Done!

Whew, I'm done with classes, AND my holiday knitting! Penelope, my daughter's version of the Ysolda's Poppy doll, has been completed. Now I just have a closet full of presents to wrap... fun. Here she is- I think my daughter is going to love her!

Progress on the holiday knits!

I've gotten quite a bit done, surprisingly! I've gotten Duncan the elephant completed (he just needs a Jedi Robe sewn- my son is obsessed), my nieces doll is complete, mittens for my husband, the hat for my Dad, the doll for my daughter is in progress, and a little monster "thing" is being made for my littlest. I have no idea what it will look like, as I'm just knitting. LOL I've worked here and there on socks for my husband, but they're definitely on the back burner.

So, here's Duncan!


And Ginger the doll:


Turn a Square hat for my Dad:


And the mittens for my husband:

The countdown begins!

Ah, the end of Thanksgiving weekend... relaxing, right? Or not, if you have several school assignments, exams and a gazillion WIP's on the needles calling to you! :) We had a really nice Thanksgiving, the kids all had a great time visiting my sister and her cat and dog. We came home and I've been knitting or studying whenever I can. I've got one mitten done for hubby, a socktopus who just needs 7 more legs (however, he's small and I may rip it out and start over), my niece's Poppy doll is going along nicely, and I got my yarn for my daughter's doll, and the book of basic patterns so I can size hats and mittens for all the kids. Yikes, I have a lot to do! I'm at a loss for all of my inlaws gifts, but not sure about knitting for them. Maybe a calendar? Wish me luck!

Holiday knitting begins!

Whew, I've been busy! School and family are keeping me busy! I managed to make a scarf for my sister-in-law, which turned out nicely, and I have a ton of projects started/planned out.


I spun some fiber, finally, and got this pretty yarn- have a bunch more to spin before I can make anything though!


I just finished another Turn a Square Hat, and it looks nice, for Dad for Christmas. Lets hope THIS doesn't look like a woman's hat. (rolling eyes here!) I am working on another of Ysolda's Elijah elephants for my oldest- he's one arm, and 2 ears short, but adorable. I bought yarn for 2 of her Poppy dolls, for my niece and my daughter, plan to make a Socktopus for my littlest, a hat for my BIL, and I have mittens started for my husband. And I want to make the kids all hats and mittens. Plus I have finals before the holidays LOL. Sure, I'll get it all done, right?

Completed project photos!

I decided to use the leftover yarn I'd dyed with koolaid to make my daughter a pair of anklets for her birthday. They took a couple of weeks, but were a super quick knit- I just didn't have much time to work on them. They're very cute! I used to 8 stitches per inch pattern, child size medium, and used two repeats of the Spring Forward chart on the instep. Very cute, and she likes them a lot! I STILL have yarn left LOL.



I also made her a doll quilt, and a little quilted bag. I had so much fun doing this, but wow, I am not exactly a natural with the sewing machine. :) There are lots of "oops" spots on these, but you know, she doesn't mind, and I think they look pretty good for my first try at quilting. Binding is HARD, and I need practice... lots of practice.

I'm hard at work on a scarf for my SIL, and it's about 65% complete. It looks nice! I also took the very fine Merino/Silk/Nylon blend mess and untangled it... I can't remember if I posted on here, but when I went to ply, it got crazily snarled and in a fit of rage I chucked the whole ball on a table where it has sat happily while I occasionally glare at it. Anyhow, I untangled, and managed to ply it into 57 yards of fingering/sport weight yarn. Now I have about 2.5 oz of that fiber still left to spin... not sure I have it in me!

Yay! Finished socks!

They're so pretty and well, SPRINGY! I love them, despite my hesitations about the yarn choice. They're a bit snug (silly me realized I've been knitting them at a tighter gauge than called for... not sure this yarn would've worked at all at a looser gauge though!) So, my pretty Spring Forwards are done, blocked, and just a touch damp still. Plenty of yarn left over to maybe make my niece a little pair... I'd make my daughter some, but I don't think the yarn will hold up to her abuse!

