.
Thanks to Ginny for hosting and looking forward to seeing other projects.

Yarn Along

Making progress joining Ginny again for the yarn along.  I certainly feel a change in the air.  Summer is not gone yet, but fall is approaching and my urge to knit is coming back.

I'm loving this sweater for Molly, the color is fabulous and the yarn is so buttery soft.  I think I'm about ready to close off the cap sleeves!  I'm keeping excellent notes as I think it will turn out to be a fast knit little pattern.  There is still a bit of this yarn left on sale at jimmybeanswool (so hard to not buy more).
As for reading I'm still reading the Mysterious Benedict Society and enjoying it a great deal.  I've also been thumbing through a recent used textbook purchase Glencoe Life Science.  I think it will be great for school this year.  A bit older, but with my help the kids will have no problem.  Of course I've also been thumbing through Amanda Blake Soule's newest book The Rhythm of Family it's simple and beautiful as we all knew it would be.
As always thanks to Ginny for hosting.

Yarn Along

I haven't had much urge to knit this summer.  When we haven't been traveling I have been sewing up a storm and busy in the garden.  However, the last few days were rainy and even a bit chilly, which got me thinking about fall and all that must be done to prepare for the colder months ahead.  So here I am today joining Ginny once again for her weekly yarn along.

Last night I started a neck down cardigan for Molly.  No pattern, I'm making it up as I go.  Taking notes of course in the event that it comes out great and I want to repeat or share the pattern!  The plan right now is a simple cap sleeve cardi with just a few buttons at the top (cute little twig buttons that Molly and I made together).  I'm using yarn-overs for the arm increases and I love it!  A lovely lacy line is forming.  I may do an owl cable somewhere as she loves them so, but right now I've obviously just started. The yarn is Azapa by Araucania yarns.  I guess they aren't making it any more it's a yummy merino,silk,alpaca blend in bulky weight and I just saw that they have some on a discontinued sale at Jimmybeanswool.  I haven't ever purchased from this retailer before, but what a great deal on some super soft yarn!
As for books I've recently started reading The Mysterious Benedict Society byTrenton Lee Stewart. This is a childrens book that my son read last year and adored, if you enjoy children's literature at all this is a fun series.  4 very unlikely heros, great for kids or as a family read aloud.  My friend Rachel over at housefullofjays would surely love it.
I've also once again picked up Clear the Clutter and Organizing Plain and Simple as things around here need some help.  I've had both of these books for a while and they are often found at the bottom of a pile so I can't claim that they work, but it never hurts to look for a little inspiration right?

Looking forward to seeing what folks are knitting a reading this week.  Thanks to Ginny for hosting!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the yarn along again this week.  Getting back into  rhythm certainly feels good.

I have the same issue as Ginny mentioned in that I cannot focus on one knitting project at a time, instead I have several going.  I'm almost done sleeves on Tiny Tea Leaves for our little friend Theona.  The yarn is Romney Ridge Farm right up the road from me!  such a sweet little farm to visit, Kelly hand dyes the yarn from all her sheep right there.  The other knitting project you see is an altered version of the same sweater that Molly has invented/requested.  It will have cap sleeves and be shorter.  The yarn we found at a yarn shop on St Simon's Island.  It's Auracania Ruca 100% sugar cane!  We had to give it a try, I think it would make a lovely shawl, though I'm not sure how it will end up as this sweater, but Miss Molly was insistent so we'll see how it turns out. 
As far as reading, I've got a few things going right now, but something I'm really loving is Mini Farming: Self Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre by Brett L. Markham.  This is definitely a beginner book and probably wouldn't be useful to someone already living a farming lifestyle, but I'm enjoying it.  I've found some good info on soil balance and some in-depth info on my raised beds that is helpful.  There is some good info on raising meat birds including instructions to build a simple mechanical plucker.  I'm not there, but it was interesting to read. 
We are finally getting some sun here in Maine so I'm off to tend to my garden.
As always, thanks to Ginny for hosting.

yarn Along

Once again joining the small things yarn along.
As far as knitting goes I've finished my little hat and leg warmers, and yesterday I decided I should work on some things for the little etsy store I've started.  My next projects for the shop are some little knitted farm animals.  I guess I'm wishing they were real:)  I went up to Romney Ridge Farm to pick up some of her hand dyed worsted weight yarn in sweetheart; just perfect for pigs and piglets!  I'm thinking about a felted barn to carry all the animals around...

In the reading realm I finished The Dirty Life this week and loved it.  I now have this strange urge to drive over to upstate New York and visit Essex Farm.  I've looked and they don't have a website, but I did find this fun article from Seven Days a little free Vermont paper I've always loved.  Last night I borrowed and started A Natural Sense of Wonder (Connecting Kids with Nature through the Seasons by Rick Van Noy.  As I said I've only just started, but so far so good, it appears as though there is a more hands-on approach in this book.  It's funny that we even need such books in our lives, but this is the culture that we have become.  I'm sure I'll have lots to say next week when I've had time to dive in.  In the mean time looking forward to seeing what other folks have been up to. 
Thanks to Ginny for hosting.

Yarn Along

Joining again in Ginny's yarn along. It's so fun to see what everyone is reading and making!

The yarn is again the Zauberball crazy from last weeks post.  The Stella Pixie hat came out so lovely (no pictures, I think I'll wait and see it on the sweet babies head).  But then I decided that this new little babe would need some leg-warmers to match.  The yarn is just too fun!  I didn't use a pattern for the leg-warmers so there is no link but when it all goes up to ravelry I'll be sure and post a link.
As for reading I'm finishing up The Dirty Life, this book has been getting lots of talk lately and I personally LOVE it!  I've laughed and really enjoyed the story.  Yesterday at the hospital gift shop of all places I found this book pictured above.  When Mother Let's us Garden.  The book was first published in 1909!  If you haven't seen this series please investigate!  The first sentence in the book is "The very nicest kind of fathers and mothers will always let you make a garden."  I mean can you stand it!  So unbelievably sweet and full of practical gardening advise for the little gardener in your life!  Now, here is the really great news;  I discovered this am that it's so old it's archived and available for free here!  I'm so excited to share this find!  There is a whole series of these books from the beginning of the last century!  I found When Mother Lets Us Sew today too!  I'm tempted to print the whole darned thing for Molly.  It looks like there have been some reprints of the some of the others (play, make gifts, cook) on Amazon so I don't know that they will be free on line.  The bummer of the reprints is that the lovely artwork has been replaced, I'll be keeping my eye out for some old versions of these books for sure.
Thanks to Ginny for hosting, can't wait to see what others are up to.

update:  I found more here!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny again this week for the yarn along.

In the knitting department I've started work on the stella pixie hat for a friends baby (No I haven't finished Molly's sweater, but I can't resist starting something new).  I'm using zauberball crazy sock yarn purchased at Halcyon, what fun I can't wait to see it on a baby head!
As for reading I've started the much talked about Dirty Life by Kristen Kimball and I love it.  Some have found her musings a bit offensive, but it doesn't bother me I find it quite enjoyable and humorous.  I've also been looking through one of my hospital booksale finds Country Women a handbook for the new farmer.  Another book I got for a dollar.  I love book sales, this one is full of just about everything I need to know about farming, what a steal!
I can't wait to see what others are knitting this week, fun!