This Little Lemon

Volando Test Knit

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Thu, 21 May 2015 03:25:00 +0000

I've done a little test knitting this year. It's unpaid work, but it's fun to see what's new in the world of knitwear design and to mingle some promising new designers. (Kate Massey, people. One to watch.) I guess it's not really unpaid work, because free pattern. Yes, I need a cardboard sign that says, "Will knit for more patterns and yarn."

Pattern: Volando by Kate Massey

Yarn: Mustard (5652) Heritage by Cascade Yarns

Model: my friend Jackie (thank you for being all gorgeous for the camera!)

Rav project notes here.

Bubble Tea Hat Test Knit

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 03:41:00 +0000

Having one of your photos as the first featured photo on a designer's pattern page? Pretty awesome. Thanks, Gabrielle! And thanks, patient husband, for modeling a hat in a motel parking lot in the middle of a long road trip.

Pattern: Bubble Tea Hat by Gabrielle Danskknit
Yarn: Turtle (2452) Cascade 220 Heathers and Charcoal Gray (8400) Cascade 220 by Cascade Yarns
Rav project notes here.

Heathering Heights Test Knit

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 03:53:00 +0000

Feeling pretty good about knocking out a test knit and a birthday present in one fell swoop. Happy birthday, Tam! Glad you could model it in person.

Pattern: Heathering Heights by Crocus Crocus
Yarn: Charcoal Gray (8400) Cascade 220 and Mystic Purple (2450) Cascade 220 Heathers by Cascade Yarns
Rav project notes here.

Charlie's Winter Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 05:09:00 +0000

Pattern: enlarged and adapted from Golden Pear by Melissa Thomson
Yarn: misc. Cascade 220 Heathers ends by Cascade Yarns
Rav project notes here.

Handspun Skinny Tube Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 19:51:00 +0000

So first thing this morning I decided to hold a personal photo shoot. Only one picture of myself turned out, as I had little helpers bumping the tripod and climbing on chairs trying to see the pictures on the camera's screen as I snapped them with my remote. They are enthusiastic assistants, I'll give them that. I did finally get Lucy settled with some Cheerios (hard work, those little O's) and plopped Charlie in front of Monkey Pumpkin, or, in layman's terms, Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest.

I wanted to take some pictures because I finished my long, skinny scarf last night. You guys, it is, no lie, the first item I've ever made for myself. I've been knitting for 15 years. That's insane, right? I had a skein of handspun from Paradigm Farms, an alpaca farm owned by a local fiber artist, and decided that it would knit up best into a simple tube scarf, so the yarn would be the focal point instead of a design. The alpaca is so soft, and I like the other scrap fibers spun in with it. The pops of color are interesting, but the total palette is cohesive. I like it!

We've had such warm weather lately (think high 70s, low 80s), I was sure I'd missed my window to enjoy the scarf this winter. But, obviously, I still have an opportunity to bundle up with this Winter Storm Quantum or whatever we're calling it.

I've written the "pattern" below, but honestly, it's pretty straight forward. You might have guessed the pattern by looking at the scarf. My yarn was marked as a light worsted yarn, but it's a pretty rustic handspun with lots of thick and thin details. I knit the scarf on large dpns, so it's is a little open in places, and very stretchy.

Skinny Tube Scarf
See it on Ravelry!

Materials
150-175 yds of light worsted or DK weight yarn (I used handspun alpaca)
US size 9 double pointed needles
yarn or tapestry needle

Pattern
1. Cast on 18 stitches.
2. Rearrange the stitches on three dpns. Join for working in the round.
3. Knit. Knit some more. Knit for days. Knit knit knit.
4. When you have about 1/2 yd of yarn left, or have reached your desired scarf length, bind off all stitches.
5. Weave in ends. Blocking optional, but I like the unblocked look.
6. Go look fabulous in your new scarf.

Charlie's Pullover

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 15:10:00 +0000

I ran out of yarn for Charlie's pullover (barely, just barely ran out) a couple of days before Christmas. I picked up the yarn out of state, so there was no chance of running out and grabbing another skein (especially without any LYS here in Lubbock). We went back to Utah right after Christmas, so I got to swing by Harmony for more Manos.

