Happenings

Sorry for such a long delay. Everyone has been sick at one point or another for the last 3 weeks or so.
Find my page on Facebook to see some of the awesomeness to come.
Kristen kreates is my page. There is even a coupon code for the grand reopening


Have a safe and happy new year
Kristen

I can't lie

All weekend and especially this am I was slightly nervous about sending my baby girls off to school. The unrealistic part of me wanted to move to a far away place and lock us all up for ever. But the reality of that happening are slim to none.
WE cant live in fear! As its been said, the only thing to fear is fear itself!
As much as I want to keep them all to myself and try to shield them from anything and everything. Its not reasonable or possible. Those parents in CT wanted to do the same, I imagine.
What I can do, is prepare them.
 Teach them safety, and make sure they understand common sense.
 Tell them I love them everyday moment and let them know how special and important that they are.
We wont focus on what could happen, but of the here and now.
Today, right now, this moment its what we have. Cherish it and enjoy what is here.

I hope you have a wonderful day,
Kristen

Because you can..

My Heart breaks for the families in Connecticut. Its simply unfathomable. I am saddened for the 28 families! Yesterday my oldest was home sick and I was at the doctors with her and my youngest about the time of the horrific events. I didnt see the news till I sat for lunch and read it on the computer. At that time, all 3 of my babies were thankfully safe at home with me.
As much of a hassel we may think it is to clean up when your son gets car sick , while in line at bank, which you stopped at on the way home from the doctors with another child with a fever and cough. NO matter the circumstances it could always be worse! When those parents kissed thier children good bye yesterday morning, they could have never have- imagined that would be the last time they would see them again.
I have heard on the news it being said to take this as a chance to hug your children extra tight! My question is why do we need something as horrible as this to remind us to hug our children. Each and every moment, every day, is a blessing to have with them. Cherish them always, hold them tight no matter what the circumstances. When times get tough and kids are acting like, well kids hug them tighter.
I am not sure where this is going, or what was ment. Just love them no matter what! And do it because you can!

 

 

Have a wonderful day

Because you can

Hug your loved ones

because you can

be happy

because you can

savor this moment

because you can

 

Kristen



How about a SAL?

A SAL is a sew along. Have you seen Kits winter coat?

Its so cute, but at $24 I just couldnt justify it, yet our dolls would surely need a winter coat. What's a mama to do you ask? Why make it of course!!!  Before we start our sew along let me show you my version.

 I love the way that it came out!! I had to modify a few patterns to get this finished look. Which is why I have decided to do a Sew along to show you how to make your own.

Materials:
simplicity 3551
6 1/2 buttons
1/2 yard of a fleece fabric
interfacing
velcro
3/4" D ring
matching thread
ribbon (if you would like a contrasting belt, otherwise you can use some of your fabric)




Go and get your materials and we will get started in a few days.

Hope you have a great day,
Kristen

Big New!!

I have decided that in the New Year I will be opening up a shop again. I will be pairing up with my Internet BFF and we will be sewing some 18" doll items, foods, accessories, clothes, doll and me outfit ect.

Cant wait to get going!

Hope you have a great day
Kristen

The Adventures of LEON

Leon is our elf on a shelf, He started his visit this year on the day after Thanksgiving. He is here everyday. Each night when everyone is sleeping he flys back to santa to report the things he sees and hears every day, whether it be good or bad. He is back in a new spot every morning when we wake up, he has been up to some silly things this year. Here is what he has been up to so far,


His first night he wanted to be sure to see everyone as they came down stairs.

His second night he was feeling a bit lonely and had a wonderful date with Barbie here. (Cinderella let her borrow a dress I think)

 

Barbie didnt call back so he cuddled up with the wedding bears and a good book, I think Lily inspired his reading.

He was feeling a bit adventurous and sat in the fan, good thing we didnt turn it on!!

 

He started to miss the North Pole and found this great Build a Bear box that reminded him an awful lot of home. SO he spent the night.

Leon teamed up with Hulk and wanted to chicken fight. No one accepted his challange.

He decided to get a little cozy on top of our pictures holding onto Bubbie!

Leon forgot about safety, and wasnt able to keep his arms, legs or head in the vehicle at all times, I am also pretty sure he doesnt have a seat belt on.

Circus anyone?

