July Challenge

I have been neglecting my running for the last several months and, along with it, my diet. I have been thinking about running the local marathon again this year, and, if I decide to start training again, I need to be running more than 2 miles a week. I started my running program back up in earnest this week. My long run yesterday was 3 miles, so I have a long way to go! My goal is to have a 20 mile week by the end of July.

As far as my diet goes I have decided to challenge myself to give up meat for the month of July. I also think cutting way back on my dairy would be a good idea but for this month I am simply trying to give up meat. I have been reading The Food Revolution by John Robbins and it is giving me compelling reasons to make a shift to a plant-based diet. I have toyed with the idea of going vegetarian for years but have never truly made the committed to it. This month I am making the commitment.

Living Room Picnic

A rainy day and Henry's current obsession with his lunchbox made for a good excuse for an inside picnic.

Henry insisted he had to be on his tummy to eat!

Jammies for Henry

My first finished embroidery project. A rocket from Sublime Stitching...

...on a Henry sized onsie.

Henry has been talking a lot about rockets lately and loves his new PJ's. He wore them to bed last night and for most of the day today. He only took them off this afternoon because I wouldn't let him ride his bike in the front yard until he had "real" clothes on.

Square One

I ripped out the red sock this weekend. Every time I thought about knitting on it I felt disappointed. I love the yarn and expected much more out of it. So I decided that, rather than spending the next several weeks (months?) knitting on a sock that I am displeased with, I will start from scratch. My new plan is to knit-up a swatch with a bigger needle and go from there. All the patterns I tried looked puffy with no definition. I am hoping that using a bigger needle will help the yarn to lay flatter. Really, I have no idea if there is any logic to this, but it's worth a try!

Reorganizing

We keep our library books in a basket.

Yesterday, Henry decided we needed a better system.

Red Sock Woes

This sock is testing my patience. I just can't seem to get it right. This is what I have so far...


First, I cast it on about 5 times before I actually got started on the ribbing. Then I just couldn't settle on a pattern stitch. My first two attempts were ripped back, and I have now settled on this waffle rib that is looking very puffy to me. I think the sock is knitting-up big (I did a swatch but I switched needles...not smart). The woman at the yarn shop assured me there would be enough yarn for a pair of socks, but I am still worried that I will get to the toe of the second sock and run out of yarn. Also, the color of the yarn is so saturated that I cannot get a decent picture (or maybe it's just my photography skills). I am almost ready to rip it out and work on a different project for a while. Knitting is supposed to be relaxing and this is anything but.

Coming Attractions

Today my fabric arrived in the mail...


The blue polka-dot fabric is for a dress for Gwyneth. The others I had intended to use to make skirts for me. The green polka-dot fabric is brighter than expected and may need to be used for something else!

Today's Accomplishment

The bun...

Ballet Errand

I have finally found a place for Gwyneth to take ballet lessons. I have been looking for a structured program that isn't in the city. I had found a few places locally that teach tap/hip hop/jazz with some ballet mixed in, but I was looking for a more disciplined ballet program. Finally, last week, I stumbled upon a school that has a studio in the city but also holds classes right down the street from me. It looks like exactly what I have been looking for! I signed Gwyneth up for the summer session and she starts tomorrow.


Today, we drove into the city to get the required outfit for her class. A black camisole dance dress, pink tights, pink ballet slippers, and hair in a "neat and secure" bun.


We have the outfit, now we have to practice the bun!

Thrifty Skirts

Yesterday I had a sitter for a few hours and decided to hit the fabric store and thrift shop. The fabric shopping was a bust...luckily I have 4 different lengths of fabric ordered and on their way to me from Fabric.com (3 skirts for me and a dress for Gwyneth). At the thrift shop I found two great skirts...both in need of alteration.

The black and white one is about one size too small and a bit too long. I am going to attempt to cut out the waist band and put a facing in a little further down the skirt - widening the waist and shortening the skirt at the same time! I just need to find fabric to use as a facing. The yellow skirt is about four sizes too big, so I just need to take in the side seam (this skirt also could use some embellishing, maybe some embroidery...)

Orange Butterflies

I have finished my second skirt from Sew What! Skirts.

close-up of fabric...

I am actually thinking this should count as my second and third skirt made from the book. This was my drawstring waist false start from last week. I ripped the whole thing apart and cut it up again to make this fitted/zippered a-line. It came out well. I had to take it in about 2" before I put the facing in and it still feels a little loose. I think I need to re-take my measurements and add less ease next time.

Climbing the Walls

Literally...

False Starts

I have been working on lots of things the last couple of days but no pictures because I haven't finished anything (or made enough progress to justify taking a picture).

After casting on about 5 times, I am finally working on a sock with my cherry yarn. I was reading in one of my sock books about different methods of joining the yarn at the first stitch of the round (I didn't even know I was supposed to do this...I just start knitting). This time I decided to make a proper join, and my attempts forced me to cast on several times until I got it right (I kept dropping the very first cast on...and I don't know how to get it back once it is gone!) Then I ripped out my work a couple of times because my ribbing wasn't looking right (this is me obsessing). It finally all came together and now I am almost done with the ribbing. Once I decide on a cuff pattern and make a little progress on it, I will take a picture.

