After all the last minute rushing and prep, Christmas finally arrived! I hope yours was merry. We enjoyed time spent with family, and it was a happy holiday, indeed.
With the gifts safely delivered, I can show you what I've been working on. The big knitting project which claimed not one, but two of my interchangeable cables was a baby blanket for my nephew, Cooper, who will be arriving this spring. The pattern by Marie Grace Smith is one I've been wanting to make forever, but I allow Darren's input on a lot of my baby projects, and he kept vetoing this one. One day, though, I walked into Jo-Ann Fabrics and these yarns just called to me. The pattern recommends a solid color, fingering weight. Of course, the yarn I chose is worsted weight, not even close to the same, but they were the perfect neutrals; it just seemed right. The nice thing about blankets, they are a simple shape, so the yarn weight really doesn't matter. Just knit until it is the right size. This blanket is worked from the center out, so it really was that simple.
In addition to the blanket, Darren thought I should also knit a teddy bear like I've done for several other babies. The pattern by Berroco is one I like a lot, but it is very hard on my hands, so I put it in the, "definitely, maybe," column. In the end, there was time, so I made the bear. The yarn I chose wasn't an exact match, it's blue whereas the blanket is green, but the main light color is the same, and they seem to play off each other quite well. One of these days, I'd like to try a crochet version of the same pattern. It would go much more quickly and probably be much easier on my hands.
As I was wrapping up the gift list (pun completely unintended), the messy bun hat took Facebook by storm, and I jumped on the bandwagon, whipping out two for my oldest nieces. Teenagers are so hard when it comes to gifts! I made them completely opposite, one in bright jewel tones and the other in earth tones figuring they could trade if I'd completely missed the mark. It wasn't the pattern I liked the best, but it was the one I knew I could finish. In the end, the simple pattern came out okay. It let the yarn do the talking, which was especially nice for the earth tone one.
Most of the adults on my gift list were given candy and a basket of wash clothes and homemade soap. There were ten baskets in all, four a little bit bigger for the people on my list who also make candy and therefore don't need any from me. The bigger baskets had more soap. I'd have like to include an extra wash cloth as well, but I just couldn't bring myself to make even one more. The last three took all I could muster. After running some numbers, I announced to Darren I'd spent nearly 17 hours over the year on them! He then reminded me I'd crocheted a bunch for use here, as well. It is a pretty safe guess I spent a full 24 hours in 2016, hook in hand, just crocheting dish cloths! Burnout, explained.
With all the gifts finished, I was able to return to the kids' New Years (now looking more like Valentine or April Fools) socks. Sophia's are almost finished! Hers are fairly basic with a rolled cuff. The main color is a self striping yarn, with the toes and heels in a coordinating solid. The cuff was knit in a different coordinating solid. Here is the basic recipe for Sophia's socks:
I feel pretty good regarding the goals set for my Christmas crafting. The progress on my health goals is less impressive. Over the last couple months I've gained 10 pounds! It was not unexpected, and I'm not going to beat myself up over it. These things happen, and the best thing to do is use it as motivation going forward. I was going to wait until after the the New Year (and my birthday) to choose a new program and get cracking. Beachbody launched it's All-Access today, December 27. It is every… single… program, every 2017 release — everything — for an entire year! The plan was to get through all the celebrations, then choose something new, because it would all be available to me.
But Christmas night, after the kids had gone to bed, I felt totally motivated and ready to go, so I started Hammer and Chisel again. I love that program and had some good results last time, so I struck while the iron was hot!
I'm pretty sore right now, but pleased with the decision. I've got a whole year to try whatever I want after killing this one.
As a Beachbody Coach, I would love to help you with your health and fitness goals. The All-Access pass is going to be an amazing tool, and I would be glad to talk about that, or any of our other tools with you. You can reach out to me via email. I'm also available on Facebook as Dahlhousegym or instagram @dahlhouse_gym.
With the gifts safely delivered, I can show you what I've been working on. The big knitting project which claimed not one, but two of my interchangeable cables was a baby blanket for my nephew, Cooper, who will be arriving this spring. The pattern by Marie Grace Smith is one I've been wanting to make forever, but I allow Darren's input on a lot of my baby projects, and he kept vetoing this one. One day, though, I walked into Jo-Ann Fabrics and these yarns just called to me. The pattern recommends a solid color, fingering weight. Of course, the yarn I chose is worsted weight, not even close to the same, but they were the perfect neutrals; it just seemed right. The nice thing about blankets, they are a simple shape, so the yarn weight really doesn't matter. Just knit until it is the right size. This blanket is worked from the center out, so it really was that simple.
