Check Out My Articles!

I have two recently finished objects! WAHOO!!

But, I have really been focusing on my writing. I hope you are interested in checking it out . . .

My Debilitating Migraines Are Caused by Stress
After dealing with debilitating migraines, I realized I needed to figure out what was causing them and make some changes. I am happy to share with you how I learned to treat migraines and eventually prevent them.
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Five Small Lifestyle Adjustments for Big Weight Loss and Improved Health
After finding myself at my highest weight, I knew I had to really take action. Are you wondering how I did it? By making conscious decisions of how to truly take care of my body. Here are 5 tips that have really helped me.
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How to Stay Motivated Losing Weight when the Scale Doesn't Move
It can be discouraging when you are eating right, working out, and the scale refuses to budge. Keep yourself motivated while losing weight with these great tips!
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5 Helpful Tips to Maintain Your Weight Loss
There are 5 things you can do right now to make sure that you maintain your goal weight. You have worked so hard to lose weight, now make sure you keep it off!
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How to Create an Inexpensive, Transitional Wardrobe While Losing Weight
While losing weight, it is so important to wear clothes that fit and look fabulous! You can create a budget-friendly wardrobe to get you through the seasons and your weight loss.
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Where to Dine on Mother's Day in Saratoga Springs, New York
Treat your mother to a memorable meal in Saratoga Springs, New York to celebrate her on Mother's Day. Brunch? Dinner? Downtown? Off the beaten path? There is a fine dining option for everyone!
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Toddler Toy Storage: Bins Vs. Toy Box
Children's toys multiply at an unbelievable rate. Have you figured out how to store and organize them? I have and I am happy to share with you how I do it.
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Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Toddler Meal Ideas
Kids' favorite meals can be made without dairy or nuts for children with food allergies.
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Top 10 Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Finger Foods for Toddlers
It is hard enough to find finger foods that a toddler will enjoy. It is even more difficult when trying to avoid dairy and nuts. So, I went through my pantry and came up with a list of my toddler's favorites.
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DVR Has Set Me Free!
Find out how a DVR can improve your quality of life. It won't make your bed and do your dishes, but it will save you time and might even help you make dinner!
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Albany Frugal Family Examiner

I started a new writing gig. I am the Albany Frugal Family Examiner. I'll be posting links here in hopes that you might want to check out my articles.

The Examiner pays based on internet traffic. So, the more people that read my articles, the longer they spend on my articles, the more comments I get, and the more people who subscribe, the more money I make.

Also, they offer a generous "finder's fee" if someone I know gets a job as a writer at Examiner.

So, if you like to support my new writing endeavor I would really appreciate it if you go read my articles, comment, and subscribe!! THANK YOU!!! :)

Price Chopper Coupons and Deals on Facebook

Ballston Spa Man is $10,000 Winner of ESPN NCAA Tournament Contest

What To Do With Marshmallow Peeps

Boscov's Decides to Discount Golf Equipment at Local Stores

Paas Color Snaps

Easter Bunny Shops at Aldi's

Spring Spin at the Great Escape

Albany Frugal Family Facebook Page

Cool Yarn Holder

Check out this really cool yarn holder made out of coffee cans. It is yarn art!! :) I just LOVE it!!!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what to knit next. Want to help me decide?

1--I could make an Itty Bitty Hat since I am working towards knitting every hat in the book.

2--I could finish my huge felted tote bag that I've been working on for forever. I just have the pockets left to do and then I need to felt it.

3--I could make the i-cord closures for my Easter Duck Soup and sew the buttons on.

4--Cast on my April sweater for my sweater a month challenge.

5--Cast on something from my 10 in 2010 list like Calorimetry or Fetchings.

Almost FO: Easter Duck Soup

Almost done! He could have worn it today without closures. However, it was nearly 80 degrees and a bulky sweater was the last thing he needed. The hood is SUPER cute!! The body is a little big on him I made the size 2/3 and he is a very thin size 2. So, I expected it to be big. I haven't done the i-cord button loops yet. I bought toggle buttons to use instead of the i-cord buttons. Since the sweater is so big on him, I'll probably back burner this WIP.

