trisha harrison:here at no.30

Cowls for Christmas.

This year I am making a few gifts for christmas, This one being a simple cowl knit that I learned to do here. I warn you though once you "get it" and your first project turns out to your amazement then my friends you are hooked - at least I am, and so I took on a challenge to make all the women in our families these cowls for christmas gifts. I need about 12 of them and this one is #7, but truthfully I may keep this one and keep on making - I have a little time. 

Ava had no school yesterday so we headed out to the park and duck pond found that fall is showing us it's coming & she fed the geese at the pond. Once we got back I mentioned I needed to work and then take a look at the cowl progress - she is so interested in knitting and I have shown her how it works, often I will catch her playing with the other needles and trying to cast on ... I am up for teaching her. She helped me out with organizing the piles and even tried a few on I love that she loves what ever I am up to in the office either sewing knitting and yes of course Project Life she wants to do it all and I love that! 

I will say that I had no idea that knitting was a seasonal thing + that many women are now getting there craft on, I probably needed that head start to be honest now it doesn't seem like a unrealistic goal to make 12 by December 24th. I will also add that I am so happy that it is knitting season! Go get some yarn!! 

 

Fall projects.

For as long as I can remember  - I have LOVED FALL. Yes Summer is totally up there and has it's own BEST stuff but FALL there is something about it the cool air ( which is here I tell ya) the change of the leaves, the time to put on big sweaters AND cowls! 

Good thing I have kept busy over the month of August and early September making and making and making these simple cowls how to vid here, This purple one above is the latest one that I started only three days ago and finished yesterday. I'm getting faster! I have seven cowls now and hope to get twelve made.

Now with the kiddos back to school I will be making more of these gifts for Christmas. It's a great time to start those projects and gifts that are homemade, the table runner I made a few weeks ago will also be something I am making more of for gifts & here to keep. I have a few more DIY's I am going to attempt and as always my first passion my creative habit of Project Life is getting caught up on and I have a few things to share there. Thanks for reading! Happy Friday!! 

 

 

Knitting, knitting, knitting.

I knew that one of my top listed "to try" project's in knitting would be to make Ava a blanket. I knew that when I started that she would help pick out her colours with what was in Mama's baskets. I picked up the Grey + blue to compliment her hot pink + mustard. 

At first sight I thought good lord this is a mix mash of colours but I guess we are experimenting so onwards I went, using size 15 round needle but not knitting in the round - for about two months I had no idea how not knit in the round but with a few youtube vids I was ready and knitting, Basically the same start but always keep your work on the left. 

As the blanket is coming together I find that I adore the colours all mixed in. It's not too girly and hopefully she can keep this until she goes to college - or longer it it's still in one piece. 

I actually mastered the working of four colours all at once NEVER thought that would happen! It's a little tricky but flows nicely. No special pattern here just a simple stitch. 

I am super excited with the blanket so far & she is too whenever she see's me working on it & Tyler even gave me a "oh wow, look at you go" -  cool I have a cheering squad. 

Other top projects still to attempt on the knitting list ... large blanket for the living room, a few more cowls for Christmas gifts, and scarfs for now. 

Thanks for reading! 

 

Adventures in Yarn.

I recently have taken up more yarn projects this year & it has been so FUN to "try" to mess up to start again and to mix all types of yarns + Colours. I am currently working on this scrap yarn blanket, but with the way it's looking I'm totally not only using scrap yarn but new stuff too. 

The first colour I used was that grey in the centre then casting off and picking up with a new colour all around so far I am happy with where it's going + how it's looking. 

Not too sure on the size I am going for but I guess I'll know when I get there. 

Totally love picking this little project up in between other current projects (Ava's blanket) and a few cowls I finished up for christmas gifts. I love that this one doesn't need all my attention but when I feel like adding I do. 

I first learned about the scrap yarn blanket here - so loved watching + learning! will keep you posted on the progress here, Thanks for reading. 

 

Making stuff.

This year I was super inspired to get over a few creative humps that I never took the plunge on either because A. I didn't know how or B. I didn't want to fail after putting in money and time into another unfinished project & possible frustration that came from that C. Fear.

 SO this year I am tackling a few projects & so far things are going good it's a learning curve but I am so happy that I took on these creative projects - I have a follower around the house that takes my knitting needles and wraps the yarn around it "knitting like mom" she yells! I stopped and thought how cool is that because I took the leap to learn this & my daughter is now wanting to learn and I can Teach her one day! 

Of course I have to mention that the Internet is super helpful now vs. ten years ago when I thought about taking on these crafts like knitting, sewing, weaving and these are all very popular right now and you can find tutorials pretty much every where! I liked this video tutorial here for knitting cowls. I liked this video here on how to get your sewing machine set up to start sewing. I like this new ecourse that came out here pretty sure that's on my "courses to take" list and it's on sale right now! 

This cowl is the third one I tried & I started to play a lot with yarn size thick vs thin and I currently knit on needle sizes 4.5mm 8.0mm and 9.0mm this image above is on Takumi bambo needles 9.0mm 16in. 

I first started knitting on this size needle in February of this year & totally flopped the first project - It's ok I kept in mind that this might take a few go's at it, Not putting pressure on myself ... I "played" with the first one I made and it some how twisted in the round. Instead of scrapping it I thought I will keep it & use it as a headband ear warmer. 

 That's how it turned out on the front part the twisting just got worse the more I knitted - I have no idea how I did that, but for my very first knit project I kinda like it.

This is what it looks like on the back side. The right way. Again I found this pattern from this tutorial here.

Incomes project # two. This time I used a larger needle 8.0mm at 36in length - THIS IS HUGE this cowl in the photo above is folded in half, it's twice this length and surprisingly it was very easy to work with and I liked the thickness of the chunky wool. I started out with the grey fleck colour then that ran out and so I switched to all black to finish it giving it a colour block.

I really enjoyed this yarn and colour scheme. Photo above is my IG photo here about adding in a new colour. No twisting on this one (thankful for that) and kept at it. 

As I start really getting into these projects I noticed quickly how addicting yarn is ... my collection is growing, I some how can't leave the craft store without YARN. I figure at least I am putting it to use so no harm in purchasing more. 

So that's where I am at right now on the whole taking on new projects, It is totally a creative pursuit that I am on & loving it. Learning so much as I go. Again internet is so helpful! Maybe one day I will branch out of cowls and make something else ... one day. Thanks for reading & have a great weekend!