Knitted Pumpkins and Reading On

Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. I have been busy with work and wedding planning tasks. I can't believe my wedding is only seven months away now. There is still so much left to do, but we have a lot of it planned now and I am getting excited for the big day as it gets closer. I am also happy that it is Fall now and it is getting chillier. I love the cooler air when we can wear sweaters and dress cozier which is perfect for inspiration for knitting and knitting some projects like scarves, hats, mittens to keep us warm. I also feel inspired to knit pumpkins this time of the year for Fall and Halloween. I found a pattern for knitted pumpkins on Ravelry by Katrina McNerney. I knitted two pumpkins, one in orange and one in white and they were so fun to knit.

Pattern: Knit pumpkin by Katrina McNerney

The knitted pumpkin looks like the photo below as you are knitting a tube shape in the round to make the pumpkin. The photo below was taken last night before I filled it with polyester stuffing and closed up the top and bottom of the pumpkin.

This pattern was easy to follow and makes for a great quick knit to make something festive for this time of the year. I used orange and white yarns to knit the two pumpkins. The white pumpkin was larger because the Loops & Threads Select Wool in the white colorway was thicker than the  Loops & Threads Impeccable orange yarn. I love how they turned out and I also knitted up the i-cord stems in brown cotton Bernat yarn to top it off.

I have been reading The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. I think this book will help me to understand how habits that we form make our lives flow better and so far I learned that there is a part of our brain that actually works to help us to remember how to do things so that we can have more time and brain capacity for other thoughts and actions. I am trying to get into creating more positive habits in my life especially when it comes to getting ready for work so I am more organized and just do what I need to do to have a good work week instead of rushing around to get things done. This will allow me to take the guessing out of my schedule during the week and follow a schedule so I can be more receptive to new opportunities at work with less thought and just the use of habits helping be to be more successful.

Joining along with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On and Small Things for Ginny's Yarn Along.

Thank you for visiting my blog today! I hope that you have a great weekend

Happy Easter! and Some Updates

Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. I had a wonderful weekend going to lunch on Saturday with Liam's family and going to my parent's place for dinner last night. I gave his mom the knitted bunny topper and she loved it which made me so happy. I also gave my parents the bunny topper yesterday and they liked it. I really love Easter with all the bunnies and pastel colors and this can make really cute projects for knitting. I have been looking on Instagram the past couple weeks at all of the adorable knitted bunnies and eggs and was just thinking how much I love holiday knitted pieces, they are usually the cutest and make me feel so happy because of the holiday memories we associate with seeing bunnies at this time of year or knitted pumpkins at Halloween.

I got this felt board  pictured above about a month ago when I was shopping with my friend at Marshall's. I love creating messages on it and the last quote I made was "work hard be kind stay humble". I think it will come in handy for creating messages for Instagram and here and also for my bridal shower and wedding next year.

I am still reading Quiet by Susan Cain and Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult. They are both such interesting reads. I think Quiet is such a good book there is research stories of famous introverts such as Warren Buffet and examples from the author's own experiences. I am trying to pick up my pace in reading these as I am enjoying them but haven't been reading a lot lately due to prioritizing other things to be done.

In knitting, I would really love to find a shawl pattern soon to begin a shawl and will be looking on Ravelry for some fun patterns.

Wedding plans are coming along. We have the venue and are now contacting venders to set up appointments. As my sister says, it is busy at the one year mark in planning the wedding, then once you have all of the vendors and venue then there is a long period of time you don't have to do much in the way of planning. So I am hoping to get all my ducks in a row with the vendors soon, so I can relax for awhile. I am getting excited for the big day!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today and if you are also celebrating Easter I hope you have been enjoying your weekend celebrating with family and friends.

Happy Halloween! Knitted Ghost

Hello Friends,

I hope you are well. I hope that you are having a great Halloween! I knitted up this little ghost for Halloween the past couple of days. His name is Gus on the pattern I used, and he was such a fun and quick knit to knit up just in time for Halloween.

I used the pattern Gus and Augustus Ghosts by Patricia L Clark found on Ravelry. I used some worsted weight white yarn that was leftover in my stash and used size 3.75 mm circular needles. The pattern calls for using double pointed needles, but I had no problems with using circular needles instead. I used polyester stuffing to fill the ghost and I used thread to sew the eyes. 

