Snowflake Cap

Alright, so after a good long Christmas holiday with my family, I am now up and ready to post some of the gifts I made for my family. Today, I've done up my pattern for the Snowflake Cap I made for my mom. I ended up not doing a lining for it as I ran out of time; and in honesty I kind of gave up as I really didn't have the right idea on how to sew the lining in. Like I said before I'm severely challenged when it comes to sewing.

So, here's my Snowflake Cap pattern. You can find it here, Snowflake Cap . One last thing...this is only my second pattern I've written, so if you find mistakes please don't hesitate to leave me a note and I'll do my best to work them out. Enjoy!

I didn't have a model available so I used a lamp shade...not the best but it gives you an idea of how it looks.

Merry Christmas!!

Today my husband is making his way here with his dad and sister, so I don't plan on doing much posting over the next little bit. I mean it is almost Boxing Day! So, just thought I'd put this up and wish you all a

Merry Christmas!!

Have a good and safe holiday, no matter what you celebrate; enjoy it!! : )



My Culinary Awesomeness...

Today my mom had a group of girls from work over for their annual Christmas Party. I love to bake and cook and just do things for parties, you couldn't pay me to cater something but I just like doing it for myself (and in this case my mom). We went grocery shopping the other night and I got started in the kitchen this morning. We agreed on meatballs and sauce, a fruit tray with cream cheese and marshmallow fluff dip, a veggie tray shaped like a Christmas tree, and a bread bowl type thing with dip in the middle. For dessert we had Christmas cookies, cherry bread, plum pudding with rum sauce, and candy cane and skor fudge.





My first picture is of the bread bowl dish, I got the recipe from the Pillsbury website; it's called Spinach Dip Crescent Wreath. I've attached the link bellow for the recipe. I was actually really impressed with the dip itself, I like spinach dip but I'm picky. I loved how the bowl was edible, it was not only environmental conscious but also easy clean up. I'm taking a moment to brag over my holly garnish...my husband always tells me one day I'm going to end up cutting a finger off when I cut things...but to every one's surprise I didn't. : p

The next dish I prepared was one of my favorites, I love veggies and dip and this was a neat little way to display them. Again I got the idea from Pillsbury's, but I added a bit to the tree. It turned out great and I was lucky to remember to snap some pictures of it before everyone dug into it.

My mom got the cherry bread from a local store called Taste Of Country. It's my favorite store to go to when I'm home, it has all these neat little home things. For the past couple of years we've gotten tree ornaments for our animals, they write their names on each of them for us. Off topic a bit but oh well. So with the bread platter I topped it off by making Christmas cookies. To most of the world they are known as shortbread cookies, to my grandma they are known as scotch cookies. I have some of my fondest memories making Christmas cookies with her. The mess we'd make in her kitchen, and on ourselves. All the decorations we'd put on them and the variety of cookie cutters we'd use. It's something I'm proud to have the ability to do, because most of the women in my family can't bake...at least not like my grandma and I. I might post the recipe later on, but for now I'm keeping it my little secret. he he

The last of the desserts that I made was fudge, I love making fudge. It's so easy to make variations from the same recipe. I use the Carnation Evaporated Milk Fudge recipe. And I usually just buy the can of milk and rip off the label to get the recipe while I shop but this year I was really disappointed to find that Carnation has chosen to put an assortment of other recipes (milkshakes) on the labels. So, I had to resort to the very helpful Internet; not that I minded...I'm just a creature of habit. lol For one batch I did the regular recipe but then place a couple tablespoons of crushed candy canes in and then topped it off with some bigger pieces of candy cane. I have to say once I tasted it all I could think of was how good it would be if I had of made my mint fudge with the candy canes. Can you say good. And speaking of mint that was also a big disappointment for me. I couldn't find any mint chocolate chips at the grocery store...and I can't even say it might have just been the store because this is the second time I couldn't find them. So, this time I opted for skor chocolate chips, and it turned out to be amazing. Not all the chips melted so it made it crunchy which was a nice change. As I mentioned above I've attached all the links for the recipes I've used....hope you enjoy them as much as I know we did.

Spinach Dip Crescent Wreath

Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter

Carnation Fudge

White Knuckles and Sore Wrist...

