Gift for a Fairy Yarnmother

Over a year ago, a reader contacted me with a question -- she was downsizing her yarn collection, and would I like some of her stash? Shortly after, a box arrived on my doorstep. And then another, and then a third! Each one filled with beautiful yarns in some of my favorite fibers and a rainbow of colors. So many sock yarns! There were even a few cuts of fabric and a puzzle (how did she know?). I dubbed her my "Fairy Yarn-mother," and the name stuck (I don't know how she would feel about that, but hopefully she'd consider it a compliment!). You've already seen some of the results of her kindness, like Rosa's Izzy, my Elven Woods socks, and my Pinky socks. And there are more projects soon to be posted!

More crochet forays -- this time a bookmark, which was a challenging but enjoyable project.

In spite of my gratitude, 2021 was a difficult year in many ways, and it was over 12 months before I finally sent a little "thank you" package in her direction. It was also ridiculously hard for me to settle on what to send. Choosing gifts is not one of my strengths, and it's even harder when I have limited information about the recipient. But clearly sewing and knitting were something we had in common, and we also share a favorite Jane Austen novel! In the end, I went with those themes and hoped for the best.

A few lavender sachets in these Ruby Star Society "Purl" prints were a must:

And I made a small box adorned with a facsimile of Jane Austen's manuscript for "Persuasion" -- I used to make these regularly for my Etsy shop once upon a time (though with fragments of thrifted novels), but haven't done one in ages. I forgot how much I enjoyed it! 

A few goodies completed the package, and off it went. I must say, it's making me itch to make Jane Austen wares again...
 

Faith, Hope, and Love

To create something for an unborn baby is an act of faith. I didn't fully realize that before miscarriage became an inescapable reality in my life. Every stitch is made in hope, and hope seems foolhardy when loss follows loss (after loss, after loss). 

In late August, I had a pre-op appointment for my exploratory surgery the following month. I'd been waiting for this surgery since the beginning of the year, and along with the changes I'd made to my diet and lifestyle, I hoped it might provide answers (and more importantly, solutions) for our recurrent miscarriages. It was my first time going to the big city alone, and I visited a lovely yarn shop after my appointment. My primary motive was to purchase yarn for a gift I was planning, but I also wanted to make a "faith purchase" -- a tangible expression of hope that I'd actually get and stay pregnant once again. 

I ended up purchasing a skein of Brooklyn Tweed Peerie Yarn in the warm, gender-neutral colorway "Klimt" -- not only is the merino wool sourced from the west (a bit of a souvenir of our time here), it's also heavenly soft and isn't scratchy in the slightest. Perfect for delicate baby skin. Oh, how the thought of soft baby skin makes my heart ache!

With several other projects underway, I didn't get to use my Peerie right away. In fact, I didn't start knitting until right after we got a positive pregnancy test a little over four months later. It was both harder and easier to start after that positive -- at least I didn't feel a fool for making something for a baby that might never exist, but I also feared that the little one who did exist might never get to wear the tiny garments I was knitting with such love. And that would be worse.

I wanted something with bobbles suited to a newborn's size (but most patterns had "too big" bobbles). I wanted a pixie style bonnet in fingering weight yarn (but most were for heavier yarns). I wanted booties like this marvelous gifted pair, which all of my children have worn (but when I tried modifying that pattern to a stockinette "bobble" style, it was a distinct failure). So I ended up creating my own patterns, something I've long wanted to do but have never had the courage or inspiration to try.

You can spot the ball of Peerie in the lower right corner...

I knitted away as I slowly recovered from an illness I feared might compromise this long-awaited pregnancy. Hoping, praying, waiting. Scout joined me one afternoon, falling fast asleep atop his minute sibling while I stitched tiny bobbles. As I tentatively knit together tiny garments, God was knitting together something far more precious inside of me.

Over the coming weeks, all the news was good. It seemed miraculous after so much loss. One by one, we passed the gestation dates of previous losses. We neared the time when we were ready to make an "official" announcement, which meant it was time for a new faith project.

Using cotton rope and Drops Paris cotton yarn, I set to work making a rainbow for what I hoped -- hope! -- will be my "rainbow baby" six times over. This was a relatively quick project (though wrapping all that yarn was a bit tedious), and such a joy to create. 

