Rice Bags

Backaches suck, what can I say. I don't get them very often but occasionally I do something just wrong and wham, here we go again.  Well, I don't know if it was washing the kitchen floor or doing the dishes yesterday (either way I blame housework) but I woke up this morning with a bit of a pull.  And I have found the best way to get over a back strain is to hang out with a rice bag, heated nice and toasty and knit.  Oh and a little Tylenol doesn't hurt. My kids also like these rice bags, Fynn always steals mine and takes them to bed with him in the winter.  We don't heat them very much, for fear of burns, but I think they make him nice and cozy in bed.  Anyway, I went hunting for my rice bag tonight and low and behold I could not find a single one.  So I had to make one. 
This is not a tricky project, at all.  I decided I wanted a nice big one so I took a fat quarter (fabric by Denyse Schmidt) and folded it in half, right sides together.  And sewed around the 3 open sides leaving a 4" opening in the middle of the long side to add the rice.  Then, I turned it right side out, added enough rice to fill it about half way, and edge stitched the opening closed.  I know, I could have and sewn it closed for a neater finish but I was impatient.  A few minutes in the microwave to get it nice and hot and...ahhhhh, I'm sitting here writing this post in comfort.  And next I'm going to do some work on a little sweater for my niece for her birthday. 

The Last Finished Project of 2012

I made mitten and hat sets for the boys.  Sure they were supposed to be for Christmas, and they were all knit in time.  But I just today finished weaving in all the ends.  They were both very excited to try them out.  I love that they love it when I make them something. And Fynn is very vocal about telling people his mama made his xxx (insert whatever I made).  I hope they never lose their appreciation for handmade.  Fynn's set is "Hulk Green" as requested and made out of a bulky from knitpicks called biggo.  Liam's is a blue tweed, also from knitpicks.  I think they came out nicely, myself. 

2013 What I Want to Accomplish

I have a sort of list of things I want to accomplish in the next year.  Mostly I want to make things, learn new skills while I'm at it...I want to broaden my skill set and my horizons.
So, I have a list of criteria that I want to fulfill each month.  Something I make/do can very easily meet more than one qualification....I think.  I also want to repeat the 52 in 52 challenge I did this year.  I want to finish 52 things in the next 52 weeks.   I also want to do a better job of taking pictures of thing that I finish and publishing them on here.  Give me a little accountability and a better way to keep track of what I'm doing.  
So here is the list.  Each month I want to make...

• 1 sewing project
• 1 knitting project
• 1 hand work project 
• 1 spinning project
• 1 clothing item for a kid
• 1 adult clothing item
• 1 quilt
• 1 quilted item
• 1 bag
• 1 item to be donated
• 1 thing just from stash
• 1 Christmas present
• 1 birthday present
• Something from one of the books/patterns I already own. 
• Something completely of my own design.

I think this about covers it.  Let's see how I do!

I Finished It!!!

 

This little sweater is for a baby boy, soon to be born.  I hope he enjoys it.  I actually learned quite a bit about cable work and twisted stitches and reading my knitting while making this sweater.  I got good enough that by the time I was working on the sleeves, I didn't even need the chart anymore, crazy I know.  I am happy with how it turned out.