The Monogrammed Laptop Sleeve

I made this red "M" laptop sleeve as a gift for a friend for her 13-inch Macbook. It is a fabulous personalized gift!

Needle: US8 24-inch circular
Yarn: Bernat Super Saver yarn in Burgundy (worsted weight)

Pattern:

Cast on 90 stitches. Knit for 8 rows.

Knit in stockinette (purl one row, knit one row) for 22 rows, finishing on the RS (Right side).

Start monogram (I used the letters from this website):
*Knit all even rows

Row 23 (WS, wrong side): p14, k6, p9, k6, purl to the end.
Row 25: Knit.
Row 27: p14, k6, p9, k6, purl to the end.
Row 29: p13, k7, p9, k7, purl to the end.
Row 31: p13, k8, p7, k8, purl to the end.
Row 33: p15, k8, p3, k8, purl to the end.
Row 35: p15, k9, p1, k9, purl to the end.
Row 37: p15, k19, purl to the end.
Row 39: p15, k4, p1, k9, p1, k4, purl to the end.
Row 41: p15, k4, p2, k7, p2, k4, purl to the end.
Row 43: p15, k4, p3, k5, p3, k4, purl to the end.
Row 45: p15, k4, p4, k3, p4, k4, purl to the end.
Row 47: p15, k4, p5, k1, p5, k4, purl to the end.
Row 49, 51, 53 and 55: p15, k4, p11, k4, purl to the end.
Row 57, 59 and 61: p13, k8, p7, k8, purl to the end.

Rows 62 to the end: knit even rows, purl odd rows in stockinette for about 5 more inches (about 40 more rows). Bind off loosely and leave a 2 foot tail. Sew the cover up on the wrong side along the edges using the mattress stitch then weave in all ends.

 Estimated time for this project: one week, that is, one hour per day for about 7 days.

Notes:

• For any of the letters from the above website, you will need to knit them in reverse (top-down). Most of the patterns there are written from the bottom up.
• The "M" design is (c) Rhonda K. White, done in 2005. Again, the link to this website is <http://www.knittingknonsense.com/M_cloth.html>. I do not claim this design as my own, I merely incorporated it into my laptop sleeve design.

Ideas:

• This is a great unisex design for a Mac laptop sleeve. 
• If you don't like the letters designed in the website credited in this post, you are free to try it with others!
• For other computers, try this trick: cast on 7 more stitches per inch. This is for a 13-inch Macbook, but a 14-inch laptop would be 97 stitches, a 15-inch would be 104 stitches, etc. Also add 7 more rows at the end per inch to keep it even.

How to find an organization scheme for documents

These days, we seem to be buried by things to organize - especially when it comes to paper, documents and bookmarks. We always say that we can't ever seem to find anything despite our best efforts!

Here is an idea: why not develop a plan for your paper and electronic documents? Some people develop a plan for one but neglect the other. This way, you know that if you have education related folders in the filing cabinet you also have them labelled the same way on your computer.

Here are some tips that I have learned over the past years when it comes to organization documents:

1. Think of how you use these documents now and in the future. For example, if you are in school now you might not be in three years. So those files won't be used as often as they are now but you still want them in a place where you can find them.
2. Also consider which documents you use often versus those that you don't. For example, you always need to find your taxes, paystubs and bills quickly versus old drawings that you did when you were five.
3. Create a very basic organization plan. Use general headings and very easy organization. Here is a sample:
• Learning applies to all levels of schooling, careers and jobs and research so all folders relating to these topics can go in this general group.
• Self-Improvement applies to topics like finances, health, beauty, fashion, weight loss, etc. So all documents relating to these topics can go into this larger grouping. 
• Planning applies to topics house/home, children, travel, holidays, car, etc. So all documents relating to anything that requires planning can go here. 
• Entertainment includes all documents relating to movies, music, hobbies and any type of entertainment.
4. Keep documents within three levels. This is an easy way to track your documents and a basic rule when it comes to web design as well. Here are a few samples:
• Learning >> University >> Year 1
• Learning >> Career >> Name of Employer
• Self-Improvement >> Finances
• Self-Improvement >> Health >> Menu Plans
• Planning >> House >> Renovation 2008
• Planning >> Holidays >> Christmas
• Entertainment >> Movies >> Movie Stubs
• Entertainment >> Hobbies >> Knitting 
5. Use this plan for electronic and paper versions of your documents. Apply this to your bookmarks, electronic filing system and paper filing system. This becomes very useful because once it is in place, you know will have an idea of where to find something three years from now as well as tomorrow. 

