Category Archives: Craftiness

Babywearing

Peter and I have been pretty dedicated to babywearing over the past year. The stroller comes in handy for long walks and some shopping trips, but there are times when it just isn’t necessary or convenient to lug out the stroller. And there are times when we want to keep Catherine close.

Our two babywearing mainstays have been a ring sling and a baby backpack. These have both worked well for both of us: Peter with Sling, Rebecca with Sling, Peter with Backpack, Rebecca with Backpack. Each has its own pros and cons so we switch between them depending on the situation.

For a while now I’ve been wanting a new carrier; one that is soft and can be used in the front carry or the back carry position. I thought that it would come in handy when the external frame backpack (with its wonderfully large pocket) would be more carrier than I needed.

Something like this:

Thanks to a couple of online tutorials I was able to sew my own Mei Tai carrier. After studying the pattern for several weeks I finally found the time to visit the fabric store. Thanks to a good sale and a gift card I scored a great deal on some beautiful fabric. I was excited to get started, so as soon as we were home and Catherine was tucked in for her nap I broke out the scissors and sewing machine.

A handful of hours later I had a finished project! The carrier is beautiful, fits perfectly and Catherine seems to like it.

Ruffles

fff|ppp|Ruffle Sweater|ppp|fff

I haven’t knit very many things for Catherine. Partially because I’m a busy momma-on the go; partially because she has very generous people in her life and has been well provided for.

I had some nice warm wool yarn left over from other projects and a great pattern (from my Great-Aunt Emeline) so I buckled down and started a little sweater. It was a quick knit and was done “in the round” so I didn’t have to sew any seams. Fantastic!

The ruffles were my idea…next time around I’ll remember to make the torso and arms longer to account for the way the ruffles lie. For now she’ll have to deal with the sweater being a little bit too short!

Blackberry

I started a pretty ambitious knitting project last fall. It was intended to be a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law, Kirsten. Unfortunately, my first trimester nausea was worse while knitting, so I didn’t quite finish it in time. So what does a good crafter do? Make it a birthday present instead!

I recently got pictures from Kirsten of her modeling it. I’m glad it fit so well. It’s hard to measure a gal that lives several states away!

ppp|Kirsten

Kirsten

|ppp

The pattern is Blackberry from the great knitting website: knitty.com. (That first link has a great shot of the sleeve detail)

Geeky Onesies A Hit!

fff|ppp|Cutie Pi|ppp|fff

So those Geeky Onesies that Becky made me for Christmas have become quite the sensation!

First, I [raved over them](http://prwdot.org/archives/2005/12/awesome_gifts.html) on Christmas. Then our relatives in Pennsylvania thought they were great when we showed them off later that day. Just recently, Becky posted them on the [Craftster forum](http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=71880.0) where they were received with a great response. And yesterday we discovered that Leah, the admin of [Craftster](http://www.craftster.org/) (and fellow Boston-area resident) had submitted the Geeky Onesies to [MAKE](http://www.makezine.com/), a do-it-yourself magazine/book run by [O’Reilly Media](http://oreilly.com/). MAKE [posted about the onesies earlier this week](http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/01/geeky_onesies.html)! That’s pretty awesome in both geeky and crafty circles!

I have created a new album just for the onesies [here](http://prwdot.org/gallery2/v/craftiness/geeky_onesies/). At this point, Rebecca has *not* revealed her plans, if any, for doing any further work with Geeky Onesies. But if you have any thoughts for her, be sure to let us know, either by leaving a comment on this entry, or by contacting her via our [contact page](http://prwdot.org/contact.html).

Update 01/13/2006

We’ve got another mention, this time at one of my new regular reads, [Daddy Types](http://daddytypes.com/archive/2006/01/13/opensource_geek_designs_on_trademark_onesies.php), the “Weblog for New Dads”. Cool!

Update 2 01/13/2006

Whoops, and there are even more links that I’ve found by way of searching for the Craftster thread. I was searching for links to our blog, but since most people are just linking to the Craftster thread, that didn’t turn up anything. Becky’s work was mentioned over at [Darryl Smith @ Radioactive Networks](http://www.radio-active.net.au/blog/2006/01/despite-being-good-puzzle-i-have-never.html), and also at [Yes, I’m Canadian](http://www.kevinyank.com/blog/archives/geeky-baby-wear/).

Awesome Gifts

This morning, Becky and I exchanged our Christmas gifts to each other. You can ask Becky about what I got her, I’m just going to say, one of the thing I got her was the dermaroller that she wanted so much, but I just had to rave about the awesome [stuff she got me (and the baby)](http://prwdot.org/gallery2/v/events/2005/awesome_gifts_from_becky/).