Ultimately, my hope lies in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, not in the outcome of this pregnancy.  But as week follows week, I joyfully wonder if we might actually get to meet this precious baby. Not my will, but Yours, I tell Him often. My children are quick to remind me that nothing is impossible with God (though it's usually when I make a perfectly sensible statement like, "the baby can't possibly weigh 40 pounds at birth" -- it was Scout who suggested that palatable "possibility"). Getting this far feels like an achievement, but it's hardly the finish line. 

In the meantime, a tiny bonnet, pair of booties, and a fiber rainbow are the evidence of the faith, hope, and love that have surrounded this tiny new life ever since we saw that second line on a home pregnancy test. His mercies are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness.

 

A Wee Knit for a Wee Niece

A brand-new niece was the perfect opportunity to try out some of the adorable romper patterns I've been eyeing: 

I actually combined two patterns -- the Spring Blossoms romper and the Spring Duo romper, both from the Agasalhosbugalhos shop on Etsy -- so that I could take advantage of both lace and ruffles. I used KnitPicks Cotlin in "Pennyroyal," and it's the faintest lavender; such a delicate color. I love the blend of linen and cotton, and it seemed the right weight for a summery garment. It's also machine washable (a trait highly valued by most parents of newborns, in my experience!).

This was a more involved project than I've done in a while -- so many ends to weave in, despite my changing the pattern to knit it in the round! But the small size made the inevitable frogging less "tragic," and it knit up relatively quickly in spite of my procrastination. 

I was so worried about how big the leg openings were while
I was knitting this up... and then I realized that the leg ribbing 
would take care of that issue later on!

This was also the perfect excuse to dig into my stash of teether supplies:

While my "new" niece made it nearly half-way 'round the sun before I finally put this in the post, I've received the encouraging news that she can wear it layered now, and it should fit just right this summer -- which is a relief, because properly sizing knitting is hard enough, even without babies' unpredictable growth patterns! 

Little knits really are the best.

Rosa's Bunting

A wee project for Rosa's room, and an exploration into the world of crochet for mama! I'm more of a knitter, as you probably know, but lately I've had a craving for a bit of crochet. Well, rather a craving for what you can do with crochet. I'm a devoted knitter, but I have to admit that crocheting is far more suited to certain projects (especially shapes) -- and also considerably faster than knitting. However, my lack of crochet knowledge/skill has left me limited to video tutorials, because I can't really read patterns. The Boho Tassel Bunting Crochet Pattern did me in, though, and I found myself buying my first crochet pattern.

Thanks to a well-written pattern and helpful photos, I was able to figure this pattern out with relative ease -- and then it was just a matter of repeating it eight times over! I used a simple cotton yarn, which of course was thicker than the pattern called for and resulted in my needing a larger hook and tweaking one of the rows. But it all worked out in the end, and Rosa was so excited when she found out it was for her! She'd been eyeing it while it was in progress, though I managed to head off her inquiries with vague answers. *wink* 

It's now adding a welcome bit of color to her curtain rod. Let's just say I won't miss the stark white walls of a rental house when we move this summer!

I've gained a bit of confidence through this project (though charts still make me shudder!), and I'm eager to have a bit more versatility with my fiber crafts -- I'll always be a knitter first and foremost, but I don't mind having a few more techniques in my project bag...

Little Gifts

With a new niece on the way, I recently had the excuse to make some tiny "welcome to the world" gifts! Everything is sweeter in miniature, isn't it?

First up was a leaf lace pixie hat, knit in deliciously soft mauve Coboo -- it's a blend of bamboo and cotton, so it's also easy to launder and will hopefully be cool enough for slightly warmer weather. I honestly can't even remember whether I made the newborn or 3-6 mths size! But the lace pattern was a treat to knit, and I finished it off with a vintage button.

Next were a pair of leather Mary Janes from the Podsshoes pattern -- I did manage to use my machine for these, but it wasn't exactly smooth sailing! Sewing with tissue paper helped immensely, but I do wish I could figure out why my machine skips so many stitches on leather. Oh well, they were finished in the end! I used bronze-colored KAM snaps as the closure because they're so simple and sturdy. Again, I can't remember what size I made but they should fit a beginning walker. 

And last, a little teether made with pink, wine, and marble silicone beads -- these are such fun to make! 

I managed to get everything sent off before this sweet baby's arrival, and now I have just have to figure out how I can get there to see her, too!

