Fountain Pen Shawl Start

Well, we didn't really get to see much of the opening ceremony, but I managed to do one pattern rep with the first yarn I tried, decide I didn't like it, and choose this yarn instead from my stash. Yesterday I knit the pattern again once and a half, and I'm much happier with this yarn, it is more "me." Not that I'm sure I'll even wear a shawl, ever, I just felt like attempting one and the Knitolympics are supposed to be a challenge. And believe me, it is insanely challenging to read the pattern chart while doing anything else, especially everything involving two toddlers. "Who are all those people? Why are they wearing red hats? Why are they dancing? Is it cold there? Who's that guy (the camera kept cutting to Joe Biden)..."

Knitting Olympics!! on Yarn Harlot

In 17 days - cast on at the opening ceremonies tonight and cast off at the closing! - I'll be making (!) the Fountain Pen Shawl by Susan Pierce Lawrence from the spring 2009 Interweave Knits, in a light tan stash yarn - however much I have is how big the shawl will be. I've been putting off making it because lace patterns are hard when you are overseeing two toddlers, so that is the challenge. And I have never completed anything bigger than a baby hat within 17 days, so that is a challenge too.

Pretend Food - Yum

More boy crafts.

A healthy breakfast.

Bowtie and penne

Sandwich fixin's. One issue I didn't anticipate - by making everything approximately life-size I made it so nothing fits in the mini pots and pans set, which leads to some giant soups. Not that they are any less delicious.

Beanbag Bliss

From an idea on Chez Beeper Bebe. And check this out - bean bag dogs and cats! or bunnies? or...

Boy Backpack

I had meant to purchase and make up Rae's fabulous toddler backpack, but when the two hours presented themselves I hadn't done it, so I just winged it. Happily it came out ok! The illustration is from a favorite bug book, printed out on that fabric you can put thru the printer. This also coincided with a Dora obsession after someone gifted us a DVD. So all around a good project for a boy.

Longing for Spring

In my twenties and thirties I pretty much lived in a modernist minimalist wardrobe - black, white, lots of greys, and sometimes a tan or two. I still think grey is one of the prettiest and most versatile colors there is, despite lots of ribbing about this preference. But for the past few years - since having kids I guess - I've been more and more drawn to color - maybe not allover color, but spicy crazy color accents and even a few pink sweaters (!) This hat just makes me smile, especially with the lime-apple scarf. Topping, of course, my big black coat. My first crochet hat - I'm still working on how to switch to (knit?) ribbing at the brim in the future, but since this pattern came out kind of shaped like a cloche it works that it is not snug (but it does fall off quickly when wrestling little ones into the car, so the next one needs a bit more stretchiness to stay on)

Oh, and it did snow another 5" last night, so our third snow day in a row (but lots of opportunities to play outside! For which you need: a hat that makes you smile)

Lunch Sack from Oilcloth

Finally! Poor J had been hauling his lunch to school in a plastic grocery bag! I had the oilcloth sitting around with no plans for it, I just loved it (from the Homespun Boutique in Ithaca NY, I may have mentioned how much I love this store and I always check for oilcloth there because she stocks unusual funky patterns, not the usual table-cloth-y stuff) and J loves to click backpack clickers, so attached one for him specially. I made the bag fit his lunch container, which is also bright green, and I had a big citrus turquoise napkin that has become his lunch napkin. Now I just need to make the sandwich wraps from Sewing Green and he'll be totally sustainable at school. Mr. Sycamore wants one too, just not in this polka-dot, not manly enough.