Excuses and Hedgehogs

The holidays are over and it is back to business as usual. At least I am trying to get back to normal. The no more sleeping in, is wearing on me! Pass me another pot of coffee please!!

I droped off the grid about Thanksgiving, sorry for the long hiatus. I should have let ya know I was going to be away for a while but I didn’t know myself. Before Thanksgiving I had phone troubles (I know- dial-up is from the dark ages, but it is what I’ve got!). This is my first excuse. Then when the phone was finally fixed (which took about 2 weeks-ahhh!) I went into just get through Christmas mode. That sounds really Scrogge-ish but my father passed away in August and this was the first Thanksgiving and Christmas without him. I was in a bit of “let’s get this over with” kind of mood. I won’t say it was a good Christmas but better than expected.

During Christmas break I was very productive trying out lots of new crochet projects and when Nana got here even a few knitting projects. Yea, you heard me right KNITTING! I made a knitted then felted star that was way fun. My husband was teasing me that I used knitting and fun in the same sentence. I also made a hat from a pattern that was written wrong – this was a big boost to the knitting ego! And now I am trying to finish a pair of slippers. Though it was agreed upon that I could have crocheted the slippers faster it was a good learning and muscle building experience (the slippers are knitted with two strands so I have tender finger tips and sore shoulders).

I am trying to get school spirit back up. It is hard to compete with Christmas. Chocolate is always a good motivator (for the kids and mom)! Little Chief is reading “Milly-Molly-Mandy.” If you have never read this book check it out at your library. Sometimes a good kid’s book is just what the doctor ordered for a damp and dreary winter’s day. Today Milly-Molly-Mandy found a hedgehog. Chocolate + Hedgehog makes for a pleasant enough evening (until the kids are running around yelling from the sugar high! You have to take the good with the bad in life!)

Chocolate Hedgehog Cookies
1 C chocolate chips (or more!)
1 C marshmallows
1 C chunky peanut butter
2 Tbs butter
1-2 C Chinese noodles
Melt the first 4 ingredients over low heat. When melted take off heat and stir in noodles. Scope onto wax paper and place in freezer.

These are a little crumbly and the kids kept saying “ouch!” with every bite, since they 'are' hedgehogs. But once you get past their prickles hedgehogs can go down quite smoothly. Lots of chocolate is the key!!

How To: Making a Scarf into a Hat

My grand knitting adventure has come to an end. I set out to finish a knitted project and I did it. Though my grand plan was to knit a scarf, along the way my scarf started talking to me, and it said "I want to be done!" Now just so you don't think I'm a little messed up in the head, the fact of the matter is I was getting tired of knitting the scarf and getting short on yarn. I decided to dream up an end to this madness. Something that wouldn't involve me pulling all my stitches out. My scarf plan has now turned into a "How To: Finish a scarf before it's done." Follow me on this crazy journey....

The scarf pattern I started with is the Meandering Rib Scarf. It was knitted with chunky yarn and size 10 1/2 needles which is different from the pattern. But since this is a fly by the seat of your pants type of "How To" it doesn't matter what patten you use or what needles you choose. Be crazy and spontaneous, it might just work even better than you think (that is what happened here).

My finished scarf (knitted scrap) was 11"W x 20"L. Along with this you will need scrap yarn and a crochet hook.

Fold rectangle in half, with right sides together and pin up each side.

With crochet hook, start at open edge and single crochet up one edge.

Then, match crocheted seam with pinned seam and execute a squash fold (think origami.) After squash fold, seams will be running along the center front and center back.

Turn over and insert hook into top edge and make a single crochet that pulls the top two stitches from both seams together. Now continue single crochet down other edge. Weave in loose yarn.

Turn right side out and roll up bottom edge.

Add your own crazy additions!
Alternative ideas: Add loop and button for a neck warmer. Fold rectangle in half and seam sides, add handle and you have a bag. With folded rectangle seam one edge and you have a fun elf hat! Share anymore ideas you might have- what can be done with a knitted rectangle? Thinking... thinking....

Knitting Day 2

I Think I Can....

Day 1

I am going to attempt what seems to be the impossible – finishing a knitted project. My sweet MIL (mother-in-law) taught me to knit this year, and I am forever in her debt for introducing me to this headache that I have had ever since.

I taught myself to crochet about five years ago and I have enjoyed this pastime. Yet, in so many ways, I wish I had learned to knit before I learned to crochet. There are so many things that are just done so much easier with crocheting. For instance, if you make a mistake crocheting just pull out the stitches until you are to where you made your mistake. In knitting this is a grueling process of pulling your stitches and sticking them back on your needles and hoping you didn’t drop any stitches.

Now that I have gotten my complaining out of the way let’s move on to what I love about knitting: knitting has a nice, calming rhythm and I love the feel of knitted items. I want to get good at both knitting and crocheting for there are many fun projects that incorporate both.

So this is my first real attempt to finish a knitting project. No more playing around with the needles pretending I am busy (Quiet! I am counting!) It is time to get down to work and make something with this new skill! I will be posting a picture of my work each day. I hope this will keep me motivated to finish.

Besides it would be nice to have a new scarf this winter!

Note: Scarf pattern is Meandering Rib Scarf.

"The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the
dictionary." ~Mary Kurtz