Seven Years: A Saga

Seven years. That's how long this poor chair has been languishing in my garage (in four different garages, actually, because we've lived in four different houses during those seven years -- one was a local move, but that's still a startling thought). I found it on Craigslist for $20 and thought it would be a quick fixer-upper project. It had a nasty coat of brown varnish and was in quite a state of disrepair, but it had potential. 

Oh, youthful optimism! My plans were thwarted by motherhood, procrastination, and uncertainty about how to fix it. I did manage some disassembly, but that hardly seemed like progress. The chair almost didn't make the move out West, because by then I'd really started to doubt that it would ever be a chair again. Our poor movers were concerned when they unloaded it, worried that it had suffered some catastrophe during the moving process!

But, it's obviously in chair form again. With a bit of extra time at home lately, I had no excuse to procrastinate any longer. More disassembly, a bit of sanding, lots of repairs, new screws, and some painting-and-waxing later, it's finished and finally in use. All told, I only had to buy casters and a jar each of Waverly chalk paint and cream wax (plus a few screws and a dowel to fill screw holes with). It wasn't even that difficult, it just took some time and finagling to get everything painted and assembled. 

My sewing desk is never this clean, by the way... *wink*

I don't think I've ever posted my updated sewing desk on my blog, come to think of it. It used to look like this, but two or three years ago it needed to be refinished. Cue chalk paint, distressing, and cream wax! Seriously, the Waverly and Martha Stewart waxes that are sold in jars are my favorite to apply. They look like A Big Mistake until they dry, and then after buffing they're amazing. The finish is durable, too. The desk only needed paint, wax, and new hardware, so it was an inexpensive update.

It's lovely to have a dedicated sewing chair again, but I think I'm mostly happy to just have it done. Next time I'm tempted to undertake a fixer-upper, I need less optimism or more motivation...

Swiftly Now

I made a thing. 

A yarn swift has been on my "I really should make that" list for quite a while now. Every time I wound a hank of yarn into a ball, I'd have to get creative. Usually by wrapping it around a few chairs {cue copious amounts of movement} or even using my knees {cue backache}. And there's always a snag or tangle, it seems. 

So last week, on a whim, I scrounged up some scrap wood in the garage and set to work. 

I loosely followed Steve Ramsey's handy tutorial, especially for basic measurements. I say loosely, because mine is a bit janky and his is far more "finished." Lots of improvising, wheedling, and bungling later, I had a swift. I did go to the trouble of staining it (try to look impressed), and finished it off with some wax. The only materials I needed to purchase were a few bits of hardware and a dowel. Entry level swifts are in the $25 range and they go up from there, so "almost free" was quite acceptable. And while it won't win any beauty contests, it functions well enough for my needs (i.e., it spins...). It even folds compactly.

Rosa's interest was piqued when she saw me using it, so I had her help me wind a ball of yarn. Step One of "Knitting Indoctrination" complete!

For the trial run, I pulled out some yarn I found at a Spring festival a year ago. It's a blend of merino and local alpaca, and I purchased it from the alpaca farmer (who lives just a few miles away from us)! It's such a lovely muted shade of purple, and I can't decide what to use it for. But hey, when I do find a project, it will be ready to go.

Emma was quite fascinated by the swift, but happily she kept her distance:

Of course, once the swift was built I needed a way to store it when not in use. I re-purposed a long linen/cotton skirt I'd found at a local charity shop -- it even had a drawstring, so with a few modifications I was able to reuse the drawstring channel. Some of the scrap drawstring serves as a loop so I can hang my swift in the closet. It probably took about 10 minutes to disassemble the skirt (including unpicking the waistband so I could salvage the elastic and drawstring), and another 10 to assemble the drawstring bag. Laddie helped me by measuring the swift and pushing the sewing machine pedal. 

My knitting addiction often seems to seep into other crafty areas; usually it's just sewing (pouches, needle storage, knitting bag), but this time it included a bit of woodworking. I enjoyed getting to work with my hands in different ways, and I know I'll very much enjoy how simple and swift (pun intended) it will be to wind my yarn now -- especially when the ball winder I have on order arrives!

