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Project 366: Week Two

 

 

January 8: Dyeing a Dress - I brought an old dress (with a bleach stain) back to life with some Rit Dye.

January 9: Sparky's Birthday - our pooch turned 4, we celebrated with some special doggy donut treats from Pet People.

January 10: Freezer Meals - with all of the kids finally back at school, I took a day to make lots of freezer meals.  I made spaghetti sauce, lasagna, tuna casserole, pulled pork, and fruit and yogurt popsicles.

January 11: Brunch with a friend - Nothing makes for a great day than starting it by having brunch with a friend.  Melanie and I went for another round of crepes at the Orange Blossom Cafe.  Today I chose the signature 'Orange Blossom Crepes'.  They were delicious.

January 12: Yarn and Wine Night - I love yarn and wine night with the ladies.  It helps me catch up on knitting projects (I will force one of them teach me how to crochet) and it's so nice indulging in a little adult conversation once all the kiddo's are in bed.  I'm currently working on a vest for the little man. These are a couple of the ladies I get together with, who I met about 5 years ago through a local mother's group, so if you aren't following them, please do, they are wonderfully crafty - Tutu Monkey and Crafting Crazy.

January 13:  Homemade Cinnamon Pull-Apart - My first Pinterest inspired project.  The recipe for this Cinnamon Roll is available on Wives with Knives.  It is DELICIOUS and super quick and easy to make.

January 14:  California Coast - We had to go up to Los Angeles.  It was a long 5 hour round-trip.  Thankfully the weather was fabulous so I couldn't resist stopping off at one of the rest areas to take a photo of the sun glistening over the water.

Documenting our day.  For 366 days.

Photographs taken with a combination of Camera+ and Instagram iPhone apps.

You can view full-size images and keep up with my Project 366 on Flickr

A Handknit Cardigan

This arrived from Grandma (my mum) a little while ago.  Isn't it lovely.   Marisol adores it.

Don't you just love the bright colors.  Marisol loves purple.

It did have pom poms on the end of the ties.  They mysteriously vanished though within minutes of two 4 year olds getting their tiny fingers on them.

The pattern for this jacket is in the Panda 11 Handknits for Kids pattern book.   I plan on making a vest for Flynn for the fall from the same book.  They have an adorable one with a hood.  I think I'll make it green.   I love bright colors on him.

Marshmallow Scarf

Materials:

• 3 balls Moda Vera Marshmallow (50g balls)
• Size 10 knitting needles
• Sewing needle (for wool)

To make:

Cast on 12 stitches.

Garter stitch (knit) each row until scarf reaches desired length

Cast off

Thread loose ends into scarf using the needle and tie off.

Note: Moda Vera Marshmallow is not available in the U.S.  It is available at Spotlight stores throughout Australia.  In the U.S. you will be able to find a similar chunky yarn with balls on it. Unfortunately this Australian yarn doesn't specify the ply, so check the tension: 10 stitches x 5 rows - 10cm x 10cm square using 12mm needles.

Washing instructions: cool hand wash.

Birdie in a Nest Game

A re-make of the old ball-in-a-cup game.

This is the Spring craft project I made for the twins to give their little preschool friends.

 

YOU WILL NEED:

• Egg cartons
• Paint: 2 colors
• Knitting needles: Size 5 and size 3.5
• Knitting yarn: 2 colors
• Yellow felt
• Orange thread
• Hot glue
• Wiggly eyes
• Stuffing

HOW TO MAKE:

Cut out the cups from the egg cartons.

 

You want these to be as large/wide as you can so although most people would cut them down to avoid the holes, use the remainder of the egg carton to cut out pieces and glue them into the gaps, then paint.  Note:  I did not do this step first as you will see from the photograph.  Initially I had a slightly different idea of how I wanted these to look, but changed my mind after making up a few prototypes.

 

Paint your egg cups.  I used a teal paint on the outside and a shiny champagne on the inside.

Knit your surround for the top of the cup:  Cast on 28 stitches.  Knit 5 rows garter stitch (knit).  Cast off.  Stitch the ends together and slip it over the egg cup (from the bottom).  Attach with hot glue.

Next, make your bird: Cast on 7 stitches.  Knit 27 rows garter stitch (knit). Cast off.  Stitch the cast on / cast off edges together.  Using a large sewing needle (for wool) gather the stitches around one edge and pull tight.  Sew a couple of stitches so it doesn't come loose.  Turn inside out.  Fill with stuffing (not too much), then using the sewing needle gather stitches around the opening and pull tight.  Leave a long end. You have a little ball.  Now add on your wiggly eyes, cut a small beak from yellow felt and hand-stitch it on with orange thread. 

Using the long yarn end and the sewing needle run the yarn back through the center of the bird to the tip of the head, form a few loops (loose stitches), but make sure each one is secure.  Run the yarn back down through the center to the bottom.

Keeping the yarn threaded into the sewing needle pierce a hole in the base of the egg cup (nest) and pull the yarn through.  Remove the needle and knot the end of the yarn.  To ensure it stays in place put a little hot glue over it.

 

Viola.  You are done.  All that's left to do is to watch your little ones trying to get their birdie back in its nest.

 

A Handknit Dress

Spring weather in Monterey is generally between 60-70 degrees.  Not quite hot enough for a cute summer dress, but not cold enough for a winter dress.  Instead of spending a fortune on yet another dress Marisol will grow out of by next Spring, I decided to make her one.

The FREE pattern for this dress is on the Lion Brand website.

