Disappointed, But Not

Good day! Well today was our big ultrasound day. Little A tried to be as good as she could be while the tech wiggled the scope around on my belly. I can't remember what she called it but the placenta is in a position that makes it hard to feel kicks and punches from the outside just yet. She said by next week I should be able to feel them more. E got kicked yesterday though. Peanut's feet were just under my ribs and pushing on something weird (it didn't feel good) so I put E's fingers there and pushed back and Peanut kicked!

Well anyway, this little baby is measuring right in track for March 14 and is beautiful just like Little A in that stage. Then it came time to find out the gender. Ankles crossed and butt turned away! Argh! Not a chance to see what was between the legs. The tech said she has a guess and she was right last time, but I'm not telling! Not until November 23 or 24 when we go back and get to sneak in to see the tech again and hopefully get our picture of proof.
I'm disappointed that the baby was hiding but I'm not because the baby is healthy and is, after all, MY baby. :-)

Besides all that, I'm working on Little A's costume today and must get it done before Friday. Friday is the town's little trick or treat through the downtown. I also have to get E's and my costumes done, they're just hats though. Sunday is E's family's bonfire and Monday is the best holiday! I'm really excited for it all! I hope you're having a great day!

Until next time!

All in a Day's Work

I know this is late but you'll appreciate why in just a moment...

Hello! Good weekend to you. I hope you're having a fabulous one! Well, so far. I've been very busy craftwise, and the house hasn't suffered too bad because of it! Little A has been very sweet the last week or so. We went to the pumpkin patch on Tuesday and of course the few pictures I snapped are still on my camera. This morning, Little A was entertaining herself while E and I made breakfast and this is what I found.

She drug her quilt pillow (my first ever project on my sewing machine), her blanket, and Denny up there to lay down. She stayed there until breakfast too. She even yelled at me when I asked her if she was done.

Her obsession with hats is back too! I'm glad, it'll make Halloween easier. I'm going a different way with her costume but it'll still give the same desired effect... I need to do that before Friday. Wednesday my friend Meg, her little girl, Little A, an I went shopping. I bought Little A some much needed bigger jammies, something for the new baby, and she bought something for the baby too.

This is what I bought the baby. Right now we call the baby Peanut so there was no way I could pass this up. First piece of clothing I've bought the baby.

And she bought this! She loves Cars and I joked with E that she wanted to name the baby Lightning. In reality, it's probably not far from the truth.

Remember this? It's been abandoned for the time being. The lady down the street had her baby last week, or was it the week before?, anyway they're KU fans. KU's colors are blue and red. The colors of this blanket, though not intended, resemble that of KSU, purple and white, who is KU's bitter rival. You can imagine the enormous facepalm that happened one afternoon on our walk as we passed their house and the KU flag flapped loudly on the front of their house. You cannot give KSU colors to a KU fan, even if unintentional. The blanket might have even been thrown out had I given it to them. No joke. But anyway, instead of forming a new plan I drug my feet and played with other projects. Then the day came when the were home from the hospital, pink balloons on porch banister. That's when the the idea for a new blanket hit me.

I played with colors and idea, but I had a direction. I think it always had to be granny squares though.

Had to have blue and red in it after my realization of the fan bases.

And of course, had to be pink.

The squares alone were almost obnoxious, but together!, they are wonderful. It took me three days for this little blankie, but it's just now downstairs drying in a blocked formation. We saw the new family drive by yesterday on our walk and I kicked myself for not having it "done". I wanted to run back to the house, stuff it in a bag and give it to them right away. But tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll force E (my shy man) to go over with me a make friendly with our neighbors we have never met but always wave to. Plus, the pumpkin hat I made as my sample is going to them as well. I love gifting my goodies! It makes so happy! But here comes the reason for my tardy post...

Ta-da! My nephew's quilt all finishes. 100%! It was looking grim for awhile because this is my first project I used my Big Foot free motion foot on and still not having it figured out all the way, there were many thread, machine, quilt, etc., battles. I had given up three different times because my frustration broke into angry sobs that clouded my vision and made me sick to my stomach. I'm an "all in" emotional person, I can't have any emotion without crying and anger normally makes my stomach hurt.

At one point I told my sister-in-law she wasn't getting the quilt because it was "the worst thing I've ever done." Just the quilting part, the piecing was great! She encouraged me and I carried on. It didn't turn out as bad as I thought. After all, it was my first really real quilt.

