Photo Friday

(floral cheer)

Something new...

Sorry for the silence...

Ok, on to other things.

Let me give an excuse for my blog laziness.

So, I've spared you the ultrasound shot, because I'm not sure how much you all want to see a picture of my uterus...

I'm about 5 months along now and expanding rapidly, chasing a toddler, and working.  Blogging has been at the very bottom of my list.

I'm going to try to be back now, maybe not posting as much as before.

Either way, stay tuned !

Photo Friday

(pumpkin time)

WiP Wednesday - Must Have Shawl

Slow going, but I LOVE it...not sure I'll be able to give it up....I will try valiantly.  I never did count my stitches to see if I made an error or if the pattern has an error.  Sorry (but not really).

Ravelry Project Page

Darn Pretty....and they are

I bought them and then I waited, and then I waited some more.  I would get giddy over emails from Dyak Craft, hoping that one of them contained a tracking number.  I'm not sure if it's pathetic how excited I was and the little butterflies that I would get, just knowing that they were on their way.

They make this lovely case....

Wanna see what's in there???

Oooo....almost....

There they are...so beautiful

Signed by the man himself....

I chose the charcoal color....and asked them to swap out the smaller cables for larger ones, b/c I rarely use small cables...I just go with dpns if it's in the round.

They knit like a dream.  I really really love them.  I cast on, immediately just so I could work with them.  They are so smooth and the join is really nice.

I highly recommend them, but they are pricey and take a while...so save up and order.....

Photo Friday

(theater)

WiP Wednesday - Olive Basket Cardi

I was cruising along on this project and then I stalled....ran out of gas, I guess.  I don't have much time for knitting lately, and when I do, I've been working on my Must Have Shawl (love it).  

So here is my sad progress on sleeve number 1....

My Ravelry Project Page

Photo Friday

(wildflowers)

WiP Wednesday - Must Have Wrap

I know, I know...another new project, but when I saw this pattern come through the CEY newsletter, I had to make it.  I think it will be a Christmas present for someone, but we'll see what happens.

It's called Must Have Wrap, and I think it's a fairly accurate name.

I went stash diving and came up with my ColourMart Silk/Linen 12/60NM Fingering Weight yarn.  I have about 1600 yards of yarn and this pattern calls for about 1200 yards.

I've cast on using my brand-spanking new Darn Pretty needles...let me count the ways over these things.  If you don't own some of these, go buy some...and do it fast because there is quite a LOOOONG wait for them.  I'll write about them next week and how much I want to scatter them on the ground and roll around with them.

Now let me admit how lazy I am.  I cast on for this twice.  Both times, I'm pretty sure I counted right, but since it's not a big deal, I didn't really bother to go back and count.  Both times, I wound up with the stitch count not working on the wrong side rows.  So, I just fudged it and have moved on.  Oddly, it works perfectly on the right side, but not on the wrong side.  So, because I'm such a slug, and don't want to figure out how many stitches I have, this will remain a mystery.  Had to get that off my chest...because if it is a pattern error, then at least you've been warned.

Moving on.....Ravelry Project Page

Mixed Bag

Quick rundown of the fall, so far.

In September, I went to my SIL's bridal shower...very nice, good food and some cool presents.

Mr. LIH and I went to see Phantom of the Opera in NYC (holy crap it was so awesome, I can't even describe it).

It was a beautiful day in the city.

And then of course, there is this little guy...

Sickness Abounds

Sorry for the dead zone here, my son is sick and my dad is recovering from surgery so I've been quite preoccupied.

PCH - Basement Redo

I'm not even sure where to begin in describing the scope and reasons behind this whole business.

We moved into our house and unpacked, settled in.  Then we started noticing an odor...a stinky one, coming from the basement.  It was an amalgamation of many different odoriferous sources.  Cat urine (my personal favorite), dust, and must.  Our basement had thick, luxurious nap carpet.  It was so soft and fluffy, but unfortunately when your basement is really damp and you have some kitties who are mad at you for moving them, you have a recipe for stinkification.

