Thank You Meredith

On Friday I came home late from my knitting group and my son had checked the mail box and left an envelop on top of the counter for me.

I was very curious because I was not expecting any packages.

I have to tell you that I LOVE to get a package in the mail. I don't know if it is because I am from Brazil and just absolutely loooove when i get a package from my family... no matter how big or small, it always makes me so happy I get giddy. I always have an extremely intense feeling of happy expectation before I open the box... I get so very happy that my heart beats fast... Yes, I get this way every time I get a package in the mail :) ( I don't get them very often but it's all worth it when i do) ....

Well, this time it was a SURPRISE... as i mentioned I was not expecting any packages ... I grabbed the package and the scissors ... I opened it and much to much surprise ... I found this beautiful card, with a sheep ( oh, our beautiful collectible Sheep. ) and the most wonderful thoughtful present from my dear friend ...Meredith from www.mereknits.blogspot.com. If you haven't visited her yet you are in for a treat :)
My heart was beating fast and a huge, big smile was painted on my face !

She made my day and I felt so close to her I felt I knew her ... Even though we have never met in person, I felted I had her " heart" ... Wait, I literally did :) and now she has a piece of mine ...

THANK YOU my dear, sweet friend Meredith. You are so thoughtful, kind and I feel so lucky to have you in my life.

Well, and she did not stop there ... She sent one of her hearts for Teresa from www. Teresakesner.blogspot.com, Gracie from www.onesaylorslog.blogspot.com and Betsy from www.thelifeofaqueen.blogspot.com. I'm sure the 4 of us are going to have lunch together soon, celebrate our friendship and toast to Meredith ( as Teresa said). :)

As always it's great to have you come to visit me and Thank you so much to my new followers for stopping by. Can't wait to see you again!

Cozy warm sleepers for a cold...winter day

I have been working on these for a while now.

They are sooo comfy, warm and keep your footy's so cozy.

I was at one of my favorite yarn stores "Twisted" here in Portland with my daughter when she saw them... And the first thing she said was " I want one ..." And of course what is a knitter with a request from her daughter to do? I immediately bought the pattern and yarn, hurried home and started it right away.

 

The thing is ... it turned out it was not that easy because you need to make the thrums one by one...so it took me a while to make them (almost 2 months and a few rows at a time) ... But it's finally done ...

And I think she loves it ...

 

What do you think?  

This is the inside...mmmm... pure warm and cozyness (is that a word?) ah, ah.

 



 

The only decision left is ... pom-pom or no pom-pom ???

 

I have to admit...I had fun making them and I really like it, especially on these cold, freezing days we are living here in the Northwest.  

Hope you are staying warm (it was 22 F here this morning).

 

I'm so happy you stopped by to visit me :)

 

Have a great, wonderful week!

Wooly Friend Tutorial

Wooly Friend (Little "Stella") Tutorial

 

Finally, as promised, here is the tutorial to my

"Stella" Sheep

 

I really had fun making this little sheep. I love this kind of projects because you can go from beginning to end in one sitting.

 

 

I had made one for me a while ago and showed my blogging friends Teresa, Gracie and Betsy ...when they told me another one of our blogging friends, Meredith from www.mereknits-mereknits.blogspot.com would love one of them I immediately thought I was going to make one for her...

 

but then I thought that we all like wool...and naturally like the cute wooly friends who make our wool.

 

That is why the idea of sharing my pattern was born.

I have to be honest and tell you that I have seen many of these in the web and other websites, but when I made mine I didn't have a specific pattern and improvised to get this one.

 

(So while I really like mine this is not, by any means, a professional pattern neither am I a professional pattern writer. So, if you see any mistakes I will be glad to fix it if you send me an email).

 

Here is a picture of Stella when it was done...

 

Here is what you need :

 

Yarn:I used a chunky yarn for the main color(a very hard rug making kind of yarn I got from a friend so I didn't really had a label) any kind really will do it.

and a sports weigh wool for the head and feet.