August Yarn Along: Rhythms

The past few weeks have been all about finding some sort of rhythm in the chaos of life just now. It's been a turbulent summer, to say the least. My husband's schedule has been "predictably" unpredictable, including weeks of crazy late-night flights followed by travel. We had our summer break from school, and my plans to keep up some semblance of order came to naught (though I suspect doing "nothing" was what we needed, and we had a shorter than usual break, anyway). Now we are in our second week of homeschooling for the year, and I'm enjoying the more predictable cadence to the day, even if it means decreased "freedom."

I'm currently reading The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. This was a book my husband just finished and really wanted me to read. It's a bit disturbing by nature of what it discusses (violence), but it's also very enlightening. A snippet from the description sums it up nicely: "True fear is a gift. Unwarranted fear is a curse. Learn how to tell the difference." 

I'm also reading The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge, but I'm not very far into it yet. To be quite honest, I've been knitting more than reading this month! And both of my current books are on my tablet; I rather miss having a "real" book in my hands. I still have my Beatrix Potter book underway, but I don't think I've read any of it this month...  

I finished up my Ninni cardigan (which I have dubbed "Goldilocks"), and cast on a pair of Rye light socks for Rosa. I love this pattern so far (it really is excellent for teaching you how to make socks, and I rather wish I'd started my sock-making adventures with this!), and these are whipping up very quickly. The heel flaps are done -- why am I always terrible about keeping track of my heel flap rows? -- and it's time for short rows! I love that there's a bit of texture on the front of the sock, but it's still a very easy pattern to follow. I wasn't in the mood for anything too complicated.

My new stitch markers are shameless knock-offs of Pleximama's lovely markers (going back to that post, I realized she was working on a pair of broken seed stitch socks, which I'm also planning to start when these socks are done -- apparently I'm just a copycat!). I love my purple locking stitch markers from KnitPicks, but I couldn't get the thought of little toadstool markers out of my mind. I found the beads on Etsy, and turned them into markers with my limited jewelry supplies as soon as they arrived in the mail. And, of course, they needed a little coordinating pouch -- fortunately, they fit into the pouches I'd previously made for my stitch markers and point protectors, so I whipped up another in red leather:

And now I have a little set of three in my knitting bag!

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along:

Desperate Times, Not-So-Desperate Measures

Since moving to a very dry, western climate, my poor feet have been in sad straits. I've struggled with dry, callused skin for years (the one downside to going barefoot most of the time), but those problems quickly developed into painful heel cracks out here. I've managed to get the cracks under control, but the whole fiasco prompted me to finally find a house slipper solution.

Enter, the Minni Slipper. It's a free pattern -- but it's crocheted, which was a bit disconcerting. I've done a tiny bit of crochet in the past (mostly washcloths, and mostly using video tutorials!), but I'm far more comfortable with knitting. Still, the pattern included a healthy dose of photographs, and I thought I could probably work it out.

I used some of my leftover KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Tweed in Reindeer Heather, held double to get the right yarn weight (which made it much more difficult to crochet! But I had the yarn on hand, so...). I've used this yarn for two sweaters, a hat, and now slippers -- and I still have a little left. It is a lovely yarn!

Cue awkward foot selfies!

I did make a few alterations -- crocheting seems very compatible with improvisation. Overall, I really liked the pattern and was pleased that they came together so quickly. It took barely more than a day to make both, even though I had to rip out a total of several inches of work over the course of construction (crocheting novice here!). 

It took a bit of extra time to add some leather soles, but they should help the slippers last longer (and they were incredibly slippery without them).

I may add a little cord or ribbon through the edging, to keep them more secure -- between the low heel and the natural stretching through wear, they feel a bit loose at times. But they certainly do the trick, and are quite cozy to wear around the house!

They're not glamorous, but my feet are thanking me. A little more comfort, a little more crochet practice, and a little more yarn and leather out of the stash. That's enough for me!


Raveled here. 

Little Layette

With my first nephew on the way, I scanned my sister-in-law's Pinterest boards -- not that there was much need! We're both Anglophiles, and our tastes are very similar in everything from literature to children's clothing, so it wasn't too difficult to pick something I thought she'd like. In this case, something with strong European influences.

I recently discovered a blog called OhMotherMineDIY.com. The upside? There are so, so many free, adorable (and did I mention FREE) patterns, many of them multi-sized. The downside? It's all in Spanish, because -- go figure -- the lady who creates the adorable European designs is from Spain. But with video tutorials to accompany the patterns, the language barrier is surmountable with a decent knowledge of sewing procedure (and a few Google searches for Spanish terms!). 