6. Write up your plan. Create a document that lists how your files are organized, both paper and electronic. This will help you out in the future.
7. Put the plan into practice. Take an afternoon or two to put the documents into folders organized according to your plan.  

Hopefully, these tips are helpful for you to weed through those piles of documents and papers that you have.

Links:

• Essortment, How to Create an Effective Office Filing System.

What to do when you are injured

Have you been injured recently and have to stop your usual routine? I made this list after I had to change my routine when I dislocated my toe. Hopefully, this list appeals to everyone!

Hobbies:

1. Learn how to knit or pick up the old knitting projects
2. Learn how to cross stitch or pick up the old projects
3. Learn how to crochet or pick up the old projects.
4. Learn how to paint or catch up on some painting. This could be painting canvas, wood, or anything else, for that matter. 
5. Get into stained glass painting
6. Learn how to paint dishes and fire them
7. Make candles at home
8. Finish off any scrapbooks or start new ones
9. Organize the boxes of photos and photo albums
10. Learn how to work with clay
11. Do the mending on your socks, shirts, etc.
12. If you like to sew, time to finish all of the sewing projects that you have going.
13. Learn how to draw. Get some books that show you how to do people or landscapes (depending on your interests) and go for it.
14. Learn how to make homemade soap, body lotion, body wash, etc.
15. Get into woodworking or carving wood. You can make your own chess set.
16. Get some pre-made wood items (like a jewelry box) from a craft store and finish it off. This could be staining it or painting it.
17. Learn a new language. Get the software in the language of your choice with a bilingual dictionary and set a time every day to do it.

Computers:

1. Organize photos, documents, videos, music and anything else on your computer
2. Scan the old photo albums and organize the images on the computer
3. Watch some movies that you’ve been wanting to see.
4. Mine through fantastic websites like Wikipedia, eHow, Essortment, and various blogs
5. Learn how to do things on your computer such as mastering Microsoft Office applications, anti-virus software, e-mail,  etc.
6. Organize the bookmarks in your browser
7. Download FamilyTree Maker (or a similar software) and start researching the family genealogy. Keep track of it in the software. See if you can get it all the way back to the mother country
8. Find your favorite podcast and keep up-to-date with the episodes. You may find that you become a fan of many podcasts. 
9. Play video games -- even better, play them with friends and family.
10. Research the things that you've always wanted to know about.
11. Create an account on a site like Amazon and do some shopping. If you can't shop, create some wish lists.

Brain Teasers:

1. Make a puzzle with 1000 to 2000 pieces
2. Read the books in your collection that you haven't read yet -- or the ones that you haven't read in a long time.
3. Master sudoku puzzles, word puzzles and crosswords. Work on doing them in pen.
4. Actually read the manual for your computer, phone or car to find out all of the features that you never knew were there and try them out.

