FO: Cheery Scrap Hat

Even though it's obvious this hat wasn't knit for LZ, I couldn't resist putting it on him to model. He never looked so cute in pink hearts!

Knit in two nights, this was a fun, quick and addicting hat to make.

Another great pattern designed by Kate Oates of Tot Toppers. And you won't believe this… it's a FREE pattern found HERE through Petite Purls.

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Pattern Source: Cheery Scrap Hat
Yarn: Berroco, Vintage
Notes: More details at my Ravelry link HERE

FPK Knit-A-Long

Have you seen the awesome, free pattern FPK wrote up for her Anthropologie-inspired Plaited Headwrap? If you haven't you can find the free pattern HERE. Being that I love everything from Anthropologie and love everything knitty I of course had to make this. Plus, there is a KAL going on - join me, won't you?


So far it is going fast. I casted on with some beautiful Plucky yarn left over from my Eternity Scarf (love burning that stash!) and in two evenings I finished the looong piece of stocking knit. Now for the magic of braiding this together. Hope to have an FO to show you soon!

Cast On STAT

The lovely Michigan weather went from 60°s and sunny yesterday to snow flurrys and 40°s for tomorrow. Since I'm walking the 5k in my local St. Patty's Day Parade I need a scarf STAT!


Luckily, I have the perfect shade of green in my stash and found the perfect pattern. Now I just need WZ to take a perfectly long nap!

Tuva

Yup! It's a hat.


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Pattern Source: Slouched Tuva Hat pattern, FREE from Turvid
Yarn: Yarn from The Plucky Knitter/ Merino Cashmere Nylon Worsted Weight, color way Honey Wilkes
Needles: size 7 and 8
Ravelry Link: HERE
Notes: I knitted this is worsted instead of the DK the pattern calls for. I liked the way it turned out. I didn't alter the pattern at all this time but if I were to knit with worsted again I think I'd cast on for less stitches (maybe 20) and increase into the first pattern round to get the required number of stitches for the rest of the hat.

Cable Comfort Throw

Finally an FO! Well, actually when I showed you the 'sneak peek' it was already done. I had to wait to post about it because it was a gift for a dear friend on her wedding day.


The only downfall to this project was that, in my opinion, it didn't turn out big enough. If I ever do this again I think I'd do at least 2 extra panels and also add 2 more cable rounds to the width. (note to self: each panel took about 1.25 skeins)


In the beginning I wasn't sure if I wanted to knit this in panels like the pattern requested or if I wanted to cast on for them all at once to avoid all that seaming. I did ended up doing the panels separate and it worked out well for me. I seamed them as I went and I actually enjoyed it.

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Pattern Source: Cable Comfort Throw (FREE pattern)
Yarn: Wool-Ease, Thick & Quick
Needles: size 13
Raveled: HERE

And Another One

I crocheted another one like this, but this pattern is different. I liked crocheting the clusters on this one better.


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Pattern Source: Granny Skull Cap
Yarn:Berroco, Ultra Alpaca
Hook: 6
Size: one size
Ravelry: my project page is HERE

Rocky Felicity

I finished another Felicity in another fabulous Plucky colorway - Rock Road.


I'm still lovin' this pattern. This one I made in a needle size up from my last one and I think I'm going to go yet another needle size up in my next one - I want more slouch!



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Pattern Source: Felicity hat (FREE pattern)
Yarn: 80/10/10 worsted weight yarn from The Plucky Knitter, colorway, Rocky Road
Needles: 7s and 8s
Size: one size
Raveled: HERE

Miss O And Molly Monkey

I wanted to plan one more crafty day with Miss O before I pop. When I asked her what she'd like to make she said 'A Monkey'.

Luckly, a few googled words later and we found this sweet, free pattern for Molly Monkey.

Miss O and I went to town. She picked out the fabrics and did the stuffing, while I cut out the pieces and did the sewing - we made quite a team. We didn't include everything that the pattern has in it because we were pressed for time. No complaints though because it turned out very sweet and she was very happy - so was I!