I used this pattern for the little top, though honestly it doesn't look much like the original! I added a pleat to the center front, changed the front to make it A-line instead of gathered, redrafted the collar (I used the pattern piece provided, but linen is a little tricky -- I got a better result by drafting a pattern once the shoulder seam was sewn), shortened the sleeves, etc. Nothing too complicated, although it's nerve-wracking making clothes for tiny babies. Everything seems too small, but then you don't want it to actually be too small... 

I wish I could capture how truly tiny those buttons are! They are minute! I've had a card of these vintage beauties
for years, and this is the first time I've used any of them.

I think the result is a bit Christopher-Robinesque, especially when finished off with vintage pearl buttons. It's a bit challenging with baby boy clothes to make them sweet, but not too sweet, if you know what I mean!

The back buttons are still vintage, but larger than the buttons on the front.

More linen for the overalls, in navy this time! I used this tutorial, with fewer changes. I did add a snapped crotch closure, because diaper changes with a newborn really ought to be as simple as possible. 

And last, a linen/cotton bandana bib (using this tutorial/pattern), with a wood and silicone teether/pacifier leash:

 

I am so excited to have Oh Mother Mine DIY in my arsenal of patterns now. I can't get over how sweet her patterns are, or how many there are! Here's the gallery of her tutorials, in case you want to try one yourself.

It was simple enough to figure out how to welcome this sweet new baby into the world (and sweet he most certainly is! I'm not biased, not even a little. No, really...). Now I just need to figure out how to cover the intervening miles so I can give him a snuggle in person. *wink*

August Yarn Along: Cleaning Up, Cleaning Out

I'm a little late to Ginny's Yarn Along, but better late than never, right? In fact, it's probably not escaped your notice that I've been absent lately. But don't worry, between a hasty visit to Florida, starting up school again with the littles, and working on some sewing, I've been "gainfully employed."

And my latest escapade has been to dabble with crochet. I started mostly because I'd like to teach Little Man and Rosa as a handicraft, and it seemed simpler than knitting. We haven't got past a simple chain yet, so I'm not sure how that will work out! But I've been enjoying it, which surprises me more than a little. Here's my current project -- a much-needed washcloth for Rosa in KnitPicks Shine sport:

It's just a swatch of arcade stitch, which I'm now edging with a simple double crochet. Crochet is quite satisfying in how quickly it works up, and the interesting stitch possibilities. I think, like knitting, I had long dismissed it because most of the projects I saw just didn't appeal to me, and were often done up in acrylic yarns. My love for knitting really blossomed when I started seeing projects in natural fibers; it's just taken longer for me to find that with crochet.

Here are two other projects, also washcloths, for Laddie and Scout. I love how quickly crochet washcloths whip up! Video tutorials on Youtube have been invaluable, as I'm still inexperienced with written crochet patterns. These are definitely beginner attempts, but perfectly suitable washcloths. The green "starfish" is made in a cotton dishcloth yarn, and the waffle patterned cloth behind it is made in KnitPicks Cotlin that I've had in my stash for ages.

My reading is Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman, which I'm resuming after a "leave of absence." It's excellent! I'm not done yet, but I highly recommend this book to any woman, not just mothers -- Gloria makes the point that being a woman is about being a nurturer, whether she ever bears children or not. I love Gloria Furman's writing, and this book is really a challenge for me. A cleaning out, if you will, of many wrong and selfish perceptions I've unknowingly held about motherhood. Cleaning, it would seem, is the theme of this yarn along for me, since my fiber project also has a cleansing purpose!

I encourage you to go and join in the fun on Ginny's blog, or browse some of the other lovely creations in the link-up!

(Finding) Time to Get Crafty

I've had a few readers ask recently if I'd write about how to find time for crafty pursuits as a full-time mama. I posted about this late in 2013, but my circumstances have changed drastically since then -- we've added two children, moved twice, started "official" homeschooling, etc. So I think it's time for an update!

