Truly Tasha's Shawl

Blocked....


Posed for a picture....


or two....


Folded neatly to be wrapped and delivered to recipient December 24th. Hope she likes it....or not....I wouldn't mind keeping it!

Christmas Stockings

I've been lured by all the pretty knit Christmas stocking patterns but this is the reason why I won't be knitting any for us....

















I really like these. I like that they have the Luke account of the Jesus' birth on them. Mine is the first on the left (Luke 2: 4, 5, 6). Then dd#1 (vs 7). Dd#3 (vs 8). Dd#2 (vs 9). Daddy (vs 11).

I cross stitched these back in 1994, 1997, and 3 in 1998. I had dd#3's stocking done before she was born...all except the name. (There are names on them under the top border. I've airbrushed them out to protect the innocent.)

My sister did the sewing part of the project. That part made me too nervous.


Edited Jan 10th: Having not attended the award ceremony, I had no idea that I won a Golden Aardvark Award. I went to the list of awards to read the posts of friends who won and ended up finding this blog post of mine on the list of winners. Wow! Very unexpected! Thank you Aardvark Alley!

Socks for dd#2

Yarn: Trekking XXL
Needles: 0 circulars
Method: Crazy Toes and Heels
CO: 9
Inc. to 35
Rib: 3 x 2

This color reminds me of watermelon.

Ready for some Cat Bordhi Mindbending

Attended the first class....got the New Pathways for Sock Knitters book....got my beaded markers done....then it snowed....second class postponed until January....which is good since December is always so busy.

Beaded markers made with things in my basement....DMC floss, jump rings, leftover beads.

Truly Tasha's Shawl

I was wanting to knit a Christmas present for someone to keep warm while she is surfing online or reading a book. I decided on the Truly Tasha's Shawl because it was a little heavier (although I didn't want it as dense...pattern recommended size 4/3.50mm needles), looked quick to knit, and I liked the lace edging (esp. turned to be a collar around the neck).

Next was the run to the yarn store (Dec 4th)...I wanted pink because the recipient looks very nice in pink. There was a pretty mauvy pink with brown that would have self striped but I decided on this brighter pink because I wanted a cheerier color to brighten the recipient's mood.

This is Cascade's Eco (478 yds/250 gms/8.75 oz). I used 10.5 (6.5mm) needles. I knit until it measured from tip to the top edge, allowing for the future border lace, the finished measurement...28". I maybe should have gone a bit more. The "across the top" measurement is a little smaller than 60" and the diagonal edge is the most off the mark. But I'm hoping that blocking will get those measurements more in the ballpark.

I made a second run to the yarn store on Dec 5th to pick up a second skein of yarn. I had knit about half of the first skein and it looked to me like it was going to be close. And this picture shows just how close it was. The little tail of yarn is all that is left of the first skein. I had about 6-7" left of the lace border to finish. And I finished off that little bit last night (Dec 9th)...right off my swift so I wouldn't have to wind the 478 yd skein. I probably have 468 yds left.

I neatly tied a few spots around the skein, retwisted and relabeled it...it's all set to take back to my yarn store like it's never been used. LOL...just teasing you, Michele! I've already got plans for it for next Christmas...a possible cabled fingerless mitts/scarf combo...unless it calls out to be something else in the meantime. Although I really should get a head start for next Christmas!

Oh yeah! You'd probably like to see the whole shawl finished? Well...I'm not ready for that yet. I'll be washing and blocking it first...then a finished picture. So stay tuned!

Knitted Lacy Round Dishcloth

This Knitted Lacy Round Dishcloth is a free pattern from Knitting Knonsense.

It is a fairly fast knit and looks beautiful.

I decided to use Euroflax Linen for this cloth so it wouldn't get too big. I knit this on size 3 needles. It's about 9 1/2" in diameter.

