Category: Patterns

Summertime Bike Basket and Vacation

This, my friends, is adorable!

knit_bicycle_basket

And if you want to knit it up the pattern can be found right here. Courtesy of Knitting Today. You can fill *the cutest basket in the world* with your market goodies or a bouquet of flowers and you’re sure to get some compliments. FUN!

This is what much of our summer consists of….

Summer

In case you’re wondering where I’ve been, I’ve been knitting (from time to time) so that hasn’t stopped, but summertime is really for my kids so they have been my complete and utter focus. Somehow this morning it is nearly 9:30 and they are still asleep (summertime first). We’ve been having a blast this summer. I can’t promise I’ll do a ton more posts but I’ll do my darnedest to get one done every now and again.

Ooh one other thing I’ve been meaning to mention is that I went to New Orleans a few weeks ago and while I was there, as with every trip away, I like to find yarn shops. I found a shop called the Quarter Stitch, in the French Quarter, and it was fun, but geared more toward needlpoint(ers) rather than knitters.

Quarter Stitch Sign

They did have a bit of yarn in there but nothing that I couldn’t live without. I was hoping to venture to another yarn shop outside of the Quarter called Bette Bornside Company but I never did end up making it there…next time I suppose. The web site isn’t much to speak of, no pretty pictures, but it seemed intriguing so I will try and make it there next time we are back in NOLA.

Cafe Du Monde

Gumbo

These two delights were within a block of the yarn shop though. I have a LOT of food photos from our trip, makes perfect sense, why else would one go to New Orleans?

Happy Summertime Knitting!

Uke it Up! Catching Up!

Pretty excited to knock this out for Father’s Day for my very own Ukulele Guy. And, maybe I can even surprise him with a little ditty. You see he got me a uke a while back and I haven’t taken the time to learn to play it, or maybe I haven’t taken the time to have him teach me. I am the proud owner of the exact same ukulele pictured on Knitty’s Pattern though. I’m going to click on some of those links and learn those chords tonight. And then pull some yarn out of my stash and knit this up, and attempt to felt the first thing I’ve ever felted. I’m not anticipating it to look anything like the beautiful examples pictured with the pattern, but I’ll do my darnedest.

I’ve been away from this sweet blog for awhile, not on purpose, but vacation(s), kids, life, etc have pulled me away. I’ve been knitting though…that is one thing I’ve stuck to. I’m still plugging away working on my sweater, it now has one complete sleeve. The sleeve ended up being, not quite as perfect as I would have hoped for, luckily I still have another attempt with sleeve two. Then I will only have a hood to do, which sounds daunting, but I WILL GET THAT DAMN THING DONE! And I will save the photos until the end, mostly for your sake.

I’m also working on a baby blanket for someone special.

On the Plane

This is a tiny taste of it right up next to a pretty kickin’ Mad Lib my 6 year old created for our airplane entertainment enroute to Mexico. If you aren’t into the anatomy and bodily functions a 6 year old finds hilarious – maybe this Mad Lib isn’t for you.

And, I’m working on a hat for a special little birthday girl in my life, shhh don’t tell her.  I think I’ll use it to top a jar of pickles, her favorite food (at least at my house). Those are the next special things coming down the pipe.

Edie

Happy Almost Summer!

Getting Closer and Cup Cozy

I’m pretty into a nice hot cup of Tipu’s Chai on my way to drop my boys off at school in the morning. I decided a few days ago that I can’t seem to live without it anymore. I am a changed woman in the morning after that cup of chai. I can climb a mountain (pretty easily – Seriously), I can chat with anyone I encounter (oftentimes I’m a bit shy/reserved) and I feel so rejuvenated. I’m not sure if this is good or bad? I love to have that hot drink in the morning though, but I don’t like to burn my hands. Here is the solution.

And the ‘Getting Closer’ part of this post is in regards to my sweater. I’m not going to be done by Cinco de Mayo – I just cannot fathom that happening, but I am nearing completion.

Sweater Vest II Sweater Vest III

I wasn’t sure which one I liked the most…so hopefully you can get a general sense of what is happening here from these quick shots.

It is getting closer!

Vacation is heavy on my mind.

Sweater Progress & Stole Pattern

This time I can say with confidence I WILL be finishing my sweater! I am so excited about it. I’ve got the back all knit up and I’ve started up the front. I’m hoping to have it complete before I go off to Mexico, on Cinco de Mayo, but we’ll see.

Sweater Body

It may not look like that much at this point, but I’m pretty darn proud of it. The pattern I’m using is converted to knitting in the round. Since I’ve started this project I’ve learned a lot! I didn’t realize it was so simple to convert a pattern to knit in the round. Most of the sweater patterns I looked over instructed the knitter to knit the back panel, followed by the front panel, and then sew two pieces together. That just didn’t make sense…so I sought out some aid and Terry (the Knitting Jedi) helped me convert this pattern. I’m knitting in the round and actually even after the split I’m still using my circular needles. It is a bit much to wrap your head around, as I mentioned in a previous post how patterns completely change when you knit in the round.

Ooh and another cool trick is this stitch holder – who needs a real stitch holder – you can just use a piece of yarn. This cream colored yarn is holding the entire front of my sweater together, while I start knitting up the back.

Angle View

My pattern doesn’t look too complicated, and it actually isn’t, but when I end up knitting in the pattern from the wrong side (WS) it gets a bit tricky. I find myself flipping my garment over often to make sure I’m staying in pattern. That gets old. I wouldn’t do it that way the next time around. I’d make sure that I was on the RS so I could k1 and p3 and see what I’d done the row before, etc. Anyway that is boring…so here are a few more pictures (with plenty more to come) and the pattern of the week (or two weeks).

