Colourfool inspired me on how to make Caleb a puppet theatre that was portable - mostly because we rent, but also, alot of times he likes to hang out with us in the livingroom. I wanted to make something that wouldn't take up alot of space in his bedroom, either. The ribbons are pretty, but I thought Caleb would get a kick out of something more manly - hence the ties. I tied them so that they look like they've been tied with a proper windsor knot, but its really just draped over the rod, pick up the skinny end then bring it round the back, round to the front, round to the back for a full circle, bring it up the back, then tuck it in through the loop at the front to make the knot. We went on a shopping spree at Value Village and picked up a bunch of ties for cheap. Caleb had fun picking out his favourites, he tried to throw in a cumberbund until I explained the concept!
I ended up with 15 ties on the rod, after seeing the photos, I wanted to fill it out a bit more, so Len gladly donated some of his!
The rod is from Home Depot, I looked at the cafe curtain rods, but settled on a shower curtain rod instead. The difference is that the shower curtain rod turns to extend to fit any doorway up to 40". All of our doors and closets range from 30" to 40" so this allowed maximum flexibility to move it around the house.
The rod also allows the ties to be adjusted to different heights.


When Caleb isn't playing with it we put it at the top of the doorframe and it makes a short doorway to his room, a bit of privacy, but it also hides some of the mess too. When its down, it's his puppet theatre, peek-a-boo wall, he loves running through it...and I'm sure like Colorfool's daughter he'll be doing his ghostly, "Boo's! through it too!"


I'm copying the disclaimer as well - don't leave your tots alone with long strips of fabric/ribbon/ties-no, strangulation please.)

As a knitter, and as a mom, in general, I've always had the idea that homemade is better. I even managed to fall into making homemade babyfood for Caleb, despite how ridiculous it sounded to Jamie and I when someone first recommended it.  The whole idea of hand knit baby items has a certain nostalgia to it, certain pride and ownership goes into each item, and usually they are kept to hand down to the next child. We get these ideas that a handknit "blankie" is certainly better than any Wal-Mart mass market blanket.  Caleb would certainly agree.

Well, that is until Tuesday night......when "woobie" turned on him. You see, Caleb has a beloved blankie. It's a massive baby blue crochet blanket that a friend's wife made for Caleb. We call it "woobie". (I forget why.)  He absolutely adores it, he can't go to bed without it, nor leave it behind in the crib after he gets up.  The length, and big holes make it fabulous for cuddling with but it is also his favorite plaything. 

The other night though, we had settled him into bed. He cried a bit, then eventually fell asleep. That is until the phone rang around 8:30, waking him up.There was a problem at the office and I had to go back to work. When I got back, I checked in with Len, and he told me Caleb cried for a bit, then fell back asleep, but he had woken again a bit later, cried, then went back to sleep. I tried settling into my evening again, but again Caleb woke up. This was very unlike him, so Len went in to check on him, make sure his bum was dry and I hear, "Al, come quick I need help." So I brace myself for the inevitable, assuming that he's sick, only to find Len attempting to hold Caleb and wrestle "woobie". Somehow, in his sleep, Caleb and put his chubby, big toe through one of the holes, wound it tight, and it was cutting off his circulation.  So with Caleb wailing and no way of detangling it from his now purple toe, "woobie" had to be cut off.  After, the couple seconds of drama, a quick fix with a crochet hook, we were able to calm both Caleb and "woobie" down.  We had to laugh though, as "woobie" lay on the floor for the reconstruction, Caleb kept pointing at it and babbling quite accusingly.

I am happy to report that "woobie" has since apologized, they have cuddled and made up. But take this as a warning to knitters everywhere....never turn your back on your knitting, it may attack when you least expect it!

Well Jamie wants me to quit my job because she never sees me anymore, work and more work has been keeping me very busy. And on the weekends I've been doing weekend stuff, which means I don't get down to the basement very often to update my blog.

I gave Alexis her poncho I crocheted for her. She looks so sweet, its white, with a little pink rose crochet button and pink and white fringe. Very girlie, but so is she!

While in Toronto, I treated myself to four skeins of baby alpaca wool from Romni. Drool! Its pretty cool, for the first time I've brought wool over to Jamie's and its actually been wool, not some sucky cheap acrylic. Its a beautiful red and so soft. I'm crocheting myself a poncho with it. The pattern is mainly treble crochet.

I'm also knitting stockinette stitch scarf combining Patons Allure in sapphire with a navy multi-hued un-named yarn. I knew the name but I've misplaced the label as of this post.

My basket made of nylotex turned out fairly well. The only downfall is that the sides don't stand up to Caleb sitting on it. Har, Har! But at least with the material I can easily pull it back into shape. It turned out fairly pretty, but knitting took way to long for the bottom so I switched the sides to double crochet.

Now I have to google London, Ontario, to see what kind of trouble I can get into when I go there this weekend, all by myself, no Len, no Caleb. Whaaa!! I'm hoping I'll have enough free time after the daily conference presentations to do some sightseeing and maybe even some shopping!

