Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Phil Got a NEW Job After Two Years!


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011, 7:48am. Phil pulls from our driveway at 3000 SW 198th Avenue. He's headed to ASML (Advanced Semiconductor Materials Lithography), the world's leading provider of lithography systems for the semiconductor industry, manufacturing complex machines that are critical to the production of integrated circuits or chips.

We're so excited about his new position as a Level II, engineer. He's totally excited about seeing the other side (or under/inside) of the tools he's been processing Intel's Pentium chip on for the past ten years. He can actually see himself retiring from this place.

As for me, it's definitely a huge switch from not having him with me at the day care. I have more responsibilities and less "down" time. I'm losing three kids in December (Hannah, Hayden & possibly Keaton) so that will take away case load and money. It's okay, if I need more God will find a way to make a way out of no way.

Monday, November 14, 2011

The Knitting Bee is the Place to Be!

I just got home from a private lesson with my best friend, Naomi, at the Knitting Bee. I didn't think it was gonna be so easy but that's the way, Trish, our instructor made it. I love the way she tries several different ways how to do one stitch; she's so three dimensional, I love that in an instructor.

I kept hearing her say, "No, no", to Naomi but Naomi persevered and five minutes till the closing bell she did a TKO with those needles. Seriously? It was a total Ah-ha Moment, where's Oprah? So below is a video of Trish teaching Naomi to knit-purl alternately creating a ribbed stitch on some gorgeous green thread that she purchased at the Knitting Bee. They have all kinds of lucious, hand spun, natural yarns that would knit up some beautiful afghans, scarves, gloves & socks.




We're scheduled for another class next Monday, I can't wait! Happy knitting!

JUST FOUND!!! Another great Purl Tutorial:




Saturday, November 12, 2011

James's Versatile Neck Warmer--I Can't Believe It's Crochet!

I'm so proud of this project I just finished! It looks just like a knitted hat/cowl/face mask but it was actually done using nothing but a slip stitch, it's also called the Bosnian stitch. It is rather time consuming (although I started it yesterday while Phil was inside Freddy's).

It came out so well that I'm thinking about making a hat with the Bosnian stitch. Below are photos of my cute son, James modeling the different was to wear this piece:

Hat

Cowl

Face Mask

When you do this stitch you will be so satisfied with the flatness of its profile. With this stitch, gone are the days of a bulky crocheted fabric yet it isn't as thin and wispy like a knitted garment would be. It is very dense and does the job it's supposed to do, keep out wind/air, while having the stylish look of a knitted garment.

Below is a closeup of the stitches but the camera does this stitch no justice. You'll have to stitch it to really appreciate it:

Look how flat the stitches are, nice, huh?

Here it is from side view, you can really see how flat the stitches are!

I stretched it so you can see the stitch work in between

This sample is stretched to the limit showing major flexibility!


Below is the tutorial of how you too can make your own Bosnian/Slip Stitch hat, scarf, blanket or even a sweater! I crocheted 20 fsc (foundation single crochet) go to http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-crochet-foundation-single-crochet-fsc/ to see how this wonderful stitch is created. I call it wonderful because after I tried it I will NEVER do chains again to start ANY project. It's looser so your work has a softer edge but with chain foundations the edges are always so tight. Try it and you'll wonder where it's been all of your life.


Well hopefully you too have been inspired to go out and try the fsc and the Bosnian stitch. I am off to start another project for my baby, Logie! Good luck and happy crocheting!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Finished My Infinity Scarf for Clara!

Today I finished the infinity scarf that I started two days ago. It went pretty fast because both the yarn and hook were chunky. It's ruby red and Lion's Brand something or other. anyway, my best friend, Naomi & I are taking a beginner's knitting class at the Knitting Bee in West Union. Naomi is so excited, me, a little. There's such a comfort and complacency in crochet that knitting can't touch. I walked in and saw all of those late 40s, early 50s knitters last night. Did they look like they were relaxed and comforted by their craft? A big fat NOPE! If anything I'll learn the skill as a craft to place on my resume of crafts. Anyway, check out the cute photos of my baby, she's SOOOO cute!

The infinity scarf is so versatile, we came up with four different ways to wear it, there may be more! Just let your fashion diva out and you'll discover them!

The ears and neck warmer


The cowl

The knotted scarf

The traditional scarf

Here's the video where I learned the pattern.



This girl uses 100 short rows and connects the scarf at the ends to create the circle. I, on the other hand, preferred to make a chain, first, slip stitch the ends together to form a circle, ch 3, dc in each ch across, sl st in top of ch 3 and follow the rib stitch pattern from the video. I used one skein of yarn and crocheted 6 rows of the pattern stitch. When you start with a connected chain your scarf is seamless. It would've taken me at least 2 hrs max if I could find time to sit and relax that long! So I have to settle for one round here and one round there. This is how I get my stitchin' done! I'm off to another project, be back soon, I hope!



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Halloween 2011


It was so cold out last night when we went trick-or-treating! The kids filled their buckets to the brim with candy and we skidattled back home. We did a group trick-or-treating which is always fun if everybody is going at the same pace. As the night went on the pack split right down the middle---toddlers versus school-age. Which is totally understandable, but I just wanted all of us to be together as a unit. Maybe when the toddlers become school-age it'll be different? Who am I kidding? By that time, our kids'll be almost graduated and goin' to college!

When we arrived back home we did a traditional "scan" of all of the candy. Ever since that whole scare of foil-wrapped coins and eyeballs, I haven't taken any chances since...tossed! Other than those everything else had a green light to eat. James got a little hyper after a few pieces so he got cut off fast. Clara has never really been into sugary treats so she'll probably have hers till next Halloween and Logie is somewhere in the middle of the two. He's like me, occasionally binges and then walks away for it for a few months.

We were disappointed when we returned home to find that "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was not on at 8pm, like last year. Where have all of the traditional Halloween programs gone? It saddens me to know that my kids can't experience that. Now they play "Hocus Pocus", "Addams Family Values" and many other non-traditional Halloween movies. I'll just have to get more organized and put it in the dvd player before we leave so we can watch it when we get home next year.