I finally finished it. I have to say I'm not happy with the collar/neck bit. Admittedly, I think the mistake is mine, not the pattern's. I should have stitched the end of the neck in one more row to create the tube for the drawstring. Instead, that tube is a little shorter on the front that the back, and the whole thing is rolling out. I haven't blocked it yet (wasn't planning on it, truth be told) so maybe I'll give the pullover a little dip and block the daylights out of the neck and see if it can be saved. If not, I'm wondering if I care enough to rip out the neck and start again.

Thanfully, Charlie is still such a tiny little guy (2.5 years old and 23.5 lbs fully dressed) he'll definitely get another winter's use out of the sweater. It's pretty huge on him this year, but still wearable with the sleeves rolled up.

Charlie really wasn't in the mood for a fashion shoot, but acquiesced when I agreed to take some pictures of the dinosaur I gave him for Christmas.

Pullover
Pattern: Abate
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Maxima
Rav notes here.

Dinosaur
Pattern: Dinosaur Jr.
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport

Cables for Days

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 02:18:00 +0000

I technically have three works-in-progress at present: the scarf you see above, which I intended to knit for my mister for Christmas, but because of some serious miscalculation/procrastination on my part, he graciously agreed to receive it for his birthday in February; Lucy's sweater, which needs only buttons, which I had ready to attach until one shattered unexpectedly in my hands; and Charlie's pullover, which needs its collar still, but I had to make an emergency run to a yarn store in Utah before that could happen. Thank goodness Harmony had one skein left in the dye lot I needed. Phew.

I really enjoy this scarf pattern by Jared Flood, who is one of my favorite designers right now. The cables are a nice challenge. After one repeat of the 28ish rows that make up the main body of the scarf, I had a pretty good sense for the pattern and can now do the repeats without a sweat. I'm using a yarn my mom bought in California a while back. It's listed as worsted weight, but to me it looks and feels like a true sport weight, which is much, much lighter. My mom got me two skeins, and at over 1000 yds, I had hoped to make something larger for Mike, but I knew this yarn and yardage wouldn't work up into an entire sweater. He had asked for a scarf a while back, so I doubled up the yarn and got to it.

My favorite component of the scarf is the i-cord edge. Genius. The edges look so clean, and I'm betting they'll look even better blocked. I'm sure the tubular cast-on is another nice feature but it was impossible to see what I was doing with the varigation of the yarn, so I just cast on normally. I don't think the extra work would have made any special difference in the final product.

It takes me about an hour to do one pattern repeat, so I anticipate finishing the scarf in a week or two.

Happy new year!

Pattern: Quay
Yarn: Galler Yarns Peruvian Tweed in Charcoal Black
Rav notes here.

Handmade Monday: Backyard Boutique

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 01:37:00 +0000

Want to see some awesome handmade items? If you're in Lubbock, come check out the Backyard Boutique this Saturday, November 15, 9am to 6pm at the Maxey Community Center at 4020 30th Street.

I had the opportunity to help promote the event this morning on Fox 34's Look Around Lubbock program. It was so fun and surprisingly not-terrifying. Ashley Claster was so much fun to work with, and I really liked getting a sneak peek of some of the items that will be up for sale this weekend.

I had to wake up at 4:30am to get to the recording on time. I put on a full face of makeup, but forgot mascara. Oops. My voice sounds ragged and, also, my favorite slouchy sweater is not as flattering as I thought. But. My first morning news stint was awesome! Thanks again to the ladies at Backyard Boutique and Fox 34 for this opportunity. I had a blast!

FO Friday: Baby Girl Cardigan

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 15:44:00 +0000

Pattern: Sunnyside
Yarn: Knitpicks Stroll Hand-Painted in Legwarmer
Rav notes here.

FO Friday: Woolies Galore!

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:03:00 +0000

I put some new woolies in my Etsy shop a few days ago. I'm attending a cloth diaper event next week here in Lubbock, so I've been knitting a few more woolies as fast as I can. I've got some blue/burgundy shorties on the needles right now. I'm an inch in to the first leg and I'm hoping to knock the rest out tonight!

