Kensington Hat

My younger sisters Birthday is also in this month, the 28th to be exact. I also wanted to make her something special. As I was thinking of what to knit for her, I remembered when I was down in California visiting her and mom, she wore a beret hat allot. So I thought that I could make her one! I searched many places, and then I found on KnitPicks there was a hat called The Kensington Hat, my sisters name is MaKensie and most often we call her Kensie. I thought that the pattern was cute and the name fit as well. Now this hat was a little challenging, not the knitting part or the lace, but the counting. I had to restart the hat about 3 time until I finally got the right amount of stitches on my needles. Once that happened I was able to finish the hat in a week. I had never done this kind of hat, but I enjoyed knitting it and making a card for my dear little sister!!

I figured out how to make these paper flowers,

they are supper fun to make. Especially when you use

different buttons and paper!

Here is the hat spread out.

This is the side view, where you can see the lace pattern.

And further away.

And both of the things that I sent to her in the mail.

Well that is all for this project!! I have plans to start on a few

different things, and will be on here soon!!

~Rebecca

Decorating With Yarn

I was reading in a book some pretty creative ways to decorate with yarn, and as I like to decorate with yarn I thought that I would share what I was reading.

"It happens often.  We find a special yarn--in a ball, hank, or skein--and think how pretty it looks and feels.  But then we inevitably ask ourselves, What can I make with this?  Rather than right away focusing on how to transform a yarn into a sweater, socks, or something else, sometimes it's nice to simply enjoy its natural beauty.  Here are some ideas for creative ways to display yarn around the house--indefinitely or until some later date when a perfect project reveals itself.  Oftentimes just looking at a particularly beautiful yarn is inspiring and uplifting, in the same what that painting, photography, or a vase of flowers can be.

~Place pretty colors together in clean wooden bowls, natural baskets, boxes, buckets, or other types of creative holders. Scour yard sales and antique shops for unusual choices.  Casually combining an assortment of colors often leads to new discoveries about how colors play off one another.

~"Dress" a vintage dress form in yarn.  Drape yarn across its shoulders, or around its neck or waist.

~Drape yarn around the back of a chair or on the door of a cabinet or armoire.

~Fill an armoire with yarn and leave doors open to display.

~Use a hank of yarn as a curtain tie-back.

~Hang different colors of yarn on the pegs of a coat rack.

~String an assortment of yarn on a cord and hang from a wall hook.

~Line up cones of yarn on a shelf.

~Set up shelves or cubbies along an entire wall and arrange the yarn in a pleasing sequence of colors and textures.  While some knitters will do this in a storage or workroom, it can also work well in a more public space.

~If you like to paint, draw, or take photos, consider using your yarn as a subject for a still life."

Taken from Weekend Knitting, By Melanie Falick.

                                                        Topsy-Turvy, Hannah

Sweet Accompaniments

In my limited expirience I have found that hot chocolate and knitting go together hand in hand, so I have a recipe here that is very delicious and perfect for an autumn evening filled with knitting.  So without further ado...

                                                                       

Adrienne's Hot Chocolate:
-1 tablespoon of high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Valrhona or Hershey's European-style
-1/2 teaspoon of granulated sugar
-Few grains of salt
-2/3 cup of 2-percent milk (it doesn't have to be 2 percent)
-1/4 cup of high-quality bittersweet chocolate, such as Valrhona, Callebaut, or Michael Cuizel
-Dash of Cognac (optional)

          

              In a small bowl. combine the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.  Set aside.  In a small saucepan over medium-low heat warm the milk until hot, but not boiling.  Add about 1 tablespoon of the milk to the cocoa mixture, and stir to make a paste.  Add the paste and the chopped chocolate to the saucepan of hot milk, place back over medium-low heat, and cook, stirring continuously with a whisk, until the chocolate melts and the mixture is hot, but not boiling.  Whisk the mixture until frothy, then pour into a preheated mug.  Add cognac if desired.



~This recipe yields one serving--to make more, simply multiply each quantity by the number of people you want to serve.


Till Next Time,
               ~Miss. Hannah Woltersdorf~

Felted Slippers

My mothers birthday is today, and I wanted to make something for her. So about 3 weeks ago, with help from a friend, I decided to make these felted slippers. I bought the design off etsy www.etsy.com/shop/frenchpressknits then I found 100% wool yarn at Tuesday Morning, of all places, for a great price. The pattern was pretty easy to follow. You basically make these really big slipper, all in either a knit or purl stich. Then you wash them in hot water, which felts them. And last you let them dry and sew on the strap. :)Well here are some pictures along the way.

I didn't take any pictures of before the felting proses

but this is what they look like after

Then after about 5 days of drying,

You sew on the strap and button

After this part I shipped the to California. I talked to my mom today and she said she got them and thought that they were really cute and that they fit great( that was the part I was worried about.. not fitting :) )

Well I really enjoyed making these, they were really simple and really cute!

~Rebecca