The Kitchen and the house:

1. Make meals in large batches that can be frozen so that you are cooking less. Also make use of the slow cooker and meals that are very easy to make and don't take a lot of babysitting (like roasted meats and a salad).
2. Start making your own condiments (ketchup, BBQ sauce, etc.), pickles and preserves.
3. Thoroughly mine cooking websites like Allrecipes and make a list of the ones that you want to try. Try them, then review them online. 
4. Organize the junk drawer (or drawers)
5. Purge your bookshelves. This doesn't mean toss everything but take a good look.
6. Go through your dresser and closet for items to take to the Salvation Army - and take them!
7. Time to get into menu planning - plan menus for a month and write up the recipes and grocery lists for them. Then put them into practice and evaluate how long it took to make, if you like them, etc. 
8. Take care of the clothes that needed special care - hand washing, ironing, steaming, etc.
9. Go through the medicine cabinet and toss all expired medication. Check all toiletries and personal products for expiry dates as well. Make a list of the items that you should always have in the house (Tums, Polysporin, etc.) and the items that you now need to replace as they are expired. Gather all of the old prescriptions as well and place in a separate plastic baggie. On an outing, take the expired medication back to the pharmacist and get the items missing from the medicine cabinet.
10. Start a remodel in one of the rooms of the house. This could mean a major clean-up as well as you may notice that some rooms are cluttered. Think of repainting the walls and/or furniture, taking down wallpaper (or adding some), etc. Or, you could plan a renovation in an area as well. You are home -- you might as well.
11. Tackle the to-do list that you've been making in your head for the past 10 years. This could be the little things like purging your old school notes or shampooing the carpets. Even better - find all of the post-it notes that you've been keeping, write it all up in a master list on your computer and go about getting it done.

Social and personal life:

1. Make social dates with people and keep them. If you can't get out of the house, set up regular phone calls or video calls over Skype and keep them.
2. Plan your next trip (or trips). This could be the next big trip, the March Break trip, the family reunion, etc.
3. Plan movie nights with friends (most likely at your place). You can theme it with dinner to match the movie (ex. watching the Godfather with spaghetti and meatballs, cannoli for dessert).
4. Plan your Hallowe'en costume for this year (and those of your kids)
5. Watch at least 2 movies that you've secretly wanted to see but always said no to (for example, if you hate comedies but have wanted to see a Will Ferrell movie, do it).
6. Get a jump-start on Christmas for next year. Go through the decorations and see if there is anything that you can toss or donate, or if anything needs to be replaced (like the lights, garland, etc.). Plan the menu and gifts that you want to give to people. If some require time to make, why not make them? At the end of the day, if you decide on something different later on you now have an extra gift that comes in handy for that person that gave you something that you didn't expect.
7. Start planning the next family reunion. Get everyone's address and phone number, plan a venue and any associated costs. Plan the events and the meal, what is needed and talk about who can bring what. If anything, the list with addresses comes in handy for Christmas card time.
8. Break a few bad habits. Time to stop smoking or drinking, or eating right before bed. Pick a few habits that you've always wanted to break and do it. You have the time!
9. Evaluate your finances. Sit down and look at where money needs to go versus the items that you want. This could mean a little tweaking or a major overhaul. Look at paying off debts and savings in particular. It's also a great time to make short term and long term goals like paying off the car and buying a new TV within the next 3 years. If you are feeling really ambitious, program the finances into your calendar software (like Micosoft Outlook) to give you reminders. 

If you have kids:

1. Play board games. Get out the ones that you played as a kid and play those too.
2. Go on an outing once a week with them (if you can). This may be very difficult but try a location that is easy to maneuver around like the bowling alley, a museum or the mall.
3. Make your own playdough and make masterpieces.
4. Get out the lego.
5. Get out the dinky cars and the mats and play on the floor.
6. Teach them any of the above hobbies (woodworking, painting, knitting, etc.)
7. Go through the kids' wardrobe for items that are now too small and decide if these are hand-me-downs, can be reused in anyway or if they are going to the Salvation Army. Note anything that needs to be mended along with any stains and take care of that too.
8. Play video games together.
9. Go through the old photo albums together.

