Update: Knitting, crochet, and quilt projects to show!

I have been knitting, honest! I just haven't been keeping up with the blog due to family life, work, travel, etc. I'm sure this is usual for people at times, but ahhh, at last I am back on updating my latest projects I've knitted, crocheted, helped quilt, and currently knitting.
Before leaving on our flight to Washington in June,  I downloaded a pattern from Ravelry. It was a simple hat pattern titled Twistygoo by Lisa Beamer. It was so quick and simple to knit. The pattern called for size 8 needles, but I used a size 9 circular until I needed to switch to dbl pointed needles for the decrease and I used a size 8 for that. (I did follow the pattern exactly though even with the difference in needle size.) After knitting the hat I thought it needed something for the edge, so I just crocheted a simple edge with some Noro green that I just happened to have with me when we traveled.

Such a fun hat to knit!

While traveling I crocheted several wash rags since it required no concentration and ideally no pattern except what was in my head. I decided to give them away as I traveled from Washington back to Alaska via the Alcan (Alaska- Canadian Highway) with two kids and our lab Max. Here is one that I still had when we returned.                

                                                                                                    

 

Of course life doesn't stop when we got back to Alaska. After unloading our new Excursion el, we had visiting relatives from Scotland and the 4th of July festivities to attend, etc. My niece, Kassidi, started a rainy day quilt project which got my daughter in the mood to finally start her quilt with the fabric she chose last year. Here is the finished quilt design she picked for the fabric she picked out. The quilt is called Monkey in the middle. 

Olivia (on the right) with her finished quilt top.

I am presently knitting a hat pattern I designed. I have no title, but love fairisle knitting. I simply use two colors with usually one being variegated. The yarn I am using is Three Sisters which I bought at our local yarn shop called The Net Loft. One of the yarns is simply entitled Three Mile Bay. I am using a size 7 circular needle to knit it. Here is a picture of the hat below.

I love the colors! It is so fun to see something you design come to life before your eyes. 

 My hat is switching once again from fun craft mode to mom mode, so off I go for some domestic chores to be completed. Housework seems never ending, but so is my yarn and fabric, haha.

Vintage Campers to Daydream About

Vintage Campers to Daydream About was an article title I came across while on a hunt for knitting of all things, but a girl can dream about camping too. It lists great spots to camp in Washington and I also love the vintage campers they show, but I'd say Airsteam is still my dream camper.

Marnie, speak! Good girl.

Marnie, speak! Good girl.

I love ...Knitting With Karma: Knitting Math

Knitting With Karma: Knitting Math: These are user-friendly instructions to make your knitting math life easier.  Grab a calculator and a pencil and paper (so you can write you...

Spring Breakup...

Finally, I feel spring is coming to Alaska! Our snow is melting and the crocus's are springing up already. The Chugach forest floor greenery has been making its debut more and more each spring day. The willows are already sprouting with buds, swans are flying here and there on Eyak Lake honking as the fly by my house that overlooks that beautiful lake. All signs of spring :)
This definitely has inspired me into whipping out another Alaskan Girl Knits wilderness inspirational design.  Since the snow appears to be a granular grey and white I started the ribbing for my next hat with these colors. Stay tuned for more of my new Spring Breakup design.

What a beautiful view!

Fairisle Knitting FUN video! Love this idea!

Fairisle knitting has become my knitting path as of late. Fairisle it is basically making knitted stitches using often 2 different colors per row (some may do more) per row to create a design. This design is knit in the round, meaning knit on a circular needle instead of 2 individual needles. (Her design is clever and cool!)
In this video it appears at first she is knitting a design, possibly a neck warmer, a hat, etc. She added extra stitches to bridge a section of the project temporarily, while planning to open this area up later by cutting it down the middle, another term in the knitting world is called "steeking".
It saves time when knitting especially in sweaters. Enjoy!

A day at the race track...

It was an exciting day at the track with numerous race cars, real race times displayed, and a cheering crowd roaring at almost every finish. Ok, maybe roaring is strong verb-age, but I'll settle for it! After all, this is the Pinewood Derby Race for Boy Scout Troop 624. Numerous Dens participated and our Den 1 group did great, even with one of our boys out with an emergency appendectomy in Anchorage. He had his race car ready and another scout from Den 1 raced it for him.








Racing a car one carved, sanded, painted and put together is exciting. Dad of course helped him and so did I, but he did a lot of the work himself.  My son was very proud of his car, the Drag Racer as it was aptly named. He did very well and placed 11th overall and showed great sportsmanship as did the rest of Troop 624. I assisted in being the track photographer for a few of the pictures, but got to enjoy watching the race from start to finish. Being a Den leader along with my hubby is wonderful we enjoy seeing the boys have fun and take pride in being a scout.

Photo finish the "Drag Racer "wins!

My Computer Guru is Awesome!

My hubby went early to the track on race day today and managed to get the computer program running properly and up onto a screen for everyone to see real race times and the names of the kids on deck and racing. He ran it during the race and will print out the overall results so all the Den Leaders can let the boys know what place the captured and their times. It ran swell, thanks honey for all you did before and after the event to make it a success!