Still Here

I am still here and have been knitting and sewing. With Christmas just around the corner I needed to take a break from blogging so I could have one less thing to stress over! I will post more about my knitting and crafting creations in January.

Til then, I wish each and every one of you a Very Merry Christmas and may you keep Christ at the center of you celebrations.

Check out this video --- Christmas With a Capital C ---

Knitting Projects

Last week I told you about the quilting I had been doing. The Treasure Trove quilt has it's blocks sewn into rows and that is where it sits for now. I attend a crafting for charity group on Friday evening so maybe I will take it and try to get the top finished.

As far as knitting goes I have finished a couple of projects. This pastel baby sweater was started way back in November 2006. It has sat on my counter for almost a year with nothing but the sleeves to knit. It is definitely a sad state of affairs when it takes me a whole year to decide to finish a baby project. It is based on the Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater by Carole Barenys. I changed the pattern on the yoke and added the pattern near the bottom of the sweater. I also used ribbing on the sleeves rather than garter stitch.

Pattern: Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater by Carole Barenys
Yarn: LionBrand Babysoft
Needles: 3.5mm

Next is the baby shrug that I started a month or so ago. It is also finished though I am not that pleased with the pattern. I made size 3-6 month and the ribbing doesn't match up when you sew the sleeve seams. Not so good since the seam is very visible when the baby wears the shrug.

Pattern: Ribbed Shrug from the Fall 2007 Knit Simple Magazine.
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby
Needles: 3.25mm

I am still plugging along on Roam. This is the sweater from Knitty Fall 2007 online magazine. Both sleeves are completed and I have started working the body in one piece. I am really enjoying using the garter slip stitch rather than seed stitch and love how the yarn is working.

Pattern: Roam from Knitty
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Denim
Neeldles: 4mm

And last but not least, I started and finished one more preemie sweater for my friend who is having quadruplets. She had them early Sunday morning and they are doing ok. 3 of them are on ventilators and one little girl is pretty tiny at only 1lb 15oz. I needed to make one more sweater since I had made 2 boys and 2 girls sweaters and she actually had 3 girls and 1 boy. If you are inclined to pray would you please say a pray for these little ones. Thanks!!!

Pattern: Patons Early Arrivals Raglan Cardi
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly 4 ply (fingering)
Needles: 2.75mm and 3.25mm

Quilting

Yes, that's right ---- I've been quilting. Finished 2 quilts, one that will go to Heavenly Angels In Need (children's division) and the other will go to Encompass.

The blocks for the pink and blue star quilt were made by Kirsten and I have three quilts total made out of her blocks. The other can be seen here and the third still needs to be quilted but looks exactly like this one. Thanks Kirst!!!!It is 36" x 36".

The second quilt that is finished is this square in square quilt. I had meant to make sawtooth star blocks but when I made the flying geese portions I reversed the peach and green fabrics so this is how it turned out. I think it looks good this way too! The fabric has cute pigs in the barnyard that was donated -- in fact all the fabric in this quilt came out of my "donated bins". It is 48" x 60".

And finally, I am starting this quilt called "Treasure Trove" by Nancy Mahoney from the Clothworks website (though I don't see it there anymore). There are quite a few really cute quilts on there that are all free in PDF format. This quilt is also made mostly out of donated fabric, though I did need to add a little of my own. It should finish about 57" x 73".

I will update you on my knitting stuff next time!

Breast Cancer Awareness MonthSince October is Breast Cancer Awareness month would you go to the Breast Cancer Site and "click" to help donate free mammograms to women in need. If they reach their goal their sponsor will donate an additional 150 mammograms. Thanks!!!

More Yarn and Projects

The Fana Mittens are done -- yeah!!! I am not sure why it took me so long to finish. Maybe because I had other projects going that were more interesting ?!? Now that the mitts are finished, my package is being sent to Afghans for Afghans on Monday. One pair of socks, one pair of mitts and a sweater.


I received a bag of yarn from a wonderful lady (thanks Paula) at Encompass. This is the organization that Caring for Communities (the charity group I organize at our church) donates their kid sized quilts to. We just dropped off 23 quilts the middle of September. Paula is such a sweet gal that she picked up all this yarn for our group to use for charity.