So Mr. LIH packed up all my our stuff and moved it into the smaller unfinished part of the basement and proceeded to rip up carpet.  Our plan was to do half of the room and lay down some vinyl.  Well, as we pulled up the carpet, the kitties moved their pee place further and further to accommodate the lack of the cushy, urination location.  UGH!  So he put the vinyl all over the room.  Well....now we decided we might as well paint and pretty it up, but not until after we get the new basement windows installed.  Oh, yes...this was part of the plan too.

Finally, last week the windows were installed and we could paint.  But I had another wrench to throw in.  What about board and batten????  I loved it, and it would add so much character to a boring, rather dark basement.  I scoured the web and found all these wonderful sites, this one, this one, and this one, also that one.  Let's not forget this one.  I think that ours will be a mixture of most of these.

Now we have begun. (I apologize in advance for the photos, but the lighting down there is dreadful)

Here's my basement.....see the carpet?  So nice and fluffy....and full of kitty excretions.

Here are the walls after painting the top (already primed).

Here they are after putting up the chair rail and battens (you can see where we "staged" some of the battens).
You can also see that the carpet is gone, replaced with vinyl flooring.

The color on top is Benjamin Moore Hazlewood in Satin Finish and we used Benjamin Moore Gloss White on the bottom.




Ok, that's all for now, but I will be back with some finished pictures and a final tally.

Photo Friday

(flowers)

WiP Wednesday - Olive Basket Cardi

Chugging along on this again, and happy to be back.  Knitting has been competing with FB gaming, reading and sleeping, lately.

Here she is, in an all her dusty teal glory....minus sleeves, those are in the making as I write this...

Also, I'm totally sorry for this terrible photo.  I looked all over the place trying to find a spot with good lighting where I could get a shot of the body of this thing...aka needed a hanger.  I need to get myself a make-shift dummy to at least drape my projects on for fit and photos.

Ravelry Project Page
Pattern Page

Thursday Weigh-In

Okay, I'm wondering if this will start to get boring as I am holding pretty steady at my current weight.

I might discontinue this particular segment (which leaves me with nothing...ahem) and possibly start up my blog again, back to the schedule I was on.

I have a new idea to add in, but that will probably not happen before November.

I think that next week I will start back to normal.  I've been knitting again and getting back into the swing of things, so I have stuff to talk about, which is what the blog is all about anyway.

WW Stats:

CW : 129.4 lbs

GW : 128 lbs

SW : 148.2 lbs

WL : +0.2 lbs

Thursday Weigh-In

Sorry for missing last week, but I wasn't feeling very well and the last thing on my mind was writing a post about my weight loss, but I'm back today and feeling normal, so here we go.

WW Stats:

CW: 129.2 lbs

GW:: 128 lbs

SW : 148.2 lbs

WL : 0 lbs

Notes:  So, I have been pretty steady over the past two weeks, my weight getting as low as 127 and as high as 130 lbs.  It seems that the WW points that I've settled at are working pretty well for me.  It's still a fairly strict diet, but now that I'm over 20 years old, staying skinny doesn't come "naturally" anymore and requires a bit of work.
I still walk everyday, at least for an hour or so, and I think that that is a major part of the "program".  Diet is nothing without a little physical activity.

Thursday Weigh-In

Hello folks.  Another week has slipped past us.  It has been a struggle lately to maintain my weight, mainly because I want to eat everything in sight, but for the most part I did ok.

My son is now 15 months old and coming right along..running, screaming, tantruming.......

WW Stats:

CW: 129.2 lbs

GW: 128.0 lbs

SW: 148.2 lbs

WL: +1.0 lbs

Notes:  Well now comes a blip.  To be honest, 1 single pound doesn't really mean too much.  I have knocked two points off of the additional points they have given me, so we'll see, next week if that does anything.  It might be that the points that I have gotten for maintenance are too much.  Fingers crossed for next week!

Thursday Weigh-In

My first week of increased points has come and gone.  Not so bad really.  Sometimes I need to adjust my portions bigger and I super happy about that, let me tell ya.

Not much to say.  Life is passing by, my son is growing every bigger, and my quest for sleep continues.

This blog will remain fairly silent here until we get some control over sleep in my house....because no one is getting any (sleep that is)....