Playing dress up! I think he borrowed Jessies hat for this.

Back to the kitchen to sit on the fan.

 

As you can see he has been quite adventurous this week.

Thats all for today.
I am off to work on Jacks quilt
Hope you have a wonderful day
Kristen

P.S Happy 50th blog post to me

More Christmas crafting has taken place

I have decided that one of Jacksons Christmas presants will be a quilt. I had fabric I had picked up on random shopping trips.

After some searching I designed my block

Today I set out and irons and fussily cut my squares. I had originally intended to cut 80 4.75" squares but some of the prints didnt work that way, so I ended up cutting 6.5" squares from 4 of the prints.

These are the 6.5" squares

 



 

I also cut out 4x4 squares which I cut into triangles. There are no pictures of these, they are plain black.

 

In other crafting news, I was able to get a few more doll things done this week. I made these skirts

 

I am also going to make the girls matching ones. Here is Avrys, I need to fix the elastic buts its soo cute and I think she is going to LOVE it.  For the skirts I used rolls of tulle I found at Hobby Lobby, I managed to find zebra and cheetah print.

 

 

Thats all for now,

Stop on back to see what Leon our elf on a shelf has been up to this week!

 

Have a great day,

Kristen

Doll cowl neck sweater Part 2!

A few days ago I shared a cowl neck doll sweater I had written up. Since then the girls were off of school so I couldnt finish it because I didnt want them to see it. So I just knitted up a few more.

We left off with weaving in our ends

 

Once you weave your ends in you are also going to sew the small gap left under each arm.

 

 

 

Now we are going to tac the cowl down on both ends. First off lets do the short sides. With wrong sides together do a simple straight stith or a matress stitch along the edges

 

 



Now you are going to tac the cowl down to the sweater. I only suggest this so you dont have to worry about blocking it or it falling out of place and upsetting the little ones. The Cast on edge of the cowl is going to meet right about where you had started the raglan increase, in other words it will cover the 3 rows you knit of 41 stitches.

Again we are going to do a matress stitch or straight stitch along the edges. You dont have to worry about matching up stitch for stitch. As you can see I used a long stitch. You can 'fluff' your cowl up later when its being worn.

 

Now we will add the velcro. I prefer to have the 'hook' side on the outside so it hopefully wont catch the yarn as easily. I simply took a 1" piece and cut it in half. I sewed the hook side with a zig zag stitch down the left side



 

 

Do the same with the loop side, except zig zag this to the wrong side on the right

 

 

 

Now you can close them right up and dressing is simple.

Congrats you have made a cowl neck sweater for your 18" doll! 

*For the purple 3/4 sleeve version I knit 6 rounds before doing the ribbing.

These can be done without the cowl by casting on 42, doing a ribbing of 2x2, when dividing for markers k11, pm, k4, pm, k12, pm, k4, pm, p11. You could also keep the first and last stitches in garter and make it a cardigan. For short sleeves, do 4 rows of garter when you pick up the sleeve stitches. Next up I have a cabled sweater on its way. Hopefully later this week.

 

Sneak peak of the the cables sweater coming up

 

Hope you have a wonderful day
Kristen

 

 

 

Day 22

Day 22: First off I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am thankful for yesterday, the choices of yesterday are what brought me today. I wouldn't change a thing from yesterday if I knew it would bring to today. I am appreciative of all I have and all I don't. Life isn't about having everything you want, it's about wanting everything you have!

Eat well, enjoy your familes and friends and remember there is someone out there who has it worse off. NO matter how bad it is, it could always be worse. Appreciate all you have today!

Hope you have an amazing day

Kristen

What are you thankful for?

Day 21 with a side of creativity

Day 21: After having a its not ok to be sassy with your teacher chat with my 5 year old today I realized todays thanks. Today I am thankful for the individuals my children are. I appreciate thier differences so very much.

I have been working on some clothes and shoes for the girls Christmas gifts.

 

 

And a wee knott doll for a cousin that just had a baby.

 

My Yarn along this week :)

 

This is a pattern I worked on an drafted up. I just need to finish up the tutotrial part of it. I shared the knitting part of it earlier this week. Now I need to write up the finishing of it.

Yarn along brought to you by Ginny. Now that I am finished my 2 testers of the pattern, I need to knit one up for a friend for a doll clothes swap and finish the sleeves of Lily sweater. First up Thanksgiving!  

