Christmas Tree Candle

I've been meaning to make these for most of this year ..... just been mulling around in my head how to make it look, in real life, the way it does in my head.  This past Saturday, I finally grabbed some yarn and my dpn's and sat down to create the Christmas Tree Candle & it worked - it looks just like I had envisioned it would.  Soooooooo, without further ado - I share my pattern with all of you and really hope that you like it (oh, this pattern has not been test knit, so, if you have any questions about it just ask & I'll try my best to help you out with it).  ˚Ü˚

Christmas Tree Candle

Materials:
     - 4.0 mm dpn
     - medium weight yarn (I used Red Heart Soft Touch for the candle and Bernat Glow in The Dark yarn for the flame)
     - clothes pin
     - darning needle

Instructions for the candle:

- Cast on 15 stitches, join in the round (being careful not to twist the stitches) and knit each round for 19 rounds.
- *knit 2 tog, knit 3; repeat from * around (12 stitches)
- knit 2 together around (6 stitches)
- knit 2 together around (3 stitches), break yarn
****At this point, I take the tail and weave it through the 3 stitches that are on the needles and then pull it down the center top of the candle so it is on the inside of the tube for the candle, making sure to keep those 3 stitches on the needles because you'll need them to make the flame with.

Instructions for the flame:

- with the yarn for the flame, knit in the front and back of each of the stitches on the dpn's (6 stitches)
- knit 1 round plain (6 stitches)
- knit in the front and back of each stitch around (12 stitches)
- knit 1 round plain (12 stitches)
- knit 2 together around (6 stitches)
- knit 2 together around (3 stitches), removing each dpn as you go until all 3 stitches are left on 1 dpn.
- cut yarn, leaving 4 - 5" long tail (probably overkill on how long the tail should be, but I don't like having too short of a tail when I'm doing the finishing work on a project), thread darning needle with tail.  Insert darning needle in stitch furthest from stitch with the tail.  Slip the stitch from the dpn onto the darning needle, repeat with the other 2 stitches on the dpn.  Pull the darning needle and tail through all 3 stitches, pull tight, tie a knit (making sure that it is as close to the tip of the flame as you can get).  Now, take the darning needle (with the tail yarn still threaded in it) and put it down the tip of the flame, through the bottom of the flame into the candle so that the tail from the flame yarn is on the inside of the tube for the candle.  Remove the darning needle, trim the tail (from both the candle yarn and the flame yarn) & insert the clothes pin (handle will be closest to the flame).  Place candle on tree by squeezing the sides of the candle to open the clothes pin, place on tree branch and let go of candle.

Current Projects

Well, after a few weeks of perusing Ravelry, deciding on patterns and adding them to my Christmas Gift list, I have gotten started on one of the items today.  Unfortunately, I can't post a picture of it, or tell you what it is, because the recipient reads my blog.  ˚Ü˚

Thursday of last week I took my loom to weaving & started getting a new warp wound to put on it.  I had bought some cones of 100% cotton & I'm planning on weaving some dish towels.  This Thursday coming up, I'll need to finish winding the warp, and then I can start putting it on the loom.

It kind of looks like I'm just mixing the colours together, but, I'm actually attempting to make a striped warp.  Once the warp is put on the loom, the weft will also be striped - this will hopefully create a checkerboard type of look.  ˚Ü˚

I'll post progress pictures of how the towels are turning out as I work on them.  ˚Ü˚

I finished making the hooded scarf on my small rigid heddle loom ..... it turned out exactly as I had imagined it would.  We gave it to my Mom for Christmas - haven't heard how she likes it.

My DD was gracious & modeled the scarf for me .... the above pic is the front view, and here is a picture of the side view - I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  ˚Ü˚

Weaving a scarf

Today I started weaving a hooded scarf .... I'd been envisioning how this would look and I have to say, it is exceeding my expectations on how it looks, lol.

The warp is white Red Heart Super Saver and the weft is a white & blue variegated yarn (same weight as the warp, just don't know the brand).  The width, on the loom, is 11 1/8" .... not entirely sure how long it will be once it's finished.

