Here's a washcloth from the pattern listed at the top as a bib.

Easter basket for Xander.  Not too impressed with this because the felting didn't work well.  Its been through about 5 cycles and stitches are still quiet visable and its not real stiff, just appears that way in the pic because its supported by the balls of yarn inside it. ETA: I also made a smaller basket for Alison for easter.  Its just the right size for a little bowl of jelly beans inside!  I've already put it away for the season, but if I have time I'll take it out to post a picture.  It was made from the same varigated yarn double stranded with a smiliar yellow malabrigio yarn and it felted very nicely.

Mini Tote for mom- used Knit Picks Shamrock in Reilly.  It felted REALLY nicely.  I couldn't be happier with the way it felted, wish I had done a longer flap, but once the magnetic snap was in it looked better and she says its how she want it!  ETA:  I also made one in a "booga bag" style for my sister.  I took pictures with my parent's camera since I finished it at their house.  I will post when I can get a copy of the pic.

Before felting:

After felting (used 3 DVD's inside to shape while drying, did also put in a magnetic snap later):

July 1: Here's a blurry picture of the one for my sister... finally posted pics!

 Alison's Easter Dress!  From the slipover dress pattern in Louisa Harding's Natural Knits for Babies and Moms book.

And it wouldn't be much of a show and tell without pics of a cutie wearing the dress!

Apron top from LTK size 0-6 mo.  I altered the pattern by doing garter stitch around the edges instead of crocheting.  I used cotton ease and really liked working with that.  One skien was enough for two tops in this size and plenty left for headbands and probably belts- perhaps enough for another top entirely but I'm not willing to risk it and run out part way!   Took less than a day.  I actually made two within 48 hours, the other has fewer flaws and the whole top part is garter, not just the last few rows.  Notice on the right side (well, technically its the left arm, but right side of pic!) by the armpit I started to continue the garter pattern for a couple rows before I realized it....oopsie.  Still looks cute though!  Oh yes, and that IS my toe in the corner of the picture :)

ETA: Here's another picture of here wearing this top at 6 months old (picture taken in July)

April 30 (figured I should start adding dates to these entries!)

To go with the apron top above I used the pattern from the Debbie Bliss Simply Baby book for a little shrug/cardigan sweater. Made from the same cotton ease as above, but in white so it will also go with her dedication dress.  I modified the pattern to put some ruffles around the sleeves and edges instead... you know me, I can't follow a pattern exactly- it needs to be customized :)  I just did knit in front and in back of every stitch for the first row, p, k, p, bo for the remaining rows.  While the guage is right on, because I used a thinner yarn the sweater does appear a little more airy than the picture in the book... but again, I prefer to be a little unique (and have a little more durable garment that can be washed more often!!)

The hilarious part is I just put the sweater on her and the sleeves are about 3 inches too long!  I did make it a bigger size and blocked to measurements, but alas, the sleeves must be rolled!  I think I'm going to also add a crochet chain tie since this sweater doesn't have one in the pattern, but I prefer something to keep it together in the front and a little bow might just "tie" it all together nicely :)

May 2, 2007

Here's a couple pics of some sock yarn I dyed myself.  My original plan was to try to make self striping, but I realized quite quickly that I was just going to make myself a giant tangled mess if I did that and being as this WAS my first attempt at dying I figured I better be safe and just do something varigated instead.  I'm quite happy with the results.  I was hoping for it to be a bit more blue and less green/turquoise, but this is going to work just fine as there are some bits of blue.  I used easter egg dye tablets and supplimented with some food coloring (blue and green egg dye, neon blue food coloring).  The yarn is part wool and part silk so it does have just a tad of a sheen to it.  I did knit a few rows just to see what it would look like too :)  My husband was nice enough to ball it up for me, although he did make it into a football shape so that was a bit of a surprise ha ha ha!!

May 4, 2007

Ok, I just had to put in a little note here for my MDC May Magic Ball swap partner... I'm so freaking excited to do this swap I cannot stand it!  As you can see from the wide variety above I have a wide range of interests in the types of things I knit and the types of yarn!  Just know I will be super thrilled with absolutely anything you send me!  I'd love to try new things and new yarns, I know I said preferable natural fibers, but honestly, if its soft and pretty I will use anything :)  Can't wait to see what you come up with!!

