And now, some knitting

I would have never paid attention to this until blogger updated its layout, but this is my 400th post!  Since this was originally supposed to be a knitting blog, I give you a wave blanket I've been working on.  I love how it's turning out so far, and thanks to my wonderful man who suggested I do a mirror image color scheme.

However, right after I took the above picture, I wadded the blanket up on the sofa, went to get a drink, and when I came back to knit another color block, I sat on my beloved Harmony needle and broke it.

The wooden section didn't just fall out, I somehow split the metal part so there is no fixing it.  What's worse is, I have no idea what needle size I am using and where is my gauge to find out so I can replace it?

Ah, the Fall, how I love it so!  I have not wanted to do anything but craft now that it's not sticky hot here in GA.  I pulled out my needles earlier this week and decided to make a scarf that I've been wanting to make for two years.  I even bought some Elsebeth Lavold silky wool yarn to make it with.  However, those that know be best know that I'm not the most organized person on this earth; and I couldn't find it.  I did find, though, some great yarn that my wonderful niece brought me back from Germany.

This stuff feels so good!  I have no idea what it's called because with me being so unorganized free-spirited, I can't find what I did with the label.

Isn't this scarf going to be gorgeous?  Too bad I'm making it for someone else.  You'll be able to see the leaf design much better when it's blocked and finished.

Halter Top

Last year at Stitches South, I bought a huge 950 yard skein of 50% bamboo / 50% cotton yarn.  It's been sitting in my sewing room doing nothing as I was dreading winding it.  Thanks to my wonderful husband, I now am the owner of a Knitpicks yarn ball winder!  He did not know, however, that you need a swift to go with it.  Since he is the one who likes gadgets, he has gotten to use the winder while I hold the yarn and spin around as fast as I can (not really folks, I just hold it standing still).  We wound the 950 yards and it made 4 cakes!

 I had been wanting to make one of the girls a tank top from a great book I got at Stitches - Barefoot Knits.  I had been eyeing that book from the author's web site for a couple of years; and I was lucky enough to find ONE copy at Stitches.  The girls chose the halter top for me to make first and let me tell you; that bamboo/cotton was a perfect yarn! 

Pinwheel sweater + play skirts

Yea, I finally finished my pinwheel sweater; just in time for my littlest one to be too big for it. I finished the body of this sweater fairly quickly because it was so fun to knit. But when I got to the sleeves I put it out of sight, out of mind. I don't know why it took me four months to knit up two sleeves. And those ends to weave in? What a pain! I finally caved, though, and sat today and did it all and it only took me 15 minutes. Why did I wait and wait for something that isn't hard and really didn't take that long?



I love it except for one big problem - see the big hole in this one side? It's right where I attached the sleeve so I must have messed up on something. I'm not sure what I can do to better it, either. Any ideas?



We were visiting with my Mom yesterday after an orthodontist visit and she wanted to make the girls a play skirt. You see, my red head insist on wearing a skirt everyday; and now with it being cold, Mom thought she needed a long play skirt.



Have you ever seen a fleece skirt? I haven't, but that is the warm material Molly wanted. She calls it her snugly skirt and she hasn't taken off since it was finished. Her Grandma explained that this is purely a play skirt and she can't wear it out. Molly can't understand why - she thinks it's beautiful. Check out the fringe on the bottom.



I made the green corduroy skirt and it was supposed to be long, too. However, the serger and I got in a fight; and the serger won. There was a nice huge hole (what's the deal with me and holes lately) right in the middle of the skirt. I got so fed up that I left it for Mom to finish. The green was shortened, a ruffle was added; and all is well.

Hat with ear flaps

I decided to make a hat for one of my friends sweet little baby boy. He is almost four months old so I'm way, way late on a gift for him. Of course, I'm impatient and didn't check my gauge; so it would have been to big for him. John quickly took claim to it. I thought I made it long enough, but it didn't quite cover his ears. So I decided to add some ear flaps. I think they are cute - Derek thinks it looks like a football helmet from the 1920s.



Of course, now they all want a hat - complete with ear flaps.

I really think a pom pom would look so cute on top, don't you? But Derek assures me that boys do NOT wear pom poms on top of their hats. I think this time I will listen to him.

Opinions, please.

All right, so I'd like your help. Please go here and look at what the sweater is supposed to look like. Do you see the loopy edge? I am trying to figure out what color I should do it in. I want to use either the green or the white. I guess another option would be to keep using the pink.

So, please leave a comment with what you think I should use. That means you, Darla. And you, too, Candy. Wouldn't this be the perfect post for you to leave your first comment on? I think so, too.

Pinwheel Sweater, part 2

I'm more than halfway done with the pinwheel sweater. This has been such a fun, and quicker than expected knit. Do you see the white lines in the blue section? That is where the sleeves are going to go. I had three or four more rows in my next color, which was a brighter pink. I decided I didn't like the brightness of it along with these pastels, so I ripped it out. I think I'll do another section of the light pink and then end it with a nice earthy brown.

You know, I say I'm more than halfway done - but by the time I do the sleeves and that I-cord trim, it might take a while to finish.

