Knitting: Adapting a Bookmark Pattern to Make a Headband

Lately I've been trying to do some different things with my hair. That goal includes utilizing hair accessories, which I seldom ever wear but -- in a perfect world -- would like to. I decided to knit myself a cute headband in hopes that I would actually use it if it was handmade. I'd been eyeing a bookmark pattern in Veronik Avery's "Knitting 24/7" (the sea crest bookmark) that I thought was would make a very pretty hair adornment. So I knitted the bookmark to the appropriate length for my head and added i-cords to each end for ties.

You could really make any bookmark into a headband, or use a pretty cable or any small section of a pattern you found like. Though it's pretty simple to do, I figured I'd share my method with you anyway. Maybe it will give you some inspiration!

I started by knitting an i-cord for 12 inches, which ended up being way too long. I'd recommend making your i-cord no more than 10 inches. The bookmark pattern was 16 stitches across, so I needed to increase from my 3-stitch i-cord. There are many ways to do this, but I did:

1. kfb, k1, kfb (5 stitches)
2. (and all even rows) purl
3. kfb, k3, kfb (7 stitches)
I continued in this fashion until I had the number of cast-on stitches called for in the bookmark pattern. I began knitting the bookmark, measuring against my head as I went (I ended up doing 8 repeats of the 10-row pattern on size 4 needles). When it stretched across my head to about the top of my ear, I began decreasing in the same manner I increased -- ssk on the first two stitches of the row and k2tog on the last two stitches. Once I decreased to 3 stitches, I made another 12-inch i-cord. And voila! Now you're holding a pretty headband!

Book Review: "Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter"

"Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter" by Lisa Patton
Published in 2009
My rating: 4 out of 5

Lisa Patton's debut novel, "Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter," surprised me. The writing wasn't all that spectacular and the story was rather predictable -- two things that normally turn me off a book -- but I still loved it. I was attracted by the charming title, which suggests a Southerner out of place in Yankee country, and by the cover picture depicting hand-knitted mittens. (I might as well admit that, when simply browsing for books, cover art has a HUGE impact on what I'll pick up.) And that's just what the novel turned out to be -- cute, heartwarming, funny. It was an easy, pleasurable, cozy type of read.

The main character, Memphis-born mother-of-two Leelee Satterfield, follows her husband to cold country after he gets it in his head to leave the insurance business and buy a Vermont inn. Leelee's journey to become a Vermont innkeeper is filled with adventures, mishaps, culture shock, temperature shock and, of course, some heartbreak. The novel follows Leelee as she transforms from a softspoken, confrontation-avoiding, always-pleasant Southern belle to a strong woman who isn't afraid to stand up for herself. Readers might be annoyed with Leelee during the first segment of the novel, when she's basically a doormat. But you'll be proud as she struggles through adversity and comes out on top.

I didn't find the ending of "Whistlin' Dixie" to be completely satisfying, but then I saw that Patton has a sequel, "Yankee Doodle Dixie," which is (coincidentally) due out tomorrow. I'm already looking forward to diving into Leelee's next adventure!

Leelee's character reminded me of myself in several ways, some serious and many humorous. I thought I'd leave you with my favorite passage from the book, which descibes something I would do exactly. Both my husband and I had a good laugh over it! This event happens while Leelee and her husband are driving from the airport in Albany up to Vermont to look at the inn for the first time.

On the way between Bennington and Fairhope I got a thrill that made the whole trip worth it. If I had been looking down at my map, navigating for one more split second, I believe I would have missed it. There, on the right hand side of the road, was the most extraordinary road sign I had ever seen.

"OH MY GOSH!" I shrieked.

Baker swerved our rented Blazer over to the right like he was trying to avoid hitting something in the road. Gravel on the shoulder kicked up underneath the tires and spit off to the sides.

"DID YOU SEE THAT? GO BACK!"

"What? See what? Dammit, Leelee, are you trying to get us both killed? You scared the shit out of me. What is it?"

"The sign back there. Didn't you see it? It said moose crossing. Turn around, Baker, please. I want to get my picture made in front of that sign. Virginia and them are gonna die! Turn around."

"Okay, I'll turn around. But I don't want to be late for our appointment." I knew he didn't want to turn around at all, but he was trying to be extra nice.

"Why didn't you tell me I was gonna get to see a moose? I've never seen a moose in person. I can't wait."

I jumped out of the car and Baker hopped out to take my picture. "Smile," he said. I stood right next to the sign and put my arms around it. It was the most unbelievable sign I'd ever seen and I knew my friends would feel the same way.

Inspiration: (240) Books

This week's Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop prompt is books. Since I absolutely adore books and the original point of this blog was to share my book reviews, I was thrilled!