Body Again

I heart my yarn. Cascade Lana Bambu Yarn. Now I need to order more because I didn’t get enough…bummer! And of course the dye lot in the yarn shop isn’t the same anymore. Argh.

Yarn Stitch Holder

That’s it for the weekend hoodie (at least for this week).

 

 

The  pattern of the week can be found here. It is a cool site with free vintage patterns, and I just happened to choose this stole because I love the pocket.

Stole

Happy Spring Knitting!

Easter Pattern of the Week

Easter Eggs

You still have plenty of time to get “crackin'” on some Easter knits. You can always look back and use our sweet little hen pattern, or you could knit some soft eggs using this pattern. I’m plugging away on my sweater and feel really focused on that at the moment but I hope to get some Easter Knits in before I need to stuff baskets.

Ooh or maybe I’ll knit some of these sweet teeny tiny bunnies.

Happy Spring Knits!

 

Hoodie Pattern

Whit's Hoodie

This isn’t my pattern, but I couldn’t resist this choice for the ‘pattern of the week’ after talking about how much this Mama loves a good hoodie. I love hoodie’s so much I’m knitting one right now…but this would be an awesome simple (shorter) option if you didn’t want to knit the entire sweater to go along with the hood. I love the patterns on Purl’s blog and Whit must be a genius! This Hoodie Pattern is officially on my list. Plus I’m pretty into making pom poms and there is a wicked cute one on this little number.

Ladybug/Ladybird Pattern

Birthday Garland

My project to show off for the week is the birthday garland. If you want to see how we made it you can check our crafty blog. It was a kid-friendly project and we had a lot of fun spending our day, stuck inside, doing something creative to pass the time.

Now onto the pattern: This is ADORABLE! I’m kind of on a toy kick right now so I think I’ll knit up one of these sweet little ladybugs to stuff in a spring Easter Basket.

Happy Knitting!

Crochet a Heart – Knit one too!

Valentines

I realize the title of my blog is Mama Loves Knitting…but she also can dig on some crocheting every now and again. For the pattern of the week I’ll share a little love: both a knit heart and a sweet little crochet heart pattern. I’ve heard rumor there are videos on You Tube (approx. 4 minutes long) for you to learn how to do this in no time flat! I found this one that I’m trying the second I get home.

I’m pretty sure Sloaney Baloney’s blanket will have some crochet hearts upon it…due to the knitting mishaps that occurred during Lexie’s labor – I had ‘work fall off needles’ more than a handful of times so we have a couple of holes. Whoops. Nothing that can’t be patched/covered right up though. Oh and that blanket is purt darn near complete.

Happy Valentine’s Day! My little Simon loved his cozy sock monkey and homemade gifties at dawn. I’m one lucky loved Mama.

Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

Knit a Tit Bit

If you happen to find yourself with some yarn to spare, and you are looking for a way to craft for someone in need….of course you can always knit up a hat to donate to your local homeless shelter. You can knit caps for your local hospital, it certainly isn’t hard to find someone in need of warmth in the midst of an arctic winter.

Maybe you are like me and find it really hard to make enough hats for the people in your life as it is, but you love making things for people in need, and donating your time and energy (whatever you might have to spare). It feels good to make other people happy, make them feel good or make their lives just a little bit easier.

Here is an idea my lovely friend shared on her blog that I’d like to share with all of you. Why not knit a breast prosthesis for a breast cancer survivor in need? It is sadly/nearly impossible these days to live in a community/family and not know someone that has breast cancer, has a family member with breast cancer, has lost someone to breast cancer or is a breast cancer survivor. In my life alone I could share many stories. My Grandma is a breast cancer survivor, my aunt was just diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and a sweet friend just lost her Mom to breast cancer a little over a year ago, and the list goes on.

From what I’ve read it isn’t easy to track down a good post mastectomy bra, and those breast prosthesis are heavy, floppy and horrid. I mean what do I know, maybe they are amazing for some women?, but wouldn’t it be nice to have some soft cotton yarn to fill your bra instead? Some bamboo, or hemp, or chenille, something that feels good and soft against your skin surely would be much more appealing. So I am going to knit some tit bits – at least one. And, I would love to donate more than one or two knit tit bits with the help of you!

You can find the pattern on Knitty‘s blog if you’d like join the cause.  The project looks simple enough and February is cold, foggy, and dreary so motivation to knit should be rockin’ yer wool socks off.

I’m going to be collecting knit breasts to donate at the beginning of March. If you are interested in sharing your yarn, your time, & your skills please leave a comment and/or contact me. If you live in Missoula you can just drop your finished products off at Walking Stick Toys – 829 S Higgins. Let’s try and get these boobs made by March 1st friends.

Birthday Garland

August Merritt Hickey

My wee-est boy turns 4 on March 14th, which is pretty hard for this Mama to wrap her head around, since he’s still supposed to be just a baby. Not much of a baby these days. Getting himself dressed, helping me with tasks, keeping up with his big brother (without much trouble) and saying the most amazingly hilarious things. He told us for his birthday he wants a huckleberry and blueberry ice cream cake in the shape of a dolphin or a whale. Just now when I asked him again he told me he actually wanted a buffalo cake. I said, “Really?” He matter-of-factly said “Yep, that’s my choice.” We still have a little over a month to get the true desire all panned out.

Birthday Garland is on my list of things to accomplish before that big day arrives. And this is the pattern that I’d like to share with you all this week. I’ll get a photo up as soon as I have this made, seems to me it will be a fairly simple project. I sell raw wool at my toy store so I have a plethora of it for my needle felting projects that don’t seem to pan out as beautifully as I envision them to. I bet I can make some pretty birthday garland though, to go with this birthday banner! I’ll share soon!