The Fourth of July

Every year on Christmas Eve, I have that moment where I stop and say to myself, "I can't believe it's Christmas Eve." I have that same moment on the Fourth of July. Time sneaks up on us so fast. I can't believe it's almost the Fourth of July and that the year is half over. And you know what that means--Christmas is only six months away . . .

Last year I started a Prairie Schooler sampler called "July." It took me a long time to finish because cross-stitch just takes sooo long, but I finished it last summer. Not in time for July, though. So I rolled it up and stashed it in a drawer until a month ago when I took it to a local shop to have it framed. When I hung it on my wall, it felt like the past year had rushed by way too fast. When I finished this sampler, I thought it be forever until I displayed it. Nope.


I really love Prairie Schooler sampler designs. Maybe I'll stitch some more and have all twelve months done by the time I'm sixty-two.

I also made some flags. I got the idea from Cody's aunt last year--she had such a cute table centerpiece full of these flags. Mine turned out okay--but I'm about as good as arranging flags as I am arranging flowers. I'm somehow not capturing the cute old-timey Stars and Stripes display as well as Cody's aunt did.

But I do love ticking. So much. And that ticking you see is left over from a much better project that involves a mattress and pillow. (Doll-sized of course. I mean, why would I make anything that isn't doll-sized these days, right? Geesh.)

So have a Happy Fourth of July! Eat some ice cream, blow up some fireworks, and think about your favorite Founding Father.

(Mine's Thomas Jefferson.)

Embroidered Pillowcases

I made these pillowcases in February from Alicia Paulson's Embroidery Companion. At first they were a lot of fun. I loved the colors of the thread and taking the time to slowly stitch each bunch of flowers. It felt old-fashioned in a satisfying way--I pretended I was making them for my trousseau.

But then I remembered I was already married and my husband probably doesn't want to sleep on an embroidered pillowcase.

So they have been neatly folded up and put away. Maybe someday Abby will want them because they are awfully pretty. And at least my embroidery skills improved a tiny bit. Although I do admit that stitching the second pillowcase got a little boring. And my stitches got a little sloppy.

I think when it comes to embroidering more pillowcases, I'll probably pass.

Days of the Week

I got Alicia Paulson's book Embroidery Companion for Christmas. These tea towels were some of the first patterns that caught my eye--probably because they are stitched in red. I worked on these during January. They were easy and fun. Now if only I really did the laundry, ironing, shopping, or cleaning during the week on a regular basis. Sewing, baking, and sitting in a chair are just such nicer things to do.

Paula the Polar Bear

The other day I fouund these patterns for knitted toys on Ravelry.com. I just love them. There's something so sweet and soft and cuddly about these animals--and what's cuter than than a bear or a lamb or a puppy in a sweater? Not much. I would love to make all of them, but my practical side reminds me of this:


Do we really need more stuffed animals?

Before I went crazy and ordered a bunch of the patterns, I remembered I had a pattern for a teddy bear in an old knitting book. I decided to make one and see if knitting a stuffed animal really is that fun.

It is.

Here is "Paula the Polar Bear":

I messed up on her shoulders (one is backwards I think), but before sending her off to the Island of Misfit Toys, I made a scarf to hide her slight scoliosis.

I've figured out that knitting little things--especially cute little things--is so much more fun and rewarding than knitting things that are big and overwhelming (like sweaters!) So I got the Fuzzy Mittens Lamb pattern (it's free) and I think I'll create a whole knitted menagerie complete with little sweaters, capes, and lederhosen (yep, there's a pattern for those too.)

Whether these little animals can compete with the eighty-seven Beanie Babies in the basement will remain to be seen . . .

Snow Day

The light in my house isn't very good for taking pictures today, but I wanted to show these ornaments. I made the mitten and polar bear a few weeks ago, and finished the red coat on Christmas Eve. They turned out pretty cute and if you like them too, the pattern can be found here.

Today really is a snow day. We just had a big storm and Abby has already built a snowman in the backyard. Her coat and mittens are hanging by the door to dry, although we've yet to spot a polar bear walking around.

And we had a great Christmas full of surprises. Santa brought me something new (and slightly intimidating) for my sewing room, and my parents gave Abby a new doll who needs some clothes. I also got a few fun sewing books full of projects and patterns that I can't wait to start once this new year settles in. But until then, we'll just finish out 2010 by watching movies and drinking hot chocolate and staying warm.

Little Stitches

I've been working on these little elves. On Sunday night, Abby stitched the lines on the girl's tights. She said she wanted to help me out while I was cleaning the kitchen.

The little stitches she made are uneven and nubby, but I don't have the heart to undo them. They are too sweet.

Knitted Mittens

I couldn't figure out how to model these mittens while taking a picture of them, so here they are on the carpet. (I've spared you the strange snapshot I took in the mirror).

These mittens are cool because the cuff extends almost halfway up my arms--I can see myself wearing these while driving around in the cold weather. They kind of remind me of oven mitts too--maybe I'll wear them when I bake some pies next week. But then I wouldn't want any pumpkin filling smeared on them. Never mind.

The pattern I used can be found here. (Although I made these because I like cables, not vampires.)

I don't really consider myself a knitter. I take up knitting every now and then, but not enough to have any sort of expertise. So please pardon some of the funky stitches in the cuff ribbing.

I guess I just like the process of knitting in the round. The other night we listened to a game on the radio (because we're old-fashioned and don't have cable and so therefore don't have sports channels) and as I worked on these mittens, I felt like we were in the 1940s. I can't wait to knit some socks in front of a winter fire while my husband whittles a piece of wood and pops popcorn in a kettle.

Just kidding, we're not that old-fashioned.

A Bit About Knitting

Here's the truth about my relationship with knitting: knitting draws me in with its appeal, then either bores me to sleep or provokes me into a fight about how expensive it can be. I always leave knitting feeling exasperated, defeated, and determined to leave for good.

But then it calls me and says sorry. And I always go back.

But each time I return to knitting, I learn a lesson or two:

#1--Don't make sweaters. Unless the sweater is intended for a baby, then just don't do it. You will need way too much yarn that will cost way too much money, because . . .

#2--You shouldn't use acrylic yarn. I know it's less expensive, but it's awful.

#3--Don't knit your sister a beanie hat for Christmas. She'll hate it, but she'll feel like she has to like it. It's awkward for everyone.

#4--Don't knit scarves. They're too long and boring. Knitting them will make you fall asleep. Just go buy a cute one at Target.

#5--Please don't attempt Irish Aran knitting or Fair Isle knitting or anything that resembles a Norwegian design until you are more experienced. Please.

#6--Do knit small things like mittens or socks. Because knitting mittens and socks don't require that much yarn, and you get to use double pointed needles. And using double pointed needles makes you feel special because the method is so old and tricky. You are accomplishing something your great-great-great-grandmother could probably do, but your next door neighbor probably can't.

So these are the lessons I've learned, and yes, they are personal. There are lots of people who knit lovely sweaters and scarves and Fair Isle cardigans, but I am not one of them. Not yet. So for now I'll stick to what natural fiber yarn I can afford and knit mittens and socks.

And knitting and I will love each other until the next fight . . .