Sneak Peek!

I am over the moon with excitement about my newest project. This is just a little preview of what's been on my mind and on my needles for the last few months. I'll have the finished pieces in hand by the end of the week, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you!

The Cuddlebug {free baby hat knitting pattern}

Finished dimensions: 5"h x 15"circ.

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Refashion
68% recycled wool, 5% recycled cashmere, 23% nylon, 4% rayon
Color: 804

Needles: US size 10.5, double-pointed needles

Gauge: 12 sts over 4 inches

: :: ::: :: :

Begin:
Cast on 44 sts. Join in the round and begin ribbing. Work *K1, P1* repeat from *to* around. Work ribbing pattern for 1 inch.

Next round: K all sts. Continue working in this manner until hat measures 4" from CO edge.

Begin decrease: K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog. 32 sts remaining.

Next row: *K2, K2tog* repeat from *to* around. 24 sts remaining.
Next row: *K1, K2tog* repeat from *to* around. 16 sts remaining.
Next row: K2tog around. 8 sts remaining.
Next row: K2tog around. 4 sts remaining.

Finish off remaining sts and weave in all yarn ends. Hand deliver immediately to the cutest baby you know.

DIY: Gas cooktop install

With the upcoming insanity reroof project, I realized that I don't really talk about the crazy DIY projects we get ourselves into around this house. Thomas is a big-thinking engineer and I grew up helping my dad build cabinets and fix things around the house, meaning he dreams it and I plan it, measure it, and cut it. It works well for us.

Here's how we spent our New Year's Eve 2007, installing a gas cooktop in our island. Me, cutting:



I'm not quite sure it's going to fit in that hole but we give it a try.



Now we need to plumb the gas lines!



And, done! Such an improvement over that yellow, ring range on the back wall! The cooktop is still working, no gas leaks, and it's so dreamy! DIY success!

Gutters: Gone

I don't know if I can actually call them gutters as much as they're just glorified rock holders. Once we cleared the 6 tons of rock from inside them Thomas tore out the 9" nails holding them to the house and I swept the rock into tidy piles. Removing the gutters was really not as tough as we thought it was going to be. Stay tuned for next week where we pelt the dogs with the 2,469,321,898 remaining roof rocks.

Here we are

To stay.

Welcome to my five hundredth blog post!

Wow! 500 blog posts, who knew I was that verbose? My mom knew when I was about thirteen and would spend hours on the phone with my best friend who lived down the street, but anyway. I've blabbed about my life, my career, my husband, my dogs, and my projects. And what better way to enter the next era of my blog than announcing the most insane thing I've ever agreed to our next huge project.

The ROOF!



And all I have to say about it is h.o.l.y. s.h.i.t THE ROOF.

I'm all for do it yourself projects. I've built a deck, made a garden bed, painted, sanded, installed, ripped out, spackled everything under the sun and I watch DIY Network all the time but really? A roof? By ourselves? We decided to go with a metal roof, tan steel. It should keep our house much cooler which will be a huge benefit since we don't have air conditioning, and it should look pretty cool too. But, um, a roof? Stay tuned to the Heather Ink network for all the upcoming insanity success! YIKES! YAY!

May my limbs live to see the next 500 posts.

Free Knitting Pattern: Quirky Quick Knit Scarf

Hello there, adorable scarf. I love you. This is the newest yarn into NobleKnits and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a skein. Knit Collage is straight up awesome. The yarn is designed by Amy Small, and she mixes Australian wool, South African mohair, and adorable embellishments from Hong Kong into one fun skein. I knit up this quick scarf as soon as the yarn fell off the boat!

Quirky Quick Knit Scarf

Finished size: 4" x 33"
Yarn: Knit Collage, colorway purple haze, 1 skein
Needles: US 19
Gauge: BIG

Pattern:
Cast on 7 sts. Knit every row. Bind off.

Weave in all yarn ends and enjoy. I think the gold tinsel is my favorite part. I can't wait to wear this little gem!

DIY: Sassy & Simple Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Cases

Are you knitting needles shoved in baskets in your closet? Are your crochet hooks hiding at the bottom of tote bags? Then follow this tutorial on how to make a set of these Coordinating Needle Cases. They're fast, easy and can be made from scraps of fabric. Give them as a gift with a pair of needles tucked inside or keep them all for yourself.



