WIP Knitting and Quilting

I know its been a few weeks since I have posted in here. I apologize, but as you will see I have been extremely busy the past few weeks and will continue to do so. Currently, I do not have any knitting wip but I have finished a few things since my most recent post. In my last post I had been working on a newborn baby boy sweater. It was suppose to have a hoodie, but after many discussions with mothers I work with, I learned that hoodies are really annoying for little babies. So I decided to forgo the hood on the sweater. Below is the finished product and I am pleased with it.
I have learned that striping is a little time consuming and annoying to do all the darning of the ends. So I am not sure I will do many more sweaters like this one. In addition to this sweater I knitted a pair of fingerless mitts for myself. I have gloves but I need the use of my fingers but still wanted to keep my hands warm. I feel in love with this pattern and I love the gloves. They are perfect for work when my hands get cold I can still type on my computer and keep my hands warm all at the same time.

Yes you read the title correctly, in addition to knitting I am teaching myself how to quilt using a sewing machine. I got motivated when I received a sewing machine from my MIL mom Sours. I will post a pic of the sewing machine next time I post about quilting. This weekend was my first attempt at cutting the fabrics I had purchased. I am making a quilt throw for our living room. This past week I bought my fabric. I did not end up using all the colors. I got some from a quilting shop called the quilting studio in Longmont and the rest from Joanns.


I am pleased with my selections for the first time picking out fabric on my own and as you see it matches my family room perfectly. Once you have the fabric the first step is to wash it and iron it. I washed it but forgot to iron and I learned after cutting that ironing is an important step, but I think I made out pretty well in the end. In order to cut the fabric you need a cutting mat, acrylic ruler, and a rotary knife. I purchased all these with my birthday money this summer.

I am pretty excited how all my squares came out. I cut 56 squares, that are 7.5 inches each. I am ready to start arranging them and figure out the way the colors will lay.
So far I it has been a learning experience for me as I continue with each step. I have learned that is you are going to cut big squares purchasing the fabric by the quarter is so much better than purchasing it in a fat quarter. The reason for this is b/c I was able to get 8 squares from a quarter and 4 squares from a fat quarter. I haven't figured out why people are so in love with fat quarters just yet, but this is my first quilt. I think they are really good for making smaller squares for certain projects and I am looking forward to learning about them. I will continue with both knitting and quilting over the next few weeks and look forward to sharing my adventures with you.

WIP Update

I know I have not been doing well on keeping up with posting lately, but its been a busy holiday week. Well I have been trucking along on my projects. I did finish the Christmas sweaters for my niece and nephew. I am really thrilled on how they came out and can't wait to see pictures of them wearing the sweaters. I think in the last wip post I posted my niece's sweater but just in case you missed it here it is again.
My favorite of the two is my nephew's I love the yarn. Its so soft and I love how the look of the sweater turned out.
My sister and brother-in -law could not believe that I knitted them and they have not stopped talking about it. The kids were suppose to wear their sweaters for the first time this Sunday. I pleaded for pictures so hopefully I will get them and post them on here. Since I have finished these projects I have been working on a hooded new born sweater for a friend at work. Here son was born December 22, 2010 so I need to pick up the pace. I like how this sweater knits, however with all the striping and darning this project is moving a little slower than I would like it to. I hope to finish this week and get it to her on Friday.

The great thing about this sweater pattern is that it is a perfect pattern to get rid of that left over yarn you don't know what to do with. I hope to have more projects to show you in the next week or so.