I've made a little more progress on my daughter's sweater. I've decided to use the lace pattern from Knitty's Helena on the bottom portion of the sweater. I was very close to the stitch numbers for that sweater anyhow, so I increased 4, and am on my way with the lace. Too bad it is so big, and well, I am not really enjoying knitting it.

In other news, I'm heading back to school myself, so my knitting time will be even further reduced- yikes! Wish me luck!

Someday they'll be done...

I can't believe I haven't finished the Spring Forward socks yet. I have really bad second sock syndrome!! I am making an effort this week, and I WILL finish them this weekend! I am so bad about knitting at night, getting too tired, and falling asleep... Oh well. I have one full repeat to go, then the toe, and they're done! I think I may continue on my daughter's sweater (which has sleeves separated) and maybe some mittens/hats for the kids once these are done.

Happy Feet!

This week has been very long, and very hard. With a screaming, teething toddler, two bored older kids, a very grumpy self, and a migraine, I've been in a rotten mood to say the least! I tried spinning some of the beautiful fibers I purchased a while ago, and ugh. I almost threw it all out the window. I decided to start knitting myself something happy and cheery and focus on that.

And so, I have one sock of the two done! The simple Spring Forward socks from Knitty, done in Dream in Color Smooshy. I'm underwhelmed by the yarn. I won't be purchasing it again, but it served the purpose intended of cheering me up. Unfortunately, the socks have to stretch a lot around my foot, and I'm afraid they'll wear out quickly. Bummer-they're super cute! I added rows to the heel flap and picked up more stitches for a longer gussett, and if I hadn't, the sock would never go on. I do NOT have big feet- US 6-7, generally a 6.5, but I have a super high arch. Grrr. I'll finish the pair, and I guess start ANOTHER pair and try different modifications. I think I need to read up on some other methods of sock construction!

Sourwood Pictures!

Whew, I was able to work hard and finish them up Friday night. They're beautiful! I'm still not thrilled with the thumb, but my sister seemed to like it, and well, they are for her! I'm so glad she liked them. I also had her try the sock I started, and it is a good thing I stopped- it wouldn't go on her foot. So that one is being frogged...




I cast on for the Hemlock Ring Blanket, but I'm iffy on the yarn... I kind of want to use it for a sweater for me. :) It's blue, and I'm thinking I might like the blanket better in a cream. Not sure yet.

Projects galore!

I gave up on the butterfly socks for my sister's birthday. I don't know if her foot is like mine- but I have a high instep and could barely get it on, so it is sitting, waiting for me to decide what I am doing with it.

Instead I'm making her Sourwood Mountain mittens and what a quick knit! I was a bit intimidated by all of the charts, and pages of instructions but it is not hard at all. The thumb isn't my favorite though, and I'm not about to rip back to that point. I'll live with it (or rather, she will...)

I also bought yarn to start the Hemlock Ring Blanket, still have the sweater for my daughter in the works, and a whole BUNCH of sock yarn to play with :). I'm excited!

Sock pictures! (and more projects started...)

Finally, some pictures of my first adult sized socks. They're crazy looking with the reds and pinks, but they're growing on me. :) I will never knit another pair of plain ribbed socks though. I got bored... very bored.





My daughter has been asking for a sweater, and I had bought yarn for it already, so when the socks were done, I cast on for a simple top down raglan. I'll add some lace, or a fancy edging. I haven't decided what I'm doing yet. I'm iffy on the yarn... Knit Picks Comfy sport weight. It has stuff in it... we'll see.



And last night, I started these- flutter-by socks for my sister's bday (early August) with the other skein of Bare yarn I dyed with Koolaid. I'm liking how it is knitting up! The pattern is fun and keeping my interest.

They're done!

Yay! My first adult sized pair of socks, and I like them a lot. Nothing fancy- simple ribbed socks, but fun! I'm already oogling more sock yarn and planning out more socks. I'll have pictures later, when they are completely dry. I was so excited to finish them up yesterday while the baby slept!

Slow knitting...