I don't have a recipient in mind for it, yet ..... not sure if it will be a Christmas gift, if I'll keep it, or if I'll give it to Charlotte (like she's been hinting at since she's seen it, lol).

Potholder Mitt

Years ago, my Mom made me a sewn potholder that had a pocket on one side - the pocket was there so that I could insert my hand & use the potholder as an oven mitt.  Recently I noticed that these were becoming very worn, so, I decided to knit some up, and here is the pattern that I came up with.  ˚Ü˚

Potholder Mitt

Pattern by:
Becky Kibblewhite

 

Materials:

- approximately 144 grams Bernat Handicraft Cotton
- 4.5 mm needles
- darning needle
- row markers (2)
- stitch holder
- 4.5 mm crochet hook

NOTE:  for safety reasons do not use an acrylic yarn as the Potholder Mitt could melt ... use only 100% cotton.

Pot Holder Instructions:

- Holding 2 strands of yarn together, cast on 30 stitches
Rows 1 - 3:  knit every row for 3 rows

Row 4:  knit 3 stitches (place marker), knit in front and back of rest of stitches until you come to the last 3 stitches, (place marker) knit 3 stitches (54 stitches)

Row 5:  k3, slip marker, *k1, yarn in front (as if to purl), slip 1 (as if to purl), yarn in back (as if to knit)*; repeat between *'s across to marker (stitch before marker should be a slip 1), slip marker, k3

NOTE:  as you are working Row 5, put a piece of waste yarn through the 24 stitches that you knit (as you are knitting them) ….. these stitches are not removed from the needles, they are merely holding the waste yarn to make it easier to see where you will get the 24 stitches for the mitt portion of the pattern.  You will continue working all the stitches between the markers (48 stitches) for the entire double knit portion of the pattern (some will be knit & some will be slipped).
See photos:

The knit stitch has been made, in this photo and the darning needle has been inserted in the knit stitch …. you can see the waste yarn that has been put through each knit stitch:

Row 6:  k3, slip marker, *k1, yarn in front (as if to purl), slip 1 (as if to purl), yarn in back (as if to knit)*; repeat between *'s across to marker (stitch before marker should be a slip 1), slip marker, k3

Continue to work Row 6 until piece measure 9.5" from cast on edge.

This next picture shows how the work is progressing on the side with the waste yarn …. waste yarn stays in place as the work continues:

Here is a picture of the opposite side of the potholder, you can't see the waste yarn on this side of the double-knit portion of the potholder:

Next Row:  knit 3, slip marker, knit 2 stitches together across (between markers), slip marker, knit 3 (30 stitches)
- Knit 3 rows
- Bind off ….. when 1 stitch is left on your needle, switch to crochet hook and crochet a chain of 15.  Cut yarn and pull through last chain, now, attach the last chain close to the first chain and weave in ends (this creates a loop to hang your Potholder Mitt from).

Mitt Instructions:

In this next photo it shows one of the 24 stitches that will be picked up (the stitches that are waiting on the waste yarn):

- With single strand of yarn pick up the 24 stitches where the waste yarn is, working from left side of potholder to right side to pick up the stitches, leave a long tail (this will be for seaming one side of the mitt down).

Row 1:  knit

Row 2:  purl

Row 3: k2, p2 across

Repeat Row 3 until mitt is 9" long

- with RS of work facing you, bind off loosely in pattern.  Leave a long tail to seam side of mitt down.  Once seaming is completed, weave in any ends that you need to & enjoy your new potholder mitt.

Let the building begin

We've been talking about doing this for a while, now .... and this week it's finally happening - we're building a fence between our yard and our neighbours.  Hopefully that old saying about good fences make good neighbours is going to prove true .... don't get me wrong - our neighbours are very nice people ...... they just don't understand that the term "property line" applies to them, as well & they keep coming over to our side of the property to trim trees, mow part of the lawn, etc.

