Bisoux Choux

Long ago FOs

2007-11-29T14:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm going to try and get back on the blogging bandwagon. Thought I'd start with some finished knitting projects. Both have been done for a little while, but I never posted about them.

A hoodie cardi for Piers

I used Mission Falls 1824 wool which knited up nicely. I picked it and the pattern up at a LYS going out of business sale a while back. I love how it turned out.

Finally finished the Elfine socks I've been working on forever.

Pattern: Elfine's Socks
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun Superwash

Currently working on some Christmas presents, so of course can't post about those yet. But, I'm working on uploading a bunch of our recent photos to Flickr. So far here are some from an early September bike ride to Gasworks park.

See the light

2007-02-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

Piers has finally slept through the night for the last two nights in a row. I don't want to jinx it, but I feel like I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...finally. Up until this week, his usual pattern was to sleep only about 3-4 hours at a time. After 10 months of this, you can imagine how it would just suck all the life out of you! I'm hoping this will last and I can start to feel normal again!

Along those lines (feeling normal) I'd like to get back to blogging again. I came up to start a post last night and realized that I had 35 unread comments going back to last April! I must have changed the setting at some point to moderate comments before they posted and not remembered/realized! So that was fun to read through all those. Thanks to all of you for your nice comments over the past months!

Also getting the camera out again to try and take more photos. I realized that I don't have any pictures of Piers since he was 4 months old! Well, we did have some until disaster struck. Peter backed up the laptop onto an external hard drive. After that the laptop died and we got a brand new one under our warranty (sweet! a warranty finally paid off!). While I was in the process of moving the data (photos included) from the external drive back to the laptop, Piers decided to pull the drive by the cord off of the table! Yup, you guessed it, goodbye all of our files from like the last 7 years! Some of the photos are backed up on CDs or the internet, but not the most current ones. So all photos from the last 6 months are now stuck inside this little box. Peter is going to attempt to recover them, but we aren't crossing our fingers. :(

Anyway, long story to say that I have new photos of the kids posted for anyone interested. Here is my favorite of Piers

And one of Helen looking like a big girl

View the rest of the series here.

Whole family has been sick pretty much all month long. Saturday was sunny outside and we are all finally starting to feel better. It seems that spring is on the way and we are coming out of hibernation.

I knitted a baby sweater for my friend Lesley who just had a little girl named Bianca. Of course I neglected to take a photo before I gave it to her. Hopefully she'll take one for me that I can post. Other knitting has kind of stalled. I'm back to Piers' striped hoody sweater. Just doing the finishing on it. I'm down to one side of the button band and sewing on the hood, then I'll be done. Then it's time to return to my second elfine sock. Man, how long has that been?!! Also need to work on my MIL's shawl that I promised her xmas '05! Then I think it's time for a spring project for me...we'll see.

Only a knitter would understand...

2006-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Helen picked out the red sweater I knit for her to wear to school yesterday. Awww.

4 months old

2006-08-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

Piers turns 4 months old this week. I managed to get a few great photos today. He can be so cute when he is happy, but man can he get pissed off! Hopefully the tide will turn a little now that we are passing the 4 month mark.

For my family that are reading: more July photos here and here.

I've been knitting away on my Elfine socks. I finally took some progress photos. I'm almost finished with the first one.

Here's an up close shot of the lace.

I've also been working on another sweater for Piers. I needed a boring stockinette project to work on with my lace socks. Man, I forgot how nice it is to knit with worsted weight wool on 7s vs. lace weight on 1s! I literally went, "Aahh" when I started knitting. I'm using the Mission Falls 1824 wool I got for 50% off at a LYS closing sale this spring. I was going to make the 2T/3T size but cast on for the next larger size by mistake. Oops! It's ok though considering how long it takes me to finish things these days. This one is a fast knit so I think I'll be finished in a few months.

Sent out my August birthday swap last week. Can't wait to see what my pal is sending me this week!!

I've been busy this month going on field trips with Helen's preschool. We took the bus and walked out onto I-90 to watch the Blue Angels. Last week we went to Sunset Bowl. This week we are going to take 3 buses (crazy I know!) to Edmonds and ride the train to Seattle. Fun!

