SouleMama

the cool days of June

{photo by Calvin}

We're in (the middle of) a long stretch of rain around these parts. A really long stretch. (I just read that temps in the Northeast are running 10 to 20 degrees below average. Yup, that sounds right.)

While the plants in the garden are slightly stunted, the rain coats and boots permanently waterlogged, and the beach bag neglected...we're taking comfort inside with soup, sweaters, games, dress up, and lots of reading - It's a different kind of June rhythm, to be sure.

But hey! (She says, mustering great optimism in an attempt to keep going with four-kids-and-a-puppy in the house all day in June) It's great knitting weather!

 

 

This week, I finished up my shawl, using the Textured Shawl Recipe (found on Ravelry), knit with three skeins of Malabrigo Worsted (azul profundo is the color, I believe). I love, love, love this stitch pattern - it made all those long rows of knitting entertaining, and I love how it feels to the touch.

It's warm and cozy and soft. And just right for, you know, the cool days of June.

knitting trials and tribulations

 Don't mistake my recent lack of talking about knitting for a lack of knitting activity. Oh no. There's been a whole bunch of that. It's just that they've all - in mostly dramatic and comical ways - landed themselves firmly in this basket, my current Basket of Duds:

In here, we have no less than: one diaper cover, one shawl, one dress for Ada, one sweater for Harper, one vest for Ezra, and one oh-so-nearly-finished (I even bought the buttons) sweater for Mama. Every single one of them? Duds! Somehow - some way - each and every project has gone awry until this basket was full and my working basket was all but empty. I mean, they're not total failures. The beautiful yarns (it's not their fault) will be resurrected and given another go, and made into something else eventually. (We just need a little time and space from each other first.)

I have this theory - that I don't really want to believe - that my brain can only handle knitting or sewing at one time. Not both. Just one. But like I said, I'm not accepting that theory just yet (despite the basket full of evidence). Six duds in a row? Oh, I'm not giving up that easily. Nope, I'm a persistant crafter, I am.

So there's nothing to be done but keep on keeping on. And surround oneself in inspiration. What better form of inspiration exists than a browse through the rows of fiber to be found at Halcyon Yarns? Ah, yes.

Yes, yes, yes.

Some Mother's Day wandering, some fiber-fondling, and a few beautiful skeins of Malabrigo silky merino later, I've got myself a fresh start. Another shawl - this one a bit bigger than the other one I love so very much. With yarn in the color of the sea - for good luck.

I have a good feeling about this one, I really do. (Besides, it has to work out - the Dud Basket is too full to accept another...)

Pushing spring

Yesterday it was brought to my attention by more than a few people around me that all my chattering on about 'spring' was a bit laughable. Maybe not so reality-based. Perhaps not a true reflection of the layers of capilene-wool-down still required out there in the elements. What? You don't call 40 degrees spring-like weather?

Well....maybe I'm pushing spring just a little bit. But look! There really are peeks of green happening out there. It's still mostly white. But oh, those peeks of green - I do love them.

The bits of warm weather - and the thought of spring to come - was just what I had in mind as I finished up this knitting project for Miss Adelaide. The pattern is the Girls Cap Sleeved Spring Top (available for free here). I used a glorious skein of DK merino from Shivaya Naturals. Such a pleasure to knit and beautiful in the way the hand dyed color knit up, I think. (it's laying on a piece of oilcloth from Anna Maria's Good Folks fabric collection.)

Adelaide likes it too, she says. For now, it's for wearing on the inside. But soon. Soon we'll be out there in the spring weather and this will be just the thing to have on amidst all that green out there. Green!

oh-so-many-hats

Today's post comes to you with a disclaimer (lest you think I'm a crazy knitting fool - ha! me?!). Hats - as many knitters will tell you, are a quick fix. And hats for small heads? In big yarn? Well, they're an even quicker fix. Perfect for the instant gratification crafter - as I will admit to sometimes being. Also note: This is one full month of hat knitting - the photos only just discovered in my February photo folder as I attempted to clean it out and back it up this weekend, as I do when the computer starts humming and making noises like it might seize up on me (that can't be good).

So with that in mind, we shall proceed. To the parade of hats-knit-in-February.

{Photo by SoulePapa}

I knit this one for Ezra, in pretty much a reverse of Papa's winter hat (found here). Calvin tells me that this semi-matchiness makes spotting them on the mountain, "after I've skiied past them!" a lot easier. So that's good. Manos del Uruguay can never steer you wrong. 

 

This beautiful handspun yarn (whose source I can no longer remember - sorry!) has been giving me such trouble for a while now. I just couldn't get any kind of consistent gauge enough to make a hat I liked the fit of well enough. This hat - attempt #3 - finally got it right. I used the Elf Hat pattern from Handknit Holidays (love that book). The hat is now headed (ha! get it? headed?) to my dearest and oldest friend, who also happens to be the skilled one who makes my hair all silky and shiny and free of any grey every six weeks or so. There are very few people besides my own five peeps for whom I knit hats for. She's one of them. For her crazy-mad magic skills.

 

Another Elf Hat from Handknit Holidays. This one for Calvin, knit in Magnum by Cascade Yarns. (Which, yes, means that it matches my Urchin. He's cool with that, though.)

 

This one, which Harper is kindly modeling, was sent across the country to a sweet, fresh little one. Because if I can't squish them and kiss them and hold them in person, the next best thing is to send handknits, right? The pattern is the Baby Hat in One Skein. I knit one for Adelaide a few years ago (look at those baby cheeks of hers!). It's such a sweet pattern.