This week, Don booked off from work so that we could get started on the fence ..... I think it's going to be a bit slow going, especially since it's just Don & Josh that are doing all the work - they're very capable workers, but, it would go faster if there were a few more guys helping out, know what I mean.  ˚Ü˚

Don digging a post hole

Josh using the sledgehammer to pound the new fence post

Busy day today

Today has been such a busy & productive day.  Along with getting all of our school work completed, I also did some canning today.  ˚Ü˚

There is an apple tree in our front yard, which we have never really done anything with .... this year, though, I decided that I was going to use some of those apples & so far I have made 31 quart jars (4 of those were done today) + 2 pint jars of apple juice and, I made 8 pint jars of Crockpot Apple Butter - all with our very own apples.  ˚Ü˚  I also made 3 pint jars of apple pie filling, but, I used store bought apples for that .... I'd still be peeling our apples if I was to use them, lol (they aren't the biggest of apples).  I'd like to make more of the apple pie filling, but, I ran out of cinnamon .... so, that'll be a project for another day.  ˚Ü˚

Now, off to go & finish up the laundry and then finish making the Crockpot Potato Soup.  Have a great evening everyone.  ˚Ü˚

a bit of this & that

Today we started our 4th week of homeschooling .... the kids are really enjoying everything that we've scheduled (well, okay, maybe Charlotte isn't thrilled about Science .... but, we can live with that, lol).

The best part of our day is our first class - we begin our day with Bible ..... after gathering our beverages (usually tea for me, coffee for Josh & hot chocolate for Charlotte - especially since it is starting to turn cooler in the mornings), we settle at the kitchen table & we pray - sometimes it is the Lord's Prayer, but most often, we pray for our day/friends & family/safe travels when we have to go someplace later on in the day/most of all, though, we pray that God is with us throughout the day (sometimes with an arm around our shoulders & sometimes with a hand over our mouths, lol).  After we have prayed, we open our Bibles & we flip to the current book we are studying (right now it's Micah) .... we take one chapter at a time & we all read a verse until the end of the chapter, then it's discussion time about what we've read & we use the Bible marking pens that I purchased at Scott's Parables (specifically for this time).  It's really great to hear the kids insights to what we're reading & see how they are applying these lessons in their daily lives.  Once our Bible study session is completed, the kids work on their memory/copywork exercises - they currently have 2 memory verses down and are working on their 3rd one.  ˚Ü˚

The other day, I glanced over at Josh and was amazed at how much he has grown .... not just in stature (he's tall & getting broad across the shoulders), but maturity as well - I'm pretty sure that his job has had a lot to do with that.  It reinforces, to me, how important it is to surround yourself with Christians that actually "walk the walk", not like some people who only claim to be Christians but only give it lip service & help those who they feel are worthy of being helped - Josh's employers are definitely Christians that walk the walk & you can feel it as soon as you walk through the doors of their restaurant.

Last month I had some of my woven items in a Handcraft Show - there were no prizes for doing this, it was simply a way for people to check out what can be done with weaving.  I had three items there:  the very first blanket that I wove on a floor loom, my Skittles bag that I made on my rigid heddle loom & a shawl that I made on a 4-heddle table loom (first time using one of them) ... here are some pictures of it (both in progress & completed):

This is shortly after I started weaving the shawl

 

I've got quite a bit done on it, now - it's looking really good.  ˚Ü˚

Charlotte modeling the shawl for me

the front of the shawl

a close up of the pattern that was used.

In our front yard we have an apple tree - the tree produces medium sized yellow apples that are quite tart if you just pick one off the tree and start munching on it.  But, I've discovered that it makes amazing apple juice, soooooo, I've been very busy with making & canning the apple juice - as of tomorrow, I should have 30L of apple juice made (thanks so much for the recipe, Mom):

first batch of apple juice made.

Another item that will be made & canned, using our apples, is Crockpot Apple Butter - a friend of mine shared the recipe and it is sooooooooooo good.  If I have time, I'd also like to make & can a few jars of apple pie filling (the recipe for that is in the Company's Coming Preserves cookbook.  ˚Ü˚

An Early New Years Resolution ... or maybe a really late one

This is probably the earliest I have ever decided on something that I want to do for the New Year (or maybe it's really, really late for the last one, lol).

