My First Spinning Experience

 

I had resisted the urge to try and spin yarn, but upon a trip to the Connecticut Sheep & Wool Festival last April 2008, my new friend Mary urged to me give it a "whorl." (Couldn't resist the pun). Well, now I am hooked and here is the first and second spinning projects for me. The blue and purple is roving that came with the beginner spindle kit. It came with a short five minute tutorial from the lady selling it. The "cotton candy" color is a soy-silk/merino blend which was purchased at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival which took place in Rhinebeck, NY last October 2008. There will definately be more pictures to come, as I have more roving of different colors and fibers to spin. Stay tuned.

Bibs of Love

These aren't your ordinary bibs. Another project from "Mason Dixon Knitting" is completed. These bibs are more versatile, thicker, and more durable than anything you can every buy. The colors that are available through "Peaches & Creme" not only give you a beautiful bib, you will enjoy making them as well. The pattern is super easy and one ball of "Peaches & Creme" will make one bib. 


So, who's the recipient for this? Who else, little Joshua Palkewick who is the son of friends at my church. I hope they enjoy them.

Quite Fetching

 For Christmas knitting, I decided to do the "Fetching" Fingerless Mitt pattern from knitty.com. The pattern was easy to follow. My first pair were made with Debbie Bliss Casmerino and they are sooooo soft. For the other gifts, I used a variety of yarns. Some were made with Paton's SWS; some with Lion Brand Wool Ease, and some with Vanna's Choice. No matter which yarn you use, you will not be dissapointed with how it turns out. All the recipients of the mitts were happy with their gift.

Hot Sox Part III

This is the third installment in the Hot Socks limited colors edition. These were originally for Thanksgiving, but Christmas knitting got me a little behind. You can't see from the photo, but the pattern is a pumpkin motiff. It was a simple pattern to follow. I didn't do the heel flap that came with the directions. Once I have the stitches divided on the needles for magic loop, I don't want to redistribute. I attempted to do a short row heel and used directions from a video on youtube that explained it very easily. There were no wrapped stitches. Needless to say, it was very simple and the seams turned out fine. The colors fit well into the fall/harvest theme for the November/December KAL. With the pink/rose color added in, it reminds me of butter brickle ice cream.

I'm now off to start hot socks Part IV where I will venture into knitting with beads. Can't wait to show you.

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.