Wow, it has been crazy busy since the kids got out of school! My poor socks are so close to being finished, yet I can't seem to find the time to plug away and FINISH them. If I do it after the kids are in bed, I fall asleep. I happened to try last night... not a good idea. Messed up the toe decreases and had to rip a few rows. I hate picking the stitches back up. Blech. The baby is napping now, and the older two are making puppets, so perhaps I have a second. But I'm sure they'll, oh, want food maybe? :) But seriously, I can't wait for things to quiet down, just a little. We've put drywall up in the kitchen, traveled 600 miles by car to visit inlaws (with the three kids... I don't recommend it, 12-13 hours in the car is not fun) And now we have dance classes. Okay, the oldest is crying... so much for a quiet moment!!!

Girl's Shrug

I had a ball and a half of yarn left over from my niece's sweater... so I decided to make my daughter a shrug. I couldn't find a pattern in her size, so I measured my gauge, and my daughter, and improvised. It worked well! I worked it in 2 pieces, and then grafted together. Berroco Comfort DK yarn, size 7 needles, and crocheted trim on the sleeves. She likes it a lot!

Frogged...

Well, I really did it. I ripped out the 6.5 inches of Whisper I had completed. I just didn't like it, and couldn't seem to quite get gauge. The sleeve still seemed way too big! Maybe I'll retry using lace yarn, but honestly, it seems like a dull knit... so as much as I like the look of the finished object, not sure I have it in me to continue!

In other news, I finished my first sock, and have the second started! Love them, and am eager to have a nice pair of socks to wear! I'm also making a little shrug for my 4 year old, and she's excited. I'm hoping that holds her off a bit on the questions of when HER sweater will be done (she's quite bossy- both older kids are in fact, they yelled at me for knitting something for myself! After all, I just finished a sweater, now it is their turn!)

More fun with koolaid!

This is the second skein I dyed with koolaid. Started by painting it with a turkey baster LOL, and it looked like an easter egg- yellow, purple, blue, pink, and I wasn't a fan. So I kettle dyed that in a reddish purple, and now have another "eh" skein to work with! I bet I'll like it once I play with it some more, as I adore the other now. Dyeing is very addicting, and I would love to get my hands on some actual dyes, not just koolaid.

Sock progress! And still whisper issues...

I'm loving the yarn as it knits up for my socks. I wasn't sure on it, but it is fun, colorful and working up nicely. I love it, since the sock is such a simple design- 2x2 ribbing, basic 8 stitch per inch sock. Fun, but I'm ready for the last few inches of the foot to be done LOL.


The whisper... sigh. I so badly want to love this project, but stockinette is dull, very dull. I had to go down to size 6 needles after realizing gauge was not right. So who knows if this will even fit correctly. I'm kind of half-heartedly working on it here and there, but am contemplating ripping it out and just knitting something else with the yarn. I just don't know what!

Fun with dye!

I had a lot of fun two nights ago with some Knit Picks Merino/nylon bare sock yarn, some koolaid, and some food coloring. Totally addicting! With three small children, I didn't want to mess with toxic chemicals, so I decided to give the koolaid thing a try. Well, all was great, used 5 packs of Black Cherry for the 100g skein, and put in the microwave. Goofy me should have realized the whole inside was too smushed, and stayed bright white LOL. Oops. And by that point, it was 9pm, I was out of koolaid, but am too darn impatient to have waited for the next day. (I was feeling too lazy to head back to the store for koolaid!) So I plopped some vinegar and food coloring in a pot, soaked the yarn in vinegar/water, and then put it in the pan. While on the stove, it looked like spaghetti vomit, but now that it is dry, it has potential. Or not. I have not decided yet!!!

In other news, I cast back on for Whisper, 76 stitches right from the start. It looks big still, but I refuse to start AGAIN. I also ripped two sock patterns for myself that I'd started. I was using Cherry Tree Hill DK sock yarn, in spanish moss colorway. I think I've decided I'm just not crazy about the yarn. But my 4.5 year old daughter adores it, and I think we'll be making her something with it. Fun!

First socks!

My first pair of socks- miniature sized :) I decided to make my almost one year old a pair first, for this fall/winter. It's a basic sock, Drops design pattern from ravelry, and was very easy to follow. So fun! I want to try a different heel construction though. These socks are a 12-18 month size, and still a bit big, but I figure he has a while to grow into them before he'll need wool socks :) Well, a few months at least.

