Tourist Sweater!

Pattern: Tourist Sweater
Designer: Joji Locatelli
Size: 40/42

Yarn: Mary Maxim  Natural Alpaca
          80% acrylic, 20% alpaca
          hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
          *I found this yarn marked down at a shop during yarn crawl.  It is the colors I've decided to                    use for a capsule style mix n match for winter/cool travel.  So I bought it all.  2000 yds.

This is a tunic length sweater with a cowl neck, kangaroo pocket and long sleeves.  I am hoping it is as perfect for a travel sweater as I envision it in my head.  The pattern so far is very well written.  I was nervous about a cowl neckline because I don't like turtlenecks or necks that I feel might be trying to kill me.  This one is perfect so far. 

Provisional caston uses scrap yarn and crochet hook to get the pattern started.  It is supposed to "unzip" to release live stitches to then continue, in this case to bind of with the other end creating a loop.  Mine never unzips as easily as I think it should....but the job is done anyway

 

I started adding sitch markers when it hit the quarter, half, and 3/4 mark of the cowl.  It made picking up stitches along the edge to start the sweater body much easier to keep even.  

Finished cowl neck! ready for 3 needle bind off.

The cowl neck is neither too tall nor too tight which means I don't feel like it is trying to strangle me.  

I've pick up the body stitches and done the short rows to shape the back.  I'm starting the raglan sleeve increases and am ready to just keep knitting! 

Since this sweater is worsted weight yarn and knitted on size 9 needles, it should be a fairly quick knit as far as sweaters go.  While knitting the cowl, I got a little concerned about the way the colors are going to pool in the sweater body/sleeves.  I am still a bit concerned (the sleeves and cowl are going to look striped while the body doesn't look so striped)...but I'm just gonna keep on trucking and see what happens.  I can't wait to see how it all comes together!  :D

Finished Object Friday!

One of the things I've been hoping to do with some free time is spend more time sewing.  I'm hoping that each friday I have one "Finished object" to share.  Im typing this ON friday but the project has been done for a week....my phone (with the photos) and the blog were not cooperating.  But I fixed that last night.  so here we go! 

I bought the floral (Scottish Thistle) fabric from an Outlander pre-order with Shear Madness Fabrics.  I intended to make a shirt with it but the longer we chatted the more it asked to be a skirt.  This skirt pattern is the "mama chloe" skirt from Made for Mermaids.  I widened the bottom to the full width I could get out of the fabric.  It has a 3 inch waistband made from black athletic fabric.  It is comfortable and casual enough to wear every day but the fabric is so awesome that I think it will dress up well too. 

I'll be honest though....I don't love the skirt. I don't think I'll rush to make another one...I'm sure I won't. I chose this one because I bought 1 yard of this for a short sleeve shirt and skirts typically require more than that.  The mama chloe in my size can be made with a single yard.   I have been waiting to cut into this fabric I love for MONTHS and ONE day after I made this I found a skirt pattern I like the looks of much more.  It is fine though. 

The top is made with some fabric I've had in my stash for ages and I don't have any idea what it is....or where it came from.  My guess is the walmart clearance rack.  I snag $1/yd fabric there to use as muslin or practice goes at new patterns.  But the blue perfectly matches the skirt so I decided to jut roll with it.  I made the Halla Slim Dolman with short, banded sleeve, a high neckline, and a banded waist- regular length.  I am short.  For true regular length I would have to shorten the bodice by several inches.  I LOVE THIS SHIRT!  Honestly, had I made it before the skirt....I think the thistle fabric would have been this shirt.  I'll be making many more of these!  :D  Dolman sleeves go together so quick and easy.  Because I chose a high neckline the front and back are the same pattern piece so technically you could use a solid on one side and a print on the other and have a reversible shirt (which would be great during cardigan season or for travel to cardigan weather destinations  - like Scotland).  Even without a cardigan that would be a fun and interesting detail!  It is easy to wear out and flowing but also tucked nicely into the skirt in this thin fabric  It is a pattern winner!!!