Cuddly Critters

Did you all see the Winter 2009 issue of Liondesign. You know, the catalog from Lion Brand? It's a free catalog to sign up for. Anyway, aren't these knitted (and crocheted) critters so stinking cute!? I have to get to them sometime soon. I want to try the Giraffe for sure, and the Owl and the Octopus and, oh gosh, they are all so cute!


If you gotta make these like I do, they're free patterns and you can find them here. Have fun!

Baby Set In Alpaca

Here's a cute baby set that I was finally able to give to the mother.


The blue Berroco, Ultra Alpaca from my stash was perfect for a baby boy and really knits up nice. After blocking, it's even better. Love this yarn.

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Pattern Source: It's a FREE ONE - The Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss that you can find here
Yarn: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca
Notes: The hat was just a pattern that I made up. A simple straight hat based of the measurements from the very handy The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes and Gauges

Bird In Hand

Miss O came to visit again and as usual we found ourselves in the laundry room craft room.


She likes to collect my fabric scraps so I save them for her and wouldn't you know it, she had some scraps perfect for making another bird to match this one.

Just love my crafting time with Miss O - need to do it more often!

My Miss Dashwood

How could you not love this pattern? I mean the bobble row was a bit of a pain for me and I actually almost quit twice but I'm so glad I stuck with it!


Thanks again Delia for suggesting it!

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Pattern Source: "Miss Dashwood"
from Knitty
Yarn: Reynolds, Saucy
Needles: 5s
Size: Newborn
Notes: The p4tbl stitch for the bobbles was a pain (but totally worth it) I think next time I'll use metal needles so I don't have to worry about snapping my bamboo needles.

Cowl No. 1

Yes, I have totally joined the cowl craze that is taking over the knitting world and I'm lovin' it! I think I need to join this Flickr group to make it official and become a  Cowlgirl!) 

This is the first of many to come. It's the Purl's Cashmere Cowl Pattern and it's a FREE one!


Very simple and very cute - looks cute with my butterfly pin too.



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Pattern Source: "Purl's Cashmere Cowl" FREE from Purl Soho
Yarn: It is some wonderful hand-dyed yarn from The Plucky Knitter - one of the skeins from the package that I got from her - I think it might have been called "The Plucky Knitter BFL Fingering" - 400 yrds to the skein so I will have enough to make another for sure.
Needles: I think they were my 10 1/2, 16 inch circulars???

A Pin Cushion

This project has been sitting on my craft table half finished forever. I got a little bit of sewing time yesterday so I thought I'd get around to finishing it.


It's the Easy Pin Cushion, free from Bari J. Great way to use up scraps. These fabrics scraps were from my mom's stash from years ago, kind of retro looking - actually the fabric brings back lots of memories from my moms crafting and me always stealing borrowing fabric, yarn and whatever else I could get my crafty little hands on.

These would make cute little gifts too don't you think? I think every girl needs a pin cushion - even if you don't sew! Oooo, one done with these would be very sweet as well.

Thanks for the pattern Bari J!

Never Thought I Would…

…but I did!


Yup, I knit a thong and had a very good reason for it! I spent my weekend at a bachelorette party for a dear friend and each girl was to bring a pair of panties for the bride-to-be that would reflect our personality and then the bride had to guess who each pair was from (and of course get punished with a jello shot for every wrong guess). It was so funny! She had no problem guessing what pair was from me!


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Pattern Source: This is a free pattern from Interweave, "Lacy Thong" get the pdf here
Yarn: Berroco, Touché
Needles: size 7
Size: sm
Notes: I didn't do the lace detail and kept it stocking knit for an even quicker knit.

Hat For Mitch

As soon as I came home with my yummy merino I casted on for this hat. It's a perfect ribbed hat and the yarn looks great in it. Plus, the pattern is FREE! I think my nephew will love!


