Fun with Knitting (and Quilting)

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....

The collar is done!!

Whooo, the collar is done! I bought a 22 inch zipper at JoAnn's yesterday.  I'm a bit worried it may be a smidge too long!  I'll probably ask my MIL to help with the zipper. I'm thrilled with the sweater though!  I think it's my best so far! Everything fits nicely  I want to wear it without the zipper, but the front curls abit without it!  I made the sleeves about 1" longer for my long arms. 

So since I finished that you might think that I would go finish my SKB, somewhat cowl, or say my Abigail sweater...OH NO I started the Knitting pure and simple simple split neck Tee.  It's in this beautiful shade of deep rose.  I'm using berocco's softwist.  It's wool and nylon so it has a bit of sheen. It can be a bit splitty but after my swatch, I've kind of gotten into a rhythm with it and it's OK.  It is really looking nice knit up.  I'd like to finish it for Holiday wear.  I'm hoping to get to the join tonight. I'm still itching to start the something red sweater!  We'll see how long I can hold off on that one!

I should start my Christmas mice.  I was going to do felted mice, but I'm thinking that I might just knit tighter so I don't have to felt them.  Plus I have to start my ornaments. But I don't think they will take me that long. I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving it this week!  I have to start Christmas cards too.  AHH Happy Holiday Madness!  I love the holidays, but I am reallying limiting my Christmas knitting.  I may not do much, I'm thinking either fetching or purses for my nieces. and my catnip mice but that's about it! Is it bad that I'd rather knit for myself?

At least I only have to work Monday and Tues. this week.  I have Wed. but so does hubby, I never get much done when he's home it seems. Oh well. I'm hoping to get a good start on my Christmas shopping-I never start early.  This is how Abby feels about everything!!

I went shopping!

  Well I was inspired by the comments on the SKB KAL I decided that I'd try to make some of my own stitch markers.  After a quick search I found Wormspit, he's got great directions for making stitch markers! So off I went to the local craft store and bought tooo many beads.  I think I need to return some!  Because I couldn't find the toggles I wanted.  (I didn't want to use jump rings because I was afraid that they would snag,the one cutesy one I had snags).  So I went to WalMart! and wow they not only had the toggles, but a ton of cute, cheap beads so I bought a bunch there too! I did sort through and picked a few things to return to the first store.  Like I really need to be able to make a thousand stitch markers....Any who here's a peek at my first attempts. They came out really cute.  So I plan on making a bunch more this weekend.  Everything is all spread out on my kitchen table!

I'm still plugging along at my SKB.  I'm working on getting my lst set of increases done. I WILL get it joined in the round this weekend!

Have a great weekend everyone!