Weekend Knitting

 Spent the weekend keeping my hands busy & trying to keep my mind calm. Battling with strep, colds and lots of blahhh here. I have NEVER got through so many hats in such a short time period, even in kids sizes.  Sometimes when things are just all going all a little wrong, I need something concrete... something real to do. Something that I can see and hold and work through from start to finish. Often I finding reading comforting, but even that was escaping me this weekend. Maybe it means knitting, just a silly thing like a hat, but it allows me to have control over something when sometimes there is no control to be had anywhere else.

Our lives the past month has been a series of unfortunate events, one after another, after another. Sick kids, family issues, identity theft. .today Little {L} cut off his nail and part of his finger. Yeah, fun stuff like that. One after another, I think I may have an army of handknits when this spell ends. I'm keep my head high, for as crappy as things have been, there are FAR worse things out there. Things that I hope never brush against our doorstep. I have hope that "any day now".... hear that universe? ANY day now things will turn around for the better!

The hats are a mix of gifts for family & friends, and one to be sent off to the homeless shelter. I'm trying to get a few more children's hats finished for the shelter, while it's still pretty cold {we have awhile in Ohio still}. My favorite, is the one I'm wearing in the picture {although I really like the bloom at the top of the green one too}. Who knows, I may have ten more favorites by the time I'm done this month.

Busy hands

I've been keeping my hands busy to help quiet my mind lately. I've been feeling like I have not been "really" getting anything done, but when I see these all together here, it's much more than I realized. several others I've finished are not even here. 

I finally summoned the strength to cut into some of my most beloved {and expensive}, Heather Ross prints. I've been hoarding  saving, some for years now. I have no issue using making beautiful, expensive fabrics for Kunklebaby, or my children. The difference is I cut into these for me. I'm going to make a nice, cozy, throw quilt for me, and only me. Maybe a few pillows for my bed too. It's strange to think, I'd never spend as much money on a blanket as this one will cost. The fabric was a gift from my lovely husband... who I'll admit every once in awhile actually listens to me talk about silly things like fabric designers and the current trendy colors, or animals.

making

With all the knitting I've been doing, it's been nice to finish up a few projects this week {I'll share when I have pic's}. Afterward, I decided to whip up a quick & easy, little project. It's cold here, yes- winter, frigid cold and  this little guy just refuses to wear a hat for more than 2 minutes. From the back door, 12 steps to the cold car and off it goes into a multicolored pile of mama knit hats on the van floor. A full weeks worth the last I checked. I've tried everything & every hat, with him. He smiles at me in his devilish little way as I explain, "Please, PLEASE leave your hat on today, Baby J. You know Mama doesn't like it when you throw them on the dirty floor in the car. ok, then". Two minutes later and they join the growing pile of sad, discarded knits.

I decided to give a hat with ties a try for him. I'll tie it on and then he will just forget all about it. {Insert evil Mom laughter here}  Famous last words. {sigh} It lasted one single, five minute, car trip where he yelled, "Mama....help ME", the whole time. Once in the house, he decided no hat would get the best of him, and promptly figured out how to get it off immediately.

Well, in the end, it did turn out cute. Older brother has taken a liking to it. If only I had knit it a bit larger it would actually fit him. He enjoying the tiny hat/big head look this week, I guess.

sometimes..

Sometimes I just need quiet. Quiet mind, quiet soul. Moments that pass without thoughts or worries, in a smooth meditative state. In these times, these small moments of need, I usually find my knitting needles to be very busy- the perfect remedy.

 

Sometimes a steady, one-two, one-two, repeats in my mind. Focusing on the melodic, repetitive movements of my fingers. Sometimes.... just silence. A sweet, peaceful, hard to come by, silence. These days I'm enjoying the calm, seeking a silenced mind. Worries pushed aside, even if just for a few minutes, or even seconds. Peace, escape... serene. This week, I've seen a lot of my needles. Little bits of stolen silence, one string working it's way into bigger and better things, one small stitch at a time. 

Holiday Knits

This is what I have been doing with my free time. I have lots of lots of knits to gift this holiday season. Many more still on my to-make list, along with lots & lots of sewing, but I'm making progress. I'm really proud of what I have been able to finish so far! It's more than I imagined completing when I made my original Christmas list. For all you family & friends lurking, I tried to photograph them so they are not very clearly shown... and you never know what may or may not be for you.  

