A Canadian Toque and Scarf

Standing in the snow, wearing boots, sweatpants, and my newly crocheted red and white toque and scarf, made me feel like the All-Canadian-Girl.

I am quite proud of my hat, as in all my years crocheting this is the first hat that I have ever made. The pattern is from Megmade with Love, a free pattern on her website. I used a thinner yarn than she did so I needed to play with the number of pattern repeats a bit to get a hat that fit my head, but it all worked out in the end.

My scarf is made with a new-to-me stitch pattern, the Millstone Stitch. Once you get the hang of it, this pattern works up quite beautifully and is very rhythmic to work on.

After many years of putting it off, I finally bought a new winter coat for myself, and this scarf and hat look perfect with it. We've had some hints of spring the last few days but I know better than to declare the end of winter; with a few more months of cold and snow ahead of us, I'm glad to have a lovely toque and scarf to get me through.

Patterns: Hat, Scarf
Yarn: Stylecraft DK in Cream and Claret
Photo Credit: my husband and his 50mm lens

February Intentions

 

 

I don't know about you, but for me January felt like the longest month ever and generally speaking I've been feeling a little blah and unmotivated. I don't know what it is, but I just can't seem to get into the groove of things. I have ideas and things I want to do, but actually doing them seems incredibly difficult. I'm not sure what is causing this, though one guess is the weather. Grey days and only tiny snippets of sunshine here and there just make me want to curl up in bed.

But enough is enough, so with a new month upon us, I thought I would set a few intentions for myself, a list of things to get at in February in the hopes that it will pull me out of my funk just a bit. Here goes....

• write up and release to the world the scarf pattern that I designed
• make summer holiday plans 
• bake a plant based dessert
• collect tile samples for our kitchen back splash
• check off a financial goal
• minor closet clean out
• update my crochet corner

And I'll leave it at that, a manageable list. And I'll report back at the end of the month to see how I do. Funny thing, I'm feeling better already, knowing that my intentions are well defined and expressed. Bring on February....we can make it through these dark days of winter....

Photos: carnations that last forever and brighten my days, my favorite blanket that I've made, a little project I've started working on again.

Right Now

• I'm trying to get my head around the fact that January is almost over
• My feet are cold
• I am baffled by the fact that someone stole stationary supplies from my desk at work - why?
• I am psyching myself up to wear a swimsuit on the weekend. It's Bridget's birthday party on Saturday and as per her wish we are going swimming. I want to celebrate her birthday, I do, I'm just not excited to put on a swimsuit in January.
• The days are getting a little bit longer - have you noticed?
• I have a craving for brussel sprouts - how weird is that?
• I need to remember to make a hair appointment....
• I'm designing my own crochet pattern for a scarf and after only a handful of botched attempts, it is going well and looking just like I had envisioned.
• I'm wishing for spring, like I do at this time every year
• I'm enjoying the sun and blue skies outside my window
• I'm happy to be at home on this beautiful day
• We just got home from skating and it was awesome

What are you up to right now?

Have a great weekend!

A Big Chunky Blanket

I made a big, chunky, granny stitch blanket.

I hadn't really intended to make another blanket, as we certainly have enough in the house, but this blanket seemed destined to be made: the yarn was on sale for an incredible price, the colors coordinate with my living room perfectly, I had been thinking of working with chunky yarn which I've not done much of, and the free pattern on the label was the perfect project. See, meant to be; it would have been disgraceful for me to walk away from all these positive signs.

The yarn is Caron Tea Cakes. I love that this yarn is variegated and that the colors blend from one to another as you crochet so that when you're done you have a gorgeous, multicolored blanket without many ends to darn in; that's what I call a win-win.

I stumbled across the yarn at Michaels around the beginning of December when they were having a huge yarn sale. The yarn section of the store was full of ladies picking out yarn and chatting with each other about their projects. One lady told me all about how she was going to crochet octopuses for her grandchildren for Christmas and she wanted me to help her pick her colors. It was so inspiring to be around so many people who were excited about yarn; that does not happen every day.

Like I said, the pattern for this blanket was on the yarn label. It was a simple pattern - easy to work on while watching Game of Thrones - and I even learned a new-to-me trick. Because it is a rectangular blanket, you start by making a chain and then crochet your groups of three around the chain. Having the solid chain in the center keeps the design straight. I've often made granny square blankets and the center has gone off and not been straight at all, even after blocking, which really bothers me. Starting with a chain adds some stability, its' a little tip I'll have to remember.