(Also: I have to get some posterboard. All those stripes back to back are making me a little queasy!)

FO Friday: Lucy's Blessing Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 23:10:00 +0000

Lucy was blessed in church a couple of weeks ago. The day before her blessing, it started to rain (yes, rain, in Lubbock!) and it hasn't let up since. Far be it from me to complain; I love this weather, and the land desperately needs the water. I had hoped to take some pictures of Lucy outside as I had with Charlie when he was blessed, but today the light through the window was nice, and Charlie was asleep, and Mike was home, and, well, you just have to jump on the perfect moment when it presents itself.

Charlie's blessing outfit was made out of white seersucker (you can catch a glimpse here), perfect for a San Antonio summer baby. I wanted to make something for Lucy that would complement her brother's outfit, so white Swiss dot seemed the right fabric for the job.

I drafted my own pattern using some dresses of Lucy's that fit, making the bodice shorter than the main dress I used as a model, and adding straight sleeves and a slim skirt with just a little fullness. I also found some little white shoes at Dillard's (and paid with a gift card we got when we returned a marriage gift, if I dare confess that in public) and made some little crushed rosettes out of Swiss dot scraps. The whole dress is lined with white cotton, and I added a little trim to fancy it up for Lucy's special day.

I finished the dress after midnight, about 10 hours before the blessing. That's how I roll! Lucy is asleep in the dress next to me right now, and I'm going to let her stay in the dress until she wakes up, because I don't think she'll ever wear this dress again. She is growing up too fast, I can't savor the moments deeply enough!

Handmade Monday: Aunt Steph's Crib Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:12:00 +0000

It occurred to me the other day that we have received some absolutely beautiful handmade items from family and friends with the births of Charlie and Lucy. I was going to throw photos of them all in one post, but I think I'd like to do each one justice with its own tribute.

A year or two ago, I ordered a collection of vintage sheets for a few projects I had in mind. There was one crib sheet that was cute, but for which I had no immediate plans. I gave it to my friend Stephanie (check her out on Instagram), who is as rabid a quilter as I am a knitter. Then I thought of the crib sheet never again.

Until last week, when Steph gave me this adorable crib quilt. As I knew she would, she elevated the lowly crib sheet into something fabulous, useful, and clever. I love the random but uniform wavy quilting, the mod backing to contrast with the vintage pattern, and the incredibly (almost impossibly) perfect binding pattern that ties all the elements of the quilt together. Brava, lovely quilting friend!

(Also, Lucy fits into the wool soaker I knitted for her while I was pregnant. Huzzah!)

FO Friday: Lonely Tree Shawl

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 22:13:00 +0000

I can't even handle how much I love this lady. I have a lot of women in my life who are very important to me: my mother, my four sisters, my grandmother, a few aunts who have made a significant impact. I also have a few close girlfriends from college, and new friends here in Lubbock, but this woman wearing the Lonely Tree Shawl I made for her has a special nook in my heart.

We fatefully met, with our shared love of pugs and reality television, in San Antonio. We moved after a year of friendship, but she's the type of friend who drives half way across the state of Texas for a lunch date, or to snuggle my babies when I need a break. She's a gem, a true delight, and I'm grateful to count her among my closest friends.

Thank you, dear friend, for letting me spring an impromptu photo shoot on you this weekend. I love you!

Pattern: Lonely Tree Shawl
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Souk (Glacier)
Rav notes here.

WIP Wednesday: Sunnyside Baby Cardigan

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:23:00 +0000

Last week I cast on this pattern with some yarn I had set aside for Lucy. The pattern calls for 24" size 4 circulars. Do you know how impossible those are to find? I'll spare you the boring details. Basically, I hated working on size 4 straight needles and the fabric wasn't as tight as I liked. So I went up a pattern size (from 3-6 months to 6-12 months) and went down a needle size (from 4 to 3) and decided to jump in and hope for a sweater that would fit my baby. Fingers crossed. Why don't I just make a gauge swatch? Because they are annoying.

I set aside my Cascade Heritage (Como Blue) and used some Knit Picks Stroll Hand Painted (Leg Warmer) for this test sweater. If it goes well, I'll probably sell it at a craft fair I'm going to in November. Then I'll knit one for Lucy.

