Yarn Along and WIP Wednesdays

Joining up for the weekly Yarn Along again! And this time WIP Wednesdays too!

I'm still reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I'm about a quarter of the way through. I like it so far, but I'm not sure that it's really my style. It might change, but I've been saying that for 150 pages now.. It seems to drag on because it's told mostly in flashback. Has anyone read this book? Do we ever actually catch up to the main character?

And while I am still working on the leg warmers from last week, I wanted to show something else I'm working on. This is one of two Toddler Raglan Hoodies currently on my needles.

So far so good on this one. I'm working on the hood right now. Then I'll need to do the sleeves and the button band. I also haven't woven in the ends from the color changes.. This hoodie is for my friend's little boy, Isaiah. The other one is for a family friend of my grandparents. That one is mainly blue, but with yellow accents (ribbing, button band, hood/collar). I haven't decided if I want to do a hood on that one or not. I guess it'll depend on how this one turns out

What is everyone else knitting/crocheting/reading this week?

-CH

Yarn Along

I'm joining the weekly yarn along with Ginny at Small Things this week! I'm really excited to start being a part of this! Knitting and reading are two of my favorite things.

I'm currently reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It was recommended to me by a girl that I work with! I'm only 30 pages in (out of just over 600), so it'll be a while before I finish it.

On my needles is the first of a set of legwarmers for a friend. It's going pretty quickly so far!

-CH

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the most fantastic sister I could ever ask for!! I love you, Jenn!

-CH

Jenn's Birthday!

At long last, I have pictures of the finished project! I gave it to Jenn yesterday, since I won't see her on her actual birthday (Tuesday). She loved it! I followed this pattern for the Eight-Pocket Two-Tone Carryall Tote.

You can see the close up on the lining. I sewed it my machine and then sewed it into the bag by hand (using this tutorial). To make the lining, I cut pieces slightly larger than the body pieces and sewed it together. That was probably not the best way to do it, but it worked out in the end! I only had to rip out stitches once... My grandma helped me because I had never made a lining for anything before.

I altered the pattern by making the gusset piece about 5 inches wide instead of only 3 inches. I thought a wider bag would be more useful, so I chained 27 to start the piece.

Everyone is really pleased with the way it turned out! I love how it turned out, but most importantly, my sister loves it!

-CH

Cookies!

So we made cookies this morning! They were Cake Batter Pudding Cookies and they turned out really well! I followed the recipe from this website without modifying anything. I used a whole small bottle of sprinkles in the dough.




Here is the recipe copied from its original blog!

CAKE BATTER PUDDING COOKIES

1 1/2 sticks (or 3/4 cup) butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix, dry
3/4 cup yellow cake mix, dry
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
2-1/4 cups flour”
1/2 tsp salt
sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Stir together flour, salt and baking soda and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together.
Add in pudding package and cake mix and beat until well blended.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
Add flour mixture slowly until well incorporated.
Mix in sprinkles sprinkles.
Roll into 1″ balls and place on greased baking sheet.
Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes.

Next time, I would save some sprinkles to add on after I role them into balls! A lot of the sprinkles got buried in the cookies, and they would have been so pretty on top!

-CH

I just finished the gift for my sister! I'll get some pictures of it tomorrow to post (hopefully tomorrow night!) after she opens it.

I'm also planning on making some Cake Batter Pudding Cookies in the morning. I hope they turn out pretty well! I'll get pictures of those too to put up for sure.

-CH

Almost Done!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. My boyfriend and I took a trip to Athens so we could have a few meetings, so most of the day was spent in the car. Nothing too exciting happened. I did finally get my copy of Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson in the mail! For a friend's belated birthday gift, I'm making a pair of these legwarmers in bright orange (her choice-- think Reese's wrapper).

Today, I'm finally finishing up my sister's present! I have one and a half things to do yet, but it's coming right along. I might have one additional thing to do, but it depends on how my trip to Hobby Lobby goes in the morning. I just can't wait until it's finished and I can post the pictures!! I'm really proud of it.

But, I better get back to work!

-CH

On My Way To Etsy

My progress toward opening an Etsy shop is slow but steady. I'm currently in the gathering information phase. What I'm mostly concerned about is the bookkeeping/taxes. How do I keep track of the yarn/materials for things I knit to sell? Also, what if I use yarn from my stash? I don't have records of when and where I bought the yarn, nor do I know how much most of if cost. It's the little things that concern me!

I know I have a lot of research to do yet, but it's coming along. I'm working on a list of patterns that I know I am able to sell the finished product! If anyone has any tips for me regarding an online shop, please let me know!

-CH

I'm New At This!

So I'm pretty new to blogging, but I would like to give it a try. My name is Charlotte and I love to craft, especially knitting and crocheting. I also enjoy baking!

I'm absolutely swamped with projects right now (I have a list hanging on my wall!), but I'm currently working on a very special present for my sister whose birthday is May 22! Pictures of that will come after the weekend when I give it to her. It's almost done though. I have just a few finishing touches to work on yet.

Next up? A commissioned baby sweater for my Grandma's friend's son. I'll be following this pattern in the 24 month size.

-CH