Bad Blogger!

Hello everyone!

I know it has been a while. Life keeps going, ya know? My son turned 18 last month (phew!) and everyone started school, including my Munchkin. He is now reading the Cat in the Hat by himself and knows his math addition 1+ all the way through 8 (he surprised me with that one the other day). We've been working on 1+ through 5, but he surprised me my knowing 1+8=9!

Pirate Day at the dentist; his first tooth cleaning!

Along with the family's schooling, I am keeping busy with plenty of projects! I will be starting necklaces and acrylic jewelry charms to earn extra money for Christmas, you'll have to check them out! Course, I'll have to get them posted... lol.

I have crossed a few items off of my Year of Projects, another pair of arm warmers,

a hat (have to figure out how to finish the bill) and a scarf from one of my books. I have successfully completed 2 pairs of socks and am now taking on the challenge of actually trying to make them fit my foot! Since I have a size 5-5.5 shoe, the patterns for the size 8 tends to be a little big.... ha. SO - I have purchased the materials that I need and I will be casting on soon! I will keep you updated.

I am finishing a Where's Waldo hat for my older son, and starting a dreadlocks hat for him as well. I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Although the pattern for the dreadlocks hat isn't very clear, so I will have to do some experimenting to get it right. I guess that is how we learn, right?

I have made 1 of 2 toddler sized socks, and this toddler has got to have long feet! ha, they are a bit long. I need to learn the art of adding in another color, particularly in working with stripes. I get a funky jog in the color change and sometimes more than one... hmmm

I finished my dreamy strozzi necklace, it turned out very well! I would highly recommend the pattern for anyone looking for a gift to make. I used the baby alpaca.... oooh, so dreamy soft....


More pictures to come!

Well, that is all for now... I will sign on again soon!

Whew! time to breathe...

Rachel's necklace using washers and beads

Well, birthdays, birthdays and more birthdays! I've been busily making gifts for birthdays and graduations. It's been fun! I tried my hand at jewelry for the first time and I do believe they turned out rather well! The date on my camera is incorrect - you'll have to ignore that part for now... ha.

It's been a while since my last post, I have to write an update on everything going on!

I finally put the finishing touch of ribbon on the booties and delivered them to their new owner, baby Keely! they turned out very cute, if I do say so myself, although I didn't get a completed pic to share. Maybe I'll get one with her wearing them...

Audrey's boa scarf turned out well, and I think she liked her necklace and her purse - again, didn't get pics of everything, you'll have to take my word that they all turned out so cute!

I have finally figured out what was going on with the leg warmers! Two things: I was getting mixed up and knitting the wrong direction and I was forgetting to knit the alternate round! Once I figured out my mistakes, I whizzed right through the pattern and now the second leg warmer is half completed. wahoo! I guess I can cross that one off of my blog along list! Although, there is a second pair that I want to make that is already in my ravelry queue - I'll add that!

I'm just completing my third sweater for the Erin Bears. These are so cute and super easy! I can hardly wait to make them for the little munchkins in my life!

oh! and I found the easiest pattern ever for a stuffed toy! you basically just knit a square, then seam off the head, arms and legs, and stuff! adding whatever tail or ears are appropriate for the animal - the first I made was a bunny, all I have left to do is finish the ears and attach!

 Not too bad for my first one!

 I've also started a pair of socks. I'm using two patterns, as the original pattern I found was too confusing, and the second pattern I found online to help me understand the first, is vague. Putting the two together, I think I can knit a simple pair of ankle socks! I'll keep you updated and post pics in my next blog.

So, my list for the blog-a-long (which I've kind of already started) consists of  a few specific things I would like to make, and will choose the pattern along the way. What I want to make this year - not in order:

1. socks
2. baby booties - jelly beans
3. baby maryjanes - ravelry pattern
4. red and black striped hat for my older son - ravelry pattern
5. hat for younger son
6. scarf, headband and gloves combo (for Gramma)
7. blanket for my older son (multiple patterns in different squares)
8. a toy
9. leg warmers
10. sweater
11. fingerless gloves
12. shawl
13. something lace-like (Larisa shawl or Just Heavenly shawl)
14. bag or purse
15. baby blanket
16. gifts, gifts and more gifts

talk to you soon!

Comfiest leg Warmers!

I have a new project going... leg warmers! I got the pattern from One Skein by Leigh Radford, and the yarn from the Knitting Bee in Portland. It's so easy! Even the lace in the beginning is pretty easy for beginners. I love how they are turning out, and I am already half way done with the first!

One bootie down and one more to go!

AHA! I have finished my bootie! Christina at the Knitting Bee showed me how to do the seem. I am really quite pleased! I am already 3/4 done with the second bootie and can probably finish during naptime today... nice!

Bernat Baby Knit Booties

Just need to add a ribbon and it is good to go! wahoo! will post when both are all complete...

Takin' on the Booties - again!

Alright! I started the booties again last night (I ran out of yarn for the blanket and am unable to finish until I find more... arg - if any of you have Bernat Pipsqueak that you are willing to part with, leave me a comment, please!), and I have to say that I am quite pleased!!

My little self-imposed time out was most beneficial, I zoomed right through the pattern with no problems! woohoo! I am through the "ruffle" part of the first bootie and starting the instep...

Until next time...

Bustin' my Booties!

And I was doing so well!! My needle slipped and try as I might, I could not get the stitches back! The more I tried, the more stitches I lost and pretty soon half of my project had unravelled.... ~sigh

So! I have put the booties down for now, to start again later. Instead, I have started a hooded baby blanket, a  super easy stockinette stitch pattern from Bernat that I found for free at Joann's. I've made good progress and as soon as I am done, I will tackle the booties - Again.

First pair of baby booties

Well! today I start sharing my knitting progress! Two days ago I chose a Bernat pattern for baby booties (baby knit booties, free online at Bernat.com or on the label of the yarn), and after 6 tries, the pattern is finally taking off!! I should have chosen an easier pattern to start with, but, I have learned so much! I'm glad I took on the challenge.

I learned how to do a yfwd (yarn forward or yarn over) - being a continental knitter, I grab the yarn from the top with my right needle and pull it forward and just let the yarn stay there.

I then learned how to do a sl (slip stitch) - simply passing the next stitch to be knitted onto the needle instead of knitting the yarn through, and

I learned how to do psso (pass slip stitch over) - which is simply pulling the stitch that was slipped up, back and over the previously knitted stitch. this one can be tricky if you knit too tightly... haha

I also learned that sometimes the parenthesis within a pattern don't always refer to the different sizing variations. Within my pattern are parenthesis that mean that small portion is to be repeated within the repeat... aha!! so that was my problem...

So, after starting over 6 times, I have completed 8 rows and the design is turning out beautifully! I am so excited and can't wait to see the end result.

check out my pics and see what you think! YAY!!

A new day in the life of Punzel Chic: Domestic Diva

Hello! I am re-introducing myself today! After years of resisting the pull of domestic life, I am now a full time wife and mother of 2 boys.  Since I have been married, I have learned the ancient art of cooking... without the microwave and have recently discovered a love for sewing and knitting and all things crafty!
I have decided to chronicle my journeys as mom and domestic diva... ha! For all of you who stick around to get to know me, you will come to see the "tongue-in-cheek" humor in this self-fashioned nickname...
I will be posting rookie cooking tutorials, knitting projects, sewing projects, and cool internet finds. I will also posts mommy items, such as preschool activities, web sites and whatever else I think is great.

Join me in my adventure and stay tuned!