Butterflies, a Hippo, and some yarn

Hey everyone! I hope you are all enjoying this unusual March weather. We definitely are! My husband Kyle made a sandbox for our daughter Hailey last weekend. She has been playing in it almost everyday. I got a little sun myself since I um… fell asleep sitting outside. Anyway!

I made these tiny little butterflies for Hailey last week. There’s a green one missing right now. I’m sure Hailey has it hidden in her room somewhere. I plan on turning these into hair clips sometime soon.

Pattern

Hailey playing in the sand

……………….

Next I would like you to meet, Harriet the Hippo. Hailey first named it Bert then she started calling it Harriet. I think Harriet fits her better, don’t you think?

 

I had so much fun knitting this hippo! The Craftsy online class was so helpful. Hailey wants me to make the elephant next. I do need more practice, especially with my embroidery.

She will have quite the collection of stuffed animals when I get done with this little knitting kick.

All these guys are so huggable!

Harriet joined the group with Elizabeth the Fat Birdie and Jumps-a-lot the bunny.

They all sleep with Hailey at night…

…………………….

Lastly, I went to a local yarn store for the first time this week. Oh boy was it fun! Well fun until I saw the prices. Yikes! But man was the yarn beautiful. They had all kinds of yarn and supplies. I also brought my hippo with me and asked the lady working there a knitting question. (Harriet has a lot of holes that I’m not a fan of, from the increases)

I think I touched every kind of yarn they had. I did spoil myself and get three balls of yarn for Hailey’s stuffed animals. That will probably be my last purchase there.

Every Thursday they have a fun get together where you just knit, crochet or spin with a group. I want to try it out sometime but it’s hard to do since Kyle is out of town so much.

……………..

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I’ll be spending more time outside with the fam. I will also probably start Hailey’s elephant. Yay!

Big Cuddly Bunny!

Well folks, the Big Cuddly Bunny is done! Hailey just loves it. I actually can’t help but laugh a little when I look at it. He’s so chubby and funny looking.

I’d like you to meet, Jumps-A-Lot

(named by Hailey)

 

He’s already going after our flowers

Boy was he fun and challenging to make. I learned so much! I have always struggled with using double pointed needles and working in the round. This time I pushed through and finished.

The pattern used buttons for eyes but I wasn’t feeling it. Every button I tried made him look boring. I ended up using some cotton yarn and did some embroidered eyes. Oh and a little nose

I did realize when I was done that I need to take more time when I am stuffing with polyfill. I just took big chunks and pushed it in. Jumps-A-Lot turned out kind of bumpy. I learned later you should take smaller pieces and really work on forming the stuffed animal.

One BIG technique I learned from this pattern was the Kitchener Stitch. What a cool way to close up your work! I was blown away when I was done. You can’t see a seam at all. I just followed the Purl Bee’s instructions and it was really easy.

He wouldn't be complete without a puffy tail

Hailey is having a lot of fun with Jumps-A-Lot. He’s a very huggable guy

 

 

Hailey and our dog peaking at me while I take a picture of the bunny.

Hailey can’t wait to take a nap with him today

 

Big Cuddly Bunny Info

Pattern: Purl Bee’s Big Cuddly Bunny

Yarn: Lion Brand Baby First

Color: Pixie Dust

Needles: Size 10 double points and circular needles

 

Now I’m ready to make something else! I may start making another little stuffed bunny for Hailey. I signed up for this online course through Craftsy called Wee Ones. The gal who does the class is awesome. Her name is Susan B. Anderson and she created a bunch of cute and easy little toys you can knit.

If you can’t already tell, I’m loving knitting! I hate to say it but I’m liking it more than crocheting right now. It’s more because it’s such a challenge for me since I don’t know much about it. I always like trying something new. I promise I will still be crocheting here and there.

Have a great Wednesday!

Bunny Progress

I made a lot of progress on Hailey’s bunny over the weekend! I decided to bring my knitting outside with me and that’s what got me going again. The beginning and the ears have been the most challenging for me. I’m losing some steam as I do the ears. But I’m so close to being done that I have to just push through!

{Pattern}

It’s a cloudy and rainy day so maybe I can finish this guy today.

I’ve got nothing…

The blog is a pretty boring place right now. I have nothing new to share.

