The hero of canton...

Making another Jayne hat for my sister in law. Except in green! Photos below.

Eeee!

I'm so excited! I finally got my invite to Ravelry!

For those of you not in the know, it's like facebook, but for knitters/crocheters. Because it's still in beta mode, you have to sign up to be invited. It took about a week or so for me to get my invite but boy am I excited! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Progress on my sweater!

I am dying to show y'all what I've been doing, so here are some photos:





Here's a close-up of the needlework. This is the bottom of the sweater.



This is the yarn I've chosen for the job.



Eee! So exciting!

Yarn-hunting adventure

So since Hammer would be unavailable for our little foray into wool gathering (due to funeral and her daughter being unwell), and Rose decided she needed some yarn, she and I went on a quest for yarn.

I have to tell you - I really fell in love with a LOT of what we found at Shall We Knit?, but a lot of it was just beyond my price range at the moment. This is definitely the place to go for high-quality yarn, as well as tons of resources and there is some more affordable stuff there as well.

After that, we went off to St. Mary's to check out McPherson's, which was more reasonably priced and they had a super sale going on as well. I got a bunch of yarn for super cheap - 2.00/skein!

I have more to say on this, but I'm very tired. I will say that I got the yarn I wanted to make this, hurrah!

Knock knock, is this thing still on?

I want to go knitting shopping this weekend, although my darling S would say that it is crazy talk, and why do I have to have all this damn yarn, etc. Except that this mission is actually a mission to help Hammer learn to knit fair isle style, and therefore this is a purchase for the greater good. Is it my fault that in the process I will end up with a kick-ass skirt at the end of it? The greater good.

S really loves it when I rationalize things like that. Our conversations like these usually ends up with him laughing at me because I say it so seriously, like our life is a sit-com and I'm just churning out the lines. And he's my personal laugh-track. I haven't taught him to go "Awwwww" at the really sweet moments yet, but I'm sure we'll get there.

We're probably going to hit Shall We Knit? in New Hamburg, mostly because I've never been there before and I'm dying to see it. The Record did up a nice article on the owner of the place, and I do love small businesses - so much more personal, and you can find the neatest things.

Ok, time to stop daydreaming and finish another baby blanket (a friend had a little boy, I'm using the same pattern I used to make my friend's baby girl a blanket.)

Woo! Also, I simply cannot wait for this site to be up and public!

Hello Mr. Sewing Machine... its been a few months...

So I've put my yarn aside for a bit. I've got some sewing projects on the brain right now.

I went garage saling with my mom on Saturday and picked up a box of patterns for like a buck or something.

One of the patters was to make this really cute wrap skirt, which doesn't seem that difficult at all. So I'm off to fabric land today to see if there is any material I might be able to fashion into a skirt. It's got to be something I can wear to work, because lord am I low on spring work clothes.

I'll also be on the lookout for that great material I saw there about four months ago. It's this colourful stripped canvas that would be absolutely perfect to make a beach bag out of. I love bags like that for just toting around my own crap from day to day. I had this bag from a wedding show that I went to with my cousin in the winter and I used that bag until it fell apart. And even then I sewed it back up and used it until it disintegrated.

New Week - New Project

I've taken my baby blanket for Jo off my list. She's getting a ton of other home-made things for her baby and it just wouldn't make sense for me to make one for her too.

Anyway, I've got such a collection of different yarns now I really need to get a big rubbermade container or something to put it in.

I'm starting a granny sqare blanket right now. I got the pattern from the Lionbrand website. (God I love that site) I'm not sure who this project is going to be for. I had thought it might be nice to make and give to my niece for her birthday, since the yarn has pinks and yellows in it. Then again, I could always do it for my own house. I finihsed the cover for my TV. Nothing special, just something to keep the kitten off.

Jeff has been bugging me to make curtains for our basement windows. I know it's probably not that complicated, but I'd better consult my mother-in-law for instructions. This will be a step up from what I've been doing on my sewing machine.

