Finding my Zone

Good Evening to All,

I finally decided to invest in the first five seasons of Downton Abbey, hoping on the off chance that I would like the series. I had not seen any of the parts before purchasing the five seasons that are on DVD. I received them in the mail yesterday, and have so far watched parts one and two of season one. I have to say that i have not been disappointed.

After I get home from work, get dinner and make my lunch for the next day, I have been settling in to watch a couple vlogs on youtube, then watching a part (what each episode is called) of Downton Abbey. While watching the part I have been working on my knitting projects. It has been quite relaxing. Last night I worked on the baby blanket I have in the works for my cousin and his wife who are expecting a baby, and tonight I was working on the scarf I am working on for myself. The scarf is a new project. I am using Fishermen’s Wool in Oatmeal. I am knitting it flat, and then going to sew the ends together to make it an infinity scarf.

I have been facinated with Scotland for years. While Downton Abbey is set, and takes place in England, it is close enough for me to get my fix. Not to mention that the first series (season) starts off in 1912. Between the history, and the costumes, and the sets, and the Castle are all amazing, and I am absolutely loving it.

I love the combination of watching a historical fiction British TV show and knitting to calm my nerves, relax, and zone out before going to bed to then start another day at my day job.

Knitting More Baby Blankets.

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday I spent a fair amount of the day, when I wasn’t cooking, working on one of the baby blankets I am working on for one of my cousins. I am working on the blue one. I am making them two. This is their first baby, and they are not finding out the gender until the baby is born. I am making both of the blankets out of Lion Brand Pound of Love yarn. The one I am currently working on is in Turquoise.

I love being able to sit at my computer and work on my knitting projects while I am watching youtube videos or shows on Hulu. I didn’t get to do that during very many evenings this week, as my computer was having issues. Now that my computer is fixed, I am able to sit here again, and working on my projects while watching tv shows and youtube videos. This afternoon I have been working on getting caught up on the shows I watch on Hulu while working on this blanket, and it has been a very relaxing Sunday afternoon.

As of writing this post, I am about 1/3 of the way done with this blanket. I am planning on getting some more knit up on it this evening before going back to work for the week. These baby blankets are an amazing winter project to work on. I love having nice warm projects to work on while it is pouring down rain outside my window.

The cousin I am making these blankets for, is one of my Canadian cousins, who I grew up with pretty much. The last time I saw him, was a little over a year ago, when my family and I had gone up to Canada for his younger brother’s wedding. It was there that I got to meet his Fiance (now wife), while we were all there at his parents house.

New Years Goals

Hey Everyone!

The year has begun, and I already have a few projects that I know will help take up what little free time I have now that I am working full time.

The first is that I am still trying to finish my mom’s Christmas gift, which I have almost complete. I should have it done by the end of the week.

I also have a baby gift for one of my cousins to make, which I am excited about, and it will be easier than the project that I have been working on for my mom for the last several months.

This year I am also going to set aside time to write three blog posts a week, one each for my life blog, my food blog and for this blog in addition a monthly blog post and vlog for my adventure blog and youtube channel. I know I am setting myself some challenges, but I want to meet if not exceed those goals.

I also want to thank those of you who follow my blog, and I appreciate you all sticking with me over the last couple months as I have not had the time to blog, and have let them slack from what I have been up to. For now I am not going to be able to keep the 5 posts a week on this blog that I had done last spring after my last job hadn’t worked out. I am hoping that with writing one or two post a week for each of my blogs, I have quality posts with good content for you all to read.

Must have More Yarn

Hey Everyone!

While I was out today, I stopped at the Joann Fabric and Craft Superstore near my house. I was looking for thread, for a project I am working on. The thread I had was not a good quality, so I went to look for a better quality thread to use for the quilt I am working on. While I was there, I had also picked up a couple more colors of thread that would go with what I am working on, and wouldn’t just be black or white.

In addition to the thread I picked up 5 skeins of Red Heart Yarn for sweaters, and two skeins of kitchen cotton for dishcloths. The red heart yarn I am going to be using for sweaters, and the dishcloths are for me.

I have been off of work most of the week, and I am starting to go a bit stir crazy, and there were a few items I needed to pick up at the grocery store, so I went to Joann’s while I was out. I just needed to go somewhere and do something.

