Top 5 of 2015!

2015 has been an awesome year and I can’t believe it is coming to an end. Here are some of my top 5 moments:

5. Finishing 10 pairs of socks for big and little people. One of my favorite patterns was Business Casual (yellow socks). It was just the right amount of challenging and the yarn was magnificent. I also completed two pairs of Hermione Socks (grey and rainbow socks).

Jaywalker Socks

Hermoine Socks

Blue Socks

4. Publishing 2 scarf patterns on Ravelry.  For a long time I have wanted to push myself and author my own patterns. Finally that time came. Check out my Lacy Beginnings Scarf  and my Snuggly Loops scarves.

3. Participating in my first craft fair. It was a lot of knitting, but I had such a great time meeting customers and hearing their feedback. 

2. Reaching Machu Picchu in one piece! It was a long 4 days on the Inca Trail, but I made it. I have to say this is one of my proudest accomplishments to date.

1. Getting Engaged! I am so happy to have found a person who is caring, loving, and most all makes me a better person. I can’t wait for us to get married in 2016!

Wishing everyone a happy new year. See y’all in 2016 🙂

 

 

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And Done!

3 days till Christmas and my holiday knitting is officially done. Woohoo! 

Dual Cable Scarf

Yarn: Caron One Pound in Dusty Rose

Needles: US 10.5 

Notes: The cables are 4×4 (total of 8 stitches per cable). 

 
Hermoine Socks

Yarn: Valley Yarns Huntington in Lite Grey Heather (Merino Wool/ Nylon)

Needle: US Size 1

Notes: I used the double magic loop method for these socks. I knitted only 12 repeats on the cuff. I really messed up on the heel. I noticed too far along so I just kept on going as I was on a deadline.  

 It is 3 days till Christmas so I better get these blocked and wrapped! 🎄

Crafting Made Me Do It

It all started with some late night Instagramming. Brit + Co was advertising a FREE DIY T-shirt workshop that they were co-hosting with SoulCycle. I love Brit + Co events and I was super curious about this SoulCycle business. I have heard about it on TV and seen it in magazines. Here is what it says on their website:
Our mission is to bring Soul to the people. Our one of a kind, rockstar instructors guide riders through an inspirational, meditative fitness experience that’s designed to benefit the body, mind and soul. Set in a dark candlelit room to high-energy music, our riders move in unison as a pack to the beat and follow the signature choreography of our instructors. The experience is tribal. It’s primal. It’s fun.

Well with that description who wouldn’t be interested? So a few clicks later I was signed up. 

Cut to Sunday afternoon. I got to the workshop at Brit + Co a little late as it was raining and I was taking the bus. I am thankful for the rain as we are in a drought, however, riding the bus in the rain is no bueno. When I finally got there the room was filled with fellow crafters. Cue excitement! They had 3 shirts to pick from and I thought that this was the most appropriate: 
I thought there would be more materials, but alas there were some scissors and a work surface. I got to work by cutting the sleeves off at an angle. I then folded the back of the shirt down the middle. I cut 1 1/2″ slits into the fabric. Then I looped the fabric between the slits under and upward.  

 Essentially it created  a looped braid along the spine. I need to secure the top with a stich or two for the design to stay put. I am also thinking of dyeing the shirt a fun color (maybe hot pink?)

After the DIY session, I headed to the SoulCycle studio. The studio was overwhelming. There was music pumping and people everywhere. Cue the nervousness and feelings of being overwhelmed. The staff were super nice and got me situated with bike shoes and a locker. I got the shoes on and attempted to walk. I must have looked so silly as bike shoes ( the ones with the clips in the bottom) are super awkward to walk in. Another staff member helped me get situated on my bike. The bike was adjusted, I was on it, only one problem. I couldn’t get one of my shoes clipped in. Ugh! Two staff members later I was in and ready to roll.  The class started with some fun hip hop music and the teacher was wearing some great leopard leggings. This is going to be awesome right!?! Wrong! By song two I thought I was going to fall out. I was sweating profusely and my legs were on fire.  In spinning, you don’t really sit on the bike seat. Therefore, you must use your legs to hold yourself up the whole time. I just wanted to quit. 

