Happy Wednesday! I’m joining Ginny for another week of yarn along where we share what we’ve been knitting and reading over the week.

Have I done any knitting this week? I know I have but I don’t feel like I have much to show for it. My previous weeks’ knitting frenzy seems to have calmed down a little – I think I’ve been feeling too tired to do anything in a frenzy by the time the littles are in bed.

I did knit up a couple more little balls and a bunny nugget as little Easter treats. Both are free patterns from Rebecca Danger. The balls were meant to be Monster Chunks but I ran out of time to add the feet at 1 am on Sunday morning. So balls they became. They are a total hit without the feet  and I’ve since made another for little bro’s birthday this week because he’s been stealing everyone else’s. I stuffed them with felted sweater scraps wrapped in a little wool roving. I knew I was saving those scraps for a good reason. They give the balls a perfect weight – heavier than wool stuffing but light enough that we haven’t broken any pottery…yet, anyways. I think they would make a great set of juggling balls. The bunny is also a new beloved friend – I have orders to make a few more. Simon and Sarah have had so much fun playing with their bunny and birdie, I love it!

After all my talk about starting a pebble vest, I finally got into it. It’s kind of refreshing to be knitting on straight needles again. I’m using the Fisherman’s Wool that I had left over from this sweater. I decided the dreamy green wool my sister gifted me was a little too fine so I’m saving it for the perfect project.

I’m still reading The Dirty Life and enjoying it. I am amazed by this story. It is putting a lot of my homesteading dreams into perspective and confirming my suspicion that I probably couldn’t handle livestock very well. I’ve also picked up Independence Days from the library on Charity‘s suggestion. I haven’t cracked the cover yet but I’m looking forward to having a look through it this week.

And since I feel like all of this is rather repetitive of previous weeks I just have to show this next project I am dreaming of – the Owlie Sleep Sack. I am in love with this and must knit one up for new babe. Babies get cold in August right? I’m saying they do.

Happy Wednesday everyone! We’re getting ready for some birthday celebrating tomorrow – four children are very excited and the birthday boy has no idea what’s coming his way!

More yarn along posts here.

Happy Wednesday! I’m joining Ginny for another week of yarn along where we share what we’ve been knitting and reading over the week.

This has been a good week for me to complete a few little projects. My little guy’s sweater is finished (okay, except from the blocking which I am lazy about) and ready for birthday gifting next week. I also made him a little pair of these and finished this friend for him. Those last two were such quick little knits, I loved it!

I also finished up these fingerless mitts for a special person. They were so quick and easy I don’t know why it took me so long to knit the second one – it took me well under an hour with the chunky yarn. I’m sure I will be making more as quick gifts. The pattern  is another one by Jane Richmond, the designer of raglan sweater above. I love the way her patterns are written (and, by the way, she has a 3 for 2 sale on until the end of April). They make sense to me which isn’t always the case with knitting patterns.

I knit up one of these monsters for my eldest last night as a little surprise and just need to finish the feet when she isn’t peeking. It took me no time at all to knit up his body so I’ll think I’ll throw together a couple more for a couple of the siblings along with the bunny I mentioned last week for Sarah.

My next bigger project (big by my standards anyway) is going to be a Pebble vest for little on the way. I’m hoping to cast it on this morning  but can’t decide which wool to use. I think I’m going to chose a beautiful green wool (shown in the picture) my sister brought me on her last visit. It is so lovely!

For reading this week, I’ve still been enjoying The Dirty Life. I did receive a couple of warnings last week that the language towards the end of the book may be offensive to some so while I still recommend it as a great book, I’ll add that comment to my otherwise favourable review. We’ve also still been reading through bits of The Backyard Homestead but it is now overdue at the library so it will unfortunately be going back. It is such a wonderful reference – I’m sure it will find a permanent home with us some day soon.

Thanks for coming by! I think we’re going to be having a sick day here – a couple of coughs have appeared over night and we have lots of getting healthy to do before company arrives this weekend. I’m sad for the little people but just maybe I’ll squeeze in a few extra snuggles and knitting rows which I’ll never complain about!

For more yarn along posts visit Ginny at Small Things.

P.S. Thanks so much for the learning to knit tips many of you offered last week! It is so wonderful to have this knitting community to draw on for help and advice!

I’m joining with Ginny at Small Things again this week to share what I’ve been knitting and reading this week. I’m always amazed at how these Wednesdays sneaks up on me but it’s always fun to share what I’ve been up to and see what others have been working on over the week.

I am about half an inch away from finishing the raglan pullover for my almost two-year-old. I’m so pleased it will be ready for his birthday at the end of the month. I’m knitting it with Lion’s Brand Fisherman’s Wool and I love it. The wool fit my current yarn budget (which is small) and while it’s not super soft it has been lovely to work with. I don’t know how it would feel next the skin but for a pullover which will surely be worn as a second layer it will be great. I am thinking I may just keep going with this wool and knit a Pebble vest for baby #6.

I’ve also been working on one of these oh-so-cute chicks but the upcoming birthday. It would make a super sweet Easter gift as well but I am thinking of this especially for my little guy who loves birds, ducks and chicks – basically anything he presumes says “Quack”. The designer also has a couple of other free patterns, one of which I’ve seen kicking around on the yarn along – I will have to make a few of these little bunnies.

