Projects!

Well I recently finished the most adorable thing I’ve knit so far. I made a blanket buddy for my dear friend’s first baby who will be born on Friday. A blanket buddy is part blanket and part stuffed animal. I’ve never made anything stuffed before. Likewise, I have never assembled stuffed parts or embroidered. The project also gave me the opportunity to play with intarsia (a technique for knitting with colors for you non-knitters). I think it turned out great and stretched my skills as a knitter. Though I did sew the ears on upside down. So, the project also helped me grow in my practice of humility. Knitting does have a way of humbling a person. Click here for pattern info. All this adorableness from a $3 pattern. Can't wait to give it to baby CJ!

Check out that stellar arm attachment and the ear seams!

For my next trick, or project, I began a cabled purse and am almost halfway finished. One tip about cabling - check your work after each cabled round or row, so if you, ahem, cable the wrong way you catch it right away. I only had to rip 3 rounds so far - not too bad. “Rip” - a knitting term involving pulling a project off the needles and unraveling. My family doesn’t like the color. They say it’s “old lady pink,” whatever that is. I didn’t realize colors had ages, so call me an “old lady,” but I love this shade of pink. The yarn is called Remix by Berroco. It’s been great to knit with. This is a free pattern. You can get info here: Ravelry.

The actual color is a little less salmon-y. I was getting fancy with Instagram (see below).

I also recently finished a book titled “Forgotten Country” by Catherine Chung. It  was a journey for me in both history and family relationships. The book is rich in Korean history and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about both. The book also inspired me to reflect upon the complex nuances of family relationships. Oftentimes, family interactions are shaped by role expectations established early in life, but, people evolve and change. And, then factor in misconceptions and misunderstandings - a sticky web indeed. Right. Back to the book. Although I enjoyed learning about Korean history and culture, I did not feel connected to the main character, Janie. She was flat and lacked personality. Her sister Hannah was also difficult to feel invested in, but I did relate to her more than Janie. Oddly, I felt most invested in their father, a complex and unconventionally conventional man. I liked the book but did not love it. If you are interested in the non-Western world and enjoy reading about family relationships, I'd say give it a go.

Finally, I’m preparing for my youngest daughter’s graduation open house this Saturday. Tables and chairs are ordered. The flower beds are weeded, sort of, and need a fresh layer of bark. We just need to finalize the cupcake flavors, buy the food, pray for a gorgeous rain-free day, and deep clean the house just in case...

Oh and before I go, I’m also now on Instagram thanks to said daughter. You can follow me as christinapurls. Hope all of your projects are going well. Do share details. Thanks for reading. ~ Christina

Finishing, Starting, and Busy in Between

First the finishings...  My youngest daughter, Shelby, graduated with honors from high school Thursday night. We are very, very proud of her. And, I think we were all ready for this chapter of her life to come to an end. She’s ready to move on to college, Michigan State University, and I was ready to be done with school. My girls are 4 years apart, so I’ve been in high school for 8 years. Definitely time to close that book of fond memories, vigilance, lunch money, dances, swim meets, soccer games, choir concerts, etc.

Here's a picture of the happy graduate and me.

As for knitting, I finished my Oaklet Shawl. Click here for pattern details: RAVELRY. I’m very happy with the finished product, both the yarn and the knitting. It was my first experience blocking points out on wires, and I learned much through trial and error. Isn’t that usually the best way? Anyway, if you look closely, you can see some of the loops made when I fed the wire through the lace. I need to feed and pin those better next time around. One cool thing about working with yarn is that I can fix the loops by getting it wet and re-blocking. Right, I’ll get on that in my spare time.

Here’s a picture of my shawl on blocking wires.

Lucky for me the weather turned chilly so I could wear my shawl right away. I think I’ve covered Michigan’s crazy weather in a previous post. Anyway, it really is not a huge exaggeration to say you can be in a swimsuit one day and a snowsuit the next. So, below is a picture of me wearing my shawl and long sleeves on June 2, which happens to be hubby’s and my 12th wedding anniversary. No need for a shawl 12 years ago in Las Vegas where we were married. Lest you think the worst of me, we planned to get married there. It was not a drunken-regret-it-the-morning-after-affair. We had a lovely chapel wedding, a minister called Rob, and I wore a shimmery pale pink dress that still fits!

Sorry. I’m getting off track. Now for the in between. Finished my shawl on Tuesday or Wednesday, blocked it, and cast on another project. Shelby graduated Thursday, my 29th (again) birthday was Friday, and our anniversary was Saturday. 

Which brings me to starting. I began a blanket buddy for my dear friend who’s expecting her first child, Calvin James, the end of this month. This is the same friend I knit the booties and mitts for in April. A blanket buddy is part stuffed animal and part blanket. I found this adorable elephant/blanket pattern for 3 bucks - and, well, did not even try to resist. Click here for pattern details: RAVELRY. This has got to be the most adorable thing I’ve knit yet. Although I think I’ve said that about every baby project.

Here are the pieces so far.

Adorable, right? Thanks so much for reading. Hope your week wasn't too busy and you had time to enjoy something just for you :) ~ Christina

Busy Weekend!

It’s been a while since I blogged, and since it’s a school night I’ll make this short and visual. I can finally show pictures of my secret baby shower gift and write (brag) about my daughter’s graduation from college. 

