Hot Days of Summer

It's going to be a scorching 100 degrees today! HOT HOT HOT. I bought a little pool for my daughter which we put on the porch. It's so cute to see her playing in her little pool. We really enjoy being on the porch, watching our daughter and looking out on the lake. Hubby and I use to get out of work early and get on the jet ski or the pontoon boat. Soon enough, we'll be able to take our daughter with us on the jet ski!

It's hard to believe I've been home for over a week, almost 2? Wow. I didn't get a chance to run in the road race but that's okay. I had a cold the 2nd day I was on vacation and it kind of put my running on hold. Besides, I think we were to come home. Next year, we'll plan for it and I'll have plenty of time to train for it.

I worked out for the first time in a long time this morning. I did about 30 minutes of Tae Bo. I had been doing some running (but sometimes life gets in the way, lazy or just busy). I need to get back into shape. Being pregnant sure does change your body! But, it's been almost 3 years since I gave birth so I can't use that as an excuse any more. No more excuses, I have to work out and get back into shape. I can do it! I have to stay motivated!

I lost some steam in my knitting. Maybe I'm feeling a little burnt out. I've been knitting so much. I'm still in the middle of a project though, I'm making the summer funnel sleeveless top from here: http:///www.girlfromautie.com/patterns/clothing/summerfunnel/summerfunnelphp.

It's a cute top, I think part of it is the yarn. I realized that I don't enjoy using acrylic yarn anymore. Of course, I ordered a bunch of cotton yarn from JoAnn's. I think 5 colors in all (14 skeins). I also have some cotton yarn in my stash and some that I ordered from Elann's to try out. I want to jump into a new project but I know if I do, I will not finish my current project. I do not like to have unfinished project! So I'll force myself to finish this current one before I start the next. While I'm on the topic of knitting, when I returned from vacation I decided I wasn't happy with my lelah top. I think the elastic made it look too tight on top, so I ripped the elastic off. I still wasn't happy but I couldn't decide what to do. After almost a week, I decided it was time to finish it. I by-passed the straps and put 3 rows of ribbing on top. Now it's a perfect fit. I'm very very very pleased with it. It is so much better because I didn't' give up after countless try of trying to get it right! Anyways, here's my re-worked top!

Back From Vacation

We had a good vacation. The weather was cold up north. We came home to 80 degree weather!Our garden was doing well and the tomato and squash plants are getting big! We lost about 10 chickens because the hose busted and they couldn't get any water! It was a good thing we came home early! My daughter had fun hanging out with all her grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins. She really had a great time.

While away, I was able to finish my Sarah tank top. Pattern was a free download from Ravelry. I made it using about 3 (or 4?) skeins of Lion brand cotton ease in berry. I used a size 9 knitting needle. A wonderful person, ThatOtherRedHead, helped me tremendously with the resizing of the pattern. I had decided to switch yarn and start over but I forgot to re-check the gauge, so the top was turning out to be too big! I caught it about 1/3 through the top and made several decreases. I probably could of made the top slightly longer for a better fit. I'm really happy with the results.

I finished the lillian tank top today. (Pattern also found on Ravelry). I started this a while back but I put it on hold because I couldn't get the lace to work out. I figure since I had done a lace top since I would able to do this one. No luck so instead of scratching the whole top, I decided to make it without the lace. It seems to take forever. It's done on a size 6 knitting needle using 2 skeins of Caron's Simply Soft in Red. I did about 3 to 4 rows of single crochet around the neck and arm area for the trim. (It seems like forever since I last crocheted)!!! I was worried that it may look strange but it actually came out fine! The top is a bit tight, I think it's because I've gained some weight from over indulging during my vacation! It's a cute top and I may try again in the future, if I can get the lace to work!

Here are my two newest top: Sarah Top and Lillian Tank Top

Lelah Knit Top

I made this top as part of a KAL on Ravelry. I started last week and finished it this evening. This is a free pattern off Ravelry again. This was knitted using a size 10 1/2 needle on the bottom and a size 9 for the top. I was nervous making this top because I have never done any lace pattern in knitting before. I used scrap yarn to mark off every few sets of stitches to make sure I was doing the pattern correctly. This took a lot longer but it was worth it. I was afraid the holes in the lace would be too big but it came out fine. I used just a little over 1 skein of Caron's Simply Soft in soft blue.

I casted on 121 stitches for the top. I was almost the number of stitches for my "oh so easy tank top". I did not do any decreases as the pattern called for since I figure with the bigger needle on the bottom, I would get a little bit of a flare. I also added an extra set of pattern for the bottom to make the top a little longer.

This is a great pattern. I am probably going to make another in cotton so I can block it. I'm happy with the fit, though it could be a tad looser on top. I love the way it looks! This top has given me more confidence to move beyond the easy patterns!

Busy Knitting

I have not posted in a while. I finished knitting this boatneck tank a week ago (pattern from the summer 07` issue of Knit Simple Magazine) and I was looking for another project, either to crochet or knit. After several discouraging attempts, I decided to try the Coachella, a knitted top. It looks really cute and not extremely difficult. It was rated "tangy" but I figure I'd give it a try. The pattern from a free download on Ravelry.




