Make It Or Bake It

For the last two year, the Sidekick and I have participated in Make It Or Bake It for Christmas. The idea behind it is to try and make or bake the majority of your gifts for coworkers, friends, family, or anyone you are giving something to because you feel obligated to. Just kidding. Last year, I knitted the girls I work with each something unique. This year I am doing the same. It is quite the endeavour. And, like last year, I am insisting I am going to start earlier for Christmas 2015. I never end up giving myself enough time.

If you aren't a knitter, or artistically awesome like the Sidekick who can draw, literally anything, there are other ways to participate in Make It Or Bake It. Two years ago I made caramel corn for a few family members, which I think they enjoyed, and this year I am going to try my hand at candies for those I love.

The simple fact is, I am too poor to buy everyone gifts (granted, knitting people things is also kind of expensive). And I also am finding the consumerism of Christmas daunting, which is why Make It Or Bake it was brought into fruition.

What are you making or baking for people this year?

The Endpaper Mitts I made for Tiffiny last year. 

Do It Yourself

As I typed the title of this here post, I thought of an awesome way to touch on independence and taking care of yourself. But that isn't going along with the theme, now is it? Instead, I am writing about Christmas. Inspiration strikes when you least want it. Well, it shall not get the best of me today.

One of the reasons I came up with this blogging challenge was so I would have a month of planned out blogs and not have to worry about 'coming up with' stuff to write about on the spot. I may be quick on my feet, but after 11 months straight of blogging, I need a little help. And also, I have a lot of knitting to do. Today, we are talking about doing it yourself.

There are so many Do-It-Yourself Christmas projects out there. I mean, Pinterest is overrun with a million things you could try to make and fail at. I absolutely love making things for people. I've decided to never buy another scarf, toque, mitts or cowl again. Ever. Now that I knit, fairly well, I might add, I can't fathom the idea of buying a cheap knitted item for anyone. However, I will buy you a sweater because I am not that quick of a knitter and have yet to knit myself a sweater, let alone someone else. Knitting is my go-to Do-It-Yourself.

I also bake. When in the grocery store, I avoid the cookie aisle. Sometimes those suckers are so tempting. Except. they never taste as good as homemade cookies. So, another thing I will never buy again, chocolate chip cookies. Or any cookie.Well, except fig newtons. I haven't been able to master those yet, but I did come up with these amazing chocolate peppermint sandwich cookies that are amazing. I'd share the recipe but I can't find it.

This year, I am branching out and trying a new project: caramels. I am determined to make tasty vegan caramels for people. Hopefully, I can master these in time for Christmas giveaways. Fingers crossed. So, if you are looking for me this weekend, you may find me in the kitchen, all sticky and grumpy.

Another thing I would love to try to make is decorations for our tree. I imagine when I have children I will become super crafty overnight and be this amazing Martha Stewart mom. Seriously, I envision making advent calendars and sewing stockings, patchwork quilts and clothing. All things I have no idea how to do now. Dream big, right? Sometimes I see what other people create and get insanely jealous over their raw talent. Some people have it. Others don't.

You know what I definitely can't do. Snowflakes. Just like chain paper dolls holding hands. Anything with scissors and paper, count me out. It's important to know where your lines are. Right?

So, what are you doing yourself this year?

Remember this one? 

Moss Stitch

The Sidekick bought me a wonderful little book about knitting. It's a knit stitch guide.

Fancy right? Look at all those colours and patterns. And the book fits in your bag! If that's not a selling feature, I don't know what is. Actually, the price was. It basically ran the Sidekick around six dollars. Hey, big spender! 

Anyhow, for those of you who don't know, knitting is really only comprised of two basic stitches - a knit and a purl. But here's the fabulous thing: depending on how you combine these two stitches, you can actually create other stitches. Wowza! So, the two basic stitches then turn into ninety-six other stitches. Some of them even involve three different colours! How can you even contain your excitement? It's hard, I know.

Because I am what most people call an über nerd, I have decided to work my way through the Knit Stitch Guide. Not only to become more awesome, or awesomer, but to teach myself all the different stitches. Obviously so I can engage with others and dominate conversations with the awing things I know, like the Moss Stitch, which just happens to be the very first stitch in the book.

On a scale of one to ten, ten being the hardest thing ever and one being super duper easy, this stitch is actually a one. A very very soft one. That being said, it`s kind of pretty! And it feels lovely. Now, onto the next!

And because some of you might have read this post and are seriously wondering why you wasted the five minutes, here is a picture of Dixon and I to make it up to you:

Keep Me Warm

Last night, I started knitting a blanket.

It's all knit out of scrap yarn. I'm doing my best, but not too happy with how it is turning out. I am contemplating frogging it back (which means pulling it out and starting all over again). This is a pretty big project for me. I want to knit a blanket and a sweater this year. Since the year is almost half over, I need to get my ass in gear. 

Anyhow, what have you been up to? 

Just Beecause Cowl

Last night, I put the finishing touches on my latest knitting project. This beautiful black and yellow cowl.

The yarn was given to me by an exotic princess of darkness named Adrianne and was this fluffy lushness that I most definitely had to knit something for myself with. But, I decided, I didn't want to do just any old cowl, so I made up my own pattern and am calling it the Just Beecause Cowl. Beecause because it is a gorgeous black and yellow that were meant to be together forever, in cowl form.

