Hats and Neckwarmers

I like to knit hats for the kids each winter. I try to match the colors and designs to their winter jackets.

The yarn is the hard-working but soft Caron Simply Soft. I like this yarn for hats for my kids. It can take what they dish out and can be washed.

Henry's hat is Rib-a-Roni by Jane Tanner. It's a quick knit that is so easy to change up with colors.

Irene's hat is Quick Ombre Hat by Emily Dormier. Another fast knit that can be used with any color combo.

Gavin's hat is Owelette Hat by Taiga Hilliard Designs. This was the second time knitting this hat for Gavin. I made it years ago with shades of blue. He still wears that hat, but wanted another one this year to match his jacket. Such a cute design! Comes in multiple sizes, too.

The neckwarmers are all Ribby Neckwarmer by Tiennie. Very fast knit! Cast on 100 stitches and knit in rib for 40 rows for the bigger ones. Cast on 88 stitches and knit in rib for 30 rows for Gavin's.

With A Little Help From My Friends...

The last few months have been rather stressful. When I'm stressed I like to knit socks. I was knitting the last bit of sock yarn I had when I got a surprise package in the mail.

It had been a particularly bad week when I grabbed the mail. There was a small padded envelope addressed to me. The kids immediately knew it was yarn (squishy package!), but I wasn't expecting anything. I opened it and inside was this beautifully colored sock yarn. It was such a happy surprise, and came at a time when I really needed the pick-me-up, that I had to fight tears.

The wonderful Danielle, my first Ravelry friend, knitter that I emulate, and maker of awesome soaps/shampoos/lotions, knew that I could really use a bit of pretty in my life and sent the yarn.

I finished up the sock I was working on and cast on this new yarn. I LOVE it. It was easy to knit with and the finished project is perfect. So many colors coming through! Since I've finished these the week of Thanksgiving I shall wear them on Turkey Day.

Oh! The yarn is Pagewood Farm Hand Dyed Sock Yarn DENALI in the colorway Sky Blue Pink.

Also, you can check out Danielle's wonderful lotions, soaps, shampoo, conditioner, and lip balm by clicking HERE. I highly recommend them all!!!

Stress Socks

As I've written many times, I knit socks when I'm stressed. Unfortunately, this pair did not help relieve my stress. Knitting this pair made me feel like I had never knit before.

Same sock pattern that I always knit, How I Make My Socks by Susan B. Anderson. Shouldn't have been any problems. And yet. The first of the pair had to have the toe pulled back twice. Twice! Then I had to pull it back all the way to the heel and fix that. By the time I started the second sock I was stressed from the stress of knitting. Add to it that all three kids and myself are sick with a cough/cold. Frankly, I am amazed that I finally finished the second sock.

But it's done. I've even caked a new skein of sock yarn. I am optimistic that I'll feel up to casting on. I need my stress relief!

The yarn is the Countess colorway from the Knit Picks Felici yarn.

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If you read my last post you know I am withdrawing Gavin from public school. He is so stressed and sick from being there. They have him in the office, in a room alone, or just send him home so often that I cannot keep sending him. He is getting no education while being there, and this past week they've started keeping him inside at recess time. 

Schooling him at home will be a whole new kind of stress. However, I found a box curriculum that I feel will actually work for us. It gives me just enough hand-holding to make sure everything that needs to get accomplished each week is getting done. Plus, it has all subjects, including cool building projects. I am actually feeling hopeful about schooling Gavin instead of the absolute dread that each school morning brought. 

Of course, the box curriculum is not cheap. Right now it is not a purchase we can make out right. After stressing about it, I finally made a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising some money for it. 

You can check it out here...

https://www.gofundme.com/gavins-homeschool-curriculum

Homeschool Help

I am so behind on posting here. I do have a lot of knitting/yarn things I want to talk about. Instead, I am adding my plea for homeschool help.

If you read my family blog you'll know the entire saga of Gavin and the school. Gavin, my 8 year old son, has a type of anxiety disorder. He is in counseling. Yay! Good start. The anxiety is related to the school environment and actually makes him physically ill at times. (Tummy troubles. Oh the tummy troubles!) The school is either keeping him the office, including at recess :( or they are sending him home. Add to that the days he is home sick and we are fast approaching the school limit of sick days. Plus, he is missing so much school work!!! At least, by schooling him at home, he can work for a bit and have a break. Heck, he doesn't even need to get dressed! He can lay on the floor to work, run around when needed, and have breaks outside as a type of 'recess'.

I plan to withdraw him from public school and homeschool him. Unfortunately, money is an issue. I found a 'box' curriculum that has all the subjects he needs and gives me just enough hand-holding that I think I can do a good job.

You can check out the second grade curriculum at Timberdoodle.com. The Complete Package is $624.

So, I'm including the GoFundMe for Gavin's curriculum help. I admit I'm terrified of doing a poor job, but what he gets with me has got to be better than the schooling he is currently getting.

https://www.gofundme.com/gavins-homeschool-curriculum

If you're able to help in any way, I am so grateful. Thank You!!!