He fits in nicely in the apartment beside his pumpkin friend. He is trying his hardest to be scary but he is way too cute!

He knits up a short and small size and his style has the flowy bottom made by knitting purl stitches. The other ghost in the pattern is his friend Augustus, who is taller and skinnier. I hope to knit him up for next Halloween and they haunt together.

Joining along with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On and with As Kat Knits for Unraveled Wednesday.

I will share some more updates with you soon on knitting plans and reading updates. Thank you for visiting!

Have a great day!

Blogmas: Knitted Stockings Hung Up, and Reading On

Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. I am getting very excited for Christmas to come now, which is only FIVE days away! I still feel like I have a lot to do before that day comes. I need to buy some more gifts,  wrap the gifts, and finish knitting a gift. I have a feeling in the next few days I will be doing a lot of knitting and wrapping while watching Christmas movies. On Monday, I finished my final exam for my courses towards my certificate in Office Administration. I will be job searching after the holidays and into the new year. I am happy to be done and can move on to this next stage in my life.

I finished knitting the second Christmas stocking a couple of days ago and have added the loop to hang it up and sewing in some ends and getting them ready to be hung. I also sewed the cuffed down in four points on each cuff so they were still stretchy but stayed cuffed. I originally sewed the whole cuff down but then it was too stiff and I couldn't stretch the cuff out too much. I thought this wouldn't be great if we wanted to put in some larger gifts into the stocking. I was happy that my second attempt worked out better just sewing parts of the cuff. To knit the stockings, I used the pattern Jumbo Christmas Stockings in a Jiffy- Striped by Jennifer Jackson from Ravelry. I am looking forward to filling my boyfriend's up soon with all the goodies I bought him.

 I used Command hooks on the windowsill to hang them up. I used the larger hooks which are more sturdy to hold the stockings. Which is needed especially once they are filled with gifts. The stockings are so big and cozy and I found another way to make them even more festive by putting this plush Clarice inside at the top of the stocking. She looks so cute peeking out the top!

 Here is a view from entering our living room. I love the way the stockings look from this angle and make the room look even more festive and cozy.

My boyfriend bought me this festive bouquet of pine and holly. I love how it smells! I added it to the corner of our living room beside the couch. 

I finished reading My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella last Thursday. I really enjoyed reading this book because there were funny parts and sad and serious parts of the book. I really liked that the story line took place in both the city and country. I liked the protagonist Katie, she was funny, creative, and sassy. I would definitely recommend reading this book if you are looking for a quick and fun read. I am currently reading Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. I am really enjoying reading this one too. I have a feeling it will be a very inspirational and reflective book to read. I am at the point in the book where she has just started her hike along the Pacific Crest Trail and I am interested to see where it takes her emotionally. My progress is 8/10 books read to complete my goal of 10 books read by the end of the year. Once I finish reading Wild, I will be at nine books read. I have decided that I will also be finishing the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo and that will be my tenth book read. I am almost done reading it. I had been reading it as I was moving through the steps and organizing, but I will work on finishing it up before the new year begins and also finish organizing and decluttering my apartment.

What are you working on and reading this week?

Joining along with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On and As Kat Knits for Unraveled Wednesday

Thank you for visiting my blog and if you would like to keep updated on when I post, please follow me on Bloglovin', Google Followers, and you can also subscribe through email at the top right corner of my blog.

Have a great day!

Knitting Progress and Some Christmas Decor

Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. Yesterday I went to the Eaton centre in Toronto and made my very first Christmas gift purchase. I was happy to buy something yesterday while at the mall before it gets way too crazy there with people running around looking for last minute gifts. I would really like to get all my shopping done in November preferably but we shall see. I put up my mini Christmas tree beside my desk on the file cabinet. I really love it being there, so now when I am doing work, I can have it right beside me and feel the coziness of a lit Christmas tree. I will be adding small ornaments to it soon and maybe knit a few small ball ornaments to hang up for knitting inspiration. I will be putting up all of my Christmas decorations soon except the tree because we buy a real tree closer to Christmas so I will share that with you in December. I can't wait to put up the tree!