So I'm not the greatest knitter, but I have a feeling no one is going to step up and make me a Slytherin scarf. I want one so bad so it looks like its up to me. Poo on you saddest, poo on you. =)

Blanket 002

Blanket 002

These are the receiving blankets I made on my sewing machine. Really simple hem on a flannet material.

Material Girl

Blanket 001

Blanket 001

This is the blanket all finished and waiting for a baby to be wrapped in. The self stripeing yarn did a nice job.

Material Girl

I FINISHED!

I ended up being off work Thursday and Friday last week giving me the opportunity to finish the baby blanket and receiving blankets. I was in such a rush on Saturday though I didn't get a chance to take a picture.

So I've started crocheting the yellow blanket for Jo.

I've also got another project to get started. It's going to be a cover for my tv, to prevent kitten scratches. I'll be seeing T on Wednesday so I will make sure to take a picture of the blanket for posting.

scarf

So I'm working on the Slytherin scarf, have set aside the Dalek for a bit because I'm still troubled over what to do about the eye. We'll see. I'm also considering installing boning on the inside to give it a more pleasing shape. This will take some doing.

I'm proud of MG for getting her blanket almost done - remember girl, NEVER let the man be right. YOU CAN FINISH THIS!

I'm getting there...

I'm getting closer. The blanket has to be 34 and 1/2 inches long and i'm at 25 inches.

I was out and about this weekend and picked up more fabric for receiving blankets on the weekend. A pretty purple, a gray plaid and a red with penguins on it. I'm going to be so busy every night this week getting it all ready for Saturday.

So... basically I will have to finish 6 receiving blankets and my crocheted blanket by Saturday. I'll post a picture of the projects when i'm done. It will be the most i've acomplished in such a short time. I hope she likes them.

I must work on blanket. Tonight, tonight, tonight.

Blanket 002

Blanket 002

Close-up of pattern for T's blanket (material girl post)

Blanket 001

Blanket 001

Photo of T's blanket. (Material Girl project)

Go Go Go!

I've got until March 3rd to finish Tina's blanket and I'm no farther since my last post.

I had a bit of a depressing week so I find I can't work on projects when my heart isn't in it. Well I'm ready again.

I'm planning to make a special trip this weekend to pick up some more fabric for my receiving blankets. The part that kills me is depending on what style you get it can be expensive. But of course it's still a million times better than a cheaply make piece from the store. Mine will be made with love.

Psst....you know who...call me Wednesday and harrase me about how i'm doing!!!.

You can see above, one picture of the blanket and one of a close up of the stiches.

Baby blanket complete!

Hooray! I'm finally done. Bad news: I completely forgot to take a picture of my handiwork, as in my excitement I ran it right over to M's house. The pattern yielded a diagonal shape rather than a square, which is actually perfect because it allows for swaddling.

Baudelaire

These socks look so decadent... I'm frightened of multiple-needle stitchery though. Hmm.

Good news! Blanket's almost done!

A squidpod! Eeee!

This is so cute! My damn queue of projects is piling up again. Le sigh.

edit: pattern originated here.

Purse

Purse

This purse was knit using Bernat PingPong Bulky "5" yarn, in the color 51013 "Mocha Madness", dye lot 15413. The pattern is available on the label. Label calls for 2 50g balls, however I managed to make it with one. Knit with 5.5mm bamboo knitting needles, though a higher gauge would probably yield a bigger purse and require the 2 balls.

This is a quick knit - all told, it took me a couple hours including finishing.

Dalek

Dalek

Here's a photo of my (unfinished) Dalek. I did the pattern myself, which was tougher than you could imagine. This was a prototype model to see how it would work out, so rather than rip out a thousand stitches and start over, I just added notes for what to do next time. I will edit this entry later with stitch details, but for now just wanted to provide photographic evidence of its awesomeness. Who wouldn't want a cuddly toy that wishes to exterminate you? Honestly now.

