Failure!

So I don't know what all of you think, but I really really dislike this mitten. I dislike it so much that I'm not even going to make the second mitten.

Now, it would be fairly easy to say that it's the pattern's fault (this is another pattern from my book) the fact is I did a poor job picking the yarn and needle. Since I didn't own the size recommended I just used the needle closest, and I was trying to use a yarn I already had in my stash.

If I had known I was going to dislike it earlier, I would have frogged the whole thing and wound the yarn back up, but all the way to the end I was hoping I would like them. I'm planning on finding something to do with this-- we'll see!

"Ribbed" Scarf

I made a new scarf! It's from the hair-yarn from the wild thing, so a scarf was a good choice, because it let me knit until I was out of yarn.

I wish I could show you the pattern for this one, because it's a very different rib than I'm used to, but if you want to know it you'll have to find someone who owns this book, which my boyfriend got me for Christmas.

There is one thing I can tell you-- the patterns are laminated, which means I can mark them up with a white board pen and then erase the marks so that the pattern can be reused. I've thought about getting this done for patterns I pay for. I'm thinking even buying protective slips for binders would work.

Snow Day

When Daddy told me we were going to the snow I got really excited despite my dislike of snow and the cold, because I thought it would be the perfect chance to make something! My original plan was to make a snow castle (a couple of turrets, a nice big wall, maybe a tiny dragon...) but it turns out the snow was way too dry to build anything with, so the best I could do was a snow angel...

But I still want to talk about snow!! There are some really cool things you can try, like loading up a spray bottle with cold water and food coloring to give a snow man clothes or adding old clothes to him. Plus, there's this really cool thing where you put a coat on a snowman and the snow under the coat melts slower than everything else because of the insulation the coat provides.

I wanted to do a castle because I love sand castles, but I always have a hard time getting sand to do what I want, and snow is a lot more malleable...when it's wetter than it was when we went. Maybe even try taking your beach toys and see what happens!

Ice Princess

I finished another knitting pattern last night! It's called the "Ice Queen" and it's a pretty neck warmer and head protector thingy...and anyway, I love it. I haven't worked much with lace before, but I had a lot of fun with this project. I recommend starting with something small like a bookmark first, so that you get the hang of working with the yarn, and them moving on to something larger. I also highly recommend wooden needles for lace yarn-- the yarn seems to stick too much to metal needles.

The only things I majorly changed with this pattern is the beads. The pattern calls for beads through the whole piece, but I could picture them getting caught in my hair, so I left them out after the first three or four inches.

Hope you had a great Christmas!! Mine isn't over yet-- one more family member to see :)

Mulled Wine

This is one of the best hot drinks ever! I had this the first time in Paris in the winter, and this is only the second time I've ever had it. It's so much better when it's homemade! Probably because half the fun is making it :)

1 orange (sliced)
8 cloves
1 liter bottle dry red wine
1 1/2 cups apple juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 lemon (sliced)
2 cinnamon sticks

Simmer for 30-40 minutes (do not boil!). For a kid-friendly version, leave out the wine and replace with equal quantity apple cider. A very different desert drink from regular hot cider or hot chocolate!