Ever notice when it's crunch time something always seems to go wrong...or something else unexpected comes up. Well consider this to be one of those situations. Let me bring you up to speed...last Fall I was diagnosed with tendinitis and a cyst in my thumb. The doctor called it a trigger thumb, if I moved my hand/thumb in a certain way it'd feel like it popped out of joint and was very painful. So, what would the crisis be?? We're less than a week away from Christmas and I still have a couple of projects to finish and my stupid wrist is starting to hurt. I noticed it today when I was driving and realized my thumb and pointer finger were going numb for no reason. I have bruising around my wrist...and to make matters more annoying I didn't pack my brace with me and the hubby has already left for the airport. So, to add to the already busy weekend I'm going to have to go and look for either a brace or something that can help relieve the pressure and strain.

Alright I'm done with my pity party, onto some more exciting and fun issues...like how to finish the hat. See, in the project it suggests sewing in a fleece lining. So, I went out and got some fleece and then sat down and tried to figure out how to get the right measurement and then how to sew it into the hat. And I'm sure some of you are wondering what the problem is. Well let me tell you...see I can sew but I can't sew. Make sense? I can knit up a storm and I usually have no problem putting projects together, but when it comes to sewing for some reason the ability needed to do the simple task of sewing fabric gets lost somewhere. Now don't get me wrong I really really wish I could sew, my dream is to one day own a sewing machine and be able to make things like curtains and aprons and what nots. But, I am the girl who once attempted to hem my own pants and ended up cutting them too short, and sewing the wrong side...so that is a far fetched dream.

But seriously, I'm really boggled on what to do...any help? I'm actually thinking of throwing that whole idea of the fleece out the window and just picking up the stitches needed and doing the hat pattern again and sewing that to the inside of the hat as a lining. Then again that requires more knitting....boo erns.

I shall report back soon hopefully with a completed hat. : ) Until then feel free to enjoy this video...I'm not getting into the habit of posting videos but I love this one. It's by the band Ok Go, they're an amazing DIY band.

Song: White Knuckles

Artist: Ok Go

Snowflakes and colour work

I've weighted out the pros and con's of doing colour work and have come to a conclusion...it's one big pain in the butt! I've mentioned in a previous post that I'm working on a hat for my mom and I'm doing a snowflake pattern in it, and all that got me through the colour section was that I knew how much my mom would love it. If it wasn't for that I don't think I would have done the snowflake section; at least not if it was just for me.

Well...now that I'm done my rant, I'm writing this to show off my colour section of the hat...he he As mush as I complain I have to say I am proud of what I've accomplished.

I had my doubts on how they were going to look, because it didn't look good; I even contemplated pulling it out and doing something else. But I figured I may as well wait until the whole thing was done and then decide. I'm glad I didn't rip it out, because I think they're cute. : )

I'm hoping to get the hat done by tomorrow, fingers crossed...I was going to post a picture of another colour work project I did but it's already wrapped and under the tree. : p

12 More Sleeps and I still have knitting to do!

It's crunch time, seeing how Christmas is less than 2 weeks away...and for some unknown reason I've decided to start some new projects to use as gifts. I made myself a hat with a brim not too long ago and my mom is in love with it. I got the original patter from the book "Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders" and decided to tweak it a bit. She has a love for anything pink, snowflakes. So, I thought why not incorporate those things into the hat...

I did a random 'snowflake' search on the web and found this free chart pattern. I decided to use two of these to do a single ribbon around the hat. The main colour is just a plain white, and the snowflakes are a beautiful cobalt blue. I'm finding the yarn a bit on the thin side, even though it's the right gauge so I'm going to line the inside of the hat with a nice fleece.

I've never been good at reading a chart, I even have a row counter app on my Ipod because I easily forget what row I'm on or where in the chart I'm at. So, I'm currently in the process of writing out the chart for myself, I figure it'll help keep mistakes from happening. Well...that's what I'm hoping for.

But for now it's off to lay on the couch, and drink some tea. I'm fending off a cold right now...which I guess merely gives me more reason to sit around and knit. :p

Christmas Cards



You fill a bag with candy and place inside.

 I've been back home in Ontario for over a month now, and it's been really nice not to have any obligations like a job or anything else. I've been able to help my Grandma out whenever she needs it, and go on trips with her; I have to say this looks to be one of the best Christmas' for me. My Grandma is like a second mom to me, and it's scary coming to the realization that she's not going to be around forever...so I've thoroughly enjoyed this time.

