FO: Go Pack Go! Romper

Game Day! GO PACK GO!

Just in time for my (**see below) Green Bay Packers to lose their playoff game to the Giants. Luckily, it hasn't been cold enough to need this romper and its kind of big. That just makes it so I can put a onesie and britches under it, for indoor/outdoor layers. I started it at the beginning of the Packers amazing season and finished it at the end.

Go Pack Go! Romper
PATTERN: Rugby Romper by Lion Brand
YARN: Vanna's Choice Solids by Lion Brand
               in Olive & Mustard
NEEDLES: US4 & US6


** My amazing husband bought me a share of the Green Bay Packers for my birthday. I am officially an NFL owner. <3 GO PACK GO! -- http://packersowner.com/








cross-posted from: http://www.nerd-momma.com

New Pattern! Binky clip for Soothie and Wubbanub

FO: Binky clip for Soothie and Wubbanub
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

Born of necessity! I couldn't find a pacifier clip that would work with the Pichu's Soothie and Wubbanub binkies, so I finally made one... after losing two $10 Wubbanubs in a week.

YARN: Sock Yarn
NEEDLES & HOOK: US2.5-3 Needles & Size C Hook
OTHER STUFF: Darning needle & Suspender Clip

Ravelry Linkie

CRAFTY-MOMMA: Happy Halloween and other sewing

Our first Halloween was a lot of fun! Well, except that the Pichu decided to come down with a stomach bug. That was three days of poopie diapers and a limited diet (pedialite, water, brown rice, bananas, formula, and yo-baby yogurt). I think it bothered me more than him. It helped that we were already home for those three days with a water leak repair.

If you're wondering about our costumes, I am a Pikachu and he is, of course, a Pichu. I made both of them, with exception to Pichu's pichu hood (thanks, Laura!). I drafted my costume from a Kigurumi that I already had. I just added ears and the other Pikachu features. Pichu's costume was made with McCall's Pattern M5963 (Infants' Lined Buntings and Jackets, Jumpsuits, Pants, Reversible Blanket and Hat, All Sizes), which worked out really well! I plan on using it for a few other things. Its so versatile, that I traced the paper pattern instead of cutting it out.

Thanks to Texas weather, we were a little warm in our fleece and flannel costumes. But, we will be ready to enter the cosplay competition at YuleCon this year!

There has also been a little more sewing! I found a pattern on Etsy (evil, evil place ;op) for some Monkey Pants! I had seen them in one of my parenting magazines and thought they were adorable! Of course, I'm not going to pay $60 for one pair of pants that my pichu will only be able to wear for 3 months, at the most. There's where Etsy comes in. I could have bought some handmade ones.... or I could make them myself! (Etsy link: monkey pants pattern) The only change I would make is to draw the legs a little wider. I don't know if its my boy's chunky legs, but these ended up being just a little snug for a 6 month old, and the size I made was for 6 to 12 months. Next time, I'll do that! Also note, the monkey is on the bottom, so you can see it when he's crawling around.

And finally, a new play mat! I made this so when he goes to visit Nana or DebDeb, he has a play mat to play on. We have one in our living room that we keep a machine wash blanket on, which makes accidental spit-ups waaaaaaay easier to clean up than if they were on our rug. This was LOSELY based on McCall's Patterns M5604 (Baby Items, One Size Only). Its where I got the idea. I bought some quilt cotton that I liked (you could use whatever you want, I suggest washable) and double layered some batting in the middle. Super easy and super awesome! When Pichu gets bigger, he can use it to lay on or wrap up in for naptime!

It feels great to be crafting again, even if its only during naptime and when daddy is home on the weekend.

-- crossposted from Nerd-Momma.com

CRAFTY-MOMMA: Where did summer go?

Yesterday, it was almost 90°. This morning it is 53°. Welcome to Texas.

After seeing the forecast, I knew I had to do some quick knitting. Again, thank you Ravelry for helping me find a quick and simple hat pattern for the Pichu. I actually stayed up late to finish it for this morning.

PATTERN: Gotcha Covered #1
SIZE: Baby with Chunky Yarn
YARN: Bernat Softee Chunky
NEEDLES: US 8 & 10




crossposted from http://nerd-momma.blogspot.com

CRAFTY-MOMMA: Bowties Are Cool

Last week, I finished this adorable sweater vest for the Pichu's aunt's wedding. There was a little bit of panic-knitting happening. I was afraid I wouldn't get it done in time... But I did and it is soooooooooo adorable!!!!

Details?

PATTERN: Pembroke Vest (ravelry: )

YARN: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Lilac

NOTES: I did reverse the cable on the left center twist to make it symmetrical.