 

Have a great day

Kristen

 

What are you thankful for ?

 

 

Day 20: Today I am thankful for Books! Each time you pick up a book its a new adventure to get lost in. There is nothing like getting lost between the pages. I especially love that lately I can find Lily with her nose in a book most days.


What are you thankful for today?

Free 18" doll sweater pattern!

Remember I showed you this sweater I knit as a tester the other day?

Well I have written my notes into what I hope to be more easily read. I am only sharing the first part, which is the sweater itself right now. I will hopefully have a picture tutorial of the rest tomorrow including the velcro closure.



18" Doll Cowl Neck Sweater

The sweater is knit from the top down in a raglan style. Once the body of the sweater is knit , the sleeves are picked up and also knit in the round. The back has a velcro closure you will need to sew on.

Materials:
Worsted Weight yarn *or yarn needed to obtain gauge
Size 7 circular needle 16" or longer
Size 7 DPN
4 stitch markers
Velcro
Darning needle for weaving in ends
sewing machine or method of attaching velcro for a back closure

Gauge:
4 st's and 5 rows per inch

*Notes: The first stitch of every row, will be slipped .


Pattern:
Co 60
row 1:  Knit
row 2: knit
row 3: knit
*we are now going to start knitting in stockinette stitch by alternating 1 row of knit and 1 of purl
row 4: purl
row 5: knit
row 6: purl
Continue rows 5 and 6 being sure to slip the first stitch of the row in the manner you are working the row (slip knit wise on a knit row, purl wise on a purl row) until the cowl measures 3 3/4 inches from the cast on edge.
We will now begin decreasing for the neckline. Remember to slip the first stitches.
Decrease:
row 1: *k11, k2tog* - repeat from * 4x totatl, K last 7 stitches   *56 stitches
row 2: purl
row 3: *k7, k2tog * -repeat from * 6x, k2      *50 stitches
row 4: purl
row 5: *k4, k2tog* -repeat from * 8x, k2  *42 stitches
row 6: purl
row 7: k20, k2tog, k to end   *41 stitch
row 8: purl
row 9: knit
row 10: knit

You will now be adding in markers to begin the raglan increases.
p11, pm, p4, pm, p11, pm, p4, pm, p11
row 1: sl 1st st, *knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, slm, kfb* till end. You will be increasing 8 stitches on every knit row be knitting in the front and back of the stitch before and after the markers.
row 2: purl
*continue row 1 and 2 until you have 18, m, 18, m, 29, m, 18, 18, being sure to end on a purl row
You will now be placing the sleeve stitches *stitches between markers 1-2 and 3-4.
Knit to the first marker, place the 18 sleeve stitches on scrap yarn, knit acorss the back till the 3rd marker, slip the 18 sleeve stitches onto scrap yarn. Knit the second front side.

Body:
row 1: sl 1 st purl wise, purl across
row 2: sl 1 st knit wise, knit across
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the sweater is 2 inches from the underarm.

Hem band:
work 5 rows of 1x1 ribbing
BO

Sleeves:
Using your DPN transfer the stitches you placed on scrap yarn onto your DPN evenly.
Knit 10 rows in the round.
Knit 5 rows of 1x1 ribbing

Repeat for both sleeves
BO


This is part on of the pattern. Stay tuned for a tutorial on part 2. :)


part 2

Day 19

Day 19: Today I am thankful for health. I am greatful that my family is in good health! My heart goes out to those suffering and not in the best of health.

I am hoping to be back later with something fun to share. I have intentions on making some doll cothes.


Have a fantastic day

Kristen

What are you thankful for today?

Day 18

Today I am thankful for being able to have one on one time with the children.

Hope you have a glorious Sunday, I have wings in the oven for a get together later. I cut out paper patterns for some sewing while the girls are in school tomorrow and I am enjoying my babies while my hubby works.

Thanks for stopping by,
kristen

P.s what are you thankful for today?

Friday and Saturday thanks

Day 16: I am thankful for our dogs. Polo was an amazing blessing to our home. Nala is also wonderful in her own way.
Day 17: I am thankful for IRL friends

Thats all for now,
Kristen

P.S what are you thankful for?

