Monday Sewing....

Maybe I should just rename this blog.... Schi~Schu makes Schtuff?
I've totally started out my crafty new year with a big ol' bang! I've decoupaged a bookcase, a lampshade, made a knitty noddy out of PVC pipe. Good grief! I guess this year I'm going to be doing a whole lot more than just playing with yarn!  
I'm trying to pace myself... I really am! But every day I am want to be doing something different. NOT cleaning or any of that kind of stuff! LOL But the stuff I like to do!  Sewing, knitting, crafting, spinning just to name a few! I have goals! Okay... because I know Big is listening... I will do my chores first. I will!

Mondays are sewing days! I really needed to spend some time with my dusty sewing machine so I joined a sew-along! Every Monday you have to sew something. Could be anything. Small, big, part of a larger project. Whatever! Just sew!

HERE is the link...She even has prizes... hmmmm...

So yesterday I sewed! I needed a drawstring bag for my Knitty Noddy ~which is a thingy that you wrap yarn around to make it into lovely skeins! After of course it's been spun. Anyway... I had to make a Knitty Noddy first; which I did! AWESOME! ~said in my bestest sing-songy voice! Then it needed a case! Wa-la....

Don't tell anybody.... the material is oriented incorrectly. Ugh. I realized it after it had been cut, sewn on 3 sides and was about to get it's buttonholes for the drawstring. Dang!
 Here's a closeup....Skulls AND knitting needles! Which is awesome material ~thanks Annie!!

Either way you look at it (har har) it's pretty cool and it was an easy way to ease into the sewing thing!

So far it's  been a busy couple of days around here....

I'm sewing. I'm trying to spin! On the wheel.... not just around! AND I am knitting! I'm working on a simple basket weave baby blanket for a baby shower in February. Wow oh wow! Right now I think that it should be bedtime but it isn't. Time for some more knitting!

Only 30 some inches to go on this little baby..........

Which you  can grab the pattern for yourself  HERE. I'm using LionBrand Pound of Love & a #8 cable needle ~only because I had to cast on 92 stitches. I don't have any straight needles that are that long! I have until February 4th to finish this so I've gotta get my knit on!

Finished Christmas Stuff

Christmas was a whirlwind! We drove to Michigan for 7 days and were so darned busy that when we got home the camera didn't even make an appearance! Until today!

The overalls and sweater looked amazing (way too big) on the new guy......

 AND the best part is.... He loves them! He does! He told me!

PPU (Paternal Parental Unit) likes his Jacques Cousteau Hat & Neck warmer....

I'm a little worried about the banks in the area where PPU lives.........
There is no picture of the cowl that I made for GIL (girlfriend in law) - I didn't take one. Oops. We seriously were very busy and when I gave it to her for Christmas... well.... she didn't take it off! She loved it!
All the other stuff that I made went over well! Big is enjoying his gloves & his hat over there in Afghanistan. He says he had to sleep in his hat the other night! Glad he has something to keep ears & fingers warm!
I finished everything in time for Christmas and just now loaded everything on to my KnitMeter, a little disappointed that I didn't get over 10 miles..................

Hope your Christmas was Happy!

Here's to knitting10 miles (plus!) next year!