Knits under the tree

I made some progress on knitting the tank top yesterday and today. It has been fun to knit so far! I love the texture of the yarn and it is easy to knit quickly with the yarn and the metal needles I selected. I have not made further progress on the stocking recently, but I will be picking it up tomorrow to make some progress so I can finish it soon.

While downtown Toronto last weekend, I took some pictures of Christmas decorations that were put up at the Eaton Centre and outside the Bay in their windows. The Eaton centre has a huge reindeer up so far, but they have not revealed the Christmas tree yet. Looking forward to seeing it when it is put up.

It is tradition to go see the window decorations outside the Bay at Christmas time and my sister and I made sure we paid them a visit. I only took a photo of the Toronto themed window which I liked the most. The trains at the bottom of the display spun around. I liked the Toronto sign behind the skating rink which is in Nathan Philips square. It has become a popular spot in Toronto. I also love the CN tower in the background.

Bay windows winter display in Toronto

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today! Please follow me on Bloglovin', Google Followers, or you can subscribe through email at the top right corner of the blog.

Have a great day!

Finished Knitted Bat, Decorating for Halloween, and Reading On

Hello friends,

I hope you are doing well. This weekend, I spent time with my family, and catching up and going for a birthday dinner since my birthday was at Thanksgiving and we get busy with having the holiday dinner.

I have finished knitting this little bat for Halloween. I used a pattern that I found on Ravelry called Violet the Little Bat. It is a very simple pattern, and great for beginner knitters too! I wanted a quick and fun project for Halloween and it was the perfect project for me right now and so adorable.

First, I knitted the body and head by knitting in the round and increasing stitches, then decreasing stitches when getting to the bat's head. Then I moved onto the ears which were also knitted in the round to make the ears fuller. I did not add stuffing to the ears though as it is not requested in the pattern. Then for the wings, I still used the circular needles but did not knit in the round for the pattern. I added the eyes with some gray yarn sewn on with my darning needle. You can make your eyes using a different color and knit the body a different color from the wings if you prefer. There are many possibilities with making this project your own and being creative.

Bat hanging up on wall. I used one of the ends of yarn from sewing the wings on the body to create a loop to hang the bat.

I have been continuing to work on sewing the 3timesChic sweater seams as well. I am working on sewing the second side now and then I will be working on the neck edging. If you would like to read the entries I have written over the year about knitting my first sweater, please click here.

Sweater in progress

I decorated the apartment for Halloween and fall today. I had a few out already but it takes a little bit more time to take them all out and put them around. I just kept the decorating to our living room and put a few of my favorites on shelves. I don't really have a lot of decorations right now with little storage space.

Below are two pumpkins from Michael's that I bought last year, and the cat with a sign saying "trick or Treat" from the Milton farm craft fair a couple of years ago.

Pumpkin patch

I knitted the pumpkin below last year and it was really fun to knit up! You can see last year's post and how to make the pumpkin here.

Squishy pumpkin

This is my favorite Halloween decoration I own. I have had this small haunted house since I was a child. I am pretty sure I bought it from the dollar store but it is still in good shape other than the one ghost missing a head! But I guess that can make it even spookier! I like how it opens up to show inside the house as well, these are so fun for kids and adults too.

Haunted house, opens up to show many spooky inhabitants

I enjoy decorating for each holiday and it adds to the fun of celebrating. Will you be decorating your home for Halloween this year? And what are your favourites?

I am still reading My Not so Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella and Mercy for Animals by Nathan Runkle on my online Overdrive account. I have been reading them on my phone, which makes them easier to bring them along with me wherever I go and have some time to read. The books I am reading are both so interesting and I will be trying to read more of them before they both are due very soon and will go back to their lengthy hold lists.

Joining along with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On, AskatKnits for Unwraveled Wednesday, and The Little Room of Rachael for Yarning Along.  What are you working on and reading this week?

Thank you for visiting my blog! If you would like to keep updated on when I post an entry, please follow my blog on Bloglovin', Google Followers, and you can include your email in the subscribe by email button at the top right corner of this page.

Have a great day!

