Ear Bud Cozy Proto Type 2

I made a 2nd ear bud cozy to test out the pattern I wrote out. I think it’s good to go now and I’ll be making a PDF to post on Ravelry very shortly. I’m aiming for it to be done the beginning of July.

This is a great little cozy to use up leftover worsted weight yarn and keep your ear buds for your MP3 player or iPod/iPhone safe in your purse/bag so that they don’t get tangled.

Is this something you think you’d make? I think they make cute little stocking stuffers… (Is it sad I’m already thinking about Xmas in June?)

Ear Bud Cozy

Last night while out with my stitch group (that I founded about 2 years ago), I came up with an earbud cozy. I wanted something to keep my iPhone ear buds together and not tangled in my purse. I saw something online but no pattern was available, so I got back started with crochet (it has been a while since I last crochet) and I whipped up this cute little cozy.

I wrote down exactly what I did, and I will type up the pattern later & post it on Ravelry as a PDF. It took a little bit of worsted leftover, and it was done in a flash. Makes a cute gift too!

Isn’t it cute?

Man Socks Available in Store

  
My man sock pattern is now finally available in my pattern store! For a limited time, it’s available on sale for 2.99$. Hope you enjoy this simple yet fun pattern with a design on the front & back of the leg. I knit these up for my man, but the pattern is truly unisex. Happy knitting! If you’d like to buy this pattern and you are not on Ravelry, feel free to contact me at knitpurlmama [at] gmail [dot] com.

Man Socks

Finished the man sock #1. They're a tad belated, owed from Xmas 09, but cast on in April 2010. It's a design of my own, and I will release the pattern in about a week's time. Look out for it sometime next week. Onto sock number 2...! It's already cast on, so I will not get second sock syndrome, I will not!

They have the same design in the back of the leg, running from the top until the heel gusset. They're plain, with a kick to it with the design. I love them.

And I'm thinking about keeping the name - Man Socks. What do you think?

~Lindera~

My latest design is now listed on Ravelry.
She bears the name Lindera (which is a type of leaf).
The stitch design (which is lace) shows off a leaf like pattern.
Have a look:

What do you think?

Playing with Yarn

I have made some progress on Sean's Wyatt. It's coming along nicely now that I've picked it back up. I'm hoping to make each of the boys one so that come the fall, I can photograph all 3 of them in it, together. However, I think by that time Quentin might outgrow his Wyatt, so I'll have to re-knit his, in the next larger size. Unless there is a cool summer day, where my boys can be in a wool sweater (doubtful, but possible the rate this summer is going). It's such a great knit though, I'll probably knit the next size up for Quentin anyhow for the fall.

I received my Tanis Fiber Arts yarn club installment for May 2011. This is her Blue label fingering in Pink Grapefruit. I love the way the pink goes into peach. Not sure what I'll do with this, but probably not the pattern it came with.

I've got another design coming out next week - so stay tuned for those details! It's the last installment that I designed for the Nestucca Bay Yarns & Fibers Company for their fiber/yarn club. I've been inspired after designing Avrit and this new pattern with a few other designs up my sleeve... can't wait to get cracking on the designing again.

Avrit

I’ve got a new pattern designed.
Her name is Avrit (which means Spring).
Ravelry link here.
Project details here.
Enjoy!

3.13.11

Tried to start this Crochet Pompom Baby Hat.
I had issues with not twisting the chain when joining.
I must have ripped it out maybe 4 or 5 times.

I got somewhere with it, eventually. However, on Quentin's head, (yes, I modeled a pink hat on my baby boy)... it looks like a yarmulke on him. Quentin's got the size of a newborn head now as his current weight is around what most babies weigh at birth. He's still a little pisher under 10 lbs. Anyhow, there must be something off with what I'm doing or maybe it's the (handspun) yarn. It's leftovers from this project. Maybe it's the hook size too. I'm going to sleep on it, and start again tomorrow with another hook and different yarn.

Besides the little bit of crochet, I've been working away on the design I'm doing for that sock club I got asked to do. However, I am looking for 2 test knitters who can start immediately. You must have Tosh Sock yarn already in stash to use for it (as the pattern is done in Tosh Sock). I am looking 2 different knitters to knit these sizes:

Size Small: 52 sts cast on
Size Large: 72 sts cast on

You must be able to knit a sock from the cuff down, know lace, heel gussets and how to graft the toe shut.