I've also been working on fabric gift bags. I think that saying we will use "no" wrapping paper this year is unrealistic, but I was thinking if I make some of these bags for the next several years, probably in two years or so, we can be using all re-usable fabric wrap. Well, as long as I don't give them all away each year. haha! I know I've set this goal in the past. Maybe this is the year it works.

Ohhh, how I love this season!

more knitting

I've been knitting up a storm these past few months, for Christmas. I'm saving my sewing projects for last since they can be done a little quicker than the knits. Although I have a long list of sewing too-quilts, dresses, dolls, coasters... In the meantime, lots & lots of wash clothes have been coming off my needles. I think they make a nice, useful gift when paired with some fabulous handmade soap. {My absolute favorite is from Honeyrun Farms, local to Columbus. try the honey too it's amazing!}.

Hand knit washcloths take something simple& often, not even thought about, and makes it a little special. I have a special bowl that I like to eat out of. It's nothing fancy, just pretty with a petal shaped rim {actually picked up at the thrift store for less than $1}. Food just seems to taste better when eaten in it. It takes something that is often rushed through & makes it {just a little} more special. My pile to be gifted is growing, and growing.

Made Monday: Slipper Socks

Finished up these fun socks over the weekend. They are done in worsted weight yarn, so a little more like slippers than socks. They are a Christmas gift, for someone special. The pattern is an easy, simple one & a quick knit too. I think I may be knitting a few more of these before the holiday's.... maybe even a pair for myself if I find a little extra time.

Weekending

We had a really nice, calm, productive weekend here. The yard is finally ready for winter. Leaves are raked, plants tended too, little feet got lots of exercise, running & climbing. Mama caught up on some much needed rest with lots of knitting & relaxing--and fit in a photo-shoot. I've been knitting away, but most of the finished products can't be shown until after Christmas, as they are mostly gifts. I am working on a set of children's hats for a local homeless shelter. I'll share those when they are complete-two more to go.

Lots of new stuff will be added to the shop this week. Next Saturday [12-4pm] I will be at Sprout Soup Crafty Mama's Sale, with all my fun Kunklebaby merchandise.  There will be a silent raffle too. Come by and enter, you could win an Organic Kunklebaby bib.

Today

So today didn't go exactly as I had planned in my head. {if rarely ever does} I managed to {possibly} break my serger this afternoon, find out one of my sewing machines isn't "exactly" working and the new fabric I purchased to make curtains is ridiculously difficult to work with. {insert reason for broken serger here}

All that aside, we had a great day! Some knitting was done, those silly curtains,finally  did get finished and we had a wonderful day celebrating our daughter. Lots of hugs, smiles & laughter. I'd say it was a pretty good day after all. Nothing better than being a mama!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  join in @ Soulemama.www.soulemama.com

One down...

I finally finished my daughters blanket. Hooray! I've been working on it for the last year. Honestly, it probably sat in the closet for 3-4 months of that time, while I worked on other things, but it's been a work in progress for quite sometime. This will be for her birthday gift and it's complete just in time. I'm going to love seeing it around the house. It's a gift I'm glad is staying here, for me to enjoy for awhile too. A lot of love & stitches went into it!

My hope is someday, she might use it with her own child. I'm probably just being overly sentimental, and the blanket will be long gone by then... but, I like to think of her snuggling a baby inside of it's wool. In the meantime since she's {ahem} six and all, and we have many, many years until that would ever happen, I hope she loves it, and snuggles herself tight in it's softness. She sometimes gets scared at night, I always tell her snuggling with a blanket I made her, is like having me there, hugging her through the whole night. She likes that. {I do too}

Babies & Hats

I LOVE LOVE LOVE hats for new little babies!! There is just something so sweet about bundling up a new little miracle in something special & handmade if possible. I made this little hat for our good friends who just welcomed their first baby to the family.

Congrats & welcome to baby Samuel. We can't wait to get to know you!

Hats

I've been meaning to show off these hats I made last month. It's getting closer & closer to Spring now, but they sure have gotten their use so far and will be perfect for next year also. It's March in Ohio though, I'm sure they will get at least a couple more days of use!

I used the pattern from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It was a super easy & crazy fast to knit up. I'm already planning to make some for Christmas gifts next year. Best of all the kids really like them.

The Universes Hates me...