I am working on a new pattern. Its a doll sweater

Day 15 with a side of sewing

Day 15: Today I am thankful for being able to get my girls quality Christmas gifts. Some struggle to put food on the table and I ma thankful we do not have that struggle.

I did some sewing yesterday and today for the girls. I made this Violet fields jacket for Lily, it is completely reversable, and 3/4 sleeve per her request and a reversable newsboy hat. It is absolutely adorable if I must say so.

 



The jacket is made with a corderoy and lined with a cheetah print, it is the same fabric I made her first day of school shirt from. I have since added buttons to this.

I sewed for Avry today, I tested a pattern for a friend, this is the same pattern I used making the owl tunic for Lily. I used a glittery plaid print and a contrast purple.

Excuse the side ways angle.

I leave you today with a conspiracy. Luke Skyewalker, yes the Luke from Star Wars is CHEATING on Princess Leia! I kid you not! Have a look at what I found today.4

Can you believe it? Her mess hair and lack of attire say it all.

Have a great day,
Kristen

What are you thankful for today?

Day 14 and a yarn along

Day 14: Today I am thankful for the story time at the library with Miss Ellen. Jack sure does love our weekly visits.

This week I decided to take part in Ginny's Yarn Along. I share with you my recent knitting adventure.

 I am working on a flutter cardigan for Lily. As you can see, I still have the sleeves to go. This is kind of my own in a way, I did a garter hem but tried an Icord bind off for the front bands and neck, I did tack them down which is not required but a personal preferance. Was my first time doing one and I quite like it.

Thats all for now
Hope you have a wonderful day
Kristen

P.s What are you knitting?
What are you thankful for today?

Day 13

Day 13: Today I am thankful for the amazing teachers that my girls have had the pleasure of learning from and with. Thanks ladies, even if only one of you has the opportunity to see this.

Yesterday I had full intentions of sewing, but as it turned out the pattern I was planning on sewing from didnt have the sleeve sizes I needed. So I ended up tracing another pattern and stopped there. The kids of course had the day off, so we had fun with pipe cleaners, colored with the girls,  had tomato soup and salad for lunch, took a shower which I turned into a bath for them, watched a movie with pop corn ( I may have fallen asleep) then I started to cook dinner and work.
It was a fun filled day which we needed an enjoyed. Today I may attempt to sew again, but we shall see. The dishes are staring at me as is the clean laundry.

Hope you have a great day,
Kristen

Two days of thanks in 1

I didnt take the time to share yesterdays thanks, Hubby worked the morning, kids had a neighbor over and I was called into work.

Day 11:  Today I am thankful for wonderful neighbors. Kids and I had a blast on our playdate today.
Day 12: I am thankful for kids having an extra day off of school. I love being able to have the time with them.


I am hoping to get some sewing in this morning and maybe some outside time this afternoon.
Hope you have a great day
Kristen

What are you thankful for today?

Day 10

Today I am thankful for an online community of friends I have made. There are no judgement, they are there or one another, support each other and no matter what happens at the end of the day you know just where to find them! Thanks ladies I ❤u all!!

Hope you have a great day,
Kristen


What are you thankful for today?

Day 9

Day 9: Today I am thankful for having the ability to craft. I am greatful to be able to create for my family and for others. I love watching 'material' transform into something. I am thankful for the times I get lost in a project.

Since I am thankful for crafting I will share with you my most recent knitting project. I am working on a flutter or waterfall cardigan for my oldest daughter. I dont have a pattern so I am basically winging this one. Maybe if I am feeling super generous I may share it.
This is what I have so far.

 

Please excuse it being sideways.

 

 

Hope you have a great day,
kristen

 

 

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR TODAY?

 



 



Day 8 of thanks

Day 8: Today I am thankful for mornings.  Not only is everyday an opportunity but my babies crawl in bed with hubby and I adn we all get to cuddle and talk.

Todays photos are of my babies in thier winter knits. It seems I finished just in time.

Please excuse the too small coats. When I bought them 2 years ago I got them big, they have finally outgrown them.
My sweet boy had an irresistable reqest last night

Hows a mama to say no to veggies even if it was just about bed time? lol
I made some necklaces for the family I mentioned the other day. The mother had passed after her 3 year battle with cancer. I made these for the kids and dad.

Hope you have a spectacular day,
Kristen

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR TODAY??