What have I done to deserve such an awesome wife?

Update
She is even more awesome now, because after a [tremendous response on Craftster](http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=71880.0), her geeky onesies have been picked up by [the MAKE blog](http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/01/geeky_onesies.html)! Sweet!

Boston Knit Out

fff|ppp|Boston Knit Out 2005|ppp|fff

This Sunday we’ll be heading into Boston to check out the [Boston Knit Out](http://www.bostonknitout.com/). If you’re into knitting and/or crochet and are in the Boston area, head down to the Boston Common at 12 p.m. to take part in the festivities!

Yellow and Pink

fff|ggg|baby_quilt/P1030803|Pink and Yellow Quilt|ggg|fff

We know two baby girls who celebrated their first birthdays this summer. I sent off their gifts already, which were little summer outfits made from cute, pink, tropical fabric.

I had some of this cute fabric leftover and I had a little brain storm. A baby quilt! So, last weekend I got to work and made such a little quilt. Currently, I have sent presents to all the baby girls I know, so it will have to wait before being gifted to anyone.

It was my first foray into machine quilting, and while it worked well, I know that there are things I’d do differently next time. All in all, however, I think it’s pretty darn cute. More photos can be found ***here|http://gallery.prwdot.org/baby_quilt***

Consolidation for Compact Craftiness and Computeryness

When Peter and I moved in together we filled the second bedroom in our apartment with computer equipment. His Mac, my PC and all of their accessories. At the time that was the necessary thing to do. He needed his computer to program on and I used my PC to handle the piles of gradschool homework I had then.

Since I finished school, however, our need for the PC has waned. I still like having it around because I like the Word Processor and it has all of my “stuff” on it, but I really haven’t used it much lately. I much prefer the laptop in front of the tv 🙂

So, after a while of trying to figure out a good solution to this problem we finally came up with one. In my words, “wouldn’t it be nice if there was an easy way to hook up both our computers to one moniter/keyboard/mouse?”

In Peter’s words,”You can do that. You just need a KVM.” Okay, then! Let’s do it.

This afternoon our new KVM was delivered and Peter set to work setting it all up. Now we have two computer towers connected to one monitor and keyboard; all combined on one desk. Very neat, clean and compact. It is easy to switch from the Mac desktop to the PC and back again. So if I need to get info from or use the PC it is just a few keystrokes away. Nice. Look for more interesting solutions at https://pcrevive.org/areas-we-serve/computer-repair-boynton-beach-fl/.

Another added benefit to the new situation is that we now have a completely empty desk. My greedy little eyes quickly recognized that this space would a perfect new home for my sewing machine. I’ve longed for a permanent home for my trusty 1950’s Singer for a while now and it seems to be pretty cozy in its new home. I know that I’ll use it much more now that I don’t have to heft it up and down off the kitchen table every time I have a project.

Peter took some photos of ***the new setup|http://gallery.prwdot.org/kvm***.

Attn: All Crafty Folk

So, I was perusing my favorite crafty site, ***Craftster|http://www.craftster.org*** and I came across this little poem. Enjoy it on this Christmas eve!

qqq|

The Knitters’ TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.

The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care
’cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
but I had not finished the caps for their heads.

Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.

Out on my lawn, I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both dad and the boys.

And though I was tired,my brain was a bit thick,
I knew in a moment,it must be Saint Nick.

But what I heard then left me perplexed-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I had expected

“move,Ashford; move,Lopi; move,Addie and Clover
Move,Reynolds; move,Starmore; move, Fraylic–move over”

“Paton, don’t circle round; stand in line.
Come now, you sheep wool work just fine!

I know this is hard semi, it’s just your first year,
I’d hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer.”

I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight woolly sheep on my lawn all a’grazing.

And then,in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa’s feet coming across the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned round, Saint Nick, I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were handknit from above to below.

A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
and his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.

His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace,
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable,
And suddenly on one I spied a small label.

SC was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
and I asked “Hey Nick, did you knit all this stuff?”

He proudly replied “Ho-ho-ho, yes I did,
I learned how to knit when I was a kid.”

He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself for I’d thought up a plan,.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I’d laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two;
For the first time I thought I’d really get through.

He put heels on the stockings and toes in some socks
While I sat back drinking Scotch on the rocks!!

So quickly like magic, his needles they flew,
That he was all finished by quarter to two.

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.

And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon
“Next year start your knitting sometime around June!”

|qqq