WW Stats:

CW : 128.2 lbs

GW : 128 lbs

SW : 148.2 lbs

Notes:  Holding steady, as is the purpose.  It seems that I will probably have a weight "range" instead of just a single number, b/c to not gain or lose even one pound once in a while is somewhat an unreasonable expectation.

Thursday Weigh-In

I'm a bit overwhelmed lately.  Sticking to a diet is tough when there's a large amount of stress hanging over my head.  I can't complain too much, as I've managed to record everything and cringe at the points I'm blowing through, but...ugh...it can be challenging sometimes.  Labor Day weekend came and I ate my way through it, so the rest of this week I will need to tone down a bit even though I totally ate a giant cupcake yesterday.

Unfortunately, because of everything I have going on, personally and professionally, I will continue to not really post too much here.  I will promise the weigh in and to talk about anything I "discover" about this whole process and to keep you guys updated as to when I might be back in full swing.  Also, I really want to get some stock in my Etsy store and start making gifts for Christmas.  So many time suckers and so little time to have sucked away.

WW Stats:

SW: 148.2 lbs

GW: 128 lbs (on WW)

CW:  128 lbs

WL: -1.3 lbs

Notes:  So now, I start actually maintaining on Weight Watchers.  My points are adjusted and I will need to find a balance to keep myself at this weight.
My knees have chosen to, kind of, crap out on me.  It seems I have some tendinitis and must tone down the exercising a bit, at least until they are better.  This could have quite the impact on my weight, so I hope that I will be able to stay where I am.

Thursday Weigh-In

So much going on....sometimes it's hard to stick to a diet plan.  Sometimes you even outright, resent being held accountable to an online computer program telling you how you should eat, but you stick with and you lose another pound and you realize that it's all worth it.

WW Stats:

SW : 148.2 lbs

GW : 130.0 lbs

CW : 129.3 lbs

WL : -1.0 lbs

Notes:  Well, I did it.  I'm finally here.  Now I just have to come to terms with what it really means to be at a healthy weight and to struggle with maintenance.  

In some ways I'm happy to have made it and in another, I'm disappointed with the outcome.  I guess I had some unrealistic Victoria Secret model body in my head...alas...I did not grow any taller, so I need to brain training and try to just accept things as they are.  

I will continue to work out and hopefully, I will grow some muscles and lose some jiggle...fingers crossed ya'll.

Blog-cation

I plan to take a small hiatus here.  I don't much time for crafting, so there's not much to write about.  I will update the blog after our basement is completed and I will continue to do my Weigh-In Thursday (as it keeps me accountable).

Thanks!!!

Photo Friday

(navy pier - chicago)

Thursday Weigh-In

This past week went pretty well.  I did a lot of walking in place....BORING, but it works.

Unfortunately, it seems that the increased exercise has started to bother my poor, unsuspecting joints.  My right knee has started to bother me in a big way.  It's not so much the pain as my worry over what the pain means.

A few years back I had a meniscus tear on my left knee and had surgery after physical therapy didn't work.  Back then it was fine, no big deal, but now....UGH, between my weight loss journey and my child, having surgery is really the very LAST thing I want to deal with.  The pain feels exactly the same, but I'm really hoping it's just from over use and that with some icing and remembering to always wear sneakers, it will get better on its own...::fingers crossed::

WW Stats:

SW: 148.2 lbs

GW: 130 lbs

CW: 130.3 lbs

WL: -1.0 lbs

Notes:  Really close now, I'm guessing that by next week I will have reached my goal weight (yay!).
I'm a little bit apprehensive about switching to a "maintaining" diet.  I'm worried that I will not be able to keep from gaining weight; I realize that WW knows what they are doing, but I've just worked so hard for months and to start gaining again would make me really sad.
I also have this little voice in my head that's telling me to lose more weight; it's not enough, keep going...but I know that the weight I'm at IS healthy and that it would be unhealthy to be any slimmer.  I think my body has yet to fully recover from being pregnant and that is partly where those thoughts originate from, but I can't help thinking that they come from society's views on the female body.  I really won't get into that here, but I feel like I've been brainwashed and when I look at myself in the mirror, I'm not satisfied with what I see.

WiP Wednesday - Granny Stripe Blanket

Back again to my enormous granny stripe blanket.  I've been working on it quite a bit lately and yet the pictures I thought I took aren't anywhere to be found....

