Helen Joyce Cardigan

My first DK weight sweater I've ever knit!  I tend to stick with worsted to bulky weight yarns for how fast they knit up. I found this yarn at my LYS and couldn't help picking up a skein . . . then going back and getting 2 more because I loved the colour so much.

Neckline too low and wide

When I finished it according to the pattern instructions I could barely keep it on my shoulders and it was really low around the back neckline. I tried adding a little panel at the front to pull it across.  I'd see something like this on a shrug and thought it looked neat. NOPE . . . not working. 

Attempt to pull sweater together at front

Pattern: Helen Joyce Cardigan by Taiga Hilliard Designs
Yarn: Sweet Georgia Yarn DK: Coral Rose

 So I pulled out my cast-off and starting increasing the border.  I did several short rows to increase the neckline and the back and add in enough width to have it sit nicely on my shoulders.

I loved the lace pattern at the bottom of the sweater.  I read other people's modifications and lowered the seed stitch band to be below my bust line.  I don't like cropped sweaters so I added length so it sits at my hips.  

Now: perfect, I love it.  It is the perfect weight cardigan, makes a pair of jeans look dressy and goes well with dresses or skirts.  After I knit all the heavy-weight yarn in my stash I need to get some more light-weight yarn. Onto my next sweater: I Heart Cardigan by Tanis Lavallee

Not Much Knitting

The weather here in Ontario has finally gotten beautiful and warm.  I'm spending so much time outside with my kids. With the warmer weather comes deck weather and BBQ time.  Our deck is in such bad shape that we've been working on giving it a mini-makeover  . . .because we can't afford to replace it. We've been in our house 6 years and the balcony is about 12 years old and the lower deck over 20 years old.

Here's what it looked like before: 

Faded, ripped cushions that get dripping wet with the slightest bit of rain.

Phase 1: Replace rotting stairs with narrower set and put in a railing section and make new cushion covers

New Steps and Railing

New, clean cushion covers that are water resistant!

I think I need to sit out there right now!

Now I have a nice place to sit and knit out my yard.  The next phase of the deck makeover is to put a baby gate up and fix the entryway into the house and the BBQ area.  Followed by a complete paint job to minimize the chances of slivers. 

I'm working slowly on Regatta Tee.  I've finished the front and \I'm working on the back but I won't be finished by the end of the knit-along.

DIY Lego/Train Table: Re-purposing an Old Dresser

My daughter is just about to turn 3 and she already has one of the largest Lego collections I have ever seen.  How is that possible?  My husband kept all his Lego from when he was a child and shipped it all over here from England when he moved here.  My daughter doesn't really build with the Lego yet but she loves all the people and houses and buildings.  It was taking up way to much space on the floor of our family room (also my craft room!) so I decided we needed a Lego table.

We had an old dresser we were going to get rid of . . . so instead of getting rid of it I cut it down to make 2 drawer units to support a lego table. Was it easy?  Not really . . .  but since I already had the dresser it didn't cost me anything more.

The table top I made out of a sheet of 1/2" plywood.  I got it cut to size at Home Depot.  I made it specifically to slide under my children's craft table. The table top is 33" by 35 " and fits 9 Lego base pieces with a bit of extra room. I used 4" x 3/4" pine boards to make an edging around the table.  I think even a 2" edge would be sufficient.

Table top in Progress

Lego City

Side View

Front View

I absolutely love it! Also makes it more enjoyable for me to play too!

Want to make your own? For easier than I did?  How about 2 IKEA night stands  with some storage baskets and then a table top.

How do store Lego in your house?