Big Monster's New Hat

I haven't shared any knitting in a while and since I have a few minutes to myself I thought I'd show off my new design. My son's new Chunky Ribby Beanie. The decreases are done in a way to keep the integrity of the rib all the way to the top. Turned out very nice. I hade it from Knitpicks Wool of the andes bulky in the flyfishing colorway.





I am now working on a smaller one for the little monster and the colors are pooling in a swirlin pattern. Very interesting. :) I'll share photos of that one when I am done.

Hope everyone had a wonderfull holiday season and have a safe and happy new year.

Holiday knitting

I've been busy making scarflettes and cowls for the holidays. So much faster than regular scarves and they don't fall off your neck!

I've been getting my inspiration from Etsy.com and sellers like this. Of course, I have been crocheting some too. Some of my favorite Etsy sellers are Boutique Pink, Tortoiseshell Bunny, and Fringe. So if you see any of these styles on me, you know where I got the idea.

Happy knitting and happy holidays everyone! Hope to see you when things slow down.

Michelle

Have You Seen the Stamps?

I had to go to the post office yesterday and they have the new holiday stamps out...



They are called "Holiday Knits". According to the postal service's website:
"For the 2007 holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service will issue Holiday Knits, four stamps featuring classic Christmas-time imagery designed and machine knitted by nationally known illustrator Nancy Stahl: There is a dignified stag; a snow-dappled evergreen tree; a perky snowman sporting a top hat; and a whimsical teddy bear."


Nothing against machines, but it would've been really cool if they had been handknit.

Stocking

I just finished this stocking (in only 2 weeks!). It's actually the 3rd one I've made from this pattern (all the kids in the family are getting the same stocking). There are so many mistakes in this thing that I'm embarassed to publish the picture! But unless you look close, you can't tell. I actually skipped half a round on one of the checkerboard patterns!! It's a fun project -- I recommend it for anyone looking to learn fair isle/colorwork.

I'm on Ravelry now as well. I joined becuase "everyone else was doing it" but what an AWESOME website!

My Baby Kimono and Ravelry

Hi there everyone! Here is a pic of my finished Mason Dixon one peice baby kimono. I made it with Lion Brand Cotton Ease. A little splitty but washes and dryes very nicely and very soft for cotton. The second picture is of the package I sent out to my husband's cousin for his daughter. It includes another kimberly chapman caterpillar, the kimono, a purple cotton chenille flower shaped washcloth, 3 pairs of trumpette socks they are the best baby socks in the whole world, only ones that ever stayed on my son, some black baby legs with silver stars. We love baby legs too! And they do have manly colors my son look very cute in his. We use them for everything, arm wamers, second layers, and when he was crawling knee protectors. And a pair of sheos made by minitoes that I got from etsy. They are like robeez but not as tight around the ankle and fit better, my son had some that looked like addidas. Ok and my screen name at ravelry is Sinknitty. bye

More Baby Stuff

I am crazy with the baby gear! I put the kimono together with a little hat and booties for one gift (and added a bib the night before). The pink bib is for another shower in November. It's the Mason Dixon bib -- and is it ever BORING to knit! But I think it'd make a great beginner project. I can't do squares anymore!

Baby Kimono

I just finished a Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon. My first sweater (after 3 years of knitting!). I knit it in Peaches N Creme. I added the crochet edge for some contrast (it was boring in just blue!). I have a hard time with ribbons on a boy for the closure so I sewed in some Velcro and then added a nice little football button for decoration. I need to make another for another baby in November and I think I'll try stockinette rather than garter stitch. It was a quick and easy project if anyone is looking for one!

New use for mini sweaters

I got a call from Steph this morning. I had given this sweater to her youngest daughter to dress one of her teddies. Steph just wanted to let me know that her daughter is using the sweater as a large water bottle cozy! Too funny! Now she wants Steph to get cracking and make her some sweaters and some for her friends, too. HA! Just wish I had a picture of it in use. I want to know what shape those water bottles are. Steph, if you see this, can you post a picture? Thanks!

Michelle

Dying to Knit ya!

I did it I Finlay did it I dyed my own yarn! It was so fun! I call this colorway Peppermill after the restaurant on the strip! LOL! Gotta go make lunch.

Knitpicks Podcast

Worth listening to, on your IPod, or right off your PC. Does not require I-Tunes.