$3.74

2006-07-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

While looking for some new Colorwonder Markers (greatest invention ever! close second - Mr. Clean Magic Easer) for Helen at Target yesterday morning, I came across this learn to knit kit for a summer halter. You may be thinking, "But you already know how to knit." Yeah, but this thing was marked down to $3.74. Here's the inside

Even though I'm going to throw out everthing else (the needles are super cheapy), at that price the yarn is a steal! It comes with 245 yards of this natural cotton stuff. I thought I'd try out some dying and knit up this or this for Miss Helen.

Let's see, what have we been doing the last few weeks....ummm...We had Peter's Uncle and Aunt from Santa Cruz come for a visit. They brought along their kids, Nellie and Leon. We went and visited with Peter's cousin Susannah and her daughter Lilly. So Helen and Piers got to hang out with their cousins. We took a trip to the Ballard Locks (less than a mile from our house, but haven't been there since I was a kid!) and the Woodland Park Zoo. Nellie took photos with my camera - posted here. Just before the battery died I snapped this last photo of all of them.

Helen had a great time with them and even spent the night out at Susannah's by herself!

As for knitting, I've been working on my Elfine socks, but haven't snapped an in progress photo yet. I finally went to SnB at Cupcake Royale (so bummed they were all out of cupcakes by the time I got there! WTF? how can that be?! You sell cupcakes!!) the other night and Suzy helped me out with my short row heels! She always comes to my rescue! I'll post a photo soon....Piers is calling me....

Phildar Baby Cardigan

2006-07-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Finally done! It turned out pretty cute too. It's too bad I waited so long to finish this and it won't fit Helen anymore. I think part of the problem was the pattern being in French. I needed a little bit more knitting experience to be able to translate and understand the pattern.

Phildar Cardigan
Tricotez Calin N405 Printemps/Ete 2004
Yarn: Phildar Phil Ruban
Started: July 2004
Finished: July 2006! (hey at least I finished!)

August Birthday Swap

2006-07-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

I joined the August Birthday Swap. Here is my questionaire for my swapper:

What day is your birthday?

August 17th

Are you crafty?

Yeah kind of. I used to be more crafty, but since I started knitting that's pretty much my only craft these days. With two young kids it's all I have time for!

Would you enjoy things like: Buttons, ribbons and embellishments?

Mmmm...probably not.

Do you dye your own wool?

Nope, haven't tried it yet. 2 1/2 year old and dye...don't want to go there. However, I love yarns that others have handdyed.

Do you like to scrapbook or make homemade cards?

Used to make cards, not anymore - gave all my stamping stuff away to make room for yarn! Tried scrapbooking and got WAY too stressed out by it.

What small project would you be interested in making? Socks, mittens, scarf, hat, baby items, wash cloths, doilies, shrugs etc

I'm kind of on a sock kick at the moment (or at least purchased some sock yarn, but only started on one pair so far) since having a baby in April and I haven't lost much weight yet. Socks are what fit right now! I'm into trying a shrug. I'd really like to knit Birch from Rowan.

What are your favorite scents?

Lavendar and Chammomile

Do you like stationary and cards?

Kind of, but don't write as much as I should.

Do you like hand lotions or soaps?

Yes, especially lavendar and chammomile scented. Since we bought our house with a hot tub, I don't take many baths though so don't use bath products.

Do you like to sew or embroider items?

I like to sew, just hard to find the time. I recently got the fabric and pattern for a skirt I want to make, but finding time to cut it out has been hard.

Do you like beads?

I like them, but don't do anything with them.

What kind of mail-able snacks do you like to eat?

Anything chocolate of course, but hard to mail in the heat of summer.

Do you like to wear costume jewelry? Necklace, earrings, bracelets etc.

Not really.

Do you like to play cards or board games?

Not really.

What are your favorite colors of yarn?

Brown, green, blue, red...in order of most likeable.

Do you like solid, variegated, heathers, or self stripping yarns?

Don't dig the heathers too much. Some variegated is ok, but I gravitate toward solids mostly. I'd love to try some self stripping yarn for socks.

Do you like kitchen magnets or key rings?

umm...maybe kitchen magnets.

Do you like picture frames?

Yes, but kind of have particular taste in this area.

Do you like to make/or use stitch markers?

Don't make them. Use them and like to use hand made ones, but only have two.