I will need pictures of your finished item and feedback on any errors in the pattern. You will not be able to post the pictures on Ravelry or anywhere else until the pattern is released to the club members, once that is done, I will give you the okay to do so.

For your time, I’m willing to give you some of my already published sock designs.

Please PM me if you are interested, or have any further questions.

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Don't forget that by commenting, you will be entered into my giveaway for a copy of Arranged by Catherine McKenzie. The contest runs until March 16, 2011, and I will draw a winner that evening when I blog. All you have to do is comment on any post this blog. I will also throw in that if you go to my FB Page and click the LIKE button until March 16th (Wednesday), come back here & tell me (I will check!) that you clicked the LIKE button, and I will give you a bonus entry to win a copy of Arranged!

3.10.11 :: 142 weeks old

Mack is 142 weeks old today.
(Mack is 100% back to his old self now, from his little bump yesterday.
Even his bruising is fading).

Today after taking Quentin to weigh in at the local clinic, (he's now 9 lbs 12 oz (4.42 kg or 4420 grams), keeping up with a 25g per day weight gain in the past 2 weeks), I managed to get Quentin down for an afternoon nap in his own crib. It's the first time ever that he's napped during the day in his crib. (Until now he's only slept in it at night). Before you start shooting me nasty comments that Quentin's on his stomach - I'm aware. (And both Sean & Mackenzie were stomach sleepers and they are fine). It was suggested to me unofficially by the doctors at the hospital that once I feel comfortable to leave him sleep on his stomach, that it was the best position for a baby with Laryngomalacia. As of recently, when I noticed Quentin had good neck control, I switched him to sleep on his stomach. And that's when he started to sleep through the night. I am so glad I successfully got him to nap in his crib this afternoon (instead of in the baby bucket (if out) or in the swing or bounce/vibrate chair).

Quentin absolutely love his new blanket. He wanted to show Maureen that he has been using it already. It keeps his warm while we're out & about. Sean placed the monkey arms around Quentin while we were doing story time this evening in the boys' room, so I thought it was too cute to not take a picture.

I got my new toy in the mail today, a 50mm Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens. I can't wait to start playing around with it. I actually picked it up because I ordered 2 toys to go with it, that I am still waiting for in the mail. My order for those 2 toys was shipped, but it hasn't gotten here yet. I will definitely show you when they arrive. Photography toys are so much fun. I'm a gadget gal... what can I say? These are my early birthday present to myself... (birthday is in June and it's a big birthday to boot). I did take this picture of the yarn on the right hand side with my new lens (was indeed playing a little with it tonight). The yarn, color has been taken away so you can't see what it is, has been wound up for my newest design. I was asked to design a pattern for the Nestucca Bay Yarns' Spring Lambs Yarn Club. The club looks like a lot of fun, and you should go sign up! You will be getting Madelinetosh yarn with at least one of the kits (not sure if all are knit up in Madelinetosh yarn), but I am very excited to be designing the sock pattern for the club.

Tonight before getting the kids from their classrooms, I sat in on the Parents Committee meeting at the daycare. There was a few things that I wanted to hear that were on the agenda, and I am curious to possibly join the Parents Executive for the next calendar school year. I am not sure how that all works, but I know that one or two of the moms on the Parents Executive have a child graduating in May and going off to Kindergarten in August (not sure why "graduation" is in May if they are still there for June-July-and most of August...)? Sean still has one more school year until he starts Kindergarten (August 2012) and Mack has two more school years until he's in Kindergarten, and Quentin will either get a spot and I'll have 3 kids there for 3-3.5 months or so (end of May-June-July-August of 2012) or Quentin will take Sean's spot when he leaves to Kindergarten, and then that'll be another 4 years of being at that daycare... I'll have spent 8 years attending that daycare then... September 2008 Sean started there, and Quentin will start Kindergarten in 2016. 2008-2016. Maybe it's a good thing that I get on the Parents Executive. I've always seen myself as a PTA mom.

Don't forget that by commenting, you will be entered into my giveaway for a copy of Arranged by Catherine McKenzie. The contest runs until March 16, 2011, and I will draw a winner that evening when I blog. All you have to do is comment on any post this blog.

08.19.10 :: 113 weeks old

Mack is 113 weeks old today.

I received this personalized beach bag from Simply Bags. I was sent this roomy and durable Stylish Beach Tote ($27.99) to try out. Because I like big bags, and because my boys are getting bigger & if I can avoid using my diaper bag if I can, this bag has become my every day bag lately. It hold everything. I love the rope handles, the bright stripes and the sturdy canvas exterior. It comes in 6 choices of color and can be monogrammed in 4 thread colors. I do wish it had a few more pockets, other than the two small ones which are good for storing a cell phone and some cash or maybe a pocket camera.

