I think the summer tends to dull my inspiration for knitting - the heat can do that to a person. I have officially put the cardigan aside and decided to go with the green cotton pictured below.

Beside is going to be my first sewing project using the sewing machine I got for my birthday last month that I still haven’t even plugged in! The fabric is so beautiful that I’m making the entire skirt out it instead of using a different fabric for the yoke. There I go changing the pattern already with my first project. Here’s an up close shot of the fabric:

It’s a bit blurry (my camera’s not that great), but you get the idea. The lady bugs are metalic gold - so pretty. I hope I don’t mess up the pattern because I would love to have this outfit to wear for Christmas or Thanksgiving.

I’ve ripped back the last few rows of the cardigan several times now. Part of me is thinking of cutting my losses and starting the sweater over with a different yarn that is closer to the yarn used in the original pattern. My problems arise from the texture of the linen. It’s very difficult to see the pattern and very easy to get ‘lost’. I’m not going to frog it at this point, just set it aside and try out this other yarn a see if it works better.

And Pioggia you are absolutely right that this is my hobby and it shouldn’t stress me out. .

Well I’m still on the back of cardigan and I’m getting frustrated with myself. This is not a project to do when one is exhausted. I keep screwing up the pattern and having to rip it out. The yarn isn’t smooth and catches when I’m ripping back and then I drop stitches everywhere.

I keep reminding myself that the sweater is going to be very pretty when (if) it gets done. I think my next project is going to be a scarf .

As always I’ve been busy with working and taking care of the family. But I manage to fit some knitting in and today I felt it was time to focus on some blogging.

I have added the Quick Hat pattern to my patterns page.

Click here for a copy and of course it will continue to be available on my patterns page.

I’ve had my sewing machine for a week and a half and I still haven’t tried it out. It’s frustrating to have so little time to do the things one wants to do. It seems like far too much of life is wasted on things we ‘have to do’, like working, cooking and cleaning. *Sigh*.

Enough complaining. Here’s where I am with the cardigan:

Almost done the back.

You can actually see the diamond pattern now, although it’s not as apparent as the original sweater.

Super busy that’s where. Also I suffered from my usual bout of insomnia last week and I’m just starting to catch up on my rest.

I have been working on the cardigan though. And the progress has been slow. Here’s where I am:

Sorry the picture isn’t great - I just took it in my living room without any sunlight since it’s 9 p.m. It’s hard to see, but the diamond pattern isn’t showing up very well with this yarn. I knew the yarn would look different from the smooth, silk/cotton blend the pattern called for but I had no idea it would be this different. I’m not unhappy with it and I think once it’s washed and block the pattern will show up a bit more.

It was my birthday last week and I got a sewing machine. I’ve very excited about the whole thing and I can’t wait to try it out. I can’t really sew but I have many friends and family who have offered their help. I’m confident I can do it. For my first project I want to make a simple skirt. Maybe something to match my cardigan.

Last night and this morning I looked out the window to see this little guy:

He’s only a baby for sure and the cats have been going crazy wanting to get out there and chase him. This morning I left him a carrot. I hope he likes it.

I haven’t knit much on the cardigan, but this is what I have so far.

I’m quite happy with it how’s going. Again the colour isn’t exactly my preference, but it’s not bad either.

Yep 2-in-1 today. I really wanted to post this a few days ago but being sick and all I hadn’t yet. Little A has this tiny stuffed bunny she calls ‘Brown Bunny’ or ‘Mrs. Bun’ (Daddy used to call the bunny Mr. Bun after the bunny in Calvin and Hobbes, but little A insists that bunny is a girl). Little A asked (practically insisted) that I knit Mrs. Bun a sweater. So that evening I knit up this:

There was no pattern, but I based on the concept of sweater making I used when I was 10. It’s knit in one piece where you knit the back, increase for the sleeves on both sides, cast off the centre for the neck, knit up one side of the front (remembering to cast off the sleeve stitches when they are wide enough), finishing off with the ribbing at the front, then you knit up the other front side. No gauge is really need as it’s so small I just cast on some stitches and held the needle next to Mrs. Bun to see if it was wide enough.

The difficult part was when little A asked where the button was (who makes a cardi without a button)? Since I hadn’t created a button hole I decided to sew on a dome. Now sewing and I are enemies - I can’t seem to ever get it right. It took three tries to sew the dome on correctly. It was a sad, sad thing, but I finally the sweater can be buttoned closed.

So wish me luck as my husband and I pack up a ton of stuff including a 3 year old and a 4 year to head out camping for the weekend. Unfortunately I’m sick (yes again), but I hoped it doesn’t mess things up too much. I’ll be good and take pictures and post them when we get back.

I’ve started this:

Found in the Spring 2008 edition of Interweave Knits here.

I’m using totally different yarn, as the pattern calls for silk and I’m using a cotton-linen blend. I love the yarn and it was gifted to me by my mother-in-law from a lady at the church who is moving to a home and can no-longer knit. This yarn just had to be made into something in this ladies honour.

Of course aside from using a totally different yarn, I’ve already changed the pattern a bit. I noticed they started the sweater with stocking stitch, which we all know would curl - yeah no ribbing or hem? I thought that wasn’t going to work so I’ve knit in a double hem and I’m quiet pleased with the result.

Happy birthday to my Mom. The woman who taught me so many things including how to knit.

My mom is pictured here with little G last summer.