Fun with Knitting (and Quilting)

DONE!!!

OH thank God the scrubbies are DONE!!! It was down to the wire...but they are finished and packaged. I love these scrubbies but man are they a pain in the butt to make. The netting is just so difficult to work with....

In other crafting news I made up some wine charms for a friend at work.

Next I decided the ramekins my mom wanted for Christmas needed a little decorating...

They were just plain white...I did resist the urge to get more creative and just did this simple band.

Then after finishing the scrubbies, I decided that I should make my aunt a cowl for Christmas.(crazy I know) I have her in my dad's  family exchange and her only idea was "a donation to your favorite charity" so I had some Patons Shetland Chunky Tweed in my stash so I decide to make a cowl to go along with the donation. Now this doesn't need to be done till Jan 2 and it's on size 13s so I'm not to worried about it. I'm using the Yarn Harlot's pattern for the 1 row scarf..only I'm making a cowl and I think I'm going to add 3 buttons to it..should be cute.

I will leave you with the adorable snowmen my students made for their parents for Christmas. We made the pom poms and everything.They were also a pain to make them and I'll never do them again, but man are they stinkin' cute!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas time is Here..time for

madness and late nights and parties..and crafting...and...wait that isn't how the Peanuts Christmas song goes!! LOL

Christmas is less than a week out now, and panic is setting in a bit...I really shouldn't stress so much about it. But every year I do!

Here's what I've been up to:

First off Cleveland Knits West(the best knitting group ever BTW) had our Christmas party. Trish hosted and everyone brought food...it was a great day of knitting, eating, eating, talking, & knitting. We did secret santa and stocking stuffers...so much fun! Sadly I forgot to bring my camera....

I had planned to make the adorable Stackable Catsfor my niece this year for Christmas...but was distracted while listening to Yarn Craft podcastand they mentioned that they had free amigirumi patterns for aLady Bug and Weiner dog (among many other cute things) and well Olivia loves lady bugs and weiner dogs... Plus I already made her a box bag with weiner dogs on it so..I made those..I had a crazy thought of making the cats too, but then let it go...they will be for her birthday.

I still want to crochetthis little guyfor me! LOL

I have also been crocheting about a billion (ok really like 30 some) of these nifty cat toys for all the cats in my life. They are very fast, easy, cute, and very well received by the cats who have received them so far. I'm sure the fact that they are "marinating" in catnip after I finish them helps. LOL

And last of my craft endeavors..are dish scrubbies...not really following a pattern just kind of made one up. I bought a couple of these at a craft show several years ago and I love them. They are pretty sad and gross right now so I decided that I needed some new ones as did everyone else. I love they way they work on everything-dishes, on my flat top stove, in my microwave, etc. But man I find them a pain in the butt to make! I have 13 done as of right now...with probably 20 more to go...

NO baking or wrapping has occurred yet...and well I still need to finish my shopping..so off I go...better get myself going!

So I leave you with a few picts of the dogs! (mom why are you embarrassing me like this?  At this point Abby had managed to get her "halo" off already! So much for getting a picture with both of them in their holiday gear!
 

Over the River and Through the woods

to Aunt Sally's house we went...Or should I say down the interstate.. and across the state..(we left at 9:30AM and got home at 11:30PM)

Which meant lots of car knitting time so

I finished the knitting on my Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Cowl

I knit up 4-5 inches on my Merlot Shawl Cardigan

Then got quite a bit done on my plain vanilla sock. (it was about 3 inches long when I left the house yesterday) They yarn is Cider Moon Glacial in Asbury Park.  I'd of probably gotten more done but my little book light battery died about an hour from home home. Let me tell you it's hard to turn a heel in the dark!

So a lovely albeit long day. Lots of great food, and fun knitting time with my cousin Janet, and I got to see my little niece for a few too..

Now for my non-early Black Friday shopping!

I hope to get my tree up this weekend..just bought a (gasp) artifical tree..and continue with my crafting..trying to restrict my Christmas knitting to a few fun quick projects!

Slippers slippers everywhere

So the weather is getting colder and well that makes me want to knit new slippers. I've already made myself a couple pairs in years past..Fiber trends felted clogs, and the Cocoa Knits Malibrigo Loafers... Both very cozy..