I'm still in love with it, but I wish I had added some more colors.  I'm a tiny bit tired of them, despite how many there are.  I'm thinking to sneak in a few, but we'll see.

If you remember (which you likely, don't), with this project, as I run out of the scrap yarn color it gets dropped from the palette and I figured that with 30 or so colors, I would have plenty of colors.  Well, it seems that I've dropped about 10 colors already and I'm not yet half way through, so...the last third of this blanket might wind up with only 10 different colors...I feel like some planning is in order.

Ravelry Project Page

Pattern Page (LOVE THIS LADY !!)

Photo Friday

(brimstone hill fort)

Thursday Weigh-In

It has been a good week.  The weather has been great, so I'm getting lots of time to walk with my son and for the rainy days, I literally walk indoors.  I make sure that I walk either around the house or in place for 5 - 10 minutes at time.
This really helps to get me moving, even without going anywhere.  I kind of use the indoor steps to "earn" my lazy, sitting around time.  As I'm addicted to Facebook games and iPad games, well, it's important to get myself up and off the couch.  I do this even for my crafting time, since that also requires a sedentary me.
Another bonus to walking in place, my son thinks it's hilarious.  I can almost hear his thoughts "dance for me, puppet"!

WW Stats:

SW: 148.2 lbs

GW: 130 lbs

CW: 131.3 lbs

WL: -3.10 lbs

Notes:  Can I get a whoa nelly, here?  I'm not sure what happened, but this week I've lost quite a large amount of weight.  I think it has to do with losing a pound or so from my little visitor, but this is a bit more than I planned.
Either way, I'm almost there, my goal weight.  I'm not sure yet that I'm happy with myself.  I don't think I want to lose more weight, but I still have jiggly bits that I would prefer to be....er....firmer.  Not sure I want to invest the time and energy for this, as I plan to get pregnant in the very near future (no, not there yet).

WiP Wednesday - FO Edition

Another FO from long ago.  I made this bag in 2010 for my sister.

It went really really fast, probably took longer to block it, sew it, and put in the liner than to actually crochet the bag.

I added a little cell phone case and attached it to the strap.  I also put a little button and made a loop to close the top a little bit.

It's called the Caracas Bag and it's FREE FREE FREE...my favorite kind of pattern.

Here is a link to my Rav Project Page.

Monthly Menagerie - July 2013

Better late than never....

JULY 2013

Photo Friday

(goslings)

Thursday Weigh-In

Seems I'm back on track and losing weight.  I've passed my goal and I think I will go for the last 5 lbs.  It's ironic as we plan to start trying for a baby soon, but alas, nothing is perfect.

Anyways, I'm feeling good and chugging along.  My goal is 10,000 steps a day and so far I've been doing very well.  I hate to admit this, but I've literally begun jogging in place, just to get my lazy self moving.

On to my stats.

WW Stats:

SW: 148.2 lbs

GW: 130 lbs

CW: 134.4 lbs

WL: -1.4 lbs

WiP Wednesday - FO Edition

I feel like showing FO's is a bit of cop out, but I kind of enjoy doing it, especially since I haven't really done it before AND I get to show you some really great patterns and projects that I loved and didn't talk about here.

Next up is what I call the Barbayanni blanket.  It was made for my cousin's baby boy.  I loved everything about this project.

The colors, the pattern, and the final product.

The pattern is SmoothFox's A Whole Lotta Holes.  It was soooo easy and I flew through this blanket.  Now the "white" is actually a pale blue as it's a marl of medium blue and white.  It's not easy to capture it with the camera that I had at the time, so you'll have to take my word for it.  OR you can head over to my Ravelry Project Page and have the ability to zoom in closer to the pictures.

Let me talk a little bit about SmoothFox.  Here is the link to her blog.  Her patterns are awesome and she offers soooo many for free.  I follow her blog and I love seeing all her testers show off their FOs for the billions of patterns that she releases.

So, in conclusion, if you require a blanket pattern that is super fast and super easy, then this is the one for you.  It literally took me 11 days and that's working a full time job, to finish this.  That means only an hour or two a day at the most to finish.  Also, I washed and blocked it, which is included in that time.  ALSO I used baby yarn and an "H" hook!!  GO !  Make One!