Hook: Size 5.0 mm - H

Tapestry needle

Basic knowledge of crochet

 

Abbreviations: (US)

Ch: chain

St = stitches

Sl St+ slip Stitch

Sc = single crochet

Hdc = half double crochet

Dc = double crochet = treble (or triple)crochet

 

 

Row 1: Start by making a magic loop.

 ch 2, and 12 dc into the magic loop to make the first cluster = 12 dc

(pull the tail for the magic loop tight to close the loop in the center)

Slst to join to first dc worked

 

 

 

Row 2: Ch2, 1 dc in the same loop

2 Dc in each dc from previous row = 24 dc

Slst to join to first dc worked

 

 

 

Row 3: Ch2, 1 dc in the same loop

*1 Dc in the next Dc, 2 Dc in the next Dc**, repeat from* to **till you get to the end. Make sure you have 36 Dc.

 

 

Good job... You are now done with the body of you little sheep.

 

We are now ready to start the head of the sheep.

 

Head: Choose a contrasting color. I used black for mine and brown for Meredith's.

Start by Ch 8, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook

1 Hdc, 1 Hdc, 1Dc, 1 Tr, 1 Tr. Turn.(you are now doing the other side of the face) Ch 4, Tr 1, Dc 2, Hdc 2, sc 1, ch 1, sc around the face till you get to the corner, ch 10 ( to make the ear) Sc around the head to get to next corner, ch 10 to make the other ear. Sc around the other side of the head. Fasten off. 

You are now done making the head. :)

 

Sorry, I didn't take very good pictures of each step to make the head :(

 

To make the feet:

Feet: Choose the location where you want the feet.

Sc in the space, ch 5, sc in the same space, slst ad fasten off. 

Repeat for the other foot.

Now, with white yarn make 2 eyes and a nose or choose a bead and sew it to the ace to make the expressions you want.

 

 

 

Well, there you go...my very first tutorial. I'm so happy, excited and a bit nervous to push the publish button ...

But the anticipation of sharing it with all of you makes me so happy.

 

Hope you enjoy making one of this wooly friends as much as I did.

 

 

PS: Please, remember I am only writing this pattern for fun and in hopes that you enjoy making one also. If you find any mistakes and want to contact me I'll do my best to correct the mistake. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy it and have fun making many friends to my "Stella"  :)

 

Thanks again for stopping by to see me... I do love to hear from you :) 



Blue Bird Bag

It has been a week and I have tried really hard to do the tutorial for the wooly friend sheep I made last week...
The thing is my kids are preparing for finals this week and weekend as next week is final's week...and finals week is finals week for all of us... We have the house full with their friends and I have been cooking ... And cleaning...and cooking ...and just watching the kids and their friends getting ready for the finals' week.

Because of that I have not been able to stop to write the tutorial... I promise I'll do it though... After finals week... I promise.

I have carved a few minutes and finished this cute bag I made for my best friend. She loves and speaks French and she also likes blue. So I thought she would like it.

What do you think ?


Well, I better go to bed so I can get up early tomorrow to fix breakfast ... And lunch... And dinner and snacks ...yes, this teenagers eat ! :) aren't they just so lucky I really enjoy cooking :)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and come back soon to visit me ... I love to hear from you :)

Wooly Friend for Meredith

It has been a while since I made a cute little wooly friend to be part of my tiny, little bitty collection I have started.
She is so very cute and I do remember I saw a very similar one either In a blog or Pinterest. Because I don't remember where I found it I don't even remember if it had a patter...

Last month when I visited with Teresa, Gracie and Betsy I showed them my little friend ... And the very first thing they said was : Meredith ( from www.mereknits.blogspot.com) would love it ...she also collects wooly friends " ...

I named my little friend Stela...

So, today I decided to seat down and make a sister to Stela and now that she is ready ...
As soon as you look here ...Meredith, this one is for you...

Although they are going to be separated... They are always thinking about each other and just would love to spend time together some day... Just like all of us would love to meet you in person some day and spend time together...

We may not been here in person when we had lunch together but we are always thinking about you and that day when we had lunch you were there with us !!!

Having a Good Friday?
I'm enjoying my day so very much. Crocheting a little...knitting a little ... Just enjoying my Friday .
So happy to be healthy... So grateful to be alive :)

Thank you to all my new followers and to you for stopping by to see me... I so enjoy your comments and hope you have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

Lots of Love !

PS: Because i don't know where i saw the inspiration for mine i decided to make my own patter. I'll be posting a tutorial on how to make this wooly friend later today :) stay tuned .