For those looking for the pattern it is really very simple and is right here:

Just Beecause Cowl

I crafted this on size 11 (or 8mm) circular needles and used bulky yarn. Honestly, I can't tell you the name of the yarn because I tossed the tags out. Sorry! You can adjust the needls and yarn accordingly, but just ensure you CO with a number that is divisible by 4 and 3, and also even when divided by 4. Does that make sense? It's because of

CO 144 in colour A and join in the round and place marker.
Row 1 - Knit
Row 2 - *K1, k2tog, yo* repeat to end
Row 3 - Knit
Row 4 - *K1, yo, k2tog* repeat to end
Row 5 - Knit
Row 6 - *K1, k2tog, yo* repeat to end
Row 7 - Knit
Row 8 - *K1, yo, k2tog* repeat to end
Row 9 - Knit
Row 10 - *K1, k2tog, yo* repeat to end
Row 11 - Knit
Row 12 - *K1, yo, k2tog* repeat to end
Row 13 - Knit
Change to colour B
Row 14 - Knit
Row 13-16 - *K4, P4* repeat to end
Row 17-20 - *P4, K4* repeat to end
Row 21-24 - *K4, P4* repeat to end
Row 25-28 - *P4, K4* repeat to end
Row 29-32 - *K4, P4* repeat to end
Row 33-36 - *P4, K4* repeat to end
Row 37 - Knit
Switch to colour A
Row 38 - Knit
Row 39 - *K1, k2tog, yo* repeat to end
Row 40 - Knit
Row 41 - *K1, yo, k2tog* repeat to end
Row 42 - Knit
Row 43 - *K1, k2tog, yo* repeat to end
Row 44 - Knit
Row 45 - *K1, yo, k2tog* repeat to end
Row 46 - Knit
Row 47 - *K1, k2tog, yo* repeat to end
Row 48 - Knit
Row 49 - *K1, yo, k2tog* repeat to end
Row 50 - Knit

Bind Off loosely. Weave in Ends. Block as necessary.

The brilliant part of this pattern is that it is more like a potion and you can change it as necessary. If you only want to do one colour, only do one colour. If you want to do more checks in the middle, do more checks in the middle. If you want to do one row black, the other yellow, feel free. This pattern is adaptable to suit your needs, wants and desires. Do as what pleases you.

Just a little note. I hate blocking, I rarely ever do it, I would rather allow the cowl to curl up and be fabulous.

And here is where I say, I am grateful I have a firm enough grasp of pattern making to understand how to put this cowl together. I love the way it turned out, and it is functional and fashionable. Keeps me warm, and reminds me of our greatest friends, the bees.

Just Keep Swimming

It's a busy day here at Casa De Tee Tots Tyson.

Not only am I watching terrible television, but I have chili to make. Yam and black bean. It's pretty much one of the most amazing meals you will ever taste. The recipe I use is found on Cookie + Kate. I alter it only a little bit by putting extra yam and adding spices to best suit my refined palate.

To top it off, I am knitting a birthday present for a very special girl. I'd detail it all here, but I can't, because she's on my Facebook. Granted, I am sure she doesn't read my blog that often, there's a chance she might read this one. And since I don't take chances. Never.

I think it's going to be really cool, though.

Added into all this the fact that I can't sleep at night. I got a cold. And I am pretty sure my butt is getting bigger by the minute. And I am worried about moving and selling and property and mortgages and financing and credit scores.

It feels overwhelming.

How do people make it through stressful times?

They just keep swimming.

And so, I swim. Thank you, sweet Gods, for giving me the ability to endure.


Hey, you know what? I don't think I've ever actually seen Finding Nemo!

Sock It To Me

Two nights ago I decided to try my hand at knitting socks. It's a new challenge.

One of my goals for this year is to knit a sweater. But socks are a good stepping stone.

The reason I am hesitating on the sweater is because:

A. I don't have the money for nice yard to knit it with.

B. Debating if I should even knit it on nice yard because it could turn out horrible.

C. Not wanting to knit it with cheap acrylic yarn for fear it will turn out awesome and I will have wasted all that time knitting a perfectly wearable sweater out of material that feels terrible against my skin.

These are the woes of a beginner knitter.

That being said. SOCKS!

The pattern I am using and altering is Dark Isle from Ravelry. It's a fairly straightforward pattern, but I just reached the heel. It took me at least a half an hour to figure out what the pattern was talking about. It's an afterthought heel. If only I'd known that. Here's the problem for someone like me, I don't read the whole pattern ahead of time. That means, sometimes, the important notes are at the bottom of the pattern and I just get stuck halfway through because there's no asterisks or 'hey, look at the bottom' note.

That being said. Moving right along.

My worry is that I will get one sock done and then balk at making the second. If I had two circulars I could have made them both at the same time. At least that's what the internet tells me.

Sometimes I sit back and think it's pretty wonderful that you can make clothing out of a ball of string. Does anyone else find this amazing?

Here are some of the projects I completed recently.

Thank the Gods for yarn and needles.

And these are my WIP socks (Or sock, technically, since I am only knitting one so far):