Baby Onesies

 In an attempt to distract myself while waiting for baby, I've spent some time the last couple days making clothes for her. I found a pack of five onesies for $5 at Target, which I hand embroidered and stenciled. 

Now we just need to have Baby so she can sport them. Assuming we're not headed to the hospital tonight, I'll try to get back here soon to show you her new skirts I made today. Please keep us in your prayers!

Knitting Basics: How to Cast Off

 Things have been busy around here getting ready for baby. Less than a month until the due date and we are slowly but surely trying to cross things off the nesting list. I'm at the very exhausted and uncomfortable stage, so I'm starting to count down the days!

 This is the third part of the "Knitting Basics" series. Casting off is the final step to bind off your project and keep it from unraveling. 

 I knit a few rows just for the purpose of demonstration. 

1. When you've knit all your rows, knit two stitches onto your right hand needle.

2. Slide the tip of your left hand needle under the second stitch from the tip of the right hand needle. 

3. Using the tip of your left needle, pull the stitch over the first stitch on your right needle.

4. Let the second stitch fall off the right needle. Pull the string from your ball of yarn to tighten. Now you will be left with one stitch on your right needle. Knit another stitch onto the right needle and repeat steps 2-4 until you reach the last stitch. 

Half-way through the row. 

Pull the stitch off the needle, and pull the string from the ball of yarn to form a larger loop. 

Cut a tail of yarn from the ball. Knot the strand through the final stitch to secure your work. 

Weave the tail through a few rows of stitches, and then have a cup of tea. Mission complete!

Knitting Basics: How to Knit a Stitch

 If you are just learning how to knit, be sure to check out the last post on how to cast on before mastering the next step, which is, the basic knit stitch. Most patterns abbreviate a knit stitch with a "k".

So, at this point you should have cast-on the number of stitches needed for your pattern. To create your first row of  knit stitches, hold your cast-on needle in your left hand.

 Insert your other needle's tip under the first cast-on stitch. 

Wrap the strand from the ball of yarn behind and over the needle in your right hand, coming between the two needles.

This next step only sounds tricky when you read it in print, but don't let it intimidate you. When you hold your work in your hands it will hopefully make sense.
Bring the right needle tip under the first cast-on stitch on your left needle. Then insert the tip of your right needle in front of the first cast-on stitch on the left needle. 

Now slide the stitch off the left needle onto the right. Pull the tail from the ball to tighten the stitch.

That's it! You've completed your first knit stitch. Continue knitting until all the cast on stitches are on your right needle. When you finish the row, hold your needle with all your newly knit stitches in your left hand and knit those stitches like you just knit your cast-on stitches. Repeat until your project reaches the desired length.

Thanks for following along. Let me know if you have any questions. The last step for a basic knit pattern is casting off. I'll show you how next time!

Knitting: Casting On

 Knitting can be a little intimidating when you are getting started. I remember the first time I tried to knit during college. My friend's very muscular boyfriend (now husband) sat down next to me and showed me how it's done. Let's just say I was humbled. He made it look so easy.Still, I couldn't get my hands to do it. A couple years later, I gave it another try.

  To get started in the world of knitting, all I did was practice casting on. Over and over until I felt comfortable holding the yarn and remembering the how to. If you are just learning, I hope this first step is helpful. It really is as simple as Ed made it look. Today, all we will do is practice casting on. You can do it! Grab your yarn and needles, get cozy on the couch, and let's get started.

 First, pull a tail of yarn from your ball long enough for the number of stitches you need for your pattern. For instance, if you need 24 stitches for, say, a scarf, pull a string of yarn that is approximately 24 inches long.

 Begin with a slip knot. To form a slip knot, make a loop of yarn. Hold the tail between your left thumb and index finger, and the yarn from the ball in your right. Make a loop by crossing the yarn from your right fingers over the yarn in your left.

 Take the yarn now hanging in the front from the ball end, and pull it through the loop from behind. Pull the tail end to tighten.

 Insert your needle into the loop, and pull to tighten. Make sure it is tight, but not too tight or it will be difficult to work with later. Trust me on that one.