Feeling Grateful

We have been so busy here in our house and I think now that half our birthdays are done I can think about doing one of the things I really enjoy doing in the beginning of the year...remembering and enjoying all the Christmas presents ... Making new wishes and resolutions for the New Year... And looking back and being so grateful for everything we accomplished.

I have been reading in many blogs how people are making note of the things that make them happy and grateful...I have many reasons to be grateful and to be happy ... I have a wonderful husband, a great family but most of all I'm so grateful for one of the greatest gifts I have ever gotten...one of the things that make me feel the happiest and grateful in my life ... My kids ... I have 2 healthy and very happy kids who ( even in the hardest hours) ) have always made me proud, happy and honestly the happiest mother in the world.

A few days ago I told you my daughter just had a birthday...

This last Saturday was my son's birthday... ( yes my daughter just turned 16 and 3 days later ...) ... my son is now 15 ... Amazing... I remember just bringing him home from the hospital and not knowing what to do with such a little baby... He was 2 month premature and only 4 lbs ...
Now ... How thankful and grateful do you think I can be for having such a wonderful, healthy and great young man as my son ???

I'm just so very grateful, so thankful and so happy words cannot express...

Happy birthday my dear son... You are my "SONshine "....my only SONshine :)

Now ...Before I go I just wanted to show you a little progress on my scarf...

What have you been working on??? Having fun this year ???

Thanks for stopping by and I Hope to see you soon again...

I'm going to be making a few changes and will try to post a few more of my projects ( as I only post maybe 10% of the things I make... ) And I will also be posting a tutorial on one of my projects once a month... So ... Stay tuned ... And I'll have some surprises for you :)

It's Black & White ...

I have been making lots of these scarves during the Holiday season... Easy and quick knits for lots of quick gifts...
Now I have a friend who is going to retire and I'm making still another one to give to her...
Sunday ....sitting and trying to rest a little ... And lots of laundry ....
How about a little knitting ???
Yes, now it feels like a Sunday :)
Have a wonderful, calm, peaceful day!

New Year ...Big birthdays ... New projects

Hi there friends...

My daughter turned 16 yesterday ... Yes ... My baby just turned "Sweet 16 " . That seems crazy ... How fast time has gone by ... We feel so blessed to be the parents of such a great, responsible, adorable and  kind young woman....

We had a small surprise party for her and went out to dinner, with her and her grandparents, the day of her birthday...She chose to save for a car instead of having a big party... 

Today was a very important day for her...she went to get her driver's permit...and now we have another driver in our household...

I don't know how it happened ...one day she was in diapers and today she is driving...it all happened so fast.

We are so very proud of her and we feel so honored to have been blessed with such a great daughter. Happy Sweet 16 my Dear Daughter!

Tomorrow is my son's birthday and he turns 15 ...Yes, the celebrations keep on going in our house... but they have not stopped me for knitting and crocheting a little bit whenever I get a minute...

I started this really cute scarf I saw on Pinterest...(when I have a few minutes I can get completely addicted)...:)

When I found the pattern find the on ravelry the author had not posted the pattern yet, but I just couldn't wait ...

I started right on New Years...

The pattern is Ma Belle Amie by Yarn-love on ravelry.com 

She does have the pattern posted now and because I didn't have the patience to wait I think mine will look a little different, but I'm loving to do this scarf...just easy, meditative (again) knitting ...and I always need that... helps me relax after a crazy day... it helps my mind get back into the right place.

I have also started a sweater for myself (every year after New Years I like to start something for myself to wear on my birthday...(after finishing all the projects and presents I have been making all year :))

I started on this sweater...

A friend showed me the pattern (again on ravelry.com) and I couldn't do anything else until I found the yarn for it 

The pattern is Snowbird by Heidi Kirrmaier

 I'm so in love with this sweater... However,

I 'm having a little bit of a hard time with the beginning, but I'll persevere. I'll update you when I have progressed a bit more. 

Well, friends... I'm so happy a new year has started... however busy it might be, but full of hope for a great year.

I'm so happy you came to visit me again and I'm looking forward to many fantastic moments to share with you.

Thank you to all my new followers. I always have a big smile on my face when I see a new person has joined me on this great journey.