Happy Easter!! :)

A Little Detour

I have a little detour from my Easter Duck Soup. I am about 4 inches from being done with the body. Then I need to do the sleeves, seaming, and then the i-cord toggles. Still quite a bit to do. In the meantime, I have an order for a hat to be delivered Wednesday morning. So, I need to get cracking. I started it and had to rip it all out and start again. It is pretty bad when I make serious mistakes knitting my own pattern. Sigh. I feel like I am coming down with a cold. Maybe that's my problem. Yea, yea, that's it. I'll blame the impending cold for my inability to read my own pattern.

Easter Duck Soup

The race is on! Easter is 10 days away--if you count today and Easter. And this adorable little sweater is intended to be part of London's Easter outfit. It is Anny Purl's Duck Soup and is super cute. I am doing it in a heavy bulky cotton in hopes that it will be a nice transitional sweater for spring and fall.

I completed the hood and the increases for the body. Now I am on the increases to separate for the sleeves. Do you think I'll get it done in time? We'll see!

To Love a Child Hat Pattern

I designed a newborn hat pattern for the charity To Love A Child. They put together “Bundles of Love” birthing kits for women in Haiti and Zimbabwe. Keeping newborns warm can save their lives and I dream that hats made from this pattern can give babies a better start to life.

It will soon be available through Ravelry as well.

To Love A Child Hat

by Suzanne Morrison Gauvreau

Supplies:

Worted weight yarn

Size 7 double pointed needles (dpn)

Stitch marker (optional)

Darning needle

Measuring tape

Cast 60 stitches onto one dpn

Slip the stitches on to three needles with 20 stitches on each needle

Join the round being careful not to twist

Knit until the hat measures 5 inches from the cast on edge

Decreasing

Row 1: *knit 8 stitches, knit 2 stitches together* repeat until the end of the round

Row 2: knit

Row 3: *knit 7, k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Row 4: knit

Row 5: *knit 6, k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Row 6: knit

Row 7: *knit 5, k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Row 8: *knit 4, k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Row 9: *knit 3, k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Row 10: *knit 2, k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Row 11: *knit 1, k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Row 12: *k2tog* repeat until the end of the round

Cut a 12 inch tail and thread the darning needle.

Slip the remaining stitches onto the needle.

Pull the tail to tighten the stitches and close the hole.

Weave the end on the inside of the hat.

Weave in the tail from the cast on.

This pattern is for personal and charity use only. It may not be copied or sold.

The hats made from this pattern may not be sold.

knittingknirvana@yahoo.com

Itty Bitty @ Knitty City

I was lucky enough to journey to Knitty City in Manhattan for Susan B. Anderson's book signing for Itty Bitty Toys.

I wrote about it for the Albany Times Union Fiber Arts Blog. Link here.

And Susan wrote about it at her blog. Link here.

I had the BEST time, despite the monsoon! :)

Ravelympics: WIPS Dancing Event

Yea, so I fell off the face of the Earth again. Sorry about that. How about if I show you a nice finished object to make up for it? Maybe even two? :)

As part of the knitting Ravelympics I decided to finish two projects that have been on my needles for way too long. They are both from Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson. I was a captain for Team Itty Bitty Knitty, so you just know one of those hats had to make its way into my Ravelympics knitting.

This is my cutie in the Sailboat hat. Rav link here. The hat was a little snug on him because I cast it on April 2008 when he was only a little baby. Yup, nothing like letting those projects hang out on the needles. :) Ah well, it is done now and he loves it. In case you don't know, boats are very cool when you are a two year old boy. And apparently so is your mother's hand knits because he refused to take it off for days and days. He wore it inside the house at all times except when he was sleeping. At those times it needed to be on his desk so he could see it from his crib. Yup, he's the best. I am one lucky Mom.

And the second hat is the very sweet Little Chick. Ravelry project link here. I made the 0-6 month size, but my loose knitting makes for a bigger size. I used just about one skein of Adrienne Vittadini Dianna which I bought at the Webs sale last May. It is a great cotton yarn and I would recommend it.

I have had both of these hats done for months and months. I don't like doing the appliques and embroidery so it just sits and sits for nearly forever. The Ravelympics was the perfect catalyst to see me to finishing these hats. Plus, I have two more finished hats for my goal of knitting all of the hat in Itty Bitty Hats!

