toddler mittens

Baby Joshua has a new carseat - one without a snuggly "bundleme" cover - and winter is coming! He already has a cute winter coat and a hat, but he needed mittens. Solution? Knit some!

Most baby mitten patterns are for thumbless mittens, because little ones aren't yet ready to use their thumbs most of the time. However, my toddler has begun to pick things up with his thumb and first finger, and I'm sure he'd be frustrated if his mittens didn't have a thumb. So, as usual, I've modified a pattern to make it work for us. I started with this pattern, making some changes.

First, I've added some length the the cuff, as an attempt to keep these mittens on Joshua's busy hands. I knitted 20 rows instead of the 8 recommended. This will allow me to fold the cuff over so that it's a bit more snug on his tiny wrist.

Second, I've added a thumb! I knit 8 rows in stockinette stitch after the ribbing. Then, at the beginning of row 9, I took a piece of scrap yarn in the same weight, and knit four stitches with the scrap yarn. I then placed the four new stitches back on the left needle and switched back to the main yarn.

please excuse the poor quality picture from my phone!

This created a thumb hole with 8 live stitches for me to knit later. When I had finished the mitten, I picked up four stitches above and below the scrap yarn, and then knit eight rows in the round. Then I knit two together all the way around, cut the yarn, and drew it through the stitches to finish it off.

Third, I finished off the main part of the mitten with kitchener stitch, rather than by drawing the yarn through the stitches. This way, I created a flatter mitten top.

Finally, I made I-cord to attach the two mittens. I'll thread the mittens through the sleeves of his jacket to keep them from getting separated. I hope this will also keep them on his hands a little longer!

Again, another phone picture.

 What do you think?

Linking up to Sew Much Ado's "We Did it! Wednesday" linky party

charity knitting

I like knitting for other people. It's somehow harder to knit for myself - like the time is better used if I can give something away!

Each year, I knit things to give to my family members as Christmas gifts, and I like to try to fit something in to give to a charity. This year, I found the Red Scarf Program, which is part of Foster Care to Success. The organization helps college students to feel loved and warm on Valentine's Day each year by sending a red scarf to each student that has been in foster care.

Here's what I came up with:

A squishy, soft infinity scarf!

I happened to have some red acrylic yarn in my stash that was looking for the perfect project. Paired with a reddish brown mohair, it makes a cozy scarf!

I knit in a basic basketweave pattern, using big needles to allow the mohair to stay lofty. It didn't take long to finish because of the bigger needles!

To finish the scarf, I seamed the finished edges together, creating an infinity scarf. It will be so cozy - worn once around the neck, or twisted double for extra warmth. The college student bonus is that both of these yarns are machine washable, and therefore, late-night (or early morning) coffee-run friendly.

I hope and pray that the student who gets the scarf feels cozy and warm! I wish I could hug you and tell you that you truly are loved.

hello, December!

It's hard to believe that we're already halfway through December...my fancy music-themed advent calendar says so:
Whew.

Things were frustrating when we first got here, and my perception of the rest of my life was colored by that. I don't think I began to have a positive attitude about this semester until about halfway through October. Shameful - I wish I hadn't reacted like that. Do you ever wish you could go back and just change?

I have had a good semester, full of great opportunities that I might not have encountered. My husband did finally find a job, though it's 450 miles a week and really demanding hours. We do get to see each other on weekends. I've lost a lot of sleep - he's endured a lot of boredom. I feel like we've skipped over these past four months, like they didn't really happen.

But, oh, does the bank account say otherwise. We are barely hanging on, and I know that it's only God's provision that's allowing us to stay in the black. We have some huge bills looming over our heads, but we still can't pay them. The commute that my husband has is just eating through what he earns. It's so frustrating.

When we do get to see each other, we're both tired and stressed. He needs time to recharge all by himself, and I've been lonely for him all week. Does being a married adult have to look like this?