 

Here we have Adelaide in her big-girl cheeks and Felicity hat (link to the free PDF pattern from Knitology). I've been loving every version of this slouchy hat that I've seen on Ravelry...so I gave it a go in a smaller version. Knit in Debbie Bliss cotton, I think it's going to be her favorite spring hat.

 

A little something (else) I knit up for Harper. I made this one using the leftover yarn from Calvin's fall hat (found in this post). I love this handspun yarn so much - I do think I will use up every last inch of it on something or other (it's from Ram in the Thicket - who now has an Etsy shop, found here). There was no pattern for this one - just a really wide garter stitch brim and simple decreases after that.

 

And lastly, a little number for miss Ada. It was originally intended for a small-headed recipient, but since I didn't pay attention to the gauge (what? gauge?), it ended up a bit big. No matter - she was happy for yet another hat (she hopes/asks/believes that all things I make are for her anyway). It's the buzzbee pattern from the Wee Woolly Wormhead pattern booklet, found here. And knit up in some Peace Fleece (leftover from my sweater, yes!).

(Are you still there? Oh my goodness, that's a lot of hats - and one big, long blog post.)

If winter is to go on - as it appears to be doing this morning as more snow falls out there - I'm so glad we have some fresh new hats to enjoy it with.

36,799* stitches, one at a time

 

 

 

 

(*um, according to my math. don't quote me on it.)

It was a very exciting knitty kind of weekend here. I cast off, blocked, and put the buttons on what I now declare my very favorite sweater. I've knit sweaters for myself before...and all three of them reside in the back of the closet where I wear them out of guilt every once in a while. Something about each of them is just not quite right, which is a bummer, and has made me steer clear of knitting myself sweaters for a while. But this one? I don't think this handknit will ever even see the closet. Nope - it will stay on my shoulders, perhaps on the arm of a favorite sofa, or in the heap on the floor beside my bed (isn't that where the most loved of clothes belongs?).

The pattern is the Garter Yoke Cardigan from the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Knit.1 Magazine. I used Peace Fleece wool (the color is Chickie Masala - how great is that name?), which makes it a bit of a heavy, warm sweater - just what I wanted for spring and fall wear (okay, and a few cool Maine summer nights, too).

I love this sweater. Have I mentioned that?

I snapped this picture of Ezra yesterday. On the same day I boycotted the laundry to finish my sweater, I found him walking around the house with his precious knitting tower (from Nova Naturals) making a crazy-long i-cord, with the skein of yarn clipped to his shirt. When I asked him what was up with the clothespinned ball o' yarn, he replied, "Well, my legs were tired of sitting so I had to get up and walk around, but I didn't want to stop making it, so I clipped it to me to keep going!"

Find a way to keep doing what you love. I think he gets it.

Sometimes these things - our passions and our projects - get done in simple, yet miraculous ways: in the two-minute increments of time that may appear at a time; with the help of a sweet husband who carries a little extra weight for a moment so I can do something as silly as knit a sleeve in silence; or as the chosen priority for a day over a pile of laundry/bathroom cleaning/bill paying. Sometimes we go to extreme/comical/ridiculous measures to make our passions happen in the everyday. Because the way it makes me feel - the way it feeds my soul - well, that fuels me to be a better person. And a better mom.

One little stitch at a time.

Harper's vests

I think we're about due for another installment in the baby-in-handknits series, don't you? Let us proceed, then.

This pattern, I must tell you, is one that sent me straight from the online pages of Ravelry to my basket of yarn to see what I could start it in immediately. Because I knew Harper (and his Mama) needed this vest in a big way. Now that it's done, I do believe this vest on that belly makes me want to kiss him about a hundred thousand more times a day than I already do. Which was already about a hundred thousand kisses a day. So there you go.

The vest pattern is Pebble (a Cobblestone-Inspired Manly Baby Vest) by The Thrifty Knitter, generously offered as a free pattern on her site. I knit it up in a mere one half skein of Rowan Felted Tweed. The pattern works up to be a true 0-3 months size, so I knew it's time on Harper was limited. My solution? Put it on him nearly every single day that it does fit, and...

...cast on immediately for a bigger one. This second one was knit with some handspun from Chili (Thank You, Marcela!), and with wood buttons from Peace Fleece.

Ah, it's such a relief to know that the baby-belly-in-woolen-vest will continue for many more months to come. Yes!

the comfort of shawls

So I've had my eye on a shawl pattern - one that's a bit intricate, and definitely out of my knitting comfort zone. Therefore, it's one that will surely take me a very, very long time (this one, for those interested). Before committing to such a project, though, I wondered if I'm really even a 'shawl person' at all. Oddly, I wear shawls in the summer but never winter months. Would I wear a wool shawl? In the winter? I wasn't sure. And I knew it was a mystery needing solving before I spent such time (and precious yarn!) on a lace pattern.

And so this was my Test Shawl to determine just that. It's the Simple, Yet Effective Shawl (pattern available for purchase here), knit in just one skein of Noro Silk Garden sock yarn. It was a ridiculously quick and happily mindless (or maybe - mindful?) project. And I love the way the pattern calls for the stripes to stripe themselves. That's right, they 'stripe themselves,' just like magic. Two sticks. Some yarn. And a magic word or two. Voila.

