Me-Made-May 2015

I first found about Me-Made-May on May 1st last year.  I watched eagerly as everyone posted up their daily pictures or weekly summaries.  I think is what started my sewing spree last year.  I have made clothing for over 20 years now but not everyday wearable garments.  This past year I have been sewing clothing that would be appropriate for wearing to work, and also comfortable to wear to work.  So this year I'm excited to participate in  .

 'I, (Christa, www.lakeknit.blogspot.ca), sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15. I endeavour to wear a handmade outfit each work day and handmade tops and sweaters on the weekend for the duration of May 2015'

I will post some photos of the outfits I'm wearing but I'm not making any promises of how many or how often. I look forward to sewing what everyone else has sewn or knit.

Elsa Dress

My daughter was invited to a "Frozen" 4th birthday party!  I knew I wanted to make her dress, so as she debated between Anna and Elsa I looked to Pinterest for ideas.  I saw lots of great ideas but the more I thought about it the practical part of me won out.

 I first made her an "Elsa" top using the Zee's Tee pattern.  It has an option for a colour-blocked yoke.  I've made several t-shirts for her using this pattern so I knew it fit right.  I found a white, sparkly jersey to use on the top and the bottom blue is leftover from a pair of leggings I made for myself.  Now when she wants to wear her Elsa costume anywhere she can because she has a practical top to wear.

For the skirt I used a satiny polyester and tulle.  I just did a seam up the side and gathered the waist band.  I used more blue jersey for the waistband.  Quick and easy and it was done.  The only complaint I got from it's user was there was no slit up the side, "But Mommy, Elsa's dress is open here on her leg!" Yes, it is.  So I quickly ripped the seam up a bit and serged the edges.  Done.

When I made the top I attached some ribbon on the back so I could attach the cape there, more like Elsa has her cape as part of her dress.

But as I thought about it more I wanted my daughter to be able to take it on and off herself so I just made a loop and put velcro on it.  She loves it.  She loved the party as well.

I had hair extensions I put in when I got married so I quickly braided up a clip in braid for my dark-haired Elsa.

 Here is her hostess, Princess Anna (also in a handmade costume, done by her mom!)

 And off course Princess Elsa had to find all the eggs on Easter weekend!  With any luck, she'll want to be Elsa for Halloween and I won't have to be making another costume come October.

Have you made any costumes for kids?

Knits at Play

This is how we wear out knits!!  Outside on Easter weekend.

Picnic on the beach!  

How do you wear your knits? 

Rainbow Hitchhiker and Lace Tee

Hitchhiker by Martina Behm

Yarn:  Vanilla Rainbow by YarnInk and Stroll Sock Yarn by Knitpicks

This is the yarn that I really wanted from YarnInk Studios.  My husband ordered me a skein of the Vanilla Rainbow and Pinkaliscious Rainbow and some grey lace yarn for Christmas. I knit the Pinkaliscious Rainbow yarn into a pair of zigzagular socks, which I like, but the beautiful colours almost get lost in the business of the yarn.

I knew with the Vanilla Rainbow I wanted to knit a shawl and after lots of different ideas I settled on doing the Hitchhiker shawl and alternating every 2 rows with a white yarn.

I ended up doing 37 teeth on my shawl.  I'm 37.  It seemed like a good place to stop.

And the best part is I still have 30 grams left, so I have enough to make a pair of socks, if I do the toe, heel and cuff in a contrast colour!

I love the result!  It's bright, it's colourful and the beauty of the rainbow stands out.  I think this is my favourite way to use a variegated yarn, alternate a plain yarn with the variegated.

The t-shirt I'm wearing has a lace panel front, which is difficult to see.  I made it using the free Deer and Doe Plantain Tee.  It's as comfortable to wear as a plain tee, but the lace makes it dressier for wearing to work, or dressing up a pair of jeans!  And now I've got the best scarf to wear with it!

So satisfying to get another knit off my needles.  Looks like I'll be able to wear it this week coming up as the weather is going to be wet and rainy.  Happy Knitting!

Cabled Hat

Here's a little fix up project I did before Christmas.

 I made this cabled hat a few years ago with the burgundy edging.  It is knit from the bottom up so to take the burgundy yarn off was a bit fiddly but I just carefully cut the burgundy yarn and picked up the stitches as I pulled out the yarn.

 I then knit a green seed stitch band and added a tassle. Voila!  New hat. I also lined it with fleece to make it warm enough for Canadian winters.

