August Update: Kindergarten Beginnings, Knitting Projects, and Handmade Bags

OK, let me just say that, man, has this year flown by. We are in August already, and summer is soon coming to an end. To many, this is somewhat depressing. However, for me, I am celebrating.

My oldest, who is five, will be attending kindergarten this year. We were planning on homeschooling him through all his school years, but he is one of those children who really thrives in a group. He is a natural leader and almost needs that structure in his daily routine. He loves being around other kids, and I truly think he will do well. We are blessed to have the school only minutes away, which makes me feel a little better about sending him out into the world.

This week has been a mixture of emotions for me. Getting supplies together and helping him settle into a routine has been exciting, emotional, and a little overwhelming. Tonight we have orientation. I am going to be honest and admit that I am getting a little nervous, and I am not even sure why..

I am still working on my Honey Cowl, and I am also slowly working on a TMNT project for Aiden’s birthday. I have decided to focus on that once he starts school, so I do not have to worry about him seeing it. I also cast on the Dave Beanie for my hubby. I did finish the Woodside Hat the other day by Lion Brand. I did not make it as big as suggested, and it fits my son perfectly. 

I used Lion Brand Hometown USA in Little Rock Granite. The yarn is super soft, but it did split easily. I also had quite a few yellow spots that I had to cut out, which drives me crazy. I managed to catch all of them except for one. I did not see it until I was almost finished with the hat, and now it just sits there and laughs at me. The spot does not bother me nearly as much as the seam, which is horrendous. Even so, the hat will be loved by my son, and the seam does not look that bad when it is being worn. I also wanted to mention that the combination of yarn and stitch pattern produced a very squishy, soft fabric that will be wonderfully warm once the weather turns cold. And yes, you can still see the yellow fiber. I tried pulling it out, but it just would not cooperate.

I also wanted to share some of the things I picked up this past week. I got a ball of On Your Toes, Encore, a Nova size 8 needle, and five balls of Fibranatura Oak, which I plan on making a shawlette with. I also picked up a ball of Wisdom Yarns Marathon Socks in the North Pole colorway. I want to make myself a cute pair of winter socks from it.

I have also been busy making project bags. The three lying down are drawstring bags. They are basic, but they are some of my favorites. All of my bags have pockets in them. The ant print bag is the only Japanese knot bag I made, and the pattern can be found here. The other bags are a combination of patterns and videos I have seen on YouTube and around the web that I have adapted to better fit my needs.