Do you collect anything?

Yarn

Do you have any allergies? Smoke, food, fiber, pets, etc..

Nope

Do you have any hobbies?

Kids and knitting.

Do you like scented or unscented candles?

unscented

Are you a fiber snob?

Not really, but I don't really like 100% acrylic yarn.

Weighing In

2006-06-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

Piers had his two month (at 10 1/2 weeks) well visit today. He is one big kid - weighing in at 15 lbs, 9 oz, he ranks in the 97th percentile! He is 25" long which is 90th percentile for height. I had no idea. He just always seems so small compared to Helen!

I'm almost finished with my Phildar Baby Cardi I mentioned a few posts back. I just need to sew on the button and add the fringe. Can't wait to finish this dang thing! Then I can focus on my new socks...pictures later.

Sister and Brother

2006-06-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

A few more here

Second Kid Photo Syndrome

2006-05-23T17:31:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up my dad took all the family pictures on his Nikon 35mm camera which were all developed as slides. As my brother and I got older we would ask to see the photos, so our family would pull out the slide projector and sit in the dark clicking through the slides projected on the wall. I remember having to sit through all the pictures of my older brother before we got to any with me in them. I was always kind of bummed out because there were way fewer photos of me than of my brother. Sitting in the dark I vowed to take just as many pictures of my second child as the first. Well, today I realized my son has now become a victim of Second Kid Photo Syndrome - I haven't taken a single photo of my son since the day he was born! What a terrible mom! I have however been enjoying all his smiles in person - taking mental pictures if you will. Of course, this won't cut it when Piers asks me, "Where are all the pictures of me?!"
So feeling guilty I whipped out the camera today and attemped to captures Piers' too cute smiles. Even though the composition sucks, this one is my favorite.

Lot's more here.

On the knitting front, I finally got to knit for a few minutes last night for the first time since Piers was born. I picked up the baby cardigan from Phildar I started working on two summers ago while I was in Europe for a month. Of course it is an 18 month size for my daughter who is now 2 1/2 and I never finished it. It has fringe so I can't put it on Piers. Oh well, I'll finish it and put it away for someone. Unfortunately, everyone I know is having boys! I'm midway through knitting both sleeves at the same time. Hopefully I'll have a FO soon so I can work on something new!

Piers has arrived!

2006-04-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Piers Julien
Born: April 17, 2006
8 lbs. 14 oz., 23 in.

More photos

Log Cabin Socks

2006-04-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

I finished my log cabin socks last night - thanks to Suzy's help on Wednesday night at Stitch n Bitch. I had forgotten to move a cable over and I needed to tink back or rip back around 6 rows. She knew exactly the kind of mood I was in (so close to finishing, 10 months pregnant, no patience!) and tinked back to move the cable for me! She is so nice! So yesterday I just needed a few more rows and the toes. I love how they turned out. They should be great for picking up the dog hair from our wood floors!

No baby yet. But I whipped out a hat for the little guy today out of some Lana Grossa left over from Peter's hat. It's pretty cute and soft - can't wait to see it on him! I'm READY!

Starting to feel guilty

2006-04-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Yeah, still here, no baby. I'm starting to feel guilty because Helen has been going to daycare everyday (she's in full time for the rest of the month), and I've been here without her. However, I've been getting a lot done. But, I'm definitely ready for things to start...ANYTIME now!

To ease my guilt, here's a few cute photos of Helen hamming it up from a week or so ago. Few more here.

A sweater, but no baby

2006-04-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

Still no baby Piers yet, due date was yesterday. Looks like he is going to show up late like his older sis.

I finished his sweater last week, finally posting a photo. It has a mistake, but I'm living with it. I just realized I should have put the opposite sleeve across the front to cover it up! Can you see the mistake inside one of the cable circles? This sweater took waaay too long to knit for a 6 month size. Cabling was fun, but I'm ready for some mindless stockinette! Stay tuned for the modeled photos as soon as Piers decides to show up.

Aren't those the cutest little shoes ever?! Piers' first Parisian fashions from meme.

Full Impact

2006-04-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

So I didn't flash my stash on the 1st, but I certainly increased it! Two LYS were/are going out of business and I took the opportunity to stock up on some yarn. Figured I may as well now since I won't have a job anymore now that baby is coming = no yarn money.

