this month i am doing a test-sponsorship at elsie marley. i love everything she does – her home, holiday decorations, kid’s projects – but what really sold me was the plush backhoe. being the mother of a serious backhoe lover, i really appreicate the boy-friendly crafts. i’ve also gathered so much inspiration from her kcwc (s). check out all of her great ideas (and while you’re there, you can see my cute little button in the side bar).
(kcwc image from here)
one gift that i took some time to sit down and make this year was for a special young woman in our lives. for over two years, we have had a mother’s helper. she is, in short, amazing, and we all love her so much! this past fall, she graduated from mother’s helper to babysitter! it was an easy transition for her, the kids, and myself. such a blessing to have her here each week to share in our lives. and it has been so wonderful to leave her here with the kids, knowing that they were safe and happy.
while i made far fewer things this christmas than i had intended to, i made sure that her gifts were handmade. she deserved them (and so much more)!
i hand stitched these yo-yo’s and some bead stems onto muslin and then made a drawstring pouch. inside were individual fabric pouches with little gifts, but the ones of which i am proudest are these felted bracelets with beads.
we are so thankful for her and for all of the other blessings we received this holday season and throughout the past year.
i hope your year was just as wonderful and i look forward to a new year here with you!
i’m starting a new knitting projcet for someone i’ve only ever knit a couple of things for: my dad!
he’s getting a skully fair isle sweater…and i can’t wait. it’s actually a pattern that i made up for isabelle’s sweater last year. with dad’s measurements and my gauge i calculated the body stitches, sleeve stitches, and increases to see what the yoke would be like. then i used the skull pattern from isabelle’s sweater to re-draft the yoke. i referenced this book for the yoke decreases for a men’s medium sweater. in bulky yarn, on size 11 needles, the number of stitches aren’t scary at all. when i’ve got a finished sweater, i’ll post my “pattern” and pictures on ravelry for anyone else who wants to knit an adult skully sweater…
