happy halloween!

finished my almost-three-yr-old's costume a few days ago.

she wanted to be a cat,

specifically one of our cats who has Himalayan like long fur.

 this year, I didn't want to make something super "costumy",

and decided to make little parts to make a whole outfit. 

I knitted the sweater + mittens,

and used this pullover pattern and this classic mitten pattern.

and made the hat and tutu based on the patterns from Oliver + S book.(pics above)

this way, she can wear each item separately(or together) on different occasions!

and that is much more rewording for me to make something for her :)

Happy Halloween!! 

  

little Miss's second halloween

Halloween is here!

every store front and many houses are decorated with scary things and spider webs.

wow, it's that time of the year again!!

this year, I couldn't get much creative on little Miss's costume...

I was debating between a little lamb or Little My.

I grew up in Japan, and there was a kids TV series called, The Moomins.

I remember watching it as a kid.

it is a comic/illustrated story from Sweden/Finland,

and it's about these hippo-like trolls, called Moomins.   

 

(pic)

Little My is one of the characters in the Moomins.

(pic)

she has a bad temper, but is determined and quite loyal.

I thought it would be cute if my little one and myself got dress up as her together,

but wondered if anyone over here knew who she was...

so, this year I whipped up a little lamb costume!

the patterns were based on a bonnet and playsuit in this book I got from Powell's Books(a must-go-store when you come to PDX!)

I even made her a pair of leggings as well!

(sorry, no photo of them :I)

she looks cute in it and I even manage to get some picture with our goats!

but I still can let the Little My idea...

hmmm,,, maybe next year!

finally captured the Melon Hat

I made my little daughter this hat a few weeks back,

but she had been rejecting to wear it :(

however, today something was different or has shifted.

'honey, do you want to wear the hat? it's kinda chilly outside.'

and she willingly took my offer :)

so, here they are!  the very precious shots of the hat(and the little one!).

the pattern is from the book, called Carefree Clothes for Girls,

and I had been eying on it ever since I borrowed it from my friend.

the outer fabric is wool blend and the inner one is flannel, which will keep her head nice and toasty in the winter.

they were both from my scrap pile, as well as the chin strap.

and a little ebony button to give it a finished touch.

 it is a nice n' easy quick project and great way to use up some scrap fabric! 

I was obsessed enough to even make myself one after grading the pattern to fit my head.

I can't decide if it looks too silly on me though. hm....

anyhow this made my day today,

and I am glad that I can share that here with you :) 

sunshine love

ah!

we finally found a 'home' here in Portland!

we moved most of our stuff yesterday and we'll be living there by the weekend :)

we haven't had a 'home' for way too long,,,

I am so excited and looking forward to having our own space and start living again!!

meanwhile,

I will post pics of a couple of thing I made for my daughter during our transition...

pants

pattern was from the book I borrowed from my friend.

made with leftover sport fleece and Amy Butler for pocket and hem.

hat

my daughter needed a new hat for the summer.

I used a pattern from Japanese sewing magazine, but forgot the name of it...

I had this fabric saved for sometime, and it was perfect for the hat, I think!

I made this hat while we're staying at my friends'.

my friend and I held a couple craft nights after the kids went to sleep.

it was lots of fun having someone to share the creative time with.

blueberry face :)

it seems like the summer is finally here(skipped spring)!

it had been really rainy and cold.(of course today is one of those days again!)

we're so ready for some sunshine and summer fun!!

I will post some pics of our new home once we settle in :)

more knitting

oh, it's so gorgeous out!
but here I am sitting inside knitting in our shady home(our suite has lots of big windows, but gets no sun)...

after leaning how to knit, all I want do recently is to knit.

yes, yes, I know the spring is just around the corner and we've been having nice sunny warmer days.

but a few days of the coldness left is a good enough reason for me to knit.

I am sure it will fade away once the sunny beautiful spring really hits here.

here are what I've been working on :)

●my toque(that's what we call knitted hat here in Canada) #2●

based on this pattern.

but I didn't repeat the cable pattern all the way around, instead broke them up with some knit stitches in between.

currently on hold because I ran out of yarn, and the store I got it was out of stock and put it in order...

●fingerless gloves for my hubby●

it took me a few re-do's to get a pair of gloves done for him.

originally I was going with this pattern,

but my husband is pretty picky(with pretty much everything!),

and he said it was too long, too baggy around the wrist, etc,,,

and finally turned out how he wanted(well, sort of,,, close enough... :I)

he didn't really like the yarn either because it was too 'sweater-like'.

ha! oh well, that's all I had!!

●my toque #3●

based on this pattern.

I liked how Novita did hers, so I decided to integrate the cables(braids) into it.

it is a bit too big and loose, but may shrink a little after washing it(although the yarn itself came pre-washed).

but I still like it :)

although I don't really like cold winter weather,

now I get excited just for the perfect opportunities to wear my knitted things :) :) :)

my first ever knitted hat

the spring may be just around the corner.
but before it comes, I wanted to squish in some knitting.
I love soft and warm knitted/crocheted item that keep me cozy in the cold weather.

do you remember how I explained before that I didn't have a brain and hands for knitting?
I know I had failed so many times trying to knit,
but, all the hats and scarves I see on Etsy and people on the street & blogs had been making me want to learn knitting, well, once again!

I searched online for slouch hat/beret patterns, and I came across this blog.
also find this site for knitting terms and stitches, and it even has little tutorial video clips.
thank god for the Internet! I would have been lost without it, otherwise!!


I changed the pattern slightly because uneven number of stitches was driving me nuts!
yes, I am very particular when it comes to things like that.
and after restarting it five or six times, finally it was shaping like a hat!!
I was so excited :)!







I did one too many row in the cable(can you find where it is?),
but I decided not to rip it all apart once again and tried to shut my eyes off of it.

not bad for the first project, right?
the important thing is, I actually finished a project!





now, I am hooked on knitting!
and want to make myself another hat with cranberry/raspberry red yarn.
the year I used for this hat was thrifted for 50c and wasn't that soft.
I am guessing it was aclyric.
I want the next hat to be nice and soft, so now I am off to yarn hunting :)

this week

it feels like I have been out of the blogging world for the entire week!

I've been reading up on the blogs I enjoy, but have not had enough time to write a post on my own blog...

my husband was home for the week because there was no work.

it is a nature of construction having a up and down times, and it's both good and bad.

financially, it's not that great, but it's awesome having a family time for the whole week!

he's been working out of town and coming home only on the weekends for the past six months.

so, it was definitely great for all of us to have him at home for the week.

we got some stuff done,

and little L(our daughter) always loves having a papa time.

and just be lazy and enjoy being around each other.

this whole week was like a loooooong weekend :)

besides that, I got a few sewing projects done.

I have been too lazy to make an effort to take some pictures,

but I promise, they are coming!

and now I am into knitting!!

I even finished my first knitting project!!

ha :)

it's getting a bit long, so I'll tell you more about it in another post sometime this weekend!

have a wonderful weekend :)