Ravelry is EVIL!

Where has all the time gone? I haven't posted to my blog since August. Well, I guess I will have to blame Ravelry. I have been spending a lot of time over there on the group boards. But I have finished a few projects.

This is Fancy Fullness from knitting delight.

This was knitted with Knit Picks Lace Weight Yarn on size US7 needles. It turned out very nice and is light as a feather.

Updates

I finally finished the Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark. Instead of the nupps I used beads. This is for my Mom's birthday present. I hope she likes it. The details are on my projects page on Ravelry.



What do you think of my Fuzzy Monster? I modified a crochet pattern from Lion Brand free patterns. This was knitted as a joke for one of my groups on Ravelry. The teenager next door really liked it, so I gave it to her.

Pattern: Mini Square Monster - Modified

Source: Lion Brand Yarns

Yarn: Clearance yarn from Hobby Lobby & Cupcake (white)

Colors: Pink and sparkly light Pink (two strands together)

Needle: US 7 & US 3 (arms & legs)

Pommel (Sheep)

This is the new critter that I just finished. What does it look like to you? My DH said it was a cow, one son said that it was Snoopy. It is a SHEEP! I saw this on Tammy's kleine Seite blog back in December. Unfortunately the instructions were here in German. Thankfully it has been translated to English. See this blog here.


This was mainly made with scraps leftover from other projects on US 3 needles. I put a ribbon around his neck, but he needs a scarf.

Dog Days of Summer

Well, this has not been a very productive summer (knit wise). The kids are out of school and Mom is the chief referee. Other than the monkey, the only thing I have finished is the Harlot's Rotating Rib Socks. I stole - oops - used her ideas from her blog from the November 2007 entries.

Pattern: Harlot's Rotating Rib Socks

Source: The Yarn Harlot

Yarn: Regia Jacquard

Color: Blue, Purple, Green Stripes

Needles: US 2

Maybe I should go finish some of my other WIP's.

New Stitch Markers

I have been working on the Goddess's Anniversary Mystery Shawl KAL. Even though I cheated on the circular cast on, it is a must to use stitch markers. All the markers that I had made last year did not work on the lace weight yarn. I had used jump rings to attach the beads. So, off to Hobby Lobby. I bought 2 packages of silver head pins, added the beads, then wrapped the wires around an old 10.5 knitting needles and finished with a wrapped loop. I used a tutorial from Fire Mountain Gems.

Voila, new stitch markers that don't catch the lace yarn.

Monkey Shines

I finished the Monkey for my daughter's teacher. I used the pattern from Monty the Monkey. Also, I tried to use the modifications from Meowkat on Ravelry. I guess it came out okay.
This is my show n tell for the Memphis Knitting Guild meeting next Tuesday. Then off to the teacher.

Specific details are on my ravelry page.

I've Been Tagged

Wow, I actually have been tagged by Toni.

The Rules:

Rules are posted at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names. Then the player goes to each of the “named” people’s blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. If you’ve been tagged, you do the same, letting the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer. Your answer, of course, is the answer to the following questions. Here we go!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

10 years ago, I was running after 3 kids. My baby was 3 months old. And the oldest child was playing T-ball at church.

2. 5 things on my to-do list today?

• Laundry - with 4 kids, I do laundry every day.
• Cook - they get hungry too.
• Cut out a skirt.
• Clean the downstairs bathroom - with 3 boys it never ends.
• KNIT

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Everything that's bad for you.

4. Places I’ve lived:

I have always lived in the Memphis Metro Area.

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

• Have a maid
• See the Grand Canyon
• Go on a cruise
• Have my own craft room
• Knit, of course

I live such a boring life.

Now to tag others:

Carole

Polly

Jane

Nan

Dorothy

Earthchick

Typing Speed

I think that I need to practice:

36 words

Clue #4

I am slowly be steadily working on the Fancy Fulness Shawl from Knitting Delight KAL. Here is clue #4. Unfortunately, clue #9 came out today. Oh well, I won't finish first.


Must knit faster.