Of course I couldn't just let it sit around and wait --- so I cast on for a blanket. There are 8 skeins of the beige (called bisque on the label) which should be plenty for a crib sized blanket.
I found this really cute sweater pattern on the Lion Brand website called Standout Stripes and am using it for the blanket. It will go to HAIN's Childrens Division when it's done.

The Roam sweater is coming along. I am almost finished the sleeves. And I really like how the garter stitch V pattern is turning out. Lots of texture!

And I have turned the heal on the first of my daughters socks. So knitting is happening :-)

More New Projects

I did actually finish one more project before I started a couple of new ones. The Embossed Leaves socks from Favorite Socks by Interweave Knits are now finished. Yeah!!! They seemed to take quite a while to finish but that is probably because I had so many other projects going on at the same time.

Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino in colour Lily Pond
Needles: 2.25mm for ribbing and 2.75mm for pattern
Pattern: Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks

This yarn is so soft though not machine washable so I will need to be careful not to felt them!!

I did not finish the Fana mittens. I don't know why I can't just buckle down and finish them ... only have the thumb of one mitt left and then weaving in the ends of the same mitten. I need to get my package off to Afghans for Afghans soon so finished pictures will probably be posted next time.

Onto the projects I started.

Last post I said I was going to start Roam and I did. This sweater is knit in seed stitch which I was not going to do. I am a "thrower" when I knit and the thought of all those p1, k1 stitches just did me in!! I went through a stitch dictionary I have (The Harmony Guide To Knitting Stitches) and chose a pattern called Garter Slip Stitch Version 5. This pattern has 2 rows of plain knitting, 1 row of k1, sl1 and then one row of k1, yf, sl1, yb on the wrong side. Much faster to work for this knitter and it is a 2+1 stitch pattern which is the same as the seed stitch. Currently working the sleeves (both at once).
Yarn: Berrocco Ultra Alpaca in colour Denim
Needles: 4.0mm
Pattern: Roam from Knitty.com

Since I finished the embossed leaves socks I cast on another pair that my youngest daughter wanted me to make for her. She picked out the yarn and the pattern. It is from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I started out casting on 60sts and did a few pattern repeats and had my daughter (8) try it on. Too small. She could barely get it over her heal. So rip and cast on 72 sts. This actually fits me so will definitely be big enough for her.
Yarn: Regia 4ply in bright pink, yellow, orange
Needles: 2.25mm for ribbing, 2.75mm for the rest.
Pattern: Heart from More Sensational Knitted Socks

We are currently having a thunder and lightening storm so I think I will get off the computer and knit for a while!

Feeling Better

I have finished two projects that I was working on and feel like my crafting life is a bit more under control.

My wonderful husband took me to a yarn shop in Seattle for our anniversary (12 years) and then out for Japanese food. We went to Weaving Works. This store has such a variety of yarns, fleece, spinning and weaving stuff, I could spend hours searching through everything.

What did I buy?!? 9 skeins of Berrocco's Ultra Alpaca to make Roam from Knitty.com . Roam is a hoodie sweater that has a zippered front. Pattern calls for DK yarn but since I knit tightly I thought I could get away with a worsted weight yarn. I haven't cast on yet because I want to finish my Fana Mittens first.

What have I finished. First the pink baby blanket that I have been working on (or not) since March. I am really happy with how it turned out and very happy that it is finished and checked off my "to do" list! Now to wrap it up and gift it away :-)

Yarn: Cotton Fleece from Brown Sheep Company
Colours: Pink-a-boo and Tea Rose
Needles: 3.75mm
Finished Size: 33" x 34"

Second is the felted bag that I had started in August for a secret pal exchange. I am thrilled with how it turned out since I don't have much felting experience.

Yarn: Elann's Peruvian Highland Worsted and Knit One Purl Two eyelash type yarn.
Colour: Dark Burgundy Heather (743) and Pink, Purple and Gold eyelash yarn.
Needles: 6.00mm and 3.75mm for I-Cord
Finished Size: 12" x 12"

Off to finish up my mittens for Afghans for Afghans and then cast on something for me! Happy Knitting!!

Too Many Projects --- Acckkk!

I am getting overwhelmed ... with too many projects ! I know at least 6 women at our church that will be having babies over the next few months as well as Afghans for Afghans that have a deadline of October 12th, a very dear friend who has adopted a new baby, and Heavenly Angels In Need that continually has needs (which I haven't supplied in a long while). What is someone to do? ... Cast on another project of course!!! Which is what I have been doing and therefore have a ton of unfinished objects all lined up on my counter.

