Snowman Hat

Easy Lacy Girly Hat -- I WON!

This hat is hands down the most gorgeous item I've ever knitted. I love it! In fact, I loved the pattern so much that I had to frog and start over 4 times before it finally stuck. This was my first lace pattern and I kept forgetting the yarn overs and thus dropped stitches all over the place. It really is an easy pattern, it just took me A LOT of concentration because it was easy to get lost.

This is knit in Pattons Wool on size 6 needles in the child size and it is WAY too long! I should have stopped around 6.5 inches (it is close to 8 as per the pattern).

Alice Wrist Warmers

I knitted these for a friend in exchange for some baby-sitting -- the best swap EVER! The pattern is based on a character from Twilight according to the pattern here. Yarn is Lion Brand Wool-Ease.

Super easy, but the thumb hole directions are a tad confusing (just very poorly written).

Christmas Bell

My mom sent me a box full of old knitting and crafting magazines and pattern books from the 60's, 70's and 80's. It has been a lot of fun sorting through them! Amongst the rubble I found a (somewhat vague) pattern for knitted Christmas bells. In fact, I found the same exact pattern FOUR TIMES. I guess my mom really liked it!

I knit one and it is super cute, quick and easy.






Christmas Bell

Use any needle and yarn.

Cast on 14 stitches leaving a 6" tail for sewing.

Row 1: Knit 10, purl 4
Row 2: Knit

Repeat rows until there are 22 ridges (44 rows). Bind off leaving a 12" tail for sewing.

Sew together cast on and bind off edges on wrong side. Sew together top of bell using the cast off tail by weaving through every other stitch and pulling tight. String bell on to tail. Thread tail through to right side and crochet a hanger or leave a loop and secure on wrong side of bell.

Mitered Hanging Towel

I am making these to match the dish rags. LOVE this towel! Not as quick to knit as a dish rag, but the end result is worth it. It still needs its button.

Dishclothes

I can't stop making them. Seriously. I think it is because they take about 2 hours from start to finish -- instant gratification. I can't decide whether to give them away, open an Etsy shop or sell them at a craft bazaar this Fall/Winter. It's a good thing I have a gigantic stash of cotton yarn! The pattern is here. I get impatient and knit 38 rows before I start decreasing. Sad.

(And yes, I still have to weave in the ends)

Sue's Palindrome Scarf

I made this Palindrome Scarf for my sister-in-law, Sue. It Cascade 220 Heather (don't remember the color). I love it! The Palindrome is basically a reversible Irish Hiking Scarf. It knit up into a nice hefty scarf.

My First Sweater?

I have yet to knit a "real" sweater. I have only managed to accomplish the Mason-Dixie Baby Kimono. The new Knitty is out and oh my, I am in love with the Steggie! I'm thinking my little man may need one to grow in to! The best part is that at only 3 months, he has LOTS of time to grow so if it is too big, we can just use it later. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to make it too small so pretty much this is a no-fail option for my first sweater!

Grandma's Dishcloth

This is not technically my first dishcloth, but it is the first one I like! It is also the FIRST THING I have made that I am keeping or myself!

Yarn is Lily Sugar N Cream Stripes and size 10 needles. I think it used about half the ball. I've already cast on another!

The pattern:
Cast on 4 stitches
K1 YO knit to end of row
Repeat until you have 40-50 stitches
K1 K2TOG YO K2TOG Knit to end of row
Until you have 4 stitches
Bind off.

Seriously it is THAT easy. It only took me a few hours!

Late Christmas Present!

I can't wait to try them out!

I can't wait to try them out!

Cappuccino Cupcake Hat

Knit in an attempt to see if a baby boy could wear a cupcake hat. I don't think so. I'll add some sparkles to the frosting and call it good for a girl!

Same pattern and yarn as here. I altered the pattern and rather than casting on 80, I'm guessing I cast on about 50??? I don't know, I can't remember! It's just a smaller version.

Teeny Tiny Santa Hat

Knit in the round (rather than flat). Hoping it isn't still too big for a tiny head! Pattern is found here. Yarn is Caron Simply Soft (white) and Lion Brand Wool-Ease (red). Pom pom is out of some white acrylic in stash.

I Knit!

Well, actually, I crocheted... 6 tiny scarves in an attempt to finish a little girl's stocking before Christmas. Just an I-Cord and two snowmen and it's all ready to go. I actually knit it 2 years ago, but Baby 2 ended up being a boy and pink was not acceptable on his stocking! Thankfully, Baby 3 is a girl and she is the lucky recipient of this pretty piece.

And now I'm thinking of whipping up a tiny newborn santa hat....

Crochet Doodle

My friend (we met as college roommates our freshman year) has started a crochet blog and her projects are just gorgeous! It has spurred me to pick up my needles again (now that I'm not nauseated constantly) and finish a sweater/bootie/hat set for Baby Gabel to wear home from the hospital.

You can check out Maria's blog Crochet Doodle here!

Finished: Pink Cupcake

It is just too cute! It was very quick and easy. The most frustrating part was the pom pom. This was my first and what a pain! I need to find a different method.... I am still sewing on beads as sprinkles.

Cupcake Hat

I found this Cupcake Hat pattern and just about died -- it is so adorable! I cast one on immediately without anyone in mind for it. Then we received an invite to a 1 year birthday party in a few weeks for which this will be perfect! Not that we use hats that often in Vegas, but this baby is on the balder side so she'll use it for a while and can save it for next winter.

Do you think a boy could wear one if it was done in "boy" colors? My DH thinks if I did a chocolate cupcake with white frosting, a boy could definitely wear it. His opinion surprised me -- I thought he'd be totally against a boy wearing a cupcake! Thoughts?

Edited (Dec 4, 2008): the pattern is linked above!

Pattern (and a completed photo if you want to see how cute it is!) can be found here.

Alligator Scarf

It's done! Very cute, very easy and fairly quick. Switching to 7s didn't seem to make a difference.

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.

Off it goes to its intended recipient....

I love this!

Morehouse Farms Baby Alligator Scarf... for a couple of little alligators in my life! I opted to switch out the 100% hand wash only wool that came with the kit for Lion Brand Wool Ease -- much better for toddler use! I started on a size 6 needles, but I just switched to 7. It seemed a bit tight on the 6s and the increases were killer.

Log Cabin Knitting

I'm working on my first log cabin blankie. I looked at a lot of projects on Ravelry for color ideas. One of my favorite ideas is to make each log cabin strip out of a different stitch pattern. The blankets turn out beautifully! So I got myself an inexpensive stitch pattern dictionary... and away I go! That gray stripe on the right is a stockinette with a "curl" every so often -- I think I'll avoid stockinette for the rest of the blanket. Of course the edges curl and the fabric is much bigger than the other patterns. We'll see how it goes when I get all the edges worked in.

I didn't want to invest $100 in yarn (even for a kid sized version!) and I wanted it to be washable for mom. After reading reviews on either Ravelry or Knitter's Review (can't remember which) I decided to try Lion Brand Wool Ease. Many knitters like it and it seems last longer without pilling badly. So far, it has knit up very nicely.

What Kind of Yarn are You?

Mohair – A smooth, polished surface
“Mohair is warmer than wool, with larger, flatter scales that contribute to an overall silky-smooth appearance. The fiber absorbs dye readily and, thanks to that smooth surface, reflects it back brilliantly.” –The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Mohairs are positive and confident. You always strive to make a good first impression because you are a proud person, and you care a good deal about what people think of you. You are careful with your words and are always tactful. You enjoy having a broad base of support and respect from those whom you come in contact. You attract this with your warm, sunny, and inquisitive personality.