A Great In"Vest"ment

The weather is starting to turn colder, but who cares when you can don this great vest. 

It's a simple vest pattern from Plymouth Yarns. It was knit entirely in one piece and turned out to be quite simple. I love the yarn, also from Plymouth worsted, with the green, brown and black colors running throughout. 

The buttons were purchased at The Yarn Barn in Woodbridge, CT where the selection is great. 

This vest can be either dressed up with a pair of slacks or dressed down with a pair of dark or black jeans. I can see making this again with another brighter color.

Hot Sox - Part Deux

The second edition of the Hot Sox Project by Tofutsies. These colors blended together are great. They are perfect to wear with a pair of jeans and a denim shirt. 

As usual, the picture doesn't do the colors justice, but they look great. I used the pattern that came with the yarn. The only variation was that I didn't do the separate pocket for the big toe. I don't wear socks with flip flops (who does?). The pattern is a simple, easy to follow right twist, but if I were to do this again, I wouldn't continue the pattern for the heel flap. It makes casting on the gusset stitches a bear.

I can't wait for the next installment.

A Gift from an Angel

 

Nobody wants summer to end. Unless, of course, you have great socks like these. I received these beautful, soft socks from my "Pay it Forward" angel Cheryl, aka "Wildflower on Ravelry." Theyarn is so soft and I absolutely love the color. "Pay it Forward" is a great group on Ravelry that I participate in. It gives you a good feeling to do something nice for someone you don't know.

Hot Sox - Phase 1

 

The first edition of the Hot Sox Cub is completed. As usual, the camera doesn't do the colors justice. I'm really glad I am participating in this club at my local yarn shop, "A Stitch in Time." I've met some lovely ladies there and love the chance to socialize. Coming soon. Hot Sox - Phase 2.

Clapotis

I had seen this stole on knitty.com and jumped at the chance to do it in the Lets Knit2gether June KAL. The yarn is from Cascade. I usually don't do reds, but the colors jumped out at me. It was a very easy project to complete and went very fast. I may do a few more for gifts or even another for me in a variegated design

Hot Sox - Hot Colors

I recently joined the Tofutsies "Hot Sox" club through my local LYS, A Stitch in Time in Bethel, CT. 

I get to take advantage of exclusive new colors. Here is an example of the first sock of the project. The photo does not do the colors justice. There is a combination of fuschia, green, gray and black. The work up looks great. The pattern is from "SWTC Tofutsies." I have never made a top band, then casted on to knit in the round but it was easy. I can't wait to finish this and get to the next installment.

Recieve and Give

PAY IT FORWARD button
Originally uploaded by jeanius80

I'm so excited to participate in this group on Ravelry. It is modeled after the movie "Pay it Forward. I am now in need of three Pay it Forward Angels. If you're interested in becoming an angel for me, please post here. I will email you requesting the information I need from you. I will then make you a hand made gift within six months. This is my pledge to you. You then will "pay it forward" and send a gift to three angels that you acquire. Get the picture. I hope to get three angels of my own soon.

Hard Candy

I saw this pattern on lionbrand.com. I wanted to make it and was waiting for that special occasion. It came when my friends and co-workers Jess and Chris were married on June 7. I wanted to do an afghan/throw, but wanted to add a little zip. This was a perfect project. All the colors eld together and as I was working it up, all I could think of was "hard candy." It reminded me of the hard candy that my grandmother always had in her candy dish.

I hope that my friends like their special gift, as it was special for me to work up. You can find the pattern online at lionbrand.com, however, I would buy two of every color and three of the chocolate brown. I used lion brand wool-ease which was great to work with.

Modern Log Cabin Blanket

I finally finished the Modern Log Cabin Blanket for my mom. It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but I soon learned that this wasn't a project that you could just "whip up." It took forever to get done and boy did my hands ache. I am glad that I persevered and finished it. It turned out lovely. I used Vanna's Choice yarn in two blues, pink and mauve. Maybe I'll do another but not for a while, and definately when I'm not in a rush to get it done.

As you can see, it's quite large and my son jokingly calls it "The Afghan that Ate New York."

Sensational Small Capitals

After the Christmas rush of gifts, I was able to settle down and finally finish the pair of socks I promised my mother inlaw back in the summer. The yarn is Italian Sockotta which is a great lightweight superwash yarn. They wear and wear and never lose their shape. The pattern is "Small Capitals" from, of course, Sensational Knitted Socks from Charlene Schurch. I absolutely love this book and it's great for beginners. You can learn almost any method of sock knitting.  This pattern was for socks from the toe up, but I did it backwards.  They still look good and it will be our little secret.  Later on, I may try some "Toe Ups."

First Time Lace

This is the first attempt at lace knitting for me. I made this scarf for my sister out of knitpicks baby alpaca peruvian wool. I love the green color. My sister is a red head and the green will look gorgeous on her. The scarf may be wool, but the baby alpaca is light as a feather.

Celtic Celebrations

In honor of brother inlaw Sean's birthday, it was only fitting that I make this Celtic bookmark, since he's such a fan.

It was made with Aunt Lydia's #3 crochet cotton thread on size 2 bamboo dpn's. I had originally started it with a #10 kelly green and size 1 dpn's. However after ripping it out a few times. I thought it would be better to use a thicker thread. While I'm disappointed that I didn't have the kelly green in the #3, I feel that the lighter color really makes the pattern pop.

Hat's Off

I saw this pattern on the Knitpicks website and had to make it. The pattern is from "The Knitter's Bible: Knitted Accessories." I used Knitpicks "Wool of the Andes Bulky" in Rainforest. Currently I'm working on a scarf in the same fiber and color way. The pattern is "My So-Called Scarf." There will be a picture forthcoming.

This had knit up nicely and very easily on size 5 and 7 needles. The most involved part was seeing the eight triangles. I like the way sewing the pieces together with "wrong sides" facing made the nice ribbing. I advise you do a swatch first. My hat turned out a little big, but at least I won't have "hat hair." I was a little worried that the brim of the hat would be too floppy but with the thickness of the yarn I used, it was just fine.

If you are going to knit this in DK weight (which is what it originally calls for in the book), you look into reinforcing the brim wth some interfacing.

This is going to go great with my faux shearling coat which is a dark grayish/forest green color. It will make the red and gold in my had and scarf really pop.

Short Row Heel Bliss

Here is my first attempt at the "short row heel." It certainly made the sockmaking process easier. No heel flap or turn. No need to pick up stitches for the gussett. This also makes it easier when you want to knit two pairs of socks on one needle.

These socks were made with Knitpicks Essential Multi in a red/blue/purple colorway on a size one needle. The pattern is from my favorite "Sensational Knitted Socks."

Make Sure You Get My Good Side

Never a dog to be camera shy, Loki poses for a shot with his "monkey" and Eric. Trying to reclaim "his spot," he spotted the camera for this wonderful photo opportunity.

The Key to Knitting

While Real Estate is "location, location, location," good knitting is "reference, reference, reference." I received "Odd Ball Knitting" this Christmas. It has alot of cool patterns that are "supposedly" to knit down your stash. However, I can see buying new yarn to knit some of the yummy things published in this book. I can't wait to dive in.

Thick and Quick Fashion

I have seen this pattern on the lionbrand.com site for a while. When I got a Michael's Gift Card, it gave me the opportunity to make this for myself. It works up nice and fast even with the cables. I can see myself doing this in other colors and even as a quick gift for a friend. This will look nice with a pair of jeans and a dark top underneath.