WTF am I thinking?!

So after it took me NINE months to make Chewys sweater (that BARELY fits now) I decide to make him a cabled vest out of the same Sirdar booklet, and only gave myself a month to complete it. *ZOINKS* I also have a big thick book to read for our book club and we are visiting some friends later in the month. Oiy Vey!

And of course the slave driver (I mean lovely middle child of mine) is requesting a pteranodon and cat toy ASAP. Yeah, good luck with that kid. I need to teach him how to knit these himself! ;)

iPhoodie!

I saw this amazingly cute pattern by clickertyclick, a sweater for your ipod! It was from almost 4 yrs ago, but the deminsions fit the new itouch or iphone. I started knitting it and thought, ew, don't like seaming! How about a pocket, wait! lets leave this section out... After contacting the original designer, she agreed I can post my mods for the pattern! It's a free ravelry download, or check it out here! :) Thanks to Linda from ClickertyClick!

I present to you all, the iPhoodie! (that's iPod/iPhone Hoodie but I thought I was being hysterical with the mashup spelling. My 10 yr old said that was lame and call it a sweater. LOL can't please them all!)

iPhone Hoodie
(pattern modified from clickertyclick. Original pattern can be found at http://clickertyclick.blogspot.com/2006/07/at-last.html)

Materials needed:
US size 3 (3.25mm) straight needles and 4 size 3 DPNs
Worsted weight yarn
4 stitch markers
2 pieces of scrap yarn
Yarn/tapestry needle

Gauge: not important to the integrity of the pattern

Techniques used:
KFB = knit in the front and back of the same stitch
3 needle bind off = see http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/casting-off and scroll to the bottom to watch the video on this technique.


Pattern:
Cast on 22 stitches on straight needles. Work in stockinette until the piece measures 2.5 – 3 inches (or approx 7cm) ending with a purl row.
Divide the stitches placing a stitch marker as you knit the next row as follows: K3, place marker, K4, place marker, K8, place marker, K4, place marker

Now you are ready for the increasing. Purl the next row then work as follows: Row 1: K2, KFB, move marker, KFB, K2, KFB, move marker, KFB, K6, KFB, move marker, KFB, K2, KFB, move marker, KFB, K2 Row 2: Purl all stitches.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until there are 10 stitches before the first marker and purl the next row.

Now you are ready to set aside the sleeves. K10, remove marker and place those 18 stitches between the marker on scrap yarn, Knit until the next marker, remove marker and place those 18 stitches between the marker on scrap yarn, knit to the end. You should have 42 stitches. Purl the next row.

Switch to DPNs kniting in the round. K 14 on each of 3 needles. Work in the round until the entire body measures 4 inches (10 cm). K1, P1 for 7 rows, then do a 3 needle bind off to seam up the bottom of the sweater.

Now it's time to pick up your sleeve stitches. Knit the 18 stitches onto 3 DPNs and work in the round until the sleeve measures 3 inches (approx 8cm). K1, P1 for 4 rows and cast off normally (not 3 needle bind off).
Repeat this for the other sleeve.

Time for the pouch... Pick up 7 stitches in the middle of the sweater approx. 2 rows below the v of the neck. Row 1: knit Row 2: purl Row 3: KFB, K5, KFB Row 4: purl Row 5: KFB, K7, KFB Row 6: purl Row 7: KFB, K9, KFB Row 8: purl Row 9: KFB, K11, KFB Row 10: purl Row 11: knit all stitches Row 12: purl Cast off and seam to the front of the sweater approx 2 rows above the first ribbing row.

Seam the top of the hood together by folding in half and stitching across the top. Weave in all your ends.
You can pick up stitches around the opening to add a fun trim or add a 3 stitch I cord to each side of the hood for the strings. If you want to keep the sleeves from hanging free, you can stitch them to the inside of the pouch or side of the sweater. Or, let them cover your headphone cords. You could even try some intarsia on the back of the hoodie for an interesting and creative look!
© clickertyclick and CoffeeBra

I'm hoping to be back to knitting soon!

We have some sort of diagnosis for the little one. He has Dyspraxia, Hypotonia, Global Developmental Delays, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Speech Apraxia and a host of other really long terms. Basically the Dyspraxia covers most of it all. He receives 4 therapies a week and goes to many specialists. He soon will be wearing special ankle/foot braces to help him stand more. He also is a former self starver and still Failure to Thrive so it's an every day battle to get him to eat. Doesn't help that he also is allergic to Milk, Soy and Citric Acid and will be having formal allergy testing done soon to see what else. Dealing with him has been a 24/7 job. I have sooooo many projects and patterns swirling in my head, I just need to get back into them. I thought I'd be knitting at the Dr.'s office and during therapy but all of the things he is dealing with require hands on attention. I've gotten over my Google obsession trying to diagnose him myself, but replaced that with a Chick Lit book obsession. I am hoping the knitting obsession can come back so i can finish the sweater I've been making him since MAY!

Getting back in the swing of things...

My youngest has had such a rough go of things in the whole "normal development" for babies. He's almost 18 months and yet to walk, in fact he's far from it still. We have yet to get a diagnosis for whatever is going on, but not for lack of trying. I will hopefully get back to knitting now that we are getting into a routine of the various dr. appts and therapies and getting the older boys to and from school and their activities.

Just wanted ya'll to know, I'm still here! I'm still working on some new free patterns to add to ravelry, just dealing with a few of life's curve balls first.

The life of a mom...

I haven't posted in a long time.  sorry about that!  Sick kids, went on a mini vacation, been knitting up a storm and just finished the book Friday Night Knitting Club.  I'm working on some new coffee cozy patterns and possibly an ipod case, so stay tuned.  :)

Knitting at the gym...

Anyone try it?!  A friend mentioned knitting while on the recumbant bike.  I soooooooo need to try this!  I'm way behind in the hat for my youngest, hell, winter will be over by the time I have it done at this rate!  Maybe I should take the needles to the gym.  ;)

So much to do!

Since the holidays I've been a busy gal!  Knit a couple hats you can see on Ravelry, been enjoying our new hot tub (YAY!) and I found a treasure!  My dad and grandma's recipes!  I've started a blog where I can share some of them.  check it out... http://nevaskitchen.blogspot.com/ 

Hopefully now that the kids are back in school, DH is back at work and we are all back in a routine, I can spend more time knitting and cooking and actually posting to these blogs once in a while!  ;)