Decided not to try to line up the stripes, as I kind of like the not quite matched look, especially on my little man. I love how quick these were- definitely nice after having to rip out the whisper progress.

Speaking of Whisper, I'll be casting on for that again tonight or tomorrow... I have a ball winder from Knit Picks, and a swift, on the way, which should make winding the rest of the yarn for it much easier. And more sock yarn- some undyed, to play with koolaid. Woo hoo!

So I went ahead and ripped...

I can't handle the big sleeves. Soooo... I ripped it out. I'll start over with less stitches, and maybe a bit of ribbing. With the fingering weight yarn, it isn't curling too badly, and I don't mind it, so I may just let it do what it wants. We'll see.

Whisper... to rip or not to rip?

I'm so torn. My gauge IS still right for the project, and the bell sleeves are HUGE. Absolutely enormous. Should I rip and start smaller sleeves?? I hate ripping out six inches of knitting, but I don't know that I like the gigantic sleeves. Ugh.

I was so frustrated with that project, but I started socks for the baby, and OMG, they're super cute :) I got one done last night, and should be able to knit the other over the next few days. I cannot wait to start a pair for myself- these were the first socks I've knit, and totally addicting. I hope to take a picture later, when I have more than 5 seconds to post an update.

Whisper woes

Whisper cardigan woes :( I had to rip it out last night :( It looked odd, the decreases look funny to me in the sleeve, and well, it was enormous! I need to recheck gauge. I had about 5.5 inches knit, but it's getting frogged. Starting over. Boo. I started ripping, then realized I should probably measure gauge before I ripped it all out LOL. I'm making the smallest size, only because I'm short and my shoulders are not even 20 inches across. But my boobs are big, so who knows if the cardigan/shrug will work. We'll see. I did love the lightweight feel of what I did manage to knit.

I got to wear my FLS yesterday, and loved it. I want to make another, in blue. Not sure why I wound up making green... I think the yarn shop was out of heathered blue Cascade when I went. The baby kept snotting on it, and I was grabbing tissues to blot LOL. It took so long to dry that I don't want to have to deal with that for a while!

Elijah the Elephant!

He's done, and he is ADORABLE! I can't believe I stopped for a while, because the arms, ears, etc. FLEW once I sat down to knit. I love it! I'm not sure I'll be able to give him to my baby boy for his first birthday (which may not be an issue, since when I showed him the elephant earlier, he threw it LOL) Anyhow, I added a 3 stitch i-cord tail, which you can't see, but is super cute. I may have needed a bit more stuffing, but I'm just so pleased with how darn cute this thing is! :) It was my first project using short rows, and I messed up picking up the wraps (I think...) and my first time grafting, but it looks good for my first try. I had to knit the ears separately and then stitch them on, as the stitches were far too tight to pick up from the head. Now the other two kids are begging me to make them elephants, only BIGGER! In red, and pink. Not sure I really want to tackle this pattern again yet... but will eventually.

The finished project!

My sweater finally dried, and I sewed on buttons today. I'm not so sure I'll be keeping these buttons, but they work for now. I'd like to have some better pictures, and maybe include, oh I don't know, my face, LOL, but my husband cannot seem to take a decent picture of me. (And yes, I am overly critical, but this time he caught me with stupid expressions EVERY time!) So ignore the head chop.

It's DONE!

I finished the February Lady Sweater last night! I can't even express my excitement, and how insanely proud of myself I am for completing a sweater. I love it, just need to block and add buttons (and take pictures, of course :) ) This pattern was so fun, just enough to stay interested, but easy enough to knit while watching TV (unless you fall asleep... which sadly happened twice. Knitting while asleep- I don't recommend it- when you come out of your stupor, you look down and think WTF happened? and then you rip out a bit to figure it out...)

Anyhow, so I'm done with that. Next is the Whisper cardigan (and of course I need to finish up the little Elijah elephant at some point!)