Well...not really, but that's how I've felt the past 2 weeks. In 2 weeks, 2 ever so short weeks we had 2 Emergency Room visits, 3 doctors visits and 1 trip to the Urgent Care. Battled colds, the flu, bronchitis, ear infections, croup, sinus infections, fevers, mystery rash, two febrile seizures and then finally a horrible case of hives.

Everyone of the kids was affected by more than 3 of these things over the course of yes, 2 weeks! I felt like my brain was going to fall outta my head towards the end. Baby {J}'s top two teeth thought this also to be the perfect time to pop right on out. Everyone is on the mend now, but it's been a rough February here at the Kunklebaby household. Lots of medicine, hugs, desperate wishes for the kids to be alright, and tissues. Ohhh the tissues.

During the past few weeks, to keep from going insane I have been knitting. Knitting and knitting, letting my brain go numb and mindless while focusing on the rhythm of the yarn and needles. All the kids got 2 new hats out of the ordeal. The first set I made were these from the new Soulemama pattern as Valentine's Day gifts for the kids. They were SO easy and so cute. Let me also preface that by saying I have never knit a hat before...ever. In two weeks I have now made 7! The next set were made using the book More Last minute knitting. [I'll share those tomorrow]

Everyone was thrilled with the new hats except Baby {J}. His new hat is his new nemesis. arch enemy. new thing to be avoided at ALL costs. Little {L} thinks his is a Spiderman mask [no idea!] and wears it over his face. At this point if it's cold & he's actually wearing a hat, I'm happy!

It's done!

I finally took the plunge and knitted something other than a scarf. While I love making scarves and have been trying out lots of different stitches, this was exciting to do. Something new!

When we go to pick out Miss {M} from school each day, I have all 3 boys in tow. Mr. {D}, being the oldest, is fine to walk alone and happy to walk by his mama still [yay!]. Little {L} on the other hand is a runner. I have to keep a death grip on his hand to keep him from "wandering" aka running like wild in the opposite direction mama wants him to go. To ensure I can deal with that little boy, my hands need to be free.

What about the baby you ask? He gets put in the Ergo carrier. He's a happy little baby, but it's been a little chilly lately and I've been wondering what I'll do to keep him warm. Wrapping him in a blanket didn't work. He can't wear anything too bulky and fit in the sling. While looking through a book of gorgeous knitted items that I could never make in a million years, I came across a pattern for this little poncho. It will fit over the Ergo and since it's made of wool, keeps him just warm enough on the brisk days.

It's baby approved and let's face it...I'm just proud I finished! Can that little boy get any cuter?

WIP

I am desperately trying to get this scarf completed before the warm weather arrives. It seems at most these days I get 2-3 rows finished before someone needs something, or calls me away from knitting. Busy, busy these days. I love this wool yarn though! It's so soft and the colors are yummy. My two favorites, blue & green.

Worst case scenario, I'll have a lovely scarf to wear next fall!

Knit-Knit

A few months ago, {D} wanted me to teach him how to knit. He was super excited and wanted to get started immediately. The only problem was, I didn't know how!!
After searching through the family and finding no one to teach me, I was lucky to find a class at Wholly Craft, a really cool local, handmade store.

After a quick BASIC lesson[I can now make scarves-haha], I was able to start teaching the kids. The Easter Bunny gave them each their own set of shiny new needles and a ball of yarn.

{M}'s fingers are just a tad to small to be able to hold the needles, thread and move it around. She has been content knitting on mama's lap-with my help. {D} took to it right away! He wanted his first thing to be a scarf for his father[so cute], but I have since persuaded him to make a blanket for sweaterpants[his doll]. This way he will finish much faster and feel that great feeling, when you finish a project.

Feature Friday

With the new paint and bedroom renovation, all I can think about is blue and orange. How to combine the bedding, curtains, art-into one pleasing, but fun room for two boys. Add my new affection for knitting and I found these goodies!

Super Organizer - for knitting needles from Madbirds.

I LOVE Heather Ross fabric and this combines knitting and one of my favorite fabric designers.

Beautiful Here Fishy Fishy Fishy- Handspun Super Bulky Yarn from Spazzy

Love these sweet little booties from pombamarela . I wish {L}'s feet were this tiny still!

Have a great weekend everyone! It's wedding and Mother's Day-YAY! Hope all you mama's have something wonderful planned for the weekend.