So I'm doing it again. Jamie popped by last night and we were talking about the current projects we are working on, and I think I need to redefine the term active! I'm working on a bathmat set, a scarf, I should be working on Caleb's Christmas stocking, I need to make a gift for Dave and Joanne's arrival slated for October 25. I have I don't know how many projects sitting in my knitting basket that I've put down for various reasons...usually other projects! I thought we were only supposed to hoard yarn not projects!

I am so close to finishing the first ever knitting project I ever started. Its just a simple poncho, but for my first lesson I didn't want to simply make some squares that would end up in the bottom of one of my bins. Its so simple a project I embarrassed that I'm only finishing it now, but amidst other projects and small calamities ie: switching needles (wood to aluminum), losing one of my balls of the original yarn (go figure!) it has taken me this long. Good thing to because I'm pretty sure its going to be big on Keyzia. Well at least she didn't out grow it, before I got it finished! I'll post pictures and patterns as soon as I get the tassels and buttons attached.

I knit this hat for my niece Emily late this winter and for some reason I haven't posted the pics yet. It was pretty basic once it was done. The construction was a little odd, however, because I had to resize it to fit her better. Its simply two pieces knit in stockinette with a cable running up the middle. I sewed a seam up the back, and closed in the top to make the"ears". Then I finished the bottom edge with two crocheted rows. I think I'll have to make myself one for next year.

*Emily not exactly as pictured

National Quilting Day, March 15th, get out the needle and thread.

March is also Craft Month. Throw an arts and crafts party or post a public event to get other hobbyists to join you!

 

Here's a nifty idea I've been mulling around for some time. I put it into action this fall when I knitted onto a knit sweater I had purchased retail. I added 4 1/2" to each sleeve by adding cuffs to it. The only problem was that I knew the technique but not how to execute it. I didn't know how to crochet, so Cathy from our local woolshop started me off then I went from there. So I was thrilled when Jamie taught me the basics recently. This is the pattern I used to fix up another one of my favorite shirts which sadly had shrunk in the wash. I chose to fully crochet it to keep the cuff light and lacy against the unembellished cotton top.

Materials: Size H crochet hook2 50 gram worsted weight Bernat Ultra Soft Cotton. Colour 00085 (Jute), and of course one shirt.

Gauge: measure and chain sufficient to fit circumference of your sleeve bottom. (I chained a 40 for this pattern.)

Make the chain foundation and 3 extra chains to turn.

Row 1: Work 1 DC in the 4th ch., ch 2, 2 dc i nthe same ch. (4th). * Skip 3 ch., 2 dc in the next ch, ch 2 and 2 dc in the same ch. Repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: ch 3 and turn. 1 dcinto space made by ch 2 of previous row. ch 2, 2 dc in same space, * 2 dc in next space made by chain 2 of previous row, 2 ch and 2 dc in same space. Repeat from * to end. Repeat Row 2 throughout until you reach desired rows. I did 6 rows = 4".

Sew chain to bottom of sleeve (or if you have long enough shirt sleeves, sew the crocheting a little higher to allow some colour to peek through the lace. If you like you can sew up the side of the rectange crochet for a close cuff, but I left mine open and added little wooden buttons, like a dress shirt cuff.

I finally gave this present to the lucky receipent for her birthday so I can finally post the pattern. As promised to Jamie it is super easy and quick and knits up with a pretty cool twisted ribbing.

Material: One Skein Momma Mia (We used Colour 054 its deep and rich)10 mm knitting needles.

Using the two needle method cast on 10 stitches. Work the entire scarf in stockinette. Make sure to keep your knitting loose and big. Work until desired length is reached, (we used the whole skein) leaving enough yarn to cast off.

I made this project for my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas. Its fairly easy and looks so pretty when done.

1) select the photos you want to use for the project. I chose four really awesome photos that Ross took while on a business trip in Vegas. They have really nice colour for this project.

2) Find a photo frame to use.

3) Take your photos to a print shop and have the photos laserprinted onto clear plastic. This will ensure that the ink is affixed to the plastic and you won't get any streaking or running.

4) Remove the backing to the photo frame. Depending on the frame chosen you might be able to cut the backing to match the front of the frame. (The plan is to have the light shine through the frame. ) The frame I chose had a cheap wood/plastic backing that probably would have split if I had tried to cut it so I discarded the backing altogether.

5) I cut out the photos leaving an 1 1/2" border.

6) Make sure you have the "right" side facing the front of the frame, glue the photos to the backside of the matte.

7) place the matte back in the frame as you normally would.

8) I then cut out heavy cardboard strips and ran them down the back of the frame to hold the photos in, being careful not to allow the strips to block any light, or be visible from the front of the photos.

9) Then I used small finishing nails, pushed in by pliers to the frame to hold the cardboard tight to the frame. ( i didn't use a hammer for fear it might accidently hit the glass.)

10) attach small screws to the top of the frame and clear string. Then hang in your window.