And it turns out - I am indeed a Shawl Person. How could I not be? Lover of baby toes, rocking chairs, woodstoves, knitting, and kneading bread. Seems almost obligatory that shawl-wearer fit right in there, doesn't it (not that any of those things must go together, of course)? Since I cast off, I don't think I've been without this shawl for at least some part of everyday. And during the past week in particular, it hugged tight around my shoulders keeping the fevery chills at bay.

Oh, shawls. They are good for so very many things. Not only around the Mama's shoulders, but sometimes....they're just right as a quick nap blanket for a little one who's fallen asleep in the middle of the day.

Yes, I think I do see more shawls in my future.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

baby gnomes

I recently found an old favorite hat pattern - the Gnomey Hat by Hello Yarn (I used Cascade 128). And I remembered why it was a favorite - not only because it's a fun, quick and easy knit, but um, hello - is there anything more adorable than a baby in a handknit hat with pompoms? I think not. Except maybe two babies in handknit hats with pompoms - for two sweet cousins born just weeks apart (yay! cousins!).

And so why don't I just skip the preliminary chattering on today, and get right to what this post is really all about. The gratuitous photos of silly and adorable babies-in-knits. I present to you, little gnomes Maggie & Harper...

 

 

 

 

The best part of all? I think the hats are big enough so that the pompom torture love can continue well into next winter too. Ah...

the 2008-2009 Papa hat

Yesterday in the wee hours of the morning, I sent three of my boys off for their weekly ski & snowboard expedition. One of them was sporting a new hat. Yes, Steve finally got his hat for the 2008-2009 winter season. It's tradition, you see, that he gets a new one each year. But this year I was a little bit later than usual. One could blame it on Harper. Or the holidays. Or any number of things. But let's be honest here and admit that there's been no lack of knitting around these parts. The knitting time wasn't the hold up with this hat.

No, I blame Ravelry. And the gazillion hats I was trying to choose from to make this year. You think the regular torture of years past that I put him through to get his hat was bad? This year it was nuttier. Picture this man after a full day of work - either with the kids or out in the world. With everyone finally asleep in the house, the wood stacked for the next day, the dinner dishes done...well, you get the idea. He's tired. And then I appear in bed. With a laptop. All set to Ravelry.com, with a dozen hats queued up and ready for discussion. "I was thinking about this one, or maybe this one. But if I made this one, I'd have to buy new yarn. What color did you say you wanted? There's also this one, but I'm not so sure about the rim. What if I took the top of this one and combined with the bottom of this one. Blah Blah Yarn Blah Blah. What do you think? Steve! Wake up!"

Oh the torture I put him through. But he's a patient man and he does love his hats. So finally this week, I made a decision and went with the Boyfriend Hat (available free here), with two skeins of Manos from the stash.

He's as grateful and gracious as ever for his 2008-2009 hat. But I think he's equally grateful to know that he'll be going to bed tonight without surfing Ravelry. (Honestly, I think he'll miss it.)

weekend doings

It was a cold and stormy stay-at-home kind of weekend here. A weekend just right for baking and lazing. For falling in love with a new album from an old favorite. For watching crazy online snowboarding & ski videos and then running outside to try and replicate it on Papa's snowboard, the slope of our backyard "hill" and a fresh foot of white stuff. The skiing conditions were prime.

{Photo by Steve}

The knitting conditions were pretty sweet too: to-do lists I was happy to ignore; Papa home - narrowing the parent/child ratio to something manageable; a baby happy to sleep on mama's chest; and kids either outside playing, or inside rosy-cheeked and tired from being outside. Yup. Good knitting conditions, indeed.

{Photo by Steve}

So, a hat was made. It's the Butterfly Hat (free pattern found here), and I must confess that it was far easier to knit than you might think upon first glance. The 'butterflies' are created with simple slipped stitches. It's a bit on the big/slouchy side, but I'm okay with that. In fact, I've convinced myself that I did it intentionally because this way it's really warm and super cozy. All good.

The yarn, is my very first skein of Shivaya Naturals - a merino worsted. It's so pretty, and soft, too - a dream to knit with. And it's a perfect sweet landing pad for those magical winter snowflakes.

on knitting

Nana-made Christmas knits for the kids. One of my kittens has misplaced his mittens. (Mama has some ideas, though...)

I feel so blessed that my grandmother's handknits continue to come into our home and our hearts. I'm sure these were made with the same pattern that she made all my childhood mitts from, and those of her children, and my cousins...and on and on. Surely, these are one of those patterns for her that are knit - well, without a pattern. She just knows it.

My Nana was the one who taught me to knit (and sew, too). I remember so clearly being a young teenager, watching over her shoulder as she patiently showed me what to do. I also remember how incredibly frustrated I was because I just didn't quite 'get it'. It wasn't until years later, pregnant with my oldest, that I picked it up again in earnest. Reading the steps laid out in a book triggered my visual memory of her teaching me those years earlier. And finally...it all came together and clicked for me. Since then, it's always had a presence in my life - in large and small ways at different times. And sometimes - I have some little ones joining me in the yarn and string action.

 
Calvin's knitting.

As I've been sharing a bit more knitting than sewing around these parts this fall and winter, I've received lots of requests from people looking for tips on how to get started knitting themselves. I think learning from someone is the best - for so very many reasons. If you can find, in particular, an elder member of your family, neighborhood, church to learn from. How wonderful for both you and them to share the craft together - and the stories and the time that go with it as well.

