September 3, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
Cardigans seem to be popping up in shops all over right about now. With back-to-school and fall clothing on the racks, I feel a little pressure to step up my cool weather knitting. This fall I’m determined to knit at least 3 cardigans, one for myself, and one for each of my babes.
:: With over 3,000 projects marked, Meghan‘s Shalom is quite popular. And it’s no wonder with it’s easy top-down construction and flattering yoke styling. This one is going to be mine. I’ve already set aside some Cascade Ecological Wool for this one!
[image: kathrynivy.com]
:: Hannah Fettig‘s Yoked Cardigan is another top-down design that I heart. Alice over at kathrynivy.com is a goddess with Malabrigo and I love how her carrot cardi for her daughter turned out. This one is ear-marked for K.
:: Teresa at Comfort Wool has designed this little sweater which I think is perfect for my little L. I love the simple design and the three-quarter length sleeves. I have several skeins of Manos that would be perfect for this one!
Why I heart these? Top-down, one piece construction! I might have mentioned this before, but I hate sewing seams. This is the way to go in my book!
Happy long weekend friends!
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Tags: knitting
Posted in heart fridays, knitting | 5 Comments »
September 1, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
The summer seems to be moving ever so quickly here. I can’t believe we’ve reached this point on the calendar already. Here’s a recap of what was created, lived and laughed in my summer that was August.
august 2010
September means a lot of things for me, like…
:: the first day of school for my baby in just one short week
:: the anticipation of earlier nights and cooler days after this hot and humid summer
:: the thrill of Fall handknits
:: and just over 3 months left on my maternity leave. Oh my!
What does your September bring?
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Tags: etc
Posted in reflections | 3 Comments »
August 31, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
Did I hear correctly? You're cutting my hair?
My littlest one was born with a head full of hair. Actually both my children were. Until recently, we’ve just been putting clips in her hair to hold back her really long bangs, but these past couple of days she’s been pulling out the clips and putting them in her mouth. And then some days she has a bad comb-over! Funny!
So last night we decided it was time to cut her hair for the first time. She was quite well-behaved through it all. Her big sister wanted to see the action and I think she was a good distraction for L.
Now she has real bangs. Hubby and I are not sure we like it. We’re hoping that in a week once the freshness of it has grown in, it will look a little better. Personally I think she looks a little boyish now. Oh, well! There’s always next time to get it right!
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Tags: etc
Posted in baby, etc | 5 Comments »
August 27, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
first look
Progress on my sweater is moving right along! I’m really excited about how this will turn out at the end. Hum… maybe a little knit fashion show will be had once it’s complete!
The bonus of this knit-a-long at Spud Says! is that knit wear designer Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic is a part of the action. How exciting is that! We’re all benefiting from her expert advice on custom knit wear.
So here’s a peek at my sweater…
I’m loving this yarn — the colour, the feel. It will be just perfect for the crisp Fall days that are *yikes* around the corner.
Have a great weekend, friends!
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Tags: knitting
Posted in knitting | 5 Comments »
August 23, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
I’m generally opposed to watching TV and eating, as I’m sure most parents are, but a couple of weeks ago, we had lunch out and our waiter, after taking our order, brought out a portable DVD player loaded with a cartoon for K. Actually he had brought one for L, too, but that was a bit ridiculous and I sent him away with one.
video lunching
So, of course K was intrigued and thrilled.
It was the first time any of us had eaten at a restaurant that provided this type of service. As expected, it kept her entertained during the meal, in her seat, and eating (for the most part). I’m on the fence whether this is a good thing or a bad thing while eating out.
What do you think? Would you say yes to this type of service if offered?
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Tags: etc, food
Posted in etc, food, out and about | 8 Comments »
August 20, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
rainbow inspiration
[source]
There’s something magical about rainbows, isn’t there? When I saw this cake by Andrea over at Hula Seventy, I fell in love with rainbows all over again.
Here’s a peek at some of my favourite rainbow-inspired handknits:
:: little fishy mittens by Spilly Jane – oh how I heart these! I think I might have to try colourwork again and make a pair of these for both K and I this winter.
:: this comfy rainbow blanket looks so soft and cuddly – plus the kid in the photo is too adorable! Pattern from the Lion Brand pattern library.
:: and of course, the colourful Tulips baby cardi by Dream in Color has been on my knit to-do list for a while now!
Why I heart these?
When I’m choosing colours, I normally gravitate towards neutrals — greys, browns, white with a occassional blue thrown in the mix. But there’s so much yummy choice out there for vibrant yarns that I really should expand my colour selection. K is naturally drawn to colour — her favourites being blue (like her mama) and orange, so one of these designs is sure to be on my very needles soon!
Happy weekend friends! I hope your weekend is full of colour!