I did the kitchener stitch incorrectly. I used the reverse stockinette method on this cloth. But I've already made another cloth and used the garter stitch kitchener. (That link is a PDF download)

It really needed to be blocked. Here's a picture of it blocked on my 0000 needles:


Blogger wouldn't download that picture (having hiccups or something) so this picture is downloaded from flickr. You can see a larger picture if you click on this and then the "all sizes" link above the flickr picture.

Elfin Lace Scarf

This scarf has been finished for some time...the knitting anyway.

I finally blocked it yesterday! I used blocking wires for the first time. Wow! They worked great!

It is about 10 1/4" wide and about 5 feet long (or so).

The pattern (for the cloth) is here.

I made it the same width as the cloth just kept on knitting the length.

The cashmere is from Belisa Cashmere, Bundanoon, NSW, Australia. This was purchased at Stitches Midwest 2006. (I used size 5 needles.)

I decided not to add a border on the bottom/top edges. I like it as it is. I was also going to try to reverse the pattern so the hearts would go the same direction but I didn't do that either. So now it is hearts on one side and spades down the other. Just need some diamonds and clubs...

Scrumptious Shagged Slipper Socks

The girls have outgrown the felted slippers my dsis made for them. (Actually dd#1 wore her slippers so much that she's worn the bottom through...several times...she keeps needle felting over the holes.) So this time was my turn. They decided they want slippers like daddy.

This is a fast easy knit with two strands of Cascade 220 held together throughout. The shagging is easy peasy and makes a very soft cushion to walk on. I've got some inside of the slipper pictures here in case you don't know what shagging is...besides the slang meaning! :blush:

And speaking of slippers...I am sporting a very lovely purple pair of Fiber Trends Felted Clogs that my dsis so kindly knit for me. Thank you so much! They really keep my feet warm!

Another Tribble

Here's another Tribble I made with leftover purple Sugar'n Cream and some 1" strips of purple tulle held together.

The tulle isn't called for in the pattern but it does add some scrubbie-ness to it.

The first and last stitch is knit without the tulle. This kept the edge stitches from being too thick when gathering to close.

I also used separate lengths of yarn to pull the holes shut tightly. Then tied a knot and hid the ends inside.

Sugar'n Cream Stripes - Potholders

Thought I'd give the Sugar'n Cream Strips a try with the diagonally crocheted potholders. Yeah...looks nice I think!

I think I'll make them a set with the dishcloths a few blog entries below.

My Traveling Socks

These finally got finished! They've traveled there and back again.

I started with a pattern from More Sensational Socks but ended up starting over and doing just a generic rib. I think dd#1 will be wearing these the most.

This was Socks that Rock - lightweight yarn that I purchased at Stitches Midwest 2006.

The hanger sock blockers are new...bent them just today. Thought that'd work ok for taking pictures.

Now I've got to figure out what will be my next traveling sock project....hmmm...so many choices....

Baby Booties

Here's a picture of the finished booties. The pattern is here.

I think the pattern gets obscured with this yarn...although this yarn is VERY soft.

Sugar'n Cream Stripes

I had to give this yarn a try...
























And I've gotten the second baby mitt done and one of the booties. One down...one to go. Pictures will be posted when finished.


And I finished my last crocheted potholder this week too!
(no pics of that)

Two Color Hat

The Two-Color Hat is finished!

Here are my notes:
Make it like store bought hat...except do in the round.

(I used Yarn Harlot's "Knitting Rules" for basic directions.)

Oct 12th...did swatch. Andean Treasure is *so* soft!

Cast on green 112 sts. Size 2 needles.
1. 4 rows 2x2 rib green
2. 2 rows rib blue
3. 4 rows rib green
4. 6 rows rib blue
5. 3 rows rib green

Change to size 3 needles for stockinette sts in blue.

Knit until hat equals length of hand of hat wearer.

No swirl decrease...

1. Decrease round: K3, k2tog (around),
knit even 3 rounds.
2. Decrease round: k2, k2tog (around),
knit even 2 or 3 rounds.
3. Decrease round: k1, k2tog (around),
knit even 2 rounds.
4. Decrease round: k2tog (around),
knit even 1 or 2 rounds.
5. Repeat decrease round 4 until 6
stitches remain. Kitchener.