Just as I did a few years ago, I'll describe my current situation:

• Four littles ages 7, 5, 3, and ten months
• Homeschooling the older two children, which takes about 1-2 hours per day (though we're having a brief summer break right now!)
• Living in a suburban area with plenty of available "extracurricular activities"

As I think about what has changed since I wrote my last post on this topic, several things come to mind. First of all, I think I spend less "dedicated" time sewing/crafting than I did a few years ago. This is not just due to added responsibilities, but also because sometimes my desire to sew waxes and wanes. So, here are a few thoughts:

Military: My husband's career as a Navy helicopter pilot involves frequent time away -- a week, a month, or (in the case of a deployment) six to seven months at a time. Even when he's home, it's not uncommon for him to have flights scheduled late at night. During these times, I'm often able to complete many projects because I have more time to myself in the evenings.

Friends: I feel like I have a wider social circle in Virginia, including a weekly Bible study that I attend. This is something that I welcome, and I'm happy to have a little less time for sewing if I'm enjoying fellowship with other mamas! I often struggled with loneliness in Florida (looking back, I should have overcome my introvert tendencies more, instead of waiting for others to make the first move), and that's one area that's been much easier here in Virginia.

Knitting: Since my last post, I've added knitting to my arsenal of crafting hobbies. I usually knit while I'm doing things that wouldn't be conducive to sewing (watching a movie, homeschooling, etc.), so it may not cut into my sewing time that much. It has certainly upped my productivity in a general crafting sense, because I'm now able to make use of much of the time that would otherwise be wasted. I like to keep at least one "mindless" project on my needles, something that's easy enough to multitask. 

Nature: If you've followed my blog for a while, you may have noticed that there are many more "nature" posts than there used to be (at least, it seems that way to me!). Virginia has been much more pleasant in terms of climate -- and there are many parks and gardens in our vicinity. Also, we've added six chickens and a seasonal garden. We spend more time outdoors, which equates to less time for sewing/crafting. But again, this is a trade-off I'm more than happy to make, because I always regretted how much the Florida heat kept us indoors.

Children/Education: More children require more care, even though the older kids are much more independent now than they were a few years ago. We do have a great back yard, though, so they are often able to amuse themselves for long periods of time. My baby still takes at least two naps a day (hurray!), but I've now added home schooling to the mix. My children are young enough that their school work is not very involved, but also young enough that they need a fair bit of direct supervision/involvement from me.

Technology: I have upgraded to a smart phone and even have a tablet (*gasp*), but overall I would say I spend less time "with" technology than I did in 2013 (not counting reading books on Kindle). I still don't do Facebook or Twitter, spend a few minutes on Instagram now and again, and carefully select which blogs I follow so that my feed is never too time-consuming. Usually there are one or two new posts for me to read every day, which takes a few minutes. I'm just as selective about Pinterest, so I only browse my personal feed -- even if I'm following another Pinner, I'm selective about which of their boards I follow to keep my feed pared down. This has allowed me to enjoy both blogs and Pinterest without them taking over my schedule (AKA, crafting time!). Though I do still end up down a rabbit hole of pinning all the fun projects, instead of actually doing them...

Just as I predicted in 2013, my life and my crafting habits have changed -- and they certainly will continue to do so throughout my life!

So what would my recommendation be for those looking to spend more time crafting? 

• Prioritize.

It's the most important step, in my opinion, even though it may sound over-simplified and perhaps even rude ("Well, if you just prioritized, you'd have plenty of time to craft!"). It's not meant to be either of those, so hear me out!

Essentially, determine where sewing/crafting ranks in you life -- is it more important that your family? What about play dates? Or browsing Pinterest? Or posting on Facebook? Or taking a photography class? Or sleep? Or cleaning your house?

Hopefully it's obvious that I am not suggesting that it should be more or less important than any of those things! The point is that where any activity ranks will determine how much time it receives. Also, saying that "I will prioritize my family over crafting" is still a nebulous idea. Is postponing a diaper change for five minutes while I finish a step in my project elevating crafting above my family? I hope not, because I'm certain I've done that before!

But here's the thing -- if you've evaluated how you spend your time, and found that you really don't have time to sew because it's not high enough on your priority list right now, that's okay. Make your peace with it and wait until your priorities or your circumstances change. Sometimes I consciously choose reading over sewing, because I can't do both. Sometimes it's the other way around, and sometimes I just listen to an audiobook while I sew! Currently, I do not devote any time to writing outside of my blog, even though I've dreamed of being a published author since I was a child -- I still have the incomplete (and very unrealistic) drafts of novels I started when I was seven or eight. But writing is not a priority right now (maybe one day it will be!).

