Checkin' In

Hello there, blogosphere!  So sorry for my delay in posting (I'm sure you saw it coming).  We have been enjoying our time as a family of three and getting used to new schedules and agendas.

 Blogging, and sadly, knitting too, have seemed to take a back seat in the past couple of weeks.  My urge to knit has been returning to me- I'm excited to get on Ravelry and search around for some cute baby girl knits.  I know I must have some project ideas saved in my favorites, and now that things are finally falling in to place here on the home front knitting will soon return!

Today I took Elise out for her first visit to a yarn shop.  We stopped by Center Street Knits in Northville. She loved it... can't you tell?

Truth be told the little peanut was all tuckered out and slept the whole time- but at least we have some photos to remind her of her first trip the the yarn shop!


Did you happen to notice her super-cool sheep shoes for her special visit?  That's right- we've got a future knitter on our hands. 

I'll be back on the blogging soon- I still have at least one tutorial that I was working on for Craft week that never got published.  My ear warmer inspired by Anthropologie's Plaited headwrap is still in the works. 


In order to do up a tutorial, we needed to make a new headwrap to show the step-by-step instructions on how it is assembled.  The knitting is *almost* finished- we can soon show the end result. For those of you who have emailed me about the pattern- it is on it's way, thanks for your patience!

Pom Tutorial


In keeping up with the week of International Craft Day, today we will talk about the poms at my baby shower.  My mom had a package of store bought poms which inspired me and my sisters to make a few more.  Now that we have a little girl, I may reuse these poms above her crib in lieu of a traditional nursery mobile.


What you'll need:
10-12 sheets of tissue paper
scissors
stapler
string for hanging


Step 1:  lay all your sheets of tissue paper out in front of you


Step 2:  Fan fold the sheets (each fold should be about 1.5")


completed fan-folded tissue paper


Step 3:  using scissors, round the edges (I have also seen the edges cut to a point as a different option)


rounded edges


Step 4:  Staple right through the center of the folded tissue paper.  You are going through many layers, it will be tought to get the staple all the way through.  I put the stapler on the table and slammed it down as hard as I could.


Step 5:  fold down each layer, one by one


Step 6:  This should actually be step 5, but I forgot and did it as I went.  Tie a string around center of pom.  This way you will be able to hang it once it is all fanned out.



Step 7:  Hang: Ta-da!

International Craft Day... It's Finally Here!

The day has arrived- I hope you are all busy bees working on your project of choice. For us in the Bernardi household, we have been keeping up with our newest project- Elise Michela.

I went into labor on Thanksgiving (don't worry- I got a turkey dinner in before we left for the hospital) and Elise made her entrance to the world Friday morning, November 26 at 11:05.  Our bundle of joy is just a little peanut- weighing in at a mere 6 lbs 12 ounces. Elise's special handknit coming home outfit was adorned pink buttons and little flowers.  It turned out a little something like this:



Unfortunately she was still mistaken for a little boy on our way out of the hospital- guess it's time to incorporate some pink into our gender neutral wardrobe.   Needless to say we are in love and totally in awe of our daughter- we just can't get enough of her.

Posts may be a little delayed for a bit until we get our schedule a little more figured out (our little party girl seems to think 4:30 am is an acceptable bedtime).  I do have some more tutorials drawn up for later this week, but new projects take precedence.  Because it is craft day- I will make sure I get a few stitches in, it wouldn't be right if I didn't :).

Frosted Glow Tutorial

This was the tutorial I posted last month on luvinthemommyhood for the big comfy knits vs. cozy sews roundup.  Since I never actually posted the pattern here, I figured there was no better time than now.  This is how I will wrap up the past two weeks of tutorials. Hope you've enjoyed International Craft Day as much as I have!

Comfy Knits vs. Cozy Sews.  Nothing fires up designers and crafters more than a good old fashioned blog 'battle royale.'  I can't tell you how excited I am to be here today.  As a knitter, summer is my training season- I've spent months preparing for my time in the ring.

Of course, as a knitter, I already feel like we have the 'one up.'  You see, knitting allows us to create our own fabric, taking one dimensional natural fibers and creating two or three dimensional garments.  And with just one simple knitted garment, an entire ensemble can so easily be endowed with a touch of luxury.

Let's jump right in, shall we?



Today I have prepared a pattern that is perfect for the colder weather lurking around the corner.  Even on a drab day, this 'Frosted Glow Cowl' will be sure to add that touch of luxury (not to mention warmth) to your outfit. 





What You'll Need:
 1 skein Rowan Alpaca Cotton
 Size 8 US needles 
 Buttons
 Needle and Thread
 Scissors




Gauge:  4" = 16 sts

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
k2tog: knit two together
yo: yarn over
ssk: slip slip knit
rep: Repeat
RS: Right side
WS: Wrong Side




Cast on 27 stitches

Rows 1-6:  Work in moss stitch pattern (*K1, P1, rep from * to end)

Row 7(RS):  K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1: rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 8 and every following WS row: K1, Pl, K1, purl to last 3 sitcthes; K1, P1, K1

Row 9: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, k3, (yo, k1) twice, ssk, k1;  rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 11:  K1, P1, K2, * k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 13: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, (k1, yo) twice, k3, ssk, k1;  rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 15: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 17: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, (k1, yo) twice, k3, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 19:   K1, P1, K2, * k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 21: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, k3, (yo, k1) twice, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 22: K1, P1, K1, Purl to last three sts, K1, P1, K1

More of a chart person (me too!)?  This one's for you:






Repeat rows 7- 22 until scarflette measures 24". End how you started, with 6 moss stitch rows, and then bind off.

Add buttons, you can use the yarn overs within the pattern as buttonholes.

If you are on Ravelry and want to add this to your project page, just search the patterns for "Frosted Glow".
You can also take a look at my project page for this project done in a different yarn/gauge for more ideas.