What have you done for me lately?

So it's Tuesday and I still haven't posted anything over here.....sorry.

One of my many reasons is that I don't have my camera cord to download pictures to the computer. So all the pictures I have are taken with my phone. Which doesn't take bad pictures but it's still not the same.

Good news I did finish my MIL's shawl in time for her visit in February. No pictures of that though. Even my phone was acting up then. I will ask her to take one and send it to me. It came out pretty cute if i say so myself. I might just make myself one for wrapping up in around the house.

I did make my first purse a little while back.I used Patton's "pooch" in black. It knits up so fast and fluffy that I knew it would be perfect for a purse. Plus I got in on sale at you know where....my favorite store.

I have been knitting washcloths like crazy. The yarn is cheap, the project is very portable and they are very practical. Even the Husband likes his....I made him some in black and gold, very manly colors. I checked out a book of stitches and used the washcloths to practice them on. That way, if the stitch was too hard or just a pain in the ass I wouldn't have to do it for to long. So here is the first of several pictures I will be posting over the next few days. Thanks for being soooo very patient.

Chocolate Ribs Hat

made this for my sister;s boyfriend for Christmas and just blogged it here.

It's a Girl

So my sister has had her baby and we finally know it's a Girl! yay! So I immediately knitted her up a few girly things and she is only a couple weeks old. Of course before she was born I knitted her a nice gender neutral Big Bad Baby blankie from Stitch and Bitch. I used blue sky alpacas organic cotton in the color sand.
 

Next I used the  left overs to knit the baby bolero from  the book One Skein for her. This was a fun project because I learned and  practiced some new skills. My first set in sleeves ever! Practiced and I think perfected the mattress stitch. And now I feel ready to tackle a bigger sweater. It all wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Of course all babies must get the One Peice Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting.


=
And a matching hat



I also made the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road booties with the same yarn but they fall off right now because her ankles are a lot smaller than the pattern has you make them. So I improved on them for some shoes to match her easter dress. I left off the T strap and used a ribbon to tie them on like little mary janes everyone at Easter Lunch thought they were soooo cute.



I haven't gotten so many comments and favorites for a picture on flickr on something in a really long time, but for some reason I have gotten no response on Ravelry... Interesting. Maybe because it's such a bad picture.

My sister took the pictures of the baby with her nice camera, I took the pictures of the shoes with a video camera so getting the lighting right is hard.
Camera news! If you have been reading the blog you may have noticed me mention my camera being broken and my struggle with getting it fixed. Well my husband with his powers of persuasion finally got Sears to pay to have the camera fixed because we paid for and extended warranty and they were trying to claim the repair wasn't covered but it is now! So woohoo. When I checked the Nikon website last night it said the camera was in the shop so it should ship to me soon. Silly repair just the little latch to hold the battery in broke off! $109.oo bucks to fix it! Ridiculous! Oh well it's on Sears's book now. I can't wait to get my camera back I love love love my camera it is a wonderful and magical camera!
So long for now. More knitting to come. I've been a busy little knitting bee.

Happy Easter!

It's not Easter without a Peep!

Alligator Scarf

Just finished the Morehouse Farms Baby Alligator Scarf. It's going to a toddler so I switched out the 100% wool yarn for Lion Brand's Wool-Ease so it can be machine washed. I started on 6s for the head, but found it a bit tight so switched to 7s. Quick, easy and cute!

I'm not too thrilled with Morehouse Farms. You have to buy the kit to get the pattern (and I didn't use the yarn) and the only send the pattern for the kit you buy (child or adult). Now, I can figure out how to make it bigger, but give me a break. I wish they'd just print them both and send them. $17 for a pattern and yarn is a bit steep, if you ask me. I love their stuff and would've definitely done business with them again if I didn't feel like they were nickel and diming me.

Sinknitty's Jaywalker

Made my first pair of jaywalkers. If you want to knit socks and like a simple pattern this one works out very well. I made some changes to the way the gusset decreases are done to tidy it up a bi and it turned out really well. Details are on my blog Sinknitty and now the pic!



Also can find these in my Ravelry finished projects. ;) Ravelry Sinknitty

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!
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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