Knitting Projects

Seems like I always have a couple knitting projects going at once.  I like to have one that is portable -- that is good for waiting at swim lessons or gymnastics and usually is one that is rather mindless. 

Recently, I finished the Charlie's Cardi pictured here.   I have had the pieces completed for a while, but have not taken the time to sew it together (the part I hate and the part I have to do at home), but finally made the time last week.  When it was finished, decided to make a quick little hat to go with it.  The sweater was for Emily's teacher, who is pregnant with her first child.  Since Emily's class mascot is the penguin, we found these cute buttons at JoAnn's -- I think it is pretty cute and her teacher seemed to like it. 

My new projects included a scarf from chunky Bazinga yarn (my color is #8 -- Mango Citrus and it is beautiful!) that I am knitting lengthwise.  It is super cool, but having 68 degree weather in February has made me not so anxious to finish it anytime soon.  I am also working on a new pair of socks.   For my birthday, I got the book Socks a-la-Carte.  I am having fun with this -- it lets you choose the cuff, body, heel, foot and toe of the sock and customize your own sock pattern.  It is my new toy!

Mystery Sock

My new sock so far --- doing the mystery knit along at Knit Purl Hunter. Fun!

Mommy Likes to Knit Knit Knit

At least that is what Emily said in the car the other day. And she is right -- here are some recent projects...

Brown sweater for Megan -- this color was her request. Yarn is super soft. Finished this today and is the same pattern as this post.

Blue baby sweater I made to donate. Cute little pattern -- loved the lace pattern at the bottom.

Felted bag before felting. Made with Cascade 220 wool -- just love these colors.

Felted bag after felting. Also added a magnetic snap.

Felted to tote I made for my sister-in-law for Christmas. This was made from a Patons wool -- love the coloring -- was fun to make because had no idea what the color pattern would end up looking like -- a surprise!

Sweater #2

Made another version of the sweater in this post. This one is for my younger, more energetic daughter, so is a bit more rugged. I used Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand for this one -- the color is Colonial Blue. This one I made with only one button and I think I like it that way better. Megan wore her pink one to school today --- made me happy! :)

Pretty in Pink

Finished this sweater yesterday. Megan seems pleased with it as am I. It is the first time I have made a sweater for her and she was quite excited. Pattern was fairly easy and the only reason it took me long to finish was because I put it on hold to finish a couple other little projects. Now plan to make a couple more from a yarn that is a little more rugged for everyday -- this is more of a dressy one due to the nature of the yarn. (Manos Cotton Stria). The pattern is from Knitting Pure and Simple -- Girls Cap Sleeve Cardi Vest.

baby sweater and hat

My daughter's teacher is having a baby in August and so I made her little one (a girl) a sweater and hat for fall. Fun, easy pattern from the Lion Brand site. Loved the buttons!

Latest knitted creation

Made for a friend's baby shower. Bonnet turned out a little big, so I made a quick little hat to go with the sweater. Fun, easy pattern from Lion Brand (sweater) and bonnet is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

Felted Bag

Picture of the felted bag I made for my Mom for Christmas. Used Paton's wool and some old mohair that my mom had and passed on to me. Turned out great. I used this pattern, but extended the handles to make it more of a shoulder bag.

Baby pants

Made these little pants for a friend of mine who recently had a little boy. Also made a hat to match and another solid blue set (pants and hat) in a larger size. Really fun to make and not too difficult. Found the pattern here.

sweater vest

Made this vest for Emily -- fortunately the weather cooperated today and she will at least get to wear it once before it gets too warm!

Horton Hears What??

This being Dr. Suess week and all, thought it was a good time to post this. My mom just finished this sweater for my daughter -- she is in the Elephant class at school (they all have animal mascots). It turned out so cute and my daughter loves it. The good thing about having 2 girls, is that my youngest will get to wear this too, so we will get to enjoy it twice.

Also, this idea was passed on to me by my friend Amy and seems like a good time to share. Pick up a copy of Oh, The Places You Will Go (I got mine at Half Price Books) and have every teacher sign it, from Kindergarten-12th grade and then give it to your child as a graduation present.

Love These Socks!

Very proud of my first pair of socks! They were not that difficult to make and they fit great. This is the first and definitely NOT the last pair I will make -- just love 'em!

Sock It To Me!

I did it! I figured out how to knit a sock. I was always told that socks were hard because of the crazy double point needles and creating the heel. Yes, it was more difficult than a scarf, but I figured it out and now I am ready to make a pair -- see I just made this one out of scrap yarn to see if I could teach myself, and I did a little happy dance last night when I finished it. The class at the local knit shop costs $40 -- and I am sure it is wonderful, but I just do not have that money to spend right now, it making a pair of socks is on my "things I want to do list" and it looks like now I am going to be able to do it on my own. Yeah! By the way, if you are a knitter -- I used this pattern. CLICK HERE.

I am heartbroken about Simple Scrapbooks stopping publication. I just discovered it this past fall and LOVE it. I am a former Creating Keepsakes subscriber, but canceled it and started up with Simple because it met my style so much better. I will miss the clean layouts, the practical tips, graphic design tips, the project suggestions (I LOVE mini books) and the designers that I have grown to love. I find it kind of funny that I feel like I know these girls because I can recognize their work even before I read it in the credits. I will miss Stacy, Wendy, Cathy, Lain, Angie, Elizabeth and Mi'Chelle to name a few. The press release says they will incorporate Simple into CK mag -- I am just hoping that it is incorporated A LOT. This is my public thank you to the Simple staff for helping me cut through the overwhelming world of scrapbooking products to help my identify my style and do what is most important -- put my photos with words to make a story. You will be missed.

Veiws from the workshop...

I figured that I made over 20 gifts this year -- I was a busy little elf. So much so, that I am kind of in withdrawal. Last night, frustrated with nothing to work on as we watched TV, I started a baby hat for a friend and actually finished it in one night. That is a first! Anyway, I made 5 CDs, 5 sets of magnets for teachers, 3 candy bags, 4 coffee cakes, 2 scrapbooked calendars, 2 knit scarves, 1 set of fabric coasters, one fabric coil bowl, and 2 photo cubes. Also made December Daily album (waiting on final photos to finish), 4 napkin rings, 3 dozen iced sugar cookies, over 50 christmas cards and many thank you notes. Wow -- that is a lot when I see it all in print! I love it though -- in my opinion handmade gifts are fun to make, fun to give and fun to receive. Here are some pics I took making my bowl and the scarf I make for my sister-in-law. (Scarf pattern was easy and turned out pretty. Was hand-dyed wool -- so colors were just beautiful. Pattern is: Knit on size 11 needles -- CO 18; K1, YO, K2tog -- repeat until end of the row. Every row is the same pattern.

Oh yeah -- Happy New Year! I have high hopes for 2009 -- I hope it can deliver!

Knit one...

...or how about two??? Made these little bags for a gift for a young girl for Christmas. One is just a little purse that thankfully my mom suggested that I line. The other is an ipod holder, and no, she is not getting the ipod, she already has one, but I thought I would tuck an itunes card inside. The larger bag is from a pattern on Lion Brand's site -- it was free pattern. The ipod case I made up -- basically I just made a smaller version of the first. Buttons are from Wal-Mart -- aren't they cute?? Anyway, I am pleased with the way they turned out and another project I can scratch off my Christmas to-do list!