Sleeves

Woo hoo! One sleeve complete, the other is on its way. I wound up decreasing one lace repeat over the first 4 rounds, and I think it was a good call. The sleeves should have wound up hitting me around the elbow. (I tried them on, started garter stitch, then ripped out and added one more lace repeat.) I am so excited- but now I'm debating on buttons. I have nice wooden buttons, but I kind of want green buttons... decisions, decisions!

Plugging away

Still plugging away at the lace repeats on the sweater! But I'm so close!! Yay! Tried it on, and it is right at waist, so just a few more, then the garter stitch edging. I hope the sleeves go quickly. No luck with finishing it by this weekend, but maybe, just maybe, I can wear it for Mother's Day.

Moving along!

I'm so excited to see the progress being made! I've gotten several lace repeats done, and well, I hope blocking truly does help, because my lace looks a bit smushed. But I love the color, the yarn is quite nice, more than I expected (Cascade 220 Heather) and I am really looking forward to finishing this. My birthday is in two weeks, and I am aiming to finish it by then. We'll see what happens!

Frustrations with knitting...

I decided after my success with the baby sweater to finally tackle a sweater for myself. I've been drooling over the February Lady Sweater for months, and finally felt my knitting could handle it. Yeah... it is proving I am still a newbie knitter! I restarted the stupid thing 5 or 6 times, swore at the buttonholes, and now am at the eyelet row (which I am changing to a kfb). I have one stitch short, which means somewhere I forgot an increase. Oh well, I'm not ripping it out, I'll fudge it when I do the sleeves. However, I thought I figured out the increases to be evenly spaced, got 2/3 through and realized it wasn't working the way I expected. I HATE ripping out from the circular needles, especially with so many stitches. Grrr!!!

In good news, I ordered some yarn to make my daughter a pretty pink sweater, and myself the Whisper Cardigan. I have the adorable little Elijah elephant on my needles, but had to get some shorter DPN's- I'll be knitting that when they arrive. He's fun, and I don't swear at the toys like I do sweaters :)

Baby sweater pictures:

I'm so happy with how this sweater turned out! My 4.5 year old has already requested I make her one in her size :)



And now I've cast on for the adorable little stuffed Elijah elephant from Ysolda. The head is almost done, and is stuffed and waiting for the trunk to be knit! Too bad I realized my size 2dpns are a set of 4, not 5. We'll see if I can make it work for the body.

Top Down Raglan baby sweater!

I've been slacking off on knitting projects- I actually only have one project on my needles. (I am however, spinning that lovely wool/silk/nylon blend. It sheds. Everywhere!) Anyhow, I've been working on the baby sweater my sister requested I make for my new niece. I wound up frogging it a month or so ago, because it looked goofy. Started over and stuck it out. Very happy! I have about 20 rows until binding off, and then I have the sleeves. One thing I really don't like is the underarms. I have some seaming to do, and I think I messed up when I did that. But I do think it'll be very cute! Soft, white and tiny.

Busy with baby stuff!

Wow, I haven't updated in a while! I've been busy knitting, of course, just haven't finished much in that time. I have a tendency to start a gazillion projects, and well, for some reason I only post about them when they are done lately! I have a new niece due any day now, so I've been working on booties and a hat for her. I've got a little sweater started also, but I may have to frog and start over (I'm not happy with the increases).

I'd like to thank Butterfly Flower Cat (my daughter named her after all her favorite things!) for modeling for me! Here's the hat- basic hat with eyelets added, and a ribbon (to cover up a mistake, but you'd never know!) and the sweet little maryjane booties. Now I just hope they fit my niece!





I also FINALLY finished James' Dashing gloves. It's been a month, and well, I told him several months ago I'd make them... they weren't the most interesting thing for me to be knitting. Next in the works is something for ME! (Except the oldest son now wants fingerless mittens. Everyone else has them, he needs some too, right? Well, the baby doesn't.... but somehow I don't see that working out. He takes his socks off instantly, I bet mittens would be the same!)

Happy Valentines Day!

Who doesn't love a tasty cupcake as a treat? :) I made these for my kids for V-day, and I know they'll have fun adding them to their play food collection. They were super easy, based on a pattern from ravelry, with my own adjustments. I'm not loving the top on the red cupcake, but live and learn. They were fun and fast!