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Tags: knitting
Posted in heart fridays, knitting | 6 Comments »
August 19, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
the making of a sweater
After all the knitting I’ve done over the past 4 years, I’ve never completed anything larger than a cowl for myself. I’ve knitted many baby sweaters and cardigans, but nothing in adult size. This is the year this will change. I’m determined to finish the cardigan I started for myself almost 2 years ago, and I will knit a sweater for myself this year!
I should state, in my own self defense, that there are a couple of reasons why it’s taken so long to knit for myself. First, my babies are growing so fast that I’m constantly keeping up my knitting to fit their growing bodies! I’m not growing anymore, so I figure, I could wait a while to finish my own sweater. Ha!
Second, I’m an impatient person. I love the quick fix of baby clothes because they finish so fast. Adult sweaters take time. I’m all for instant gratification.
So, to help me stay on track with my first-ever adult sweater, I’ve decided to join Susan via the Spud Says! blog for a Raglan sweater knit-a-long. With the support and encouragement of a group I think I can make this sweater happen. Wish me luck!
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Tags: knitting
Posted in in my basket, knitting | 6 Comments »
August 18, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
hello, I'm 8 months old now!
My dear littlest one, you turned 8 months old this week and I’m still amazed every single day how much you keep learning. Only a few short weeks ago, I was in awe of your crawling abilities, but again you surprised me by pulling yourself up and standing all on your own a week later! Then last week a tiny little white tooth appeared out of nowhere. Oh my! I have a fear (for my own sanity) that you’ll be walking before your first birthday!
I’m so enjoying our summer days together. You’ve grown out of your baby car seat and loving your sister’s car seat much better since the switch. Less screaming (I can’t say there’s never any teary complaints) from the backseat now when we’re on the road. And your sister is loving her new Big Girl car seat, complete with cup holders — or toy holders as she calls them!
You’re eating like a pro now and have graduated to meats and slightly chunkier foods. You love water from your sippy cup and I think soon we’ll switch your milk to a sippy, too.
You’re growing up way too fast, my littlest one. I wish I could freeze time and keep you at this age forever! Wouldn’t that be the best? Happy 8 months old, my little one!
Thanks for all your sweet encouragements about K’s first days of school. She’s getting a little better (read: less crying at drop off) and I hope (fingers crossed) by the end of the week we’ll be tear-free.
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Tags: family
Posted in baby, reflections | 3 Comments »
August 17, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
This week was the start of a new routine for our family.
K is starting school this September. To prepare, we enrolled her for 2 weeks of summer camp at her new school so she can get used to the idea of being dropped off, meeting the teachers and getting familiar with the school grounds.
This means a big change for our entire family. For me, it means coordinating drop off and pick ups, making her a portable lunch and snacks every morning, and all the wondering how she’s doing at school. For little L, it means a disruption of her nap schedule (because of the said pick ups and drop offs).
And the biggest change is for K. Since she turned 1 years old she has spent her weekdays with grandma and grandpa (her po-po and gong-gong). We’re fortunate that my parents were willing to take care of her for so long. It allowed me to go back to work after my first maternity leave without worry, and it allowed her to bond with her grand parents.
But now, the act of going to school is a big deal for K. Drop offs have been a little tough. As expected, she cried pretty hard yesterday and this morning when I left. But this was the reason why we enrolled her in summer camp. To get used to the idea before school really started in September.
This is K on our way to school. She was very excited and no tears.
A different story when we got to school and she realized that mama and daddy were not staying with her. Oh, my grown up girl… She has a huge capacity and interest in learning right now that I know she will love school soon!
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Tags: family
Posted in family | 5 Comments »
August 13, 2010 by flowerpotdesigns
crochet goodness
[image]
Because of my love for yarn, I’m also drawn to all yarn craft. Crocheting has always been a bit of a mystery to me because I could never really follow a pattern. Every time I picked up a crochet instruction book, the terms seemed to be written in another language. So I took up knitting because I got it right away.
However, I’m drawn to the pretty patterns and shapes that crocheting naturally lends itself to. Plus, it works up so much faster than knitting normally does. I’m all for instant gratification! That’s one of the main reasons why I knit baby items (smaller = faster). Well, that plus my two girls, of course!
[image from Attic24 Granny Stripe]
I love Lucy’s choice of colour. It reminds me of summer fruits like watermelon, peaches, plums and apricots!
[image from Resurrection Fern]
I absolutely love the uniqueness of fellow Torontonian Margaret’s crochet covered rocks. The idea of stones mixed with the delicate cotton string — a beautiful balance. There’s a tutorial on the purl bee on her crocheted stones which I want to try one day once I’ve mastered my crocheting technique.
Why I heart these?
I’m automatically drawn to geometric shapes. There’s something about repeated patterns that appeals to me. I think there’s probably something that can be read from this, maybe about my personality or taste. If you know, please comment. I’d love to find out!
Have a happy weekend friends!
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Tags: crocheting
Posted in crocheting, heart fridays | 8 Comments »
