The Turning of the Shrew

So my new project that I am working on is the Austin Hoodie. It's a great pattern and really nice hoodie/cardigan by Connie Chang Chirchio. The pattern uses Tosh Merino Light (TML) by MadelineTosh, which is a gorgeous single ply yarn. I have been buying MadTosh for awhile so when this pattern came out, I knew I had to make it. After finishing the Mara shawl, I decided that Austin would be a great pattern to tackle. I have never made a sweater, cardigan or anything like it so I knew I would be getting an education while making it.
Sunday night was the perfect opportunity for Rob and I to take on the challenge of winding five skeins of Denim TML. Two skeins were a bit of a challenge due to the "stickiness" of the yarn but we managed to get them all wound. Here are the results of three semi-perfect little cakes!
After all of that winding, we were beat so I waited to cast on until yesterday. Generally I like working with a single ply yarn but I LOVE this yarn. The color is gorgeous (per usual with MadTosh) but what is so lovely about TML is that it really blossoms when knit. It is so soft and I cannot wait to wear it.

So after casting on, I knit and purled according to the pattern and then got to something I have never done before, a turned hem! I was so intimidated (I had already worked around 2500 stitches) but I went for it, conquered it (it wasn't easy at first) and learned a new technique in the process. I felt so proud after completing my turned hem and realized that in life, when something new comes along, I shouldn't allow myself to feel so intimidated by it. I should jump in, feet first and I will probably be surprised at the outcome!

My turned hem:

Check Check Check

So much has happened since I last wrote so let me fill you in.

• Another Literature class completed in the quest for my B.A.- Check
• Lot's of knitting and yarn buying- Check
• Planned and threw the boy's first bday- Check

And lot's of little things in between. The boy's birthday party went off without a hitch. It was a lovely day weather wise and it was nice to spend the day with family and friends celebrating our two little miracle babies. Their actual birthday was a couple of days later. I still cannot believe that they are one already. It seems like yesterday that we brought them home.

I am so happy to have finished Candace's Mara Shawl. It was such a fun and easy knit. I cannot wait to knit one for myself. I am really enjoying finishing projects. It sounds weird but any knitter will understand this, I use to (sometimes still do) suffer from Start-itis. I was always starting new projects but never finishing them. Finishing projects and either wearing them myself or giving them away, feels amazing. I am not sure why I did not start finishing projects sooner! Here are some pics of Candace's shawl:

Bittersweet

So it has been a little while since I last blogged but I have been crazy busy! Currently I am planning the boy's first birthday. I seriously cannot believe they are going to be one! I know it sounds cliche and all of that but they are growing up too fast. I don't know where the time has gone already! It really is bittersweet. Of course, I am happy that they are growing up. That is what they are supposed to do. Everyday, new doors are opened and they can DO more than they could the day before. Daniel's new "thing" is to say mmmmamammmaaammmaa constantly. It is so cute and I L-O-V-E IT! Knock on wood but Joshua has slept REALLY well the last few nights. He goes down at 8:00 p.m. and wakes up around 7:00 a.m. It's wonderful! They both are amazing "sitters" and Joshua is SO close to crawling. I wouldn't be surprised if he did start crawling before their birthday. The bittersweet part of them growing up is that pretty soon, in the blink of an eye, they will be going off to pre-school, then Kindergarten, then graduating Jr. High, and then High School. I am sure every parent goes through this but being a new mom, it's new to me. In many ways I wish I could hit pause just for a little bit and enjoy them a little longer. But as they would say, Such is Life. I can hear my mother's voice in my head, God gives us our children on loan. We have them for a short time and then they are off to live their lives. It is such a strange feeling/emotion, sad and happy all at the same time.

On a slightly other note, the boy's dedication is this weekend. I am very excited and can't wait! We will be spending the day with a few of our family members and a couple of friends. It is supposed to rain but don't they say that rain is good luck?!? Or is that just for weddings? Anyway, it should be a great day!

