Purlewe Knits

I finished a soaker! The second one is finished too, except for the little legs. This was Galaway worsted weight yarn and a pattern I modified a bit to fit I’m hoping a 0-3 month old young one (or two!)

I’ve also made some progress on the overalls since I last talked about them and took their picture. At this point I have knitted the front and back flat, joined them in the round and sewn the side seams up. I’ll continue in the round for another 7 inches or so then start the top. I think that on the second pair I’m going to try and do the legs in the round from the beginning - it just goes so much faster.

We also finished planting our garden this week.

On the left we have tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and peppers. On the right, you can see the rows for basil, more peppers, a row for onions, and the radishes, lettuce, and sweet peas I planted a couple of weeks ago.
We have cherry tomatoes on the porch again and Hubby does an awesome job of keeping them watered for me. He’s the best!

Tomorrow I’m starting a new sewing project … I’m excited and nervous all in one!

Even though I haven’t been blogging, I have been busy.

Here’s what I’ve been working on:

Wool soakers for the girls. I did them two at a time - so I have the bodies done - they each just need legs. I started the legs on this one this afternoon.

I’m learning to sew again! I’m super excited! According to Dyan - and she knows. Blankets made with some of “the ugliest material in the store.” (No - I probably won’t ever let you live that down - and I know you’ll stick to your guns too )

AND my new friend A is teaching me to sew diapers! Check out cute these are going to be!

They are flannel with terry inners - so they will still need covers - which will hide the pink camo cuteness, but what new little baby girl doesn’t need a pink camo rear???

I’m sad to announce the passing of the Garden Mice Mobile …

It just didn’t fit into the room. The original plan to put the cribs foot to foot fell through after seeing how the room would have to be arranged. With the current arrangement I’ve have to make two mobiles. I’m not really up for that (I’d rather knit cute little outfits) AND I don’t like how the mobiles I got have to attach to the cribs (of the front movable side).

For those far away that are curious about the room … see the baby page.

In other news I finally found a diaper bag I really like AND that Hubby has agreed to (meaning it isn’t too girly for him to carry). It is made out of “primarily” recycled materials, including recycled plastic bottles, and it is quite roomy.

Coming soon … a diaper soaker start and update on the overall progress.

Any more when I start something new it isn’t just a project … it is projects.

I’ve decided to make diaper soakers! About soakers …

“I’m not sure how soakers got their name. First of all, they shouldn’t be confused with the soakers that are laid or sewn into diapers. Those provide the absorbancy to soak up urine and are made of cotton or hemp. The knit soakers I’m talking about are used as diaper covers. They are usually made of wool, which can soak up some liquid without wicking it onto outer layers of clothing, so that’s probably where the name comes from. However, ideally, if your wool soaker is well lanolized, the wool fibers will simply repel the wetness and keep it in the diaper without absorbing too much of it. The biggest advantage of using wool is that the urine that does get soaked into the wool reacts with it somehow and doesn’t smell after the cover has been aired out. That means that you can keep re-using a wool cover without washing it until it gets poopy, or it starts to smell even when dry (people typically go for 2-3 weeks between washings).”

from Karen’s Cloth Diapering Site she also has links to several patterns (some free).

I haven’t picked a pattern for sure yet, but I’m leaning toward something felted. I do have some ideas for yarn. I’d like to dye my own yarn with kool aid. Like we did last year. Not sure if I’ll use some of my hand spun or something commerical.

Decisions, decisions …

It’s that time of the year again! Finally! Last year I loved looking back at our pictures and seeing how things had grown - so here’s the first picture of our garden for 2008.

It was a bit wet when I was out there so - I sunk a little. I also only got three rows in. It is still a little early, but I wanted to try some cooler season crops this year. I put in a row of sweet peas, a row of lettuce, and a row of radishes and carrots.

We are going to get some starts from a local green house this weekend and get the staples going - you know - the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplant. I do love eggplant!