See you soon!! :)

A Modified Nimbus Sweater Class

Did you know that I am teaching knitting classes at A Peaceful Place Wellness Center in Clifton Park, NY?

The Modified Nimbus Sweater

The Advanced Beginner Knitter will love making this quick cardigan sweater. The Modified Nimbus Sweater is a quick knit using bulky yarn. With short sleeves and a cropped body, this sweater practically flies off your needles! I tweaked the original design to make it a little longer and the body is knit in one large piece to reduce the amount of seaming. A Modified Nimbus Sweater is a variation of the Nimbus Sweater pattern by Berrocco.

The classes are four Wednesdays: 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, and 2/3 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. We are reserving 2/10 as a make-up date in case of snow. The cost is $60. Please sign up at A Peaceful Place with your name, phone number, and a check for the class fee to reserve your spot in class.

DETAILS YOU WILL NEED FOR THE CLASS:

What should I bring to class? yarn, size 11 double pointed needles, size 11 24-inch (or longer) circular needles, tape measure, scissors, darning needle, paper & pen, 5 stitch markers (2 of one color and 3 of another color), and a cardigan that you like how it fits (optional) If you prefer the original Nimbus sweater pattern then print it and bring it with you. I will provide the pattern for the Modified Nimbus sweater.

Skills needed for this pattern: knit, purl, cast on, bind off, k2tog, picking up stitches, working in the round on DPNs, sewing seams, and weaving in ends

You must be comfortable with the knit and purl stitches for this class. Everything else you can learn in class!

Yarn Requirements:

X-Small bust measurement 32", body length 15"-->515 yards

Small bust measurement 36", body length 15.5"-->618 yards

Medium bust measurement 40", body length 16"-->618 yards

Large bust measurement 44", body length 16.5"-->721 yards

1X bust measurement 48", body length 17.5"-->927 yards

2X bust measurement 52", body length 18.5"-->1030 yards

An extra 100-200 yards will be needed to make the body and/or sleeves longer. I always like to get an extra skein or two of yarn then I think I will need. Better to have yarn that I need to return to the store, then run out before I am finished!

The pattern calls for Berrocco Peruvia Quick yarn and size 11 needles. However, you can use any super bulky yarn and needles that you can get guage with. Some possible substitutions are:

Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick

Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool

Malabrigo Yarn Chunky

Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky

Noro Iro

Noro Big Kureyon

HOMEWORK BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS~~~GAUGE SWATCH:

It is a very good idea to knit a gauge swatch to make sure your sweater will actually fit when you are done with it. Use the yarn and needles you are planning to use and cast on 20 stitches. Knit one row and purl the next row. Continue in pattern until you have completed 20 rows. Your gauge should be: 12 knit stitches across (horizontal) will measure 4 inches & 16 rows (vertical) will measure 4 inches. If you have more stitches and rows then you should, then you will need to use smaller needles. If you have fewer stitches or rows then you should, then you will need to use bigger needles. After switching needles you will need to knit another swatch to make sure you are getting gauge. Once you get gauge you are ready to begin!

GETTING A GREAT FIT: Please bring a cardigan sweater to class to use as an example of how you like your sweater to fit. It will help to measure a sweater that you already like when deciding the length of the body and sleeves of your new sweater.

NEWBORN CHARITY HAT EVENT

On Sunday January 24th from 1pm-3pm Suzanne Morrison Gauvreau will be offering a FREE knitting class to make baby hats for the wonderful charity To Love a Child. These hats will provide warmth for new born babies in Haiti and Africa. If you can do the knit stitch, Suzanne can teach you the rest! Please sign up at A Peaceful Place with your name and phone number to reserve your spot in class. Please bring a ball of worsted yarn and size 7 double pointed needles.

If you have any questions, please contact me at knittingknirvana@yahoo.com I can't wait to see you in class! :)

FO: Lara

So, about 9 months after I learned to knit I took a class to learn how to make a sweater. It is a pattern that looks like the Debbie Bliss Lara pattern. I loved the sample. One of the suggested yarns was Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. The yarn is absolutely gorgeous. And sooooo expensive. I took the plunge and went for it. I purchased the appropriate number (16, I think) of skeins in a beautiful royal purple and went on my merry way.