Here’s what I was working on for my dear friend who’s having her first baby. Calvin James is due the end of June. I need to make sure his hands and feet are warm and cozy. The patterns are from Sublime and the yarn is just that - Sublime: silk, cashmere, extra fine merino wool. You get the idea. I haven’t done much baby knitting, but I could really like this. The yarn is amazingly soft, the projects take hardly any time, and the finished products are so darn cute!

Little Cyril Shoes from Sublime. Pattern info here: Ravelry.

Little Cyril Mitts from Sublime. Pattern info here: Ravelry.

And, I even got crafty with the packaging!

Now, my big finale, drumroll sound... My oldest daughter, Heather, graduated from Michigan State University today. She plans to be a teacher. She student teaches in the Fall at the elementary school where me, my mom, and my aunts all went. I’m very, very proud of her. Here are a few photos.

School of Education ceremony at Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Michigan State is Magic Johnson's alma mater .

Our family - Heather's in green ;)

 My girls. This is one proud momma!

Thanks so much for reading. I'd love to hear about your projects and proud moments ~ Christina

Who Me Speechless?

Well, I’ve been putting off writing this week because I feel like I’ve nothing to say. This will come as a surprise to those who know me personally, as you have at one time or another longed for a moment of silence in my presence I am sure. I’ll just let my fingers babble away at the keyboard and see if I can’t come up with something mildly interesting or at least a passable post.

I finished up a couple of projects this week. I made a baby earflap hat for my friend, Carrie, who is expecting. I’ve included a picture of the adorable baby on the pattern, as it is the baby who sold me on the pattern.

Here’s a picture of the adorable baby. Who could resist?

Since the sex of the soon-to-be owner of the hat is a surprise, I chose neutral pastel colors. The pattern is titled “Serendipity” and is by Brandy Fortune of Pixie Purls. It’s available for a few bucks on Ravelry, should you have an adorable baby in your life to knit one for. Note to my English teacher friends - I don’t like ending a sentence with a preposition, but it just seemed to work. The yarn is Chunky Mochi by Crystal Palace; it feels like I imagine one of those cotton/sheep-shaped clouds would feel like, if I could actually touch it. 

Here’s the hat I made. It will look much better on an adorable baby no doubt.

I also made a coca leaf bag for my friend, Julie, who wanted a little bag for her iphone and earbuds. As Julie so eloquently put it - she needed a low tech carrier for her high tech gadget. This little bag works perfectly. See my December 29, 2011 post or Ravelry if you want pattern details for this project. 

Here’s a picture of Julie’s bag, which looks a lot like mine only better as it’s my second go at it.

How many times, I wonder, will the library let me check out this pattern book before there is a note on my account directing me to Amazon? I’m on my 3rd check-out, all with renewals, of course. The library is a great source for patterns, by the way. I knit from library books if I only want a pattern or two and can finish them up before the due date. Being the angel I am, ahem, I never violate copyright law.

My Noro sweater is coming along nicely. 

Here's a picture of my sweater after its complimentary steam/spa treatment.

I steam-blocked it lightly, as the pattern called for the neck to be attached then sew the side seams. Once it’s finished, I’ll wet block it to bring out the best in the yarn and shape it. I do have the side seams completed. They are challenging as the sides increase in stitches every 8 or so rows. I have one seam that is decent and one that simply will not do. Ever the perfectionist, I’ll keep ripping out until I like what I see. Next, I’ll move on to sew the raglan sleeves, which are on a diagonal. Yikes! 

Well, for someone who thought she had nothing to say, I have managed to prattle on for about 550 words or so. I’m no Charles Dickens, but I think this will do. I'd love to hear about some of your projects - of the yarn variety or otherwise. ~ Christina

Baby Santa Hat Pattern

Baby Santa Hat

Designed by: Christina Toppen

Yarn:

Classic Elite Yarns Liberty Wool

1. skein red (MC)
2. skein white (CC)

Needles/Supplies:

US size 7 

(Circulars or double points - per your preferred method of knitting in the round.)

Tapestry needle

Gauge:

5 sts/inch in 2x rib - in the round. Please take time to check gauge in the round. 

Note: This gauge will give you a hat that will fit up to a 17” head. Add or subtract stitches in multiples of 4 to adjust the size.

Pattern:

CO 80 sts in CC using a Cable-Cast-on (this will give a stretchy yet sturdy edge).

Join, being careful not to twist.

Work a K2P2 rib in the round for 13 rounds.

Change to MC and knit in stockinette stitch for 15 rounds.

DEC RND: K2tog, K39, K2tog, knit 39 (78 sts)

Knit one round in stockinette stitch.

Shaped Decreases:

• *K9, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K8, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K7, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds

• *K6, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K5, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K4, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K3, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K2, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K1, K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 4 rounds
• *K2tog. Repeat from * to the end of the round 
• Knit 3 rounds

Finishing:

Break yarn leaving long tail. Thread end onto tapestry needle and pull yarn through the loops.Sink through the top, pull tight, and weave in the end.

Make a 2” - 2 ½” pom pom in CC. Attach. 

Weave in all ends.

Block:

Steam block lightly. Just enough to soften the yarn and help the decreases lay more flat.

Questions? Contact me at: christinapurls@gmail.com. 

© 2011 Christina Toppen. All rights reserved. For private, non-commercial use only.