But I am competitive. I looked at everyone else bobbing along to the music in unison powering through the class like an obedient army. I had to keep going. Not for them, but to preserve my dignity. I put my butt down on that seat and just rode it through. Yeah I didn’t do all the moves, but I kept pushing myself. Thank goodness it was dark in there because I was not a pretty sight. I was dripping sweat, breathing hard, and praying the extreme unpleasantness would end. Eventually it did and I couldn’t have been happier.  We stretched and everyone started to leave with their shoes. Not me.  I couldn’t get the damn shoes off the pedals, so I ended up just leaving them on the bike. They looked so sad, like abandoned toys one week after Christmas. 
So would I try it again? Maybe. It felt like a great workout and it probably gets more fun as you get better at it. However, the price tag is a little much at $30 per class. I didn’t feel like the class offered a spiritual and/or meditative experience, but then again I was concentrating on not keeling over.  So maybe I missed that part? 

Has anyone else tried one of these fad exercise classes?

Christmas Crafting: Part 3

If you are anything like me you save all sorts of things in hope to use them in a future craft. Case in point why I have 2 vases filled with corks. It was time to use some of them up. One Pinterest search later and another Christmas themed cork craft was born.

Cork Wreath Ornaments

Materials: corks, floral wire, plastic beads, ribbon, hot glue gun, steamer, knife, scissors

 1) Place your corks in a steamer for approximately 7 minutes. This will make the corks less dense and easier to cut. 

2) Use the knife to cut the corks widthwise into thin discs. I cut 15 discs per wreath. 

3) Use your scissors to poke a hole through the middle of the cork disc. Push the floral wire through the hole. Begin a pattern of stringing cork discs and beads until there are 15 discs and 15 beads on the wire. 

4) Bend the wire until a circle is formed. Twist the wire to secure the discs and beads. Create a loop and twist the extra wire to secure.

5) Make a bow with your ribbon and hot glue it to the wreath.  

 Enjoy your new ornament! 🎄 

All the #1’s

These days knitting, chocolate, and weddings are on my priority list. Tonight I got to enjoy all 3! Talk about #winning hahaha. 

 What is on your #1 list these days?

Christmas Crafts: Part 2

So this weekend I had all of these plans. I was going to make a bunch of Christmas crafts, finish some knitting projects, and whip up some cookies. Well the only thing I finished was making these cute little cork caroler ornaments. It’s a good thing I did as my little tree was looking a little sad. I only had two ornaments and a tree topper.

Well what do you need to replicate the cork carolers? A crochet hook, scrap yarn, a Sharpie, and some corks ( I used champange corks).

First, I crocheted some little hats. I basically trial and errored this. I made a chain of about 15 stitches and measured it around the larger part of the cork. Once it looked like it fit, I crocheted in the round for a few rows. Then I began decreasing to get a stocking cap look.

After the hats I began the scarves. I used the same format as the hats, but I didn’t decrease any of the stitches. The white scarf was created with 3 double chain stitches in back and forth rows till the piece was about 5 inches. After dressing my carolers, I drew on their faces.

Aren’t they cute? I need to add some floral wire or some cord to suspend them from the branches of my Christmas tree. I think floral wire will be best as I can anchor the ends into the cork. This was a great weekend craft as it was a great way to use materials that the average crafter probably has lying around. Enjoy!

 

Christmas Crafts: Part 1

Christmas is only 16 days away…can you believe it? I am still puzzled as to how fast this year has gone by. I know that many retailers have had Christmas stuff out since October, but I  really like to get in the holiday mood closer to the 25th. In my mind, celebrating too early ruins the novelty of Christmas. I generally like to start talking about winter (think snowmen, penguins, and mittens) at the beginning of December with my students. Around week 2 or 3 we begin to talk about Christmas (we go on break the week before the 25th). Most kids are dying to talk about it sooner, but I try to divert them (haha).

This year’s first project: Christmas Trees

Materials: 1/4 of a paper plate, green paint, paintbrush, wooden craft stick, paper/stickers/jewels, stapler

Time: 10 minutes

1) Staple the wooden craft stick to the back of the paper plate.

2) Paint the paper plate green. Let dry for 5 minutes.

3) Apply stickers and/or jewels to decorate your tree.

This craft is super quick and makes an excellent prop for plays or assemblies. 🎄Enjoy!

My First Skein

Well here it is! My first “skein” made by  my drop spindle. Thank goodness the roving was beautifully dyed because that is the best compliment I can give my work.  😳

 I know I am being hard on myself. I need to let my perfectionist ways go while trying to master this new skill. My spinning instructor has been super encouraging, which has been great.  I have needed it. Spinning is WAY harder than I thought it would be. Talk about multitasking! You have to keep the spindle going while balancing the pull and release of the working yarn. It is a lot to remember all at one time. I am excited about the challenge, but spinning yarn is defiantly something I am going to have to practice, practice, practice. Wish me luck!