So it seems

I have been a *bit* ahem remiss, in posting on my blog. I did finish 3 yes, 3 booga bags for mothers day (argh, I can't seem to find the pic right now)- and since then I taught my MIL how to knit west coast style, acquired a ton of knitting needles and some yarn from my gram, frogged a few sample things and actually knit, um, nothing. I am working on a tiny baby thing right now- we'll see when that ever gets done.

Let the felting begin

Quantity: 1
Item: Big blue booga bag
Condition: pre-felted


Post-felting & blocked for drying. So bummed I can't do the handles yet! I'm really happy with it for the most part- the bottom is a little bulky on the corners, I think b/c of the jacked up way I picked up the stitches. I washed it 4 times to get the stitches down.

hmm... #13

My first sweater- made from this pattern http://margarethubertoriginals.com/newpage1.htm Its was definately easy to make- the sleeves fit perfect, but I would make the body longer next time. Anyway, its good for layering over a long sleeve shirt. Not too bad for my a first sweater, I don't think?
Of course, last night when I finished it was sooooo excited for her to try it on. I tried wrestling it on her twice while she fought me off like a crazed mongoose. Then she said she was going to "put it away" took it from me and threw it on the floor in the spare bedroom. Geesh. Apparently, it didn't even rate the laundry basket where she puts her clothes she doesn't want to wear.

So there I was

All excited to meet my knitting inspiration- in person- and learn new skills. YEAH YEAH YEAH. So I proudly pull out a little project I'm working on and start knitting (or so I thought) and she was SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell you- at what I was doing. Apparently, I am doing some half baked, dumb ass twisted stockinette stitch. WHO KNEW? Seriously, I went to a class at a craft store and they teach me this crap? I'm going over there this week and I'm going to kick some CAG booty. I feel violated.

Wonky, quirky, charming

You decide. FO #12 - as my girl would say "TA DA!" Here it is- a tank sweater for her. Its wonky, its charming- it doesn't look like much laying there on the couch. But, as I wrestled it half done onto her this morning, it looks very cute on. I almost want to wake her up to try it on- almost!
The pattern called for some crochet straps, but really, I have decided that I am too confused about knitting to add another craft into it, so I made them out of seed stitch. I'm also hoping this helps them stay up on the shoulders.

"Twin" hats

FO #10 and #11

see #10 below, the blue wonder- still working on that, but I'm calling it done for my own satisfaction..... and I'll even show you the back of #11

Well, this sucks

Yeah, so I made this cute hat. I made ZERO knitting mistakes. Seriously, I was very impressed with myself. Then I seamed it. YIKES! Now its all screwed up, the rows didn't match up correctly- so I'm going to have to tear it out and do it again. Geesh I hate that.

FO #9

A bath mitt. A few small errors- but it involved several new skills for me, (Sl1, pick up stitches, turn, etc) so I'm pretty happy with it. It looks very yellow in the picture, but its really a cream color. Its Sugar & Cream cotton yarn, color cream.

Its taking shape

In progress object #9-- these are for you, Julie- HELP!!!!

Its not pretty...

But its done, and hopefully functional. #8 The pattern calls for some crochet edging, but I'm not messing with that. One craft at a time, people. The biggest problem I had was actually sewing it up- it looked alot better before I did that. Geeze. I also screwed the bind off- who knew there were more ways to do it? Geeze again. Here is is complete- before sewing







and after... like I said, its not pretty. The front is the one with the small hole in it and the back is the one with the jacked bind off.

and off to #9..... which just needs to be seamed.... but I am now scared of seams.....

Just call me Bode Miller

and give me a DNF for my Olypmics event. Yeah yeah yeah. At least I pushed myself into the frightening world of increasing and decreasing.....
This week, definately. It will be done. Look out 2010 team.