Then the summer Knitty Mag came out at the beginning of the week, and I decided I had to make the Lion Washcloth. On Tuesday night, I started it twice but couldn't get the stitch to look right. The wrap stitch is a pain but the pattern is very simple. I decided it was the yarn, so, last night, I tried again with a different yarn and actually made a little progress.

On Tuesday I drafted and cut for another skirt pattern from Sew What! Skirts, this time with a drawstring waist. Yesterday I put it all together, and it is awful (really not good). I don't know why I even bothered with a drawstring pattern. I knew it wouldn't be flattering before I even started. So now I am planning on taking it all apart and re-cutting for a fitted skirt.

Hopefully some progress to report with actual pictures in the next couple of days...

Finished Palm Tree Skirt

Today, while Henry was confined, I sewed the wrap skirt.

It took me about 2 hours to complete the entire thing. It was simple to put together and the instructions were excellent.

My measurements were good. At first I thought the waist was too big, but I have worn it around a bit and it actually fits just right (I like it to fall just below my belly button without constantly twisting around). It fits perfectly around my hips and is actually a little too fitted there for my taste. I think I will add an inch or two next time so it will drape a little better and not pull when I move around. I love the way it wraps in the back so it looks neat in the front. It provides more than ample coverage where the skirt wraps (I have been chasing Henry around all afternoon without incident!)

My only complaint about the pattern itself is that the ties are a bit short and narrow. In the book the ties look longer and wider. The ties are made with two 3" widths of fabric, next time I will use 2 1/2" widths, and I will cut them a bit wider.

Overall, I am thrilled with the results. I can't wait to start another one, and now I feel justified in ordering some fabric for the next one (or three)!

Toddler Confinement

Last night I had finally had enough, and I put a lock on the outside of Henry's room. Today at rest time, I told him he needed to stay in his room or I would lock the door. He stayed in for about 10 minutes then I had to lock the door. He had a little temper tantrum and then went back to playing (I listened from outside). I checked on him about 30 minutes after I locked the door and I found this.

A big mess...

...and a sleeping Henry

I think I may have solved the no-nap Henry problem!

Palm Tree Skirt

Last week I recieved my copy of Sew What! Skirts from Amazon. I had been wanting it for months and had planned to finish Gwyneth's Princess Quilt before ordering it. I had made some serious progress on the quilt, so I went ahead and ordered the book (I don't think I have touched the quilt since I ordered the book - but that's another story).

Today, while Henry napped, I drafted a pattern for an A-line skirt. The hardest part was taking my measurements (I did that last week). It took me a week to actually get to drawing the pattern. It was so easy...too easy...I am afraid I did something wrong! This evening I cut my fabric.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will have a new skirt!

Next Up

I finally knit up a swatch for my next sock.

I haven't been doing any knitting this week because I needed to do this swatch before I could cast-on for my next pattern. I am using Supersock Solid from Cherry Tree Hill in Cherry and I'm planning on using a 6 stitch pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks (yet to be determined). I am loving this yarn already. It has a neat little twist and a nice shine to it.

I am going to try to knit up a couple of swatches from some of my other sock yarns while I work on these socks. I don't want to have project lag next time just because I don't know the gauge. Maybe the swatch knitting will feel like less of a chore if I'm not itching to start a project while I'm doing it.

Sushi

Gwyneth has been wanting to cook with me. The other day, I let her look through my copy of Cooking Rocks by Rachel Ray. She picked out a recipe for Candy Sushi. We made it yesterday...

I also had her pick out something we could actually eat for dinner. She picked Hot Dog Pizzas (bagels with catsup, hotdog slices, and cheese). We used turkey dogs and had cucumber wedges on the side to make it a little healthier. An easy meal that Gwyneth can almost make on her own and Henry ate up...

Window Treatments

Last night before opened my new Stitch-It Kit, I decided to finish the living room valances that I have been working on...for almost a year. These are the two front windows and there is a third on the back window as well. I am satisfied with the way they came out and thrilled to be finished.


These were made from old curtains that I have re-purposed several times over the years. First they were floor length tab-top curtains for the living room in North Carolina. Then I took them down from the living room in North Carolina, and I cut them up to make window length curtains and a backing on a duvet for Gwyneth's bedroom. Now they have been cut up to make these valances. I think I bought them on clearance...what a bargain!

Busy Days

Yesterday we spent the day getting haircuts for the kids and looking for shorts for Henry to wear for pictures. Today we spent almost 3 hours at Sears getting pictures taken and deciding on what to order.

I think I will start planning the outfits for next time...tomorrow. That is always the most stressful part for me, and Henry screaming from his stroller while I try to decide on poses is a close second.

When we arrived home my order from Spin Blessing was on the front porch. I love getting goodies in the mail (even when they are from me).

Here is what was inside...

My plans for the evening involve the stitch-it kit above and these onsies, which I picked up last weekend in anticipation...

If all goes well, I should have something cute to show-off tomorrow.