Toys are a Pain!

I made this penguin for my 4th grader son's teacher. Penguins are the class mascot. I have discovered some truths about toys:

1. Toys are cute
2. Toys are fast
3. Toys are a PAIN to seam and finish.

But it did turn out cute. Except for the wings. If I knit this again, the wings will need to be modified. Mine didn't come out like the pattern.

Pattern: Pasha the Penguin

Source: Knitty.com

Yarn: Plymouth Encore DK

Color: Black & White (the yellow/orange yarn is from my stash)

Needle: US 4

Now to finish the monkey for the DD's teacher.

More Things

Boy, am I an easy target. I went by Hank of Yarn and found this cute little baby hat already made up. Of course, I had to buy the yarn and go home to cast on ANOTHER project. It is a quick and easy knit. Already to go to nephew's new baby. I see smaller preemie hats in my future.


Pattern: Baby Hat
Source: LaLa's Knits
Yarn: Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk dk
Color: Pink
Needle: US6

My daughter thinks any day is a good day to swing. Even in the rain! (I guess instead of Singing in the Rain it's Swinging in the Rain!)

Clue #3

My day started off terrible. My #3 son locked the filing cabinet. Fortunately, my husband found a key that would open it. This was after I searched the house for hours looking for my set of keys. (They should have been in my desk drawer. Obviously one of the children moved them.) After all this, I decided to knit and finished clue #3 for the Knitting Delight KAL. It is beginning to have a definite pattern. Now onto Clue #4.

Tomorrow has to be better.

Off the Needles

Wow, as much as I love to cast on new projects, I really love to finish them. I think that I have the dreaded disease of "start-itis". So when I can actually finish things, that is a red letter day.


First off, here is the Shrug This from One-Skein Wonders. I think it is for an adult, but it fits my seven year old! The directions are a little confusing, but if you aren't a beginner, there should not be any problems.

Pattern: Shrug This

Source: One-Skein Wonders

Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky

Color: Hot Pink

Needles:US 10

This is the scarf from the Knitting Delight KAL Yahoo Group. The blocking wires I am using are stainless steel welding rods, purchased from a local welding supply store. For about $20 I bought a whole tube of blocking wires. Now all I have to do is learn how to stretch out the knitting for a perfect blocked piece.

Pattern: Vision of Delight

Source: Knitting Delight

Yarn: Knit Picks Palette

Color: Rain Forest Heather

Needle Size: US 7

What a great pattern to knit. The charts were well written and easy to follow.

Finished today, the We Call Them Pirates Part 2 Hat. I changed the needle size and the cuff of the hat from the pattern.

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates

Source: Hello Yarn

Yarn: Plymouth Encore DK

Color: White, Black

Needle: US 6

I knitted a 1" 2x2 cuff for the hat. The next time I knit this, I will use a smaller sized needle for the cuff.

Finally, this is a baby set I knitted for my nephews' baby.

Cardigan

Pattern: Buttons Cardigan

Source: Cabin Fever

Yarn: Naturally Magic Garden Buttons

Color: Yellow

Needle: US 6

Socks

Pattern: Little Speckled Toes

Source: Cabin Fever

Yarn: Naturally Magic Garden Buttons

Needle: US 6

Hat

Pattern: My Own

Yarn: Naturally Magic Garden Buttons

Needle: US 6

Another KAL

I am getting into this lace knitting craze. We have started a new shawl KAL in my Knitting Delight Yahoo Group. This shawl is called Fancy Fulness. After several starts, here it is after Clue #2. The clues come ever week. So far I am only 1 week behind. Clue #4 came out yesterday. I have almost a week to knit 2 clues.



I ran out of yarn for the last KAL. I ordered more & it came in yesterday. I just need to crochet the edge around it, weave the ends, then block. Stay tuned for pictures.

It is Our Time

Go Tigers, Go!

Edit: Good game, too bad we lost.

Then It's Spring

Don't you just love my dogwood tree? Unfortunately my pink tree died.

Next comes all the yard work.

