Hooded Cowl - Not so sure.

I made this cowl as a gift, but I'm not quite sure how I feel about the end product. I used the free Bernat "Hooded Cowl" pattern, but not the recommended yarn. I had some leftover Simply Soft yarn from my cowl that I wanted to put to use, so I just grabbed two more skeins of that to finish off this cowl. I held two strands together because the recommended yarn was a bulky weight and the Simply Soft is worsted. I used a large hook - 11.5 mm. I like the look of the stitch, but I think it turned out a bit too wide and much too short. It was supposed to be 26 inches in length to allow for pulling up over as a hood, mine ended up being about 18 inches long. It can still be pulled up over your head and ears, but without much length in the back. It is also pretty heavy and bulky. Luckily the recipient is pretty fashionable, so hopefully she'll figure out a way to wear it. I probably wouldn't wear it myself. And since it's a gift - it's the idea that counts, right?

You can tell I'm thrilled with it in the last photo. Do I look a bit like Mother Mary? :)

Creating Something for Me!

I rarely take the time to make something for myself, but am glad that I have this time. Lately with the cold temperatures, but dry weather I have been walking to get Brynn and Cole from preschool. I have really been wanting a scarf to keep my neck warm but I didn't want anything too bulky because my jackets seem to be a bit slim-fitting. So, I decided to make a cowl or circle scarf. I have been reading the blog Luv in the Mommyhood and she had a cowl knit along earlier this fall. One of her featured photos was of this crochet circle scarf. So, I gave it a try. It was a lot of fun because it was so quickly pulled together. I didn't make the cowl quite as wide as the pattern was written for, to avoid so much bulk. Here it is:

I did it!

I completed my first sewing project - well, two projects really. I brought home my mom's sewing machine from our last visit up to Bellingham because I wan

ted to make curtains for our bedrooms. We recently put new windows in our house and they were still sweating over night due to our light-blocking blinds - which if not taken care of leads to gross mold and mildew. So, I decided that having curtains would still allow for privacy, but would also have better air-flow to stop the sweating. My mom gave me a quick tutorial at her house and then sent me home with her machine. I took advantage of JoAnn's super Veteran's Day sale and picked up 4 yards of material in each print. I followed this simple tutorial by Design Sponge, but made 2 panels for each window.I
started with Brynn's room and learned a lot in the process. My hems didn't ever quite line up; they were wide enough to cover the window, but not the whole rod when shut; the length was great, but a bit longer would be nicer. Here they are:

So when I got around to Parker's I had a frame of reference to go from. Plus, the fabric in Parker's print was much easier to cut and press because all of the dots were in straight lines. This second set has much better coverage on the window and the hems line up! Here they are:

I'm not sure that I've caught the sewing bug quite yet, but I do have plans for another project or two. If they turn out well, I can foresee a new hobby in the future.

Little Gnome

After making the newborn cap out of my sister's hand dyed yarn, I was in love with the texture and color. So, I had a small amount left to figure out something for Parker. I thought this little Pixie Hat would be cute on her. I love the way the yarn looks when stitched up. The hat on Parker just cracks me up because of her big cheeks, poor kid! It's a perfect fit for now and the chin strap is nice because she is one who pulls everything off of her head.

'Bout to Be Busy

I have a boom of hat requests from previous customers and friends. I guess this is the true sign of fall. The first hat I have made is with yarn that was hand-dyed by my sister in a beautiful, variegated purple. It is a silk/merino blend and is super soft and cozy. I made the cap for a girlfriend from high school, her sister has bought hats from me in the past and now wants another to give to her sister as a gift for her newborn baby niece. I think they will really appreciate that both my sister and I have had a hand in the creation of this little cap. To make the hat, I alternated a single crochet with a half-double crochet stitch and finished it off with a single crochet rib brim. I love the way it turned out for a simple stocking cap.