Motto

"No one expects the stamp collector to actually mail letters with his stamps.
No one expects the coin collector to use his coins in a vending machine for soda.
So why does everyone expect me to use my yarn collection to actually knit something?"

I'm not a yarnoholic; I'm a yarn collector!
***********************************************
I saw this motto on a quilting blog and just had to paraphrase it for us. Isn't it great?

Michelle

Vanna's Choice Yarn

Hey all! I happened to be in the vicinity of a Michael's today so I popped in hoping that they'd have the Vanna's Choice yarn. They did. I really liked the color selection and the yarn was softer than our old standby Red Heart. However, the newer Red Heart Soft Yarn has introduced some new colors that are very close to the Vanna's Choice colors but the RH Soft is softer and you get more yardage for your money. Vanna's Choice 170 yds @ $2.99 and RH Soft 256 yds @ $3.29. Just my opinion, mind you. Thanks, Camille, for letting us know where else to get Vanna's Choice!

While at Michael's I wanted to pick up a teddy bear to try on the little sweaters I've been knitting. I fell for the monkey instead. Here he is with a couple of the RH Soft colors I bought to make more sweaters.

Odds and Ends

So I've managed to get a few small projects done recently. Mostly easy, simple things because I've been on time crunches to get them finished!


I made these "Yellow Brick Road" booties for a baby shower. Quick and easy and they are still my favorite booties to knit and are always a crowd pleaser!

The Simple Baby Cap 2 from Itty Bitty Hats. First time I've actually added the topper to it. I'm not sure about the colors. My husband doesn't like them and my sister does (both non-knitters).

I'm working on Kimberly Chapman's caterpillar, but my daughter loves it and stole it away without a face, legs or antenna! I'm hoping to detail it while she sleeps this week and get a picture up!

Great knit nite tonight!

There were 10 of us at Rejavanate tonight. I think that's the most we've ever had there. I don't know about everyone else but I got a lot done. I finished one sweater and was able to start another one and am just about to put the sleeve stitches on holders and work my way down the body. I was working with TLC Essentials worsted weight on size 5 needles but I really like the drape and gauge I'm getting with this LB Wool-Ease on the same needles. These teddy bear sweaters are so simple and quick. I'm wondering just how big these teddy bears are that the sweaters are supposed to fit. I'll have to go back to the website and see if they give dimensions.

Has anyone tried Vanna White's new yarn for LionBrand? Is is available here in Vegas yet?

Michelle
www.mikknits.blogspot.com

New sweaters

Finished my NY Giants sweater and made a matching scarf but didn't take a picture yet. Working on the chocolate cherry one now. If I don't finish it tonight, I'll bring it to knit nite. Hope to see some new faces there!

Any other football fans out there?

I just found this group and joined. It is a knit along for football fans. Right now they're having a pre-season charity knit along for Cubs For Kids. I've been having a hard time knitting anything in this heat. Granted, our house is always cool, but I haven't had much motivation until now. I've already finished my first sweater (in my son's HS team colors) for the charity and started another one tonight in New York Giants colors. They're super fast and super easy! Patterns are included on the website.

Another quilt top finished today. Still have to complete it but I always look forward to sewing on the binding. Picture on my blog.

Keep cool & happy knitting!
Michelle

Felted KIP Bag

Hey all,

Just wanted to show you the new bag I cranked out this week. I REALLY love it. And for fudging alot of the numbers....it turned out exactly as I wanted it to. Let me have your comments/criticisms.
With love, Angela

Buggers!

Well I finished this little guy up a while back, but I've been lazy about blogging. I've wanted to make this for a long time. I got the pattern from Kimberly Chapman and it turned out so cute! I used the colors from the baby Einstein Caterpillar. Now everyone wants me to make them one. I'm working on one about 4 times as big as this one turned out for my 3 year old. It has no face or feet but he still carries it around everywhere and shows it to everyone. As soon as I can sneak it away from him at night to sew on a face I'll post pictures. I made this little one for my cousin in law's new baby girl. I put a rattle inside. Yay! Thanks Kimberly!

New Member-Angela

Hello Everyone,

I just found your group last week and am so excited to finally find a knitting group here in Vegas.

We're a military family that just (lol - Aug of last year) came back to the states from Germany. (I miss the yarn....$18 for German sock yarn at Gail Knits is insane! I understand why it's so high...but....well, you know)

I started knitting a few years ago and consider myself an advanced beginner.