Exercise and healing:

1. Do all of the stretches required of you in order to heal
2. Go to physiotherapy appointments.
3. Take pictures of your healing injury – it might be difficult to look at (at first), but you’ll see the healing
4. Find games that you can play on the Wii that don't hurt or harm your healing.
5. Switch your workout routine to work an area that is not injured, for example, if your heel is injured then work your upper body. Just be careful as you may be overcompensating for an injury in other ways so don't overwork an area that hurts from regular activity.

 Sources:

Martial Arts Planet, "101 Things to do when you are injured".

Yahoo Answers, "Fun things to do while injured".
Undefeated Running, "Top 10 Things to do while you are injured and cannot run".

Tanya Hall, "Things to do at Home When Sick in Bed".

NextGenUpdate, "Things to do While Injured".

Running Free, "Things to do while out injured".

OreganLive.com, "Ten Things To Do When Injured".

Reddit, "Stuff to do While Injured".

Nice Shorts, "Things to do While Injured".
My Broken Leg, "Tips for Home Survival".

AND - my brain!

10 Fabulous Cheap (and homemade) Cat toys and treats

I decided that it was time to make some toys for my cat. I have lots of things around the house that I want to reuse or get out of my fabric stash.

1. Shoe box toy from this website
2. A stuffed sock.
3. A fabric ball: take a scrap piece of fabric and stuff it with some wadded up paper, aluminum foil or other scrap fabric along with some catnip and some noisy bells. Sew it up to form a stuffed ball and toss that around for the cat.
4. Any object made from eyelash yarn (bonus points if that is glittery or shiny eyelash yarn).
5. A twist-tie: just make sure that it has no exposed metal ends. I'm rather paranoid about that.
6. The cursor on your computer screen: ever notice how a cat really goes for that little moving arrow on your laptop? Mine sits next to me and watches it move around so I let him try to attack it - provided that he keeps the cardinal rule of never stepping on the computer keys. 
7. Crumpled up balls of aluminum foil or wads of scrap paper.
8. Leaves or pinecones from outside. 
9. Feathers (or objects that have feathers on them). 
10. An old tie. We don't use string as I knit but dragging an old tie around on the floor works wonders.

Ideas:

1. Homemade cat toy ideas
2. Homemade cat treats.
3. Top 5 Do it Yourself Cat Toys

Secret Santa Gift Ideas

Are you running a Secret Santa this year? Or, you can't think of anything to get for the event? Well, here are some gift ideas that may inspire you this year. These are also some great gender-neutral ideas if you are searching for gifts for relatives and friends as well.

1. Gift cards: this could be for the grocery store, department store, theatre, coffee shop or a restaurant.
2. Stainless steel coffee travel mug.
3. A coffee set with a mug and a bag of coffee beans. 
4. Box of chocolates, shortbread or candy: this one is harder as so many people have food allergies but you could ask beforehand if anyone objects. You could also make these at home instead of buying them. 
5. Office gift box: think of something that everyone in the office uses and constantly runs out of, like pens, pencils, card clips (if you need a pass that you clip to your clothes), silverware, etc. Just buy it separately and put it together in a basket or something like that.
6. Bottle of wine or other spirits.
7. Gourmet cooking set of flavored olive oils, vinegars and jams: If you are crafty, you can make this at home.
8. A USB key or SD card.
9. A nice photo album or photo frame.
10. A box of homemade Christmas cards with envelopes.
11. A fun new calendar for their desk. Perhaps one of those daily or monthly ones.
12. The latest best seller (hardcover or soft cover) on a topic that everyone enjoys or a book on a topic that everyone enjoys.
13. A holiday-themed candle (I'm always surprised how many men dig candles).
14. A sick kit: pack a basket with cough drops, Neo-Citran, and other things that you use when you are sick. 
15. A set of nice wine glasses (shot glasses, or bourbon glasses). 
16. A nice Christmas ornament. 
17. Any cooking or baking equipment: mixing bowls, baking sheets, cookie cutters, whisks or other utensils. 
18. Small appliances like a kettle, toaster oven, coffee grinder, power whisk, etc.
19. A nice throw or blanket for the house. 
20. A DVD of a movie or TV show that everyone enjoys or one that fits the season.