Then I saw the Cocoa Knits Pleated Ballet Flats I have some yarn to make them but haven't yet. Soon I tell you..

Then my Ravelry/Cleveland Knits West bud Corrie Favorited the French Press Slippers and before I knew it I'd purchased, downloaded, & printed the pattern. Pulled out my needles and some yarn and cast on! Many is it super fast! I had the pieces all knit up in 2 days...a total of my 3 hours of knitting time. Then I sewed them up and giggled about how giant they appeared, then felted them at my mom's. Now they are very cute. I got my buttons and sewed those on and presto here they are!

So the other day I stopped at Michael's and well the Paton's was on sale for 2 for $5 so how could I pass it up? I bought 2 skeins and came home and started my 2nd pair. They just need felting now...

I am addicted to these I think...so fast easy and cute! I have some natural yarn  from Webs that I kettle dyed to make another pair! (except that I love the yarn I dyed and I think I want it to be a scarf or cowl) Yeah, I may have a problem.

FO: Favorite Cardigan

Well I've had cast on fever and procrastinator-itis...Have I have several projects that are ALMOST finished and I keep procrastinating finishing them up!

But I have one completed item! The Favorite Cardigan from Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard.  I started this way back in June..and was knitting away when I realized that my gauge was way off! So I ripped it back to the neckline and started again..I was a bit worried but in the end it fits great!

The yarn is Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky and well it really does look like a summer sky. Hopefully it can help keep my cheery through the winter! It took me a least a month to pick out my buttons, I ended up ordering them from House of Anoria (she has some great buttons over there!) cause I couldn't find any I really liked at JoAnn's. The fabulous Robin recommended her! Then they came and it took me a few more weeks to decide how I wanted to sew them on..then I procrastinated sewing them on.

Now the weather has turned cooler and I decided I needed to wear this sweater..so I sewed the buttons on last weekend and now it's ready to wear!

My only real mod was that I mirrored the cables on the front and sleeves. I also made the sleeves 3/4 length. All the rest of the details are over on Ravelry of course!

Hopefully I have a few more FOs very soon! Owls just needs it's button eyes sewn on, and I have like 3 other sweaters close to being done, as well as a shawl, and some slippers, and some other stuff too!

Seriously I'm going to get some things done this weekend!

...Like say post to this here blog...School starts and my fun stuff seems to come to a screeching halt for awhile, while I re-adjust to getting up at 6 again every morning. (I am not a morning person) I have been doing a fair amount of knitting...but here's what I've been up to!

Dyed some yarn for the Owls sweater. I so love the RYC soft tweed and when it was discontinued I went a bit overboard and have lots...this oatmeal color really not so good on me.So now it's a lovely grape color. (What a surprise right Pam?)

Finished my Corona Sweater. I was a bit worried about how it would come out, but I'm really happy with it... I'd post my mods and stuff but I'm feeling lazy so head on over to the Ravelry page for them if you want. It is knit out of Dream in Color Classy in the color Good Luck Jade. I think this will be a great sweater for fall winter!

I've also started the Heather Hoodie Vest from the Fall09 Knitscene as a Kal with my girls over on Cleveland Knits West.

I need to finishmy pink hoodie..the knitting's been done forever...but no button band reinforcement and snaps put in. (I'm just trying to decide how to put it in..by hand or by machine. I'd rather put it in by machine but need to put it in by hand I have a feeling)

AND Seam up my gray short sleeve cardi. Before it gets to cold to wear it. (though I think I'd be cute under a long sleeve tee too.)

I should but probably won't straighten up my sewing room and my yarny mess.

Plus clean up my house and get out a few of my Halloween decorations

I have high hopes, since hubby is taking some classed Sat. and Sunday and I have NO plans this weekend!

Boxing day

So summer has arrived here in Ohio! It is finally into the upper 80s to near 90! so now the AC is on and I can't knit outside. This afternoon I was bored and I'm still waiting on a box bag I ordered forever ago (it has supposedly been shipped)to arrive and wanted one..so I perused the internet and found this fabulous & easy tutorial at Drago(Knit)fly for making a box bag..and I had all the supplies so off I went to make one! It took me less than an hour to whip it up. It was really easy and fun and it's super cute. I wasn't real careful with my sewing and it came out really nice. Perfect size for a pair of socks I'd say. So I had to run to JoAnn's right then and there and get more fabric, zippers, interfacing.. and well now I have enough stuff to make at least 5 more! Hmm obsess much? I looked around a bit more and found this site with some clarificationon how to make the bag. I think I'll pull my serger out for the next batch! So I'll follow that when I make some more tonight or tomorrow! I may play with the size a bit too. Then I went from there to the llink for this cute little pencil bag. Might have to make some of those too! They'd be great for notions!