Pattern Source: "A Hat Fit for a Boyfriend" FREE pattern from Stephanie Likes to Knit
Yarn: about 1.25 skeins of di.Ve' Autunno
Needles: size 6
Size: s-m adult
Notes: Cable cast on is a must! I usually just do long-tail cast on but the cable cast on sure gives a nicer, tighter and cleaner edge to the hat. -- also, next time I'm going to knit it a big longer, probably like 6.5 inches before the decrease so it covers the ears.

Olivia Tote

When I saw this fabric at my LFS I had to buy it. I had to make a tote for my niece Olivia. I mean come on, it has her name written all over it, for real!


(hey, my shirt matches)


I embroidered her a little note on the inside pocket too…



*If anyone else is interested I think the fabric line is called ANDOVER OLIVIA if you would like to google it to try to find an online shop. The whole line of designs for this fabric is based on Olivia The Piglet and is completely adorable! Actually, try this link too see what you can find.

*For the tote, I based the construction on this tutorial from Super Eggplant

Head First!

When it comes to knitting Christmas gifts every year I play the same game with myself. First I say I need to start Christmas knitting (at least) by October, and then I decide I'm not going to knit any gifts and then by the time Thanksgiving comes and goes all of a sudden I get a fire under my needles and get all kinds of big ideas for knitted gifts! So despite being off to a late start I'm diving into Christmas knitting head first with this great free pattern from Knitty.

This is the most color work I've ever done - not much I know - usually I stray away from color work because it seems complicated, but this was easy and fun to do. Just as long as I kept my tension everything worked out great.


DH ended up stealing this one. That's OK though, it's a perfect fit for him. Now I just need to get knitting more so I have them in time for Christmas!

Pattern Source: Swell free from Knitty
Yarn: Lana Grossa, Royal Tweed, 1 skein each color. The yarn was from my stash and I LOVE the way it worked up.
Needles: size 7s
Size: small
Gauge: 4 sts per inch / 6 rows per inch
Notes: Took a bit for me to master the right gauge for my yarn and after a few trial runs I did. First time making twisted rope tassels like this and I love them! Fiddled with the pattern a little too. I started the color work after 6 rows and then worked 12 rows after color work before decreasing (If you are making this pattern you'll know where I mean).

Coffee Coozie

I found this free knit from the blog of MK Carroll. It's her Mug and French Press Jacket pattern and it can be found here.

This was a quick knit for sure! First time I ever did a smocking pattern and I loved it! I must do this stitch pattern again. Love the texture!

I decided to knit the this in the round from the top down. I made it for a to-go coffee mug (so no openings needed for a handle) -- If you are a Ravelry member go check out the one gumboots did. I followed her instructions for the top down method and it worked out great!It's also is nice to use as a coozie for a mason jar and then use it hold your hooks, scissors, pens or whatever you want!Pattern Source: MK Carroll's, Mug and French Press Jacket
Yarn: Filtes-King Extra, 100% Merino Wool
Needles: Size 7s (16 inch circulars and DPNs)

Coachell-A-Licious!

I'm very happy with how my Coachella turned out. The Metallic FX (which was from my stash - Yay!) almost looks like body armour or something. It's a dull/sparkly finish and I think it's pretty cool, especially for a night out on the town. Unfortunately my racer-back bra still showed (a lot) under this top. I do have a solution though, I'm wearing a long tub top under it here and I really like the way it looks and I still feel comfortable - let's face it, the Metallic yarn agaist the skin doesn't feel the best!

If I did this again I might try to work it on a larger needle (just one size up) so I would have more room and maybe get more drap, and like I told Tina, I would probably do it in a bamboo because that type of yarn really does give you a nice soft drap.

Pattern: Coachella
Source: Knitty
Yarn: 5 skeins of Berroco, Metallic FX
Notes: I didn't do the optional bust shaping. I probably would have had more drap if I did.