Website discovery: Essortment, Ehow and WikiHow

I have just discovered the websites Essortment, Ehow and WikiHow and I have to share my favorite links of the moment. I love these three websites because the articles are written by people who have experience in how to do something thus they post it for all of the rest of us. I love knowledge-based articles!

These are my current favorite links on Essortment:

1. 25 Places to Meet New People
2. How to Make Your Own Facial Scrub or Mask
3. Uses for Old Coffee Grounds
4. The History of Root Beer
5. Do it Yourself: Fixing Scratches in Wood Furniture and Trim
6. Make Your Own Scented Body Oil
7. Making Homemade Milk Soap
8. How to Remove Sticker and Tape Goo
9. Burning Patterns into Wood
10. Laptop vs. Desktop

These are my current favorite links on Ehow:

1. How to Make a Brown Sugar Lemon Body Scrub
2. Sore Throat Pain Remedies
3. Homemade Bath Salts
4. Homemade Lip Balm - made from coconut oil!
5. Make Curls Overnight Using Rags
6. How to Live Thrifty
7. 20 Holiday Trees Gone Wild
8. Category: Sewing and Upholstry
9. Techniques for Stenciling Furniture
10. How to set Food Portion Sizes for Young Children

These are my current favorite links on WikiHow:

1. How to Stencil Fabric
2. How to Make a Glowstick
3. How to Make a Candle with Essential Oils - bonus! makes body oil
4. How to do Pranks with Garden Gnomes
5. How to Set up a Sewing Room
6. How to Make a Crop Circle
7. How to Go Green at Work
8. How to Avoid Workplace Flu
9. How to Stop Procrastinating (and, even better, the Category)
10. How to Get Rid of Junk Mail

16-inch Laptop Case

I made this laptop case for myself and my 16-inch Toshiba Satellite. This will fit any 16-inch laptop for certain and I am very happy with it! Plus, I get lots of comments about it whenever I pass through airline security which is an added bonus.

Needle size: size 8 (5.0mm) 29-inch circular
Yarn: I used Vanna's Choice in Purple Mist but any worsted-weight yarn should work

Case:

Cast on 153 stitches. Knit for 6 rows then switch to stockinette (purl one, knit one) for 82 rows (or, about 12 inches). Bind off and weave in ends. Turn inside out and sew up with scrap yarn along the edges.

Flap:

Cast on 18 stitches. Knit for 44 rows. For the buttonhole, knit 6, bind off 6 stitches, knit 6 stitches. On the next row, knit 6, cast on 7 with cable cast-on. Turn the knitting and slip the first stitch from the left needle to the right needle as if to knit. Pass the extra cast on stitch over the next stitch; then slip this stitch back to the left needle. Turn work back around and knit 6. Knit for 5 more rows then cast off. Weave in ends.

Finishing:

Use spare yarn to sew the flap to the case - in the center of the back. Use a spare button that fits into the button hole. Match it up to the hole and sew it to the outside of the laptop case using scrap yarn and weave it into the case so that no ends show.

Estimated time for this project: about 1 week (7 days) if you work on it for one hour every day.

Notes:

• I didn't plan on making this a wide laptop case, I originally wanted for it to look like my Laptop sleeve for my husband. I actually miscalculated! But it worked.
• This can be made out of any worsted-weight yarn but you might have to check the gauge.
• I haven't mastered knitting in the round yet but this can definitely be done in the round. If you do that, I'd cast on 150 stitches instead as this case has 3 extra stitches to account for the manual sewing.
• I got the buttonhole instructions from this website and the links above.
• I used two balls of the Purple Mist yarn for this project, between 250 and 290 yards. Sorry that I am not precise, I didn't write it all down! But I didn't have much yarn leftover: just enough for two makeup remover pads.

