Memories collected in stitches: A Christmas stocking tale

And one stocking knit by mama makes four.  A {10+ hour} labor of love, of following patterns and making up my own. Every year I’ll notice the imperfections and remember the hours I spent counting stitches and how I learned to turn a heel {sounds like a dance move} and decrease for a toe.  We’ll remember my adoration of all things mustard yellow and grey, of bows and buttons.  Maybe, she’ll share those too or maybe not.

It’s unlike anything else, just like her and adds a crazy splash of bright, glowing spunk to our family lineup, just as she does.  I studied it late last night as I knit the last stitch, and it puzzles me and it delights me.  I’ve come to learn those are the best kind of creations, but something I could never explain. Maybe you understand.

To knit a stocking is something I’ve always wanted to do and I love that the first one is for her, my girl, on her first Christmas.

I see them all together, the ones we bought our first year as husband and wife (I didn’t know how to knit back them), the one I sewed for our boy from an old sweater and scraps, on our first Christmas as parents, and now…

our first as four.

Is that the reason for the timeless activity, do we knit to create a place for our memories to live?

Do you have a story about your own Christmas stockings? Please tell me.

Cozy lately

Time for cozy knits and cute little hats.

London, Avery, and Ellery

Scarf season is upon us, here is a peek at some of the designs you’ll find in my shop this fall/winter season…

My little fingers have been busy the past few weeks with some custom orders for scarves and cowls.  If you’re interested in placing an order, please contact me here and I’d love to knit one or more for you.

I’ll be adding more designs and colors to the shop in the next couple weeks. 

I’m also offering free shipping when you order two or more scarves. 

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A sweet little someone is having a birthday this week, so be looking for a sneak peek at the party décor and another Thursday’s Someone post, featuring another inspiring person.

{Liv

dear baby

You’re going to be born right in the middle of winter.  When I say winter, I mean nothing like what we were used to in Tennessee.  It snowed approximately three days each year and the snow rarely stayed on the ground through nightfall.    For some reason, we decided to move up here to the land where winter weather lurks for half the year and the temps like to dance the line between insanely freezing and brain numbing frigidity. 

I’m sorry.

I don’t know what we were thinking, but the fall weather is lovely and there are lakes, 10,000 of them.

So, we’ll welcome you into the cold, dark, freezing, icy world, but I promise to make sure you stay extra warm and cozy with this chunky purple hat, complete with earflaps  and this cute  diaper cover for your little behind.

Oh, I also knit this little sweater for you too, but to be honest, I think it’s one of the ugliest things I’ve ever made and it’s not going in your closet.EVER.  I promise the next one will be better. In my defense, it was the first baby sweater that I tried to knit.

See, I’m already looking out for you and your style.  You’re welcome.  That’s what I do.

So, while there’s nothing I can do to stop the blistery winter weather, I will do my best to keep you looking your best and warm at the same time.  My gift to you.

22.5 weeks today.

I made a sheep… bear.

My thoughts have been re-directed as of late to all things cute and cozy for little babies.  For obvious reasons.
So, when I received a yarn catalogue in the mail the other day, I was inspired to knit one of these  little buddies.   
This is the image from the pattern, I read over the instructions and thought that it sounded easy enough.
This was supposed to be a lamb, but I think mine looks more like a bear, which is fine with me.  I also just used whatever yarn I had and substituted the brown for  blue.  Mine also grew by a few rows in both the body and the arms and legs.  That is because I don’t care for numbers and I don’t like keeping track, but I found a handy dandy tally counter app on my phone and that helped. 
What I meant to say is… I took some creative liberties, because I don’t like following rules and I am an artist.
During the 8 hours, I spent knitting this  little bear, I realized a few things:
1.  I generally like projects that I can finish in one sitting.
2.  I struggle with following patterns, they are too restricting.
3.  Knitting little yarn friends is not going to be my newest creative endeavor.  So, don’t expect one in your Christmas gift. 
However, it was fun to successfully finish the project and as you can see from the following images, I think the end result is H approved.
 
Last night, I thought I wouldn’t ever want to make another one, but baby girl might need one of these.
Next I’m going to try to make a little sweater for baby H.  Wish me luck…

{Liv

Always scarves

Here are some photos of the most recent

scarves that I’ve made for custom orders and the shop.

Lady Amelia in Kelly Green

Royal Blue Chunky Cowl

Oversized Cowl Wrap in Aran

 

Cozy Me Teal

“Bright Red and Somewhat Nautical”

I love what I do.

knit. knit. knit.

I taught myself how to knit, or rather the online videos and tutorials did.  This is the first thing I made.  It might contain many mistakes, but I kind of love it and it's pretty much exactly what I wanted it to be.

And now that I know how to cast-on, knit, purl, and cast-off, the sky's the limit...