DETAILS:

I used Bernat Satin in color 04317 "Stardust", no dye lot (woohoo!). They come in 100g balls, worsted weight. This stuff is machine washable/dryable, which is part of why I chose to use it for this project. I knit this with a pair of 4 mm (US size 6) circular needles.

Cast on 80 st.

Place marker at end of row. Join yarn, being careful not to twist the circle and cause the moebus effect.
k 5 rows.
*Row 6: MB every 5 stitches (inc. 4 k in the bobble)
*k 4 rows. on 5th row, dec every 6th st.
*k two rows.
*on next row, mb every 4 st. (last bobble may be only 3 st between)
repeat starred process three more times.

k 4 rows, p 4 rows.
k 3 rows, p 4 rows.
*beginning of next round, k 5 sts, p 4 sts until you have 10 cols, then k3 p4 until end.
repeat * for 3 more rows.
p 4 rows.
k 5 sts, p 4 sts until you have 10 cols, then k3 p4 until end.
p 4 rows. k next 5 rows, dec every 5 or 6 st.

p 2 rows. k 3, p 2 for next 3 rows.
p 2 rows, dec sts every 5 or 6 st.
k 3, p 2 for next 3 rows.
p 2 rows
k the rest, dec every 5th st until end. bind off.

That's all I have for now, and it will require some modification next time round. I haven't knit the bottom up yet, so all you'll have is a hat of sorts. More details to come.

OMG

I so want to make this.

Damnit. Concentrate, Willow! Focus on the blanket. The blaaaaaankkkkeeeeeettttt

Sore Fingers

I've got two projects on the go right now, one where I am crocheting and one where I am using my sewing machine.

I'm crocheting a baby blanket for my friend T. It's a purple and white yarn and I'm about 1/3 of the way done. I'm determined to finish it by this Sunday. I only started it last Sunday night but I'm sure with more than a few hours of working on it this weekend I should reach my goal. It's a really simple crochet and chain patter which I love because it's totally brainless.

I'm also working on some receiving blankets with my sewing machine which has been more than a little frustrating. There are some days where it seems to work perfectly and other days when I can't get it to hold a stitch. Part of it has been me learning how to use the machine properly. For about a month I couldn't get it to work because I had the needle threaded backwards. duh. My mother in law showed me how to make these blankets and the're easy peasy.

The one thing I have noticed since I started the crocheting on Sunday, my fingers are sore as all hell. It's part that I'm probably not holding my hands properly and part because I'm getting used to doing it for more than a short period of time again.

Lola

Yarn yearnings.

Sorely tempted to purchase size 50 needles from Lion Brand - they're massive needles and are for quick projects - you could probably knit a scarf in about a half hour with these puppies. They have some lovely chenille yarn as well... hmm... I should probably focus on finishing the baby blanket (I set it aside because of all the tax/accounting stuff, and then some other family things) but it doesn't hurt to purchase ahead and have it ready for when I'm done.

I have a massive basket full of different yarns though. Some of it is extras (I tend to buy one or two more than patterns call for, just to be safe) and I figure that's good since C has taken an interest; there's plenty for her to work with. S just laughs when I come home with more. He knows I will put it to good use so he never pesters me - he just finds my yarn neediness funny. I told him it's like my thing with shoes and purses - you can never have too many.

blanket madness

It seemed like an innocent enough offer. My friend M is having a baby girl - I couldn't be more delighted for her, as she already has 4 boys. So I told her I'd knit her a blanket.

Which is fine, but getting very, very tiring as I am desiring to take on other projects as well. Typically I knit one or two or three different projects at once, but considering she is due in April, I can't really gully about on this. I am past the mid-point and already decreasing rows, which is a relief there, but yegads I'm tired of it. My own fault. I used a smaller gauge than I normally would, which is making the work longer and more tedious.

But I will NOT give up!

I'll post a photo once I set up the software for my camera again (recently installed new hard drive, have yet to catch up with all the fun reinstalling software buggery).