Finally worked out the kinks on Ravelry and got my sock collection listed for sale! You can now download all 15 patterns for 18$. (Just a little over 1$ per pattern!) You can still purchase the sock patterns individually if you want, as well.

I went to go enter 2 contests in a Canadian Magazine I get (a parenting one) and both contests exclude the province of Quebec! So mad!

I asked my doc's office yesterday something about my condition that I read online. She said to me "most of the info on the 'net we classify as "American Information" and here in Canada we don't call that Medical advice". LOL. I really do have to stop reading stuff that I google. It's only going to scare me even more about my placenta previa & the health of baby boy number 3.

I am going to make the most of my "keeping my feet up". I spoke to my doc's office again today (my doctor actually is on vacation for just over a week) so one of her colleagues reviewed my file and gave me instructions of what to do and not to do. Because the ultrasound technician was noticing I was having contractions during my ultrasound, (which I've been feeling as well here & there) if I start feeling them more, I have to be over-cautious and go straight to the case room at the hospital where I will deliver. I am praying I don't have any scares, and I will be monitored extremely closely. I see my doctor again in about 2 weeks, so I will know more then (around 24 weeks - 6 months) if anything changes. I can't believe I'm already 5 and a half months pregnant. I feel like we JUST found out the news yesterday.

Today's Link Love:
- Love this great Caterpillar Toy Tutorial.
- Dream of learning how to roller skate properly. Too bad these arent my size.
- Sean is really into playing kitchen lately. This set is really neat. I actually got him a plastic set in Ottawa earlier this summer, but these felt ones look really neat.
- I hope to try these homemade Strawberry-Yogurt Popsicles. Yum!
- I love this Reusable Bamboo Utensil Set.
- Love this necklace.
- Loves this girls photography, especially this print.
- Love these Modica Necklaces. Oh and their earrings too!

march one :: 165 Weeks Old

Sean is 165 weeks old today.

 
We had Sean’s swimming class this morning, so we hit up the library afterwards. Sean borrowed 3 DVDs from the library. We found a new children’s show on DVD to try out. I’m honestly a tad tired of the same Caillou, Sesame Street, etc, episodes that we watch in our house, and that I hear in the car, as the kids have a DVD player set up in the back of the car in front of each of their seats.

Outside the library right next to where I parked the car, I saw this “art installation”. How cute is this? It brings me back to my childhood, when I used to play Monkeys in a Barrel with friends. Ah, the good old days.

When I picked up the boys from daycare today, it was a bit of a challenge. The were both really good today during the day (napping, eating, behaving, etc)… but when it comes to 5pm, and I have to get both of them dressed in boots, hats, gloves, jackets… I long for Spring when there’s none of the sort to deal with. I am fed up of boots & hats & jackets, and, and and…! By the time I have one kid dressed, and I’m working on getting the 2nd boy dressed, the first one is undressing himself. Or running around. Or this. Or that. It’s quite the challenge. Luckily I’m not the only mother dealing with this (or parent, as there are a few dads who come to pick up their kids from daycare too).

I cast on a new project today. Sean’s sweater. His team Canada Jersey Sweater. I’m making it up as I go, charting, and doing research as well. A sweater of the sort does not exist. So I have to create one. I’m making it in size 3-4T. This way, he can wear it now, and grow into it as well.

It’s going to have the white stripes on the bottom & on the sleeves, the logo & the word CANADA on the front. Like above. It’s going to have his name on the back, with the number 3 on it, as that’s the number he chose to have on it. I’m going to be the coolest mommy ever, for knitting him this sweater, and I know that he’ll wear it proud. (I mean, come on, he goes around telling people (strangers even… we’re working on that though – not talking to strangers) that his mommy knit him a dino hat… of course he’ll be even happier when this sweater is done… it’s hockey!!) I’ll keep you updated on my progress, that’s for sure. It’s going to be quite interesting designing this sweater, but I have faith that I can 150% do it. And it’s going to make one 3 year old very very very happy. To say the least…

View Full Album

I’ve been working again on a collaborative project with 3 other lovely ladies. Each month we’ll be giving you free desktop calendars. I hope you enjoy them and use them. If you do use one, please leave me a comment to let me know which one you liked best and set as your desktop. From left to right you can choose from the skyline, the tattoo girl, the yarn scene, or the Vancouver Olympic lights. Once you open the link of the one you like, just right click on the image and set it as your desktop wallpaper.