It's been very cold and damp around here lately and having an extra blanket in the living room has been welcome. Pajamas, this blanket wrapped around me, a cup of tea, and my next crochet project in my lap - this is what my evenings are all about. Life is good.

Yarn: Five Balls of Caron Tea Cakes in Oolong
Pattern: from the label

Three Things

Hello Monday!

  

Three things that are making me happy today as I start the week:

A day off work. I sometimes have to work weekends at my job, and it is not my favorite. On the plus side, I do get two days off during the week in lieu, which is not all bad. I have several hours to myself today while my family is at school and work - time to get caught up on some house stuff, do some errands, and then hopefully fit in a little crochet.

Loose leaf tea - I have been converted, tea in bags is just dust in comparison. Brewing tea from loose leaves has changed my life. It's delicious.

Recommitting to clean eating. It is a lot of work to plan meals and chop veggies, but I feel so much better physically, and feel more content with how I am providing for my family, that the extra effort is worth it.

What is making you happy as you start another week?

2017: A Year of Crochet

Before we get too far into this year, I thought I would take a look back at all the things I crocheted in 2017. I did this last year and really enjoyed the trip down memory lane, seeing all that I made collected in one place - it was quite satisfying.

Making things has always been, and will always be, an important part of my life - I truly can not imagine my life without a work in progress (or three) sitting in various baskets around the house or on the end of the sofa. This year I did a lot of crochet, quite a lot. Crochet is by far my most beloved hobby and I love each and every moment I spend with a hook in my hand.

I began the year making my Attic 24 Weekend Bag which I planned to line with some fun fabric but never did - need to add that to the list. I then finished my Autumn Doily, crocheted some succulents to put in my beloved elephant planter, and finally adorned my yarn wreath.

With time off work in March, I got a lot done: a handy crochet bowl, an arctic critter, pattern testing a unicorn, and some simple coasters.

April was just as productive: Mr. and Mrs. Cactus, Charlotte the Bumble Bee, the Maybelle Blanket, and a snail in a pear.

I'm surprised by how much I got done in the summer, considering all the gardening that I did and the time I spent outdoors: an apple and worm as a teacher gift, a chemistry set which was another pattern testing opportunity, Olive the Owl, and Oscar the Fish.

With the arrival of autumn, I cuddled up indoors and crocheted a bit more: a kerchief scarf for Claire, rustic pumpkins, my summer blanket (finally finished), and Spot the Ladybug.

To brighten the grey days of November, I made a rainbow purse and then got started on a little gift making, an angel for Claire's piano teacher.

My goodness I made a lot this year and looking back at it all makes me so proud and happy. There are so many happy memories in these makes, and looking at the pictures, I remember so many details of where I was and what else was happening while I was crocheting. Absolutely wonderful. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be creative and to crochet everyday.

If you are interested in seeing last year's crafty round up you can do so here.

Now I'm off to work on the first few projects of 2018.

Long Live Crochet!!!!

My Perfect Cup of Tea

One scoop of tea leaves (I am in love with Earl Grey from Davids Tea), hot water, steeped for exactly four minutes, and I always use my favorite mug. I wrap my hands around the mug, sit down at the kitchen table and inhale the sweet smelling steam. Slowly I sip, usually while working on a little crochet, and I relax. I feel the tension leave my body, I breathe deeply....it is perfect.

It is really the little things, the simple things, that bring happiness to our days, isn't it. I heard an a commentary the other day about how there is so much chatter in the world, and especially on social media, about "living a big story" when maybe, just maybe, we should focus on living our simple everyday lives, recognizing and appreciating the small moments that truly make up the fabric of our days...I could not agree more.

I am not one for lofty resolutions and goals at the beginning of the new year (and I do not need any organizational systems or a gym membership), but I do have this intention: to focus on appreciating the everyday moments a little more, to pause and be grateful for them - a cup of tea, a conversation, a hug, a quiet walk, making dinner....the little moments that make up my days. It's not like I have been ignoring these things, but I just want to acknowledge them a little more - not with a parade, but in my heart and soul. I have so much to be grateful for.

I'm going to go now and make myself another cup of tea (the leaves are good for at least three cups #nowaste) and crochet while I watch the snow fall, thankful that I'm not out on the roads. Have a lovely day, friends.

P.S. Photos of my houseplants are included here in celebration of the fact that they are alive and thriving....no simple feat in my home, under my care. That being said, fear not, my children are alive and thriving.