Pulling everything out of the bags made me realize the full impact of my purchases!

So, from Parkside Wool, there's 17 hanks of Cascade 220 (most at 50% off, a few at 35% off), 12 hanks total of Manos (at 50% off!), 1 hank of Donegal Tweed (35% off), bamboo purse handles (35% off), couple of Fiber Trends patterns (50% off).

From Wooly Monkey, 10 skeins Mission Falls wool, black purse handles, Rebecca winter 2005 pattern book, misc patterns, all at 50% off.

Then of course, in addition to all of this, I've been stocking up on sock yarn. Not sure why....maybe because I'm pregnant and it's the only thing I can knit for myself at the moment!

There's two hanks from Brooklyn Handspun Yarn - one superwash in Hawaii Joy, and one handspun in Deep Elemental. One hank of handspun in River from SweetGeorgia Yarns. And four hanks of Kiogu KPPM bought on sale for $6 something per hank.

Whew! I think I have plenty of yarn (this in addition to what I've already got) to keep me busy for awhile!

I also ordered a few books to fullfil my Crafter's Choice obligation.
One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet by Leigh Radford and Inspired Cable Knits: 20 Creative Designs for Making Sweaters and Accessories by Fiona Ellis.

Some finished knitting

2006-03-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

Finally, some more finished knitting! As I was posting these photos, I realized that other than the backyard leaves scarf, I didn't have any finished objects in 2005! What's up with that?! Is that right? Seems pretty pathetic. I do have my clapotis that I haven't posted about - gotta take a finished picture still. I finished Cable 8 around the end of last summer, but it has been sitting, waiting to weave in the ends...many ends! That Pakucho Organic Cotton is great, but comes in such small skeins. That equals lots of ends! On top of that, the other day I was looking at a photo of the finished front and realized I had totally screwed up the cables! Crap! And of course it is at the very bottom. So, I think this will get ripped and become a new summer project. Haven't been able to wear it anyway since I've been pregnant. And then of course there is my started Martha sweater from Rowan 37 for the Martha KAL. Doesn't look any different at this point. I'm lame. It falls into the rip out and start over summer project as well. What happened to last year?!
I'll soon have a little more time though, as April 3rd is my last day at work. I'm fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with the new little guy at least until the end of the year. Stay-at-home-mom land here I come! Whether that means more finished knitting projects or not is yet to be determined!
Ok, so on to the finished knitting...

Ribby Cardi
Yarn: Peruvian Collection Highland Wool Coffee Bean & Starlight Blue
Pattern: Chic Knits Ribby Cardi
Started: sometime around when the pattern was first published?!!
Finished: February 2006

This is my very first sweater and I love it. Unfortunately, after careful measuring and swatching, it still didn't fit me! I was so disappointed that it sat for months without the zipper sewn in while I thought about what to do with it. Then I realized that it might fit my friend Lesley...

Wow! Doesn't it look like I planned it that way all along?! Crazy! I'm glad it fits her and someone will get some use out of it - even better when it is a good friend!

Girlfriend's Swing Coat
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease Cherry Red
Pattern: Knit and Tonic Girlfriend's Swing Coat
Started: ummm...maybe sometime in December 2005?...
Finished: February 2006

This went pretty fast and was fun to knit since it was knit from the top down, picked up stitches for the sleeves, and then for the collar. So no seaming, yea! However, I did an I cord edge around the whole thing to keep it from curling and that took forever!
Here is Helen modeling it.

A little big, but I made the 3T size on purpose (she is 2 1/2) so that it will fit her through the spring and summer. Since it isn't close to spring weather here yet, it should be perfect by the time she can wear it!

Here are the latest photos of Helen from January and February. My favorites:

Helen's first cookies

And her first bike ride

Click on the links for more.

Oh, and here is the latest photo of me...

A little blurry, but you get the idea...really big and ready to burst! Only 4 more weeks to go!

Back to knitting...and blogging

2005-12-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

I'm back! I've finally had the chance to get back to my knitting after all the last few months of house craziness! And I've been finishing up a bunch of things.

First, I have to show off our new house! We just love it. We moved to the quaint Seattle neighborhood of Ballard and we couldn't be happier. We're so excited to finally be in a house we will call home for many years to come! Lot's of work still to do though before it will really feel like our home. I still pull up in front every night and think "wow, this is my house!" The best part it being able to walk down the hill to the beach! Very cool.