Shh.... don't tell Big because all he will see is $$$$$

Starting out with a BANG!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Hopefully 2012 will be an exciting and eventful for you because I know it's going to be for me! The way this new year started out has me thinking that it's only going to go up from here!
2012 started out with a loud bang last night - I let the kiddo stay up until midnight for all the rockin' fun on television and when he went to bed promptly at 1205, he tripped going up the stairs, fell on his blanket, knocked the stuff off the stairs! THEN... the cat jumped off the table and knocked over a glass candle holder - BANG! CRASH! I bet the neighbors thought we were partying in here!
And then....... Boy Wonder was awake at 8am raring to go................ oh yay. I was already awake, but totally looking forward to at least an hour by myself in the quiet...........
                                Multiple cups of coffee later...............
here I sit once again in front of my computer contemplating just what to do now!
Should I start a new project? Should I finish a couple that I started over Christmas? Should I just chuck it all & go take a nap? Or even better how about spending some time with Frau Holle? Remember her? She's that spinning wheel that sits over there and begs me to come play. Sigh.... I'm never going to get anything done with her in the house!
I should finish putting all the Christmas stuff away. Should. Probably won't. Not today. Maybe tomorrow! Which is putting it off way too long, but heck! We were gone for a week!
I should finish some of the projects that I started over Christmas! Hey! This time it was only (only!) two! A hat for Big and a hat for ME! Yay! Finally something for me! I might..... but I'm awfully tired. Midnight is really late for me! LOL
Which brings me around to the point I was thinking I was going to make (ADD much?) ..... and finally choose just which one....... New Year's Resolution(s). How about you? Make any? Blow them off already?
I really thought about not making any resolutions this year. If I don't make any I would be Winning! No fail! Instant success! But.... what fun would that be? I need to make at least one so that my friends (especially Christen) have something to laugh at me about in 2 weeks when their resolutions have failed!
Drum roll please.......
Resolution #1 - finish what I start! IF and WHEN I start a new project I would like to complete it before starting a new one! ~he he he I can tell you right now that this probably (oh really?) won't happen!
Resolution #2 - sew more! I've dusted off my sewing machine a couple of times over the past few months but it still looks really lonely. Hm? Maybe if I named her (it?) I might spend more time there! I'm thinking that this might help....
HERE is the link to that!

Resolution #3 - be able to spin without dropping more than 1 (maybe 2) F bombs. It's not really ladylike to drop F bombs all over the place anyway so that shouldn't be too hard. LOL

I even bought a book that should help!




Resolution # 4- Really? 4? Yep. #4 is to try and stick to all of my resolutions at least through February! Short term goals actually seem to work better!
Oh yeah... and to knit cables, and color work (not intarsia no way!) just stripes! There is a lot more going on in my head.... I'm just trying to limit myself to 4 resolutions so that my success rate will be at least marginal! Wish me luck huh??

I really need to add this to the list.... drink more wine! That way I can make these....

But then that would add a #6 - learn to crochet better. Oh well............
You can see these over at Knit and Crochet Now. *I found it on FB & hopefully this LINK will take you there. *it goes to the designers web page!
So now I need to go ponder (with another cup of coffee) the new name of my sewing machine... it's a BabyLock that is white with red.... any ideas? Maybe we should have another contest for this one!
PS Christen hasn't even received her prize for naming the Knit Along last year! Hint- they are small, round and jeweled...........
So send me your ideas to name my machine! Prizes! Giggles!! Oh yay!!

WWKIP Day

A few years ago (Thank You Annie H!) a friend & I went to our very first WWKIP, World Wide Knit In Public Day. We had no idea what it was, but being beginner knitters... it had the word 'knitting' in it so we were game!  We dressed up her Thing 4 (who is not a baby anymore!) and headed out! Wow!

Knitters, crocheters, spinners and more! All in a park.........outside....... gasp! In public! AND they all were not Grannies! There were even kids knitting!

I know, I know. Knitting is a world wide craze right now, but for me it started out as something Grandma's did and maybe a few hippies here and there! I was impressed by the people I saw just sitting around, laughing and playing with yarn!

The people that hosted the WWKIP in Pacific Grove, CA were amazing! They had  demonstrations on just about everything you could do with fiber!  Spinning, crocheting and of course knitting. I think there was even someone tatting. 

It was an awful lot of fun for Annie & I. In fact we were so inspired that for the next few weeks, all we did was play with yarn! 

The whole day was either a good thing; A) I now have a lifelong hobby, or B) a bad thing. I now have a lifelong obsession! 

I really think that this day was the spark I needed (ha!) to really start knitting. I'd been taught as a kid (which I hated!), picked it up again when I was a brand new parent and didn't do anything at all until faced with a truck trip across the country to a whole new life!  I think that's where my budding obsession turned into a full blown problem.......