Yarn:  I used Lion Brand Vanna's Choice 

• Olive: 174 (1 ball)
• Pink: 101 (2 + a little extra to make the last pocket)

Craft Hope: The Red Scarf Project

Craft Hope partnered with The Orphan Foundation of America and Vickie Howell (who donated a pattern) to provide college bound teens with a hand knitted or crocheted red scarf.

I hope whoever receives my scarf feels the love in every stitch as it warms them.

I only wish I'd had time to knit a few more.

Details:

Pattern: Vickie Howell's Star Stitch Pattern

Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Cranberry

Needles: Clover Takumi Bamboo Knitting Needles - size 9 5.5mm

Note: pattern amended slightly to account for different needles and yarn. I cast on 33 stitches and instead of counting rows, I continued pattern until the scarf reached 60" long.

Knitting Pattern: For Little Girls

A scarf, legwarmers and matching headband.

YARN:

• Bernat Softee Chunky Twists: Tawny Rose Twist
• Bernat Softee Chunky: Soft Taupe

LEGWARMERS:

The pattern for these can be found in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.  Such a fantastic book.  It's a basic knit purl in the round pattern using double pointed needles.

SCARF:

I used the same knit purl pattern for the scarf and just kept on knitting until it was long enough to double over and tie around her neck.

I accessorized it with cream felt flowers and pale pink buttons

HEADBAND:

I have a pile of very basic headbands that I've picked up over time in the $1 section at various stores.  I used one of these inside the knitted headband.  Instructions below:

Using size US.5 straight needles cast on 2 stitches. 

Knit 20 rows.

Increase 2 stitches into the next row (1 at each end)

Knit 2 rows.

Increase 2 stitches into the next row (1 at each end)

Use the headband from this point as your guide and knit until you come to the point where you need to start decreasing to match the increased side.

Decrease 1 stitch at each end of row

Knit 2 rows.

Decrease 1 stitch at each end of row.

Knit 20 rows.

I made 2 of these exactly the same.  1 with the Tawny Rose Twist and 1 with the Soft Taupe. 

Stitch all the way along one side joining the two pieces together.  Insert the headband and stitch up the other seam.

Cut out 3 felt flowers in assorted sizes and stitch them together in the center with a button.  Stitch your completed flower on to the headband.

Knit Finger Puppet Bat Pattern

You will need:

• Black yarn (scraps up to 4ply are fine)
• Red embroidery thread
• Black felt
• Grey felt
• 3mm Knitting Needles
• Sewing needle

Instructions:

Using black yarn and knitting needles cast on 13 stitches.

1st row: Knit 1, Purl 1, repeat to end

2nd – 24th rows: Same as 1st row

Do not cast off.  Cut a long tail of yarn.  Thread the yarn onto a sewing needle. Thread the sewing needle through the loops remaining on the knitting needle.  Once all loops are off the knitting needle, pull the yarn tight to gather. Sew down the seam and cut off any loose ends.  This makes the ‘finger’.

Using any leftover yarn on the sewing needle repeatedly sew a stitch over the top of itself near the finger tip to make an ear.  Repeat this to make the second ear.

Place the ‘finger’ on a piece of paper and draw the wings.  Remove the ‘finger’ and join the wings together.  Cut out your template and place it on the black felt.  Cut out your wing.  Hand stitch it onto the ‘finger’ about 5mm below the ears.

Cut a few odd shaped triangles from the grey felt and using a strong glue attach them to the underside of the wings.

Using red embroidery thread stitch 2 eyes to the front of the bat.

The result:

 
The beauty of these bats is if you take them outside the wind will pick up their wings.  There was a lovely breeze blowing in our backyard today while I was taking photographs, but capturing the movement on a photograph proved to be a little difficult as you can see by the blurry shot below.

As seen on:

One Pretty Thing

How to Knit a Doll Blanket

A few months ago I purchased a gorgeous moses basket for Marisol.  She loves to play with her dolls, she pushes them in their stroller and has tea parties with them.  The next step was being able to put them to sleep at bedtime.   Of course her dolls needed a very special blanket.

This one was very simple to knit.  I have a lot of leftover yarn from previous knitting projects so this was a great way to use a few of those up. 

Individual squares:

• 4mm needles
• 4ply yarn

Cast on 10 stitches

1st row: knit

2nd row: purl

Repeat until 12 rows have been completed

Cast off leaving long ends.

Border

• 4mm needles
• Plymouth Heaven yarn

For the top and bottom pieces cast on 50 stitches.  Knit 6 rows.  Cast off.

For the side pieces cast on 6 stitches.  Knit 96 rows.  Cast off.

Assemble

Lay your squares down in the color grid you want them in.  Hand stitch the squares together using the long ends.  Then stitch the borders on using leftover white yarn.

 

But shhhh, please don’t tell her because this basket and blanket are tucked away for Christmas.

HEAVEN

When I first felt this yarn I knew I had to make something for Marisol. 

Something soft that she could snuggle up to.

So while we were on our road trip from San Diego to Monterey in June I started knitting a cushion cover.  Yes I dragged bags of yarn, needles and even 3 cushion inserts that I’d purchased from Ikea for a couple of dollars mere days before our trip around with us.

Yes I only just finished the first cushion.

Marisol thinks it is the softest cushion she has ever put her head on.  She rubs her cheek on it like she is in pure heaven.

The back is knitted with Caron Christmas Glitter in white and silver and has a green velvet ribbon threaded through.

I had a little ‘heaven’ left over so when she wasn’t looking I knitted her a scarf too.

and then with even more yarn left, I decided to knit matching scarves for her 2 favorite dolls (who barely ever leave her side).

Shhhh though, please don’t tell her, because I’ve stashed all 3 scarves away to give to her on her birthday later in the week.