The four of us behind these are:
Carol: www.carolbrowne.com
Robyn (Me!): knitpurlknitpearl.blogspot.com
Scout: www.scoutj.com
Cynthia: www.biggirlfeet.ca

Help yourselves – they’re free!!
I’m so happy to be apart of this project.

For those of you collecting Pampers.ca points (or dot com), I have to more bonus codes worth 30 points each: GTGTEAMUSA2010 and GTGPLAY2USA2010. I tried looking to see if they had the same thing but for Canada, but nope… THat’s okay, I’ll be a traitor and take the points with the USA codes! Not even sure what I’m saving up for, but I’ll figure it out, I have a ton of points right now, and nothing yet to buy with them.

december fourteen

Mack decided it would be a good idea to wake up at 5 am this morning and start his day. I ended up sleeping on the floor of my bedroom because he wanted to play and watch tv and have me next to him. Jamie and I both were dead to the world. We figured out why he was awake. We tried last night to give him his milk cold. He's been getting his milk warmed up as he had his formula warmed up when he was still on formula. I want him to be off warm milk and drinking said milk out of a sippy cup before he switches daycare. I see this being a challenge since he barely touched his milk last night and was up at 5 am because he was hungry. What I would do to have him sleep in until his normal 7 am wakeup. I don't function waking up at 5 am.

I handed in Mack's birth certificate and medical record book today when I dropped off Sean. Tomorrow I will be signing the paperwork, and then I will give notice to Mack's daycare that he will no longer be attending come January. I am a little nervous about handing in Mack's "resignation" to his soon-to-be old daycare, but I am sure it will be okay. I just don't want them to give him less attention or not care for him properly because soon they will know that he will not be coming back. (One of my friends put this silly idea in my head and now I'm not sure whether to be paranoid or not). I've probably got nothing to worry about. I hope.

I finally called the phone company today and sorted out my answering machine. It now works again properly. I use the same company for our internet/phone & cable. (Much easier just to pay one company, don't you think?) Anyhow, what probably happened is that one of the kids must have hit *93 which de-activates your answering machine. So I had to hit *92 and now it works. We tested it out. I get voicemail when I call my house and the voicemail also picks up if I don't answer my call-waiting. Phew! It's been honestly WEEKS since we've had a working answering machine. Took me a while to even have someone tell me "you know, your answering machine doesn't pick up anymore, it just rings & rings & rings...". Well, that's now sorted out. Phew! One more thing to cross off my list. (I do have a long list let me tell you).

As promised, my latest design:

Possibility.

Oh, I love cables.

For now all my designs are available on Ravelry. I do plan to get them all up for sale on my own website soon (sometime over the winter break). I hope you've liked my 2009 designs, stay tuned in 2010 for some more ideas I've got kicking around!

I finally started to block some of Babette. I am blocking them out to 4"x4".

I plan to work more on this in the new year. I'm slowly collecting solid sock yarn scraps to make it. Solid/tonals/semi-solids are what I'm using. If you have any leftovers you don't know what to do with and would like to send them my way - please do so! That would be very appreciated!

Jamie's scarf is officially missing. He's looked everywhere. I still am waiting for a call back with the guy's name who lives in the condo building where the poker tournament was held, as maybe they have an lost & found. The guy who lives in that building would have had to of cleaned up the party room where the tournament was held, so if Jamie left it there, there could be a chance they found it. Here's to hoping. If not, he decided he likes Mabel's Scarf pattern (non Ravelry link) though I am not sure what yarn I'd use, as I don't have any Malabrigo Worsted in a color he likes. I'm not going to cast on anything yet, in case his beloved scarf does turn up.

Mack finally started saying a few new words! He is still not saying much. He says Mama, Dada, Book, Ball, Up, and now Papa (my dad's nickname). Slowly! Though, of course, we can't get Mack to say Papa infront of my dad! My parents stopped by this evening to give Jamie his birthday gift since he wasn't at family dinner last night. We tried so hard to get Mack to say it - but no luck. I'll have to catch it on video!

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I was nominated for Best Canadian Craft, Cook & Other Activities Blog for 2009! Please vote for me in 1st place here! You have until Saturday, December 19th, 2009 to vote. Thank you in advance! And thank you for reading my blog!