But if that isn't possible, there are so many other ways to learn if you're interested. A few favorite resources of mine:

• Books (Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick and Stitch and Bitch by Debbie Stoller are my favorite beginner books)
• Websites (check out Knitty and Ravelry)
• Online videos (search for a specific knitting techique, or a basic How To)
• Your local yarn shop (check out KnitMap.com to find yours - most offer beginning classes as well as one-on-one help)

If you're a knitter - past or present - I'd love it if you could share in the comments with us how you learned to knit. And any advice you might have for someone wanting to learn.

So, all you hopeful, future knitters: read on, and then, get ready to cast on!

Calvin's scarf-in-progress for a doll.

for my littlest pixie

Steve and I both thank you for reading and so warmly responding to his words yesterday. I'm so thrilled that he'll be joining me in this space once a week or so this year.

What he wrote was so true - Harper is indeed unfolding right before our eyes. He's settling into himself, and opening up to us. There are longer awake periods. Extra chins and dimpled rolls are emerging (love that). Bits of personality are emerging. Smiles are happening. And coos are just beginning. Everyday, it feels like something new and amazing happens with him.

This little hat was knit up and appeared in Harper's stocking on Christmas morning. It's the vintage Pixie Hat pattern, found here for free. The yarn is Classic Elite Alpaca Sox. It's super soft and cozy, and I'm guessing it feels good on that soft (good smelling) bald head of his. This was such a fun little hat to make - the shaping made it a bit of a surprise as to how it would come out. Since I have so much yarn left from the skein, I'm thinking booties, socks, mitts...or something else to match. We'll see.

It's a wee bit big, but he'll grow. Sure enough, he'll grow.

holiday rewind :: the handmades

There's nothing like having a baby (um, the fourth baby, I might add) born just weeks before the holidays, to get a good ole lesson in 'letting go.' Yup, there was a lot of that this year. Letting go of all the things that just didn't fit into our need and desire for new-baby-mellow for the holidays.

I must admit that the letting go wasn't always so graceful on my part. There were a few evenings, after a long and full day, with three little ones in bed and the house finally clean-ish and quiet-ish, when I'd get a crazy notion in my head to get the sewing machine out and start a gift...at 10pm. You know...just something little....like a quilt. There may - possibly - have even been some whining on my part. Ahem.

But thankfully, each time, Steve talked me down off the Handmade Holiday ledge with the gentle reminder of how little sleep I was already getting. And that a sleepy, grouchy, tired, cranky Mama? Well, that's a recipe for a bummer of a holiday...no matter how much handmade goodness you surround it in.
And so the sewing machine sat quietly. And so did I. The matching Christmas dresses for Adelaide and I? Didn't happen. The quilt top I was hoping to back, quilt and bind for Calvin? It can wait. A stocking for Harper? Next year. A family gift like our bird calendars of last year? Not this year.

Letting Go. Tricky...but oh, so good. It leaves a lot more room for sitting. And staring. And breathing in all those good new baby smells (yummy).

{edited to add: The very life-like rabbit is from Imagine Childhood. And the pajama pants weren't made from a pattern, but using the tracing method I describe in The Creative Family.}

But wait! You didn't think I'd have a totally handmade-free holiday, did you? I did sneak one sleepless night in. I decided to spend it on the semi-matching annual Solstice Jammies for the kids. The ones wrapped up under the tree when we come in from a sunset bonfire...with the house all lit by candles and a 'feast' prepared on the table. The kids change out of their cold wet clothes and into the warm jammies before we eat and do our tree. It's one of my favorite moments of the year and it just wouldn't be the same without the pajamas. So the pajamas? They made the cut.

As did the gazillion (alright, just a dozen) pair of Toasties that I knit. Most of these were actually knit in the pre-Harper knitting frenzy. It seems as these were the go-to gift knit for so many this holiday season - and with good reason: they're super easy and fast to knit, and they're fabulously fun and cozy to wear.

So it appears that "simple", 'warm' and 'cozy' was the theme of the few gifts I did make this year. I guess that's pretty fitting, as it seemed to be the theme of our holidays this year. Simple, warm and cozy. Just right.

knitting my odessa

Photos by SoulePapa.

(The sling, for those of you wondering, is a Moby Wrap, which I especially love for these early days.)

So I had that big flurry of knitting in the weeks waiting for Harper. Some results you've seen, but believe it or not - there's more you haven't seen yet. Those hours spent awake in the middle of the night with contractions that were just enough to keep me from sleeping - I filled them with knitting. On my needles then was this hat - Odessa by Grumperina (available as a free download on Ravelry). It was such a fun pattern to knit - interesting, but not too complicated. I used The Fibre Company Savannah yarn - love that stuff.

It's the same yarn I knit the Maine Morning Mitts from earlier this year. I think together, they're going to be perfect for warmer spring days...or for freakishly warm winter days like we had yesterday. (Any Mamas recognize those braids? Oh yes...those are the 'it's been three days again since I've had a shower" braids.)

(This whole little photo session made me laugh so much yesterday, though I'm not sure why. I think it just felt good to be outside...and not frozen out there. And to be showing the woods and the forts to Harper without slipping on ice.)