I'm on the team

I'm also going to try the knitting Olympics - I think I'm going to make a diaper soaker- yes, I know it seems sadly easy, but for me, it will involve new skills.


http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/olympics2006.html

Finally, a pattern comes together or FO #7

I finally finished the alphabet type project- its not that it was so hard, but it was a pattern, which was sort of a first. Also, I messed up the J and I was so annoyed I had to put it down for a while, then figure out where I was in the pattern, tear it out and start again from there. I would have sworn to you a few weeks ago if you asked that the pattern was screwed up, not me. Sheepishly, now I see I must have been the one in error.
So, all in all, it came out cute- its a gift and if you are reading this you know who you are (err, I mean your child) and I will be mailing it soon!

I also have the pieces done for tank sweater for the kidlet, but I have to work on the seams......

So, yeah

I made my mom a scarf. It was late for Christmas- but I sent it last week nicely wrapped in Christmas paper. She gave it to my brothers fiancee for her birthday. She thought thats what it was for. Then she said oh I really liked it and thought "Why don't I have one?" I'm like, um you did have one!!! I said no more scarves, but now she wants one. hmmm.
Right now I am needing to get some novelty yarn thingy done and off my needles. I need to fix the letter J. I need to continue working on increases and decreases (Yes, I am that much of a newbie/ loser!) Then I think I'm going to try the soaker for my bugga bug.

FO #5 FO #6

Ok the red scarf- seriously, I hated this yarn. I don't see myself knitting with anything like this anytime soon.














And that brings us to lovely #6, which is a scarf for the dude in knitpicks Sierra- coal and tide. I was really happy with this yarn- soft, nice to work with and the colors were spot on (And match his ski jacket perfect- do men want their accessories to match this well?). I wish I chose a smaller needle (US 17) but, ah well- thats what makes me a beginner- screwing up. And with that, no more scarves for a while..... I am currently working on creating some sort of messed up alphabet.... you'll see, you'll all see.....

One down

I finished one of the novelty yarn (Mode dea vixen Reddy freddy) scarves, so that makes FO #5. I started a wool/alpaca scarf for the dude with Sierra yarn from knitpicks http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/yarn_display.aspx?itemid=5420129 in coal and tide to match his ski jacket- its nice to work with, but I think I should have chosen a smaller needle. Its going fast, though and I'll be glad to get away from scarves!!!!

He was right

I think I'm out of control. I have 3 things on the needles- not one close to being done, more yarn on the way and have looked over a bunch of patterns I want to try! Geesh!
I think I am going to end up frogging the one "Fun" scarf- I tried something else with the yarn and its going much better. So that makes 2 scarves in the works, and one green something.

The novelty has worn off...

Today novelty yarns are not fun, at least for me. My gram made us these cool fun fur scarves for Christmas, so I thought I would try something similar for a birthday gift. Yikes- the yarns I chose seem to be really hard to work with. My husband said maybe I could save that yarn for another project- like oh maybe starting a fire...... hmmm, I think he also said "Stop knitting that" so of course now I must knit it and it must come out well to prove him wrong.

FO #3 & #4

If you have a jacked up scarf, you need a hat, too right? I thought this was cute http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kbig-hat.html Hmm, first of all, I couldn't figure out how to do a knit/purl w/o making these wierd xxxx stitches, I knew it was wrong. Then I tried it out on smaller needles, and realized what I was doing wrong. Problem #1, fixed. So, I happily knit away, I made the pattern a bit smaller b/c its for a toddler. I finish the hat... uh, woops, this hat fits me. I cannot figure out why. So, I make another one- even smaller and use smaller needles. Ah ha! I was supposed to use US 19 needles, I used 19mm needles- thats US 35 in case you need to know. ooops. Yeah, so the 2nd hat fits the kid- woo hoo!!!! which is FO #4

FO #2

Ok- things went much better with this one- also a scarf, also wool ease, finished just a few days late for a Christmas gift. This was kinda boring to make, but its nice and snuggly and it came out well in my mind.