I love the binding and how it matches the boats. I love using unrelated binding most of the time because to me it creates a frame around the quilt. But this binding is so crisp with the rest of the blanket. LOVE it!

Little A did too! She thought it was very spin-worthy...

And lay-worthy. She's a big fan of blankets. I'd say she fits in with the rest of the family.

I love folding up finished projects. It just feels more complete that way.

On another note, I have been crocheting pumpkins like crazy! Sara, at tangledhappy.com, featured the pattern for this little guy on her blog. (The pattern is found at http://happyinred.blogspot.com/2011/09/patroon-gehaakte-pompoen.html?m=1)
Funny story about this. The woman who owns the blog is from another country and she is kind enough to write in her native tongue and in English. I was not aware of this as I was geared up to started the pumpkin and missed the sign saying the English version was down below. I was disappointed at first. But I read the foreign pattern anyway, and you know what? I could actually understand most of the pattern and was going to try it that way! But thankfully I scrolled down further and saw the English version before I got started. I need to make 5 more of these little guys to give out and finish one more pumpkin hat. I've made two child sized hats in the last two days. By the way, if you're using my pattern I'd love to see your progress or finished project!

Well, anyhow, that's about all I've got for today. Once the little pumpkins are done I'm starting on some hats and my Christmas present projects, plus I still have to finish my anniversary projects. Haha, poor E, before Christmas I promise sweetie!

Three more days until we find out what the Peanut is! Guesses anyone? I'll post just to tell you the results, come Tuesday. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Until next time!

Pumpkin Hat Tutorial

*This is my own pattern. I'm sharing this with you for FREE, I've changed my mind, so if you'd like to sell the finished product, please feel free! But also give credit where credit is due and please do not republish my pattern as your own. Feel free to link back to here so others may use this for their own pleasure as well.
*If something doesn't make sense, please let me know! I wrote the pattern, then did a test run but I still could have missed something. Enjoy!

(My new nephew in his pumpkin hat.)

(Little A in her hat last year.)

Pumpkin Hat Tutorial

Yarn
Red Heart in Pumpkin and green (I don't know the exact color of green because
I lost the label long ago)

Abbreviations
Chain-Ch
Stitch-St
Single Crochet-Sc
Half Double Crochet-Hdc
Single stitch 2 together-Sc2tog

How to Half double crochet- Yarn over insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull yarn through. You should have three loops on your hook (as you would in a double crochet), yarn over and pull yarn through all three loops. Hdc made.

How to single stitch 2 together- Insert hook into stitch, yarn over pull through, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, pull through. At this point you should have 3 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all three loops. Sc2tog made, also known as a decrease.

Sizes are as follows;
Baby (toddler, child, teen, adult)

Ch. 31 (36, 36, 41, 46)
Row 1- Hdc in second ch from hook and to end. Ch. 1, turn. 30 Hdc (35, 35, 40, 45)
Row 2- Hdc in back loops only starting at the very first Hdc of previous row. (do not skip any stitches). Ch. 1, turn. 30 (35, 35, 40, 45)
Row 3-38- Repeat Row 2. Baby size.
Row 3-45- Repeat Row 2 for Toddler size.
Row 3-50- Repeat Row 2 for Child size.
Row 3-60- Repeat Row 2 for Teen and Adult size.

Once all rows are completed for size, ch. 1, turn, and place foundation row back to back with last row. Sc through both loops on last row and through foundation ch. This will create a seam, you are closing up the rows and making a tube. Turn inside out to where the seam will now be on the inside. Ch. 1, turn the tube so that you will be working counter clockwise on the top of the tube.

Last row and foundation row back to back with hook through both.

Sc through both the foundation and last row to create your seam.

Tube created. Turn inside out so seam is on inside. Ch. 1 and work counter clockwise.

Top of Hat
Round 1- Sc around as eveningly as you can around top of hat. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch made.
Round 2- Sc in next stitch and to the end. Move marker.
Round 3- Sc2tog to the end, as evenly as possible, add a Sc if necessary. Move marker.
Round 4- Sc2tog as evenly as possible, repeat to end. Move marker.
Continue to Sc2tog until you get as close to 12 stitches as possible. In the round that you reach 12 stitches (or close to it) switch to green color for steam with your last stitch.