Of course, knitting this has really jumpstarted my knitting again, although I only get an hour or so after Pichu goes to bed. My goal is to have some cooler weather outfits ready for when it really cools down. I've cast on two more projects, Gig'Em Gameday Britches and a Go Pack Go Romper. Hook'Em Gameday Britches are planned, but not cast on yet.


CROSSPOSTED: http://nerd-momma.blogspot.com

Morgause: My Haldane Orkney

I received an email this morning from a fellow Haldane Orkney owner who had seen photos of my wheel and asked if I had written any articles about it. Well, I haven't, but saw this as the perfect opportunity, especially since I was probably going to write a lengthy reply! :o)

This is Morgause, named for Morgause of Orkney in Arthurian Legend. I received her for Christmas from my dad and stepmom. With the help of a Google search, I figured out how to step up the single drive, Scotch tension with this diagram. Its not for the Orkney, but worked. Within an hour, I was spinning alpaca, albeit awkwardly, that night. I will say, if I hadn't setup and spun successfully on another wheel (Babe Fiber Starter), I wouldn't have figured it out in one evening.

When I got home and after Christmas settled down, I sat down to get the feel of this wheel. I joined the Haldane Fanciers group on Ravelry, and that has been pretty helpful.

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Problems and Solutions:
Problem #1) When I would spin, it felt like my wheel would slow down or stop at top center.
Solution) Weight the wheel so it wouldn't lose momentum when it reached top-center. Pictured is my weight solution. Just top right and top left of the center spoke I have attached adjustable ring-bases found in Hobby Lobby's jewelry findings aisle. So I could switch sides, depending on which way I am spinning (s or z twist), I've made removable weights from more findings from Hobby Lobby and lead fishing weights from Walmart.

Problem #2) No orifice hook!
Solution) I looked up some fancy orifice hooks on Etsy and Artfire to see what I liked. I then dug in my craft stash for something that would work. I found some fancy large gauge wire and shaped it to work. Of course, I had to make it pretty, so I picked up more jewelry goodies and beads from Michael's (on sale and with coupons, of course!). I made mine on a chain so I could keep it all together and pretty for when my wheel wasn't in use, but on display in the living room.

Problem #3) Where the heck do I find more bobbins?!?!
Solution) Since Haldane doesn't make wheels anymore AND they are even harder to find in the USA, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find replacement bobbins. That is until I came across ONE post, deep into a Google search saying that someone *thought* they had seen someone else use modified Ashford bobbins on an Orkney. Not much to go on, right? I figured, what the hell. I found a fabulous Texas seller on Etsy that had a listing for 3 Ashford Single Drive Bobbins for $30. I figured for that price, it was worth a try. If it didn't work, I could always sell or trade the remaining unmodified bobbins to make some of my money back. When the bobbins arrived, I immediately tried them on Morgause. They fit the flyer shaft with no problems, but the smaller end rubbed the flyer. No Problemo! I pulled out my fabulous Dremel and started sanding it until it resembled my Orkney bobbin. With some fine-tuning, I had three more bobbins that worked with my wheel! HAPPY DANCE!

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With the above mods/enhancements I can now spin easily on my Haldane Orkney. It makes fine singles, as opposed to the Babe Fiber Starter's more bulky single. One thing I did pick up as a 'just in case' item was a spinning wheel maintenance kit. I would hate to start spinning, have something happen, and then not be able to spin until I go buy something or track something simple down at a store completely across town.

Since there is very limited information on the interwebz about this wheel, I really hope this helps anyone that might have the same problems that I have had.

FO: TARDIS for Pug

TARDIS for Pug
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

I have been working on this sparingly for the past month, but I finally finished it last night.

PATTERN: TARDIS Kindle Case
NEEDLES: US7 KnitPicks Harmony Acrylic :hearts:
YARN: I Love This Yarn Sparkle in Royalty and White Sparkle

Two Dr. Seuss Paintings

Wednesday night, I finished these paintings for the Pichu's nursery. The fishie is from The Cat in the Hat and the other painting is Sam I Am, from Green Eggs and Ham.

FO: Ready For Spring Scarf

FO: Ready For Spring Scarf
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

Jimmy Lens, Pistil Film, No Flash, Taken with Hipstamatic


While I had workers at my house this morning hanging crown-molding in the PIchu's room, I had to perfect opportunity to finish this scarf! Its woven on a 7.5dpi heddle, from several yarns from my stash.

* J&P Coats Royale Classic Crochet Thread (Size 10) -- THIS IS THE WARP
* Jo-Ann Sensations Majesty
* ONline Linie 43 Punta
* Yarn Bee Elf Eyelash
* Feza Yarns Premier -- mostly this, because it changes yarns in the ball, all by itself! ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE YARNS EVAR! (and I really don't like novelty yarn!

BTW - I'm sending this one to my aunt, since she always tries to steal my Barf Scarf!