Supplies
1/2 yard of cotton fabric in solid color (A)
1/2 yard of cotton fabric in coordinating print (B)
1.5 yards 1" velvet ribbon
1 spool thread
Scissors
Tape measure
Sewing gauge ruler
Pins
Needle
Iron and ironing board

You can choose to work on the cases individually or in tandem. Be sure all fabric is washed and ironed before you begin.

1. Cut - From Fabric A, cut two 16.5 x 15.75 inch pieces for exterior of knitting needle case and one 11 x 5.25 inch piece for crochet hook pocket. From Fabric B, cut one 16.5 x 9.25 inch piece for knitting needle pocket and two 11 x 9.5 inch pieces for exterior of crochet hook case. Cut ribbon into two 18" pieces for knitting needle case and two 9" pieces for crochet hook case.

2. Make Pockets - Fold and pin 1/2 along one long edge of pocket pieces. Iron flat.



Match the cut edges of the pocket to the matching edges of one of the exterior pieces with right sides facing you. Mark for pockets, with stitch gauge measure and pin 1.5" from left raw edge. For next pocket and following two pockets measure and pin 1" to the right from previous pin. Continue measuring and pinning increasing the measurement by 1/2" for larger pockets. If you have mostly small needles then make mostly 1" pockets, for a collection of larger needles create 1.5 to 2" pockets. Stitch at each pin from folded pocket edge to raw edge back-stitching at each end.



4. Attach ribbon - Match ribbon edge to right edge of exterior piece with top edge of ribbon. The top edge of the ribbon can be visually centered on the needle case. Pin with wrong side showing. Pin the second piece of ribbon, right side showing, with bottom edge 1/8" from the top edge of the first piece of ribbon. Stitch 1/4" seam back-stitching at both ends.



5. Sew case together - Pin exterior pieces with right sides together making sure not to catch ribbon in pins or stitching. Stitch 1/2" seam around perimeter leaving a 2" opening on left side being sure to pivot at corners and back-stitching at each end.



6. Turn, sew and iron - Trim corners. Turn work right side out. Stitch opening closed by hand with needle and thread. Press seams and edges flat.



7. Fill and enjoy!

Raised Vegetable Garden, Part 3

Raised Vegetable Garden, Part 3
Getting soil and plant crops
See Part 1 here.
See Part 2 here.



Now comes the fun part, playing with dirt and planting seeds! We used a mix of garden soil, compost, peat moss and manure. The entire bed took about 36 cubic feet of this mix. We broke it down like this, 12 cf of garden soil, 12 cf of compost, 9 cf peat moss and 3 cf of manure. We layered about a third the different ingredients in the bed at a time and mixed them together with a garden fork. Once that was done I couldn't wait to get planting.



We bought some small plants that were already started. Things like tomatoes, bell peppers and broccoli. The rest of the crop we started from seed. Our final planting consisted of eggplants, scallions, spinach, hot peppers, three varieties of tomatoes, green bell peppers and four heads of broccoli. I can't wait to see the crops start sprouting and flowering!

A scrumptious new knitting project

After a long and crazy week I couldn't have been more excited to get home and knit. My Friday nights just aren't what they used to be, but there is nothing I'd rather be doing more than knitting.

Raised Vegetable Garden, Part 1

Raised Vegetable Garden, Part 1
Planning your bed and leveling the earth
Finished dimensions: 102"L x 42"W x 18"H

Creating a vegetable garden in your yard can be a fun and exciting undertaking. You'll get to grow a variety of different plant and you'll also reap the benefits of eating the freshest possible foods. It can be very rewarding but also a lot of work so be sure you have the time in your schedule to tend to your garden before you build it. Take the time to plan your garden.

Choose a space in your yard that has enough sunlight to accommodate the kind of plants you want to grow. Most vegetables need about six hours of sunlight a day. Another thing to consider is water. Your veggies will need a healthy amount of water to grow and give you a good harvest. If you already have plumbed waterlines that operate in your yard, you could run a drip irrigation system to your new bed. If not, a hose works just as well but just remember to water your seedlings at least every other day and possibly more often as the summer sun begins to heat up.

Lastly, and most important for me, is garden pests. Are there a lot of squirrels, rabbits and gophers in your area? You may want to put some wire mesh at the base of your bed to stop animals from burrowing under your garden. Do you have dogs that like to dig? I have two dogs that love to run and that is the main reason this bed is 18" high. Take the time to consider your life and your yard before you rush to the store, you'll be happier in the long run that you took the time to plan the garden that works for you.

Now that you're ready to get planting, here's everything you'll need.