When I was deciding which direction to go with this post, I asked my husband if he thought I had a favorite book because I couldn't pinpoint one. With raised eyebrows, he looked and me and said, "All of them?" And he's right!

I love books simply because they're books. Each one holds the promise of an adventure. I get to be a detective, a CIA agent, a bounty hunter, an unfortunate wife of Henry VIII, a knitting shop owner, a dog, a wizard, a girl in love with a vampire. I love the look and feel of books, the smell of fresh ink and the sound a book makes when it's cracked open for the first time. I love the cover art and the author's acknowledgements. I have an insane amount of books. I actually counted, and the number of books currently on shelves in my house is... 240!

One of my favorite things to do is curl up with a good book and a cup of coffee. These books are some of the 13 that I purchased from Borders' going-out-of-business sale.

I've loved books for as long as I can remember. While all my "Babysitter's Club" and "Nancy Drew" novels are gone or packed away, my shelves still display Shel Silverstein's "A Light in the Attic" and "Where the Sidewalk Ends."

I have such varied tastes in authors and genres. My bookshelves hold everything from "Harry Potter" to Philippa Gregory to James Patterson to Jane Austen to Debbie Macomber, whose books I read along with my mom.

Happy reading!

What I Wore Wednesday

Aloha, Wednesday friends! I'm still linking up with The Pleated Poppy this week for What I Wore Wednesday, but it's going to be a short edition because Jarrod and I are have been on an island hop to Kauai since Sunday, ziplining and helicopter riding and hiking and lounging on the beach. (If you feel at all jealous, don't worry -- I'll be insanely jealous of all of you in a few weeks when autumn hits and you get to wear sweaters and boots and watch the leaves change and warm yourself up with a hot bowl of chili on a cool day!)

Wednesday
Top: Target (just barely escaped the donation pile the weekend before last!)
Jeans: Rock and Republic, Pearl Harbor NEX
Necklace: Bead for Life
Earrings: Kohl's

Thursday
Top: Bisou Bisou, JC Penney (on clearance when I visited Colorado in July!)
Jeans: Rock and Republic, Pearl Harbor NEX
Earrings: (same as Wednesday's) Kohl's

Friday
Top: American Eagle
Jeans: Paige, Nordstrom
Purse: Target (I think I'm going to buy a new brown purse for fall; I've been using this one since college!)
Earrings: Made by a friend

Book Review: "The Hunger Games" Trilogy

I read a lot. And it's not often that a book can keep me up until 2 a.m. anymore. Or cause me to forget my entire to-do list, which includes putting the clean sheets back on the bed, which I forlornly discover when Jarrod and I finally traipse up to bed at 2 a.m. But "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" and their predecessor "The Hunger Games" were in a different league.

I don't want to tell you too much about these novels because it'll spoil the ending of book 1, "The Hunger Games." But I will say that I was totally impressed with Suzanne Collins' unpredictable, original and page-turning plot. The fact that the books are published by Scholastic and the intended audience is probably teenagers shouldn't turn you away. Other than the fact that the main characters are in their late teens and that there's no outright sex and no swearing, you'd never know the books weren't written for an adult audience. I found the story to be gripping and thought-provoking and I highly recommend the trilogy! Read my review on "The Hunger Games" for more!

Furry Friday: Happy Birthday, Conan!

On Monday, September 5, Conan will turn 5! To celebrate, I thought I'd post some pictures of the first year we had him. He came to us at 11 months in August of 2007 and he was soooo adorable!

This was Conan's first time going to the beach. He decided the best course of action would be to bark at the waves!

Conan was the ring bearer in our wedding in June of 2008. He really just wanted to play in the sand, but we managed (after a few funny blooper shots) to get him to cooperate for a picture.

Inspiration: Vintage

This week's prompt for the Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop is vintage. The word vintage often brings to mind clothing, but I decided to focus my post on non-apparel vintage things that I love. (Though I admit to totally lusting after the "Mad Men" collection at Banana Republic!)

I like vintage travel art. The first picture shows the assortment of vintage-themed postcards and magnets that adorn our fridge. (Another thing I like is a refrigerator with some personality!) The second is a picture frame with four vintage-style Hawaii postcards that hangs on the wall of our Hawaii-themed guest bathroom.


When I think of vintage items, I imagine quality products made out of real wood by hand, rather than made from plastic by a machine in China. My grandma had a major antique collection and I treasure this old clock of hers.


I like the vintage feel of black and white photographs. The first picture is me in 1986 and the second photo is of my dad.


(Source)
I love all that other stuff, but my favorite vintage thing is cars. For over a decade I have dreamt of owning a 1960s Mustang. I even begged my parents to get me one for my first car (sadly, they didn't deem them to be safe enough). My hubby also loves old muscle cars and someday we plan to fix one up together. I love the idea of sitting inside all that history.