I often joke that sewing is cheaper than therapy. But it's really only partly a joke, because sewing is so therapeutic to me that I can't imagine giving it up voluntarily. Recently, as my skills have improved and I've been able to relax, I've found that the rhythmic repetition of knitting is even more cathartic! Creating is one of my passions, and that's why you see so much of it on my blog.

If sewing/crafting is something that is really important to you and you feel you don't have the time, look around to see where you can give up something else. Often I "don't have time to sew" because I've frittered away my day on this and that, or completed my tasks at a leisurely pace. Those are not necessarily conscious decisions, but they are decisions nonetheless. There are certainly ways to free up time -- the key is figuring out what you can or want to sacrifice for the sake of crafting.

• Pick and Choose.

This is linked to prioritizing. If you have plenty of time (and money...) for crafting, you can probably follow your whims willy-nilly. However, if you have limited time for crafting you may want to focus only on the "best" projects, or projects that will advance your skills. If you're the meticulous type, you may be happy to take two months sewing a delicately pin-tucked batiste baby gown (complete with lace insertion). If you're more interested in quick, practical results, you may prefer to crank out four pairs of toddler leggings while the baby takes a nap.

You can pick and choose your crafts, too. I've pretty much limited myself to sewing and knitting, with some odds and ends for other types of crafts. I am about to add some crochet, because I want to teach my children a hand craft; fortunately the supplies overlap so much with knitting that all I'll have to do is a few crochet hooks to my "fiber" collection. But when it comes down to it, I'm a seamstress and knitter at heart, and I dedicate my valuable crafting time to those hobbies.

Within your chosen crafts, you can also choose projects that are the most enjoyable/useful to you and ignore the rest. Sometimes I put myself in a bind because I think "I could make that!"-- but I don't have time to make All The Things, so I'm either scrambling to put together an outfit (because I haven't made the top I need to match that skirt) or hoping my sunglasses don't get scratched because that-leather-sunglasses-case-I've-wanted-to-make-for-over-two-years-just-hasn't-happened-yet. The latter is in NO way a real-life example, by the way. *cough* Don't over-commit yourself (like I often do!). If you are new to a craft, remember that it will take more time at first, and you will probably make more mistakes. You may not be totally satisfied with the results, either. As your skills grow, your speed and accuracy will improve and you will probably be able to accomplish more in the same amount of time.

• Place Yourself

And by that I mean, find a spot to pursue your crafts that works for you. With four young children underfoot, I would not be able to craft or sew and supervise if I had my sewing machine tucked away in a back room or a closet. While having my sewing machine in our family room presents some difficulties (why does sewing require so many sharp tools?!), I'd rather be careful about where I put my scissors and pincushion than not be able to sew altogether. My husband has been very tolerant of my crafty messes, though I'm trying to be better about taming the chaos. However, every situation is unique -- so the point is, find the best place for your lifestyle. Maybe you can only craft in peace and quiet, so it's better for you to have your things tucked away and only use them when you have time to yourself (if that's a thing -- I'm still not convinced... *wink*). Regardless, I would recommend making your supplies as accessible as possible. The more work required to get things out, the less likely you are to want to craft. Remember, you don't have to get out everything -- you don't need six skeins of spare yarn or every last sewing notion to work on your current project. Keep a stash of the essentials (for sewing this might be scissors, thread that matches your current project, and pins) that you can easily pull out when you're ready to work.

Also, a note on working with children around -- by all means, try to keep the crafty things out of reach (it's tricky when cutting out a large sewing project! I often save that for naptime/bedtime). But part of our family's overall parenting philosophy is that our children learn the word "No." I believe boundaries are important, and learning to respect someone else's space is a valuable life skill. So training my children not to interfere with my craft projects is just part of our larger parenting "strategy." And the less you have to worry about your child destroying something if they're out of sight, the more you'll be able to let them play independently while you're crafting -- dependent on their age, level of maturity, and all of that jazz.

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I'm often embarrassed when people ask how I "do it all" because I do something that they don't (cloth diapering, sewing, homeschooling, baking bread, whatever it might be). The truth is, I don't "do it all," I do the things that are important to me. But that doesn't mean I'm always doing the best thing, or what I should be doing! Maybe I should have cleaned my bathroom instead of knitting a few extra rows... And the other truth is, I don't feel like a particularly productive person -- in fact, I struggle with feelings of inadequacy in this area. I suspect than many people, and especially stay-at-home moms, also struggle with this. It's difficult not to tie our identities to our output, especially in a society that values tangible productivity to a fault.

