Vestvember to Vestcember

This is as far as I got last night the last day of November. I really wanted to finish my vest this last month, but alas I am a mother of 4 and some sweet people can not be ignored! So I am here by extending Vestvember to Vestcember.

New Yarn, New Projects

I love knit picks, they really are a good value and great quality yarn!



The dark blue for my oldest is a bigger version of the sweater I made for my baby, the green for my second oldest is another bigger version of the same sweater only slightly smaller than the blue one. The red is for my daughter this pattern can also be found in Pipsqueaks. The tweed is a sweater vest for me found in Fitted Knits.

I am so excited!

Gray's Disappointment

I was so excited about this sweater. I really thought it would look so cute! I guess I just have to chock it up to experience and learn from it. Don't customize a sweater for your best friend who lives in a different city for two reasons- customized sweaters need to be tried on often, and the pressure was so high because I just wanted to make her something nice, cuz she's so nice! Anyway here are some finished pics.
The sleeves were supposed to be puffy feminine sleeves, but the yarn was not the right type so it didn't give the proper drape.
Also the bust area was too big, some how I guess maybe my calculations were off. Boo Hoo:(
I wish I could say my gray days are over, but I still have to finish the hubby's sweater I started in March. I think knitting for adults has way too much pressure!

Finished 1 out of 4

Sleeves in the round to minimize seaming

I don't think he likes his one sleeved sweater!

Ta-Da!

I finished it in the night so he had to try it on first thing in the morning because I was so excited(hence the jammies)!

Too Many Projects

I have a problem I love to buy yarn and plan and start projects. I really do love finishing them as well but, sometimes I get bored of one thing. The results of my knitting ADD are the four following projects.

This sweater for Nate I started way back in the spring with intentions of finishing it by fall, which are working out probably. I could have finished it sooner, but it is so boring, so I take breaks on it and do other things, like my green sweater pictured in the side bar and Sophia's sweater vest. I wish I would have done the color changes at least to make it more interesting. Also this pattern I am altering because I liked the look of the sweater, but I only had bulky yarn. You would think this a challenge, but it's just annoying. I don't know why I do this to myself. This pattern can be found here.

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This is a pattern I am making up as I go along it is going to be a purse. I bought this linen blend yarn made by Berroco at my lys just because I liked it. Then I found this stitch pattern in a very cool book by Vouge called Stitchionary. It is an awesome stitch pattern called the daisy stitch. It is a little tiring though so again I end up taking breaks.

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I saw this pattern and thought 'Tracy' (my bff) so I had to make it for her. It is the first time I have made a top down sweater and I am also customizing it to fit her body. This is a challenge I like because girl sweaters have a lot of shaping unlike Nate's sweater I started months ago. This pattern can be found in Fitted Knits, the yarn is Berroco comfort dk.

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I found this wool/silk blend yarn online at DBNY and just had to buy it! I didn't know what I was going to make , but it was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up! When it came I really wanted to make something for myself, but I have never knitted my baby a sweater yet so that's what I did. It's really soft and I love tweed in general, but especially for boys. It's not a great pic of the pattern so stay tuned for the finished project. The pattern can be found in the book called Pipsqueaks.

Finished Project

I actually finished this last month, but Ihave been slow to post. I have another project about half way so another post will hopefully follow soon.

This is the yarn I used- knitpicks shine sport Hydranga

My daughter likes her toys better than her sweater

she sure looks cute anyway!

So again I messed up on the above link to my other blog, but I fixed. Sorry!

I am now on Youtube

****Notice*****
On my side bar after Basic Stitches are my knitting demonstrations from Youtube. My Youtube address is www.youtube.com/knittinggal or you can simply click on the videos in the side bar and not have to leave this site.

New Project

I wanted to make this little vest for my 2 year old daughter, but the patterns smallest size was 4-5, but

this pattern below is essentially the same pattern minus the eyelet holes and hood and is sized 2-3 & up, so I am following this pattern and I will have to make my own guesses for the hood. Wish me luch on that!


I hate seaming so I knitted the body mainly in the round, till I got to the arm holes


Again I would rather do the armbands in the round as well.

Well hopefully soon I'll have pics of the hood in process and finished.

These cute patterns and many others can be found in Kim Hargreaves book, Pipsqeaks

Blog Link

For some reason the link didn't work on my last post so here it is again. http://www.cummingsesgoings.blogspot.com/

New Blog

Well I am back! It has been a long time and I really don't have any good excuses. I actually have had a lot to say, but I guess I just didn't make the time. I decided to change my blog as you can tell because I figured that some of you may not care about knitting. My new blog about everything else is at the above link. I will still keep this blog for knitting and crochet if anyone is interested. I will have knitting & crochet tutorials posted soon I hope!

I...WILL...Get....Them...Over my hips!

I figure if I make this public maybe I'll have someone to answer to! My daily (by that I mean Monday-Friday) will be running up and down my stairs for a warm up and then resistance band exercises taken from http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/l/blresistanceban.htm & weather permitting a walk up Upland Drive. That should do it! Do you think it is reasonable to think I will drop a pants size atleast by the end of the month? Wish me luck!

Just... can't... get 'em... over my hips

Blue jeans I love you,
blue jeans it's true
Blue jeans ...I'm blue
Cuz' I just can't fit into you!

