One-Eyed Monster & Most Expensive "Green Bag"

So my one-eyed monster knit up pretty quickly. I LOVE him! I've been wanting to knit him up for some time now. Making a toy for the baby seemed like a good excuse to create this fun little critter. Maybe when the baby doesn't want to play with him anymore, he can cheer me up at the office.

On the complete opposite end of "quick knits" is what my DH calls the "most expensive green bag in the world". I very much enjoy using my green bag as it holds SO much stuff. Wait. See? I can put even MORE in it! As great a bag as it is, however, I don't see my knitting up another one anytime soon. I lost count of how many shopping bags I used to make the thing and knitting with plastic bags is hard on the hands. All that said, this little gem took me forever to finish. (Okay, so I have some WIPs that have been on the needles even longer, but still...) Hubby lost track of how many hours I spent knitting my "green bag" hence his comment about its "real cost". You'd be amazed at how many goodies I can cram in this thing though!

(pix coming)

Rock 'n Roll

I'm so very excited that my brother liked his Christmas present. While I met all the criteria he'd noted on his "wish list" I was nervous as to how the finished product would go over. I know I shared a peak at the felted, adjustable, custom guitar strap I made for my brother in a previous post, I wanted to post a pix of it "in use".


It was a bit of a challenge figuring out how to make it turn out in real life like I pictured it in my head but I did it and am hope that it proves to be quite useful for my baby bro. I love you!!! Rock n' roll, bro!

Numbers Finally Match

After having taken a few deep breaths, I had to frog a lot of the sweater. Went back a couple rows before the eyelet increase, thinking that it had to be around there somewhere that I'd gained those 10 extra sts I mentioned the other day. Unfortunately, doing so only uncovered some of them. The rest somehow magically appeared over the course of just regular knitting (and my obviously not paying attention to what I was doing). Having already ripped out 1/2 of the work, I was not in the mood to rip back to the beginning so after a zillion times counting and recounting the various stitches and finding, I think, where I had some extras tucked in, I started knitting again - this time strategically decreases the necessary number of stitches to get me down to the 235 I needed.

After a count and re-count, just to be sure, I had it! Yippee... After a careful round of eyelet increases (spaced according to my own math which anyone who's read this blog knows means trouble typically), I counted a couple times again. As called for by the pattern, I was up to 282 stitches on the needle and, to the best of my ability, they are properly spaced between the raglan increases. Can I get an AMEN?!

Now I've just got to do about 7 rows of garter stitch (in all my free time between work, family, and remodeling with the deadline QUICKLY approaching) and then I get to begin my lace pattern again!

This is supposed to be a very simple cardigan, I don't know why I had so much trouble. Hopefully, the worst is behind me and I can knit up the remainder of this sweater without too many more hiccups. (Crossing fingers that strategically placed decreases to get me down to correct number doesn't screw up math down the line.)

Ahoy Matey!

My KnittingHelp.com Surprise Theme Swap partner, Jes from San Diego, received the package I sent to her and I think she liked it!
I'd learned that she loved pirate stuff and one of her favorite colors was light blue (and that she gardens a little!), so a "treasure chest" I would make for her.

Unfortunately, after much scouring of the internet, I couldn't find anything I really liked that would work in Southern CA. Similar to here in Austin, there is little need for massively bulky chunky items as we just don't get that many extremely cold days typically. Unlike here in Austin, though, San Diego does get some cooler evenings. With that in mind, and not being able to find what I wanted, I took a lace chart of some skulls and crossbones and figured out how many/how much was needed to make a Skull Stole (one where all the skulls would be facing the correct way). If you would like, I invite you to download a copy of this pattern and knit up this little treasure for yourself.

I wish I'd taken a picture of the swatch I knit as it was pretty cool, even though I, personally, am not a big "skull" fan. Anyway, I finally got everything together and sent to her. Besides her intro letter, "treasure map" (aka pattern), gold coins and jewels, and "pearl" stitch markers (including a precious "black pearl" marker), I sent the most scrumptious yarn that was ever so difficult to part with. Jes didn't want any wool yarn so I found a couple of skeins (just enough for the stole) of Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud yarn in Horizon.

Although I went over budget on this package and was worried a few times about the package coming together, I was very pleased with it and hope that Jes enjoys knitting up her treasure!

Recycled Tshirt Bath Rug

Tshirt Rags were the Alternative Yarn group on Ravelry's April KAL. Okay, so I'm behind everyone else...what else is new? I have been cleaning out the drawers and closets and after seeing a pile of old tees that we wouldn't or didn't need to be wearing again, I decided to join in the fun. Following tutorial for making rag yarn, or "Tarn" in this case, I cut 1" strips and, on US15 needles, CO today during lunch.

Creating something useful out of things that would otherwise be tossed is fun. For my first rug, I'm not going to go all out and do one as beautiful as some I've seen. Just going for a finished, simple project. Unfortunately, as I (in my typical fashion) have a few too many projects going on, this may take a bit but I'm excited about it thus far. Can't wait to use it!