In addition to the blanket, Darren thought I should also knit a teddy bear like I've done for several other babies. The pattern by Berroco is one I like a lot, but it is very hard on my hands, so I put it in the, "definitely, maybe," column. In the end, there was time, so I made the bear. The yarn I chose wasn't an exact match, it's blue whereas the blanket is green, but the main light color is the same, and they seem to play off each other quite well. One of these days, I'd like to try a crochet version of the same pattern. It would go much more quickly and probably be much easier on my hands.
As I was wrapping up the gift list (pun completely unintended), the messy bun hat took Facebook by storm, and I jumped on the bandwagon, whipping out two for my oldest nieces. Teenagers are so hard when it comes to gifts! I made them completely opposite, one in bright jewel tones and the other in earth tones figuring they could trade if I'd completely missed the mark. It wasn't the pattern I liked the best, but it was the one I knew I could finish. In the end, the simple pattern came out okay. It let the yarn do the talking, which was especially nice for the earth tone one.Most of the adults on my gift list were given candy and a basket of wash clothes and homemade soap. There were ten baskets in all, four a little bit bigger for the people on my list who also make candy and therefore don't need any from me. The bigger baskets had more soap. I'd have like to include an extra wash cloth as well, but I just couldn't bring myself to make even one more. The last three took all I could muster. After running some numbers, I announced to Darren I'd spent nearly 17 hours over the year on them! He then reminded me I'd crocheted a bunch for use here, as well. It is a pretty safe guess I spent a full 24 hours in 2016, hook in hand, just crocheting dish cloths! Burnout, explained.
With all the gifts finished, I was able to return to the kids' New Years (now looking more like Valentine or April Fools) socks. Sophia's are almost finished! Hers are fairly basic with a rolled cuff. The main color is a self striping yarn, with the toes and heels in a coordinating solid. The cuff was knit in a different coordinating solid. Here is the basic recipe for Sophia's socks:
TOE
- Using a figure-8 cast on over two needles, CO 16 sts, 8 on each needle.
- Working in stockinet, increase four stitches every other row by kfb at the end of each needle.
- When there are 48 sts, redistribute over desired number of needles, and switch to main color.
FOOT
- Top of the foot (24 sts) is worked in 2x2 rib. To center the pattern, p1, k2, (p2, k2) across, ending with p1
- The remaining 24 sts, (bottom of the foot) are worked in stockinet.
- At desired length, I did approximately 30 rows or three inches, join heel color. Do not cut main color.
HEEL
- With contrasting color, knit 24 (bottom of the foot) wrap next st, and turn.
- Purl 23, wrap next st, and turn
- Knit 22, wrap next st, and turn
- Continue as established until there are 8 wrapped stitches on either side of eight stitches in the middle.
- Purl 9, picking up and working the wrap with the last st, wrap the next stitch and turn (there will now be two wraps on that stitch).
- Knit 10, picking up and working the wrap(s) with the last st, wrap the next stitch and turn.
- Continue as established until all 24 heel stitches have been worked. Cut the heel yarn and begin working with the main color.
CUFF
- Using main color, work four rounds in same pattern as foot.
- Switch to 2x2 rib over all stitches, and work 11 rounds.
- Knit 5 rounds. BO loosely.
I feel pretty good regarding the goals set for my Christmas crafting. The progress on my health goals is less impressive. Over the last couple months I've gained 10 pounds! It was not unexpected, and I'm not going to beat myself up over it. These things happen, and the best thing to do is use it as motivation going forward. I was going to wait until after the the New Year (and my birthday) to choose a new program and get cracking. Beachbody launched it's All-Access today, December 27. It is every… single… program, every 2017 release — everything — for an entire year! The plan was to get through all the celebrations, then choose something new, because it would all be available to me.
But Christmas night, after the kids had gone to bed, I felt totally motivated and ready to go, so I started Hammer and Chisel again. I love that program and had some good results last time, so I struck while the iron was hot!
I'm pretty sore right now, but pleased with the decision. I've got a whole year to try whatever I want after killing this one.
As a Beachbody Coach, I would love to help you with your health and fitness goals. The All-Access pass is going to be an amazing tool, and I would be glad to talk about that, or any of our other tools with you. You can reach out to me via email. I'm also available on Facebook as Dahlhousegym or instagram @dahlhouse_gym.
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