Before I start any more sweaters or hats for kids, I am going to finish my mom’s Christmas present which i am still working on, and I have a baby gift for one of my cousins to get knit up, and then sent up to Canada before the end of May. Knowing from past experience it can take a while for packages to reach their destination in Canada, being shipped from the US, so I want to get the baby gift up there before the baby arrives in June.

Upcoming Projects for 2015

Hey Everyone!

The past 5 weeks have been incredibly busy with starting a new full time job, Thanksgiving, helping with my church’s Christmas on the Campgrounds event (which was a huge success this year), and then having someone I know pass away this past week. There hasn’t been a lot of time to knit. Since I have been working I haven’t wanted to start anymore projects on top of my mom’s Christmas gift, which won’t be completed in time for Christmas. I am hoping to have it done by mid January.

In addition to completing my mom’s Christmas gift, I have two more projects that I have to work on during the early part of 2015. One of my cousin’s and his wife are expecting their first baby, and they are waiting to find out the gender of the baby until the baby is born in June. So I am going to be making two baby blankets for them, both of which could be used for either a boy or girl. I picked up a skein of a really pretty yellow (Lion Brand Pound of Love in Honey Bee) and a skein of a  really pretty turquoise (Lion Brand Pound of Love in Turquoise) at Joann’s while I was out running errands today. I had a 20% off the entire purchase coupon, in addition to the two skeins both being on sale (the sale price was $3 off the the regular price), which meant that I got a good deal.

Besides the project I am trying to finish up, as well as the two baby blankets I am going to make, my knitting plans for 2015 are looking like, another wool scarf for myself, more hats for children as I have plenty of yarn, and maybe a few sweaters, but we will see how many I get made with my work schedule and every thing else.

I also put together a video of the sweaters I completed during 2014, so if you would like to check it out, you can find it here.

I can finally talk about it!

Hey Everyone! 

I finally got my hush hush project completed early this morning. I had the baby shower later on in the morning, into the early afternoon and was able to gift the hush hush project to its intended recipient – an expectant mom of twin boys, who is also one of my best friends older sister’s. 

Why I couldn’t and wouldn’t talk about it until now is because I know my friend will at least occasionally if not regularly read my blog, so I couldn’t say anything about it on a forum that she would see. 

I had made two little blankets for two little boys.  I started this project literally two weeks ago and made two baby blankets in two weeks. that totally sounds crazy, and I think I might be crazy for attempting it. I knew I could do it, and I did do it. There were a few distractions, and needing to go help set up for Vacation Bible School (which I am excited about), that took some time away from knitting, but I totally needed the distractions. It was a challenge that i took on, and I completed it. 

The yarn I used, was some I had picked up at a Joann Fabric and Craft Superstore near me, a while back and I had picked it up both skeins with no intended recipient, I had just liked the colors. I knew I would use it for baby blankets at some points, and the point came sooner rather than later. I love the Sea Blue/Tiffany Blue, and beings that my friend is having boys, these came in perfect for this project. The yarn is also 100% acrylic and machine washable and dryable which is a necessity with kids.

I love how these two blankets turned out. I had gotten thinking, while working on these about how back, even 100 – 150 years ago, if you were able to buy something at the general store in town it was such a treat. Now days it means so much more to receive something handmade. it is interesting to see how things can do a 180 because of how our culture and society changes. Knitting, Crocheting, and even sewing have been all but forgotten about crafts that when someone goes to the time and effort to hand make items, how much more special those items are. 

Working on Gifts for Friends

Hi Everyone! 

I am back with another project of the week post, for this week is going to be a bit vague, beings as I have been working on finishing up a baby gift for a friend. 

I have also been working on an infinity scarf that I mentioned a post or two ago. Over the weekend, I restarted it several times, the first time being because I didn’t like how wide it was, and I had messed up on the pattern, so that was start over number one. I started it over several more times because I was trying different patterns, but eventually came back to the moss stitch pattern, and just making it narrower. 

I have also been going through ideas, for what I am going to be making a friend of mine for Christmas. I have the yarn, and the basic idea of what I am going to make, I am just debating on the patterns to use for her gift.