Supplies:
9 6x6" pressure treated lumber, 8' long
12 3' pieces of rebar
heavy black plastic
wire mesh
36 total cubic feet of soil, compost, peat moss, and manure
plants and seeds

Tools required:
circular saw
18" drill bits, 1/4" and 1/2"
tape measure
4' bubble level
rake
spade
shovel
rubber mallet
sledge hammer
scissors
staple gun

To begin the raised vegetable bed you will need to create a level space in your yard that is large enough to accommodate your new garden. We chose a fairly flat space near the bottom of our yard. We measured the space and roughly staked out the area we planned to level. Using a metal rake we and the 4' bubble level we evened out the area where the boards would eventually sit. And as you know, a job can't be done around here with out the help of two furry friends.



We finished up the leveling and measured out exactly where the boards would go. It's a good idea to place your stakes in each corner then measure each edge and then measure corner to corner. This will help ensure you have a squared and even plot of land.



See Part 2 where we cut the boards and build the bed.

Veggies coming soon!

At least I hope they'll be coming soon anyway. I am seriously over the moon to show you my newest endeavor. A big raised vegetable garden! I can't wait to see little seedlings peeking out of that big pile of dirt. I will be posting the whole story over the next few days, so check back to follow along!

A brief review

I've been thinking that I need to spend some time to reflect over the last year to see how I've filled my time. Then I got all whiny that we didn't take a vacation in 2009 and all we did was work, but I sat down and looked through my photos and we actually did some fun stuff this year. Who knew?

1. I had a puppy party, or two, or three.

2. We replaced our very seventies kitchen floor with a new laminate floor and it was so worth it.



3. I gained a great sister-in-law.



4. I turned 30 and got a new camera.



5. My sister came to visit, but I don't have a photo.

6. We planted a cactus garden with some really cool plants.

7. Thomas' nearly-90 year old granny came to visit us from England.



All in all the year wasn't so bad I guess. Looking back on photos and blog posts not only helps me remember the fun things I've done but it gives me a lot to look forward to for the next year. What sort of home improvement projects will we do, what kind of work will I have, who will come visit, will I get off my butt and start the website I want? Maybe next year's December 31st post will answer some of these questions!

What about you? What are you looking forward to doing next year? Here's to a fun 2010!

Foggy mornings and a sneak peek

It's been a long, hot, crazy week around here. I barely even remember taking Daphne the Adorable home on Sunday. On Monday we repaired our DLP tv. It broke ten days prior and when we finally received the new color wheel there was no way Thomas was going to wait to the weekend to do THAT project. It went pretty well, we had most of the tv apart in under 20 minutes. Except for one tiny connector, the last possible thing that needed disassembling before we could put the tv back together, would not come out of the circuit board. Everything we had read about fixing the tv warned about this one connector. DO NOT PULL UP, DO NOT WIGGLE IT, DO NOT GRAB IT BY THE WIRES, DO NOT LOOK AT IT FUNNY OR ELSE IT WILL COME OFF ITS CIRCUIT BOARD AND YOUR TV WILL BE DEAD AND IT WILL BE ALL YOUR FAULT, WE WARNED YOU. So we heeded their advice and talked nicely to the connector, we massaged it and fanned it while we fed it grapes on the veranda. It didn't matter. That connector wasn't going anywhere. It was so stuck and so brittle that it didn't want to budge. Then I got angry. I mangled the hell out of that connector until it finally gave me my way. And then I could move on. And you know what? Replacing a critical part of your tv is not as bad as I thought it would be. It was actually kinda fun! (Minus, of course, that connector and the one hour of my life it stole from me.)

Then came Tuesday and here's a sneak peek of what megalithic DIY project we did THAT day. A new kitchen floor!

My brain is behind the times

With a new piece of technology comes a new pile of I've-heard-about-this-in-conversation-but-I-really-have-no-idea-what-it-is-or-what-it-does-or-how-to-use-it questions.



I got a new Canon Rebel XSi digital SLR camera for my birthday but I have a serious learning curve ahead of me. I used to shoot 35mm SLR ten years ago and I kinda forget what I'm supposed to do. Yes, I remember f-stop and ISO and all that basic functionality but what about...

1. selecting the f-stop I'd like to use, it's not just a ring on the lens anymore?

2. is it easier to use the camera's presets rather than manually selecting my shot settings?

3. should I always shoot in RAW format?

4. do I edit the RAW images differently?

5. how do I use Adobe Bridge?