On the knitting front, my first finished object in ages is the Backyard Leaves scarf from Scarf Style. This was knitted for my Stick Ya Neck Out swap partner Nichola. I absolutely love it and hate to give it away! Even Peter said, "You have to give that away?! But it's so beautiful!" It was a lot of fun to knit and participate in the swap. Maybe someday I'll make one of my own! So sadly, I sent it on it's way to Melbourne yesterday and my swap obligation is complete...just a little late!

Tomorrow - my SYNO scarf knitted by Kate...

Finished

2005-08-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

Not a ton of knitting happening lately...it's been very hot here. Good, but doesn't put me in the knitting mood. However, I did finish a project for Helen:

We bought her big girl bed at Ikea a few weeks back and got this cool tent thing that goes over it. Not super excited about the rainbow, but it was the only style they had. So I embraced it by making some coordinating pillows in rainbow colors. Definitely makes it cuter as the sheets made for this bed (later folds down to twin size) only came in white.

I also made some progress this week on my cable 8. I finished the front:

It's not really wider at the bottom, just didn't do a very good job of laying out. My cables are right now, which is good. Now on to the back!

Stick Ya Neck Out

2005-07-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

I completely agree with Winnie, I've been wanting to knit the turtleneck shrug but not wanting to do all that ribbing! For the Stick Ya Neck Out scarf swap, I chose the turtlneck shrug with this yarn:

I am completely happy to knit a backyard leaves or here and there cable for someone else! Here's crossing my fingers! :)

What the .....?

2005-07-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

Ugh! I'm still on the front, almost done, and then...whah?! Crap! Gotta rip. I put this aside and I haven't knitted anything more this week. Got a little cold, been too tired. Maybe I'll finish this just in time for fall!!

However, this week I got this

Sweet! My new blocking board! If I ever finish something, I can block it here.

No knitting progress, but here's Helen helping out with the laundry!
a few more photos here.

Helen's New Bikini

2005-07-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Gramma and Grampa visited on Sunday and brought Helen a new bikini

Boy cut bottoms complete with butt cleavage! Missed a photo of that...next time. The day was absolutely spectacular, had a nice visit and a great steak bbq dinner. More photos here.

Haven't been knitting much, but made some progress on my Cable 8 last night. I'll probably finish the front tonight! Photo soon.

We're traveling to New Mexico next month - to Alburquerque for our friends wedding. Day trip ideas?

Cable 8 Progress

2005-07-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

My first cables...they aren't hard at all and I'm not even using a cable needle! My pencil is filling in just fine! I found how to cable without the needle and I think I'm going to try that tonight. Looks pretty easy and faster!
This pattern is great and super easy. The yarn is awesome! Helen likes it too!

Summer is here...

2005-07-07T22:44:00.000-07:00

at least for a day

Helen's First Haircut

2005-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

Helen got her first haircut on Tuesday. She was a star! We had a lunch date after and then spent some time at the U Village playground. Here are photos of our day.

Progress Report

2005-07-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

Since the sun came out momentarily today, I decided to rush outside and take photos of my works-in-progress.

Clapotis

50% complete, in the middle of the straight rows.
Yarn: Malabrigo Kettle Dyed Merino, Red Java Yum!

Ribby Cardi

I'm almost done! So why can't I just finish the collar and sew in the zipper already?! Maybe because it doesn't fit me...maybe because it's wool and it's July!? It does fit a friend of mine who I'm giving it to, just gotta finish!

Martha

Started on the back. Somehow I have the wrong number of stitches. I put this aside weeks ago, haven't come back to it yet. Need to before summer is over!! I think I need to rip. :(

Phildar Baby Cardi

I have the back and fronts done. Need to finish the sleeves and then fringe. Of course the intended recepient (my daughter) is too big to wear it. I have other thoughts for this though.

Cable 8

I've got my yarn from elann.com and I can't wait to start this pattern from Interweave Knits. I just bought a swift from joanne.com (gotta love those 40% off coupons!) and I'm waiting for it before I start this so I can wind my balls more easily.

I think that's all. Gotta go get my knitting on!