So the knitting. Until a few days ago, I hadn't done a stitch of knitting since Harper's birth, which of course, was just fine. There's been too much nursing, sleeping and staring to be done. But the itch to knit has started to creep in...and there is that holiday coming up oh-so-soon with just a few hand knits on the list. Thankfully, a few days ago, I remembered that if I can eat, cook, parent and nurse with just one free hand, surely I can remember how to knit with a sleeping babe on my chest.

And so...we're knitting a little bit now, Harper and I. And it's very good - one little row at a time.

Photo by Calvin. (He rocks the 50mm.)

dear harper

Dear sweet Harper,

Welcome to the world of being photographed in Mama-Made. I hope you don't mind too much - you are, of course, like your brothers and sister - always welcome to opt out. That's okay too. But we make it pretty fun around here, these silly little photo shoot - generally they involve a lot of playing while I chase you around with a camera. Not a bad deal. Except right now, there's no chasing - you just lay there - often sleeping - which makes my job quite easy. Though it does mean that I end up with 100 photographs from every angle of you wearing whatever it may be, because, well, I think you're adorable and I can't stop clicking. Especially with every twitch of your toe, and quiver in that little chin of yours - a new photo each time. And late at night, when you're in a rare moment of not being on my chest or in my arms, I find these pictures on my computer and ooh and aah over you once again. And dream up what I can make you next. I can't help it. I'm in love.

xo,
Mama

PS. The pants? Oh yes. Those are the Picky Pants by Little Turtle Knits, that I made in a flurry of knitting last month. Such a great pattern - highly customizable, adaptable in many sizes and shapes (especially good for that big cloth diaper bum of yours). The yarn? Organik, by Maine's own The Fibre Company.

I'm so pleased that these fit you so early - even in your wee 7lb sweet little body. The next size up is on the needles now...just don't grow into them too fast, okay?

the legwarmer set

Oh, let's talk about knitting today, shall we?

Stumbling around Ravelry one night, I found this (free!) pattern for Legwarmies by Alana Dekos. My Adelaide is such a fan of legwarmers - just like Mama - so I needed to make some for her right away. Looking through my stash, I found these some half-finished socks (whose life was blogged here and here - yes, their entire evolution has been blogged) that I could finally admit - were never going to be finished. They were happily unraveled, and I used the resulting Rowan 4-ply Soft to make the legwarmers. (For sizing reference, I did add 4 extra rows of the pattern to make them just a bit longer for her three year old legs.)

And then she needed a matching hat, right? Sure! I didn't easily find just the right simple pattern for the yarn weight I had, so I made my own. The math? It kind of stretched my brain more than I care to admit. But...I can happily report that it fits. And that she loves it all. Except that the hat has since gone missing, which is driving me nutty in the search for it. (My guess? In that pile of leaves somewhere! Luckily, I know three good Thing-Finders - a la Pippi Longstocking. Time to put 'em on the case...Yup, looks like I just came up with a plan for the day.)

My Election Scarf

Good morning!

This would be my election scarf. The one I've been knitting in bed each night for the past week, with the laptop in front of me, watching the previous night's Jon Stewart. The one I brought with me to the polling booth yesterday and stood knitting, standing in line with my politically-aware and very excited seven year old. The one I nervously knit yesterday when there was no more baking and kneading to be done through the day. The one I put the fringes on last night, just as two amazing men gave two wonderful speeches, and I could finally, finally rest. Yes, I will forever be reminded of the hope, anticipation and excitement of this election when I wear this little scarf.

The scarf is The Purl Scarf from Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Knit with a strand each of Classic Elite Le Gran Mohair and some organic O-Wool from Vermont Organic Fiber Company.

I'm excited today. I'm so very full of hope. Most of all, though, I'm relieved that it's over. I hate how politics - and election time in particular - divides our country, and divides friends and families - because I don't think we're really as divided as the political culture would have us believe. I like to believe we're more united than that. That we do all stand on some common ground, even though we may not always agree on the specifics.

I've heard from many of you who have been disappointed that I've let snippets of politics creep into this space - that you come to this place for a bit of joy and mindfulness in your day. I understand that - I really do. But to not share anything about this election that has so moved me, and so been a part of my life in recent months...well, it just didn't feel very real...or honest. So thanks for your patience, friends.

And now, let's get back to talking about knitting. Or sewing. Or sandy beaches. Or the fabulousness of baby toes. Those incredibly important everyday-life little things that unite us.

edited: I'm closing the comments a little early on this one. Just ready to put the conversation to bed. Thanks, friends!

back to the knitting

(photos by The Papa)

Knitting and kneading. They're my meditation right now - my reminders to slow down, be still, and breathe deeply. I reach for them as I try to stay present in the moment, and the rhythm of each brings me back to where I need to be, surrounded by those around me. Right here. Right now.

And yet - they have benefit in the future. A freezer full of breads ready for pulling. A few new handknits for babe ready for wearing. The piles of each are growing.

A few of the things that have spent some time on my needles recently:

A sleep sack for baby. Thinking of heading into the cool weather months with this little one, I've had the Disana Wool SleepSack in mind for a bit, but kept thinking I could make my own. I found a pattern free on Ravelry (it's the Kicking Bag for Babies). Knit with some fingering weight sock yarn from Hands & Notions.

And a wool diaper cover soaker - the pattern from Little Turtle Knits, available for purchase at NearSea Naturals. I've made this one a few times over my cloth diapering years - it's a great pattern (highly customizable), and I'm a pretty big fan of wool soakers as covers. Am I really returning to diaper days? Oh my.