The top of your hat will be wavy and "misshapen" unlike a regular beanie. This gives the hat a more of a pumpkin look.

Stem
Round 1- Sc2tog to make 6 stitches (or closest to it).
Round 2-7- Sc in next sc. Repeat to end. At the end of Round 7, fasten off yarn and leave a long tail. Sew the top of the stem closed and weave in all ends.


Vine
With Green ch. 14 loosely. Make a long tail with the slip knot for attaching later.

Row 1- Work 4 Dc in second ch from hook. 4 Dc in each remaining ch until end. Fasten off, leave a tail. Attach vine anywhere around the stem. Pull both tails around a stitch and tie together on the inside with a double knot.

Weave in ends and enjoy your hat!

A Wave and a Ripple

Good afternoon! I realize it's a week and two days late, but those of who've been pregnant with a toddler know energy is a thing of the passed. No excuse. No excuse! I promised I'd be better about posting an it only lasts a few weeks before I drop off again.
Little A, just turned 20 months, has decided that the terrible twos was perfect to start right now. But of course, the other day when it was the worst it was a full moon. She's just so independent and wants to do everything herself, and when the "no's" come out so does the throwing-self-on-floor tantrums. Ugh! Luckily they only happen at home, so far.

Can you believe this face ever doing something like that? I CAN!

Besides being the tantrum police,
I tried to work out a pattern for a Halloween decoration/stuffy, but it did not turn out how I wanted at all! I think I know how to fix it though, which is good because it was so cool...in my head. I'm also feeling frustrated over Little A's Halloween costume, I'm sewing it up without a pattern but it's not working out either. Good thing I decided to practice on scraps first, I have an idea as to what I'm doing wrong so hopefully I'll get it right soon.

I'm also writing down my pattern for this hat and hopefully I'll have it posted tomorrow or Sunday. Yep. I'm gonna share it with you! It's so easy and everyone loves them. I made this baby version in a few hours (including frequent stopping to watch TV and tickle Little A). Anyway, onto the waves...

I've been working on two of my wavy/ripple blankets everyday. The weany, now big girl, blanket in the mornings while Little A watches Disney's "Cars" and eats pre-breakfast in our room (she's obsessed with that movie!). The weany blanket came about after I purchased some of Hobby Lobby's yarn, "I Love This Yarn" and while nursing Little A scanning Google for crochet blankets in images. I found the pattern at http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/89937.aspx, it's free too! I started it back in January one day when I thought Little A was leaving nursing behind just to comfort myself. Turns out it was just a fluke and the next day was business as usual via nursing. She's been weaned since May and I'm still not done with her blanket. Done for her birthday? Christmas? Maybe! She loves it though, she stole it from me this morning.

And my ripple in the afternoon while she naps. Her one hour nap. What happened to my good sleeper?! She's still a good sleeper but mommy misses the two hour naps. The ripple grows faster than the wavy, and I've joined Lucy's, at Attic24.typepad.com, Ripple Along. It is her pattern, after all, that I'm using. I love all of Lucy's patterns and I think I told myself when I had time I'd make my favorites. That was awhile ago and as of right now I'm working three of her patterns. The hexie, the granny stripe, and the ripple. If you have time and are looking for something new to work on, Lucy has great tutorials! I'm trying to do the colors randomly but I'm keeping the orange an the pink away from each other. They do not look good next to each other. I'm not good with "picking" random colors so I got an app for that! I type in how many numbers and press generate! It picks the color for me. I did all five colors, one after the other, in the beginning so I just use that to convert numbers into colors. I'm liking using this method so far.

It's wonderfully warm, as are the other two blankets I'm working out with Hobby Lobby's yarn. It's funny because each one is made with the same yarn but they all feel so different. The granny stripe especially is so thick and heavy, while the wavy is so blankety, as the ripple so airy bit so snuggly. I love them all! I can't wait to finish them all! Well anyway, that's about all I've got today! Not uper exciting. Keep your eye out for the tutorial this weekend, I promise it's coming! But in baby news: I'm currently 18 weeks.

Eleven days left until we find out if #2 will tip the estrogen scales or level us out with testosterone. Mommy votes boy, Daddy votes girl. Either way, our love is only going to grow.

Until next time!