Let it Snow

Wow, we actually got some snow this year. After several 60-70 degree days, we had a nice snowfall for the end of winter. We had some wet & cold kids from all the snowball fights. This snow lasted from 3/7 to 3/8.

Monkey off My Back

Finally after knitting and ripping 3 times, I have finished The Perfect Tee. Now I just need to make a skirt for a new outfit.


Pattern: The Perfect Tee
Source: Ann Norling
Yarn: Plymouth Fantasy Naturale
Color: 9993
Needle:US9

Note: If I knit this pattern again, I will make the sleeves longer.

Also finished, the Eco-Friendly Shopping Bag for I Love KAL & CAL Knit a Long Group. These are the perfect market bag for shopping at places like Aldi's.

Pattern: Eco-Friendly Shopping Bag

Source: Lion Brand Patterns

Yarn: Peaches N Creme: white; Lion Cotton: natural & denim

Needle: US 8 & US 17

Quick and easy knit. The hardest part is the seaming.

New Knits

Slowly but surely, I am finishing some of my many UFOs.


This is a quick knit. It comes from the UK's Simply Knitting Magazine. The pattern is still available directly from them for about $11. I noticed that the patterns are going for over $20 on e-bay.



Pattern: Alan Dart's Gnomes
Source: Simply Knitting
Yarn: Various yarns out of my stash.
Note: The beard was made with Lion Brand Fun Fur. On the next gnome, I will use 2 strands knitted together.
Color: Body: camo; Hat, mitts, boots: cream; Beard: white; Face: peach
Needle: 3mm & 6mm

Modification: Instead of using hair spray to stiffen the end of the hat, I used a pipe cleaner.

Pattern: We Call them Pirates

Source:HelloYarn.Com

Yarn: Plymouth Encore DK

Color: Black (1), White (1)

Needle: US3

Note: This is the first fair isle that I have ever done. My stitches were way too tight, so the adult hat became a childs' hat. I have started another but I am using US6 needles this time. Also, I didn't like the look of the provisional cast on and lining. On the second hat I am using a 2x2 rib. We shall see if this works.

Swiffer Cover

I really love to knit dishcloths. They knit up so quickly. It is instant knitted gratification. Better than therapy. And they clean really well. So, I decided to knit a cover for my swiffer. I had bought one with the disposal cloths. The cleaning solution they use on these cloths has an obnoxious smell. Plus they are really expensive. I have read that these washable covers work well. We will see.

Pattern: Swiffer Cover
Source:Sheep of a different Color

Yarn: Peaches N Creme

Color: White

Needle: US 6

This is a quick and easy knit. I used leftover yarn from other projects. I plan on making more of these covers.

First Finished Objects of 2008

In between starting the new tax season and caring for a sick child and DH, I have been finishing some UFO's & here are the completed items.



This baby blanket is for a friend in my Sunday School Class. She had a little girl in November. I am a little late with the present.



Pattern:Heaven Blanket

Source: Plymouth Yarns

Yarn: Heaven

Color: #13, Mint Green

Needle Size: US 15

Pattern Modification: I used 4 1/2 balls of yarn and worked the increases to 80 stitches before starting the decreases. Also, I didn't use a YO for the increases, but used the increase used in the no holes dishcloth duo pattern.


This is a new snowflake dishcloth. I ruined two dishcloths on New Years Eve while cleaning my stove. I know, what a way to spend the evening! But with 4 kids, we don't go out much.

Pattern: Snowflake Dishcloth

Source: Knit Dishcloth Pattern Corner

Yarn: Peaches N Creme

Color: White

Needles: US 7

Now to go and finish more UFO's!

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2008

.

I hope that everyone has had a great first day of 2008!

I have been thinking about the dreaded New Year's Resolutions today and I have decided on a few good things to do this year. So here goes:

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New Year's Resolutions

1. A closer daily walk, ie. prayer, bible study
2. Learn to Fly better
3. Remember that children do childish things
4. Quit buying Yarn! And only knit from my stash

If I accomplish all these, it will indeed be a very good year!