I'm loving it so far. A very satisfying knit.

Pattern: Sunnyside
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Hand Painted in Leg Warmer
Rav notes here.

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along.

Lucy's Blanket

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 06:27:00 +0000

It's very late (Early? I don't know. Suffice it to say it is after midnight.) but if I don't write a little bit about this blanket now, I never will.

A blanket that looks like shafts of wheat for my heat-of-summer baby. Clearly I'm not worried about matching my children's blankets with their birth seasons. I like the light lace feel of it. It's superwash wool, but the knit is light. Perfect for these warm days. I throw it on her while she's napping or to block the AC in the car.

Yesterday I started packing up Lucy's newborn clothes. Already! She's just barely a month old. I forgot how fleeting those first tender weeks of life are. But the process is kind; though I put away the clothes that don't fit her little body anymore, she started to give me a few smiles yesterday. I love how her lips wriggle while she tries to smile. She mostly makes an O with her mouth. Adorable. Each sorrow of having a growing baby is tempered with some new and exciting milestone. I love my baby girl. I wish I could press a pause button and soak up each moment. Alas, that isn't how life works, so I'll try to savor the sweet moments as they rush by me.

Pattern: Leafy Baby Blanket (with some modifications)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in daffodil
Rav notes here.

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along. On time for once! Nay, ahead of schedule!

Thank-u-saur

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 02:43:00 +0000

Or a gratitude-saurus rex? I don't know.

Anyway. This is my gift to our family doctor to thank him for bringing our baby girl safely into the world two weeks ago. (More about her soon. I just need to finish that blasted baby blanket, then I'll reveal my two creations at once!)

I recognize that this is a really weird thing to give to the person who delivered our child. A gift card to a nice restaurant probably would have been a more mature, sensible option. But my doctor had made nice comments about my knitting before (I had worked on the baby's blanket in his waiting room for several weeks and he was curious about my knitting obsession) (more likely scenario: he's just a nice guy who was making conversation) so I thought I'd make a little toy for his two kids. Because what good is a knitting obsession if not to shower the world with hand knit squishies?

This was a really satisfying knit. It came together quickly. The pattern was interesting but simple.

I am happy to report that my doctor loved the dino (or pretended to; seriously, the nicest guy). I love how this little squish turned out. He has so much personality. Roar roar roar!

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along. Late as always.

Pattern: Dinosaur Jr.

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers in Spring Meadow and (I think) Blue Stone

Stuffing: reclaimed from garage sale pilllow

Buttons: reclaimed from old shirt

Find my Rav notes here.

The Baby Can't Come

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 20:00:00 +0000

The baby can't come until her blanket is done.

So says her father.

The contractions started a week ago today. It's been long, slow, and maddening to labor like this. Knitting helps.

My nesting urge hasn't been to clean but to create. Yesterday I cranked out new bedding for Charlie's room and a skirt for the baby. Why? Why not.

And so I sit on an exercise ball (or a "fitness orb," if you live in the world of The Office) and knit. Because the baby can't come until I'm through.

Joining Ginny for this week's Yarn Along.

Pattern: Leafy Baby Blanket (I started the Pine Forest Baby Blanket but it didn't keep my attention, so I frogged it)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in daffodil
Find my Rav notes here.

Using Up Sock Yarn Odds and Ends

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:30:00 +0000

It took me almost 10 months to land on the perfect project for the yarn my sister picked out for her birthday present last year. And then it took me a week to knit up this little shawlette. Here it is, blocked.

The pattern is Maluka; the yarn is Creamy Flame by Kollage Yarns. It's a crazy yarn: 80% milk protein, and 20% cotton. That's some weird science, people! Find my Rav notes here.

I have quite a bit of a skein left. Here's a round up of some patterns that use a small amount of fingering-weight yarn, perfect for using up sock yarn scraps. (Each photo comes from the site linked beneath it.)

Hair Accessories

Bonanza Headbands

Rosie Headband

Winding Vine Headband

Cuffs/Bracelets

Bow Pouch

Twin Leaf Wristlets (scroll down to find the pattern)

Cabled Bracelet

Rustic I Cord Wrap Bracelet

Other Funky-doo, Gotta-Knit-'Em Accessories

We're Just That Awesome Cup Cozy

Pencil Sleeves

Egg Sox (just in time for Easter!)

