gift boxes

I should have done this post on Boxing Day and I would have looked very clever indeed. Because who wouldn't think to post boxes on Boxing Day? Apparently everybody but me.

These were boxes for gift cards that I made out of heavy duty scrapbook paper. I'm so clever that the one in the Road Trip paper actually has a gift card for gas in it. All the gift cards were loved and people oohed and ahhed over the boxes and promptly took out the card and threw out the box. Then there's my dad who couldn't figure out that the inside slides out of the outside so he just ripped it open.


I like Menard's better than Home Depot, but Home Depot is in town and the recipient goes there more often. Ultimately gifts are about the recipient.

The template for the box was from Heather Bailey and can be found here.

another neckwarmer

This time I made up my very own pattern. It was incredibly simple, but I'm still proud of it. And it was finished right in time for ice, rain and wind. Perfect timing.

I used a cashmere/merino wool blend in this superb pumpkin color. I still have half a ball left that I'm not sure what I'll do with, but I will find something.

I've heard it's pretty nasty in some areas, so be careful driving. And remember, if you plan a huge family get together, be sure to invite everyone. Happy Holidays!

I am so not in the the holiday spirit it isn't even funny. I'm tired of being forgotten about (or maybe it's downright ignored, I'm not sure exactly) and of people acting like my feelings don't matter. The holidays really do seem to bring out the worst in people.



So these mittens were supposed to be a gift for Daughter to open on Christmas morning. It would have worked well had I not left them out on the couch overnight. I didn't even realize it until I heard "Green mittens! For me! Thank you thank you thank you!" So she'll have one less gift, but it's good to know she loves these.


The pattern was "Nell" from Junior Knits by Debbie Bliss. I left out the button holes since I wasn't making a sweater for them to button onto, but the rest I did as is. They were so easy and they seem to be greatly appreciated. Daughter even put them away so she wouldn't lose them.

number 2

Sweater for Son. I'm not a huge fan of the pattern, but it's super simple and I knew it would go fast and I'd be able to finish it. The stitches in between the decreases for the raglan sleeves just always seem so loose when I do this sweater. I thought it might have been because the pattern tells you to leave just one stitch in between decreases, so I left two this time. It doesn't seem to have helped. It doesn't look bad when you see the sweater, it's just a nitpicky thing from me. Something I feel like I should be able to do but it doesn't work out. And next time I'm totally just binding off the under arm stitches. I don't mind doing the kitchener on socks, but under the arms just leaves a hole on one side that I then have to sew up. If I'm going to sew, I might as well just sew two bound off edges together.


Look at how even those stitches are. Just in case you think you're eye sight is going, that middle button is a different color. I was buying more beads for buttons.

pictures mean you don't have to read

I finished the first of 2 sweaters. I actually finished on Sunday, but today was the first day I could get a photo of it without Daughter around. I think she'll like it considering she dances like a "ballerina" quite often.


Some detail of the picot edging around the sides and neck. It's really simple to do and adds a nice finishing touch to the whole thing.


The back with the tie. I really wanted to hang it up for a photo, but the tie kept falling down past the bottom and that just looked funny. There are a few nitpicky things that I don't like with the sewing of the sleeves, but overall I think it turned out great and hopefully it will fit her well.

A day of Christmas

A couple weeks ago we got all bundled up and took Daughter to Chicago to see the Christmas decorations. She had so much fun and really wanted to see the Princess at the Walnut Room, but since we went on a weekend it was too crowded and too long of a wait.


The theme of the windows this year is Letters to Santa. Inside of Macy's is a large mailbox and a table set up where kids can write a letter to Santa and put it in the box. For every letter in the box Macy's will donate money to the Make a Wish Foundation. I forget how much for every letter.

I liked the Robot guy a lot. It reminded me of the movie Robots. I'm not sure if it's supposed to or not. I didn't read the words in the corner.

As far as I know Martha Stewart did not decorate the tree this year. I actually saw it the year she did it and as much as I love Martha, I did not like the tree.


After Macy's we headed to Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza. I've never seen the back of so many heads. We didn't get to see anything in the market due to the massive amount of people standing around and drinking. I would have thought that there were warmer places in Chicago to drink, but I was apparently wrong.


The tree was a little anemic this year due to the city not having a lot of money. It was still nicely decorated and I'm going to just be happy they didn't cut down a massive amount of trees.

So many babies

DSC_0011, originally uploaded by chasingthenuns.

The baby that received this blanket is now over a year old. It's still my most "favorited" item on Ravelry. Perhaps it's the color. I had to do a lot of baby items at the time and I got really sick of the pastels, plus I was hoping the receiver might still like this when he was older and outgrew the pale blue everything phase. That could be wishful thinking on my part as he may very well like toys and dirt or Barbie.

Christmas from Last Year

DSC_0001, originally uploaded by chasingthenuns.

Every year I do a hand knit sweater for Daughter. This shrug (rav link) is from Debbie Bliss's Essential Knits for Kids and was the sweater I chose to do last year. Amazingly it does still fit her still, which is nice. She gets a lot of wear out of the clothes I make her as long as she chooses to wear them. Every time this is washed Husband mistakes it for pants and has to ask how it should be folded (this isn't a complaint as I'm thrilled he helps with the folding at all...I know too many people who aren't as lucky).

This year I'm using the same book but I'm making the Ballet Top (rav link) instead. I figure if she complains at first I'll just explain that ballerinas wear tops like this and then she'll want to wear it everyday. If that doesn't work I'll say Cinderella wears shirts like that. Only one more sleeve and some ties to do and then it'll be on to Son's sweater. I'm not sure which pattern to do for him. I may just choose the Placket Neck Pullover (rav link) from Last Minute Knitted Gifts since it goes fast and there's not a lot of sewing involved.

Is Christmas over yet?

All I do is talk about how busy I am with the Holiday crafting. I'm starting to bore myself. So I'll avoid it for today. Instead I'll remind you of warmer times and you can momentarily forget that 6 inches of snow is in the forecast for tomorrow evening/night. (If you live in the Chicago area that is).



A tank top that was done for a friend's daughter. She became a new sister back in August, but because it was a little chilly this summer and it was September before she got it (the baby was born in very late August, possibly even the last day in August, I forget) it's been worn over t-shirts and long sleeve shirts instead. Because it's an apron style shirt it should fit well into next summer. Because it's an apron style shirt with a tie back it should fit well into next summer.

The pattern can be found here and on Ravelry.

Happy December

Now is the time I start to panic about all the Holiday crafting that I still need to do. Plus I need to put some new stuff on Etsy and exercise to make up for all the Holiday eating that I'll be doing. My new boots came today so I've been wearing them to break them in for Husband's Holiday party. I don't want my feet to hurt when I'm drinking wine and looking at art (it's at the Museum of Contemporary Art!). This is a really random post as I don't have anything to say, but I felt the need to dust off the blog.

Everybody should have one of these (NSFW so wait until you get home).