Gnome Pieces

I have been very busy lately knitting up a Gnome from Simply Knitting magazine when not Christmas shopping! Now comes the mattress stitching and stuffing!

Ball Band Dishcloth - Completed

Some people knit when times are stressful but not me! I stop knitting until things are back to normal. After Thanksgiving, I decided to complete the one project that everyone else in the world seems to have completed. The ball band dishcloth! I used the pattern from my Mason Dixon Knitting book. The yarn is Sugar 'n Cream in Westport and Cornflower.

November Monthly Knitted Dishcloth - Completed

First off, hello to everyone visiting from the Knitting Blogs web ring! I've been reading blogs on the ring for over a year now and I'm so excited to be part of it.

I finished up the November 1st Monthly KnitAlong Dishcloth. If you can't make out my poor picture. It is a turkey! And the beads..I don't know, I just wanted to throw them in the picture, too.

Backpack - started

Not much knitting news to report but I have started this backpack several times in the last week.


The pattern is from the fall 2006 issue of Knit It!. After much frogging and throwing away of Caron Boucle yarn, I finally discovered the problem was due to my needles and not the yarn. My not-so-pointy Denise Knitting Needles have the perfect tip for working with this yarn. While I prefer the pointy tips of the Boyle Needles, they do not love this yarn so Denise Knitting Needles it will be!

Monthly Knitted Dishcloth - Completed

I must not have paid attention as it looks like I miscounted on this pattern:


Here it is from an angle. My first knitting pattern of this type!


I'm okay with the mistakes...maybe I'll actually use this dishcloth!

It's very hard to knit when the skies are so blue but I am working on the knitted Gnome and crocheted Pirate.


UPDATE!!!
My last issue of Simply Knitting magazine was missing the Rowan insert. Having never seen a Rowan issue before I promptly emailed Simply Knitting to request another be sent. Today it showed up along with another magazine and calendar. EXCELLENT customer service! As for the Rowan insert, it is very nice and I may need to become a member of their club. Thank you Simply Knitting!

UPS Delivers!

Nothing brightens my day more than a visit from the UPS man!


Some Simply Soft Quick yarn in berry blue for a backpack, 3 balls of cotton yarn for this month's mystery dishcloth pattern, and my very first NEW WOOL WINDER! And yes, I've already wound up 3 balls of yarn...it is very addictive.

Apple Hat - Completed

Pattern: Family Circle Easy Knitting
Yarn: Red Heart (red, green, brown)

Very cute but not as soft as I had hoped. The pattern is from an article about Tyne Daly in Family Circle Easy Knitting. Procrastination made the project last too long. Would I knit this again? Yes but maybe a strawberry or pumpkin pattern next time.

Need a good laugh? I love the Knitty Fall Suprise. My mom had those same pink curlers and would mix them with smaller blue curlers. I remember being horrified that one day I too would need to wear those big pink curlers!

One Skein Wonder - Completed

I've had orange in every picture posted this month until now...I have completed the OSW and it fits! Now if I could only take a better picture of it.



Pattern: OSW by Glampyre Knits
Yarn: TLC Amore in Lake Blue

Changes: I did not use smaller needles for the cuff and ribbing because I was nervous that it would be too tight.
Next time: I'll use a yarn that shows off the stitches. I do like this yarn but not for this pattern.

Knifty Knitter Pumpkin - completed

When you wrap some orange and green Caron Perfect Match yarn



around one of the Knifty Knitter small blue looms



you end up with a cute little pumpkin!


The pattern can be found at Provocraft's Website. It is more of a guideline than a pattern. My leaf was turning out too wide so I just wrapped until I thought it was the right size. As you can see, my stem turned out a bit tooooo long!

October 2006 Monthly Dishcloth KAL - kitty completed

Pattern: http://monthlydishclothkal.blogspot.com/
Yarn: 100% Cotton in Orange
Thoughts: Great pattern! I couldn't tell what it was until the last few rows!