May 7, 2007

So, I tried to dye some more yarn.  My plan was to do it orange, yellow, and red.  The result... well, I got the orange and yellow- the red was HOT PINK instead!  So, now I don't know what to do with this stuff.  I was going to make matching hats for the kids, but the pink just won't cut it for Xander.  I knitted up a swatch to check out my striping skills :)  This is my first attempt at striping, so I at least got that part going pretty well.  Now the question is, what to do with this!  I'm gonna felt the swatch (to ensure it'll felt since it was white yarn) if it does felt well I'll have more options.

May 7- PART TWO

Well folks, I attempted to felt this pretty swatch and sadly watched as it turned from a potential knitted critter (I was gonna put eyes on it and somehow make it a critter for Xander) into a pathetic yucky looking dishrag.  All the color washed out and now I'm left with a nasty looking piece of fabric.  Which, didn't felt AT ALL by the way.  So here's what I did to dye it, send me feedback if you have suggestions on what I should have done differently...

I soaked it in cool water and vinegar (a few glugs) for at least a half hour.  I then mixed the food coloring/egg dye with water and vinegar in pots on the stove (cool water) added the yarn, and slowly heated it until it was steaming but not bubbly.  The water was just about clear so I assume it was done and I let the yarn cool, rinsed it really well (water was completely clear- added a bit of dishsoap as well to make sure it all came out.) Then let it dry.  From what I understand this SHOULD have worked right?!  This is 100% wool... not like I tried to dye arcrylic ya know?!?!  Anyway this at least gives me something to test out using procion dyes with to see if it really does eat away at the yarn or what.  I hate that I got this to look so pretty and now I have to worry about it washing out.  What do I do?  Redye it??  Or is it only because of the hot water that it rinsed out?

Saturday May 12, 2007

Here is my latest felting project.  I've actually had the bag done for at least 2 weeks, but the icord was too short so I had to make time to finish it.  I was just being lazy.  But alas, finally finished and cord is felted so now its officially a finished object!  This is for a lady from church, but its a LOT smaller (about half the size) than I had intended so if she decides she doesn't want it I'll just keep it as a project bag.  Its about 9x12 finished size.  Its just a booga bag with a flap.  FYI- the shamrock yarn from knitpicks felts really well and also SHRINKS a lot!  This bag was a lot lot lot bigger before felting (much more than the other ones I've done.)

Friday May 18, 2007

Now the moment we've all been waiting for... HAND SPUN YARN!  Yes, by me.  The first ball is horrible!  I had no clue what I was doing and its super, super chunky.  For the second one I primarily used the park and draft method (using a drop spindle by the way) but I then started sort of predrafting the fibers so I only had small clumps of wool to work with.  The combo of doing those two things let me feel much more in control and I ended up with something thats a heavy worsted to chunky weight.  I also had some fun dying the wool.  The first ball is a grayish purple dyed AFTER it was spun.  The second one I dyed yarn for one of the singles while it was still in the fiber state before spinning.  I used fiber reactive dyes which aren't really intended for wool I guess, but I think it turned out beautifully.  I had it in jars on the stove (double boiler method) for 10 min or so (just salt and dye in the water) then added vinegar for another 10 min.  I turned off the water and had to leave the house so it sat there and cooled for about 4 hours.  The results were brilliant and rich colors.  Next time I'm going to do an all purple one, I really liked how that one looks.  Anyway... here's some pictures!!!

Monday May 21, 2007

I got my magic ball of yarn in the mail today! Here are a couple pictures, but click on this link to see more info!!

Wednesday May 23, 2007

Had to put one of my new yarns to good use and test out that coveted octapus pattern.  I am terrible at embroidery so no face on it yet, but perhaps later.  Xander says its his, but I made it for Ali.  They both like it.  I planned to use the rest of the super soft bulky merino for something else, but looks like it'll be another octapus.  Might make it a little bigger and put something jingly inside for Ali... haven't decided yet.  I just did a six stitch i-cord for the legs, I am horrible wtih the dpn's for working in the round for the small diameter this pattern called for.