Photo Friday

(st kitts)

Thursday Weigh-In

Thursday is here again....I've lost weight this week, so at least my efforts have not been in vain.  I'm really close now to my goal weight and I think I'm going to go for those last five pounds.

Something sort of funny and maybe nonsensical that I wanted to mention about having goals in your mind and an idea of how you want your body to be, I had one ideal image of myself...collarbones.  Those lovely little wing-like bones that connect your shoulders and chest, oh how I wanted them to be visible again.

When you gain weight, slowly, slowly...sssllloooowwwwllllyyyy over the years, you kind of lose focus of how you looked before and kind of settle into yourself.

I would look at those pretty women on television or in magazines and I found myself noticing, again and again, the graceful sweep of their collarbones.  I wanted mine back...I wanted them to shed the insulating layers of padding that had accumulated, burying their slimming potential.  Now I can see them...and I'm pretty excited about that.  I have kind of started admiring them, almost from afar as they have crept out from their long hibernation.  Now, they are out and proud...and they really do add (in my own head) an image of a nice line to the shoulder and appear to make me look slimmer.

Ok, now past yet another of my quirks and on to my data.

WW Stats:

SW : 148.2 lbs

GW : 130 lbs

CW : 135.8 lbs

WL : -0.8 lbs

Notes:  Still being active and struggling to eat right.  This next week will be tough as my hormones kick into gear and make me pseudo-hungry.  Wish me luck...

WiP Wednesday - FO Edition

Things are a bit busy for me at this time and so I haven't had much time for the things that require a bit of concentration from me, ie. crafting.

So, for a little while, I think that I will show some FOs here and talk a little bit about that project.

As for WiPs, I do have a few....the TTL KAL isn't completed, but it's about half way through.  The WendyKnits Summer KAL has the yarn all ready, but no needles...aka...not started...I'm really sad about that.  Once our basement renovation is completed, then I can unpack all my yarn supplies and hopefully come across my needle pile.
Olive Basket is still on hold, which was the plan so that I could work on my Mad About Tosh Club projects.

Ok, so today's FO: Seraphina Shawl

I don't know why I have not posted about this before, but this pattern was AWESOME.  I've never crocheted something so big, so quickly and loved the result so much.  This pattern is crazy easy to memorize and I literally zipped right through it.  Blocking is completely necessary with this project, but the blocking helped to really open up the shells and give it a better overall shape.

Best part....the pattern is totally free!

Here is my Ravelry Project Page and the Seraphina Pattern itself.

Progress Photos

I'll try not to get too philosophical or "deep", but I want to share my progress, mostly in terms of losing weight, but slightly in terms of buzz words, personal growth.

Before I was pregnant, I had allowed myself to creep up slowly, year after year, with my weight.  I was never concerned...2 to 3 pounds this year, maybe 4 pounds another year....After a while it all adds up, until you look at yourself and you cannot believe the body that you're trapped in.

I wanted to be a healthy, thin, beautiful pregnant woman...well, I did not achieve this goal.  Because I lacked discipline and an exercise routine, I gained weight normally, but I was not fit.  Pregnancy wound up being a very difficult undertaking with a very rigorous labor and delivery.

Now, moving past all that stuff and we get to the meat of the issue, the very essence of the human attitude and something that I have in boatloads, denial.  I would stand on a scale and think...eh...a few more pounds, no big deal, I will never be one of those people who just let themselves go....or I would make constant excuses for myself, always thinking that the weight would just come off if I ate one less cookie that day.  Was I ever wrong.

I realize now that I have to take control of any situation in my life (if I can) and make it happen.  Getting pregnant took months of fertility treatments and doctor visits, being pregnant was a similar experience, and now being a parent.  None of these things, "just happen".  I went to the doctor for help and lucky for me, along came Baby E.  I started dieting and exercising and again, lucky for me, I started to lose weight and feel a whole lot better, both physically and mentally.

So here we are, 20 pounds lighter and feeling a whole lot happier.  I still plan to lose another 7 or so pounds, but even if I don't, I'm pretty satisfied with my success.

