flying by faster than I can...

These summer days are flying by faster than I can frog a baby sleeve...

...which I had to do last night.  I totally skipped the direction that mentioned casting off three stitches for the next two rows on my second sleeve.  That made attaching the sleeve to the body quite tricky.  I'm knitting the Raglan Baby Sweater by Debbie Bliss.  It was going along great and I was seaming my sleeves to my fronts and backs.  When I went to seam the second sleeve, I realized I didn't have the angular little corner that I needed to make the seams join accurately.  Rip, Rip went my second sleeve...and I'm working on re-knitting it according to the directions. 

I did however, successfully finish a second Pretty Baby Sweater.  This one is knit in Universal Yarns Worsted.  The color is Primrose and it is my favorite baby yellow.  After purchasing a second skein of yarn, I've got enough to knit up a baby hat as well.  These baby sweaters are fun and fast, which fit these summer days perfectly. 

Hope your summer days are filled with great things and that your needles are always full of stitches....whatcha knitting now? 

like dandelion seeds

I can tell we're settling into summer because the days are just floating by so quickly. Like dandelion seeds...these summer days are so magical.   We've got some upcoming camps and basketball events that make the next three weeks a bit busy, but these past few days have been just what I love about summer....unhurried.  Here's a peek at what we've been doing to kick off the summer:

~I've been cleaning the house and summerizing it with shells....

~Finally have finished up the last of the report cards and sent them off to our umbrella group which keeps all of our paperwork for home schooling.  The kids all had great school years and we survived Chemistry and Physical Science...whoo hoo!

~Jammer finished up baseball in the midst of a heat wave....temps over 100 at the ball fields.  whew

~We've been enjoying meals outside on the deck.....I feel like I get an extra room added to my house each spring/summer as we spend so much time out on the deck.

~Taking time to just play and create and let our imaginations go free.

~Totally devouring our new read aloud....such suspense!

~Lunching and shopping with my mom and finding my new summer purse for a super crazy price! 

~Watering our plants....almost daily

{Marveling at how fast these plants are filling out...the above picture was taken on May 23, 2011, the one below was taken today (June 15th) Wow!}

~Keeping track of the gifts along the way! 

I hope your days are magical ones...enjoy the special blessings of this season!  They go by faster than dandelion seeds on a breeze! 

batches of baby love

I've noticed that I tend to work in batches.   One month I'm knocking myself out with dishcloths, the next I'm whipping out owls and right now I'm smack dab in the middle of a baby sweater phase.  Who knows what July will bring?  But, the sudden urge for baby sweaters is practical in nature because there are several babies who will soon be making appearances and I thought it would be fun to knit some sweaters to welcome them.

 The very originally named Pretty Baby Sweater has been in my knitting binder for several years.  I am not sure why I waited so long to knit it, but it is a gem.  It knits up quickly and the seaming is painless and easy as the pattern calls for a crochet slip stitch. 

There is no need to cut the yarn, you simply seam the sleeve and keep on knitting.  Genius!  It is knit from the yoke down and when you're done you only have two tails to weave in. (your cast on tail and your cast off tail)  I knit this green one from some Ella Rae Classic.  I was able to get an entire sweater out of one skein. 

This heather green one has already been given to my friend Michele who just recently had her fifth baby....a precious little girl.  She loved it and I'm sure it will keep Elizabeth warm when those Kansas winds start whipping. 

Because I was able to knit an entire sweater from one skein of Ella Rae Classic with some left over, I wrongly assumed that one skein of Universal Classic Worsted would suffice for my second baby sweater.  Wrong!  I'm stalled on this precious yellow one until I pick up another skein to finish it.  Good thing this baby is not due until September. 

Oh well, that was just excuse enough for me to cast on for a third baby sweater...this one for a precious little boy.  I'm knitting my friend Beth's favorite raglan sweater. 

She sent me this pattern (and several others a while ago - thanks again Beth) and I found the perfect denim blue yarn.  The yarn is Plymouth jeannee and it is so soft and perfect for a baby knit.  I'll work on this until I get back to my lys to pick up my additional skein of yellow yarn.

In the meantime, I'll be plugging away with my newest fascination....how about you?  Do you work in batches or are you solely passionate for one project at a time?  No matter what your M.O. might be, I hope you find joy in the process.  Have a great day friends!

embrace life

Summer is here!  I've been wanting to make a summer list; you know things that need to get done, things we want to do for fun and just some extra special things.  Thinking through what should go on that list can be overwhelming to me, but while I was reading and doing my quiet time this morning, I found the perfect summer (really all year) list already composed. 

"Whoever wants to embrace life

and see the day fill up with good,

Here's what you do.

Say nothing evil or hurtful;

Snub evil and cultivate good;

Run after peace for all you're worth.

God looks on all this with approval..."  1 Peter 3:10-12 (The Message)

That was just what I needed to get my mind wrapped around what I really want for our summer.  So friends, I hope that you'll join me this summer embracing life and filling up your days with good.  Happy Summer!