Update....

on the last post.

It fits!
And he loves it. Making things for kids is the absolute best.

Aloha Obama

Around January of this year, I resolved that I wouldn't stress myself out again making Christmas gifts for all the kids I usually sew for. Instead, I would make or buy them something within the year and send it to them as a present for, well, no reason at all. Most of the kids I know get so many Christmas gifts, and every child loves a present just because, you know? Especially if it comes in the mail. This present went to the oldest of my best friend's 3 kids. It's the best childrens book I've ever seen. I bought it, of course, in Hawaii.

The graphic design is crazy, and the illustrations are amazing. The book explains that Washington would be a much more interesting place if politicians wore hawaiian shirts!

Vintage photos and a history of our President growing up on Oahu, with quotes everywhere!

A flower lei, and our President sharing the 'Aloha spirit'.

I also made the recipient a Hawaiian shirt (from this pattern) to wear while he's reading his book.

I hope he enjoys them, as a last hoorah to his Summer as he enters his first day of Kindergarten!

Year of the Volcano

I have deemed 2011 "Year of the Volcano", since Mr. Jones and I seem to be spending a good amount of time touring around them. It was a rare, hot weekend in Portland, so we headed up to Mt. Saint Helens to have a look at a volcano we only ever appreciate from a distance. It was stunning!

There are four observatories and many lookout points on the I-504. We stopped at two, where we took in some pretty classic 80s documentaries on the 1980 eruption.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory seemed by far the best, where the movie screen rises to reveal a gorgeous view of the volcano.

Perhaps it's the pleasant drive through the state park, but the place was particularly popular with bikers.

There are short hikes around the area, with lovely lookouts from the trails.

A great destination if you're in the Northwest, and a much different experience than visiting Mount Hood.

Make sure to visit if you ever have a Volcanic Summer! Now, if I could only fit in a trip to Iceland before the Summer ends...

Our Wedding

By far, the most exciting thing we did on our trip to the Big Island of Hawaii was to get married. We told our families beforehand, and had a really romantic ceremony on a cliff near Kona, ironically called "The End of the World". As the tide came in, we found ourselves convincing the photographer that we had to leave. The roar of the ocean had me shaking! Five minutes after the ceremony, the spot where we stood was underwater. We finished the evening with a dinner at the Four Seasons, and a lot of incredible memories. We can't wait to celebrate with all of our friends and family next Summer. Now, after almost ten years together, Mr. Jones and I are married!

(Photos by David O. Baldwin)

Caterpillar Present

I hope you're enjoying the HarVest pattern! I thought it was a nice pre-fall projects, if you have the energy. I'm thinking about knitting a few up for my shop (I have a shop?) in case anyone has an upcoming baby shower or birthday. Let me know, in comments, if anyone is interested.

Recently, I've been getting into the idea of coordinating gifts, combining something I make for a kid to wear, with something I've bought for them to play with. I know this is in no way a new idea. Licensed fabrics are probably produced with this in mind. Still, it's a new to me idea that I'm enjoying for the moment. It makes shopping more fun, too.

A Hungry Caterpillar puzzle and Bubble Dress went to my favorite 2 year old.

She eats everything on the go, so hopefully this dress will fit right in with her lifestyle.

Happy Birthday, Willow!

Free Pattern: HarVest and Pumpkin HarVest!

Harvest is a baby vest perfect for apple picking or pumpkin season. This colorwork project is fun to make and adorable on any little one (doesn't Florence, below, look smashing?). I've designed the vest in one size for now, but hope to write up the pattern for many sizes, should there be interest. Until then, I hope you'll make it for a little one in your life.

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HarVest and Pumpkin HarVest

by Holly Klein

Size: Baby, 3-6 months

Yarn: Fingering Weight/4 ply yarnFor HarVest: Approx. 370 yards of yellow, 125 yards of green, 150 yards of red.For Pumpkin HarVest: Approx. 370 yards of black, 125 yards of green, 150 yards of orange.

Gauge: 26 stitches to 4 inches on a size 1 (2.25mm) needle.

Needles: Size 1 (2.25) 40 cm circular needle. Set of Size 1 (2.25mm) double pointed needles.

Notions: 1 stitch marker, waste yarn (or stitch holders), darning needle for weaving in ends.

Suggested yarns: Louet Gems Fingering Weight, Cascade Heritage, Colinette Jitterbug, or any other yarn that knits to guage.

