Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Casting on for 2 at a time

Sometimes I think when knitting the worst part can be sleeves or legs, they seem to go on forever and then you need to make sure they are even. Well do get away with this I work them both at the same time.
I just recently wrote up my first pattern for fingerless gloves and wanted to use my easy way out. So I am sharing with you how I cast on and work two at a time. What you are going to need is yarn but thats a given, some double pointed needles and a long circular needle.
Wind your skein into 2 balls, or cakes whatever you prefer to work with.

To begin, Cast on all your stitches onto 1 DPN




Next up you are going to transfer half of those stitches to a second double pointed needle . Slip then purl wise onto the needle. It will look like this.
You are treating each end of the circular like its a separate needle (technically it is lol just attached) What you are going to do is slip them purlwise onto these needles. We are slipping them from where they are already joined NOT where they need to be joined. The working yarn and tail are at the other end of the DPN. Now slip these purlwise onto your circular needle. The tail and working yarn will be closest to your needle tips.



Here is a close up for you to see a lil better.




Do the same for the second arm/leg or wrist warmer what ever it is you are working 2 at a time on. From the second ball or cake of yarn.


Now you can start working in the round. The way to do this is lay your work out in front of you like I have, move the stitches w/ the tail yarn closest to the needles tip. Also slide the stitches attached to your working yarn to the cable, by pulling out that needle tip. Being careful not to twist your stitches. To avoid twisting I put all the 'ridges' to the center.



Be sure to place a stitch marker to mark the begining of your rounds. Here you can see I have worked 1/2 of 1 side of the fingerless glove



Contine working each side, making sure you are working each leg, arm, wrist or what ever it is from its own ball of yarn, otherwise you wil end up w/ a mess of joined pieces and might get confused. The yarn will be worked along a side, around the cable and along the second side.


I hope this was of some help to you all. If you already have live stitches you can just skip ahead and slip the stitches 1/2 on each needle onto your circular and just work them across, around the cable, and back across. I find it saves me time and lots of aggrivation. And will eliminate SECOND SOCK SYNDROM (insert dun dun dun right here) If you have any questions feel free to ask me and I will try to help you out.


Let me take a brief moment to spam my new pattern. It is almost done testing. Its called Action Fingers. http://ravel.me/deweysred/mwlt6











~ thanks for reading , Kristen ;)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Selective BIonic Hearing!

I swear kids have selective bionic hearing. I am telling you they really do. Have you ever noticed that if they are doing something then want to do they dont hear you no matter how many times you say thier name or offer up goodies, they dont seem to hear a word you are saying? BUT as soon as you take your pants down to sit on the potty its "mom, what are you doing" " mom I need you" they know it. Of if you open the fridge for something, its "mom what are you eating, I am hungry too" even if you just finished dinner LOL. It is quite funny if you think about it.

On a side note.
The weather is getting colder and I have been ever so thankful for our wood stove. We have yet to turn our heat on and the stove really is a life saver. Also making plans for preparations for the upcoming holidays. During the hussle bussle of all plans I am also planning for a Bazaar, the girls dance studio is holding a holiday bazaar. They are doing a raffle from vendor donations where half the proceeds go to children in need this holiday season. Its really a great cause. I have been planning for that as well. Working on some dolls, wrist warmers, leg warmers, petti skirts, key chains. Lots and lots of stuff I hope. I dont have much time to get everything together but I can only do what I can do. I am hoping to do well with making things. Its a great opportunity for me to get my name out thier even more as well.

I must leave you today, dance to get ready for, children to feed and things to do as always. I hope you enjoy your day.



~ thanks for reading , Kristen ;)

Monday, November 8, 2010

A Mothers Job!!

As a mother, our job never ends. A days begining often runs in with a days end. The job in itself reminds me of the math lesson on a circle mixed with the energizer bunny. It has no begining, and it has no end and it keeps going and going.
There are very many stages, and no promotions. We often take on the jobs of almost any other profession at a moments notice, with no previous backround or schooling. In one day alone we go from, caretaker, bum and nose wiper, plumber, garbage man ok womam, chef (often short order cook for the picky, I mean selective) , maid, librarian, referee, teacher, translator, psychiatrist, dr and nurse, chauffer, architect and planner, the list simply goes on and on. We are constantly multi tasking, I am actually nursing as I type this ironically haha.
We are like super heros. We hear things that before being a mother, we would never have heard. Upon becoming a mother, we gain xray vision and mind readers.
There are so many things that we do, we get no sick time. If we try to take a days rest, the make up is far worse than it would have been if we had just done it to begin with. More than likely, we are faced with 10x the initial work.
Some say the pay sucks, but I disagree. Being a mother is one of the most rewarding and satisfying jobs one will ever be privledged to acquire. Yes we are so very busy each and every day and never seem to catch up or get a break, but could you imagine how bored and lonely you would be. I am not sure what I did with my time before becoming a mother. Oh thats right, I used to sleep in half that day and get paid to do meaningless work. If I was asked to go back in time to do it all over again, you could bet your last dollar that I would jump at the chance. Each and every child is a blessing beyond belief. Sometimes we have rough days, and everything seems to suck. But in the end, its a learing experience to us as well, (may as well add student to that list we made earlier LOL. )
No matter the moment , you can always look into those sweet little eyes and see the upmost love and devotion. Complete trust and admiration.
I challenge you, take a moment, no matter what you are doing and drop everything. Go to those sweet babies and just sit and cuddle, give them a kiss, read a book, build a tower of blocks, do anything just you and them. I tell you that you wont regret it. There will be a day when they are too big to cuddle in your lap or ask you to read a book to them. Savor every moment of thier littleness and thier need for you.
I leave you with this
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow
For babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow,
So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

I have to run, the baby took out the music toys, dinner is ready, I have to toss a log on the fire. I hope that you have a great night !


~ thanks for reading , Kristen ;)

Saturday, November 6, 2010

DIfferent doesnt mean Stupid

I have a couple of internet and IRL friends who have children who are delayed in some what or another, whether it be physically, developlementally, emotionally or mentally. It doesnt matter how they are different, labels arent needed, they are children and who cares what struggles that they have to deal with on a daily bases. We all have our struggles and dealings. What bothers me is that I hear stories from those friends that someone says something around thier children, something that may not be meant to be but is insulting and hurts these childrens feelings.
What I dont think people realize is that just because these children are different and have struggles, does not at all make them stupid. Yes many of them take things in differently then you or I, but they still get what you are saying. They take things in differently but they still gets everything you say. It would be like you bad mouthing these people in pig latin or something, they hear you and its said differently but they get it dont they.
I guess my point is, please dont underestimate children with special needs. We are all different from one another in many different ways. Please stop and think before making comments about someone else. Special needs or not, it still hurts!
A good example, is treat others the way you want to be treated!!

~ thanks for reading , Kristen ;)