6. do I convert the file to a jpg to add it to flickr?

7. what other lenses should I get?

8. is my husband going to return it because I won't stop snapping pictures of him at inopportune times, ie. when he's trying to sleep?

These are my pressing questions. Maybe I'll hunt down answers and post them back on my blog, but if you can direct me to any answers for any of them I'd really appreciate it!

A comfy new bed

I was laying out ideas for a project, went to the kitchen to get some orange juice and when I returned things were not as I had left them. Someone moved in.

Knit Off: I'm behind already

I leapt into this challenge feet first and had been happily knitting along on my sweater making great progress. I had knit about 12" of the back and was ready to start the armhole shaping. I was acting rather smug about it too, flashing it to Marsha, showing off how much I had knit, until I reread Marsha's blog post about our Knit Off yesterday.

Heather has her sweater well under way. She has altered her pattern and the changes over the pattern may slow her down. That girl wants to win.

I did make a change to my pattern, I cut four inches out of it. The pattern book said the smallest size would be 40" around when finished. I wanted a less bulky, more form-fitting sweater and I worked out that if I removed one pattern repeat it would decrease the size by 4" making the sweater 36, my size.

Had I used my BRAIN when calculating this major pattern alteration, I may have realized that by removing one pattern repeat removed 4" from one half of the sweater. It would have required me to also remove 4" from the other half of the sweater, thus making my pattern 8" smaller and a size 32. This alteration would have most definitely been form-fitting but it would not have been attractive.

I started over.

My knitting renaissance

Tah dah! I finished another stocking for Santa to fill.



Last year I designed and made the red-topped stocking and it hung on the fireplace until April. I liked it so much I didn't want to take it down. Last week I decided we needed two hand-knit stockings, one for each of us. I hauled out the yarn and got to work. As you can see, I switched the red and green so they didn't match but coordinated, like Thomas and me.

Also, I've been challenged to a Knit Off. I'm making this sweater that I bought last year from NobleKnits.



Marsha's daughter wants a new sweater for Christmas and made an off-handed comment that she would be lucky to see a finished sweater in under six years. Marsha took that to heart and is determined to wrap the sweater and have it under the tree on Christmas morning. We both doubt that will happen so we set a competition finish line for January 25. Wish me luck!

But now what?

I finally finished a sweater! I used to have a yarn store and would burn through knitting project after crochet project, but in the last year and a half it hasn't been the same. I think I've made a scarf, a hat and a mitten, yes A mitten. But today! I finished this cropped sweater.

The Viva sweater from Ella Rae Book 7 is knit in Manos Silk Blend, an amazing yarn. It feels so soft and isn't itchy, I just love it. I know I'm going to wear it so much everybody will be tired of seeing it.

What do I knit next?

Join me

I have a huge and underwhelming fascination with the idea of doing chores around the house. Laundry makes me crazy. The dishes can make me cry on any given day. And don't even talk to me about scrubbing the toilet. Did I mention I am known among family to have an immense hatred for the vacuum cleaner? I enjoy being at home, cooking and doing domestic hobbies but please, never, EVER accuse me of keeping a good house. I am not a housewife, a homemaker or other such female pejorative. I am allergic to housework. Violently.

Which leads me to my new website, Housework Rules! (to be said with the thickest sarcasm you can slather on). Go, check it out. Find new ways to avoid daily chores with inspiration and products from your favorite hobbies including knitting, cooking, gardening, scrapbooking, sewing and paper. I know I'm not alone. I know you hate housework too.

Café Crochet

My fabulous sister, Nancy Queen, has just launched her fabulous new book, The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet.Go get it. Now. It's worth it. If you're a seasoned crocheter it's a great addition to your collection. With over 30 patterns the book has everything from pullovers to tote bags and cardigans, vests and hats. If you're just a beginner the Guide to Crochet has great, no fear instructions that are straight to the point while having a sense of humor. You'll never get bored with The Chicks with Sticks!

Of the 30 fun to work patterns, three are mine. I designed, as the resident California girl, the Surfer Chick Quick Cap, a fun fan-stitch hat. It really does work up fast and, of course looks adorable.



The Chicks' Felted Zebra Slippers are a creation of mine too. These soft and fuzzy slip-ons are all single crochet so that makes them perfect for beginners.



And my personal favorite, Heather's Cafe Cardigan. This top-down raglan cardi totally fun to make, especially while you're sipping coffee at the corner cafe. If you're anything like me that caffeine buzz will have you finishing this in no time!