Chapter 3 of the Homestead Vacation

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Deborah

Diary of a Homestead Vacation continued from Chapter 2 (review past post here)

Three seasons of the year I love to cozy up in sweaters and I realized I didn’t have a knitted cardigan anywhere in my closet. I have a zip up hoodie and a few pullovers, but no actual cardigan style sweater. Pullovers are ok if you are layering to head out in -25C winter weather, but for spring & fall, I need something to ward off the chill without ending up feeling smothered like pullovers are prone to do, along with being quick to shrug … Read more...

Battle Of The HeadBands

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Deborah

Summer is finally here and as I cruise the highways and country roads on my way to various destinations, with the sunroof and windows wide open, tunes cranked and my sunglasses on…. I soon find the wind whipping my hair into my eyes, instantly making me curse my long locks, swearing when I get home I will grab the scissors and lop 8 inches off. I spend more time driving with one hand while my other is constantly pushing hair from my face.

Major pita.

I have had many types of headbands over the years, and nothing seems to stay … Read more...

Rejuvenated Flip Flops Project

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Deborah

Last weeks Flip Flop Fashion Fad post was a teaser, like those trailers for every blockbuster movie that ever comes out touting it as THE must-see movie of the year.

My Flip Flop Project is no different.

I bet you were impatiently waiting all weekend for it too.

After Beta testing the flip flops fashion fad last week, I decided there had to be a better way to make these straps. The on-line tutorial I found called for way too much fabric and the straps and knots ended up too bulky. I like thin and streamlined straps. Plus, there were … Read more...

Flip Flop Fashion Fad

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Deborah

I think I just started a new name for a new craze. I will be RICH! People will fall all over themselves offering me their abandoned flip flops to remodel for them, paying me mega bucks for the privilege too!

A girl can dream can’t she?

OK, so maybe not the outcome I was looking for, but, practicality and comfort go along way with me. I love the idea of flip flops, and even don’t mind the thingie between the toes, but I do get annoyed very quickly with blisters caused by the plastic straps rubbing on my feet, especially … Read more...

Mexico…Here I Come!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Deborah

OK..maybe not at this very instant….but hopefully in the middle of the winter that will be here all too soon. I can hope, pray, beg and plead and maybe, maybe…I will get to go…..

Meanwhile, for those that follow me on Facebook (if you don’t, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Northern-Homestead/110250042496781) you know that I started my latest knitting project a couple weeks ago (yes, I still have the knitting bug).

I came across this gorgeous pattern on the Ravelry site, (seriously, if you have never been to this site and are an avid knitter/crochet person, you are missing … Read more...

The Best of April

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Deborah

ZOOOM…… Another month whizzes by like a kid on a skateboard. Where the heck does the time go? Although I am pretty darn happy, no wait, I am ecstatic even… to be rid of April. April Showers, April Snows, April Hails, April High Winds, Mother Nature threw the book at us in April. She apparently is getting back at us from…what??? What’d we do to her??!! Don’t answer that…..

Instead, concentrate on being here in the infant stages of May wondering, praying, and hoping that Mother Nature will finally deliver the nice, warm, Spring weather and keep it here. She … Read more...

Elefantito

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Deborah

‘Elefantito‘ is Spanish for ‘Little Elephant’, and this adorable, knitted pachyderm will steal your heart and demand space on your bedside table, take centre stage in your living room, or become a cuddly inspiration on your desk.

I have just finished making this gray woolen softee for the daughter of a client. She is just shy of 2 years old, petite and cute as button and I found myself making it for her after I came across the pattern for it on Ravelry.

All told, I think it took me about 7 hours start to finish (over … Read more...

Anatomy of A Sock

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Deborah

Yup, this is another blog post about toe smotherers….first, let me preface this by saying that I have not, nor will I ever become a lover of socks, more like…I may actually tolerate them from this point forward now that I have completed 2 knitting torture projects.

Torture project # 1 if you recall was for my daughter. She loves socks, loves them so much she always has to have a gift box full of them under the Christmas tree every year. So it made sense that my first foray into attempting to knit a pair would go to her. … Read more...

Knitted Market Bag

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Deborah

This is one of those projects where size doesn’t matter…or gauge either. It can be knit on any size needles, but obviously, bigger is better to get a nice, large-holed, stretchy lace effect. Combined with sturdy cotton yarn, this market bag will last a long time, replacing the unnecessary and wasteful plastic shopping bags and is washable to boot!

I used up some remaining balls (3) of Bernat’s Handicrafter Cotton in an Apricot/Sand colour and it gives the finished product a nice, self-striping pattern. I used 5.5 mm (U.S. # 9) straight needles for the bag and 4.5 mm (U.S.# … Read more...

Spring Cleaning Your Closet

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Deborah

The sun now rises one hour earlier and the birds are singing at the top of their little lungs, announcing the arrival of Spring and wanting to get on to nest building activities.

We humans have our own rituals every Spring….and one of them is to clean out the closets and get ready for a brand new seasonal wardrobe. But first you have to get rid of the clutter in those closets that is taking up your valuable real estate.

Here are my Top 10 Reasons To Clean Out Your Closet This Spring!

1. You need to make room for … Read more...