Also finished balling up my latest handspun yarn.  I plan to make a solid coordinating ball as well.  I'm much happier with this yarn.  The plan for this is to fairy it :)

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

I finished this octapus on Sunday actually, just didn't get a chance to take a picture and post it yet.  I have to say, I do happen to be the worlds worst embroiderer, but alas its a children's play thing so who really cares, right?!  This one is for Alison since Xan claimed the other one, which I might add has already gotten lost and is no where to be found.  Over the weekend I also got 3/4 of a purse done using some of the yarn from my magic ball of yarn (the Patons SWS) and nearly finished Alison's kimono sweater.  I hope to have her sweater done by the end of the week.  I'll then try to finish the teddy bear for Christine, afterall she is due this week... and then I'll go back to the purse so it'll be a while before that gets finished. Edited to add on 6/2:  found out Thursday that Christine had her baby a week or two ago!  Uh, Bill (Eric's dad) you're supposed to tell us this stuff!!!  Ok, better get working on that bear.  I was thinking I could enter it and Alison's kimono sweater in the fair if I get them both done in time (2 weeks.)

Wednesday June 6, 2007

Finally another FO to share!  I'm excited that this turned out ok.  It has a LOT of errors but once one they all seem to disappear!  Just don't look too closely.  Yes, the garter stitch on the back has a different number rows than the right front, and the left front is different yet!  I did the shoulder seams inside out (resulting in a raised stitch, but it looks like it was intentional since the garter stitch is on the rest of the garment.) And there are a few strands of yarn that have seperated and been pulled a little.  But again, when its on this cute little girl it seems its all perfect!!  This is from the Louisa Harding Natural Knits for Moms and Babies book.  I used the boy pattern with the front folding the right way for a girl (i.e. omitted picot edges.) Oh yes, and the sleeves, well, lets just say there are some more than minor issues... I didn't do enough increases so they pull at the shoulders and they are VERY long.  But I did do the 12 month size, so perhaps thats why (although the length is NOT long enough for 12 months - in other words the sleeves and body are not proportionate.) 

Would also like to add that I HATE the way this website does pictures.  It puts them full size then for me to resize they all get out of whack (if you can't tell) I try to have it at the right proportions but its not easy!!

Thursday June 14, 2007

 Seems like a long time since an FO, huh?  Well, maybe not to some but for me its been a long time!  OTN right now I have a LTK reglan in the round (a little more than a quarter done), christmas shawl for mom (20% done), birthday socks for mom (1st sock 3/4 done) and I think thats it.  I just finished up the teddy bear for baby Mason.  Here he is!

Wednesday June 20, 2007

Well no new pictures to add today - just a status update.  I got a blue ribbon for the easter dress and a red ribbon for the kimono sweater at the fair.  I'm pretty certain I was the only person to enter in my category hence the two ribbons (ha ha ha- seriously, there really were hardly any entries!) I gave Christine the teddy bear and she loved it.  I really want to do another one.  I'm thinking about re-writing the pattern to half size and make a mini one out of the same pink yarn used in the kimono wrap as I still have about 6 balls left of that yarn. I got done with the first sock for my mom and got about 1/2 way done with the second one- the long drive to the cities helped me find time to do it!  I'm almost done with one arm for the reglan for Xander and well over half the body, and yes, I am doing it out of order.  I started the body first because I needed some mindless knitting and its all just in the round with no shaping yet.  Oh yeah, and I did get done with a block for the charity blanket at MDC about a week ago, just haven't bothered taking pictures of it yet.

I found out I can use my library card at the mhd library so I'm stoked about that!  I already went and got a book.  On their card catelog under knitting patterns they have 172 books vs a total of SIX at the wfgo library!!!

Friday June 29, 2007

Yes, I've been knitting.  And yes, I have things to show for it, just too lazy to upload pictures.  I made a pair of cabled footies for a Christmas gift.  I also finished one of the two seduction socks and am well over half way done with the second sock. I'm also a little over half way done with the shawl.  I've also gotten finished with one arm of the reglan sweater for Xan and the body, but unfortunately I've discovered that the pattern runs small for the arm width and even though my guage is spot on the arm is too small.  So, I have to redo it :(  I'm very discouraged by this.  I posted on MDC about it and it sounds like its kinda a known thing for that pattern, good thing I posted because someone also mentioned making sure the neck hole isn't too small too- that would REALLY stink if it didn't fit over his head!!!  Anyway, I'll get pictures of the footies up soon and hopefully also the seduction socks- I hope they'll be done by the end of the weekend.... or at least end of next week. ETA: pics of footies.