What do you with partial skeins of fingering weight yarn?

Baby Lemon's Blanket

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:50:00 +0000

I wrote this post the evening of October 15, 2012. Why it has languished in my drafts folder for so long, I know not. But as I plan out our baby girl's blanket (Pine Forest Baby Blanket using Cascade 220 Superwash Yarn in Daffodil), I have examined Charlie's blanket over and over, pondering how far I've come as a knitter since I designed and made it. I definitely don't use much acrylic anymore; I made Charlie's blanket out of Caron Simply Soft, and I don't love how it has held up. Live and learn, I suppose. And Charlie's blanket was made with no less love, just because I used cheaper materials. Right? Right. Anyway. Without further ado, a post about Charlie's blanket.

I have four younger sisters. Growing up, we shared just about everything: Barbies, coloring books, clothes, Play-Doh, hair doodads, plastic horses, you get the idea. I suppose at different times, we each had things that no one else touched. I had my Legos and Erector sets, and some of my favorite books. None of my sisters played with them. (In all fairness, I probably didn't give them the chance. A perk of being the first-born and a natural bossypants.)

As is natural in large families, I got first pass on most of the clothes and the toys, simply because I was the first kid to grow into things. Once I got too big or lost interest, this shirt or that stuffed animal was passed down the line, until the youngest had her turn. After our family squeezed the life out of something, we either gave it away or, if we really exhausted its functionality, tossed it in the trash.

My youngest sister ended up being pretty sentimental. I cite the garbage collection of 1999. (You know, like some people collect dolls or shot glasses? That sort of collection.) She became quite attached to a blanket that was made by a friend of my mother's when she was pregnant with me. The blanket was a yard-long, pre-printed panel with a rocking horse. Lots of stark red, blue, and green on a white background. Very 1980s. It was tied with acrylic yarn and bound with a pleated cotton strip sandwiched between the front and back. A pretty simple blanket.

But to my youngest sister, it was Blankie. Forget going anywhere without Blankie. I tip my hat to my parents that she didn't drag into groceries stores or church. But it was always in the car waiting for her when she returned. She loved to cuddle with Blankie. Though we'd all slept on it, drooled on it, had our diapers changed on it, to my youngest sister, and to all of us, it was her blanket, and no one else's.

I made a blanket for Charlie, secretly hoping it would be his Blankie someday. Maybe it will be, or maybe it'll get passed around all my other children as Blankie did. Either way, it was a soothing to knit it during my pregnancy. The pattern was easy enough to remember without having to refer to it, but complicated enough to keep me engaged. It was my first stab at cable knitting, and I think it turned out beautifully. Just ignore the little unraveling issue on the border, if you please.

Linking up with Ginny for her weekly Yarn Along.

thredUP

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 03:19:00 +0000

I tried thredUP.

Goodbye, clothes that I only wore a few times.

Hello, new clothes for Charlie.

Nice mission for a company. I approve.

Thanks. I think I will.

One t-shirt, three short-sleeved collared shirts, three pairs of shorts. All in excellent condition.

I hate to admit it, but I'm a sucker for clever and creative packaging. And pretty fonts.

How thredUP works: you send in gently used clothes, they give you credit in their online consignment store, you shop around, they send you the clothes you selected.

So, first, let's go over what I liked about my thredUP experience. For now, the sack you need to mail in your clothes is free. They mail it to you and cover the cost of shipping the bag back to their warehouse. Nice.

When it came time for me to shop, they had a great selection of brands and styles that I liked. Their standards are rigorous. No loose threads, no stains, no holes. Pristine. I'm pretty sure one of the collared shirts is brand new.

I also like buying used. I like the idea that something I bought for myself but didn't end up loving can have new life with someone else. While donating unwanted clothes to charity is always a great option, especially for clothes that show some wear, I do like getting a little cash back for my like-new clothes, or "shopping errors" shall we say.