Pattern: Modified a baby knit merino-silk-cables-for-baby

I wore it all winter. It's my current favourite hat, again.

Twisted Scarlet

Pattern: Twisted Scarlett
Yarn: Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock

The pattern is from one of the ladies in the new knitting group I joined.  We meet every other Tuesday night in Pickering, Ontario, if anyone is local and looking for a knit group to join!

Anna also dyes her own yarn and sells it in her Etsy shop, Mythic Yarn.  She brought some yarn to the Knit night and it was too tempting.  I picked up these lovelies. Anna doesn't have anything in her shop right now but I know she is dying up some wonderful new yarns!

 Back to my wristlets.  The cable detail is a nice thick chain. The pattern is for fingerless gloves.  I knew I didn't have enough yarn for those and that I would mostly be wearing these inside when I am wearing a 3/4 length sleeve sweater and want a bit more warmth.

 The pattern took a while before it became intuitive but I like it!

I really like how the ribbing flows into the cables at the top and the bottom.  I wish mine were a bit longer, I started to run out of yarn so I had to stop.  I still like them.  They are the perfect extra bit of warmth on a cold day.

Back to Work

I've been back to work now for 2 weeks.  I had been off on an extending maternity leave since my son was born and I've loved every minute of it.  I've had my daughter and son with me everyday.  It is such a fun time to be with my kids as they grow and change so much.  My son is now 19 months old and my daughter is 4 years old!

I have very mixed feelings about working again. I like my job.  I teach full-day Kindergarten and I love the challenges and rewards it gives to see such little children come in not knowing how to read their name and leaving (after 2 years) being able to read simple sentences (at least, that's the goal).  I'm worried about keeping everything together.  Doing things in a timely fashion.  I've only ever been early or late to things since I had kids.  Mostly I'm worried about getting knocked out by Vertigo again.  When I went back to work after having my daughter I worked for 2 weeks and then I ended up in the hospital and diagnosed with Benign Positional Paroxismal Vertigo (BPPV).  I was off work for 2 weeks ( and I was told it could be up to 6 weeks).  When I did return to work my immune system wasn't quite recovered and I caught every tiny little cold and sniffle that came into my classroom.  I ended up missing 28 days of work that year!! So I'm really afraid of a repeat of that.  Since that big episode I have only had tiny moments of vertigo.  I can't spin my kids around and dance in circles without getting dizzy.  Two weeks back this time and no vertigo yet. 

My typical day right now has been wake up with my son around 6 am.  Go to the kitchen and get a snack for him then go to the basement where my sewing area is and a play area for the kids.  On a nice day he eats his snacks and then plays happily by himself and I work on taping together patterns and cutting out fabric.

When my daughter wakes up (after 7) we go upstairs and make breakfast.  After we eat the kids are typically happy to play, as they are doing right now.  My sewing and knitting time happens when my son has his afternoon nap and my daughter has "quiet time" (read, play quietly and watch a tv show).  Then after the kids are in bed I usually do more sewing or knitting.  I will miss the quiet rhythm of our days.

Now it's up at 6 pm.  Everyone out the door by 7:15.  Drop my husband at the train. Drop the kids at daycare.  Work till 4:15.  Pick up the kids.  Home to make supper and put the kids to bed by 7.  Everything feels so rushed and hectic.  But that's reality.  We're slowly making the adjustment!  So if my blogging is slow and my finished projects slow down that's why!  Not enough hours in the day!

Curling Sweetheart

 I love to watch to watch curling. I've only curled about twice in my life but I love to watch curling and knit.  I think I like it because it is a slow paced game but there is always something to listen to. Perfect for doing while knitting so I decided to call this my Curling Sweetheart.

 I started knitting this at the beginning of the Canadian Women's Curling Championship, called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.  I knit through the Men's Championships, the Brier and continued to knit through the Women's World Championship and finished up before the end of the Men's World Championship.

Pattern: Sweetheart Pullover
Yarn: Swish Bare Bulky by Knitpicks

 I think my favourite part is the neckline.  I like how wide it is and the details.

 It's really comfortable.  I love the yarn.  If I was to make it again I might add an inch or two in length but overall I really like it.

I made some modifications for the edgings and raised the neckline.  Here's my Ravelry page.   I thought it would be too warm to wear at this time of the year but actually with the 3/4 length sleeves it's just the perfect layer.

This is sweater number 4 that I've finished this year. I think my favourite thing to knit is sweaters? Anyone else love to knit sweater?