I’ve still been reading the Backyard Homestead and I’m still absolutely enjoying it. Because I can’t read a reference book too long for the pure pleasure of it (and because I couldn’t resist cracking it right open once it came in for me at the library), I’ve started reading The Dirty Life. Tonya gave a glowing recommendation of it a few weeks ago and it has not disappointed. I’m not very far into it yet but I am captivated by this true story. A New York girl meets a farming boy and together they set out to start fresh on a farm of their own. As I mentioned last week I am deep into dreams of homesteading so this book is especially appealing to me but I really think anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple story would enjoy it. It is written so well and it is such a pleasure to pick up and read.

Before I sneak to the kitchen for a taste of the caramel and fresh banana bread which are calling my name, I have a quick question for all you knitters. A friend asked me recently if I knew of any good books or videos to teach yourself to knit. I taught myself with a kit from the craft store but I thought I would see if any of you had a great title to suggest. Thanks for the help and happy Wednesday!

To see more yarn along posts visit Ginny at Small Things!

I’ve been looking forward to this week’s yarn along. Some weeks I feel like I’ve been all over the place but this past week has been pretty focused on a single knitting project and a single book.

Thanks to the sickness in our house over the weekend I got lots of knitting done. I finished the fingerless mitts for my daughter – and have since encouraged her to perhaps remove them for eating and bathroom visits…And as promised I started the raglan pullover I am hoping to complete for my little guy’s birthday at the end of the month. I don’t know how it happened but I seem to have hit a knitting streak – I started the sweater on Friday and am already on the bottom ribbing. Hopefully I can keep up the momentum. This has never happened before – such focus on a single project.

My hubby and I have been trading off on who gets book time with our new favourite, The Backyard Homestead. I’m thankful to have received so many recommendations on this title because it is right where our thinking is these days. We are dreaming big but not really sure where to direct our vision. The conversations we are having about homesteading are raising some rather looming questions (which at this point have no answers). Our current (tiny) yard is shared and while our neighbours approved the flower garden we put in a couple of years ago, I don’t know how supportive they would be of raised beds, compost and manure. And, chickens, well – totally out of the question. We are hoping and praying that there will soon be an opportunity for us to move, not necessarily out of the city but at least to a private lot where we can get started with more of these ideas.

The book covers a lot of territory and we have only touched the edge of the information offered. I am excited to read more and have definitely added this one to our wish-list. And if nothing else, while we wonder and ask and wait we have lots of time to educate ourselves. So, that being said…Anyone have any other book suggestions for us?

Thanks for stopping by! As always I’m excited to see what everyone has on their needles – I’ll have to be really committed to finishing this sweater because the yarn along always offers so much knitting inspiration!

…Well, spring may be an overstatement but since the snowy photos from our weekend the weather has been decidedly kinder to us. The wind is cold but the sun is warm and the snow is melting. I’m ignoring the weather forecast which is predicting snow over the weekend.

Thank you for all the warm wishes. I think they worked – just look at that melt!

I was very pleased to be able to take my fisherman outside in his sweater to get some pictures without donning hats and coats. He was so excited when I announced it was his for wearing yesterday (although unblocked) and proudly modelled it for his big sisters – who have wasted no time in putting in their sweater requests.

I’m really happy with how it turned out. The colour is great and he loves that it matches his bow tie (pattern found here). “Can I wear it with my bow tie?” was one of his first questions. It is warm and cozy and hopefully has enough length to fit him through next winter.

The pattern was difficult for me. It was only my second time tackling short rows and my first attempt at raglan shaping. I did the yoke four times before I worked it out (due to my inexperience with short rows), then had some problems with the garter stitch panel at the front. The front panel kept wanting to grow, not sure if I was missing a stitch marker or what but I caught on (a couple rows too late) and adjusted to correct it. I love the design and I certainly admire the designer‘s other patterns but I don’t know if the pattern was unclear or if I just couldn’t make sense of it. I know I’m not the only one to have trouble with it but now that I’ve done it once I will definitely try it again someday.

The wool is used is Quince and Co‘s Puffin. It was a dream to work with – so soft and I loved it’s chunky texture as well as the feel of the single ply. I am fearing it was the wrong wool to use for an active boy’s new favourite sweater, though. It is an incredibly warm sweater (perfect for a boy who in the past has needed convincing to wear shorts on hot summer days) but the single-ply is pilling already! Already! That’s after only a few hours of wear! Live and learn, I guess.

This boy never runs out of crazy faces.

Because of the pilling and the boy I’ve given it to, I’ve decided to let this be an everyday sweater. There is really no reason to keep it for special occasions although I’ll admit to a little shudder when he came in from playing with mud caked up to the elbow.

Liam requested this pose, “Look, it’s like I’m saying peek-a-boo.” Followed quickly by, “Now you should shoot a video.” Oh brother.

I got the warm fuzzies watching him run around in it yesterday, proudly displaying it to anyone around and in his usually sweet way complementing me on different aspects. I am continually amazed at how genuinely thrilled these kids are to have something made just for them. That simple fact is enough to keep me making and creating for them – the added fact that I thoroughly enjoy the process is just a bonus, right?

Thanks for coming by – especially to you non-knitters who may just think I’m crazy to get so excited about a sweater.