knitting | The Angel Forever

Category Archives knitting

Special Knitting Requests

Posted on September 22, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL and JSL,

A few weeks ago, we were out at a craft store looking for a gift for someone. At one point, NHL looked at me and asked to let him pick out some yarn for a project. You had a specific item in mind. One of your stuffed friends wanted a blanket like I had made myself. It was impossible for me to say no. We went to the yarn section and you picked out something extremely bright. It was called Crayon and I think I know why. I quickly knit up a small blanket for on your bed.

Once you saw that your brother had a blanket for someone, you also wanted one JSL. I realized this when we were at the craft store getting supplies for the Kermit cupcakes. Since we were there, you selected the yarn that you liked. There seemed to be a theme going here with your colors. Yours was actually called Psychedelic. I really loved the way it stripes and turned out. When I finished yours the other night, I left it by your pillow for you to find in the morning.

It was a lot of fun seeing both of your faces when I let you select the yarn and then again when I was finished with the items. I guess it really is hard for me to say no to something like this. Of course, now I recall hearing the two of you mention new scarves for the winter. Hmmmm…

Love,

Categories:
crafts Dear Kid Saturday jsl knitting me moments nhl photos

Tuesday Tales – Listening to Audiobooks

Posted on July 10, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

There are so many amazing books out there, but not nearly enough time to read everything. Our Kindle and the Kindle App on my Droid Bionic have opened up a lot of additional reading opportunities. It is a lot easier to carry a book on your phone than a 300 plus page hard cover book.

During the summer months, I like to get some gift knitting accomplished. This would be a great time to read, but, well, you can not follow a pattern and “read” at the same time. Check that, you can thanks to audiobooks. Our local library system and the NYPL have audiobooks to check out that are in WMA format. While they can be used on OverDrive Media, it is not compatible with my android based phone. There are supposed to be apps that I can get to work around this, but I just did not have the patience. I pulled out my iPod Shuffle, loaded my book onto it, and set it to play without shuffling.

At first, it seemed to work. I sat knitting and listening to my book the first night. The next day I was listening to the book outside while the boy were playing with chalk. I thought I recognized part of the book. Later on, I realized I was listening to the same chapter for the second or possibly third time. Oy!

Rather than figure something out with my phone, I took out my old iPod Touch and transferred the books onto it via OverDrive Media Player on my computer. It worked beautifully. The best part, the book made a lot more sense when it was in order and not shuffling the chapters. Now, I will focus on knitting and reading Peter and the Starcatchers at the same time. Then, I can try to plan a trip to NYC to see the play.

If you have an Android phone and know of an app to play WMA audiobooks, please let me know what has worked for you. Ideally I would love MP3 format, but that is not always an option.

As always, Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Categories:
books knitting me moments Tuesday Tales

Hobbies that are Different

Posted on June 8, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Yesterday, I wrote about a word that really bothered me. In Strange is as Strange Does, I mentioned how one simple word got under my skin. Since that day, I am embracing the word, but still believe that it should be cautiously used.

We are each unique individuals. The items that make us who we are and may seem “strange” to one person, is likely what attracts us to our friends. Over twenty-five years ago, I learned this hobby:

Let me tell you, knitting as an elementary school child was not and likely is not popular. It was probably considered strange by some. Still, each summer my friend J and I would sit outside after playing and knit. I would also knit with my Aunt T and Nana. It was nice to have a hobby that others I knew had. Knitting would be something that I would pick up from time to time. That was until JSL was born and it really stuck with me. For five years now, I have made countless washcloths, scarves, blankets, and more. Yes, even Clumsy and Snowflake have been recipients of my knitting.

Although knitting is more accepted these days, people still look at you a bit when you pull out a bag and work on something in public. It just is not as socially acceptable as, say, reading a book while in a waiting room, standing outside of school, or at the library. The reality is I do not care. I knit when I want to, what I want to, and because I want to. That’s the beauty of who we are, we do things that have meaning to us and make us happy inside and out.

So my question to you this week:

What hobby do you have that others may look at and consider a bit different or perhaps strange, but it makes you happy?

It's Me

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #206

Categories:
Aloha Friday knitting me moments photos vent

Keep Me In Stitches

Posted on March 18, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

While visiting my in-laws and eating at a favorite Greek restaurant, something caught my eye. A sign above a new store read Keep Me In Stitches. I did a double take and said something to TechyDad. The kids wanted to go to the park and I knew better than to take them into a fiber store. The reality is that my boys love knitted objects, but they do not have patience to let me day dream while looking at different yarn.

TechyDad suggested that my mother-in-law and I head to the store to check it out and then meet them at the park. Sold! As we started to browse, I couldn’t help but overhear the owner of the store mention that she was a blogger. As I looked at all of the beautiful yarn, I knew I had to ask if it was ok to take photos for a blog post.

I was told to go ahead. Here are some photos of the beautiful wall of yarn.

We chatted briefly about using Facebook for social media. Little did I know they were also on Twitter, or I would have sent a Tweet out while there. I am definitely going to have fun exploring their website and watching to see what events will be taking place next time we visit. I know if I was local, their Mom’s Night Out Classes look like a fun activity for a group.

Although I did not purchase something, I have my eyes on the Knit Picks Harmony Wood Circular Needle set I was finally able to see in a store. Something I may be asking TechyDad for my birthday. *hint* *hint* *nudge* *nudge*

Thank you Rebecca for taking us on a tour of your beautiful shop. I know that I will be visiting again and will be sure to have a project in mind to purchase some of your yummy yarn. Oh and I am going to suggest that my father-in-law looks into a class to surprise my mother-in-law. I think she would really enjoy something like that.

It's Me

Categories:
arts and crafts knitting me moments photos road trip shopping

The Power of a Hidden Mouse

Posted on February 4, 2012 9:02 am by TheAngelForever

Dear JSL,

This has been a rough week for you. First, a fever in the middle of the night. Then, you had nap/night terrors that scared us out of our mind. When we went to the doctor, your throat was swabbed and ear blasted with a new contraption to clean it out. In the end, it looks like you have a virus. The fever went away, but suddenly a horrible cough and leaky nose appeared.

While I sat by you and you slept away the fever, I pulled out some old school knitting of mine. I wanted to make something special to help you smile. It brought me back to when I was knitting next to your hospital bed in February 2008. Of course, this time you knew I was making something for you and were so excited when you saw what was hidden within the cloth. The minute it came off the knitting needles you declared it was yours and a blanket for your little monkey. Of course, you were too tired to get your monkey, so you went to rest with it on your puppy pillow.

When NHL saw the hidden Mickey in the cloth, he asked me to make a blanket for his little lion. With your help, we made sure this was made quickly.

Of course, now you are asking me to knit you a Mickey Mouse blanket. Hmmmm……I will have to figure that one out. Now, to work on getting rid of the cough and making you feel better.

Love,

Mommy