I am over 50% done on Candace's birthday surprise. It's coming out really pretty. I can't wait to post pics of the final project and said person wearing it. :)

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

This weekend was so full it was bursting at the seams! Friday evening Rob and I headed over to my BFF's house for dinner and to see her new baby. Wow, what a special moment. Her little one is almost 2 months old now and around 6.5 pounds. It was surreal to see a baby that size because it reminded me just how tiny our boys were (2lbs 14oz & 2lbs 12oz) when they were born. How quickly we forget! Daniel & Joshua were giants next to this baby! On a knitting note, BFF loved her birthday moebius that I made. It looked super cute on her and now I want to make one for myself!On Saturday, mom and I had lunch with my good friend Candace at yummy Julienne's in San Marino. I was so full afterwards, I hardly wanted dinner that evening. From lunch, mom and I headed over to Old Town Pasadena to Gold Class Cinemas (which I absolutely LOVE and now cannot watch a movie any other way) to take in an afternoon showing of 'Remember Me'. Wow, what a stellar performance by Pattinson and De Ravin. The twist at the end was unexpected and surprising. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and would highly recommend it! We also stopped in at The Container Store. My knitting guru, Regina, bought a soft sided market tote from there to house her current WIP's. I loved it so much that I had to get my own for my WIP's! They only had two fabric options so I chose the more muted of the two. It definitely could serve many different purposes. I can see using it for the farmers market or going to the beach. I love it and plan on getting a couple more!
Next up was Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Rob, myself and the boys went to the Peach Cafe for a little bit of breakfast. We love all of their breakfast dishes and they have the best Vanilla Lattes I have ever had! After we ate, we dropped the boys off at home with Grammie and TT Lisa and went to Home Depot for some plants and accessories for our patio. They were having a "Spring Black" sale and we sure did some shopping damage! We picked some beautiful flowers including pink jasmine, hydrangea, azalea, and lavender. I have been wanting a fountain since we moved in so I picked one up. The Depot also had these really cute lime green Adirondack chairs that go perfectly with my other furniture. All in all it was a very productive shopping trip! We headed back to our place and within 2 hours got everything planted with every one's help. It is now my little oasis and I love it!I need a weekend from my weekend but I am sure happy with the results!

Growing up

My babies are 10 months old already! How did that happen??? Everyday they change and do something new. Watching them grow up is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Now that I am a mother I really understand the phrase "Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Everyday I thank God for the blessings in my life and remind myself how precious life is.

On another note, I have changed up my crocheted blankie. I am really loving the look of the Catherine Wheel pattern and the yarn is beautiful and yummy. Will post more pictures when I am further along on the project.

"Think about any attachments that are depleting your emotional reserves. Consider letting them go."-- Oprah Winfrey

There is a specific situation in my life that I have had a hard time just letting go. I feel like I am that hiker that got stuck between two boulders in Colorado. He ended up cutting off his arm with his pocket knife to get unstuck. I don't know if I should wait it out or go for the pocket knife. Letting go is something I have never been good at. In many ways I have moved so far beyond this "situation" that I don't feel like I am on the same page as I was when the "situation" began. Over the past year my life has changed drastically, i.e. having twins and career change. I, in turn, have changed as well. I don't know if I fit in with previous mentioned "situation" anymore. I am really questioning how much I really want it in my life any longer.

Anyway, so here I sit, pondering over what I should do without any clear answer. It is still as convoluted as ever.

On another note, yesterday I was able to score some beautiful yarn from the MadTosh update. I can't wait to receive all of the pretty little skeins in the mail and figure out what I will make with them. I am still working on Candace's birthday surprise. It is coming along, just not as fast as I expected. :) Will post pictures when I finish!

Photo by Susannah Conway: Ink on My Fingers

Get your knit on!

So I have decided to resurrect my blog under a new name, The Little Purl. I am back to knitting and thoroughly enjoying it. I am hoping to blog about various daily happenings: babies, knitting, books, etc... As if I needed something more to fill my day with! :)

Happy Knitting!