Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have been making my own laundry detergent for a couple of years now. In the past I had assumed that this was a lost art that required much work, painstaking time commitments and effort. And I was pleasantly surprised that it was just as easy as making cookie dough. Actually more like mixing jello. 

I had also assumed that homemade detergent might be more expensive or the same price as store bought detergent. My homemade detergent is only a fraction of the cost of store bought brands. I would say that one batch has lasted a good 6 months. Granted, we don't have children, but still...the difference in cost is amazing!

I got this "recipe" from a friend of mine and others that I have seen are very similar. I use powder detergent, mainly because it is easier to transport and less of a mess to clean if it is spilled. 

1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 bar Fels Neptha or Ivory soap

1-2 Tbsp per load

I have seen that some people add different scents and whatnot. I'm not yet so adventurous but do revel in the thought. And although there are no scents added I do love how this detergents smells on my clean clothes. 

There is something so satisfying about using your own make-with-care-and-love detergent to wash the fabric your family lives in, wraps around themselves. It makes the task of endless loads of laundry seem at least a little less torturous. 

Happy Detergent Making!

"hermione hearts ron" hat

It is no secret that I am a fan of the Harry Potter series, not only for the story but also for the wonderful knitted things on screen. The movies paint a picture of the whimsical world of Hogwarts and the Weasley home as one of warmth, coziness, and comfy-ness. One that I wish I could jump into and wrap around myself.

I found this amazingly sweet hat on Ravelry and fell. in. love.


Hermione Hearts Ron Hat

For pattern click here.

Notions:
16" size 4 circular knitting needles
Stitch markers
size 4 DPN
160 yards of light weight yarn 5 ply yarn


This is such a cute and fun hat with the cables and eyelets. Delicate and dainty....just my style.

The pattern on Ravelry created a shorter hat so I repeated the pattern two more times than called for. I like for hats to cover my ears. Maybe because it gets incredibly cold way up here.

A Hat for Myself

I have been so busy trying to complete my Christmas gifts, hats and scarves for family, that it was exciting to actually start and finish my very own. I found this amazing yarn at a shop in sStillwater called "Darn Knit Anyway" which is wonderful! It's the same yarn I used for a friend's scarf. It was just too perfect I had to share.

Viveca Hat:

Origianlly from Berroco here, this hat is worked flat. But, as I prefer to knit in the round when doing hats, I found a great conversion done by a "Raveler," "Ravelry'er"...someone on Ravelry here.

Notions: 
16' size 7 circular knitting needles
Stitch marker (but I honestly just use small rubber bands)
Size 7 DPNs
180 yards of a not-so-stiff worsted weight yarn

I love this hat because of it's amazing slouchiness and the gathering. It is a great one- to two-day project. The pattern is easy to memorize and it is a quick decrease to the top. Just LOVE it! 

Patches of Love and Bunt Cake Flowers

There have been a few projects I've been meaning to complete around the apartment for quite some time and I finally sat down to finish. Little things can make a day and small accomplishments can brighten a week.

Most of the time I don't mind apartment living but there are a few things could do without -- like sharing washers and dryers and needed quarters for laundry. So I am super thankful for have family that is willing to let us wash our clothes at their homes. But...as I was unloading some pillowcases full of jeans and sweatshirts, I ripped holes in both of my new pillowcases. Sad. Day. But a fabric disaster is really an opportunity for craftiness in disguise!!

This weekend I hand sewed red felt hearts -- patches of love -- onto my ripped pillowcases. Not only are they repaired, they are cuter than ever and I love them even more!!

It is these small projects that make a room more personal and fun...always something new to discover. An easy project to complete in under an hour....no holes or rips required!

Happy repairing and personalizing!

.   .   .   .   .

I have also been trying to collect bundt cake pans for a couple of months. I've been finding them at garage sales and Goodwill -- wherever I can. And finally I have enough to mount on the wall in my kitchen.

I don't make bundt cakes but I love how they look -- much like flowers. And it is the perfectly cute and cheap addition to my kitchen decor!

