SaturdayStitches: Time to bust out the knitting needles

Today's chilly, wet weather left me with no other choice than to bust out my knitting needles. It's the perfect half-conscious activity for a day of movie watching. I'm working on yet another scarf, but this year, I'm ready to branch out. Feel free to share some projects you're working on.

Crocheted bunting:

Source: duitang.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Knitted tea cozy:

Source: jimmybeanswool.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Shifting sands crochet stitch:

Source: ravelry.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Knitted mug cozy:

Source: zszywka.pl via Heidi on Pinterest

Chunky infinity scarf:

Source: knitandbake.com via Heidi on Pinterest

WeekinReviewWednesday: More Christmas prep

It's been another busy week in the lead-up to Christmas.



two holiday ales
a couple of furry christmas tree wreckers
friedy watches over tree / frosty watches over house
on a date day
new wheels and a cup of lipsticked joe

FridayConfession: Not ready for Christmas

There's just a week to go and so much to do. I'm not ready for Christmas, and I'm taking advantage of my three-day weekend this week to get it all done.

Here's what's left:

1. Gift wrapping, and lots of it. Like this, this and this.

2. Gift buying for about half on my list. Here's some ideas.

3. Cookie baking. These, these and these.

4. Holiday cleaning. Because look at this.

5. Christmas partying. With them. And him.

6. Snowflake snipping. Here and here.

7. Knitting. Lots and lots of knitting. In fact, why am I not knitting right now?

I think I'm going to need a lot of this and this to make it through.

FiveThingsFridady: DIY gifts in a jar

Source: badderhomesandgardens.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Write a message in hot glue and spray paint from Badder Homes & Gardens. These would be lovely as some personalized vases.

Source: inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Yummy peppermint handmade hand and foot scrubs from In Between Laundry.

Source: thepapermama.blogspot.com via Heidi on Pinterest

A sewing kit for that crafter on your list by The Paper Mama.

Source: confessionsofacookbookqueen.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Peppermint Zebra Icebox Cakes by Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.

Source: homemadesimple.com via Heidi on Pinterest

You could give some pretty yarns in these nifty jars by Home Made Simple.

MondayMust: Boot socks and some link love

Boot socks are a must this winter. Lately I love wearing them over jeggings or tights. It's so warm and cozy.

These ones from Urban Outfitters are sure cute:
 


And now for the regular Monday link love:

How gorgeous are the Vogue photos of Lauren Bush and David Lauren's wedding shoot?

I stumbled upon the Purl bee this week in my pursuit of cute knitting patterns and advice on crocheting. I love every entry. Especially this one.

This fabric has me swooning. Can you tell my hopped up on crafternoons lately?

Anyone need a $ 14 Christmas gift idea for me? Go here. *wink *wink.

Martha packs this recipe with pasta, zucchini and fleur de sel. I'm in.

I'm so glad this royally hilarious blog is back in service.

Why does this completely dorky ring need to be sold out?

We're looking at upgrading our iPhones soon. Wouldn't this be the perfect case?

SaturdayStitches: Super easy / lazy version of an infinity scarf

I can knit scarves, and that's about it. I've been knitting for years, and I've just never taken the plunge to learn how to follow patterns or do anything but really knit it a straight row. This is something that I'm working on, but I have a feeling it's more of a bucket list item since I say that every year. Anyone have suggestions for a good transition into pattern knitting project?

Infinity scarves aren't new. I realize this, but in my quest to learn how to knit in a round, I've always meant to make one. When I was home sick the other day, I knit a simple chunky scarf that turned out about 5 feet long.


I took the little thread (I'm sure it has name) that hangs off the starting row of your scarf and weaved it through the other end with a crochet needle. Crocheting is also something I'm "working on."


So what you get is a big loop.


That you can then loop around again into a cozy, chunky, neck-warmy scarf.

Seriously, you can make this in a couple of hours.

MondayMust: DIY edition

1. Liz over at Say Yes To Hoboken came up with this ingenious idea to make your own two-toned flats with a $15 pair from Target. I will definitely be doing this before the holidays.



2. I pulled out my knitting stuff a few weeks ago, and I'm trying to get a little more adventurous this winter. In the past, I've mostly stuck to scarves. I finally learned how to — sort of — knit in a round last year.

This DIY T-shirt yarn project from Let Birds Fly is fantastic! I'm planning to make some fun leg warmers with a couple of old T-shirts. Look for that DIY project in the coming week, but for now, give it a try yourself. I'd love to see what people come up with.











3. Anthropologie-inspired marshmallow garland. I'm considering this for around the tree this year, but maybe with different sizes of marshmallows. I also love the crunch of stale marshmallows (not kidding), so I guess I can just eat them at the end of the holidays?

MondayMust: Winter gear

I pulled out the crate of winter hats, scarves and gloves. It's been an incredibly mild fall here in North Dakota so far. Usually, we're in the throws of winter right now. Snow has barely fallen, and I hope it stays that way for just a bit longer. We've already shaved off about a month of our normal winter, and I'll appreciate that even more come March.

I have lots of gear and this is just a sampling. I could tell you a story about each one. I've noticed that about me and my clothing. I seem to remember where I wore things and what the special/non-special occasion was, who gave/ made them and the last time I wore them.

Knitting season usually corresponds with hat/scarf season. I never keep my own creations, but maybe I'll change that this year. I started a scarf for my aunt during yesterday's Vikings game. I'm using and seed stitch, and it's coming along quite nicely.

Next on my list is socks. Maybe I'll have a sock collage to go with it ...