Problem #1: The class was weekly for 4 weeks. During the class I was away for just over a week on vacation and get really behind in knitting and in understanding the pattern. At the last class some people were completely done and came to class wearing their sweaters. Most were seaming up during the class. But I was still knitting away.

Problem #2: Gauge. Well, I was a very, very loose knitter when I started knitting, Now I am a loose knitter. I really wished the teacher paid better attention to how far off my gauge was because I clearly didn't understand. I knew I was knitting a little loose and was ok with it because I was a little bigger than the largest size. I just figured it would make a sweater a little bigger and I would be fine. Little did I know! Also, I was going to run out of yarn and I had bought literally all of the yarn that the yarn shop had. Luckily, a very nice member of the class picked up 5 more skeins for me at another lys near her work. I hoped that the different dye lots wouldn't matter too much. Somebody say something about a river in Egypt?

At some point I put the sweater down. I think I was confused by the directions and was afraid of making a mistake. (ha!) I knew how nice (and expensive) this yarn was and I really wanted a sweater I would be proud of.

About two years later I picked it back up and brought it to the free knitting help night and was able to re-start. It was at that point that I realized how different my gauge was from how I use to knit to how I now knit. I knit on it for a little while and put it back down again.

Finally, a month or so ago I picked it back up again. Four years after when I first started it. Of course, I noticed the gauge issue and the size issue. Also, I had also lost weight since I started it. I really didn't have much left to do on it. I finished the right front and back, then the shoulder, then the right arm. I weaved in the remaining ends, gave it a bath, and laid it out to dry on the guest bed. I tried to stretch the side with the tighter gauge and tried not to stretch the side with the looser gauge. I stepped back, checked out my just finished sweater, and realized this things is HUGE!!!!!

I checked on it the next morning and am sad to say it didn't shrink up at all while it dried. I then ignored it for about a week while trying to get over my disappointment. I seamed it up and didn't want to try it on. I finally mustered up my nerve and faced the inevitable. Yup, it was huge. It hung to my knees and I had to cuff the sleeves about five inches.

So, now I have the softest, most beautiful, most expensive bathrobe I never knew I wanted. I do use it all the time. Most evenings I wear it over my pjs while relaxing on the couch knitting and watching tv. I know I get more use out of it as a bathrobe then I ever would as a sweater. So, it isn't a completely sad ending. But, oh man, I have I learned a whole lot about knitting in the past four years!

I do like this pattern and will probably try making it again. I would go down several needle sizes and make a gauge swatch. I also think a heartier yarn would make a denser fabric. Maybe a 100% wool would be better. While looking through project notes on Ravelry a lot of people have said that the sizing runs big and the yarn pills. Good to know. The construction is awesome. It starts with the left cuff and ends with right cuff. It is all knit in one piece with 2 seams--from the cuff up the inside of the arm to the arm pit and down the side of the body to the waist.

What was that? Pictures? You want to see pictures of the finished object? Well, I still have not brought myself to taking pictures of it. It is not at all flattering on me. Ya know, like a bathrobe.

Yards Per Year

I saw an interesting thread on the Stash and Burn Ravelry group this morning. It pertains to how much we knit or crochet per year, and then how long it would take to knit up stash. The easy way to figure out yardage of knitting per year is by finished objects. So, obviously you could start a project one year and finish it another year. So it isn't a completely accurate formula, but kind of fun to figure out.

In 2007 I knit approximately 2000 yards.

In 2008 I knit 2373 yards.

So far in 2009 I have knit 7344 yards.

I have knit far more this year. I started and completed a sweater for me and a sweater for London. Also, I had started a sweater for each of us in previous years and finished them this year so that skews the numbers. I don't bother with the yardage on the appliques on the Itty Bitty Hats. That would probably add up if I counted it all, but it seems tedious to figure all of that out. Also, I'm looking at it as yarn I am using as opposed to actual stitches---because there are many times I rip back and re-knit.

I have been on a big finishing binge this year, so a lot of yardage is counting towards this year even though I actually knit the bulk of it in previous years. Anyhow, I thought it was pretty interesting to really think about how much yarn I am actually using.

FO: My Little Pumpkin Hat

I just love this sweet little hat on my sweet little pumpkin.