I watched How to Cook Your Life a few evenings ago (and then again the next night), on the recommendation of a few of you (thank you!). It centers around baker (author of the fabulous Tassajara Bread Book) and Zen Master Edward Espe Brown. I'm not really sure what exactly to say about it except that I found it quite inspiring, and am finding myself returning to it's wisdom often in my thoughts as I go about my days and the work of my hands. I think some of you might like it too.

messing with mama

So...has anyone noticed the general photographic absence of a certain child of mine in, oh, I don't know...the past six months or so?

This would be why.

Around here, a hero of ours, Utah Phillips is often quoted. He said, "You've got to mess with people, day and night, you have to mess with people!"

But who said these kids of ours could go ahead and take the advice we're dishing out?

"Messing with Mama" is at the top of this guys list of favorite things to do, as it very well should be for any child of any age, I suppose. And one really good way to mess with Mama? Well...whenever that camera comes out, you jump up and down, run away, pull the (dreaded by Mama) baseball cap over your face, make funny faces trying to hide your grin, and well, you get the general idea. It's a little game we've got going on. He usually wins. And we both end up laughing.

And I end up on my own...with my camera and a hat in a pile of leaves.

This hat - that he loves by the way (you can't tell that from the photos?) - was knit with a beautiful handspun yarn gifted to me by a reader, Melissa, of Ram in the Thicket, at a spring book reading. It's been in my stash, and I've admired it often waiting for just the right project to come along. Last week, this guy pulled it out from the pile and begged for a hat with it. He got his wish.

He can mess with me all he wants. As long as his still wears his Mama's hats.

autumnal feet

This is surely the fastest pair of adult-sized socks I've ever knit. It must be all that rocking, yes? I think so. That, combined with the third trimester baby-knitting-crazy-energy that I swear happens each time for me. I can't explain it. Anyway. My Autumn Socks are done and I love, love, love them. Knit with Hands & Notions sock yarn, and using Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Recipe, found for free here. I kind of love that the socks on my feet are matching pretty much everything I see in the world right now. Little pleasures.

favorite knit hat :: for kids!

The fall hat knitting has commenced here, with Ezra at the top of the 'in need' list. (Though, really, calling any of my kids 'in need' of a handknit hat is, well, a bit of a joke.) We wanted something that he could be wearing right now - in the in-between weather. Something sorta-warm, sorta-light, and definitely in a style that would suit my wearer-of-funkiness, Ezra.

I turned to my Favorite Knit Hat, and altered it just a bit to fit a child's head. A few tweaks in the pattern, a trial hat or two later, and this is what we came up with. We're both pleased with how it came out - he's hardly taken it off. (Oh, and I knit this one in a leftover - from the blanket - skein of Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton. Softness on your head. Perfect.)

I've updated the PDF in the sidebar on the left to include the new sizing, which from what I'm getting - fits around 3-10 years. You can also get it right here.

Enjoy!

blanket for baby

The baby blanket I carried with me all summer is done! From dock to beach to hammock - it was with me much of the last few months, growing and growing so that it eventually covered my lap. It's rather, um, large...partially because I just couldn't stop touching the incredibly soft goodness of that yarn, and kept finding myself casting on just one more skein of the extras I had ordered. There will be plenty of blanket for snuggling babe up in. I can't wait.

The details: It's the Project Linus Security Blanket from Knitting for Peace. I think the pattern is a modified feather and fan stitch pattern. Knit in Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton, sand colorway. I love this yarn.

So, speaking of knitting, I've dipped my toe in the vast expanse that is Ravelry. Um, wow! I'm a little overwhelmed at the possibilities there - and frankly looking with half-closed eyes for fear of wanting to dive in too fully (so much goodness!).

Cheers to fall knitting! And the overambitious casting on of too many projects at once!

the Jane Austen Dress

Here's the dress! The one I finished in the wee hours before Adelaide's birthday. The one that miraculously fit without trying it on her as I went along. And the one she promptly put on first thing that morning, and has worn many times since, much to my delight. Ah, yes. The aptly named Jane Austen dress.

The pattern is from the newly published Mason Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines. It's been a while since I've been so excited about a new knitting book, but I'm pretty jazzed about this one. On first flip through, I think I bookmarked half of the projects to make...and it had me jumping up to the knitting needles to get started on this dress a mere 30 minutes after it arrived on my doorstep. Not to mention the yarn I immediately ordered for the next project in the book I'm most excited about (a linen knit table runner. Oh, yes). With their characteristic fun and funny style (their first rule of knitting, 'knitting is spoze to be fun!'), it's a pleasure to read just as much as the patterns have me itching to knit. Huge congrats on another beautiful, fun book, Kay and Ann!

The dress came together so smoothly. They estimated it as a 'weekend project' - and had I had a few less interruptions, I think that might have been just about right. I knit it up in some cotton yarn (which, tangentally, I found at a local thrift shop - as overstock from Silk City Fibers - for a whopping $1.99 for a gigantic cone-full. Thanks for the tip, Aprill!), in a color that will remind us of the ocean long after we're romping about by it in sleeveless dresses. I used the tutorial found on Ysolda to create the button loop in the back. And the skirt fabric is linen. (For anyone interested in making it yourself, I went with the 2-3 sizing, which I think it generous enough that she'll still wear it next summer.)