Sophie Bag - Completed

I started my first felt project, Sophie, more than a year ago. I finally finished the knitting and weaving in of the ends in August. Last weekend, I tossed it in the washing machine and tah dah!


Pattern: Magknits Sophie Bag
Yarn: 100% Highlands Wool from www.elann.com
Stripe Pattern: Nothing more than changing colors when I tired of the one I was knitting.

Here is the pre-felt photo to show just how much it did shrink. Count and compare the slats in the door.

I love my tiny Sophie!

Fiber Trend Clogs - Completed

Pattern: Fiber Trends AC-33x Felt Clogs
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino (100% Wool) 2 skeins Paprika and 2 skeins Black (both with leftovers)

I really enjoyed this project! The clogs work up quickly. I was intimated by the pattern but it was not difficult if I took it row by row. I did make some errors. When I changed colors, I misunderstood and picked up a stitch from the previous color(row) on one slipper. When it came to W&T (wrap and turns) I had no problems but I didn't know you should knit the stitch and wrap together on the next row. Maybe it doesn't matter when you felt as I have no holey areas on my clogs. Now here is the big boo boo...

just because other people need to leave their clogs in the washing machine for a very long time does not mean you need to do the same.

just because a similar felted Patons example at Michael's shows the stitches, doesn't mean your clog will have the same problem.

just because it says to use a small bit of soap doesn't mean you need to use a lot and then waste a lot of time trying to get the soap rinsed out.

just because you want to felt your Sophie bag doesn't mean you should leave your clogs in there to felt more than they need.

My prefelted clogs went from this:


to a post felt clog that looks like this:


That's right, they are too small. I left them in the wash to rinse some more of the soap out while my Sophie bag was finishing up its felt. The water was not very hot and I was sure they wouldn't shrink anymore....wrongo! I've stretched them quite a bit and I'm sure they'll fit someone when they dry.

On a positive note, I love the Halloweenish colors and I have enough paprika left over to make a small felted pumpkin for the holidays.

Hallowig - Completed

I finished my Knitty Hallowig a few weeks ago but haven't been able to get a good pic. Here's the best photo so far (which isn't saying much)!





I loved the pattern and would like to make another one next year! Also, I've seen this posted on several blogs, the hot new wig is the Princess Leia Hat by BleuArts.

2nd September 2006 Dishcloth KAL - completed

I'm on a roll with these dishcloths! I really like this one and may block it this weekend.


Yarn: Peach & Creme #4 Ecru
Pattern: September Mid-Month Leaf Patterned Lace

Fiber Trends Clog Update
I'm ready to seam the sole of the first clog but a bit nervous the seam will show after felting. The instructions say it won't if I do it right so we will see! I'll finish it up this weekend and start on clog #2. I can't wait to felt these!

Sophie Purse Update
Still not felted but I have zippered pillowcases now!

Pirate Sam CAL Update
I don't think I can use an E/4 hook with this yarn.

One Skein Wonder Update
No progress - I tend to stop working on projects when they are almost done.

Baby Apple Cap Update
FCEK Magazine with pattern still misplaced.

(Wow my updates are very negative today)

Pirate Sam-a-long!

I'm sure by now you have seen the Jack-Johnny-Depp-Sparrow-like crochet pirate doll at www.craftster.org. Interweave Crochet has the pattern for sale (I got mine today) and there is a Pirate Sam-a-long at craftster! Go to http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=120492.0 to join!

The best part.. I don't have those colors so I have an excuse to add to the yarn stash. Argh matey!!!

Update 9/21: Wally World had all of the colors that I needed for the pattern. Then I saw this on the pattern...."Skill Level Advanced". YIKES!

Lion Brand Magic Socks - completed

Finally after almost a year of casting on, dropping stitches, frogging, casting on, dropping stitches, frogging, cas...well you get the picture.. I have completed my FIRST pair of socks!



Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripe Yarn
Pattern: Sock pattern from the yarn label

And the best part, I had just enough left over yarn to knit my very first sweater! Okay, it is really a Last-Minute Knitted Gifts mini sweater.



