Owl Mobile for the Nursery

I'm so happy with this owl mobile that now sits in Ellie's room above her crib :)
I knew that Ellie's room would incorporate many homemade items, and a mobile was always on my list of things to design.
In keeping with the owl theme that I imagined for my nursery way back in this post, I decided to brainstorm ways to make my own owl mobile.
Although I have a sewing machine now, I didn't have one when the brainstorming began, and sewing by hand is not my forte, so I ixnayed that idea, leaving me with the option of knitting or crocheting.

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Knitted Nursery Owl

I love decorative owls.
I know owls are a bit of a trend right now... but I'd like to think started the trend, rather than jumped on the bandwagon....
When I began planning out a nursery, I knew I wanted to incorporate owls into the design somehow.
Even in this "early nursery ideas" post I highlighted the idea.

So when I saw this pattern for a snowy owl, I knew I had to make it! 

Finding the extremely soft alpaca wool turned out to be difficult in Grande Prairie, but luckily for me a trip to Edmonton was quickly approaching, and a stop at River City Yarns was only a small detour from where we were staying :)

I was VERY intimidated by the pattern when I first read it, but with help from some very skilled knitting friends, I was able to problem-solve my way though it. 

I sized mine down from the one in the pattern above, cause I didn't want to buy as much yarn, lol. The smaller version is just as cute as the big one I'd say! 

Here's the finished owl for the nursery:

What started out as a stuffed animal for the baby, may end up as a decoration... for mom, lol. 

After all that hard work, I don't want it to get ruined!
Next step is to use my newly acquired and specialized knitting skills to recreate a white owl - so they can sit on the shelf together :)

{xoxo}

Knitted Baby Hats

Knitting is so rewarding. 

It's so easy to learn, and so easy to become moderately good at. 

PLUS, you can easily do it was you're 9 months pregnant, don't feel like moving, and ready to pop :) 

Here are the dogs keeping me company while I knit a baby hat:

You can see the pattern for this super easy hat here. 

My friend found the pattern and warned me that I could make them quickly - but seriously, they're easy! I finished both of these in one night. 

Couldn't just make one, because I don't know if I'm having a boy or a girl yet... but I'll keep one, and the other one will make a lovely baby shower gift for someone :) 

I can just picture these cozy hats on the baby's head now :) 

So excited!

We'll see how much time I have before the babe gets here - maybe I'll get some booties done too! 

Pregnancy and knitting are a good combination! 

{xoxo}

Welcome Baby #2

He's here!! Welcome John Charles!!

I was pretty sure it was a girl... I was very wrong, lol. 

My good friend's baby boy was born Aug. 17 at 5:21pm. 

8lbs. 3oz. 

Dark brown hair, blue eyes, and handsome as can be!
Now my flower girl has a little brother :) 

I wish I took this picture, because that would mean that I had met him! 

But I stole it from his proud mama's blog here :)

I'm gonna say that Russel was the winner of the epic baby predictions :) He guessed boy with blue eyes, and was only 2 oz. away! Good job! (now guess ours correctly!!)

Here's a picture of the cute little something I sent ahead of time for the little guy :) 

First baby hat I ever completed!

Congratulations on your growing family!!!

He's perfect :)

{love}

Stitch 'N Bitch

So... I've mastered knitting (well, maybe more like attempted...), and I've attempted crocheting, and Ive enjoyed both thoroughly. 

I have this crazy need to attempt EVERYTHING though. 

Some friends of mine introduced me to double pointed needles (see below). 

This requires FOUR needles at once! 

It's daunting to say the least. 

But I have some great pro-knitter friends, so I decided to try :) 

My friends have set me up with an "easy" (their word) baby hat to try.

I spent 2 or 3 hours learning the first couple tricks. 

Spent the whole time feeling clueless. 

Holding double pointed needles feels FAR more awkward than holding just two needles! 

This is all I have to show for it so far.... 

....two measly rows :( 

Hopefully I'll have a finished project to share eventually! 

For now I'm just sharing the awkwardness of attempting to use FOUR needles at once. 

This will take some getting use to! 

On another note... 

Here is a picture of one of my pro-knitter friends! 

Almost ready to pop! 

(sorry for the blurriness)

Everyone looks gorgeous when they are pregnant :) 

Would you believe she's only 36 weeks! 

Guess that's what happens when you're 5 foot nothing and pregnant, hehehe. 

Here are some amazing hats that she knit for her newborn. 

Pink for the girl or green for the boy. 

[ Caveat: Mine will look no where near as good as these! ]

{joy}

Knitted Swiffer Sweeper

More knitting fun! 

Here's another project I finished recently. 

A swiffer cover!! 

Now I don't have to buy a million of those refills, I just have to make a couple more of these :) 

Maybe I'll make some of these for gifts... who wouldn't want cleaning supplies for their birthday?!?

{create}

1. Learn to Knit (continued...)

So, I've learned to knit. I'm still working on the basics, but I've advanced from this post about knitting and I've gotten very good at making dishcloths! 

When I made this a goal on my 13 of 13 list, I didn't just want to learn one thing and drop it though. I wanted to build up a new talent, something that I can hopefully use in the future to make things for myself and my family. Therefore, I'm still working on it... the next project I had in line was to make an infinity scarf (you know, the popular ones that wrap around your neck twice...).  So I started looking up come patterns. At this point though, to be honest, the patterns are all jibberish to me.. I don't know know what the abbreviations mean, or what the different yarns are. So I've gathered some friends. And we "Stitch & Bitch" together :) It's actually been great, because the first time we met they taught me how to use circular needles, taught me how to read some basic patterns, and didn't even complain! 

So I finished my first scarf project.... 

I LOVE the colour, but the scarf is too short... it said to use 70 stitches for the length, but I used 85 and it was still too short. So then I tried 100 stitches and made another scarf.... 

Somehow I looped the yarn around... so it's actually a TRUE infinity scarf, but did that completely my accident. My friend informs me that it was probably an error right from the first row... but oh well! You can't really tell when I'm wearing it! 

Next step... crocheting!!

1. Learn to Knit

Can't be that hard... right?! Knitting is one of those things that has always been on my list of things to do. I've seen some amazing projects that my friends (and mostly my grandma!) has made and wished I had that kind of talent. Or alternatively, I've bought some beautiful things, thinking "I with I could have made this!". So, I've added this task to my 13 of 13 goal list! I have dreams of making beautiful big blankets, and baby sweaters for friends, and soft infinity scarves..... but thought I should probably start with a dishcloth.

Luckily, I got this amazing "Learn to knit/crochet" book from my dad for Christmas! It has some amazing pictures, and all the tools I need to start learning. Yay! 

Here's how my first dishcloth turned out. To be fair, this clever photography hides most of the gaping holes and uneven patterns quite well. But It's still useful. Mr. A keeps telling me that, "it's great to have a dishcloth with these convenient holes for air to pass through". haha. So supportive! 

Attempt #2 started! 

[side note: isn't Joop adorable staring at the camera!]

I think once I've finished a few of these dishcloths I may move onto a scarf - good thing it will still be winter for a while here!