Before and After

Photo Friday

(crochet)

Thursday Weigh-In

I am stuck at this weight...give or take one or two pounds and I'm stuck here....maybe I can convince myself and, well, you that I'm gaining muscle...but, I'm not sure I can pull that off.

I have been tracking my measurements though and my weight has definitely been moving around.

Since March 2013 my measurements have changed:
Hips : -1.2"
Waist : -2.5"
Bust : -0.50"

So here we are at the fourth week with relatively the same weight.  Sort of discouraging, but I will keep forging ahead and see where I end up.  Even if I don't lose more weight, I wouldn't mind if my hips and waist shrank a little more...

WW Stats:

SW : 148.2 lbs

GW : 135 lbs

CW : 136.6 lbs

WL : - 0.6 lbs

Notes:  As for the goals that I had mentioned two weeks ago.  I'm still eating pretty well, but I've been giving in to cravings, so I need to quit it.  Working out in the morning is incredibly hard, but I will prevail.  I don't work out every day, but I would say about 5-6 days a week, I get at least 30 minutes.  I'm still unsure about my workout points, I'm going to have do some "research" about that.

WiP Wednesday

The creative bug has taken over and now I'm working on a pattern to sell.  It will be skirt pattern and I'm hoping to do it with a sort of slim fitting form, but an elastic waist to accomodate more sizes and to give the wearer more comfort.

Here is a swatch of what I think will be the pattern stitch...I'm still debating...

I hope to have some more info and maybe even some progress photos for next Wednesday!

Photo Friday

(nashville)

Thursday Weigh-In

This week went a little bit better.  I worked out more and it seems to have gotten be back on track.  I don't have too much to say this week, but things are chugging along and I'm still loving Weight Watchers.  I love even more having the mobile apps.  They really help to make sure that I'm tracking my points, no matter what.

WW Stats:

SW: 148.2 lbs

GW: 135 lbs

CW: 137.2 lbs

WL: - 0.8 lbs

WiP Wednesday

I wanted to start the WendyKnits Summer Mystery Shawl KAL.  I ordered yarn from Knit Picks...after having a great brainstorm about how I wanted it to go.  The yarn arrived and I pulled out my camera to take a few glamour photos.

Then I went to grab the desired needles....alas...they are not to be found.  I literally had a pile of circulars in my basement.  I went to find my pile and poof....!  It was gone.  I have no idea where they all went, but I can't knit anything without knitting needles.  I do have the right size in a smaller cable, but with the number of stitches to cast on, that will not work very well for me.  I also realized that I need to invest in a few more stitch marker; this pattern calls for a quite a large number of them.

Ravelry Project Page

Photo Friday

(Nördlingen)

Thursday Weigh-In

Ok folks.  I've found it.  I've finally arrived.  If you're someone who's been on a diet and lost some weight, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

The Plateau.


This photo of Waterberg Plateau Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor

I realize, after last week, that I need to step up my game.  Not that I haven't slowly started to work out more often and for longer, but now I need to make it more official.  I have a few goals in mind:

1. Workout EVERYDAY for at least 30 minutes
2. I figured out that I was calculating my workout points wrong, so I will fix that
3. Eat BETTER; I cannot stress enough how important this is
4. Workout in the morning before work; this will be the hardest goal

So now, here we are at my sad, sad plateau.

WW Stats:

SW: 148.2 lbs

GW: 135 lbs

CW: 138 lbs

WL: + 0.8lbs

Notes:  I'm still debating about lowering my goal weight to 130 lbs, depending on how I feel about myself once I get to 135 lbs.  Right now I think I need to concentrate just getting over this hump in my weight loss journey and we will see where it takes me.

WiP Wednesday - Not

Sorry, I took pictures and I had every intention of downloading from my camera, editing, and posting, but alas...motherhood ruled yesterday.

My son and I are struggling together to get him to sleep at night without my holding him.  So, no pictures, sorry.

I will say that on the TTL KAL I have gotten through the second lace part and will begin the third set of stripes.  This pattern is beautiful and I'm really happy with the color choices.

Photo Friday

(granny stripes)

Thursday Weigh-In

This week was quite a struggle for me and my willpower.  Normally, I can be pretty good...only having one sweet once or twice a week.  This week, I felt like I was constantly trying to battle cravings all day long, every day, for about 5 days or so.