Knitted Tiny Christmas Stocking

Hello Friends,

Lately I have been very busy knitting up socks for my family for Christmas gifts and knitting small stockings. I am also going to knit up some children's hats to donate to the Salvation army soon as I finish up some more projects and I can't wait for that. I volunteer at the Christmas Toy Depot at a church in my home town every year, and they have donated toys and gifts for families who need extra support around this expensive time of year. There are always knitted treasures there that have been donated by knitters and crocheters. Last year there was a woman looking for gifts for her children and she was thrilled to see the knitted mittens and scooped them up. I  saw the true appreciation for the knitted and handmade items and it warmed my heart. I've decided to knit hats this year I will start as soon as possible. Today I am sharing photos of some small knitted stockings I have knitted up, they aren't finished in the photos I still want to add a loop on the end to be able to hang them up. They will be so great to give as gifts and put some small gifts inside.

I found this pattern online for "the balm sock" which is a small stocking that you can give with a lip balm as a gift idea. I found the pattern on the blog Simply Notable you can find the pattern here.

Finished one, almost finished my second one

These little stockings are a lot of fun to knit up quickly I can knit one each day, it doesn't take too long. I chose this red yarn with silver strands running through it because it looked very festive. The white yarn I used for the cuff and heel is Isaac Mizrahi University Yarn - Julliard 3 oz.. I have had the red yarn for too long without the label I cannot remember what brand sorry about that, but the Issac Mizrahi University Yarn - Parsons would be lovely to use for the stocks as well.

I used bigger needles than the pattern requested I used 3.75 mm, I tweaked the pattern a bit because I wanted it to be longer than the first attempt following the pattern which turned out looking like a baby sock. I knitted 3 inches from the top of the cuff before I knitted onto the waste yarn, and when toe shaping and casting off for the heel I only did so when there were 8 stitches remaining to get more length. I found the pattern easy to follow and informative. 

These are some socks I have been working on, The blue socks are for my mom and the grey socks are for my sister. I am currenly working on the first sock for my sister and just making adjustments to the blue socks for my mom. I love working with Charisma Heather yarn by Loops & Threads that I am using for these socks. The yarn is so soft and a bit on the chunkier side so the socks come out so cozy.  I am following the VeryPink Knits video and pattern for knitting socks in magic loop.

Thank you for visiting my blog and hopefully there are some patterns that you will give a try!

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Happy Halloween & How to Knit a Pumpkin!

Hello Friends! 

I love Halloween and all it comes with, costumes, decor, candy and watching Halloween related . movies. I also enjoy seeing all the cute knitting creations on other people's blogs and Instagram. It is a lot of fun to see what you all are knitting and crocheting. Today I just finished knitting up a pumpkin just in time for Halloween! I will post photos of my completed pumpkin below and a video made by Studio Knit which I used to knit up my pumpkin. I loved following her videos on how to both knit the pumpkin and the i-cord which was new for me, I love knitting I-Cords they are fun and quick and turn out really nicely. Tonight I am going to stay in with my boyfriend and watch a cute Halloween movie like Hocus Pocus and eat chocolate and candy.

Here is the video I followed to knit the pumpkin by Studio Knit: 

Happy Halloween, hope you all have a good one!

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Small Knitted Christmas Santa Hat Ornament

Hello again friends! 

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 34 DAYS!!
Today I was working on knitting some miniature Christmas Santa hats to hang on the Christmas tree.  I made up my own little pattern for the project.  It's very simple to follow and such a quick knit.
The pattern is posted below the photos.  Hope you enjoy making your own Santa hat ornaments!

 

MATERIALS:

red yarn
white yarn
6 mm circular needles
yarn threading needle


PATTERN:

Cast on 12 stitches using size 6 mm  needles
divide stitches equally (6 stitches) onto the two needles of the circular needles
knit for 5 rows using white wool
switch colors to red wool and knit for  9  rows
start decreasing by 2 stitches (1 decrease for each needle) each row for 4 rows after until you have 4 stitches left
switch to the white yarn again to make your pompom and knit for 4 rows then run the yarn through the stitches with your threading needle and tie a knot.
Use your threading needle to weave all strands into the inside of the hat.
tie a piece of yarn (any color) on the back of your hat to make the ornament to hang onto the tree.

I hope you enjoyed this pattern ! Have a nice night :)