We did have a wonderful date night just last week. We pulled out some gift cards for the Cheesecake Factory - delicious. It was a brief escape for us, and that was amazing. We walked around the mall and held hands like we were dating. I loved that! We were both so happy and relaxed. I wish sometimes that life had fewer sad, frustrating valleys and more of those happy peaks. I love my husband so very much, and I wish I had more energy to give to him when he comes home so late at night.

Things have slowed down for me as the semester is coming to a close. I have only had to give a few presentations after handing in my papers, and I have one exam on Friday. Not bad! I didn't even have to sing a jury, for which I am so grateful.
I have had time to (gasp!) make cookies and decorate them...

...set up and decorate our tree,

...I've had friends over for dinner, I've finished knitting the Christmas gifts I hoped to make. My presents are wrapped, cookies are in the freezer (don't tell my hubby, or there won't be any left!), and I've actually vacuumed my house. There aren't any dishes in the sink (well, except for tonight's one small pot from dinner), I'm actually going to do a craft tonight, and I've sent Christmas cards. I even shoveled part of the driveway, spent time playing with my cats, and played piano for fun.

God is still good, even in the middle of our frustration. We're going to make it!

jolly good fun

on Sunday, we had been at my in-laws' house for the weekend, so we had a three hour drive back to our house. after that, my husband went directly to ultimate frisbee practice and a meeting, and i was stuck at home. no way i was doing clean up right away!
so i went for a run in the mild 32 degrees-F weather. it was beautiful! I took some pictures and really enjoyed running for a bit.

since it was perfect snowman weather, i made one. here he is:


it was also a great day for sunsets and snowy landscapes:



and i have much for which to be thankful.

unbelievable

yesterday was sunday, and church, of course. we were supposed to get our "new" car, but evidently something is wrong with the battery. we're glad the guy is fixing it, but it really stinks for my husband to not have a car. we've worked out rides and who has the car for the next few days... it'll work for a little while longer. we didn't realize how blessed we were to have two cars at all!

work has been... more drudgery than simply work. i know the Lord establishes the work of our hands. i'm really struggling to be grateful. i know i'm here to do his work in this time, and not just the secretary stuff. i'm supposed to be an outspoken servant of His. what an assignment.

on a positive note, it has been a beautiful day. i love when, in the winter, the sun comes up clear and golden, and hits everything with a perfect warmth that takes the chill out of the snowy landscape. there's a hill of open pasture land near our house that is dotted with round, snow covered bales of hay. when the sun is out, they cast small, dark, semi-circle shadows beside them, as if they've been gently nestled into the field. with the sparkling cold snow, bright icy blue sky, the golden bales waiting for spring, and the almost blindingly bright sun, it looks like something wonderful is about to happen - something special. occasionally, there's a deer with his furry winter coat burying his muzzle in the snow. his graceful form, alert brown eyes, fuzzy ears, and white tail just belong - this all belongs together. it was created to be this way. there could be no accident.


and i feel so much more peaceful. just breathing in the sharp, cold air and seeing such beauty is enough to stop me from my worrying, to make me slow down, and to really remember what a blessing it is to be here, now, for a reason.

Saturday evening we had another girls' night in - and just as I arrived, the sky was clear and full of stars. what more could i ask for to remind me that He's always there, that i'm complete, loved, and that my life has meaning? i have not been forgotten. there is a plan.

here's a hat i made this weekend for a coworker of mine. it's a basic hat pattern, but i added three big cabled sections to it for variety (*k8, p4, k8 [cabled section], repeat three times from *). it's made with a worsted weight Lion brand (washable!) wool, and a Red Heart "Symphony" acrylic/polyester blend held together. It's very thick and warm - perfect for the frigid temperatures we're experiencing at the moment. and what better timing than right before the snowstorm we're supposed to get tomorrow?
and for good measure, here's the completed gray/pink/sparkly pink legwarmer i finished:

yes, i did actually take a picture of it with the stitches going the wrong direction... oops. i suppose i could flip the picture so it's correct, but what fun would that be?


counting my blessings.

i am so in love with my husband. i have so much more than i need. my mom sent me a package today! at work! :o) a lovely diversion. and i'm re-learning my Music Theory. deep breath. my life is in His hands.