Though I chose to shop with thredUP, I liked that I had the option to cash out my bag and walk away with the same amount of money I would otherwise receive as store credit. (Some consignment places offer you store credit or a lesser amount of cash.)

My thredUP experience wasn't without a few hiccups. Since they are offering their thredUP bags for free (I believe it is usually $4-5 to order a bag), they are extremely backed up. They received my bag on January 24, but told me they would not be able to evaluate my bag until February 28. Later, that date was bumped to March 5. I wasn't in any hurry to have my bag evaluated, but the company offered to expedite the whole process by paying me $40, up front, if I agreed to waive the bag evaluation. Or, I could opt to receive $20 immediately, then wait for my bag to be evaluated and receive the surplus, if any, later. Or, I could just wait. Browsing through the site, I figured my bag would probably fetch $25, maximum. I sent in a higher-end cocktail dress, a pair of jeans, several shirts, a sweater or two, and a denim jacket.

I pounced on the $40.

The clothes I picked out came to a little less than $29. For the brands I chose (Gap, Children's Place, Carter's, Kenneth Cole, etc.), seven items of clothing for $29 is a great deal. About what I'd pay for seven items of children's clothing at Savers here in Lubbock. The drawback for me was the cost of shipping. Orders of $50 or more ship for free, but I really didn't want to exceed my store credit, so I opted to use my credit for cover the almost $9 shipping fees. Ouch!

I'll probably use thredUP again if the bags are still free. I am a bit disappointed that they don't consign men's clothes. Mike could use a few new things, and I would have gladly purchased through thredUP had I had the choice. They also don't consign clothing for children under 12 months. I'm itching to buy Baby Girl Lemon some summer skirts and dresses, but I'll have to find them elsewhere. Being a pregnant lady, I'm not looking to buy anything for myself right now (though they do have a good variety of maternity items), but the kids will always be in need of new duds, so I'll always be able to find something to buy.

And that bonus white package that showed up today with the thredUP box? Brown edge Green Mountain Diaper cotton prefolds. So soft. So squishy. I love fluff mail!

Baby Girl Lemon's wool soaker

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:11:00 +0000

Remember that soaker I purposely shrunk? Here is the final produce. I sewed on a vintage blue button I had on hand, and I'm calling it done.

I have accepted the fact that the Vanilla pattern runs big. So this "newborn" soaker is probably more accurately a "small." It'll work fine for the new baby, even if the fold down isn't totally necessary for the umbilical cord stump. The button is still adorable!

Linking up with Ginny for this week's Yarn Along.

Seedlings. My pretties.

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:40:00 +0000

Hello, babies.

The tomatoes came up last Tuesday. Exactly five days after planting (just like the packet said). Those six pods full of long, gangly stems are three different varieties of tomatoes. They were thoughtfully thinned after I took these pictures. And it was painful. I hate pulling out sprouts! But I was happy that we had such a high germination rate. Almost all the pods were three seeds for three sprouts.

Some pods are still looking bare. This morning I noticed a parsley sprout finally poking through.

Other herbs are starting to poke through. Hurray!

Have you started any seeds at home this spring?

Seeds

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 21:27:00 +0000

This morning my trusty assistant and I visited Little Red Nursery on 34th Street in Lubbock to pick up some tomato and pepper seeds. We settled on a pack of organic Roma tomato seeds (for canning), a pack of organic pear tomato seeds (a blend of yellow and red, for snacking), a pack of jalapeño seeds (raw for salsa, pickled for the rest of the year), and a pack of Golden Marconi Pepper seeds (these are apparently deliciously sweet raw, and roast up nicely too, which hopefully means they'll can well). My assistant also pulled a few dozen other packets off the shelf, but the four packets were all we really needed. Sorry, assistant.

I had planned on getting seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, but time got away from me and I didn't want to delay my indoor starts any longer. I'm not 100% devoted to the heirloom vegetable idea. I get that there are beautiful, rare varieties out there that will disappear if they aren't preserved, but if they just aren't that tasty or texturally pleasing (I'm thinking of some unfortunate heirloom tomatoes I've tried), then I don't want them! But I like Baker Creek's site because gardeners weigh in from around the country with their opinions. It is helpful for finding varieties that work well in your region. (FYI, we live right on the border of zones 7a and 7b.)