I am sure my husband thinks I have lost my mind since every time he sees me I am knitting away on yet a different project. They will all get completed, right?!?!

First up is a felted bag I am making for a shoe box exchange that needs to be mailed by September 24th. No problem --- I am almost finished the knitting then it's on to the felting. The bag is Elann's Highland Wool Fancy Felted Bags. I am using Highland wool in a dark wine colour and Knit One Purl One yarn for the accent near the top.

Next is a baby hat that I completed last week for HAIN's Childrens Division. I was feeling overwhelmed with all these large projects so started something small so I could get a sense of accomplishment! Anyone else do that?

I made up the pattern by casting on 74 sts and then using the Fibonacci system to work stripes. I really like how it turned out knit in Paton's Astra yarn and I want to design a pair of booties to go with it (after some other more pressing projects are finished or I need another quick fix of a completed item).

Remember this baby blanket that I started months ago? I started working on it again and think I need to finish 5 more pattern repeats to have it square. I am thinking of giving it to my friend who has adopted a baby girl at the beginning of the month!

And there's the mitts for Afghans for Afghans children's project. Still working on those.

And the Embossed Leaves socks which I am turning the heal on the second sock. Knit a couple of rows on that each day. No new picture!

And (I'm almost done) a very cute baby shrug that is in the Fall '07 Knit Simple Magazine that may also be for my friend with the new adopted baby or one of the 6 others mentioned above. It is soooo cute!
I am using Softee Baby in a pink and white marl, 3.25mm needles and making size 3 months. To go with, I want to make Saartje's Booties.

Enough projects? Sure hope I can complete a couple before having the dreaded "new project bug" bite me again!!

School Starts Today

For us, today is the first full day of classes. My girls were excited about going and getting the year started with new teachers and old friends. Summer was fun, but I am definitely ready for some routine in my days!

I finally finished this sweater for Afghans for Afghans. I started it many months ago and can finally count it "off the needles".

Yarn: Jojoland Melody 2 strands together
Elann Peruvian Highland Wool
Needles: 4.5mm and 3.5mm
Pattern: From Margaret Hubert's Book One Piece Knits That Fit
Size: child 5/6


A very easy knit in one piece sweater!




One mitten complete. I really like how this turned out. I wasn't sure that my stranding would be "ok" but it looks fine to me. It was a bit tight when I changed from one needle to another, but I will need to concentrate on that for the next mitt. It is started and the check pattern is completed.
Yarn: Cascade 220 dark green and yellow
Needles: 3.5mm - 2 circulars
Pattern: Fana from Folk Mittens by Marcia Lewandowski

Ravelry Account

I received my ravelry account last night -- yippee!! It is pretty neat though I can see how one could get wrapped up in searching and adding stuff and not actually knitting/crafting. I have added a few projects on there under "craftyknitter".

It has been a while since I last posted. We went camping for 3 days and then went to Penticton, BC Canada to visit my mom and dad and my sister and her family. We rode an historical train in Summerland one day, visited my grandma another and went to the beach. It was a great time!!

I have been knitting. First up is my embossed leaves socks -- the first sock is finished and I have started the second. These are knit with Fleece Artist's machine washable 100% fingering weight yarn in colour Lily Pond. I used size 2.25 needles for the ribbing and size 2.75mm for the rest of the sock. It fits perfectly.

Second, is a pair of socks for Afghans for Afghans. They fit me so will probably fit a teenager. They are knit using Cascade 220 wool yarn that was donated to me on 3.5mm needles. The pattern is specifically for Briggs and Little yarn so I needed to adjust the pattern a bit. I cast on 45 stitches and knit the ribbing in k3, p2 first round and then k1, sl1, k1, p2 for the second round. They are really stretchy and comfortable. As you can see, I ran out of the blue so had to improvise with the stripes on the second sock. I am sure they will be appreciated even if they don't match ....

Third up is a pair of mittens for Afghans for Afghans. I received the Folk Mittens book by Marcia Lewandowski. I absolutely love this book!! There are so many beautiful mitten patterns in hear from different countries and a little history about each mitten/country. This pattern is called Fana Mittens and originates from Norway. I am using Cascade 220 wool yarn and 3.5mm needles. They fit me so again will fit a teenager quite nicely!