 Now you have two threads hanging from your needle, the tail end near you and the ball end from behind the needle. To make your next cast on stitch, put the string in front of your needle over your left thumb. Put the string from the ball end over your index finger so that you have formed sort of a triangle. It should have more tension than the photo below to form the triangle, but I had a hard time holding the camera and the yarn at the same time.

 Almost there! Insert the needle behind the yarn on your thumb.

 Then insert the needle over the string hanging in front of your index finger. 

Pull the needle under and through the loop still hanging on your thumb. Let the loop now fall off your thumb and pull the yarn to tighten the stitch onto the needle.  

 And congratulations! You have successfully cast on. Just continue to cast on the number of stitches determined by your pattern. Check back here to learn how to make a basic knit stitch.  Happy Spring!

Sunshine and Sewing

 vegetable and herb garden

 We've been shifting gears around here lately. I haven't been sewing nearly as much with paint colors to choose, built-in shelves to design, a bathroom plan in the works, and a kitchen to finish up. But my all time favorite project to spend time on is planning my garden. Plans for this spring include finishing the tree house, putting together our hand-me-down wooden play set, and planting flowers and vegetables (and plenty of them.) I'm no artist, but I sketched out what I want to plant where.

limelight hydrangea and hydrangea bushes with hostas

 lime green zinnias

peonies

The front garden beds, which are mostly shady, will have hydrangeas and hostas, with lavendar that was already here and thriving when we moved in. My neighbor gave me hostas last year, which I am hoping will come back, and I planted the limelight hydrangea tree last summer, along with several hydrangea bushes. The tulips are popping up already, and I have plans to add some zinnias and peonies to the mix. I'm still trying to figure out what to plant for fall, but I can fill in empty spaces later. 

In our back yard, which sees lots of sun, I have lilacs, shasta daisies, zinnias, and salvia. I'll add more this summer, including catmint and allium if it thrives here.  And somewhere in the yard I want to plant dahlias. Since it's still early in the year, I should probably focus on inside cleaning before the baby comes. But flowers are so much more fun and pretty. We have two months left until the baby comes, so I need to get nesting.

Dahlias

    Allium, catmint, and salvia

Challenge Accepted: Learning how to Read a Pattern

 I'm a visual, hands-on kind of learner. That's why I've been intimidated to follow more than basic patterns in the entire eight or nine years I have been sewing. I've kept it very simple and did not venture far outside my comfort zone. I'd rather have someone show me how to follow the pattern, or draft a pattern of my own. Up until now, that's basically what I have been doing.  I've learned a lot, but lately I've been wanting to challenge myself a bit more and make some maternity and children's clothing.

 As soon as I put on this tunic I made from the  New Look 6725 pattern, I was proud and thankful I tried something new. For the material I chose a red linen. I even wore it to Church Sunday with a black long sleeved shirt under it, and black leggings and boots. It's exciting wearing something you made with your own hands.

 Believe me, it took some effort getting from start to finish. And some answered prayers. But it's finished!

 It inspired me to share some sewing terms basics you need to get started, which, even patterns  intended for beginners expect you to know without much of an explanation.  Hopefully sharing my mistakes and victories can help. Stay tuned!

Sickos

 Like many of you who have been sick multiple times this year, we are sick yet again. My head is just beginning to clear enough for me to make coherent sentences. Two days ago my six year old told me he didn't understand what I was saying. To which I replied, "Neither do I. I think I shouldn't even be talking right now."

 Each day we have been getting a little better, and yesterday we even made it out to enjoy the warmth from a February sun. I soaked in lots of Vitamin D. When I came back in to make dinner, I thought how being sick makes me appreciate little things I take for granted on normal days. Like being able to talk. And breath. To laugh with someone or at yourself. To clean the dishes without having to take a break.

To bring in crisp sheets off the line and fold piles of laundry (which are patiently waiting to be put away when I have a burst of energy.)

And enjoy beautiful sunsets at 5:40 p.m., instead of an hour earlier.

Every day is full of simple pleasures and moments of God's grace. Go enjoy them!