My mannekin is smaller than me so the fit isn't great but this shows the top pattern much better.  

Top and Skirt made by me and ready for a morning at church.

So there it is....finished object friday.  I currently have 3 patterns ready to be taped and cut so I can sew them.  But I've also got several batches of jam to can so I'm not sure when I'm going to sleep, er, sew.  Happy Friday!!!!

Eat Well, Create Much, Travel Often! 

School Week 1! (and 2!)

We've had our first week and a half and, at the risk of jinxing it, they have been fantastic!

A couple monday nights ago, I had my first Public School mom FAIL!  We went to open house and I didn't take a picture of Lyrick 1) with her teacher 2) at her desk 3) anywhere at all.  We did meet her teacher and find the bathroom and cafeteria and gym.  So yeah....there should be training for that.

Watching Lyrick get on the school bus the first day was a little hard.  (But I did get pictures of that so whew I am getting better.)   So many things for her to figure out.  So many changes.  But she climbed on and found a seat and her bestie got on at the next stop.  It has gotten easier each day. We spend some time getting breakfast together and then sitting on the porch swing to talk, read, and pray before the bus comes (I am under no delusions that this will always happen but I am going to TRY to make it a reality as often as possible) And she has had great stories every evening when she hops off the bus.  She likes recess and lunch.  She packed her lunch 2 days and ate pizza at the school once.  We are making choices and she's helping pack when that's what she choses.  The lunch box we got doesn't work very well so we are picking a new one out this weekend.  She didn't know anyone's name after day one and I gave her an assignment to learn at least one name on day 2.  She learned 2 new names. She learned that her PE teacher knows me and we went to school together.  He was actually a neighbor.  I'm so proud of the success she has had so far.  I think there are some challenges ahead but so far she is happy and finding a groove.  That's all I hoped for in the first 3 days.

In this first full week, we've had a few little things that came up (hard test, "bad kid" on the bus, just little things that she's learning how to cope with) but overall she's still happy....she's just very very tired.  :)

The boys are doing Monarch, an online curriculum from Alpha Omega Publishing.  This year screen time is tied directly to grades (plus physical activity).  We've kept it as simple as we can while also making the point.  I am not a gamer.  I do not understand the draw.  BUT it is the currency which is most important to them so that's how we are "paying them."  Good grades are not incentive enough for them.  Chores are what you do because you have the privilege of living in a nice home, with a full fridge and pantry, and all the clean clothes you could possibly need.  And I am not paid for doing them either.  ;)

So far this plan has gone well.  It is easy for me to check their grades at the end of their school day....and count up screen minutes.  They are also learning to manage their screen time and chose wisely.

The things I have noticed with our new normal....peace.  Granted I do not expect peace each and every day, although that would be nice.  I expect some difficulties.  I've got one in pre-algebra afterall.  And new things at public school could prove difficult.  And we are still living with different personalities in one home.  BUT it has been so peaceful.  I am not so ragged but the boys are also getting along better.  It is crazy how switching it up, well, switches things up.  I kinda wonder how long till this becomes a new normal....and the bickering starts again.

I've had time and energy to accomplish things.  I got to sew for an afternoon.  I made muffins and energy bites.  I finished knitting a sweater.  I've exercised every day.  I hung a shelf and shifted some things in Lyrick's room so there is a place for everything and we can keep things in their places.  The kitchen has been clean each evening.  I am not as exhausted.  (I still teach early so coffee is still running through my veins on the regular.)  Little things....but little things I enjoy and had a hard time fitting in.  By the time I had time, I was DONE for the day!

Honestly, I felt a little guilty over how fantastic things have been.  Partially because it kinda, almost feels like "shipping a kid to public school" is a cop out.  She is difficult to teach...so I give up kind of feeling.  But also because if she thrives (as I pray she does), I have wasted so much time being stubborn.  Some things on facebook have fed into this feeling of guilt and made things a little more difficult.   And then we all rode to church in the van together and went to lunch and grocery shopping. And I am SO thankful we have made the decision.