Anything else you'd like to know? Please ask me. I have few (if any) secrets.

With love, Angela

Here's my latest project. A mobius wrap with two kinds of novelty yarn.

Embarrassed

I'm embarrassed to say that I have no new knitting to report. In fact, I'm still working on the same pair of socks I started back in May. They are my "car knitting" socks and need the heels turned. I'm working on both of them at once on one long circular needle using the magic loop technique. I haven't had much time in the car to turn heels, which need my concentration since I use short row heels. Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with knitting wool in the summer? It's just too hot and it doesn't slip through my fingers nicely. When I'm in the house, I could be working in them but I have been doing more and more sewing lately. I completed my first non-rag quilt and though it's not perfect, I'm proud of it. Details are on my blog if anyone wants to see it.

Until later,
Michelle
www.mikknits.blogspot.com

Finally! Knitting content for me!

Vanesa, great job on your sock! I, too, am working on a pair of socks. Just got the first sock done this evening and the second one is almost to the end of the toe increases (I knit mine toe up). I belong to the Sock A Month 3 KAL but have been neglecting my knitting in order to crochet on my ripple afghans and fat bottom bags. It sure was nice to knit again, but I'm really racing to beat the clock on this one as the mate is due tomorrow! Wish me luck! Will post picture of the finished pair.

Sockalicious!

Yay my first sock ever! I used Lucia's sockulator. I even did a seamless kitchener's stitch on the toe with help from the stitch and bitch book. More info about the sock can be found on my blog. ;) The rest of the pictures are on our group flick page. Have a nice day!

Hi everyone! Sorry no new knitting progress, yet.

I have been a bit obsessed by the Fat Bottom Bag from the Stitch N Bitch Happy Hooker book. They are crocheted. I have made 5 in the past week or so and am now working on my 6th. Just so we have some pictures to look at I'll put up a couple here. Otherwise they're on my blog. I have, however, been thinking of making a knitted version of this bag. If I am able to do that, I'd let you know. Of course, I wouldn't be able to crank one out in a day since I'm a much slower knitter than crocheter. We'll see!





But then just this morning I realized that I have a week to finish a pair of socks for the Sock A Month 3 KAL that I belong to. I just bought a skein of Trekking XXL at the beginning of the month from Nancy's Quilt Shop in a beautiful orange/red that would work nicely. I guess I've got to put away the Fat Bottoms for awhile, huh?

Projects

I'll save space on the blog here. Come visit my blog @ http://darkinnknits.blogspot.com/ and see what I recently posted.

The Bunny is done!

Here he is all finished. I put a bow on him and sent him off to his new owner in Philly!

MIA

Hello everyone! It's been a while. I have a few pics to chare. They aren't of a newly finished object, but I've never posted pics of it and I think my son is totaly cute in the hat. :) It's the London Beanie pattern and I knit it up with a lighter worsted weight yarn and smaller needles than the pattern called for therefore creating a preschooler sized version of the original. Clever you say? Well you could say that. ;)



Looking forward to seeing everyone. ;)

Yay! I'm on!

Hi everyone! Sorry we haven't met "IRL"... but here I am! :-) Looking forward to seeing everyone's pics!

Just finished this Fiber Trends bunny. He is now felted -- pictures to follow!

Here we go! First post on our new blog

Hi guys! I've been toying with this idea for awhile now but from maintaining my own blog, I know that this is a lot of work to upkeep. I'm hoping with the new Blogger it will be a bit easier.

I've been doing a bit more crocheting than knitting lately because I've been addicted to the No-End-In-Sight-Ripple-Along and have even posted a couple of my own patterns to the group. I haven't been this excited about crocheting in a long time.



Problem is, however, I also belong to the Sock A Month 3 (SAM3) Knitalong and have to complete a pair of socks by the end of the month. I started one sock at the east side knit nite and finished it the next day. Since then I have been too involved in my rippling to start the other one. I figure that I can devote one more day to complete the pair. Oh, did I mention that I'm kind of cheating? I'm making these socks with worsted weight yarn on size 4 needles. Hey, they're socks!! No one said they have to be made on size 1 needles.

I can't wait to see the rest of you guys post to our group blog and see what kinds of things you are working on. Please make sure you send me your email addresses so I can send you an invite! Also, please send me your blog addresses if you have one.

Michelle