-first birthday outfit-

My sweet Samantha turns one next week.  Talk about a year going by fast.  She is the tiniest little thing you have ever seen.  People are often surprised how old she is.  She just now is starting to fit into nine month clothes.  She may be tiny, but she is surprisingly independent.  She already yells at us to do things for her and knows how to push her big brother's buttons just right.  She doesn't seem to have any interest in walking just yet, but she crawls everywhere and gets into plenty of mischief.  

For her outfit I knit her the "In Threes Cardigan".  This was my first little sweater, and it was so much fun and went together fast since it uses a worsted weight.  I already have another one planned for another baby.  The yarn is Knit Picks Swish worsted in Wonderland Heather.  The dress is the Molly Peasant Dress.  I have made this pattern lots of times, and it is a great basic little dress that you can change up and personalize.  For the diaper cover I used Dana's free diaper cover pattern.  Super quick and comes in a variety of sizes!

Now to go finish that quilt I started her a year ago...! ;0)

-rag quilt-

The Celebrate The Boy posts by Rae and Dana made me think of this little rag quilt made for my newest nephew back in December.  I bought a set of boy fat quarters from the Children at Play line back before whether I knew whether Samantha was a boy or a girl. (I thought she was going to be a boy.)  So, I was just waiting for another baby boy to make his appearance to use this darling fabric.  I decided just to make a simple rag quilt with minky.  I love using minky for baby quilts.  It is so soft and seems to add that perfect soft touch that babies love.  I didn't use any batting in between the layers, so it is a little more like a blanket than a quilt.   Now to finish Samantha's baby quilt now to be her first birthday quilt! ;0) 

-go anywhere bag-

I made myself a new bag!  I love bags.  You should see my closet and how stuffed full of homemade bags it is.  I have even given tons of them away!  Doesn't stop me from making more though. ;0) This is the Go Anywhere Bag by Anna of Noodlehead.  I have had this pattern for a long time, and it was time to get to making it.  I am kind of at the in between state of needing a diaper bag and not.  This is a largeish bag, so I can still stuff in some diapers, nursing cover, and extra set of clothes.   I haven't been buying much fabric of late because well, I haven't been sewing very much, and it is hard justifying buying fabric when I have a whole stash that is waiting for me already.  However, I fell in love with both Architextures and this star fabric from Constellations., and I knew they would go well together in this pattern.  I didn't change much in this pattern except to use flat piping for the edge of the pocket, the back pocket I sewed a line up the middle instead of adding a snap because I feel large pockets often get floppy, and I used fusible fleece for the outside of the bag because I love the soft structure it provides.   I also quilted the main bag pieces because I love the look. The pattern went together quickly, and now I am trying to pick what fabrics to use for her new Divided Basket pattern!  

-knitting helps-

I have been knitting a lot lately.  I got sick back in July.  It was a sinus infection that lasted months.  I recovered from that and then a month later was so sick again.  This time was different.  Stomach pain.  It took me awhile to realize that things weren't going to get better.  In fact, things were getting much worse.  However, I got a diagnosis in January, and got put on medication right away.  I have also had to change my diet quite drastically, and that took a lot of thought into just how I should eat.  While this is a chronic autoimmune disease, I am hoping I will be able to keep the symptoms to a minimum.  

Slowly, I feel like I am getting my life back a little at a time.   I didn't even know how bad things were until I started feeling better.  I think as a mom you just have to keep going, and it wasn't until I got a more official diagnosis that I allowed myself to admit that things weren't going so well.  I feel like I am coming out from a fog, and I feel eager to embrace life again, but also a bit nervous that I will push myself too hard too fast.  I just can't wait to be healthy again!

 For me sewing was taking too much energy, so in the afternoon when I often feel the most tired I get to sit and knit.  God seems to send us little blessings to help us get through rougher times, and it feels a little silly to say but knitting has been that for me.  It gave me the chance to learn and think of something other than how my health was.  It is all about the little things!  

I have also missed being in this space, and I have really missed my regular sewing time.  I am hoping to catch up a bit and share some projects that I have done in the past few months.   

This is my second Millwater!  I loved the first one I made.  I knew I wanted a longer one for me.  I got a couple of Knit Picks gift cards for Christmas, so I picked out yarn for a few projects.  I used their Swish Tonal in Pearlescent.  I love that name!  The color is something in between white and gray, and I love have neutral cowls/scarves to go with different things.  This was a very enjoyable project,  Now  I just hope to get a couple more wears in before spring is officially here!

xoxo,

Meg

-2012-

I am a little late in writing my end of the year post, but hey...that goes for everything in my life right now. ;0)  This is the best picture we got of our kiddies on Christmas Eve.  So hard to get all four kids looking and smiling!  I made the two older girls' dresses using Oliver + S Playdate Dress pattern.  I have had this pattern in my stash for years, and I was glad I finally took the plunge!  I love how they turned out.  They are Christmas-y without being super fancy.  My kids are hard on their clothes, and it was nice to have washable dresses.  The hardest part of this pattern was the yoke...tricky!  Once I got past this part though, the pattern is pretty easy.

My favorite picture...my oldest and youngest.  I love these girls.

Here are some of my favorite projects from 2012.  What a strange year.  My sewing/crafting went through a lot of dry spells this year.  However, cross stitching and knitting saved me at the end of the year!  I was in desperate need to have more portable and put downable projects.  I loved learning how to knit.  I have wanted to learn for years, and I am having so much fun.  I will come back later this week to show more of what I have been knitting lately!

Thanks for stopping by and reading!  Here is to a wonderful 2013!

xoxo,

Meg

-january-

Amanda (MsMcPorkchop) and her friend, Ashleigh, have a super cute sampler happening for 2013.  Each month they send you a little woodland theme to stitch!  When I saw what the theme was I knew I wanted to jump in on this!  I had so much fun stitching the Winterwoods sampler and having a little something to stitch here and there.  This month's theme was little deer!  Aren't they adorable?  

For this sampler...

 I am using Cosmo floss, and I got the kit here.

The linen is 28 count Cashel linen: dirty, and I got it here.

You can sign up for the sampler here!  You can get it for $10 for a couple more days before the price goes up!

-knitting-

So, I have been knitting...I finished the Millwater cowl a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't make it as long as the pattern says, but I like the length!  My first finished knit!  Yay!

I was so excited that I went out to our local yarn store and started hunting around for some yarn for a honey cowl.  I have loved this pattern ever since I saw it (as did everyone else out there!)  I found some yarn in the clearance section which is a pretty, shimmery gray.  It is a cashmere/silk/rayon and super stiff, so it took me awhile to get used to it.  It was really hurting my wrists at first.  However, once I blocked it, the yarn really softened up!  So, I am moving on from cowls and for my next project I am going to try and tackle a vest for Josiah for Christmas!  *crossing fingers*

I am popping onto the sewing machine here and there, but lately I am *so* tired at the end of the day.  You should see us once we put the kids to bed.  We both become zombies on the couch for half an hour before we can even speak.  haha.  The life of parents with four small kiddos.