Kids have so many different needs and personalities.  And none of them come with an instruction manual.  And parenthood doesn't come with classes either.  Its just a lot of trying and praying and hoping for the best.  And so far, I feel good with the decision we've made and that it is the best choice for each of our kids at this point in their lives...and I wonder what the future will hold.

   
Here's some pictures!!!

Aiden ASKED to make chocolate chip cookies....I MADE him put on either a shirt or an apron....clearly a shirt was too much work.  :D  But the cookies are good!

Happy girl waiting on the bus!

I need some chairs and a table at the end of our drive for waiting on the bus.

One of Aiden's electives is construction careers....we called in an expert (Pappy) to help draw a to scale elevation plan of our house.

Maverick likes to do school at the bar

I am not sure how Aiden would survive at school-he'd have to put on a shirt.

Griffin's first day of school (in my bed no less)

getting on the bus for the first time!

Calling in Reinforcements!

I've always been an "I got this" kinda person.   Seriously, I got this.  But sometimes its just not worth it.

Today Lyrick had an appt to have her hair washed, conditioned, and combed at a local salon.  We've had it done at a salon before.  But this one is close to Lyrick's new school and the price is better for regular washings which we are now scheduling for roughly every other weekend.

Seriously, I got this....pulls out debit card.  HAHA! 

Really, some things are worth doing yourself.  And somethings are worth paying someone with skills and tools to make it easier and better.  The key is finding the balance.    :)

Thank you Payton at Revive for a great morning!  :D

The afternoon braiding was much more manageable since we both weren't already irritated with each other from the washing.  :)

T -- 2 days till school!  :D  

New Favorite Shirt!

Last February, for the first time, I got "in on a pre-order" of Outlander inspired/theme fabric.  It came sometime in May.  I prewashed it, petted it, carefully stored it and have been SO terrified of cutting into it.  I've got 2 tshirt panels and 4 different coordinating fabrics.  And its stupid to leave it all in a box cause I'm too scared to cut it.  But I LOVE it!  It has so much potential.  But once I make the first cut,  there is no more potential.  It will either be awesome in what I create.  Or be ruined! 

I've done several "practice" tshirts in cheap fabric to find the perfect shirt.  And wasn't overly happy about any of them.  I didn't dislike any of them...but none of them were perfect.  Then I cleaned out my closet and found a shirt I made a couple winters ago that I really like.  It is a turtleneck and 3/4 sleeves so I've not worn it for a while.  

The Merryweather by Stitch Upon a Time has 3 neck options, 3 sleeve length options, a fitted or loose fit option and has some color blocking options built into the pattern.  I decided to stop playing around.  Take a deep breath and make my new favorite shirt.  For the bamboo lycra of the panel (and accent fabric) I decided for a scoop neck, short sleeves and the looser fit.  

And I dove right in....except....

See those white triangles sticking out....yeah, my panel isn't big enough for the pattern piece.

So I did some creative hacking up of the pattern.  Remember you have to add a seam allowance on both sides of any new cuts. when you cut your fabric.

I did it!  I cut the fabric!  

Added the extra strips in a coordinating fabric to create the complete front piece.  

I'm never very good at modeled photos.  But here is the finished shirt. 
It fits perfectly and the fabric is dreamy!  

Summer Sweater

I've been working on the Diamond Lake Sweater by Kay Hopkins for the better part of the summer and I'm finally nearly getting there.  I got the yarn at YarnCon this spring but unfortunately I've misplaced the tag.  *sad face*

The pattern starts by knitting the yoke -shoulder to shoulder- with the lace pattern across the front.

The first repeat of the yoke lace.  Its going to be awesome!

