KnitterlyNotions

I am freaking losing my mind over here. I have a massive care of startitis, coupled with a complete lack of inspiration on WHAT, exactly, I actually want to knit. This is not a good combo. I've been traipsing around Ravelry and there are so many groups that need things. So many people are hurting in some way or another. I could start any number of things and be able to find a place for it. The problem is I don't know who or what I want to do. I have an package ready to mail to Matthew's Gift, so that's off the table for just now. I needed a break from thinking about the lost babies. I know how those mothers feel. I've been there. I feel guilty that I need to step back, but I do. I've been reading about Pine Ridge Reservation again. Do a bit of research, it's awful there. There are three groups on Ravelry that serve PRR: Bundles of Joy, which is a lot of baby knitting with occasional other goals thrown in. For the Children of Pine Ridge, which serves ...

I found a sweet pattern for a baby burial bunting that I got actual loss mama recommendation for. It's the  Knitted Burial Bunting pattern  and one of the moms in HAPL on Ravelry said she got one for her daughter. She said it was just right. I'm taking that recommendation to the bank and am making a bunch of them. First one is meant for Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, whenever I get there again. Second and third ones are for  Matthew's Gift  (link goes to a previous blog post that I did about them, which contains pertinent links). I am about to cast on my fourth one. They're rather addictive. I'm also working on a crocheted bunting that is similar to these knitted ones. I'm making up the pattern, noting what I'm doing, and I will probably put the directions up here. There aren't too many burial item patterns, or perhaps I should say there should be more patterns. Especially patterns that are nice for boys. Lace and frills are...

I am 30 weeks pregnant. Let me ask you, how the heck did that happen? Still, it could be another 10 weeks before Fritz is here... or it could be 8, with each passing day bringing it closer. Having a bit of an omg flail. I started a sweater and a blanket but have finished neither. The hook for the blanket has mysteriously vanished, and I had a cut that wouldn't let me knit for a few days. It's better today though so woo hoo. :-) We've procured a double stroller and a fantastic new diaper bag, which is partly packed. I've gotten clothes, diapers, two bottles, some emergency formula, a set of pacis, tushie cream, bibs, and possibly some other things I can't think of right now. All that's missing, other than Fritz himself, is his car seat. The more I think about it the more I'm ready to go get it, but Jerek is putting it off. Why, I have no idea, when we're getting other things left and right. Oh, and I need to get a breastpump, but it's h...

I've been pattern-searching baby blanket patterns on Ravelry this evening, and all I can say is, I wish I were more patient! There are some beautiful blankets to be made. A few favorites: Beth's Little Star Afghan  (crochet) Fast Easy Crochet Baby Blanket Chromium Star Blanket  (crochet) Come Sail Away Baby Blanket  (knitted) Sweet Blanket  (knitted) Hexagon Baby Blanket  (knitted) Biased Granny Afghan  (crochet) Twin Lakes Blankie  (knitted) After looking at all these, and the hundreds I didn't post links to, I'm sure I'll be making another blanket attempt soon.... I've been thinking of attempting a scaled down version for one of the infant loss charities profiled in the Charity Knitting thread on Ravelry. I love Freddy's blanket, and I'm sure that there are plenty of mothers who lose babies who don't get anything soft to hold while they cry. I hate that, and I want to help. I should sign off for now though, as it is way past b...

Did the WIC drop off on Tuesday and the ladies were very happy. :) Now to focus attention to a Bundles of Love donation. I've been meaning to donate to them again but have not done so. Here is what I have finished so far: I have another hat on the needles, and am thinking of casting on an  Easy Cuff-to-Cuff Infant Sweater . I've made this pattern before and it comes out very cute. Simple to make too. We have been having dangerously cold temperatures and that is sort of inspiring when it comes to knitting, especially when it comes to tiny humans not having adequate protection. :( The Winona Day Meeting is supposed to be on January 16th this month (it is the third Friday of the month). If you are in the area, stop by the check it out! :)  http://www.bundlesoflove.org/

I've made a few donations yesterday, the latest one yesterday! :) These hats went to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Wabasha, MN on December 8th 2014. Donated in memory of Freddy. These items went to Wabasha County WIC on December 9th, 2014. I made the small hats in the zip bags, and a lovely lady from Ravelry sent the rest of the things. Donated in memory of Freddy. Donated to Luther Midelfort Hospital, part of Mayo Clinic Healthy System, in Eau Claire, WI on December 19th, 2014. Donated in memory of Freddy. And last but not least.... 6 hats went to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI yesterday, January 3, 2015. If all goes well, I'll be taking a group of items to Buffalo/Pepin County WIC this coming Tuesday. :)

It came to my attention today just how many charities there are the offer comfort items for bereaved parents. I want to donate to them all, but that's going to take some time. So I decided that, for the time being, I would write a blog post with some links to organizations and to patterns. I've mentioned Giving Artfully many times before. This morning when I logged on, I saw that there are now 11 projects for items for bereaved parents. These is the search results leading to "for bereaved parents." Five were added in the last week. Most of these charities focus on making hats, gowns, and other items for the babies to be dressed in and for the parents to have as keepsakes. One of the charities focuses on comfort shawls. And a few of them are looking for memory boxes. Bev's Country Cottage has a page of bereavement gown patterns. I've made some of these. The link goes to that page. Care Wear has many patterns for burial gowns as well, both in the news...

