Shake Shake Shake! Shake your bootees...

I've just finished another pair of bootees based on the Oh Baby! Baby Bootees pattern. This is the fourth pair I've made for the little one. They keep her warm, and with some modifications, they (mostly) stay on her feet. 

This particular pair gives me the opportunity to show off some handspun yarn too!

I used about 120 metres of yarn to make this pair, following instructions for the 6 month size with a few modifications;

I cast on 18 stitches for the cuff (a little more than in the pattern), as I tend to pull the cuffs up over her legs when out & about.
I added a row of eyelets along the ankle, to allow use of an i-cord tie. The i-cord keeps the bootees on her feet quite well (nothing will stay put forever on baby feet).
I knit the instep for 8 garter stitch ridges (slightly more than in the pattern) as baby's feet are getting longer.

I enjoy making these bootees; there's something really satisfying about simple garter stitch combined with the multiple colours in this handspun yarn. I'm just wondering what modifications I will need to make for a larger size  - I'm determined to keep her feet covered in knitting until she's ready for proper toddling shoes!

Sewing - The Anywhere Chair

During a recent family visit, the old travel light vs secure the baby dilemma came up again. The highchair we got for baby just barely fits in the car, but doesn't leave room for much else. I was considering a booster chair, when I remembered something I had come across on Pinterest; a fabric contraption that could be used to secure baby to a regular chair. 

I followed this tutorial by Made by Marzipan and used odd shaped fabric & wadding leftovers from previous projects with 80 cents worth of velcro tape.   This only took a couple of very short evening sewing sessions. It has limits (it will only fit a certain type of chair) but will easily fold up & fit in a changing bag and will certainly hold this little one while we sit around a family dinner table. 

Not bad for some leftovers!
(note how I haven't shown detailed photos of my very wonky top stitching)

Spring!

We've had mostly miserable weather the past few weeks, so once the sun appeared I took the opportunity for a walk in the Botanic Gardens. 

Signs of spring are beginning to appear; there's even a little bit of colour.

Stuffocation

I've recently read an article on this book and it definitely describes how I feel about my home & possessions at the moment.  We moved about 7 months ago, and dragging all our possessions out of the depths of the cupboards really does emphasise just how much we have, and how little of it we actually use. So far this year I've been focussing on clearing out things that aren't used or loved.
The easiest thing would be to just toss it all in the rubbish bin, but I also hate the idea of useful things ending up in a landfill.

Some of the more ridiculous items I have cleared out over the past few weeks include;
Grocery receipts from a year ago.
Used batteries collected since 2006 (there was a bus ticket in the box with a date)
A nice stone. Yes, a stone. It now lives in the back garden.

This is all a long-winded way of announcing that I have decided to offer up most of my handspun and lace weight yarn stash for sale, in the hopes that it will fulfil it's yarny destiny at the hands of another crafter. It's all listed on my Ravelry stash for sale or trade page here.  All my crafting right now tends to be machine washable so I really cannot do these lovely things justice. Please, give them a new loving home.

And here's a recently finished baby hoodie to show off too. 

Pattern; Wee Austin Hoodie by Connie Chang Chinchio

Yarn: Millamia Naturally Soft Merino

I am very happy with the fit (a bit big for now) on its owner, but think the execution of the textured stitches could have been neater. 

I didn't make any modifications but would consider making this one again with a little less textured stitches - possibly with purl 'ridges' on a knit background in the shoulder area.

Eventful

January is a time for recapping. I think my 2013 can be summed up in one word; 'Eventful'.

As for plans for the new year? Nothing in particular; just to continue to adapt to my new roles in life, and strive to be the best me I can be. After all, I've someone else to think of now. 

bouquet photo by Julie at halfadreamaway

Making Christmas

This year, I've laid off the gift knitting, but the cookie cutters are getting a work out. I'm looking forward to spending time with family & friends. (And to my mammy's roast spuds.) I hope you all have a peaceful festive season.

Buttons

I love buttons. I can easily spend quite a while sorting through the button jar to find the right button, and if nothing seems right I'll happily get extra sets of buttons becauseI can't be sure of the colour under artificial shop lighting. I seem to recall rifling through my mother's button tin as a child, just for the pleasure of looking at all the different colours & shapes, and still rather enjoy arranging them by colour, size etc.

Which is all a rather long winded way of saying that I probably have a rather excessive button collection. But as long as they fit in the button jar....

(I'm pretty sure I said the same when all my yarn fit into one plastic tub.)