The pattern is Little Pumpkin Hat by Susan B. Anderson. I used Tahki Cotton Classic from my stash. Super easy pattern from the Itty Bitty Hats book. This is part of the KAL I am doing to knit every hat in the book. See the list in the sidebar? I think I am doing pretty well!! :)

WIP Saturday

Is it WIP Wednesday? Oh, it's Saturday? Uhm . . . ok. How about a WIP Saturday? :)

This is a scarf I'm doing on commission. It is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Icelandic in Jewel of the Nile. I am doing the My So Called Scarf pattern, which is a really cool simple stitch that results in a woven look. It has been awhile since I have knit a scarf. Now I remember why I stopped making them. It is seriously monotonous!

This will be a felted tote bag. I have been working on it for forever. I am almost done knitting the body.

This sea of purple stockinette is finished and is currently blocking on the guest bed. Once it is dry I have to seam it up and then it is fini! I am afraid it will be much, much too big. I started this four years ago. Can you believe it?

And this is the very beginning of a Christmas swap. But, it is a secret so that's all you're getting out of me!

Happy Halloween! I hope yours was safe and fun--ours was! :)

my lil pumpkin

WIPs Wrestlemania Day 27 and another FO!!

This hat TOTALLY cracks me up.

From these pics you wouldn't even know that it is a hat.  

It looks like a full over the head furry ski-mask. 

It is pretty funny!  

So, I designed my own pattern for this.  I really like it.  The hat was super simple--of course knitting with fun fur is a little annoying, but the hat itself is super simple.  Then the eyes and nose really threw me.  I totally stalled out while contemplating how to do them.  My mom crocheted the nose and then she couldn't figure how to do the eyes.  I tackled three crochet projects and felt more confident in my crochet skills so I decided to give it a try.  I got mad crochet skillz!!  Hahaha!!  Anyhow, I think it came out great! :)  

London totally loves it.  He is wearing it right now.  Yup . . .  July, hot, humid, and super warm hat.  He LOVES it!  What more could a Mommy ask for??? :)

Updated August 6, 2009:  I linked this to Kimba's DIY Day over at A Soft Place to Land.  I always love checking out the amazing things that bloggers are making.  I thought that I couldn't participate because I'm not blogging about projects I am doing around my house--but today Kimba specifically said recipes and crafts count!  Yea!!  So, here I am in my first DIY party!  So, go check out what all of those amazing ladies have been up to.  It makes for great inspiration!!

WIPs Wrestlemania Day 26

I have another finished object!  Yea!!  

But, my model is in bed after a busy summer day rockin' the kiddie pool.   

Hopefully he will be able to fit me into his busy schedule tomorrow.

WIPs Wrestlemania Day 25

And another finished object!  

This is the Flower Pot Hat also from Itty Bitty Knits by Susan B. Anderson.   I used Tahki Cotton Classic in colors that were all left from my Marley Hat that I traded in the swap last month.   I like the bright green with the purples and blues.  I am often drawn to a combination of greens, blues, and purples.

The hat is knit in basket weave and then the little flowers are crocheted and attached after.  The pattern also has flowers sprouting out of the top of the hat from i-cord stems.  But, i-cord does not float my boat so I decided to skip it.  I have plenty of yarn leftover if I ever decide to do it.  I am knitting these hats for a knitalong, but I wonder if I had an actual little one in mind for it if I would drudge through the i-cord.  Time will tell!

WIPs Wrestlemania Day 24

We have a finished object!  Yea!!  This is the Rosebud by Susan B. Anderson from Itty Bitty Hats.  This is part of the knitalong I am doing to knit every hat in the Itty Bitty Hat book.  We are doing two a month and this was from June.  

I used a varigated bamboo yarn on a size 5 needle.  This is the newborn size.  I have no idea how bamboo will hold its shape for a hat.  The pink roses and green leaves are Tahki Cotton Classic leftovers from my Upside Down Daisy hat.  Yup, we're all about the Itty Bitty Hats around here! :)

Link to my Ravelry project page is here.

I've been focusing on the Flower Pot Hat the past couple days.  I have also been thinking about how to line my Larger Than Life Bag .  I've spent a lot of time looking for tutorials on lining a bag.  It seems like they are designed more for sewers that are making bags as opposed to knitters and crocheters that want a very easy way to line a bag.  Ah well, I'll figure it out!