Yesterday Don, Josh & I sorted through the half-ton truck of yarn that we were gifted back in October - it looked like we were moving .... and it turns out that I need more of the big Rubbermaid containers to completely store it properly (we sorted them by colour and then labeled the containers, to, hopefully, make it easier to find the yarn I'm looking for).  Charlotte told me that I could easily start a yarn store with the amount of yarn that is now in our house, lol.

My hope is that we will be able to use some of this yarn to make hats and mittens to send to Afghanistan - I have heard that it gets terribly cold there during the winter season .... we're just waiting to hear back from our contact there to see if it is okay for us to send the items to her.

Anyway, back to my resolution ..... my resolution, for the New Year (but starting now), is that I will only use yarn from my stash when I make projects (the only exception will be if a pattern calls for something that is not in my stash .... like wool for felted mittens, for example).  I find it waaaayyyyyyyy to easy to just head down to the local Wal-Mart and buy some yarn for a project, without checking to see if I have what I need already - this should fit in quite nicely with my "Living Simpler" effort - I'll keep you posted on how I do in this venture.  ˚Ü˚

Interesting quote

I saw this quote today and I thought that it goes very well in our quest for simpler living:

"Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without"

I'm sure that I saw this as a 'badge' or something like that for a blog, but I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it.  Now, I'm not entirely sure that I can follow that whole thing ..... however, I'm willing to give it my best shot.  ˚Ü˚

And so it begins ....

Well, I decided to take the plunge and actually start doing what I've been talking about for a while ..... I made a batch of bread yesterday.  The recipe that I use is one that my Grandma used to make, my Mom makes it (she makes buns around Christmas time and people buy them from her), and I make it too - it is a wonderful recipe that makes 6 loaves (I suppose I could increase the ingredients and make a bigger batch, but this works well for us) and it is amazing, in the fact, that it doesn't go stale quickly (like some homemade bread recipes I've tried - they are great the first day and then blech the second day).

Today, I had plans to make up a batch of regular cookies - we call them Variety Cookies (again, an old family favourite that has been passed down through the generations), as well as a batch of GF cookies.  However, it turns out that I didn't have enough brown sugar to make both batches, sooooooooo, I was a good Mama and I made the GF ones for my son.  The recipe is from The Gluten-Free Bible and they are called Raisin-Coconut Cookies - I made one change with them ..... I put chocolate chips instead of raisins because Josh doesn't like raisins.  OMGoodness, are these ever good cookies .... they don't even taste like they are GF (sometimes you can tell).  Josh was very grateful that I made the GF ones instead of the regular ones, first - he's been feeling a little left out in the baking dept. - I do need to get Don to pick up some brown sugar, though, so that I can make some regular ones (hopefully) tomorrow.

(There were more of these GF cookies ..... the kids and I were munching away on them before I got a picture of them, lol.)

I think tomorrow, I'm going to start decluttering .... it's not really something that I'm looking forward to, but I know that, when I'm finished, it will be worth it.  On a homeschool group that I'm part of, we've been discussing that living more simply doesn't mean easier ..... there is actually a lot of work that goes into it (like the decluttering part of it).  My hope, though, is that once we get everything scaled down, then we can work on maintaining it rather than where we are right now.

I also need to remember to "recharge" my dryer sheets - all I do is soak an old facecloth in fabric softener, squeeze out the excess fabric softener and then hang them up to dry.  Once dry, I just toss them into the dryer when I'm drying a load of clothes.  When we are drying a load that doesn't require a dryer sheet, we have a magnetic hook on the front of the dryer to hang the dryer sheet on - it doesn't go missing, the cat doesn't end up using it for a toy (I think she likes the smell of it), etc.  Laundry soap was made last week, so we are good there .... a triple batch lasts, at minimum, 6 months.  ˚Ü˚

It's also been really encouraging to see the kids getting on board with this .... today they were discussing things that they could get rid of:  board games that they no longer play, clothing that they've outgrown, books that they no longer read, etc.  Charlotte has even been telling me ways that she is planning on organizing in her room to make the most of the space she has available to her. ˚Ü˚

What does Simple Living mean to you?