I tried to start small. I made a sweater for my son, a hat for Thing 4, then it all went to heck really fast........ now I'm hooked. I'm not sure if I have a problem... YET... but I'm willing to keep knitting (and spinning and buying yarn and fleece) until I figure it out.........

              I think the first step is just admitting you have a problem........

Well!!!!  In order to encourage a few more knitters, crocheters, spinners and plain ol' yarnies........... I'm thinking (seriously) about hosting a KIP here in Virginia! I put it out on FB this morning and had some response so I'm going to put some more feelers out & see what happens!

Just a little background info on WWKIP -

World Wide Knit in Public Day was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes. It began as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy the company of other knitter's.

It's pretty easy to become a solitary knitter and sink into your work without thinking about all the other knitters out there. I could stay home for days on end and do nothing but knit! 

 How unlucky to spend an entire lifetime without ever knowing your neighbors and how especially sad if you didn't know your neighbor knits!  WWKIP is a specific day to get out of your house and go to a local event (with your knitting in tow) just for you and people like you. Who knows you might even bump into your neighbor! Consider this a spark, to ignite a fire; getting all of the closeted knitters out into fresh air and just to hang out and have fun!

The KIP we went to in California sure ignited a spark for Annie & I so I'm hoping that this will do that for someone else.

I haven't picked a specific site or date for a KIP. I'm thinking the 2nd Saturday in June here on Fort Belvoir. 

I have a while to figure it all out because it's not until June!   WWKIP Day is actually an entire week set aside in June. This year it is June 9-17th and there are events all over the world during that time. So I have a while yet....... but just wanted to get the buzz going..........

here is the LINK to the website!!!

Merrily I knit Along....

Knit along... knit along... Merrily I knit along.... all the way to Christmas! ~ Please sing that last line to the tune Row, Row Your Boat.......


I know I said that yesterday was my last post for the year, but I started the Gap-tastic Cowl Pattern yesterday morning and I'm zipping right along! I just had to show you the progress!
It's such a change to work on size 13 needles and with bulky yarn that I'm just amazed at how fast it's going! Hint... if you want a quick project to make for yourself or your... try this! I have a friend that may be getting something like this for her birthday next year...........

I couldn't find the yarn recommended in the pattern. I made a quick trip over to M's (you know... the craft store...) rather than going all the way over to my favorite yarn shop! The store did have Lion Brand Wool-Ease but not in Chunky. They only had Thick & Quick. The Thick & Quick is really nice stuff; nice & smooth and would knit up super duper fast... but... it was $7.99. Gasp.  I needed 3 skeins & for a GIL (girlfriend in law) that's a lot. Considering the amount of effort I just made driving to the store to get blue yarn (her favorite color) and by spending the next couple of days knitting her a present....... OMG did I just sound like Scrooge? Yikes........

I think I may be okay here because her favorite color is blue & this yarn I bought is a nice blue.  Yes.. I am a yarn snob.......

It's soft and has some texture..... what's not to love? AND it was on sale for $2.99 each. Yay!

It even has a lovely name.. Ocean Tide..... just saying that makes me feel better about it. Until I pick up my needles and then I'm not so happy. It catches on my tips. A lot. I've split stitches and it's a bit frustrating to work with. BUT I like how it's looking. I really do.
Oh, I know... I'm sounding a bit (a lot?) Scroogey, but........ I'm just hoping I get this done & wrapped before Christmas morning... I think she'll love it!
I learned from my last few things I've made in the round.....
*When I cast on, I use markers every 20 stitches I cast on for reference points! Makes counting easier for one thing! I leave them on after I make sure I have the right amount when I'm ready to knit!  I then just follow the pattern (in this case it's Seed Stitch) and if I mess up along the way, I just have to go back to the last marker. As I knit around, each marker is my check point.  IF I get to the next marker and my pattern isn't right, I only have to mess around with 20 stitches to make sure I'm in the right  pattern!  I especially learned my lesson doing the Jacques Cousteau Hat ~ crazy K3, P2 pattern anyway!
So that's it... I'm officially done for the year! I will post pictures of this when I get home from Michigan and having a wonderful Christmas with my family!