What's on the needles now?

one beautiful dishcloth

one skein wonder(OSW)

one apple baby cap from FCEK magazine

one Fiber Trend's AC33x felted clogs

Garterlac Dishcloth - Completed

I finished the Criminyjickets Garterlac Dishcloth over the weekend. I'd like to try an enterlac dishcloth soon. Tonight, I'll start on my second Monthly Dishcloth KAL pattern.



Yarn: Sensation Bellezza Collection Smania Yarn from JoAnn's
Pattern: http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2006/07/garterlac-dishcloth.html

Here's a close-up of the squares. I love the way this yarn looks but the small white threads pick too easily on sharp or rough objects. Dishcloths really are a great project to test out a new yarn that you haven't used before. Now point me in the direction of the dirty dishes!


(click on the picture then choose all sizes to view the large image)

Mail Call

Yay! My copy of Simply Knitting Magazine arrived in the mail today. Here it is in my favorite chair with the free knitting case that came with it!




The pumpkin pattern in the above magazine is too cute!




WIP:
I'm almost to the toe of my second Lion Brand Magic Stripe sock. I've started a garterlac dishcloth while waiting for the next Monthly Dishcloth KAL pattern from the Yahoo Group.

September Monthly Dishcloth KAL - completed

I finished the dishcloth from the Yahoo Monthly Dishcloth KAL. Hooray! I'm ready for the next one.


Pattern: September 2006 Dishcloth KAL Yahoo Group
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Yellow
Needles: Size 7

My First Knitted Dishcloth

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton
Pattern: Yvonne's Double Flower
Needles: US 7

Dishcloth KAL

I started my first dishcloth today with the Monthly Dishcloth KAL group. I chose an Ecru colored yarn but then switched it out for a bright yellow...




Here are my first 7 rows!




And a close up...

Dishcloth Thoughts

I bought this yarn on sale for $3 the other day to make dishcloths....
Sensation Bellezza Collection Smania Yarn
65% cotton; 35% nylon
The free Textured Slip Stitch pattern is from Dishcloth Boutique.

With all of this thinking about dishcloth knitting, I had a dream last night that I was writing a book about them. Weird, I know since I haven't even knitted one yet.

Today, I found this Dishcloth KAL at Yahoo. They send 7 lines of a pattern a day for you to knit along with them. There is a blog of their finished projects at http://monthlydishclothkal.blogspot.com/ I signed up right away at Yahoo!

Spending Money

I've cast on for my second Lion Brand Magic Stripe sock and spent some money!

This is the first book I've bought that is by the Yarn Harlot...and I love it!

Knitting Rules



I couldn't pass up this Sensational Sock book. It has every measurement that I need to fit my goofy feet and the goofy feet of all those that I know (or at least those worth knitting for).

Sensational Knitted Socks



While I have never knitted a toy, I have HIGH hopes. I once bought a Rebecca magazine on eBay just to get a doll pattern. I had checked this book out of the library earlier this year and with a JoAnn's coupon, I snapped one up the other day.

World of Knitted Toys



Tired of buying books, I think bought one of the Embellish Knit machines.

Embellish Knit


I can make my own I-cords but this machine is so much faster. I can make Sophie bag handles in no time with it! I really like the Celtic Knot and Flowers that are made with cords, too. I'm thinking of making a large i-cord flower for my Sophie bag.

And then because I missed buying patterns, I went online and ordered a subscription to Simply Knitting. While it's quite a bit more expensive than U.S. magazines, it is published MONTHLY and inclues a FREE gift. Before subscribing, I had already found issues that included a knitting tote, matching knitting tote accessory bag, and a crochet insert. The first magazine they mailed to me contained bamboo needles!

Simply Knitting with free gifts

LOVE IT and LOVE THE GIFTS!

Sophie Bag - prefelting

I've finally got around to grafting the handle to my Sophie bag (from Magknits.com).

One Magic Stripe Sock

The sock that sat on the table since November has been completed!
Pattern from LionBrand Magic Stripe Yarn label.