I think this might be only the second knit dress I've made for her (the first one here), and while, realistically speaking, they may be a little on the impractical side, I still love making them. There's something about all the extra work that goes into a handknit dress for me that makes it extra special. Thank goodness - for now, at least - she agrees with me on that one. She loves it.

knitting (and photographing) for Nest

I want to remind you that there's just one week to go until the submissions deadline for Nest: Bringing Warmth Home! (I first posted about the project here). After a proper trying-on and photo shoot, these three hats are ready to go. I've got my knitting already packed for our camping trip this weekend, hoping to maybe finish a few more. (A long car ride, some dock sits, a hammock rest. Yes, I think I can squeeze in some knitting.) And then, they'll be off to join the rest of the lovely, warm things that have been coming in to the project. It's been such an honor to watch this project take shape, at the helm of its organizer, Jean. I think there are going to be some warmer heads, hands and hearts this winter because of the efforts.

And that silly photo? I must tell you that the shirts were not my idea. These little ones of mine like to play 'camera' nearly as much as I do (and there are an equal number of their photo shoots on my hard drive). When I mentioned that I wanted to get a photo of the three of them wearing these hats, but that they needed to put some more clothes on (ahem), they all marched upstairs together, giggling and conspiring. And this is what they came down in. The hugging? Totally unprompted too. As was the wrestling match that quickly followed...

days of summer :: 15

There's been a flurry of knitting happening here this summer. Some for Nest (submission deadline at the end of this month!), some for me (in an overambitious urge, I cast on for February Lady, which might, coincidentally, be finished just about in February...of 2010), and of course - there's been lots of knitting for baby (in the photo is the beginning of a February Baby Sweater - because I figure it's only fair to right away introduce this little one to their fate of a Mama-matching handmade once in a while).

I love the way the wool feels such a sharp contrast to the needs and carefree nature of the summer moments. And the way it keeps me focused in the moment, and also preparing for what is to come. Providing balance, and always a little bit of peace - no matter what the season may be. It's amazing what two sticks and some string can do.

thank you!

You might have noticed a few tiny visual changes around here lately - and a few more little tweaks are in the works in coming months. (I'm hearing you all loud and clear that you miss the "Inspiring" list of links - no worries, it will return soon!) The first of these changes was the addition of the SouleMama BookShop. I'm asked often for my 'favorite' books on particular topics - unschooling, crafts, parenting, and on and on. So I've been looking for a spot to share such 'favorites' lists in an always-accessible way (while keeping it all seperate from the "Currently Reading" sidebar feature, which I like to keep to 'current' books). The Amazon storefront was the solution for me - as I can keep the lists, while also participating in the Associates program. There is much more I want to add there - I haven't even touched on bird books yet, for goodness sakes. Or favorite board books, or chapter books, or....oh my. We love books. So if those book lists interest you, check back there often as I'll be adding more of the titles most treasured in our home.

Another new thing you've likely noticed in the past month has been the addition of the "Sponsors" on the right sidebar. For so long (years, I dare say), I've thought long and hard, searched high and low, and explored so many options in regards to this. And I am so happy that it evolved exactly where I wanted it to be - a place where I can introduce you to small companies and organizations who I support and believe in - in a low-key, non-obtrusive and well, pretty way ("pretty" is important!). I'm incredibly grateful to those Sponsors, especially, who took a chance these first few months as I've been trying it out - Nova Natural, Lisa Leonard, and Mama Merit Badges. Thank you!

I never could have imagined all the things that blogging would lead to when I began three and a half years ago. I never imagined the warmth, generosity, amazing friendships, and wonderful opportunities that have come into my life. And I certainly never imagined that this whole thing would turn into something that contributes in a small financial way to my family - and brings us closer to our goals of living, working, playing and creating together - as a family. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to continue writing and maintaining this blog and all that comes with it (the many joys and the many challenges) in a way that feeds my soul, and helps my family - rather than takes me away from it. So thank you, for your part in that particular aspect of blogging for me - for the things you've purchased in my shop over the years, for the Amazon purchases you've made through my links, through the support that you've shown my sponsors, for your notes and gifts of encouragement, and just for reading here each day.

What I'm finally getting around to, is a small token of thanks to you! In the left sidebar, you'll notice a new little feature "For You," and in there currently, you'll find two downloadable patterns (as PDF files - let me know if you find any kinks!). One for the Gratitude Wrap, and another for my favorite knit hat pattern (originally posted here a long time ago now, but reworked a bit as I remade it late last night! In yellow. Ahem). They're free and offered up as a little 'thank you' to you for being such nice readers. Because you are! You'll also find a link to all of the recipes I've posted here over the years - compiled in one place and organized seasonally (because I would organize everything that way if I could). My goodness, I make a lot of bread with berries, don't I? Hmn...

Well, anyway. Enjoy. and Thank You. Truly.

knitting for Nest

I'm so grateful to tell you about a project that a dear friend of mine has just announced. Nest: Bringing Warmth Home "seeks to connect knitters and other fiber enthusiasts with people in need of warm items for the coming winter. We plan to distribute new donated hats, mittens, fingerless mitts, cowls and scarves in the Ft. Kent {Maine} area by mid-September."

As we celebrate the beauty of our vastly changing seasons here, also present in my mind are the harsh realities that such seasonal changes bring. For nearly everyone here that I know, this winter will be a challenge to prepare for with the rising cost of home heating oil. The challenge is an inconvenience to some, and a serious crisis to others. Particularly to many just a bit north of me - in an area so heavily hit by flooding this spring, in climates considerably colder, in homes perhaps less (or not at all) insulated. (added: some more news about the winter situation just today.) The reality of the crisis can be overwhelming in thought, but as Jean wrote so eloquently on the Nest blog, "although the long term solution to the energy problem is complicated, providing warm woolen items to people in need is not."

