The Story of the Bodhi Tree

The fruits of my labour

This is a project for the little sprout. I wanted to try a hand at overalls but was unsuccessful at finding a pattern I liked. So I had the idea to make a really long waist (which I have done for B in the past) and add straps when, and if it works out to do so. It felt like I was knitting these forever! I even ran out of yarn 5 rows away from completion. I have also had the idea to incorporate knitted/fabric/embroidery for a long time now and this seemed like a good place to start. I *really* liked how it all came together.

Finishing up WIP's

I will confess to having piles of things that I have started to make and then left for months and even years. It always feels good to finally complete something that has been hanging around!

This is a wrap style dress from a pattern I got free online. I don't remember where it was from, but to be honest I found it difficult to follow and would not do it again. The yarn I used was... can you guess? Fleece artist. I had knit the whole thing up sometime last winter and had never sewed up the sides. Last week I blocked it and yesterday I sewed it up!

This is a wrap wool soaker that sat in my half done pile simple because I did not have buttons for it. Today when I made my trip down to the fabric store just for the buttons, I ended up not getting enough! The pattern is from little turtle knits, and the wool is just plain new zealand wool.

wool soakers

We cloth diapered and practiced elimination communication with Bodhi. He was out of diapers completely at around 16-17 months. I really enjoyed using this combo. My first batch of diapers were mother ease one size fits all. They are an "okay" diaper, but way too big for little babes. As B got older I discovered the large amount of wahm diapers online (a great way to support other working mamas). The diaper hyena and the diaper pin are great resources to find out about the different ways of cloth diapering and to see what is out there as far as diapers. We have a fair amount of diapers now, and it seems that all of my favorite "brands" are hard to come by now! This time round we will mostly do indian prefolds since they are easy to use while practicing elimination communication.

One of my favorite things about cloth diapering is using wool! How great is it that wool soakers work as a diaper cover? Most of my covers are either homemade knit longies + soakers, or sweater pants + soakers.

I was turned onto this wool soaker pattern by Fern. I like how it knit up, though I did do a newborn size and it still seems quite big. I used some fleece artist yarn that I had kicking around and it is nice and soft for a babes little bum!

As Bodhi gets older it is not as easy to convince him of certain things. For instance, he always used to wear wool longies, hats and mitts. This year he declared wool to be "too itchy". He will wear wool socks, and if his hands are really cold, he will put on a pair of mittens. So now we have a huge amount of beautifully knit items that never get used. He has also stopped wearing any pants that are not made by me (how flattering, but challenging). Last week I made him a pair of flannel monkey pj's and he has barely taken them off! He is also a picky eater... but last night I had carrot sticks and cucumber out and he actually ate them (I was literally over the moon). I love watching his fiery and energetic personality emerge, he is constantly reminding me to embrace my wild and free spirited side!

new pj's (I always just make my own pattern up)

posing for the camera

This is the sweet baby cap that I was working on. It was a great pattern and I found it quick and easy to knit up. The only thing I have to complain about, would be that the sizing is a bit off. I knit mine in the six month size and it is more like a newborn size.

front of hat

side of hat

Stashing yarn

Today I went to the three bags full "boxing day" sale. Oh my god, it was c-r-a-z-y! It is a small store and it was packed with people. Being almost 17 weeks pregnant and having to stand in line was a huge challenge (not because I am big, but because I get faint!). Anyhow, I did survive.

I found it a bit tricky to figure out what to get. Most of what I got consisted of blue sky alpaca + wool (my absolute fave) in different sizes.

Back at home, while I was searching for my knitty knotty (which was in fact right on my desk) I went through all my tupperware containers of yarn. When it is in those containers I forget about it.... but when I took it all out I had a pretty good laugh. I am such a yarn horder! Most of the wool I had completely forgotten about.

Here is a picture of only some of what I have!

Before my brother and Jules took off back to Tofino I took a shot of the apron I had made for Jules. It is the pattern from Lotta's simple sewing. It was a quick and easy pattern. The apron is a cotton/linen and the patch is the one I did in the summer.

All things wool

Wool is one of my most favorite fibers to work with. This holiday we were gifted some very beautiful items made out of wool. My studio is full of wool.... stashes of yarn, roving, batting, quilt batting, felt sheets, felted sweaters, wool fabric and the list could go on! Anyhow, here is a glimpse of some of the wool goodness we have been having around here.

A beautiful wet felted necklace from Kiki

A wonderful pair of sweater felted mitts from Ella + Arlo (Bodhi loves them!!)

A pair of the fingerless mitts that I knit up as gifts for big and little people (more to come, they are so easy to make!)

A pirate wee folk made out of felt that found its way into B's stocking

Last but not least, my first pair of knitted longies for the new baby (all the mitts and the longies were knit with Manos del Uruguay Yarn in black forest colorway)

Completed

All wrapped up and on to the next one. I enjoyed putting the finnishing touches together. I was going to go with some of my red and white matroyshka fabric, but I am happy that I chose the dancers instead. I wish that I could try it on a little one (I considered it today when we went to the park but there were only older ones!). I feel torn as to whether I should keep it or give it away as a baby gift.

Saving Grace

I have been knitting away at the wrap cardigan from 6.5 stitches, and slowly the yarn that I had chose was being used up. I had used a ball of fleece artist yarn from 2 years ago, and I started to have visions of frogging the whole damn thing! This weekend I made the trek to Main St. while Bodhi was napping, praying that they would still have a skein of the SAME dyelot! Fat chance, I know, but to my delight there it was as soon as I walked into the shop! I picked it up with a smile on my face and then... I bought some other yarn of course!

I am infact almost finnished the sweater (knitting that is) and then I can choose some yummy fabric. For all of my hard work I *think* that I will save this one for myself (wink).

This is the other delicious yarn I picked up for the next sweater that I am going to try to make for Bodhi (unless it turns out too girly). It is a 50% Alpaca and 50% Wool blend and it is so soft.

I also managed to pick up more fabric this weekend. How can one help themselves when they are in a quilting store? In truth, I never think that they have amazing fabrics, especially for how they are priced, but you can find some nice things and it is a shop I have been going to my whole life.

A most exciting package arrived today. It might not look like much but I love it. Linen tape. It is so beautiful. Now to do a major brainstorm to find a name for my handmade goods. Maybe I am thinking to hard? Anyhow I got the tape from here. I was unable to find a source in Canada (anyone?) but go figure right?

Fabric stacked

This past weekend I spent hours (literally) ironing my fabrics so that when we move, they will be ready to be placed neatly on the shelf. Is this strange? Probably not. I think it is all part of the process of being able to feel, see and get "reaquainted" with my fabrics.
I am very excited about my new crafting space. It is larger than the one I have now, and I will be able to put a BIG table for cutting and sewing, as well as a record shelf to fill with fabric and wool.

By the way, that stack of fabric is not even a slice of what I have! I am slightly rat-packish when it comes to fabric, wool and wool roving. That's normal right?

Inch by inch, row by row

I was able to finally finnish these bibs while we were in Tofino! They are made with dishcloth cotton in a natural cream color with fabric buttons. I have a bad habit of sewing/knitting something and then leaving the last touches for ages (months... years). I love the simplicity of these bibs colorwise with the added buttons for fun.

I also completed a pair of longies for a little one year old that were part of a trade. They were knit with fleece artist yarn which I find is great for longies.

Packaged and ready to mail off.

I also managed to start on this sweater from six and a half stitches. It has been slow going on my part but I am really excited to see the end result. I chose another ball of fleece artist yarn that I have had for a while now.

Nothing like sitting on a beach knitting + watching family surf!