Less is More

Last week I vowed to have more Gemini finished, and instead I sadly report that Gemini is no more for the time being. I have to cast on again with smaller needles and to be honest the thought of it has got me...well...twisted. hmph.

I did finish this adorable sweater though...

Baby Sophisticate pattern by Linden Down 

yarn: Berroco Comfort Chunky in Cadet

 cute garter stitch cowl neck. Got to practice my short rows!

managed to find three matching vintage leather buttons in my button stash! 

I highly recommend this pattern. There are so many projects with detailed projects notes for easy size modifications. 

This was  my first experience with Berroco Comfort. I love the stitch definition and the easy care aspect of it, but my needle points did get caught in the yarn a lot and it was kind of splitty.

In other non-knitty news, our move date is set for May 21st! 

Hopefully we'll continue to get healthier not sicker as the day approaches. N and E are pretty good sports though...they don't seem to have any less energy at all despite the runny noses and coughs.

Noelle's latest masterpiece. It's a pig family and the words "dog" and "cat. 

Razzle Dazzle Me

I knew this would happen...Ellie finally caught what Noelle had, so she's napping away and Noelle is trying her best to be a good "nurse". Sweetest thing ever.
You know what else is sweet? Binding off a project and making peace with it even though it isn't what it was originally supposed to be.
Two lovely skeins of this yarn...

Sweet Fiber Cashmerino Sport 

....originally destined to be a full-sized Rustic Shawl. The pattern is simple and perfect for showing off hand-dyed yarn. I don't even remember when I started this project, but I picked it up again last week.

At that time, I was about to reach the end of my first (lovely, soft, sproingy, delicious) skein of yarn, and I realized that a) I didn't really feel like knitting increasingly longer rows of garter stitch and b) the fabric was knitting up so dense and warm that a full shawl would be too heavy for my personal taste. Gotta roll with the punches!

So here is my "Rustic Shawl Lite"...I named it Razzle Dazzle:

I just loooooove it. 

I'll post better photos once I've blocked it. 

Lady Liberty

I only finished 10 rows of my Tops, Tanks and Tees KAL Gemini Pullover:

It's reminding me increasingly of this lady:

I've put off working on it more until I finish off two little baby projects. 

 The Little Professor Vest

Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down  

With our move just a month away, I only have bits of time here and there to work on projects, but I am ever so grateful that I have this skill because I find it does help to ease the overwhelming stress of it all. Knit a few rows, take a deep breath, down a cup of cold-brew, and things seem a little bit more manageable.Yay for creative outlets!

Spring KAL

Noelle's finally on the mend, we think, but all those days stuck in the house together is finally taking its toll on me and the girls. I feel so bad for Noelle for being sick and for Ellie who just wants to run around outside and can't. Hopefully tomorrow we can resume some semblance of our normal routine.

With a sick kid the days seemed to blend together, but I didn't/couldn't forget that today was cast-on day for the Top, Tanks, and Tees Knit-Along hosted by luvinthemommyhood. So I cast on...

and that's about all I did. 

The pattern is Gemini pullover by Jane Richmond and the yarn is Berroco Pure Pima, 100% cotton, colorway Porcelain Green. It's very smooth to knit with for cotton yarn and I know it will be a fairly fast knit especially with the KP interchangeables. 

I think it's always good to have a few projects you can knit on here and there as a way to relax. The cable pattern on this tiny vest is easily memorized. I wanted to try the pattern and I can already tell this is one I'll be using as a go-to gift for boys and maybe even girls too. Check out the designer Christina's blog, ClassicCableKnits, for more cute patterns and knitty goodness. 

twiggy

Noelle woke up Easter Sunday sporting a 104 fever. She is still sick but finally seems to be improving a little bit. Being stuck at home isn't all bad. I managed to finish another sweater...The Twiggy sweater, pattern by (surprise) Jane Richmond. It was the perfect project to whip up between KALs.

Knit with large needles in lofty Bernat Roving, this sweater is chunky looking but in this particular yarn feels very light. It's already fuzzing up though, even after blocking. Next time I knit this (and there WILL be a next time, the pattern is so easy and fun!) I will probably go for a sturdier, plied yarn. 

Now, I definitely know how to sew a button. But I wanted to see if there was some special way to sew buttons on knitted "fabric", and I found this great tutorial. Always nice to learn new little tricks. 

Close-up of the cute button loop. Since I had only 8 buttons I just did 7 buttons on the body and one button on the collar. I am on the short side so it worked out perfectly fine. 

sweet Ellie...

Coffee Experiment

After reading the Pioneer Woman's post about cold-brewing, as well as America's Test Kitchens' notes on the subject, I decided to try my hand at it. However, being the (im)patient person I am, I just used what I had in the kitchen and fudged my way around.

The process was beyond simple. I didn't have any large containers so I just made a quart of it.

My cute assistant:

Making it "rain coffee". Can you imagine coffee rain? Only in a perfect world...

The reward of our "labor". I like my coffee straight up.

Next time I will use more finely ground, stronger coffee. 

For my initial experiment, though, I'd say the results are pretty fantastic for a recipe that takes so little work. Smooth and light tasting, like how coffee should taste in the Spring. 

Malabreego...

Noelle gasped audibly when she saw this lovely skein...

...and promptly made up a song about it. 

in the morning...in the evening...every day.