By Lisa Gutierrez on 12/10/2013 Disclosure: Amazon affiliate links used within this post. They help buy yarn.
Pattern: Heirloom Christmas Stocking from the purl bee
Yarn: 1 skein of Yarn Bee’s Soft Secret in hot pink
Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4) & 4.5 mm (US 6) 16″ circulars + DPNs in the smaller size
Modifications: I went down in needle size and also made the leg shorter.
I fell in love with this stocking pattern the day it came up in my blog reader. The Purl Bee did it again! I cast on right away. I had (have!) other projects, so I tried to work on this primarily in the evenings. It took me a few weeks, but I think it was worth it. I took the photo above with my phone and since the yarn is HOT PINK, it photographed horribly. Hence, the b&w photo filter. Thank goodness for VSCO cam, right?!
What do you think Santa will leave in my stocking? I’ve been dropping hints left and right to my husband and I guess we’ll see in a few weeks if he’s taken note. To be honest, if my stocking is empty I’ll still be happy just to look at it. Here are some more ideas, though–
I need a new copy of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac , as mine is almost falling apart. I love that book! I read a few chapters, the other evening, and it really made me miss blogging about knitting. // I can always use Moleskine Cahier Journals for jotting down ideas or new patterns. I think I have one in every room of my house. You never know when inspiration will strike! // Pens and pencils! Never enough. Ever. // Little finishing tools. These are my new favorite scissors. They’re so handy! And pretty. // Pretty much any accessories for my Nikon 1 . This little camera goes with me everywhere! It’s awesome. Perhaps a pocket reflector? Hmmmm!
What do YOU want for Christmas?
Pin It
By Lisa Gutierrez on 12/09/2013 We are barreling toward Christmas and I just want things to slooooow down. For like a day, at least. Please? We put up our tree, this weekend, and I realized I haven’t bought ANY gifts. I finished knitting one glove, then moved on to deep cleaning/organizing both my living room and office (we FINALLY bought a couch! Another story for another day). I’m still not finished with that, but at least you can see my floor, now! I’m going to be one of those poor souls out shopping the weekend before Christmas. Maybe crying a bit in the car. We’ll see!
Anyway, I say all that to get to this: the Christmas card! In years past, I have taken and edited photos by early November. This year, we were a week into December and I still had no idea what we’d do! On Sunday, I started getting a little anxious about it, so I went outside with my boys and just took a bunch of shots. It was a cold+gray day, but they still had fun and we were all giggling around the yard. This shot ended up being my favorite. It isn’t perfect and they aren’t even looking at the camera, but it so wholly captures their joy for this season!
Last year, I entered my card into the Holiday Photo Challenge at thepapermama.com and it was great fun, so I’m entering this year, as well. She always has a quirky card to share. I kind of love that her chickens are in her photo, this year. Seriously. Go check it out: 2013 Holiday Photo Challenge @thepapermama! Enter your own card for a chance to win some super prizes.
Here are some outtakes from this year:
 
 
With a full heart, we wish you a happy Christmas! If you’re on my address list, you’ll hopefully get a card before the big day. If not, consider this your e-version!
Pin It
By Lisa Gutierrez on 11/27/2013 
Hello, friends. I have not blogged since the beginning of the month. I hope you all are well, churning out projects and enjoying the merriment of the season. I have been working on various projects and trying to brainstorm ideas for reviving my passion for blogging. I love sharing projects, but I find myself working on things and then they leave me before I even get a chance to snap a photograph. I sigh and move on. I just want to WANT TO make an effort to document them. Do you know what I mean?
My son made a special request and it made my mama heart soar. He said he wanted gloves without the finger tips. He thought we could cut the fingers off of some but then it was like a little light bulb went off in his head and he excitedly said, “OR YOU CAN KNIT THEM!!” and yes, I could. Of course. I have other projects I could be knitting, like Christmas gifts (!!), but I felt like these were more important. I’m using the pattern Knucks from Knitty. I have made it once, in my first year of knitting, when I was ambitious and wanted to knit EVERYTHING. Now, I remember why I haven’t knit it again: those little fingers are tedious! Alas, they work up quickly and before you get tired of doing something, you’re on to a new & exciting instruction.
Are you working on anything special? Do you drop everything and knit when someone you love asks for something specific?
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!
Pin It
By Lisa Gutierrez on 11/02/2013 
Pattern: Offset Shell stitch blanket
Yarn: 6 skeins Red Heart Soft in berry
Hook: 6mm (US J)
Starting chain: 132
40″ x 45″
10/18-10/29: 11 days
See previous post for more photos/details!
After working the pattern, I crocheted this row: SC in first ch-1 sp, *Ch 3, SC in next ch-1 sp; Rep from * to end. This made the edge a bit more even. At the end of it, I immediately turned the blanket and started working down the side. I made 2 SC in the side of each row and then worked across the back of the beginning chain, up the other side, and across my last row. I made 5 SC rounds, then worked the crab stitch around once.
The baby shower is today and I’m super excited to give this to the mama to be! I hope she likes it.
Pin It
By Lisa Gutierrez on 10/23/2013 
One of my cousins is having a baby in mid-December. It’s A GIRL. This is amazing because in the past 8.5 years, there have been 10 babies born to myself + my closest cousins and only 3 were girls. This is #11 and she’s a girl, so we only need 3 more girls in a row after her to be even! ha! Boys are fun, though. I love all the babies equally (though obviously mine are the best;))!
Anyway, I spent a little too much time thinking about what blanket to make and eventually picked the Offset Shell stitch. I’ve made a few of these blankets, but my favorite was Big Red. It was SO bright and SO big. I loved it. I considered making another chevron blanket, but I asked papa what the theme was and he said, “solid dark pinks…bold feminine colors…” so I began the hunt for the prettiest and boldest dark pink, newbie-friendly yarn.
I started on Friday while my kids were in school. My beginning chain was 132 with a 6mm (US J) hook. This gives me a width of about 37″, but the stitch pattern is semi-lacy, so it has a bit of stretch. I imagine it stretching out nicely after a wash or two. I only bought 5 skeins of yarn (Red Heart’s Super Saver Soft in Berry) to start, but I think I’ll need at least one more.
Each skein gives me about 13.75 rows. If I stick to 5 for the body of the blanket, it should be about 69 rows (39-40″ tall). I want to get to 42″, so I’ll work about 5 or 6 rows with the 6th ball before starting the border.
I’ll post again when I’m done. I’m about 2.5 skeins in. This pattern works up very quickly. I can work a skein in the time it takes to watch a movie. I finished a skein the first night and worked on it a few times over the weekend. I should be done with the 5 skeins by the end of the week.
What have you been working on? Any long term or semi-long term projects? I started this a little late, so I’m trying not to waste any time. I also want to knit or crochet some baby hats for her because, ummmm…winter is coming.
Pin It
|
Disclosure You may find affiliate links and banners throughout my blog. I earn a small commission from purchases made through these links. It helps pay for keeping this blog running! All reviews and products are items I have personally used and loved. |