10 things to never buy cheap

After many years of learning what to buy, I have put together this list from many lessons that I have learned (most of them the hard way which I have explained).  Now it's time to share these lessons.

1.  Vacuum cleaner: we bought a Dyson pet-hair vacuum cleaner for $700 after my $100 cheapo broke after one year. We've had it for three years with no problems and no bags. 
2. Espresso maker: if you are into Espresso, don’t get the cheap stuff. We spent $1200 on ours. We bought a cheap one that worked once and then never did again.
3. Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer: We got the professional model with all of the accessories up front. If you love cooking, it should last you 20 years or more.
4. Pots: get the copper-lined pots if you can afford it. Cheapo pots burn food easily and even warp under heating. I learned this the hard way when one put was on the burner a little too long.
5. Frying pans: we have a cast-iron frying pan that we never put into the dishwasher. It is actually almost 40 years old as my mom got it as a wedding present in 1972. If you never soak it in water and really take care of it, here is proof that it can last you a lifetime (or more). And the cooking quality is beyond compare. Non-stick pans have a coating that scrapes off in the food.
6. Shoes: cheap shoes are often very stylish but they usually only last about a year (sometimes less). Spend the money once on a pair of leather shoes with good construction and they will last for years. I still wear shoes that I bought five years ago.
7. Fake gold jewelry: This stuff stains my fingers green if I wear it for too long so I always get the real gold (or gold-plated) stuff.
8. Computers: This doesn’t mean that you have to get a $2000 computer, but the cheapies that sell for $200 will only last a year or two, at the most. Expect to spend at least $800 on a computer on a reliable brand.
9. Wood furniture: If you can possibly help it, buy the real stuff. The wood product furniture that sells for much cheaper is ruined as soon as there is a scratch on it. At least with wood, you can refinish it to hide scratches or even paint it. Wood furniture costs a fortune (especially if you are in the city) but it will last multiple lifetimes.
10. Umbrellas: Take a cheap one out when it’s windy and it turns out almost immediately. You need to spend the money on one that is made properly so that you can actually use it.

Honourable mentions:

Blenders: I have found that plastic ones tend to crack in the bottoms and I have bought two already. Our next one will be glass.

Digital Cameras: we had an expensive one that lasted for 10 years. I'm really glad we didn't have a cheap one.

Cat food: I had a cat who had crystals in his bladder and he died of blockage. We found out later that it was a combination of genetics and the food that we fed him. Needless to say, now we spend the money on our new cat's food - $60 for one huge bag in a pet store.

Laptop Sleeve for Men

We really like technology but we want to protect it. So, I made a laptop sleeve for my husband's laptop to protect it whenever he travels or for general protection. This fits a thin, 13-inch computer and can be adjusted.

I added a stripe to this but that is optional.

Needle size: size 8 (5.0 mm) 29 inch circular

Yarn: RedHeart Super Saver yarn

Cast on 90 stitches in main color.

Start rib pattern for 6 rows.

Rib pattern:

Row 1: knit two, purl two, repeat until the end of the row.

Row 2: purl two, knit two.

At the end of the 6 rib rows (ending on the RS), switch to the WS. Knit in stockinette by purling this row and knitting the next. After 8 rows, switch to your second color on the WS (which is optional). Knit in stockinette for 6 rows. Switch back to main color on the purl side. Knit in stockinette (purl one, knit one) for 11 more inches in the main color. Bind off. Sew up the seams and weave in ends. 

 

 Estimated time for this project: about 1 week (7 days) if you work on it for one hour every day.

Notes:

• I didn't do this in the round (or join the stitches) but I will for the next one that I make. The directions wouldn't differ much. 
• I made this for a man hence the grey and green colors, but this could easily be made with girly colors. 
• The stripe is not necessary. It is possible to omit that part. I did that to make it look like a real sock.