I started a new project today, and I am so pleased with it that I decided to post the pattern I made up for it. This is it. It's soft and comfy, but dense enough that it's not going to let much cold air through. Here is the pattern: *Materials* 1 skein Lion Brand Hometown USA #10 1/2 (6.5mm) 16 or 20 inch circular knitting needle Scissors Tapestry needle *Gauge* About 2 1/2 st. to the inch in stockinette Directions: Cast on 80 stitches loosely. Join without twisting to form a circle. Round 1: Knit 2, purl 2 around. Round 2-7: Repeat round 1. Round 8-13: Knit around. Round 14-21: Knit 2, purl 2 around. Bind off loosely (I used a larger needle for this part, but you don't have to.) Weave in your ends, trim tails. ~~~ And there you have it. This would make a good beginner pattern since there is no shaping, and it's a pretty fast project so it gives a real sense of accomplishment. If you make this pattern, check me out on Ravelry, I alwa...

This is a pattern for my Faux-isle Baby Mitts. I made up the pattern while making baby gifts for Michelle and I really like it so I decided to write it up. Here are the mitts: I am calling them Faux-isle because I used Bernat Baby Jacquard yarn to make them, which makes its own fair-isle pattern. :) Of course you can make them striped or solid or whatever you like. These are fairly forgiving in size. I don't have a small baby to try them on, but I think they should be newborn to about 6 month size, if not a little bigger. There's a lot of stretch in the cuff, and the body of the mitten is roomy since I think little hands should be able to stretch and flex and move. Gauge: 5 1/2 stitches to the inch in stockinette in the round. Supplies: DK weight yarn, like Bernat Baby Jacquard Size 6 double-pointed needles Scissors Tapestry needle Notes: I used a twisted cord for the ties. Here is a link to a YouTube video on how to make twisted cord. It's not e...

For Michelle, anyway. :) I've been knitting and crocheting for him, since her shower is in less than 2 weeks. We will see if I actually get to go, but I hope to. And if I don't, well, then I guess I'll give her the gifts another time. Here is what I have made for her so far: This is Faux-isle Baby Hat I am making mitts to match it, and will be writing the pattern up here when I get them both done since it's easy and cute. I have one mitt done now, and half of the second one. I also have these Pistachio Mitts made, I just crocheted these up one day at my aunt's house when the yarn wasn't behaving for what I had originally planned to make with it. These are made with 100% organically grown, spun, and dyed cotton. They are super soft! And lastly we have this Soft Burp Cloth . It's a good burp cloth size when put over the shoulder. I found the pattern in a Care Wear Newsletter, I think from 2007. Very fast and easy, you work one ro...

I am in another afghan square swap, and this one is going a bit better than the last one. I finished my sixth square today. It looks like this: As you can tell, it needs blocked and the ends woven in. Right now, though, I can only block one square at a time and one of these squares is currently pinned out. So the granny will have to wait. I like the fun fur accent though. It's kind of fun. I found some fun fur and eye lash yarn in the stash cart at Yarnology for this project, and when I get the chance I will be checking it out again. Here are the other blocks I have done: Not too shabby, I don't think! :D The last two are all blocked and labeled and everything already. You have no idea how much this pleases me. :) Hopefully I can keep this streak going. I would love to be the first one to be finished and have her squares submitted.

It's been over a monthi since I blogged, and believe me I haven't just been resting on my laurels in that time. Tiri has teeth. I knew about one of them, the bottom front one on the left side. Last night she opens her mouth laughing, and there are two teeth in there! This explains why she tried to drive me into the witness protection program with her demeanor last week. I think she wailed more last week than she had in the entire time since she was born. We were all sick for a good share of April, and I still am, sort of. I am on 3000mg a day of Amoxacillin for a tonsil that is making trouble. I just started the pills yesterday, and I already feel somewhat better, so hopefully it will knock it out. Tiri is little wobble behind this week. She can get up on her knees, and she wants to crawl but she hasn't made the leap over into it yet. Jerek started working on the 16th, and I am alternately happy and unhappy about this. I like that he is gainfully employed, but this ...

This blog is about something that is very popular anymore; knitting. It's also about being a mommy, charity, life, patterns, pets and other things I haven't even thought of yet. You will notice something, though. All of it, no matter what, always seems to come back to knitting, at least for me. My name is Rachel. I am married (W.A. 10-26-10) and I have a daughter born 9-5-11. We have two cats, Shani and Katy, and we are making our home in an apartment at the moment. I taught myself to knit over a span of years and even after I got the basic idea, I didn't really enjoy it. I can't tell you exactly when I started enjoying it, except it had to do with finding a pair of number eight needles and a wee patten for a Barbie doll hood. It was only in the last few years that I became passable and--dare I say??--*good* at knitting. My patience is increasing, so much so that I have something on the needles right now that I never would have considered making even two years ago. ...