Baby Bonnet

I'm on a bit of a knitting kick lately. And by a "bit" of a kick I really mean I'm experiencing a serious obsession. Baby knits are just so quick and satisfying! I'm especially loving patterns like this one from "More Last Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson because its knit in one seamless piece. I think this project will find its way into my "go-to knits" for friends babies, but this little gem is for mine. 

Wonky Stripes Baby Quilt

The first time my friend Lisa told me about her experience of adopting a child from Ethiopia, I struggled to keep the tears back. Her adoption story was so beautiful and touching I think it would be impossible for someone to not be moved by it. She's such a energizing and selfless woman who was clearly changed forever the day she brought back her little girl. When Lisa recently told me she was going to back to Ethiopia this winter and was organizing a fundraiser for C.H.O.I.R. I knew immediately that I wanted to help.

The fundraiser is in the form of a shopping event featuring handmade artisan gifts with a child in mind. I've clearly had children on my mind for quite sometime now so it felt really natural to make another craft intended for a child.

This is the first quilt I've made for someone else other than myself and I must say I'm pretty sad to have to see it go! Good thing I can just make another one.

If you live in the Halifax area come check out Handsmade for Helping at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth on Thursday November 3rd at 6:30pm. This quilt will be for sale as well as pottery, textiles, rugs, jewelry and so much more. 100% of all proceeds will go to C.H.O.I.R.

Knit Baby Pants

CUTENESS ALERT! 

Don't you just wish there was a wee little babe wearing these that you could scoop up and cuddle in your arms?? Well I sure do. I can't wait for all my pregnant friends to start delivering their babies so I can have some models for these baby knit blog posts. I can't wait to see little tiny toes poking out of the cuffs of these pants! 

I used a pattern from "Vintage Knits for Modern Babies" (great book by the way, I think I might bite the bullet and just buy it) by Hadley Fierlinger. I ran out of yarn which resulted in a few stripes near the waist which I actually really like. I didn't however think about how that also meant I'd need to sew the seams together with a different yarn. Not so fond of that look but I suppose it's not terribly noticeable. I sewed some elastic around the waist to help keep them up as the pattern suggested. I think next time I might try decreasing as I near the waist to see if I could get away without the elastic.

Seed Saving

These are the first dry seeds I've found in my garden so far this year. Up next should be arugula, then dill and cilantro. Not only is it exciting to save seeds and store them for next spring, but how cute is it to  package them up as gifts for friends?

Baby Button Up Hoody

I finally finished my first baby sweater for a friend. It's just so darn cute because it's so tiny! Even my husband couldn't help but smile and giggle looking at the teensy tiny sleeves as I knit them up. 

I'm still rather new to knitting in pieces that are sewn together, and truthfully I think my next sweater will be knit in the round. It just feels so much easier. Also I totally didn't clue in that knitting a sweater like this in stripes might not make sense once it has to be sewn together with one colour of yarn. Oh well, on to the next one!

Plum Vanilla Jam

I wish I had an good excuse as to why I've been withholding this gem of recipe from you. I guess I could say that it's because I've been swamped with keeping up with my preserving mayhem while hosting multiple house guests AND working a few shifts at the family biz.
But who cares what I've been up to, all you need to know is that this jam is so flavourful and perfectly tart that it's easily won the title of "My Favourite Jam Ever".

Peach Chutney

As a longtime lover of mango chutney I was very excited to see a recipe for it in my new favourite canning book. But I just can't bring myself to buy produce thats traveled so ridiculously far to get to me when there is so much wonderful fruit grown right here in my province. So what else is a girl to do but find a local substitute: peach chutney!

Aside from the obvious Indian food applications, this chutney is great on fish cakes, these amazing quinoa patties, alongside cheese and bread, spooned into these biscuits and so much more. I'd love to hear your favourite uses for chutneys too!

Striped Baby Blanket

When I learned that one of my friends would be having a baby I promptly started dreaming up knitting projects for the new arrival. I remembered her showing me these blankets from Purl Soho that she adored months and months ago, long before she was even pregnant, so I decided to surprise her with my own version.
One evening while having dinner with her and husband we start talking about knitting and she begins to show me a new project she's working on. "It's this really simple baby blanket", she says as she pulls out the beginning of the blanket from her bag. As soon as I saw the wide stripes of bold color I knew we were making the same blanket. I pulled out my own unfinished baby blanket to show her and she laughed in surprise and delight.
It was a funny but pleasant way to be reminded of our friendship, and at least I know she's going to like it!

Raspberry Jam with Mint

I've been OBSESSED with Liana Krissoff's new book "Canning for a new generation" lately and have a pantry full of preserves to prove it.
So far I've made spicy dilly beans, pickled radishes, four types of strawberry jam, cherry & red currant jam, roasted red peppers (I've always wanted to preserve these, so exciting!), and now the most amazing raspberry jam ever.

Still on the list of things I'd like to can are: spicy pickled carrots, peach & raspberry jam, plum cardamom jam, tomato sauce (hubby has deduced we need 40 500ml jars to get us through winter, yikes!) various salsas and chutneys and BBQ sauce. Phew! I'm going to be busy.

Long and Narrow Patchwork Quilt

This quilt has taken me far too long to complete.
You see quilts are just so...BIG, that after that initial excitement of creating something new dies you're just left with the daunting task of spending hours (and months) finishing it. Am I the only one who would rather push it aside and pick up something fresh and fun, something that can be made and enjoyed so much quicker?

Log Cabin Rug

Thanks to Mason Dixon Knitting (and their wonderful tutorial) I have just completed my first knitted log cabin pattern!
Sure it's not perfect (aren't you used to that by now with my creations?), there are some slightly crooked edges here and there, but I think once I block it and attach it to a non-slip rug backing I think it'll look just fine. Besides, it is only to wipe off our feet with.

Ribbed Hat with Cables

This hat represents many firsts for me.
It was not only the first time I've knit cables but also the first time I've really used a pattern, and the first time I've knit a hat on two needles. I feel quite accomplished right now, and just can't wait to knit something else!

Simple Scarf

A quick and simple garter stitch scarf for the man of the house to keep warm as the temperature drops.

Kimono Robe

Thanks to Amy Butler and her book "In Stitches", I am now the proud owner of a handmade kimono style robe.
It's been quite a while since I've attempted constructing a garment myself and Butlers instructions were quite easy to follow and the whole project only took me a few hours.

Heating Bag

I can't believe I've never thought to make my own Magic Bag before. If you know me at all, you know I have a serious obsession/addiction to having a hot bag of dry grains at my feet (or any other body part that ails me). 


These took mere minutes to make and already look so much cuter than the ugly blue ones I bought in a store years ago. Imagine how much more amazing they could look if I put in even a tiny bit more effort. Quilting? Embroidery? I'm getting excited just thinking about it.

Quilted Pot Holder

AKA a mini quilt!

These were really fun, and I think I'm going to end up making many of these to try out patterns before starting a large quilt.
Can you tell the first photo was my second and most recent attempt at this project? Definitely improved drastically from my first pair in the second photo.

Interested in learning how to quilt? Check out "Quilts" by Denyse Schmidt. It's probably my favourite quilting book I've found so far.

Mason Jar Pincushion

In an attempt to tidy up my crafting/sewing nook, I finally got around to making myself a pincushion that doubles as pin storage.

Oven Mitts

I've been borrowing lots and lots of sewing books from the library lately, many of which are too popular to renew enough times to try everything I want (good thing for amazon.ca).