Tic Tock from the old clock

Growing up we had this beautiful clock that hung in the kitchen. I always loved listing to it as the pendulum would swing back and forth and made the soothing tic tock sound. I also loved the loud bong it made on the hour and half an hour. You could tell it was old because most clocks that chime or bong at the hour how a smooth nice chime. This was made way before than and the sound is very unique. I have always loved this clock. My mom told me that it had been in our family for about a 100 yrs. When she moved in to her home in Ocean pines Maryland she didn't have the space for this clock and it was put away in her closet left to collect dust. I missed hearing the clock and seeing it on the wall, but she said it needed to be taken in to get tuned before it could be used. So you can only imagine how excited I was a little over 2 years ago when she told me I could have it and take it home with me. Well of course what did I do but put it in my closet to collect dust. I kept staring at it wanting to get it cleaned up and restored. I called multiple places and a few I was not comfortable. Once place was over an hour a way and I was set on taking it there b/c the gentleman that was fixing the clocks worked in a museum in New york for 10 years. Well he never returned my calls so after having this clock for so long and really wanting to get it to work, I finally decided to call this clock repair place in Fort Collins. I felt pretty comfortable with him b/c he had over 20 yrs experience and he was certified by the American clock association for antique clocks. So this fall I took my clock in and asked him if he could clean it up and get it running again. After looking at it for a few minutes he told me that whom ever repaired it before did an awful job but it was still workable and he would have to rebuild it. It was very informative for me. He told me that they would use all the original pieces they just needed to be shaped and polished. So after 3 months we got the clock back and it sounds just the way I remember it sounding as a child and it brings back so many good memories. Since taking the clock in I have learned that it is a parlor clock. It was a clock that was used in a room of the well to do homes where upon entering the home you would be sent to the parlor when the entertained. I also learned that it dates back to the 1800's and that is so exciting!! Here are some pictures below. You will see that currently we have it on our mantle. We are not sure if that is where its going to stay but I love it!!




When we picked up the clock we had a 20 min lesson on how to use the clock. This is to prevent you from breaking the clock and having to bring it back in after you have already spent a ton of money. A few things we learned and I want to share are some myths about clocks. The first one is you can not over wind you clock. The more you wind it the better it is for the clock and it will keep the clock running. The clock will only wind so far and it will stop. If you try to turn the key you will not break the clock you will however break the key. Second the pendulum does not run the clock the clock runs the pendulum. There were a few more and I can't remember them all but those two are the main ones. Well that is all for now, I am going to sick back listen to the clock and enjoy the memories!!!

WIP update

Well its been a little bit since I have updated you on my knitting so I figured now would be a great time. Especially since I am trying to keep up with posting once a week. As in the previous knitted post I had started a sweater for my niece Olivia for a Christmas present!! I was able to finish that up and even complete a matching hat. I am really excited how it turned out, I think its adorable.


You really can't see the buttons all that well because the pink color blends in with the edging of the sweater, in the photograph, but they are cute flower buttons. Since I have finished Olivia's Christmas present I did not want to leave Jack out so of course I have started and I am more than half way finished his sweater. However, if I want it to get there in time for Christmas I need to work late tonight to finish and get it in the mail tomorrow. Its turning out quite nicely.

Of course I bought them gifts too. I didn't want to be know as the aunt and uncle who only give homemade gifts and nothing fun. We all know how much children loving getting cloths for presents.

Christmas Time at the Sours House

Our house if full of Christmas Joy and cheer and I wanted to share some pictures of our house all decorated. This year I had lots of help from Mom Sours which was wonderful. I did add some lights to the front bushes this year and I love it. The only picture I did not take is the garage door lights with greenery and bows. So for outside I have decorated the front with candles, lights, wreath, bows, and garland. I think it looks just right for our quaint home.

As most of you know we back up to a park and you can see the back of our house from the street so I like to decorate the back as well. Like the front their is a wreath, garland, lights, bows, and candles. I love how it looks. I can't take the credit though b/c Mom Sours came up with the idea a few years ago to do the lighted wreath with a bow and the draping garland. I just added the garland coming down the railing.

As you can see I need to get some candles for the second floor and maybe for the basement window. I will look after the holidays and see if I can get a few for cheap. Now for the inside my fave. I love Christmas in my house b/c it adds to the house so much and makes it more cozy and warm. When you come in the front door I have my Rudolph village my mom gave me 4 yrs ago for Christmas. It looks much better when its all in one place but I don't have a place to put it all together, maybe next year.


Also upon entering the house their is garland with lights, pine cones, and berries draped up the stair way.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St Nick soon will be there. On the mantle in the living room I take the trimmings from the tree and decorate the mantle with greenery, berries, pine cones, and candles. You will also notice 2 stocking hung over the fire place one for Kevin and one for me. Some day when ever we are blessed with children there will be more.