Anywho. Our seeds ended up coming from Botanical Interests via the local nursery. I'm a sucker for their pretty website, but otherwise I know nothing about them. I got a cheap-o seed starting kit from Walmart and followed the directions. So. If these seeds actually sprout, it'll be thanks to the Jiffy kit. I threw in some of our herb seeds, which I notoriously oversow in my pots and can't seem to thin out (I hate pulling out too many little sprouts!). Hopefully they will thrive with less competition and a rich starting material.

Sleep well, little seeds!

Seed Inventory and a Rough Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 06:22:00 +0000

This post is boring, because it is mostly for my reference. I inherited some seeds from my mom before she and my dad left on a mission for the LDS Church. We finally have a yard, almost three years later, and we have seen lovely warm weather the last couple of days, so I pulled out my seeds today to take stock of what we have. I was pleasantly surprised! Almost everything on my wish list was waiting expectantly for me in my cheery yellow seed box.

Seed inventory

bean, Stringless Blue Lake FM1K pole (LM)*
beet, Detroit Dark Red Medium Top (B)
beet, Detroit Dark Red planting strip (FM)*
broccoli, Green Goliath (B)*
carrot, Scarlet Nantes, organic (B)*
collards, Georgia (B)*
cucumber, Straight Eight (B)*
lettuce, Buttercrunch, organic (B)
lettuce, Tom Thumb (LM)
lettuce, Prizehead (LM)*
lettuce, Salad Bowl (LM)
lettuce, Salad Bowl, organic (B)*
melon, Honey Dew (LM)
pea, Little Marvel bush (LM)*
pea, Super Sugar Snap (B)*
spinach, Bloomsdale Long-Standing (B)*
squash, dark green zucchini (AS)*
Swiss chard, Neon Lights Mix (B)*
Swiss chard, Rhubarb Red (LM)
watermelon, Sugar Baby (LM)

basil, Sweet (B)
basil, Sweet (LM)*
chamomile, German (B)*
chamomile, German (LM)
cilantro, Coriandrum sativum (B) x2
cilantro (B) x2*
cilantro (LM) x3
dill, Dukat (B)*
parsley, Italian (B)*

hollyhock, Summer Carnival, mixed colors (FM)*
nasturtiums, Jewel (LM)
poppy, Iceland, mixed colors (FM) x2
poppy, Oriental Orange Scarlet (FM)
primrose, Showy Evening (FM)
sunflower, Strawberry Blonde (SC)*

AS - American Seed
B - Burpee
FM - Ferry-Morse
LM - Lilly Miller
SC - Sean Conway

The Yard

We have roughed out two beds already, each about 3'x6'. For now, I shall call them bed A (west bed) and bed B (east bed). We dug up the grass (vile weed!), covered the areas with cardboard and a layer of mulch, and left them for the winter. Poking around the yard today, I think we can extend the beds another foot south and one foot north, if we wanted to do so. And felt sufficiently ambitious.

This photo was taken on January 3, around noon, facing south. The fence cast quite a shadow, but it was the dead of winter. You can see the shadow of the tree branches across the yard, which worries me, because in a few months, those branches will be full of shady leaves. However, we will have longer days and a higher sun come summer time, so hopefully we'll have enough hours of strong sun to help our little garden grow.

The side "yard" is shaded almost all day, as it is positioned north of our house. Unfortunately, it's pretty much dead space. Our front yard is very unprotected and the strong high plains winds aren't too friendly. It could be a good place for containers, though.

The wind here is so relentless. The mulch on our beds shifted quite a bit as a result (and I won't go off on the trash that keeps blowing down our alley and up and over our fence, because that is never going to change here). After I took the picture above, I brushed the mulch back over, and have had to do so several times throughout the winter. I'm hoping once we get the soil amended, seeds down, and everything watered regularly, we won't have as much loose dirt to blow around.

I have bounced back and forth between a raised bed garden and an in-ground garden. A raised bed garden would require time, money, and skills we don't really have to build the boxes, plus healthy soil to fill them. On the other hand, the in-ground garden plan would require buying some organic material and renting a tiller to cut through our heavy clay soil and work in the amending materials. Ultimately, the in-ground garden would require less money and time to get started. And, if it is an utter failure, we aren't out too much money and can spring for raised beds next year.