Hooray!

My fibers from The Vildish Twist arrived yesterday- I am so excited! Now I'm waiting on the new spindle to spin them on. I'm hoping a lighter spindle will help me not spin bulky yarn. I think I've figured out drafting smaller sections too. We'll see. I can't wait to have fun with it, the fibers are absolutely gorgeous!!!

AND, my yarn is officially done. Crazy twist in a few spots on a single... oops, but I think it turned out very well for my first full skein. I wound up with just shy of 99 yards of bulky weight yarn. It ranges from worsted to super bulky, but majority bulky. I'm really hoping that since I'm not a big person I can make some mittens or a hat... most patterns I see call for more yarn. A child's size might work though. Chameleon Colorworks, colorway Bahamas, Merino 64, 4oz. I love the colors, they make me so happy.

Plying sucks...

I've been happily spinning my Merino from Chameleon Colorworks (Bahamas- SO cool and pretty) and finished up the 4oz yesterday. I hadn't thought ahead and split in half, so I spliced it all into one big ball, and then rolled it into a ball pulling 2 strands at once to ply. Yeah... not such a good idea. It is tangling everywhere. Grrr. I'm not overly thrilled with this yarn, but maybe I'll love it once it is all finished. It is supposed to make mittens for me :) My poor little hands are getting cold!

As you can see, the plying IS working, but I've also got a tangled mess on my hands. Grrr.

Fiber and Spindle shopping!

I'm so excited! I wasted far too much time browsing etsy yesterday, as always :) Hey, I had to take breaks from moving the kids' rooms and their toys. Cleaning is no fun! Anyhow, I am happy to have bought fibers from ButterflyGirldesigns - spindle and white fiber, and I finally bought some fibers from The Vildish Twist. The colorways are beautiful, and I enjoy working with merino. The white fiber is a mixture of merino, silk and nylon. I see it becoming a hat for myself. I should be happy spinning for quite a while! Yay!

I'll post pictures when they arrive!

Fingerless gloves for my daughter

My little girl's hands have been super chapped lately :( I would slather her hands with lotion and put mittens/gloves on, but she is a thumb sucker. SO I decided to make these for her to wear during the day for a few days, with lots of lotion, and hopefully that will help the poor thing! Just used some random stash yarn- bamboo, so it is soft, and she likes them. Very easy pattern- cast on 28, 10 rounds of 2x2 ribbing, 20 rounds of stockinette, k5 on waste yarn for thumb marker, 4 rounds stockinette, 2 rounds 2x2 ribbing, bind off in pattern. Thumb- pick up stitches on sides, and knit 2 rounds. Bind off. Super easy! They fit her 4 year old hands, but my almost 6 year old says they are too small. Oh yes, I used size 6 needles.

Mr. Phineas!

Dead or Alive- well, I wanted dead, my son wanted alive. So here's Mr. Phineas, as he's been named, modeled by my daughter. A few mistakes, but I'm really pleased- he's cute! And was fun! Not quite sure why my tail is turned sideways though- I swear I followed the pattern exactly. Strange, I need to figure it out in case I make another.

Grrr.

So I gave my Dad his hat today... he opens it up and asks "why does it look like a girl's hat?" Then he read the card, and I could've smacked him. All that work, and he has no idea what went into it. I won't make that mistake again. Even "funnier" since he does handmade wood items that he'd flip if someone didn't appreciate. Oh well, live and learn I guess.

In good news, Mr. Phineas, as we've dubbed my son's Fish hat, is off the needles! He only needs the ends woven in, and some eyes, and he'll be good to go! Now I need to decide what else to work on. It feels weird not having any projects on my needles! (other than a hat I started for myself, but am "eh" on, so not counting that LOL)

Norwegian Star hat is done!

I finished the hat up last night, woo! I have a few things I'd do differently, since I really didn't follow the pattern, other than the chart LOL, but overall I'm very pleased with the results. It was fun, and I just hope my Dad likes it (and doesn't lose the hat within ten minutes of wearing it!)