After finishing the neckline and blocking the lace you stitch the armpit seams and pick up stitches around the body. It took me a couple tries to get it and it still isn't exactly right but its fitting so it works.  

I took the lacework out of the back so its just straight knit knit knit knit knit knit....

.just a few more inches till I can do the hem. 

 Im absolutely in love with knitting sweaters.  You can see behind me (in all the mess) a cubbie of sweaters.  All 5 of those are handknit.  The teal is my very first one and I've never even worn it.  The gold is my second and I've worn it many times but the sleeves aren't well fitted and I don't feel great in it.  I learn something new with almost every project....but sweater knitting is definitely a learning game! 

Hard Decisions. Big Changes. Lots of crying.

A big part of my identity as a mom is that of homeschool mom.  I always have been.  My kids have never been in public school.  I don't hate public school and never have.  It just never seemed like the best choice for any of the kids....until this year.   We've discussed the idea of enrolling Lyrick in public school all summer.  And Monday I sat crying in my room decided if I would call the doctor to get some anxiety medication or call the school.  It was still a difficult decision to make. 

Lyrick and I have been struggling for the last year at the very least.  She doesn't want to do any work for me.  It can take hours to do 12 math problems.  We spend a lot of time yelling.  Not really proud of that but there it is.   I don't really feel like she is learning much from me.  Honestly, I am worn out.  Totally and completely worn out.  And completely at a loss. I have asked for help from curriculum experts.  I have taken classes.  I have tried every program I could get my hands on and it is not working. 

At this point, homeschooling is damaging our relationship rather than enhancing it.  And she is not learning the things she needs to be learning. So it was time to make hard decisions.  Hang up my pride and do what is best for everyone in the entire household.

So I made that phone call and talked to the secretary at the elementary school.  We scheduled her placement testing.  It did not go well.  I knew I felt like she wasn't getting it.  But she has retained virtually nothing we have covered in the last year or more.  I feel like the last few years have been wasted time.  She, however, is very excited and thinks it was great!

What does she think about school?  She is so excited!  She will ride the bus with her best friend.  Her cousins will ride home with them 3 days a week or so.  She is excited about meeting her teacher, getting to do concerts, and the daddy/daughter dance.  She is practicing getting up and getting her "morning routine" done quickly because she is always a little slow going in the mornings.  I don't think she really understands that she will be doing school all day.  I don't think she understands that there will time limits on completing tasks.  I think the transition is going to be difficult. 

How do I feel about it?  Well, when I called the school....I cried...the entire phone call.  The secretary knew it.  She was so nice (I think she would have been anyway).  I cried for most of the rest of the day. Then I was fine for a few days. Then at and after the testing I cried again.  Enough that I got a killer headache...but now I feel overwhelmingly relieved that we have taken this step and we are both getting help.   I still kinda feel like I could tear up when I think to much about it.  I don't think that makes me special....I think most moms feel that way when their kids head off to school.   I wish I could have kept her at home but I am not the best teacher for her.  I AM still the best mom for her.  My best as her teacher is not enough.  But my best as her mom is exactly right.

So now my identity has to change.  I am still a homeschool mom....but I am also a public school mom.  Really though change isn't new.  I used to be a toddler mom and now I'm a mom to two teenagers and one on the verge.  I used to trip over sippy cups and Thomas trains and had to have locks on the cabinet doors.  And now I trip over video game cords and huge shoes and find apps to track their location using their phones.  I used a be a "Boy mom" and now I'm a "girl mom" too.   Change isn't bad....sometimes its absolutely necessary.  Often its scary.  But so is staying the same and continuing to struggle.

So.  here's to a great year for homeschoolers, public schoolers, private schoolers.  And all the teachers, aides, bus drivers, kitchen staff, school maintenance, secretaries and everyone else in the school who help the kids in every way they came.  And to the moms who are all those things in their own homeschool too.  Lets do this thing.  And let's all help our kids (and everyone around us) be the best they can be without letting our own selves get in the way.