Sweater Deconstructed

Once upon a time there was a pattern I wanted to knit but the yarn called for was, at the time, a little out of my price range for the amount I needed. In the same household there was this old sweater that was too big and not my style sitting in my closet (and had been there for a couple years...I REALLY need to clean out my closet) that turned out to be made from the type of yarn I needed for knitting that desired pattern.

What's a girl to do? Well, deconstruct and recycle the big, ugly sweater yarn to be used on an item that will get more use from me, of course. That is exactly what I set out to do. It took some time to snip the thread that had attached what amounted to a knit seam binding to the base of the sweater but finally that part was off. Next came the side seams and the arms, then the shoulders/neck area. All that was left to do then was, Rip-it! Rip-it!

The recycled yarn is a 50/50 cotton/linen blend. I can't wait to give it new life!

Just in the Nick of Time

Finished, just in time for Christmas, the baby "Converse" booties and balaclava mentioned in the previous post! Both projects were full of "firsts" for me on the knitting front but I'm beyond tickled at how they turned out.

We had an excellent visit with my folks. My brother and sister-in-law were there through Christmas as well so we had MUCH fun playing family games, visiting and, of course, eating way too much of Mom's good cookin'. As an extra Christmas present, we got to leave the kiddos with Nanny & Granddad for a few extra days! 2008 is now here and we are neck deep in a ton of new projects to get the new year started including doing a mini makeover on the second bath that wasn't functional and was a nasty black hole and also refinishing a dresser.

Sewing projects and more knitting are soon to begin as well...just after this weekend which is DS's 2nd bday/party.

Happy New Year!

Holiday Knitting and Knitting and Knitting

HOPEFULLY, by Christmas Day my holiday knitting will be complete and I can add pix of some of the other items I've got OTN. In the meantime, all I've gotten completed is a batch of various washcloths which are being paired with homemade Rose & Thyme soap (with roses and thyme from my garden) for my "girl" gifts for the family holiday gift exchanges. My favorite, but by far most time consuming and brain focus required, was the Elfish Leaves Washcloth. I also like the nubby cloth a lot. The smoother texture on one side combined with the bumpy alternate side makes for a washcloth that I'll definitely knit again.

For our Garden Hoes holiday party, we had to do a garden themed gift. I made a Flower-Power Washcloth and paired it with another one of my Rose & Thyme soaps. That was my first endeavor in knitting in the round on two circulars.






Additionally, basically because I couldn't wait until it is done, I've got an "in-process" pix of My So-Called Scarf that I'm knitting for mom. This scarf SHOULD be finished but kept getting set aside while I knit on other projects.

The last of my holiday knitting includes a pair of baby converse booties for my soon-to-be nephew and a balaclava for my dad. Here's crossing my fingers that they get done in time!

Merry Christmas!

Winter Wonderland Swap '07

Apparently, my swap partner didn't have access to Santa's "naughty/nice" list as she thought I'd been very, very good as evidenced by the absolutely WONDERFUL package she put together for me.

This was my first swap as a hostess. The matching of partners was a bit daunting but overall the swap has been a huge success, which makes me very happy.

Anyway, back to my package I received. My swap partner, Jeanie, sent me the following wonderful items: two sets of beautiful stitch markers for different sized needles, some wonderful hot teas and cocoa mixes that were packed in the precious holiday tin. The teas had the cutest names like "Nutcracker Sweet", "Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride" and "Sugar Plum Spice". I'd noted on my questionnaire that one of my most favorite things about the holidays was the smell of Mom & Dad's house when we go home for Christmas. Every time I open the tin, the smell of those teas transport me there immediately. It is SO heavenly a smell. Mmmm. The creme de la creme of the package, however, was the two balls of HAND-DYED yarn! The colorway is one she named "Sea" and it is beyond scrumptious! It is a wool, alpaca, silk blend and I THINK I've decided to take my first venture into the world of knitting socks using this yarn. My swap partner sent me a whole group of patterns to select from and I'm wavering between a cloche type hat and the "Rainy Day Socks" pattern from MagKnits. Hmmm.... Decisions, decisions.

Before I ripped into the package...

The goodies my Secret Santa sent!

Try, Try Again

I have to start over on the wrap jacket I'm making. I had about an inch done and had to “frog” it last night. I'm hoping to start over today. What is “frogging” you ask? Well, what sound does a frog make? “Rip-it...rip-it”. LOL... New knitting term I learned and considering how much I will be using it.... I just find it funny. Maybe I'm tired. Anyway, I screwed up on the stitching beyond repair (somehow missed counted several and didn’t catch till too late...I'm sure trying to cast on and count while the kids were running amok didn't help.) so I had to rip the entire one inch (which I realize doesn’t SOUND like much but it was to me) out and try, try again.

Here's hoping I get my cast on number correct this time and that the continental stitch method enables me to move a little faster through the project....again, we'll see.