I'm always a bit nervous when starting out a new project, especially in Knitting. I'm such a beginner at knitting and I know only the basics. This pattern is an intermediate. There are lots of shaping! I have done so many new stitches with the pattern that I had never done before. First off, I used a circular needle (okay no problem but I never and knit in the round). I also did knit in the back, M1, ssk, kfb all which are new to me! I wasn't sure on one part of the direction which a very nice person on Ravelry clarified for me. I also did some research on this pattern to see what other members had said about the pattern. It was suggested to make the top longer and to rib the bottom for more stretch. I'm soooo glad I did, I absolutely LOVE this top!!!!





I started almost a week ago and my goal was to finish it today, which I did. I must add that I worked on this a lot! As a beginner, I don't think this was a really hard pattern to follow. I would highly recommend making this top, it's a fun top.

I love Ravelry. It has become my favorite website of all times. I've made some new friends and have found tons of ideas for both knitting and crocheting. As an added bonus, there are also a lot of free patterns. Not to mention all the wonderful helpful people on the site who will answer any questions/problems I have~as with the Coachella top. The wonderful person answered my question in only a few minutes so I could of quickly resumed my knitting! It's great.








I'm so proud and happy of my top, so without further delay ~ here are the photos!

I've been tagged (again) and Crochet vs. Knitting

I've been tagged again! Thank you Gina. I was tagged before by a very nice person the first time but I decided not to participate. I really don't like the ideal of having to tag 1o other people! With dial up, my computer's been running super slooooooow! So, I'm going to do what I feel comfortable with and that is list 10 things you didn't know about me and I'll let other people link to me, if they choose! Here we go:

1. I'm an introvert. I'm very quiet and shy.

2. I've lived in Las Vegas for over a year and I realized that "home" is really where you make it. With all the glitz and glamour there, I still wasn't happy. I found that happiness comes from within not out.

3. Birth of my daughter really changed me. I have not had a drink since I was pregnant with her.

4. While I was a police officer, I did several presidential detail where I protected Bill Clinton. I also met Hilliary. She went out of her way to say hi to me while I was working her protection detail. It gave me a lot of respect for her that she took the time to say hi w/o cameras around.

5. I'm also married to my high school sweetheart (like Gina).

6. I have to have some type of project (either crocheting or knitting) going on or I feel lost! I love to work with my hands now.

7. Okay, I'm running out of things...I'll have to think real hard! My grandparents basically raised me because my parents worked the evening shift.

8. My favorite flower is gardenia. I LOOOVE them.

9. I'm a super fast typist!

10. Okay, I'm digging deep, can't think of much else! Finally, I have to work hard on staying positive!

Okay, feel free to link yourself to my blog so I don't have to tag anyone!

Now on to my latest projects! I finished another elegant shell in a dark blue. It's made in a sports weight which makes it much more appropriate for the spring/summer time. (Check out my photo on ravelry). I've also been on a swimwear kick. I tend to go a particular theme (summer wear/tanks, children's wear) now it's swimwear. I've been searching for easy patterns. I found one which I made in knit (check out my photo on ravelry). It's really cute and I like that it was with a bulky yarn. I then wanted to make one in crochet. Crocheting one is so much faster and easier than knitting. The 1st one I made was the one in pink/green/blue. I finished my 2nd crocheted bikini early this morning. The red and black trim bikini took about 4-5 hours to complete. Talk about instant gratification!

The pattern from the crochet bikini is here:

http://www.supernaturale.com/articles.html?id=53.

I'm having so much fun making these, I'll probably start on my next one tonight!

Crocheted Toddlers Dress

I finished weaving in all the ends early this morning. This is the pattern from: http://hometown.aol.com/crochetmaryellen/page19.html.

Essentially, it's the above pattern. I didn't know what size the pattern was for. My daughter is a 2T-3T. I used a K size Hook using RH Super Saver Yarn in Peach. After starting on the arm area, I realize this was going to be too small so I made the arm area bigger. For Row 5, I hdcs in next 6 Vst, then skip the next 10 Vsts at each end. I also did 2 increases, 1 at each end for the next 3 rows. The increases were made in the arm area. I also did extra rows of 2hdc prior to color change and also after the color change. Finally, for the arm and bottom trim I did 4 dc into the Vst (for arm) and into the hdc for the bottom. For the trim around the neck, I switched to a smaller hook, size I. I added a bow and flower to my dress.

I didn't tighten the stitches after the start/end of each row which made it a bit uneven in the back. I probably could of made the dress even longer for my daughter too. These are good lessons to learn for my next dress! :D Overall, it was an easy crochet. Best of all, the dress looks adorable on my beautiful daughter!

My Daughter's First Egg Hunt

I took my daughter to her first egg hunt this morning. (It was for children ages 2 to 4 which is perfect for her). It started out a little cool but by the time we started the egg hunt at around 10:30am, it had warmed up nicely. It must of been in the high 60s. I wasn't sure if my daughter would enjoy herself but she loved it! I gave her the easter basket. She was holding it and playing peek a boo with it. So cute. When they led us to the field, and the kids went after the eggs/toys. My daughter picked up her first egg and threw it! After that, she got the hang of it and picked up 3 to 4 more. I tried to get her to pick up a toy but she just looked at it so I picked up it up for her and put it in her basket. Okay, so I cheated a little but why not! It was a hugh success. I was so glad my friend showed up too. She helped take some great pictures so I can remember this wonderful day!

Here's a photo me (very proud mom) and my beautiful daughter picking up one of her first easter eggs!

HAPPY EASTER!