Finished Oct 21st.

Hats

My dd#2 has a favorite knit hat. It is store bought and has seams. The seams make the hat look funny when worn. I think so anyway! So I promised that I'd make a hat for her just like the store bought one except NO seams.

This hat is in Andean Treasure (Knitpicks) and is super soft.








This next hat is for my cousin's friend who is having a baby in December. Free Pattern Here. This yarn is Sirdar Snuggly Bubbly. I was only able to get one skein of pink so I am also using white because she wanted a hat....a pair of baby mitts (one done)....
and a pair of baby booties (soon to be started).

I'd have to say that I'm not overly fond of this yarn even though it is super soft.

Jaywalkers done!

Amen!

I had issues with this sock...too loose....too tight....way too much ripping back. One whole cuff, one whole foot and about 3" of the other foot.

But they are done and my dd loves them and I finished them in time for the game tonight. All I had left to do this morning was to Kitchener the toes shut...no big deal there.

I ended up doing a plain stockinette stitch foot. The toes are decreased on the pinky toe side. So they are left foot/right foot socks.

I used size 0's with 84 sts.
(Tried 1's but the socks were too big)
Zwerger Garn Opal Krokodil / Crocodile sock yarn.

Progress....or not!

The Eesti Trail Hiking socks got ripped back....

I had the heel completed. The decrease for the gusset stitches was wonky...so I searched online for pattern errata. Well....I found the errata but it was for the charted color work in the middle of the leg which, of course, was done. Bummer! So I ripped out the gusset, the heel and the color work.

As for the gusset....I never found an errata for that. But it's a mistake none the less. The pattern has you decrease 4 sts on the first round after picking up the sts along the heel flaps...and two sts on each side of the instep. The pattern says "dec 2 sts".

So when I reknit this I will decrease 4 sts on the first round...that helps with the holes that sometimes appear in those corners. But then on the other decrease rounds I will only decrease on the heel needles....not the instep needles also.

I cast on for the Jaywalkers Socks. They are for dd#1 and I'm hoping to finish them by next Friday. One cuff is done and the other is about 1.5 inches. Luckily she wants short cuffs. They are in the high school's colors (even though we homeschool). She's going to the Homecoming game and wants to dress in school colors.

Stranded Diagonal Potholder

Here's the inside of the potholder....
Isn't it purty!

Things I learned in this "little" experiment:

1. 42 stitches on each needle (2 circs - size 3) is not enough stitches. Finished size is 6.5" on the diagonal. Works nice to keep my arm of this nasty cold metal desk but for taking hot casserole dishes from the oven it would be useless.




2. Don't worry about the stockinette sts rolling. They will behave eventually.

I had done some garter rows to prevent the rolling. I don't like how that looks. If I had done more stripes of it in other places I wouldn't have minded. But this experiment was about doing color work not texture.





3. I chose to use the vertical straight lines in my colorwork to disguise the "jog". That worked for hiding the jog.....Except the lines don't line up...a jog may have been less noticeable. (I know there's a wrong stitch in there too...oh well...just a practice piece)


4. Next time try a smaller repeat.


5. Doing a stranded sweater with Cascade 220 (Wallaby leftovers) would be EXTREMELY warm!


NOTE: This post may not make sense on its own. Here's the previous "Potholder" post.

A Latin Riddle

Hey..... A Hobbit-type riddle in Latin!

Hic mortui vivunt, hic muti loquuntur.

Plus Laura Gibbs offers great encouragement for reading out loud....in Latin....but I'd include any language!

Dd#1's Rag Rug

Here's the rug dd#1 is working on.

It's made of bed sheets ripped into 1" strips and then hand sewn together.

As you can see she's almost out of sheets....but we've still got a very large bag here yet to be ripped. It's a very dusty job so we do it outside! Today would be a beautiful day to get some done.

Our neighbor double crochets rugs like this. We tried.....but our hands (and heads) favor the knitting needles.