New Addition Arrives at Knitsburgh!

Knitsburgh proudly issues a proclamation throughout the land...

WEE TOO HAS ARRIVED! Welcome sweet little lass!

Coinciding with her arrival was the Great Computer Strike. Our 10 year old desktop is pretty wrecked and currently cannot be used. So this explains in part my absence from this blog. The other reason is far better, just being busy caring for the Wee Ones, bonding, adjusting to this new happy crazy life. Really, there just isn't much else to say except life is pretty good. Hope it's good for you out there too and...

...Happy Earth Day!

New Hatchiling?

I know what you are thinking...but no, not Wee Too yet... Wee One's Nest Egg...

...turns into a bluebird! I departed a bit from the original pattern to add the orange to make it a little more like a true Eastern Bluebird. Bill and Kay have had a nesting pair of them on their property for a couple years now. When I was a wee one myself and we lived on what we call The Ridge (aka in the mountains of Western PA) there was a bit more acreage and there was always a nesting pair in the box during the spring and early summer, sometimes two nests per summer! I also made my own nest for the egg/bird, essentially making a little "hat" that is used upside down. The original pattern has a nest but the yarn I had on hand would not have been as stiff and I wanted a tighter fitting nest that could stand up with the egg well. Wee One loves to say the word "nest" of late!

Wee Too also has a new springtime friend waiting here...

...waiting is truly what we are all just doing right now....

For once, this procrastinator has the next holiday under wraps. The basket is ready, the little surprises have been knit. Only one thing left to do...

We are trying to go for walks in between the raindrops (and snow...don't ask) here. Hope you find time between rain drops too!

Vernal Aspirations...

I finally finished the Owlie Sleep Sack for Wee Too. This involved ordering some additional yarn from Knit Picks as I was using up what I had left in my stash and of course, it was not enough. So two more skeins of the Organic Cotton Worsted Weight in Marshmallow arrived this week and I used about 1/2 a skein. Next up is the matching Owlie Hat (like the one I made for Compassionate Craft Week a while back). I wish you could feel how soft it is. I also wish I had enough time and knitting fortitude to fashion an adult sized sleep sack for myself...

These last few weeks have been trying at times. There was some concern due to dropping platelet count I might not be able to have Wee Too outside of the hospital but thankfully, a visit to a specialist remedied this concern and we should be fine to go forth with our current birth plan. Now I am trying to get Bill and Kay comfortable with driving to the Birth Center which means driving **gasp** in the city!!! Kay does not drive outside of a ten mile radius of her home. Bill has decided he will ignore my detailed, city dweller who knows how to get around the 'burgh directions and instead look at a map and arbitrarily choose random, out of the way possible routes through areas which:

1. Involve heavy construction, certain delays and a closed bridge he believes will be open as it is "right there on the map."
2. Sketchy neighborhoods it's best not to get lost in while you try to drive quite possibly in the middle of the night.
3. Are places he has never ever even been before.

Now this really isn't much of a surprise; Bill ALWAYS has a "shortcut" meaning a longer route that usually takes more time and gas but for some reason he finds more appealing. I just thought due to the urgency of the sitch, he might try a more direct route while I'm in labor and waiting on them to arrive to get to our house or for them to meet us at the Birth Center. I really don't know whether to laugh or cry; I've done both for the last day or so. Basically, they are coming to care for Wee One while Nature Boy and I bring Wee Too into this world and it would be so much easier on my mind if I knew they could make it to the Birth Center without a problem. They are coming tomorrow so I can drive them to and from and get them comfortable with it. Wish me luck!!!

I've been trying to keep busy meanwhile. Under the super moon last week, the seeds for this year's garden were blessed in a ritual outside, then Nature Boy and I sowed them inside. Today, the marigolds and lettuce were sprouting already.

I am trying a radical new approach to gardening this year. Equal parts from the biointensive techniques of Jeavons and the knowledge of the indigenous people of this land, the Native Americans. I planned out the garden on paper...
...then Nature Boy was kind enough to accompany me outside, till the land a bit and help me set out the walkways separating the garden into three smaller plots. These plots will be (hopefully) jam packed full of veggies and herbs. I'm most excited about companion planting methods/knowledge and the Three Sisters plot, which will have corn, beans and squash planted together, which are are mutually beneficial to the others when planted thusly.
Wow, I've said a lot today! Lastly, I brought some forsythia in a few days ago and today they are brightening up this place something fierce! It's cold again here but not for long!

What up?

Just a few things to share from Knitsburgh of late...

Walk in the woods this past weekend.

From the front I look like normal...

Egad! From the side, you can see Wee Too is still on board. Sadly, no trillium were spotted yet.

New larger bibs sewn for Wee One. I used two different prints on each side so they are reversible. I also used different colored thread in the bobbin so each side has a contrasting thread for top stitching detail. Made fourteen bibs total.

These three are my favorites, made from two of Wee One's flannel receiving blankets. Love to upcycle! Each bib has one side of polka dots, one side of green gingham. Used brown thread for top stitching.

Knit up a Mikey Hat for Wee One. Modified THIS PATTERN which is for an adult head. The fit was good but...

...it really needed a good blocking! I finished it the eve before the annual St. Pat's parade so I did not want to chance it still being wet. So it was worn with wonkiness, the stamp of handmade upon it! When it was worn that is, it came off several times. The plastic inside the brim is cut from an old plastic coffee can. We have a stockpile of these as Nature Boy's father cannot bear to throw them away or recycle them as they seem so useful so he saves them and gives them to us. We have also made a "drum kit" out of several of these in different sizes duct taped together; one is poised under the leaky sink in the bathroom; and several hold odds and ends like nails, screws, etc. If you need any coffee cans, you know who to call...

Happy Hearts!

A Valentine pictorial...

A "green" bouquet! I made these fabric flowers out of two old shirts and a stolen wedding napkin (don't ask!) that were in my Reuse Me basket of textiles. Plus some sticks from the neighborhood and a hot glue gun. I used the tutorial found HERE. Best part is, they will last and grace our table long into the spring. Sorry the pics are so dark; we are having an overcast, gloomy looking day.

Handmade card using some embroidery floss, card stock and a pen, all of which were just lying about the estate. I traced a piece of heart shaped chocolate, then cut it out on the front part of the card. I then traced that negative space with my pencil to make a heart shape on the inner part. I used 6 strands of floss and did a very rustic looking satin stitch along the outline on the inner part. On the front, I did a rustic back stitch around the opening, leaving the ends long to tie in a bow. Write something cheesy and sappy, and there you have it!


Wee Too's baby booties.



Vegan sugar cookies with strawberry icing. The berries eliminate the need for any food colorings or dyes and make the hearts the sweetest shade of pink.

Vegan Strawberry Icing

4 medium strawberries
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Pulse the berries in a food processor until smooth. Pour into large bowl. Add in the vanilla and two cups of powdered sugar; with electric mixer beat. Add in additional sugar to make a stiff icing. If it gets too thick, you can add a teaspoon of soy milk.

Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day too!