2 new projects

So since I finished knitting the front of my Tina Tank and it was blocking (I'm planning on seaming it up tonight or tomorrow.) and my mom was supposed to have knee surgery today (long story-we were all there and they had to cancel it for today because of a UTI that the doctors office or someone there apparently forgot to call her and call in a RX for her)..I decided to start a new project, then another one.

The first is some nice easy brainless knitting...it is the Pretty in Pink tank from Delicious Stitches. ( I also want to make the Lillian tank of hers too) Super cute and super easy. I'm using some stash yarn..tangerine TLC cotton plus, it was cheap and it's cotton, and I've been watching it my stash for a couple of years and it hasn't knit itself into anything so I thought, hey why not!

The second project requires MUCH more thought! It's the Lotus Blossom tank from Interweave. I believe it's still a free download on Knitting Daily.  I have the SWTC Bamboo (first generation-not as soft as the current version I hear) I intend to make it longer by 1 or 2 lace repeats. I'll decide when I get there-as I'm only on round 12 Right now!

It's still in the 90s here in my part of Ohio which is crazy because last week it was like 60! OK so I'm trying not to complain too much, the 90s are just to hot for outside knitting which is one of my favorite things to do in the summer.  So  I started the cleaning  out of my sewing room. I am trying to do a major overhaul and get rid of a bunch of stuff that has been laying around for quite some time. So far I have one garbage bag of small scraps, and 1 30 gallon bag of fabrics to try to sell at our garage sale in a few weeks or give away. I also have 2 quilts in progress that I have decided to part with. They will never be finished!  I have some embroidery blanks and stuff still to go through. I don't use the embroidery unit for my sewing machine very much anymore...I'd rather be knitting. I still have a ton to do, and will work on it some more tomorrow. Then onto the yarn! Scary...

only how many days till Christmas?!

Well with Jeanne's help I've knit up two purse's for my niece's.  I started the last one! I hope they like them.  I think they are quite cute. I still have to line and attach the handles. I figure I ought to do all three at once. 

I also glued all my noses on all my ornanments,and tied on the strings on and date them! They are done!   HOORAY!! I have to bag them up but that isn't hard to do! I decided to go with the 3D noses made from sculpy clay, way cuter!  I'm very happy with them I think in the end they may have been easier to make (not to glue on) than the foamy ones would have been!

I also have the body done on the split neck tee, and just the sleeves and collar to do.  I'm REALLY happy with how it fits! I"m tying to make myself finish the last purse before I pick the sleeves up.

Abby is trying to get into the holiday spirit!  Toby is bored with all the Christmas maddness! I did manage to get my tree up and decorated.  It only took my a week to do it!  I also have most of my decorations up. NOw to clean my house up so It's not a disaster!!

in other knitting news

Not only did  finish my Ribbi, I've also been knitting along on my split neck tee froom Knitting pure and Simple.   I'm down to the waist increased.  Another night or two and I should be done with the body.  I love the look of this yarn!  Though it is a bit splitty, but I just have to keep a  bit more of an eye on it, but really once you get moving with it you get a feel for it and it's not too much of a problem.  I'm hoping to be able to wear this for holiday occasions, since the yarn has a bit of a sheen to it, it's a bit dressier than regular wool.

I've also started knitting some little mice for my catnip mice I'm making for all the cats in my life.  I've got 3 of 6 knitted up and lightly felted.I just scrubbed them up in the sink with my hands and some hot water.   I need to get some fresh catnip at the ole pet store this weekend so I can sew them up.

I've also started my snowman ornaments last night. I've glued on the earmuffs and eyes, and drew on the smiles. Now to cut out and attach all the noses.  I have presticky foamy paper but it's a pain to cut so I may just buy a plain sheet cut it and glue it on to the bells.  I'm also thinking about getting some polimer clay and trying to make some 3D noses....