2014 Garden

I've put an asterisk next to everything I'd love to put into the ground over the next few months. I will probably go out for some tomatoes (I have my eye on Bonny Best both for canning and for slicing for sandwiches and burgers, and Sungold Select II for salads) and some peppers (hopefully Tam jalapeños, Italian pepperoncini, and mini yellow bells).

In early spring...

Bed A, which will be home to legumes, brassicas, and greens, from north to south:
snap peas (direct sow, 2/20; install trellis)
collards (direct sow, 3/5)
Swiss chard (direct sow, 2/20, then every 10 days for a month or two)
broccoli (direct sow, 2/20)
lettuces (direct sow, 3/20, then every 20 days for two months)
spinach (direct sow, 2/20)

Bed B, which will be home to tomatoes, peppers, and root veg, from north to south:
[north half empty for now]
carrots (direct sow, 2/20)
beets (direct sow, 2/20)

In late spring/early summer...

Bed A, from north to south:
pole beans (direct sow, 5/1; replaces snap peas, uses same trellis)
collards
Swiss chard
broccoli
lettuces
basil (direct sow, 5/1; replaces spinach)

Bed B, from north to south:
tomatoes (start indoors, 2/20; transplant, 4/10; install cages)
peppers (start indoors, 2/20; transplant, 4/20; install stakes)
bush peas (direct sow, 4/20; replaces carrots; install stakes)
cucumber (direct sow, 4/20; replaces beets)
zucchini (direct sow, 4/20)

In late summer/early fall...

Bed A, from north to south:
pole beans
collards (new planting, direct sow, 8/15)
Swiss chard (new planting, direct sow, 8/15)
broccoli (new planting, direct sow, 8/1)
lettuces (new planting, direct sow, 9/15)
spinach (new planting, direct sow, 9/1; replaces basil)

Bed B, from north to south:
tomatoes
peppers
carrots (direct sow, 8/15; replaces bush peas; remove stakes)
beets (direct sow, 9/1; replaces cucumber)
zucchini (new planting direct sow, 8/15)

Apart from the garden in the backyard, I'm planning on growing chamomile, cilantro, dill, and parsley in containers by our garage, which is on the west side of the house but gets full sun. I don't think our rosemary plant survived the winter (I planted it directly in our really lame-o clay soil out back), so I might try rosemary in a container again. All this will happen when I put the basil in, around 5/1.

I'm also thinking about putting some sunflowers and hollyhocks against the north fence of the backyard when I put the herbs in. Just because, well, why not? I have the seeds, right?

It feels good to get this all down on virtual paper. It's like a gritty, muddy confessional. Now we have to get to work. The planting season is upon us. I'll have my eyes on the weather reports and hope that these spring temps continue.

Purposely Shrinking Wool

noreply@blogger.com (Hilary) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:17:00 +0000

Before:

After:

I finished this newborn wool soaker a few weeks ago. I think it looks nice, except for the fact that it fits my 20 lb toddler. I'd call the finished size a small/medium. Not so great for a newborn. I'm just chalking it up to the fact that I used a really irregular yarn (10 wpi??) and wasn't terribly careful with checking gauge (I never am).

Possible solution? Purposely shrinking my wool garment.

I searched for different methods for shrinking wool. The consensus: get it wet, then dry it on hot in the dryer. I dunked the soaker in hot water, agitated it a bit, then plunged it in cool water, which supposedly seizes up the fibers so they contract. Then I tossed it in the dryer for hours. Seriously, that thing was wet, even after rolling it in a towel and squeezing the excess water out.

Ultimately, the soaker didn't shrink very much. The ribbing shrunk up pretty well, which will actually help the fit, but I'd still classify this as a solid small wool soaker. So. I'm going to try this pattern with some pretty new yarn I scored off eBay (this Cascade 220 in Framboise) and maybe this time I'll actually make a full gauge swatch before I botch another project.

Linking up with Ginny for this week's Yarn Along.