On the Needles, November 2014

I have been knitting for about five years. A friend gave me some needles and yarn for Christmas, taught me how to cast on, knit, and purl. The rest I learned by watching tutorials on youtube. The needles and stitches were familiar--my aunt had taught me when I was nine years old. I knit a doll blanket, then forgot the difference between a knit and a purl stitch. This time, knitting stuck.

Creating something useful (and beautiful and fun) satisfies something in my core. It still amazes me that by just tying knots in yarn, I can make clothing and fabric; I can keep people warm. I'm finally picking up my knitting needles again (pregnant exhaustion for much of the last year kept me from doing much knitting, or anything else). Currently, I have five projects on needles--two are relatively new, two have been there for quite awhile.

I started this blanket when I first began knitting five years ago. The pattern was free at JoAnn Fabrics, and I picked it up, thinking I had the skill to dive in--I almost did. I knit about half of the blanket, and was disappointed in my mistakes (LOTS of dropped stitches), and the pattern was too busy for me. So I ripped it all out and started over, spacing the white stripes further apart. I like it much better, but it isn't finished yet. Turns out I bore easily. I do like the colors and pattern and will get back to it. The blanket has become my between projects project.

My most recent project--Charlie's Christmas sweater vest from What to Knit When You're Expecting. I love this vest; the pattern is really easy and fast to knit (baby clothes are tiny!). And? I'm so close to finishing, he'll actually get to wear it! (I'm also counting this as my first sweater, even if it is pint-sized).

A scarf for my own neck! I loved the Noro Scarf from Brooklyn Tweed as soon as I saw it. I used a different, softer yarn, but stuck to the pattern as written. Easy. No curling. Super thick and warm. I made one for Ethan in different colors the first winter we were married, but didn't get mine finished...maybe this winter? It's really, really close to being done. The slow color progression created with two striping yarns is beautiful.

This pattern is my design! A Charlie Brown inspired bib for Charlie. Again, this one is very simple and almost finished. He's starting to eat solids this week...I better get crackin'.

I cast on the Stripe Study Shawl right before I found out I was pregnant, then promptly placed the project on pause. While knitting it did find the pattern to be fast and quite fun--I love watching it come to life. I'm knitting it in Rowan Cotton Glace in Blood Orange and Umber (Umber has been discontinued...let's hope I bought enough. There's a chance I'm a skein short, which I should *probably* check before I continue). The stripes are simple, but the asymmetry adds visual interest. The name of the pattern also makes me swoon--of course I want a shawl to wrap around myself while I study. Who wouldn't?

Do you have too many projects on knitting needles? Or do you finish one project dutifully before beginning the next (it's okay to be honest...I'll still like you).

Homemade Laundry Soap

The subject matter of the first real post in nearly a year? Laundry. The most mundane subject I could think of for the occasion. (I actually thought about saving this post for later, then decided, meh, we all do it…maybe laundry will bring us all together! Let’s see, shall we?) After all, laundry is a part of all of our lives (with or without the recent addition of a tiny human who habitually wets himself).

Three people have asked me in the last couple of months about the laundry detergent I started making a couple of years ago. Before I chose a recipe, I researched MANY; there are hundreds to be found on the Interwebs and in books. One recipe of the mix I finally decided on lasted our household for almost two whole years (in the Age Before Charlie).

The measurements used need not be exact, just generally proportional—so go ahead and halve, double or triple the recipe. If you have a few tablespoons of baking soda left in the box, go ahead, throw caution to the wind and add it.

All of the ingredients can be found in the detergent aisle of most grocery or general stores—the castile soap included.

Laundry Soap

7 cups washing soda (a full 3 lbs 7 oz. box)

7 cups borax

2 cups baking soda

3 bars castile soap, grated (12-15 oz. total).

A note about castile soap: I’ve tried Fels Naptha and Kirk’s. Both work, but I like Fels Naptha better (for no good reason, really, both have the mildest of scents…I like Fels Naptha’s better). Fels Naptha is sold in a bigger bar than Kirks—I just use 3 bars no matter the brand as long as they aren’t vastly different.

Measure washing soda, borax, and baking soda into a storage container. Grate all three bars of soap with a cheese grater or the grating blade of a food processor and add. Mix all ingredients well with a plastic or metal spoon.

The making is done! This process really only takes 10 minutes. Totally worth it.

To use, just add one to two heaping tablespoons of detergent to each load of laundry, depending on the size of load. This recipe should last for 150+ loads of laundry and costs about 6 cents a load, which is far less than half the cost of most store-bought detergents. I spent less than $10 on supplies for TWO YEARS of laundry. Not bad.

Our clothes feel and smell clean and colors remain bright—which is all I am looking for in a detergent. If your house has older plumbing (like ours), you know that detergents that produce heavy suds can back up drains. Suds are also problematic for high efficiency washers. This detergent produces few suds and is gentle on plumbing, machines, clothing, and skin. There’s a lot to like about it.

I keep my detergent in a vintage All pail that my sister found at Farm Chicks one year. I'm sure it hasn't seen detergent for decades. There were no holes in the metal, but the bottom of the bucket was very rusty. I scraped the rust with a wire brush and painted it grey to keep my detergent from damaging the bucket further (and to keep the rust out of my clothes). It makes me happy that I’m repurposing to the original purpose; I think the bucket probably likes holding soap again. (Really the soap should be kept in a container with a lid, but I live on the edge).

Do make your own detergent? Likes? Dislikes? How do you feel about laundry?

Annnnnd...We're Back!

I’m bringing A House on Garland back to life. I miss it.

Since I last saw you, the husband and I have had a child (if you look at the dates, you might notice that I stopped posting approximately eleven months ago...just before the nausea and complete exhaustion hit). Charlie is almost two months old and pretty great. Is it unreasonable to think I’ll be able to keep up with projects, photos, and posts with a new, tiny human in my life? Probably. 

I'm going to try anyway.

Welcome back to A House on Garland. There's someone new here for you to meet.