Vacation

Just a quick note to let you all know that I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I am on vacation and will be back blogging the beginning of September. Enjoy the last bits of summer!

Check out this story about why she is selling Pokemon Cards on Ebay -- it's a good laugh!

Preemie Sweaters and Socks

The shower is over and the sweaters are finished. I do need to make one more tiny sweater as Lacey is having 3 girls and 1 boy. Yeah for her!! She looks so great and received some wonderful gifts. Here is the fourth sweater that I knit. I used Bernat Softee Baby for the white and Patons Astra yarn for the pink squares. The pattern is from P2Designs. I will need to go buy another set of buttons -- didn't think of making more sweaters when I purchased the first four sets!

What am I working on now?? Afghans for Afghans is requesting baby hats, socks, and blankets by September 21st as well as kids items sizes 8 - 18 (socks, hats, sweaters, vests, mitts) due by the same date. You can check out all the details on their website.
Finished is a pair of baby socks --- they really work up quickly with worsted weight yarn. The pattern is from North Country.

On the needles currently is a pair of kids socks using Cascade 220 100% wool. This yarn came from a freecycler -- thank you Amy!! She gave me 11 balls of Cascade220 in different colours as well as a sweaters worth of fishermans wool! I am set for a while!!

My sewing machine is feeling very sad lately since I haven't used it much. I have 3 quilts that need to be quilted so I may work on those. Two are baby size for HAIN and one is for a local low income preschool group.

The embossed leaves socks are coming along slowly. I have turned the heal on the first sock so am now on the last straight stretch to the end!

Embossed Leaves

Since the Notre Dame De Grace pullover is finished I decided to cast on something new. I borrowed the Favorite Socks book from our local library and absolutely love all the sock patterns. I ordered it from Amazon yesterday since I know I will use many of the patterns in the book. The embossed leaves sock is the first one to be cast on in Fleece Artist's basic merino sock yarn colour Lily Pond. I have almost two repeats of the pattern completed.

One more teeny tiny baby sweater finished. Only 5 more days to get the last one started and complete. I am sure I can do it --- nothing like pressure of a deadline to spur me on LOL! This preemie sweater is knit with white Bernat Softee Baby and blue Patons Astra. The pattern is from P2 Designs Checked Mates Cardigan. Patti has so many wonderful free newborn and preemie patterns on her website both knit and crochet.

And Mary from Heavenly Angels In Need (HAIN) has created this wonderful YouTube video about infant loss. Thanks Mary!!

One More Sweater Down, Two More to Finish

I finished the second preemie sweater for a gal in our church who will be having quadruplets in November (probably earlier is my guess). Her baby shower is next weekend and I decided last week to knit 4 preemie sweaters in 2 weeks --- crazy --- probably!! Anyway, two are finished and the third is on its way to completion. I kind of used the pattern for a garter stitch sweater in Paton's Early Arrivals leaflet but changed the number of stitches and number of rows used. Since I wasn't using garter stitch but mostly stockinette these number needed to be changed. Anyway, it turned out pretty cute with the lacy bottom edge (Arbor lace from the book Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein) and raglan sleeves, but I like the cabled little boys sweater better.

And I finished my Notre Dame De Grace pullover from Interweave Knits summer 2007 magazine. It is so comfy -- now just need some cooler weather so I can use it (doesn't look like that is happening anytime soon). I will get my daughter to take pictures with it on me later today.
Yarn: Elann's Peruvian Highland Chunky in colour spiced wine
Needles: 5mm circular needle
Pattern: Interweave Knits Summer 2007 - Notre Dame De Grace by Veronik Avery
I followed the pattern except knit the body (front and back) in one piece up to the arms.

FOs and Notre Dame De Grace Sweater

First up, I am very excited that the Notre Dame De Grace sweater is almost finished. I am working on the collar and then I need to sew the sleeves in, weave in the ends, sew on the button and ta da --- fini!!
I am using Elann's Highland Chunky yarn in colour 727 - spiced wine, size 5mm needles and am making size 40. It is nice and roomy which is how I like my sweaters.

Next up is the preemie sweater I started a few days ago. I have 4 to make and this is the first one completed. It will fit a 3 - 5lb baby and is teeny tiny compared to a newborn sweater.
I am using Patons Early Arrival pattern leaflet and James C. Brett Kool Kotton.