It doesn't help that the internet, while providing plenty of creative inspiration and instruction, has also given us unparalleled opportunities to compare ourselves to people far beyond the realm of our social circle. But it's an unfair comparison, because we get to see someone else's published successes without all (or many, or any) of their failures. No one's life is made up of perfect little Instagram scenes -- not all the time, anyway!


Hopefully that will be helpful to those of you who have wondered or asked! It's always a struggle to find balance in life's ever-changing seasons, but trying to stay conscious of how your time is spent (and evaluating what you want to prioritize versus what you are prioritizing) can go a long way toward finding the time to get crafty -- or being content to wait for a new season of life to roll around.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, and any tips you have for maximizing your crafty time!

Gifts for a Tiny Friend

When I discovered that a dear friend was having a baby girl, I knew there was some crafting in my future! After consulting with my friend, the hunt began for fabric to make a car seat canopy, and silicone beads for a teether/pacifier leash. I was given free reign on fabric selection, and I opted for a a print that I love from Birch organics. I was worried their jersey wouldn't be stretchy enough (and I did have to buy 2 yards because their knits are only 45" wide!), but it turned out to be perfectly fine. Of course, the first yardage I ordered turned out to be woven instead of knit, because I forgot to check the listing! But I'm sure I can easily find a use for that (and it was half the price it usually is!). 

I used the tutorial by Make it and Love It for the car seat canopy/cover. It worked perfectly! Though I think I could have gotten away with making it a little shorter -- still, better a bit too long than too short. And it's neatly folded in the picture, in case you're confused about how it's supposed to cover a car seat! I didn't think to take an "action" photo.

For the pacifier leash, I combined some of the wooden beads I already had with a few new beads via Etsy (soooooo many options). And my friend loves birds, so the wooden teether was perfect! There was no reason for the cover and the leash to coordinate, but they ended up looking just right together.

The canopy is already in use, and hopefully my new little friend will enjoy chomping down on her leash once those teeth start coming in. Scout is sporting several new teeth, and he has certainly enjoyed the textures of the leash I made for him! It's still going strong, and I've made a second for his pacifier.

Sewing and crafting are joy enough in themselves, but it's even better when I get to indulge my creative impulses to welcome a precious baby into the world!

Taming the Toys

Ask any parent, and toy storage/organization would probably feature as an area that is (or was) an issue! It certainly has been for us. While we have tried to be careful about how many toys we've allowed into our home, the "keepers" still need a home! Between moves and new babies and other priorities, most of our toys were sorted into a variety of bins stashed in a variety of places (mostly the floor of our sunroom/playroom). And with most of the toys stored on the floor, our littles found it difficult to discern between toys on the floor versus toys in a bin on the floor. Cleanup was a nightmare! 

I liked the idea of the IKEA Trofast system, but didn't like the look of the actual units. Then I spotted Shanty 2 Chic's DIY Trofast unit, and I was sold! In the past we've designed (or at least seriously modified) plans for most of the furniture we've built, so the idea of following instructions to the letter was actually quite appealing. 

We did make a few changes, of course. We added top pieces to each support, so that the bins won't topple out when they're half-way open (because with so many little kids, they are bound to be half-open quite a bit! This has proved to be incredibly helpful). We also added a few supports to the top area, giving us the option to use either medium or small bins. The other change was to add a piece of wood to the top; our dimensional lumber wasn't quite nice enough to look good on its own, so we stained a piece for the top.

I can't believe how much of a difference this little unit has made. Not only does it fit more toys than I thought it would, but there was an instant improvement in the clean-up routine. "Time to clean up" is no longer followed by "Don't you see all the stuff that's still on the floor?" The top of the unit serves as a home for Lego creations, which was another source of mess and aggravation.

At last, there's a little peace in the toy department -- and peace of any kind is welcome with four active littles underfoot! Scout has recently added himself to the fray, dragging himself around the house with a grin on his face and a pacifier trailing along behind (which inevitably collects all of the hair that I'm losing postpartum. Grr.). We've made a few other pieces to help with organization, that I might get around to sharing -- unless I'm too preoccupied picking up little bits of who-knows-what before they end up in Scout's mouth...