I have discovered in the last few months and weeks that it is these simple, small changes that really make an impersonal apartment a home, and a bored homemaker happy! I love finding surprisingly fun uses for random things found at thrift stores and in the back of closets.

Happy re-purposing!

Infinite Love Scarf: My Soul Friend

Last summer I was inspired to pick up my knitting needles again after seeing some projects my friend had posted. She had just learned and was knitting cables, in the round, sweaters...and I was still knitting scarves worked flat in various lengths. I traveled to her home and she took some time to show me just how easy it could be. I was so impressed and thankful that I immediately busied my hands with hats and cowls. How wonderful! My heart found another love. And my little family and friends could be blessed with homemade, yarny goodness. I recently knit her a scarf and sent it on its way to find her and warm her heart.

.   .   .   .   .

"Infinite Love" Infinity Scarf

I'm not too rigid on gauge.I know, I know. I should be. And I probably will be later. But at the moment, I'm easy-going. If you knew me, you would know that this is a miracle in and of itself. And I apologize for the pics. my photographer was at work. Better pics on their way.

I used:

Worsted weight yarn
Size 10 needles
Cable needle

CF6: Slip six stitches onto cable needle, hold cable needle in front, knit next six stitches from left hand needle onto right, knit stitches from cable needle.

CB6: Slip six stitches onto cable needle, hold cable needle in back, knit next six stitches from left hand needle onto right, knit stitches from cable needle.


CO 44 sts. with scrap yarn. This will be removed at the end of the scarf to seam the ends together. Attach desired yarn to begin knitting. I tied the two together, but not too tight, to be easily removed and not undone accidentally. 

Pattern:

Rows 1-10: Slip first stitch and continue in stockinette.
Row 11: Slip first stitch, K2, CF6, K14, CF6, K3
Rows 12-24: Slip first stitch and continue in stockinette

Row 25: Slip first stitch, K15, CB6, K16
Rows 26-30: Slip first stitch and continue in stockinette

Repeat rows 1-30 until scarf reaches desired length. Finish on knit row. Seam ends together with kitchener stitch. 

Hymnal Wreath

This week my sister (-in-law), Liza, and I were finally able to get together for a craft day. This is something that we may have to do regularly!  At a birthday party we had spotted a beautiful wreath that we immediately feel in love with. As the family gathered together to chat and visit downstairs, Liza and I headed upstairs for an "ooh & ahh" session and to gather as much information as possible on this wonderful creation. We were sure to take a few photos and made plans to make it. 

With our pics and inspiration we hit the road, bound for Goodwill and Michael's. We found some great old, discolored books while thrifting. I whimpered later as we tore out pages for our project. 

We got Styrofoam wreath bases from Michael's. 

And headed home to get to work. 

We wrapped the wreath bases with pages then started stapling pages onto the base. There's no real right way to do this. As long as you cover it well and like the flowing ripples you are making, you're on the right track. 

Liza made two wreathes and I made one. 

Each looked very different, and each was equally pretty.

What I love about this wreath the most is fact that it isn't just paper stabled 

in a circle. One book we used was called "Wonder Hymns of the Faith" 
and there are several pages of my favorite hymns throughout 
the wreath. Along with several Christmas carols. 

The second book was a book of short stories, which included 
A Christmas Carol.

This is a simple, cheap project to start and complete in one day. 

It can easily be a year-round part of my home. 

Cold Mornings

I woke up to a cold nose this morning. For someone looking forward to a Minnesota winter, this little joy is greatly appreciated. After I quickly closed the windows, to avoid too much chill, I sent my hardworking husband off to work. His rough beard keeping him a little warmer. I'm probably going to take a nap later today but for the moment my fingers are eager to write and enjoy the feel of warm wool yarn. I cannot wait to whip out the fingerless gloves and scarves I so deeply love. 

I have finally finished all of my Christmas scarves and am looking forward to working in hats. As I've never knit a hat before, this will be an exciting endeavor. 

Hopefully I will be posting pics of my scarves and other craftings soon. Keeping this blog secret from my other is going to be a challenge as I don't want to spoil the surprise for family and friends. 

Welcome to the first post of many. Hope you stick around to enjoy!

. : jenna : .