With that being said, lately my mom has been coming up with little things I can do around the house, like decorating, baking, cleaning; just to name a few things. But this week I had a really fun task to do...Christmas card making! I absolutely love making cards, I can't explain why without sounding a tad bit crazy but I just love it. She gave me a template of another card of what she wanted, and we went from there. This merely gave me another reason to take a trip to the most wonderful store in the world...MICHAEL'S! Not that I think you should have to have a reason to go there, it just makes it easier to explain to your husband why you bought what you did... : p

My mom is a very matchy matchy person, she doesn't like to mix a lot of colours together, which made this kind of hard as I'm the complete opposite. I love to through in different colours, textures and hues together. But together we got some really good items to make the cards, and they're not like the original at all. 



I'm an embossing God...I kid, I kid. : p




An up close look at the details...



I got my sparkle...in ribbon.




My mom loved them so much she wants me to do some more for her work but in red, which I had to say I'm excited about. I think I'll post a step-by-step look at how I made them, not that I think it's that hard to figure out...but meh.

I'm off to listen to more Christmas music and to do some knitting, I had an idea for a new cowl...yes I'm addicted to them lately. : )

Home - A cowl pattern

Alright so I've been working all week on a cowl, and I'm proud to say it's done. : ) I bought this yarn that is so soft and chunky, I love it. The yarn is by Loops and Threads called Country Loom in colour Driftwood (01165). Since I have yet to figure out how to use windows word I decided to just type it on here...without further a due, my pattern. : )

Home - Cowl

Yarn: Loops & Threads Country Loom, colour Driftwood. 1 Ball
Needles: 8mm / 11US
**I'll admit I didn't care about the gauge, but the yarn itself has a gauge of 11stitches and 16 rows to create 4x4inches, using a 9mm needle.**

Using 8mm needles cast-on 28 stitches, working back and forth proceed with pattern bellow...

Row 1: K4, P4 - repeat to last 4 sts. K4
Row 2: P4, K4 - repeat to last 4 sts. P4
Row 3: K4, P4 - repeat to last 4 sts. K4
Row 4: P4, K4 - repeat to last 4 sts. P4
Row 5-6: KNIT
Row 7: P4, K4 - repeat to last 4 sts. P4
Row 8: K4, P4 - repeat to last 4 sts. K4
Row 9: P4, K4 - repeat to last 4 sts. P4
Row 10: K4, P4 - repeat to last 4 sts. K4
Row 11-12: KNIT

Repeat rows 1-12 until piece measures desired length, then loosely cast off. I did 8 repeats for my cowl. Once you cast off sew cast on and cast off ends together and ENJOY!

Here's a close up of the stitch pattern, the picture's not that great; kinda hard to do it own your own with a big honkin' camera. ha ha

Feel free to re-create this pattern, post pictures for me!

**As a disclaimer, I've made this pattern on my own and I have posted the pattern on here because I'm proud to share it. And if you're going to recreate and sell it for profit or for charity all I ask is that you don't pass the pattern off as your own. Thanks.**

Tis the Season

I always tell people my favorite holiday is Boxing Day (Dec. 26). As a shopaholic it gives me such a thrill to be out and around looking for the best deals on items. I love it! But my favorite season is the Christmas season, as soon as November 1st hits I start getting my decorations out, playing holiday music, baking, and so many other things. I still remember making a mess at my Grandmothers baking Christmas cookies as a little girl. And to this day I still take time to go over and make a mess.

And even though I've been home now for almost a month I'm still not in the Christmas spirit...at least not until this morning. I woke up to S-N-O-W! I was so excited, a crisp white blanket has covered the city and it's perked me right up. So, today I've spent the day cozed up on the couch, watching movies and attempting to knit.

I've been wanting to make a cowl for myself, something big and warm to wrap around my neck for the winter. And I've been wanting to make something myself but I have been having the worse time finding a stitch pattern I love. I had this great green yarn that I used for my previous cowl but came to the sad conclusion today that it's not the stitch patterns I'm not liking it's the yarn itself. There's just something about the yarn that's just not what I want. And it's so sad because it's a beautiful, soft yarn.

I'm off to find some yarn more fitting and to make myself a nice big cup of hot chocolate. Enjoy this season and I hope you all have as many happy memories and traditions as I do.