On to more knitting

After months of working on one dishcloth, I finally finished it and moved on to something more exciting. I started a pinwheel sweater hoping it will fit one of the girls. Let me tell you, it takes a pretty good time to hand wind 1,500 yards of wool. I do think the hand wound look is real pretty, though.

I ran into a problem already. The directions for the sleeves didn't make much sense; but I found a different way right here. Hopefully when I go to insert the sleeves, it will have worked.

The Never-ending Dishcloth

Why can't I finish this? I started this dishcloth back in May and can't seem to finish! My youngest boy was in Mrs. Jennifer's "Frog" class for Pre-K - so when I found a pattern for a frog dishcloth, I knew I wanted to make it for her. The only problem is ... school has been out for awhile (good thing for me, Mrs. Jennifer goes to church with us) and I do NOT like knitting with cotton. It makes my hands hurt. I thought I would put a picture of my progress - and sorry for the bad quality of the pic - since you can see most of the frog. And since this is supposed to be a knitting blog ....




It is a much brighter green, I had to turn the flash off so you could see the little froggy good.

Chuck has been BEGGING me to teach him to knit for weeks now. He took to it pretty good. As you can see, he was deep in concentration. I ended up having to leave him to get some little ones showered and in the bed, but he kept on by himself and did 4 or 5 rows. Here is his progress so far.

Pretty good for a 7 year old, huh? He has some major plans, he's going to knit each of his sisters a purse and a coat. Oh, and Anna wanted everyone to see her "tony" nails and fingernails in a beautiful shade of purple.

Well here's my booga bag, in all of its felted glory. I love the size, it's perfect! I lined it and added a big pocket, and then decided on grommets for the handles. I'm going to add a brooch to the side since I chose just ho hum colors to the outside to give it some oomph. But as a whole, I enjoyed my first felted project.

First felting project

I'm in the process of my first felting process. Here is my Booga Bag, pre-felting. I'm letting Red hold it so we can compare the size after it's finished. It's in the washer as I type, and I can't wait to see how it will look - so far all it is is STINKY.

Speaking of Red, she's been at my Mom's house since Friday and I just got her back today. Mom made her the super cute jumper to wear today. Here she is pushing John out of the picture....

And here she is posing all on her own ....

She has decided that she doesn't want to live with me anymore, she wants to be her Grandma's little girl. I'm thinking that might not be such a bad idea .....

*update - it felted great! I was waiting on doing the handles until I saw how it turned out, so I guess I'll start on those tonight!

Total outfit

I couldn't get a good picture of her, but here is the completed outfit I started a year and a half ago. You might remember this dress I made for little bit last summer - well I think it looks just as cute as a top over pants. What about you? And I LOVE the black ribbon in the beret.

oops, I think she did it again

3 days after John cut her hair, little bit decided he didn't get the bangs enough - and cut some more off herself. I think I really should change the name of my blog; maybe "Hair Happenings", "Frolicking Follicles", or "Tame the Mane".

But look! It is easily remedied ... a cute hat. I started making this beret for her last winter and never finished. It has eyelets around the band to put a ribbon around it; and I can't decide what color to use. I found the pattern here and I love the way it turned out.

Isnt' this stitch marker beautiful? I got a set of 12 from an Etsy shop for a steal - I see that she doesn't have anything for sell anymore, so I'm not sure if she went out of business. So let me tell you what the stitch marker is on. I cast on for a poncho for little bit (who cut the rest of her bangs off - but that is another post) and it's moving pretty fast. Hopefully I'll have a finished picture by next week. My only regret is that I didn't think to choose a red yarn - because what would be cuter than a red poncho with a red hood? I'll tell you - NOTHING.

Princess crown

I made a princess crown for little bit to wear on Halloween. I got the pattern from Interweave and it was really quick, and seemed to stay on; unlike store bought tiaras. My only regret is that I didn't add beads and sequins as I was knitting. But since I waited until 2 hours before time to go trick or treating - I didn't have the time. I tried gluing some sequins on, but it didn't work. Oh well, I can always sew some jewels on later.

Another swap

Remember when I said I was about swapped out for awhile? Well I had forgotten that I signed up for an ornament swap a long time ago. In fact, I have 3 more swaps to do before Thanksgiving. Then I'll really, really lay off of them ... at least for a couple of weeks. So here is the ornament I made for my partner. It the first beadwork I've done in my knitting - and I like how it turned out, do you?



I got this pattern from a booklet called 12 Exquisite Beaded Ornaments to Knit . It was super quick and easy, but I did leave bars where my double pointed needles joined.

I can't wait to see what kind of ornament I'm getting!

New book ...

Lookie what I got in the mail today! I've been wanting this book since it came and can't wait to delve into tonight after church. And isn't this a cutie that's posing with it? I could just eat her up!

Finished!

I actually finished knitting this Monday, but have been putting off seaming the sides (I'm still kicking myself for not knitting this in the round). It also looks a little big, but since this is cotton yarn, I'm counting on it shrinking. I really, really love the Aruacania yarn - so soft.

This time, a cuter hat ....

I made this baby hat up last night, it was a very fast little knit. I used Jelly Bean yarn and it is soooo soft. The had seemed a little boring by itself so I added a little rosette from a Louisa Hardin pattern. I think it turned out pretty cute.