I really have a problem with impatience, impulsiveness, and laziness. I get tired of a project that takes too long. If I see a new project that I love, I put anything I am working on a side and start the new project. This leaves me with a lot of unfinished things. And the laziness kicks in when I have come to a part in a project I don’t like to do or is more work. For instance, all the fat birdies I am making. I made 6 or 7 fat birdies in a bunch of different colors. They all look adorable! But when it comes time to take pictures of them, I get lazy and tell myself I don’t need to do it right now. They were supposed to go into the Etsy shop for Easter. I guess since my Etsy shop isn’t a big priority for me, I didn’t really motivate myself like I should have.

I also don’t have a lot of confidence in my photography and the way I can stage my things. It’s more because I just don’t have a lot of knowledge of photography, which is ok. So because of this, my poor Fat Birdies are just sitting in a bag doing nothing. Well one is in Hailey’s bed because I let her pick one to keep. They may make an appearance on the blog someday.

Another reason I don’t have anything to show right now is because we are getting some beautiful weather right now! When the temps went up, my mood got happier and we spend a lot of time outside. But unfortunately, yesterday Miss Hailey got sick. So now I am wiping her tiny nose, giving her cough medicine and playing board games.

Hopscotch with Grandma last week

I do have one project I would love to finish for Hailey by Easter. It’s a big knitted bunny I found on Purl Bee. It’s so cute! Unfortunately it’s been quite a challenge. I am giving myself pep talks though so I can finish! Hailey will love it, and that’s enough motivation right there.

Pattern: Big Cuddly Bunny

……………………..

I think I will leave you with a picture full of cuteness!

Turtles

Pattern on Etsy here

{Source}

 

Thanks so much for reading my friends! I will get back into the swing of things soon. Spring is a whole new season full of color and happiness. Ok that was a little sappy. I’ll be done…

Have a great Thursday

 

Sewing Love–A Scripture Cover

This week my mom came to visit for a couple days. Our plans revolved around sewing this visit. I kind of got a little burnt out on crocheting and knitting. (I promise this was very temporary). I ended up getting this big urge to sew. This is very common for me. I get impatient or burnt out on a project and need to move to something else.

I had two sewing projects in mind. I wanted to make a cute “I Spy” Matching Game from here. And also a Scripture Cover for my Bible, which you can find here.

Last Sunday I took a little trip to Joann Fabrics to get some things I needed, including a rotary cutter which is awesome to have. I got fabric for the matching game but waited on fabric for the Scripture Cover.

This is some of the fabric for the game. I make two squares from each fabric

Then the other side of each square is all the same pattern. I chose this brown and pink fabric. Love it!

 

When my mom got here, we headed back to Joann’s and got the rest of our stuff. I picked out the fabric for Scripture cover. This was the project I wanted to focus on the most.

I looooove the fabric! The pink cotton fabric is so pretty. I only needed a 1/4 of a yard but I got a whole yard so I would have extra. The green is also just a favorite color of mine. I was liking this project before we had even started.

I am so thankful that my mom was here to help me. I always seem to pick projects that are way too advanced for me. I am still a beginner for sure.

So here it is!

I can’t wait to bring it to church with me Sunday

It’s definitely not perfect, but that’s ok with me! I think the little flaws here and there just make it more special. I can look back when I get more experience and see my progress.

The green fabric is like a canvas so it’s really sturdy.

This project taught me a lot of skills and patience for sure. The best is looking at it and loving it more and more. I can’t wait to finish the match game for Hailey, which is definitely more my skill level.

I also think I am ready to knit and crochet again. I got my fill of sewing for a couple months. But I do still have to finish the match game for Hailey.

 

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Knitted Ear Warmer

A couple weeks ago I finished my knitted ear warmer. I waited on posting it mostly because I am not a huge fan of the way it looks on me! I did finally get some pictures yesterday thanks to my hubby Kyle.

So here it is!

I loved this pattern. It was another one that taught me something new with my knitting. The pattern has you knit with two strands of yarn together to make it extra thick and warm. (Maybe that’s also why it looks so big on my head)

 

I used Lion Brand Cotton Ease, which is my absolute favorite yarn right now. I just chose a color that I had the most of. The yarn is so soft! I would love to make a blanket with it someday. Unfortunately I haven’t found a store around me that sells it so I get it all online at Fabric.com.

I was supposed to make a flower but I am going to wait just because I don’t know if I will be wearing it or not.

You can get the pattern on Ravelry here. I love her designs! You can also check out her website.

Elisa McLaughlin Designs

 

The weather is going to get a lot warmer this week, which I’m very excited about! But it’s also not going to be ear warmer weather. I’ll have to store this one until next winter