I have started another "girls" sweater and will post a picture when I am a little further along.

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished baby quilt. The blocks were made by a friend who decided not to finish her queen size quilt. Thanks, Kirst!!! I am sure a couple of babies will be very happy to receive your work :-)
It is 36" x 36" and has pretty floral flannel on the back.

Finally Sock Pictures

Finally, pictures of the socks I know you have been waiting for ... or did you forget that I promised pictures. I almost forgot so I am sure you have!! They are knit with Panda Wool (wool and bamboo) on two 2.25mm circs, two at a time. I made the pattern up based on the article by Anne Budd in the Summer Interweave Knits magazine. You can find a similar sock pattern designed by Wendy.


















And while I was out taking sock pictures there was a pretty butterfly that was having a snack on our butterfly bush. Isn't she pretty!
















On another note, a wonderful gal at our church is pregnant and will be having quadruplets (yup you read right, 4 babies) in November. The church is having a baby shower for her the middle of August and I decided yesterday that I would knit some (4 to be exact) preemie sweaters and hats for her. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute!! She is not telling what the sex of the babies are .... so I figure if I knit 2 boys and 2 girls outfits then the most I would have to knit once they are born is two more ... and I know a wonderful charity that would accept the extra two. Am I crazy or what !?! No, don't answer that LOL!!

One limit I put on this is that I need to knit these from my stash --- now you have to understand that my stash is not that big compared to others out in blog land (though my DH would disagree) so the 4 outfits will all be out of different yarn and be different patterns. To tie them together I am using the same buttons on all four. Here's the first one started. The pattern is from Patons Early Arrival leaflet and James C. Brett Kool Kotton machine washable, DK yarn.

Still working on the Notre Dame De Grace pullover. The back is done and I am now working on the front. Pictures next time!

And I finished a baby quilt for HAIN. Pictures of that next time too ....

Vacation Knitting

I am very pleased with the amount I got accomplished on the Notre Dame De Grace pullover. 2 sleeves were completed on the trip to and from Yellowstone and most of the back and part of the front were completed at the beach. I decided to work the front and back as one piece up to the arm decreases. I don't like seaming so the less seams the better! Here is the front and back of the sweater at the beach. DH is in the background flying his kite. As you can see he has his jacket on. It wasn't very warm though the kids still went "swimming".

Here's me knitting. I love seeing pictures of blog postees (is that a word?) so here is one of me. Wind is blowing and it is cold but I can't sit and not do nothing.

Since we arrived home I was overwhelmed with all the started (not finished) projects I have. I made these preemie booties to go with the hat which was finished a couple of months ago. There are so many other things to finish as well. I have decided that I will work on charity items during the "work" day and my personal items in the early morning and after dinner. I am hoping this will keep a balance in my life of personal and charity work.

HAIN Newsletter -- the summer edition is out. There are free patterns and some wonderful articles.

Afghans for Afghans is requesting baby hats (10" to 15" circumference), baby socks (no booties), and blankets at least 40" x 30". Due date is September 2007.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy Jig

Yes, arrived home today and am happy to see all my "stuff"! I will post about knitting adventures in a few days but for now a few Yellowstone pictures ....

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Well, just one automobile for me! I will be on vacation for the next few weeks so enjoy blogland without me :-)

I finished the green panda wool socks, but you will have to wait for a picture since the camera is packed.

For pictures, I decided to make this sweater from the latest Interweave Knits magazine. And chose Elann's chunky highland wool in colour spiced wine. It's a gorgeous heathered red/brown colour. Sleeves are started.

There are quite a few really nice sweaters in this magazine and a really great tutorial on toe-up socks by Ann Budd. Her charts are what I used for the green socks I just finished. The charts allow you to knit with a variety of yarn weights and sock sizes. Very handy!

Hope everyone has a wonderful few weeks!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July to everyone. Please stay safe and be careful around the fireworks!! We are going to a BBQ this afternoon and haven't decided what we are doing tonight! We may go to some local fireworks -- I know my girls are voting for that LOL!

My socks are coming along. I have turned the heel on both of them and am now working on the legs. It seems to be going so slowly but I need to keep reminding myself it has only been one week since I started them and I am almost done both!

And a cute puppy picture. This is before his haircut. I will try to post an "after haircut" shot soon! He's pretty shaggy here.





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