Charts (click to enlarge if needed):

Instructions:

Begin Body of Vest:

1. Cast on 180 stitches on circular needle with yellow yarn (for Apple Vest) or black yarn (for Pumpkins). Join, being careful not to twist.

2. Work in 2x2 ribbing for 2 inches.

3. In last row of ribbing, decrease 36 stitches evenly around vest to 144 stitches.

4. Changing to Knit stitch for all rows, Knit 2 rows.

5. Begin chart for appropriate vest. Work rows 1-48 of chart once.

Split Body for Front/Back:

6. Repeating Row 1 of pattern, work 72 stitches. Place next 72 stitches on waste yarn.

7. Turn work. Bind off 9 stitches and work 2 of chart, purling all stitches.

8. Next row: Bind off 9 stitches and work row 3 of chart, knitting all stitches.

9. Work rows 4-24 of chart, knitting or purling as appropriate (54 stitches remaining).

Split vest for front neck/shoulders:

1. Work 18 stitches of Row 25 of chart. Put these stitches on waste yarn.

2. Work next 18 stitches of Row 25. Put these stitches on separate waste yarn.

3. Work next 18 stitches in pattern. Turn work. Purl 18 stitches in pattern, and work these 18 stitches to Row 37 in chart. Put stitches on waste yarn.

4. With Wrong Side facing, pick up first 18 stitches from waste yarn and purl back, following chart to shape other side of vest front. Once completed, put these 18  stitches onto waste yarn.

Work back neck/shoulders:

5. With RS facing, pick up 72 stitches on other side of vest. Work in an identical manner as front.

Join Shoulders:

6. Put each group of shoulder stitches on one double pointed needle. Turn vest inside out, so wrong side faces you. Using a three needle bind-off, join shoulder stitches. (A great 3 needle bind-off can be found here).

Pick up neck stitches and knit neck:

1. Starting at one shoulder, pick up 18 stitches down the side of each neck side, knit across 24 stitches from waste yarn, pick up 18 stitches along other side of neck, knit across other 24 stitches from waste yarn (total: 84 stitches).

2. Work in 2x2 ribbing (K2P2) for 1.5 inches. Bind off stitches.

Pick up armhole stitches:

3. Using double pointed needles, pick up 68 stitches around armholes. Work in 2x2 ribbing for 1.5 inches. Bind off all stitches.

4. Using a darning needle, weave in all stray ends.

5. Wet block or steam block vest (if needed) to obtain proper size.

6. Try on baby, and enjoy!

Baby, You're a Star

I've made a couple bubble dresses recently. This one, made in the same lovely fabric as a previous one, was decorated with tiny shell stars.

It took me a while to sew them on by hand, but I love how it came out (the lining is Alexander Henry dress fabric pieces).

I found some bigger star buttons for the back closure. I love finding just the right thing already in my drawers.

I don't know who I'm going to give this dress to yet. It's kind of fancy, and the 3 year old girls I know do not like to sit still. I might put it in the archives, for later. This would also be cute in red or blue, for the Fourth of July, don't you think?

A Church on a Hill

Near the black sand beaches of Pahala, Hawaii.

Lounge

Another shift dress, just like the last one, except I added a scallop hem. I just traced a jam jar over and over around the bottom, after turning up the hem a few inches.

Worn with this vintage lounge jacket I picked up at the Goodwill, I thought it emitted a nice Palm Springs/Florida Golden Girls vibe.

Is that a price tag on the palm tree? No, it's care instructions. Verrrry organic.

PS. It's my birthday today. I'm 36! It's going to be a big year, I can feel it. I'm celebrating, as usual, with lunch at IHOP.

Waipio Valley Horseback Ride

One of the most spectacular things we did in Hawaii was to take a horseback tour the Waipio Valley. Waipio (meaning 'curved water') Valley begins at this stunning coastline. We descended by four wheel drive vehicle.

Once into the valley, we were given a brief lesson on how to control our horses. I had never been on horseback before! Mr. Jones tried calming me by saying, "These horses are professionals". Indeed, they were.

The streets of the Valley are essentially rivers. Our horses did not flinch going through the water, but we sure did!

The trip took us into areas of the valley inaccessible by car or foot. An ancient burial ground and former home to numerous Hawaiian Kings, Waipio Valley is now home to about 80 residents. Many of them farm taro.

High in the cliffs were waterfalls, hundreds of feet high, pouring into the valley where we trekked. Even in the midst of a drought year, everything was so lush.

We returned our horses to the stable, but not before one last photo.

It was a lovely ride, to a place we couldn't have seen any other way.