Happy Holidays to you!

Christmas is Right Around the Corner!

Christmas is only five (5) days away! Whoop! AND I'm going to be driving for almost two of those days.... so why in the world am I starting another new Christmas project?
What?! Am I nuts? What was I thinking?
Apparently I wasn't.........
Why is it that when I have time to knit, I can't find anything I want to do. Like way back in November when I was struggling to start something..........
Now that I'm running out of time I suddenly have found lots of things that yeah! Oh! I could make that! It won't take long! I can start now!
I suddenly have a pile of yarn on my table and am furiously matching needles and yarns to patterns and... and... and.... and...... that's only on one cup of coffee. Oh my.
I want to make a cowl for GIL (Girlfriend in Law) but then if I do that I need to make something for DIL (daughter in law) and then there is her two kids.... and.... and.... uh oh.
Maybe I should just start small?
Okay... I'll start there! I'm going to make GIL the cowl and go from there.... start small, think big I guess!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gap-tastic-cowl. Sorry about the blurry picture... I tried to make it big enough so you could see it, but... just click on the link!    It's my favorite price for patterns.... FREE!
AND it's made with chunky yarn and using Size 13 needles. Should be a fast knit. Keeping my fingers crossed.. oh wait! No I'm not! Can't knit like that!!

Maybe I am a little nuts for starting this 5 days before Christmas and knowing I will be driving and won't be able to knit for some of that!
Well..... there never is a dull moment here in my head so I'm off to get some chunky yarn and then to knit, knit, knit before I drive, drive, drive!  Hmmm...... I wonder if I held two strands of medium weight yarn together that would be bulky and I wouldn't have to go to the store.... yeah.... ONLY 1 cup of coffee this morning...........
I'm off and running now so on that note.... I won't be posting until after Christmas because I'm heading NORTH! We have no Internet and no cable and hopefully we will have snow! Lots of time to start on projects for next year! Aaaaarrrrggghhhhh............

Merry Christmas to all!

Safe travels if you're heading out!

Another Thing to Check off the List!

You know how Santa has a list and he checks it twice? Well... me too! Imagine that huh?
I have a list of things I need to get done. Things I want to get done, and actually, a list of MUST get done. Guess which list wins?   Yep. That one. The non-existent one. The list I tend to ignore. Sigh.
Well........ I made a list of Christmas presents I MUST get done..... it would just be bad (bad, bad) form to show up Christmas morning with no present for the Paternal Parental Unit (Dad). I would feel bad.  I'm pretty sure PPU would be okay with it, but how nice would that be? Yeah... not happening!
I'm done with the rest of the family. Been done for a while now, but for some reason I just kept putting off Dad's present until the last minute. Yeah.. I know Christmas is still six days away, but...... believe me, it's last minute for me! I'm not normally this comfortable waiting this long to get something done.
I usually obsess and tend to freak out if I'm not done weeks ahead of time. Um... yeah....
*insert drum roll here please* I'M DONE! I finished PPU's present! Yay! Six days to spare! Go me!
I actually made him a neck warmer a couple of weeks ago and then last week decided to make a hat for him as well. I picked a pretty easy pattern ~ just time consuming and with a different rib pattern than what I normally use so it took a bit longer. My friend RW whipped this hat out in a lot less time than I did, but hey! I'm done!!

I like how the top swirls in and the knit 3, purl 2 ribbing makes it super warm & kinda sproingy! It stretches & then bounces right back!

It even looks like the one that RW made... kind of......

The Boy decided to pop it on his head to get it all "warmed" up for PPU! He had to give it a test run to make sure it was good enough!

HERE is a link to the pattern and here is a picture of RW's (just because I think they are so awesome!)

So thanks again RW!! You were right... it was a really easy pattern and the results are pretty awesome! Can't wait to post a picture of PPU wearing his hat........... but now I gotta wait for 6 more days!  ~Which may give me more time to work on the rest of that list...............