Last but not least I have saved the best until the end the Christmas tree. I love our tree this year. Its so tight and perfect. I have actually had a few people ask me if it was fake. Its so beautiful. There isn't any thing else I can say about it. See for yourself!!!! Please excuse the other items in the picture.

Well I don't know about you but I am going to sit back, relax with a cup of tea, and enjoy the beauty. Merry Christmas to everyone!!!! I hope you have a blessed Holiday!!! Happy Hanukkah as well!!!!

Thanksgiving and wip

Sorry I have not written in a while. I have been extremely busy but things should start slowing down for me so I will be able to keep posting here more often. Any way, I have had some time to knit over the past few weeks. Mainly last week. I did finally complete my redskins thigh highs and I love them!!!!

I did fix one of my projects but I have yet to take a picture and I am not that happy with it. I think there is something wrong or odd about the pattern. I will be posting a pic on that very soon, its almost done blocking. In the mean time I have started a few projects. I knitted a chemo hat for my neighbor and friend Ala. I think it turned out very well it was my first attempt at lacing so I wanted to start with just a little bit and ease my self into lacing.




I will continue to work on lace projects that slowly get more advanced as I go, but at first I will start with larger needles and yarn. In addition to this I have started my first yoke sweater with a little bit of lacing. Its a Christmas present for my niece Olivia. I am also going to knit a matching beret to go with it. I hope to get the sweater finished this week along with most of the hat so I can start my nephew Jack's sweater.
In other news we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Sours family. Sadly I did not take any photos . We had Mom and Dad Sours, Steven, Sarah, Isaac, and Theo and we had a wonderful visit. Friday after Thanksgiving Dad Sours, Steven, and Isaac went to the Nuggets game and had great seats. They were 10 rows from the court and it was an exciting game. The nuggets won in the last 4 seconds of the game. I am sure it will be a memorable one. That gave Kevin and Sarah time to work on their dissertations, Theo to watch wizard of oz, Mom time to read, and me time to work on the project above. Saturday we all left the house so Kevin could continue working hard on his thesis. We went to the buffalo farm in Dacano and bought grass fed meat. We also visited the Harley store, the cheese import store (YUM), and the yarn store. I bought some sock yarn to make my grandfather some socks for Christmas, which I hope to start soon!!! Sunday mom and I got the outside lights up, the tree and trimmed it, and got the rest of the decorations up. I will be posting some pictures of that in the next day or two. I am so in love with my tree this year it is so beautiful .

WIP Update

I know I have not posted in well over a month. Sorry but I have been extremely busy. Too busy to knit even. Well I did finish one of the Redskins thigh highs that I was working on back in October. I am almost finished the second thigh high and then I plan on having a fix it week, where I finish and fix two projects that I previously had done. I will post those picks as I finish them. Other than that I have not knitted anything new.




In order to do this project I used the toe up method and I created a stocking to fit my leg. To do this I used this diagram below.
Measure the leg on postions 1-9. Follow the steps below in order to create the a sock or stocking to fit your leg.
Circumference
A: Thigh: __ inches x __ st./in. = __ stitches
B. Lower thigh measurement (optional): __ inches x __ st./in. = __ stitches
C. Knee: __ inches x __ st./in. = __ stitches
D. Calf: __ inches x __ st./in. = __ stitches
E. Ankle: __ inches x __ st./in. = __ stitches

Length:
1-2: __ in. x r/in. = __ rows (__ decreases)
2-3: __ in. x r/in. = __ rows (__ decreases)
3-4: __ in. x r/in. = __ rows (__ increases)
Knit plain for one or two inches between 4 and 5.
5-6: __ in. x r/in. = __ rows (__ decreases)
7: Heel flap = __ rows ( measure from bottom of heel to narrowest part of ankle -- usually three to four inches).
8-9: widest part of foot (where toes start) to end of toe: __ in. x r/in. = __ rows (__ decreases)
9: Length of foot: __ in. (from toe to heel flap) x r/in. = __ total rows