Sometimes it's so easy to get pulled under by the sadness and hardship around us in the world. I can't solve the global oil crisis. But I can make choices for my family that I think contribute to a better world. And, thanks to the organization of a warm-hearted soul, I can knit some hats that just might end up on the right person's head this winter - someone who might need a little bit of extra warmth in their home on a cold day. And so I'll knit. 

If you're interested in knitting for Nest, head on over to the blog for all the details you need. The deadline for knitted items is September 1st.

preparing

I really love the extreme in the day-to-day actions of summer living in New England. On the one hand, there's the carefree, moment-to-moment visits to the beach, camping trips by the river squeezed in, every meal possible eaten outside, and so forth - the general frolicking and fully enjoying of the precious moments of warm weather and sunshine.

And on the other hand, there is the 'work' and preparing for the season to come. Certainly, it isn't like generations past where the labor for winter was so intense....but still, there will be the lack of local, fresh food to prepare for by canning, preserving, and freezing it now. And there will be the need for warmth, combined with the frighteningly rising cost of oil that necessitate cutting, chopping and stacking now.

I really appreciate that reminder to seek that balance - staying present in the moment, trying to enjoy what's 'right now,' while also looking ahead and preparing for what is to come.

I think that 'looking ahead' might have been what prompted me to cast on for these mitts. With some  luscious summer-colored "Savannah" yarn from The Fibre Company (a wonderful mother's day gift from my loves), I just made these Maine Morning Mitts (from the book The Knitters Book of Yarn, but the pattern provided as a free pdf here). The pattern worked up easily, the mitts are super comfy, and I know I'll be wearing them lots this fall and winter. And likely, they'll remind me of the beach days of summer on which I knit them. The threads of the seasons, tied together, in a way. I like that.

Oh! And for anyone who gets The Parents Journal with Bobbie Connor carried on your local NPR radio station, I'll be on the show today talking about "promoting children's creativity." If you miss it, or it isn't carried in your area and you're interested, I'll share the link to the excerpted show on podcast when the link is up.

Sweater(s) for baby

I don't think it was more than 24 hours after seeing those two lines that I cast on for this sweater. I looked through my pattern books, and Baby's Pure and Simple Pullover from Weekend Knitting (by Melanie Falick) was the first to pull me in. A quick trip to KnitWit for some Rowan Wool Cotton, and I was off. In the early, trepidous weeks of pregnancy, I found tremendous comfort in stitching this sweater - in all of its simple, rhythmic garter stitch. And in the busy moments of the work of spring, I stole away moments at a time - sometimes literally a row at a time - as a reminder to myself about balance, and what was in store for us. Blissful baby knitting, yes, indeed.

Yesterday, I put some buttons on this sweater - some favorite little vintage greens. And now it begins a little pile of what will surely be a 'pile' of handmades for baby that I will love making.

But there's a funny/funky thing about this little sweater. Just as I was sewing on the buttons - and not a moment sooner - I realized why this sweater felt so familiar to begin with. In that moment I remembered the very first sweater I ever knit - when I was pregnant with Calvin eight years ago. Yes - a very similar sweater - as in a sideways knit, garter stitch, pullover, knit in white cotton infant sweater. In other words, the same sweater. (To my credit, I guess...at least it was a different pattern! The original is a Debbie Bliss pattern, I do remember.)

I immediately went to the photo albums to confirm my memory, and here it was - this photo. That sweater! I don't remember if the other babes wore this sweater. I don't even remember if we still have it or where it is. But it's likely that somewhere in this house, exists an eight year old sweater just like the one I finished yesterday.

This realization brought with it a few facts: A. My taste has apparently changed very little in 8 years. B. Apparently, neither has my knitting skill advanced all that much. C. My memory? Uh...Not so great.

But instead of those facts, I think I'll focus on the fact that I began both my first and last pregnancies in the comfortable rhythm of knitting essentially the same pattern. A perfectly knit full circle. Yes, yes...let's go with that.

thank you!

Thank You!

You're all so sweet. It was such fun to share the news with you! Many of you caught onto the crazy timing - my first trimester this spring was, indeed, a little challenging with all that was going on in our world - books and shows and such. A first trimester recap? I was sick. I was tired. And I was very, very busy. But now - now with two feet planted so firmly in the second trimester, and feeling so much better - all that lies ahead is a little bit of fun work, and a whole lot of slowly enjoying the season, each other...and what is to come.

So of course there's been some knitting for baby! You've seen this project pop up in many photos likely...it's a tiny and simple little thing, but it's been ever-present for months as I squeezed in just one row - whatever moment I could manage to steal away for the bliss of working on it, and dreaming about who might wear it. It's almost done - some buttons to be selected today (which could very well turn into an all day project with all my button-selecting-helpers), and I'll share the finished project tomorrow.

Thanks again for all of your sweet words! Your joy is much appreciated, and we are full of it too. This pregnancy was a bit of a long road for us to get to, with some challenges along the way, and we're just so grateful to be where we are....with a strong heartbeat, a healthy baby, growing belly, and the anticipation of our family of six all being together by years' end!

Did I just say six?!