Grow Chart

I finished this grow chart a while ago, but I only recently got it all hung up properly. It's made from a moda charm pack (Punctuation, I think?). I found the idea on Moda's Bake Shop website. 

I cut a long dowel and slid it into some fabric pieces sewn to the back (one dowel at the top and another at the bottom).

Then I used some orange yarn to tie it to the door like this. I'm sure there's a better way, but this will do for now!

Andy was 21 1/2" when he was born. I hope to make it part of our birthday tradition to go measure the kids on the grow chart.

Knit Dish Rags

Here's the pattern I like to use for dish rags from here.

Size 7 or 8 needles

Worsted weight cotton, less than 1 ball

K = Knit

P = Purl

K2tog = Knit two stitches together

K2tog tbl = Knit two stitches together through back loop.

Inc = Knit in front and back of same stitch

Cast on 3 stitches.

Increasing Half:

Row 1: knit

Row 2: K1, inc, k1. (4 sts)

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: K1, inc in next 2 sts, k1. (6 sts)

Row 5: Knit

Row 6, 7, & 8: K3, yo, knit to end. (7, 8, & 9 sts)

Row 9: K3, yo, k1, purl to last 4 sts, k4. (10 sts)

Repeat Rows 6, 7, 8, & 9 until the cloth is your desired width, ending with Row 9.

Corners: (I use short rows for a neater corner. If you do not wish to make your corners this way, I put the short row corner in brackets, so you can eliminate that portion and just do the row as written.)

Row 1: {K3, turn; sl 1 st, k2, turn; k2, turn; sl 1 st, k1, turn; k2, turn, sl 1 st, k1, turn; k3, turn; sl 1 st, k2, turn}; k2, k2tog tbl, yo, k2tog tbl, knit to end.

Row 2: Repeat Row 1.

Decreasing half:

Row 1: K2, k2tog tbl, yo, k2tog tbl, knit to end.

Row 2: K2, k2tog tbl, yo, k2tog tbl, purl to last 4 sts on needle, k4.

Rows 3 & 4: Repeat Row 1.

Repeat Rows 1, 2, 3, & 4 until you have 7 stitches left on your needle.

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: K1, k2tog tbl, k1, k2tog, k1

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: Bind off, knitting last 2 sts tog before binding them off.

I had these all rolled in a bundle to give someone and they won't lie flat now, so I folded them in half for the pictures. :D

Dairy Free

Check out my Dairy Free Recipe Blog: http://nomoojuice.blogspot.com/

Cloth Diapers

We're lovin' these one size pocket diapers from Charlie Banana!

My mother also just bought me some Thirsties Hemp Inserts and they work great! They're super thin, so the diaper is less bulky, and they absorb more than a regular cotton insert. 

Just started using this idea to make home made cloth diaper wipes, only I'm using a light-weight terry in addition to the flannel. I've made a couple and will give them a try before I make a million more. First, I need to make a diaper wipe spray. 

Also planning on sitting down to make a new nursing cover since the old one isn't holding together properly. 

Hugs and Kisses Quilt Tutorial

I'm a big fan of Moda fabrics and *especially* of their Bake Shop. It has inspired me to write my own little tutorial for this Hugs and Kisses Quilt that I made from a Moda charm pack. So here goes my very first tutorial! Please forgive my crumby camera skills.

You will need:

Kahlua Whoopie Pies

Prep. Time: 10 min.
Bake Time: 10 min. per batch

1 c. butter, chilled, cut into smallish slices
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c. Kahlua
2 1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
4 oz. box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
jar of marshmallow cream

Preheat oven to 350. Really cream the butter and sugars together. Add egg and kahlua. Add everything else except marshmallow cream. Drop onto cookie stone/sheet and bake 10-12 minutes. When cool, dollop marshmallow cream on one cookie and smoosh into a sandwich with another cookie. Serve immediately or keep in a fairly cool place.

Mrs. Callihan's Molasses Cookies

Prep. Time: 10 min.

Bake Time: 10 min. each batch

Cream together: 

1 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. shortening

Mix in:

1/4 c. molasses

1 egg

Pile on top and mix in:

2 1/4 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ginger

1/2 t. cloves

1/4 t. salt

Roll balls in sugar and bake 8-10 minutes (err on the side of too doughy rather than overdone; when they're looking cracked on top, they're done) at 375. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen if you don't eat dough along the way.