I have never been neurotic about my body, until now! What is wrong with me? I am trying not to care, Nate certainly doesn't. I care, but I can't seem to do what I need to get into my clothes. So if anyone has any suggestions on how to get motivated, I am all ears!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Review

I just finished reading the The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
A very interesting book, I really have so much to say about it, but I need to discuss it! It is a book about Hitler Germany through the eyes of a 9 year old boy. The point of view hit close to home for me because my boy Max is nearly 9. For such a short book it had a lot of content and hidden meaning, my favorite was Bruno's interpretation of the Führer being called 'The Fury'. The book made me question, a lot! How could a country so full of the spirit in the 1500's that William Tyndale would seek shelter there to translate the Bible, become a place so ungodly and full of fear and contempt? It made me think of all the judgments we all make and how easy it is for pride to seep in our hearts, it often happens with out us even knowing it. We pass it on to our children because it seeps into their tender naive sponge-like hearts. I really enjoyed the book, it was even comical at times, but in the end it broke my heart, I literally felt a physical pain. My heart broke for the father, he had to lose life to really understand its value. One of the things I got out of this book, and not to down play the loss of life for the Jews, but The Holocaust was a HUGE loss of humanity for Germany. Really worth reading, don't skip it and see the movie. The author does a phenomenal job describing the situations and surroundings without being cumbersome, I bet it was a cinch to direct the movie. I have not seen the movie so I don't mean to say it way bad I just think it probably wouldn't be able to keep the Innocent perspective.

Bye-Bye Binky

I am so happy about this I just have to share the good news! Sophia has given up her binky! Saturday night Sophia went to be with her soffy(her blanket), her bunny, her pony, her baby, and about 5 books and didn't ask for her binky...so we just said good-night. We thought for sure in a few minutes she would cry for it, she didn't and slept all through the night. She hasn't asked for it once since. She does insist that Milo have his binky at all times which he usually spits out, maybe she's projecting. I hope I didn't just jinx the situation. Now I just hope I can get Milo to stop sucking his thumb before that becomes a habit hard to break!

Books read in January

This last month I read three books, all of them juvenile literature. Maybe I am just a kid at heart.

A Separate Peace by John Knowels

The first one was our book club selection, I missed most of the discussion because Sophia took a tumble down the stairs. It seemed as though everyone liked this WWII era story about a boy in a prep school where his comrades more than the 'prep' school itself prepared him for the world. I found this book interesting being written pre-60's unrest time. People felt that unrest and insecurity about war they just didn't go against things back then. I heard my Great Aunt talk about being on the other side of WWII in Germany, she was strictly obedient, you just didn't go against your elders. I think WWII was a turning point in our society, but that is a whole different direction and my thoughts are a little rusty on this book because I read it a while ago now. I recommend this book, great read.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The first of a teen science fiction trilogy set about 200 years in the future. Basically the people believe everyone must be the same or total anarchy will occur, so at 16 you get a surgery to be pretty, the same standard of pretty. Some of the people don't agree and the main character of course gets dragged into this way of thinking on accident and it is the story of how she comes to see herself for who she really is. This novel I am sure is to help teenagers to love themselves despite the pressures of society. I was entertained and found the concepts interesting.

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

This was by far my favorite of the three I read and maybe my new favorite book. My cousin has been trying to get me to read it for years, I haven't because I have seen and loved the movie so much and I thought I would get board in the book. Not so! The book of course is way better, but I still like the movies. I see all of the characters in a new light and identify with the matriarchs better now that I read their hearts instead of what the actors were able to portray. As always I love Anne with an 'e' the little orphan girl adopted by the bachelor and old maid Cuthbert siblings, the way she grows up and the lessons she learns are heartfelt and genuine. I am excited for Sophia to be old enough to enjoy Anne as well. It will be fun to read the whole series. 5 stars for this one!

RS Book Club Review

Last night I finished reading...
The Prize Winner of Definance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids On 25 Words Or Less


So in the spirit of limericks in 25 words or less here is my ode to Evelyn Ryan:

The book about Evelyn Ryan
A clever woman always tryin'
Has inspired my urge to be good
and do the things I know I should.

Revenge of the Sith and the Screaming Banshee

Zac and Sophia have a funny relationship. Zac love's to tease, Sophia doesn't love to be teased, but loves attention particularly from Zac. The other night Zac donned his black pants, his black shirt, and a black blanket cape like over his head, ei 'the sith' and mysteriously lurked around corners. Of Course this quiet activity caused Sophia to scream like a banshee because she hates disguises (Halloween was traumatic). I was nursing Milo and unaware of what Zac was doing so I kept telling Sophia to stop screaming, this went on for about 15 minutes until finally Nate noticed and told Zac to take off the blanket. Zac didn't comply and suddenly it didn't scare Sophia anymore and she laughed and screamed while Zac still in costume chased her around the house. A new noisy game created-Revenge of the Sith and the Screaming Banshee.

After 4 what's 1 more?

So I've heard people say- after 4 what's 1 more? Well I don't know if I'll have 1 more, 4 is hard enough! Maybe I am just in a postpartum depression, but playing Milo's milkmaid, Sophia's tantrum sounding board, 2 school age children in check, a house in order, and a husband happy is starting to get me frazzled!

It just would be cool if I could sleep, so if you see me or talk to me and I am rude or say things that don't make sense, now you know why and I am sorry in advance Kudos to all y'all who have survived babies with older kids in tow.

New Years Resolutions

I wanted to post resolutions on New Year's day, but something about a tantrum throwing 2 year old and a hungry hungry infant needing my attention stopped me.

January 5th Resolutions

1. Learn Spanish already Emily!
2. Cut down on the yelling
3. Have family home evening(this could be broken tonight, but I have to make this goal every year)
4. Eat healthy and exercise regularly not to lose weight (I do need to ), but mainly because heart disease runs in my family and I eat a lot of cholesterol filled food.
5. Go back to school (this one is kind of far fetched, but oh well)