Needless to say, but, I did not prevail.  I know the motivation of my poor, helpless brain, but that doesn't help me resist.  So I ate way too many points and although I stayed within my point structure for the day, going so far over my daily points doesn't help me lose any weight.

Also, this week, I finally felt well enough to start working out again and that has helped, but this week I'm a bit disappointed in my lack of control.

Once my wayward hormones are back under control, then I will be back with my iron will....HA!

WW Stats : 

SW: 148.2 lbs

GW: 135 lbs

CW: 137.2 lbs

WL: -1.6 lbs

Notes:  So far the diet is really working for me...but keep in mind that it must become a habit and that includes exercise.  Once you start a diet AND exercise "program" you can really feel the transition in the way that you view food and exercise.  It takes time and commitment, but at the same time, it's not as serious as all that.  With just a few modifications you can be on the path and eventually, with a few modifications here and a few more there, you will see yourself and be amazed at how great you feel and how wonderful you look.

WiP Wednesday - TTL KAL

I have finally completed the first clue and I've just started the lace section for the second part.  At the moment, between my being sick and then the baby being sick things are a bit hectic.

Here is a picture of my progress:

I have to be honest though and say that although life has been crazy....I was possessed by an urge to make myself a new purse....I went stash diving and out popped the purse pattern that I just posted....

I promise that next week I will have some more progress on the TTL KAL.

Ravelry Project Page

And tomorrow I will post my weekly weigh-in...I have some fear that I did not lose any weight this week...

Monthly Menagerie - June 2013

JUNE 2013

Free Purse Tutorial

I'm reluctant to call this a pattern.  I don't plan to proofread or edit this and I don't plan to make any corrections.  This is just a loose set of instructions to make this bag.

(Editted to add): Here is my project page on Ravelry.
Link to the Pattern on Ravelry.

I used all acrylic yarn because it's easily washable and durable and doesn't stretch as badly as cotton.

I used about 250g of Worsted Weight.

With I Hook, chain 49.

Round 1 : hdc in second chain from hook and all the way across, 6 hdc in last chain and working on the bottom of the chain, hdc across, 5 hdc in first chain, join w. sl st to top of chain 2

Round 2 : ch 2, hdc in same st and in each across, 2 hdc in each next 5 hdc, hdc in each st across to last 4, 2 hdc in each, join w. sl st to top of chain 2 (chain 2 counts as a stitch)

Round 3 : ch 2. hdc in same st and in each across, once you get to the area where you have 2 hdc in each stitch, 2 hdc in each next 8 (or 9) sts, hdc across, to last 7 (or 8) groups of 2 hdc, and work 2 hdc in each, join w. sl st to top of chain 2

Notes:  At this point, depending on your gauge, you need to make sure it's flat and not wavy, so you may need to do more or less "2 hdc to 1 stitch" groups.

Round 4 : Here is where we begin working the body of the bag; ch 3 (counts as a stitch), dc BLO  in next st and all the way around, join w. sl st to top of chain 3

Round 5 : Ch 3, dc in next st, dc dec over next two stitches, dc to other "end" of the bag, where the curve is and somewhere near the middle do another dc dec over two stitches, dc across and sl st to top of beg chain 3

Round 6 - desired length : Repeat rounds 4 and 5 alternating until you reach your desired length and/or width
I did this until my bag was about 12" high, but if you keep going it could get very narrow, so keep an eye on width and stop the decreases once you're happy.  You can also not do any decreases at all if you want it to be straight on the sides

Last round : ch. 1 and sc in each st around, join with sl st to chain 1 and fasten off.

Handles

Spacing - measure the width at the place where you want to put the handles, for me it was about  1.5" down from the top of the bag.

16" - so, 4.5" in from the two edges of the bag I joined the yarn by sl st around the dc in the row, sl st around next 3 sts, 4 sts total

Chain 2, turn, hdc in next 3 sts, turn.

Repeat last row until strap measures 22", sl st to the body of the bag on the same side, make sure that the strap isn't twisted.  I attached it at about 4.5" from edge

That's it, weave in your ends and you're ready to go...!  I might line it with some fabric...we'll see.