I have been reading a lot, lately, about simple living .... one lady brought up the question, "What does Simple Living mean to you?".  Well I've been pondering this and pondering it and I think I may have a bit of an idea now.

Years ago, before Josh was GF, I did the majority of our baking from scratch - it really wasn't an uncommon sight to see homemade bread in the breadbox and homemade cookies in the cookie jar ..... however, I have found, since Josh was put on a GF diet, I don't do near the baking that I used to.  This isn't his fault, either, being GF was not something that he (or any of us) would have chosen for him.  I just know that when I make a batch of regular cookies, I need to make a batch of GF ones as well - and a lot of the time, I just don't have the energy to make that many different batches in one day.  As I type this and read, at the same time, I realize how silly that is .... the regular cookies I make make about 5 dozen cookies - sooooooo, theoretically, I could make one batch one day and a GF batch the next day.

Josh makes his own GF bread, so really, there isn't anything hindering me from making a batch of regular bread for us (I know your nodding your head, Hon, lol) - this is even easier now that we have a new bread machine for Josh (the one we bought at Value Village, almost, 5 years ago (for $20) finally died yesterday).  The bread that I used to make, made at least 6 loaves - that's if I didn't make any buns or cinnamon buns with the dough.  I know that everyone in our household would be much happier with homemade bread, rather than having to buy bread all the time.  For the most part, I'm home everyday (except on the weekends), so really, there is no excuse for me not to be doing this (seriously, Hon - quite nodding your head, lol) ..... plus, I need to teach Charlotte how to make bread, as well.  ˚Ü˚

Simple living - to me, means living with less "stuff" .... I mean, really, do I seriously need 3 can openers in that drawer over there???????  Simple living - for us, as a family, also means that we need to all be on board with getting rid of certain things (OMGoodness - why are there soooooo many flippers in this drawer??????????).  It isn't just in the kitchen that we need to downsize, practically, every room in our house could use an overhaul - they really don't make trailers with enough storage space ..... or maybe they do and we just try and store more than the required limit in it, lol.

Simple living - to me, also means simpler gift giving ..... really thinking about the person you are giving a gift to and making it for them, instead of rushing down to Wal-Mart and buying the first thing you see, justifying it with "I ran out of time and this was the best I could do".  For the past two years, we have made Christmas presents for each other ..... it has been wonderful to see the creativity in our children grow in these two years.  This year we are planning on making gifts again, and while we still do buy the kids some things .... I'd really like to see less of that happening in the coming years (certain things will need to be bought - like the items we have bought them every Christmas since they were born - I cannot reproduce those).  We know one family (that actually just lives in the neighbouring town from us) only give homemade gifts (even when their kids go to birthday parties) and they request homemade gifts from friends and family members that come for birthday parties ..... I think that is a really neat idea.  Last year, we started a Christmas Wish List on a chalkboard (thank you so much, Pam, for that chalkboard) .... on this board, we list anything that we would like for Christmas (we can also use this list for birthday presents, as well) - it doesn't matter if it is something that we've seen in the stores, we put it on the list.  For example, one time, Josh put "weapons" on his list .... Charlotte made him a wooden shield and Don made him a wooden war hammer.

Recently, I have started spinning some wool into working yarn for myself ..... this was something that I've wanted to do for quite some time and my brother helped me out with this - he gave me numerous bags of wool (both in batts and in pencil roving) and I am now getting lots of experience with spinning, plying and setting the twist of the wool.  Now, granted, there are some things that I do need to buy for my spinning wheel - mainly because I'm not sure that my Husband can make the things that I need for it (namely a larger flyer and bigger bobbins).  He has, though, made me an adjustable Niddy Noddy and a WPI device - both are extremely useful in my new hobby.  Is it easier to just run down to the local Fields or Wal-Mart or Micheal's and buy the yarn already in balls - you bet it is .... but, I think the projects that I spin the wool for will mean a bit more to me, knowing how much work, actually, went into creating it.

So, care to share?????  What does Simple Living mean to you?