Yippee!  Finally finished the Seduction Socks by Ann Budd (from the interweave knits website.) I used Koigu for these.  It was fun to use.  I think I have enough to make a pair for Alison too.  Now, I just need to decide what to do next for socks.  I want to do 2 at once, but its a matter of if I do 2 of the same so I finish a pair or if I do 1 of two yarns to force me to finish two pair... hmmm.  Maybe I'll start with just two socks at once for Ali.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Finally finished with the raglan sweater for Xan. I ended up using size 11's for the arms vs the 10.5 which gave me guage.  The first sleeve (which happens to be mysteriously missing) was very snug and since I was doing the sweater 2 sizes bigger for him to grow into I figured I better do wider arms.  I also made sure the neck hole was about 8 stitches wider than the pattern called for because I figure he'll always have an undershirt on with it anyway so no biggie if the neck is loose.  I hate weaving in ends, so while some are woven, most are just tied off.  I know- bad me.  I used Rowan Polar yarn (wool/alpaca/arcyrlic).  Without further ado my dirty faced kid donning his new sweater in 98 degree weather (good thing we're in air-conditioning):

Friday, July 6, 2007

Several weeks ago we did a project swap at MDC and I didn't want to post pics of what I made then because I didn't want to ruin the surprise for my buddy, then forgot to put them up after she got it!  I made a machine knitted purse (hand knitted edging), lined it, and added handles.  This was my first attempt at lining a purse, I think next time I need to take better measurements rather than eye-balling it, but overall I was happy.  This was with Paton's SWS.  I actually had done almost the whole thing hand knit and realized it was MUCH too wide (it was like 120 st and only 6 inches high when I realized I was running out of yarn.)  So I had to frog the whole thing, it was a sad day... which is why I got mad and just did it by machine!  But in the end, I'm much happier with the result and I didn't have to buy more yarn to finish it!!

I've also been busy making stitch markers and pattern counters.  I had a credit at the bead store in Brainerd so I went in and got a ton of beads which I didn't know what I was going to do with them.  I'm gonna either try to sell these or give them as Christmas gifts.  The blue/clear markers I gave to Debbie (my pastor's wife) last night at knitting because she had mentioned on Wednesday that she didn't like what she was using because they were too big for the rings (hmm, seems that picture is missing- you'll have to use your imagination it was a set of four).  Who knows, maybe the dangly will be bothersome too, but I think they are awefully pretty!  They are real swavarski crystal (i.e. expensive) and most are on sterling silver.  I ran out of some rings, so some of the rings are nickel.  I've made a couple other sets of 2/4 and also 2 other pattern counters, but they're either in use or not sure where they are....

Again, I hate the image add feature on this site, I cannot appropriately control the height/width, so if these look wonky to you just pretend they are at the right ratio :)

Above: a green/blue with clear (my favorite); green and purple (reminds me of Terry);  pink and light green (reminds me of Jasmine)

Below: two shades of blue, set of two; purple and clear with an extra ring to make them dangle more, set of two (the first pair I made)

And here is the progress on my mom's shawl.  I have to add the next ball of yarn now, I only have the one left.  So its two-thirds done.  I thought I had a fourth ball of this yarn (Malabrigio) but apparently not, because I've searched everywhere including emptying out my stash drawers and cabinet and cannot find anymore.  It'll be long enough I'm sure, I mainly wanted something for her to be able to throw over her shoulders when she has her dress up night on cruises and when dad get the AC going too high in the truck.  I'm using the wave and shell pattern from knitlist.  Its apparently a variation of the feather and fan, but I've never done that particular pattern before so I can't say how similar/different it is.  I'm doing it on 13's so its pretty dang loose, but I'm happy with that because its making the yarn go further and it gives it a nice drape.

Sunday July 8, 2007

On Thursday at knitting I cast on and knit 1 row of these socks below, got finished with them on the way home from church today, so only really took like 2 1/2 days to make them!  They are a light worsted weight I got from last month's swap and I knit them up on 5's which explains how I was able to do them so fast.  Plus, the leg part is very short, crew length, because I wasn't sure how much yarn I actually had and didn't want to risk running out.  Turns out I probably have enough for another pair even (well, almost!) So I'm gonna get something coordinating and make another pair later.  They are comfy and fit well :)

Mmmm, and they taste good too

Monday July 9, 2007

Is this not the cutest outfit ever?!  I got this from cinnamonamon on MDC from our swap.  It fits so perfectly and is so friggin' adorable.  I HAVE to get these patterns!!!!