Stuffed Fish

One thing DD goes nuts over, something she absolutely LOVES, are fish. She loves to just cuddle with me and watch the fish in our Aqurarium swim around. So, when I saw THIS pattern, I decided to knit up 2, sew them together and stuff them for DD. After I knit the 2 fish, I picked up stitches in the stockinette triangle section and knit on some fins. I did all of the knitting yesterday (maybe 2 hours total, and that includes time taken to play with kids) and I did the sewing and stuffing this morning. I used some cheapo red heart acrylic yarn for both the knitting and the stuffing. I figured it would be durable and washable, and good for a toy for a toddler.
I've also got some WIP's that are close to completion. The socks for DD, the special something for my nephew, and the Summer Swing Top for my niece Laney are all almost done.

Look, I can do something other than knit...LOL

I read a discussion on craftster, about melting beads into bowls and other things. So, I decided to try it, and this is what I got. I used the cheap kids beads (found anywhere -walmart, JoAnns, etc...) I love my first attempt. I want to go get more beads so I can make designs with colors for other bowls.

In knitting news, I've worked a bit on each of my projects this past weekend. Now, I'm on sock #2 in the pair i'm making for DD, i'm on sock #2 in the pair I am knitting for my mom for Christmas, I am almost done with the special something for my nephew, I did a few more rows on my Peacock Feathers Shawl, and a little more on the Summer Swing top for my niece. I also started another pair of socks for myself. I'm not using a pattern, I am using size 2mm needles with some very yummy Cherry Tree Hill Supersock yarn.

FO- Cable Knit Hat

This hat will be a Christmas present for my bil, Ricky. I used my soon to be 5 year old ds to model it. I used THIS pattern, only I knit it alternating left twist and right twist cables. I used Patons Classic Merino Wool in the color Deep Olive.

Pictures of my wip's

This pic is of a Cable Knit Hat, I'm loosely following THIS pattern, But I am alternating left twist and right twist cables. I currently have it about 6.5 inches long, another .5 inch and I will start the crown decreases. I am using leftover Patons classic Merino Wool from the Boobholder I knit, color Deep Olive and size 7, 16" circs.
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This is what I have so far for a birthday present for my niece, Laney. The little cutie pie will be 2 in August. It is a Summer Swing top, and the pattern can be found HERE. I love this pattern, it's adorable and perfect for all of the beautiful little ladies in my life. I'm trying to make one for each of my younger nieces and DD (total of 5), but I'm afraid they will grow out of the sizes the pattern lists by the time I can get around to doing all of them. My Niece, Justice is already too big for it, she's 9, and I want to find a special pattern to make for her, too. (any ideas?)
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Here is my never ending Peacock Feathers Shawl. I am ready to start row 211, out of a total 250. I used some pins to stretch part of it out so you could see some of the design. I've made a few mistakes in this shawl, but they're small and I don't think they're very noticeable. I am also ready to join my second ball of yarn. I am using the Jagger Spun Zephyr Wool-Silk that comes with the pattern kit from fiddlesticks knitting. It is so soft and wonderful, a 50% wool, 50% silk blend, laceweight yarn.
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This is a sock (#1 in the pair) that I am knitting for DD. It is the Peaks and Valleys infant pattern from the book, Knit Socks!. Since DD is almost a year and a half old, the infant pattern wouldn't have fit her, so I decided to just use bigger needles (size US3 instead of US1) and add a few rows to the pattern to make it fit her. You can't see the lacey part of the pattern very well in the picture, but the multi-colored yarn looks pretty cool with it. I am using Knitpicks simple stripes sock yarn in the colorway Vineyard (discontinued?).
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And.....this is the pair of socks I am knitting for my mothers Christmas present. It's the Cascading Leaves Sock pattern found in THIS yahoo group. I am about an inch into sock #2. I am using Knitpicks Essential Sock yarn in the color Ash, and I am knitting the pattern on 2 circs instead of DPN's.
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I haven't been working much on any of my projects this past week, because I've been knitting a something special for my brand new, absolutely beautiful, nephew, Aiden. Congratulations Trish and Jared! I am almost finished with Aiden's something special , and I will post pictures of it after I know that he's received it....Well, after his mommy receives it...LOL.

FO- Traveler Socks

The Traveler Socks are finished!!! I love how they turned out, but the color just isn't me, so I decided to put them away and give them to my mom for a Birthday present when her Birthday comes around in October. I Used Cascade 220 in the color Baby Rose Heather (#9442), and size 5 DPN's. The pattern is written for Magic Loop, but it translates really easily to using a set of 4 dpn's. One needle for the front/top of foot 20 sts, 2 needles for the back/bottom of the foot, 10 sts on each, and one needle to knit with. The Pattern for these socks can be found on THIS page.

Our WIP's (brag about DH)

yes...The title says OUR wip's. Mine and DH's. Dh is helping me to get a start on Christmas presents for this year. He has started his very first sock. He is using the 'Madder Ribbed Sock' pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, Knitpicks Palette yarn (color: Blue) and size 1 needles. In the WIP pic to the left, it's the blue at the top left corner, and I tried to take a better pic of the detail, and it's a little fuzzy, but it's posted below. He's doing wonderful on his sock!
Back to the WIP's, the gray below DH's sock, is my peacock feathers shawl. I've been working on it a little bit each night, doing anywhere from 1 to 4 rows (considering that each row is now 400+ stitches, that's a lot of work) after the kids are asleep for the night. The blue beside my shawl, is that baby sweater I posted about below. The Gray on the other side of the baby sweater, is what I have so far of the pair of cascading leaves socks I'm knitting for my mom. I am only about 1 cm into the cuff of sock 2 in the pair. And, the purple at the top right, is what I have so far of the Summer Swing Top I am knitting for my niece's 2nd birthday.

I finished my Boobholder!!!

I love the feeling I get when I finish a project. I knit Glampyre's Minisweater aka Boobholder, only without the border. I used Patons Classic Merino yarn in the color Deep Olive.

I also finished sock #1 of the Cascading Leaves socks that I'm making for my mom for Christmas. Also, last night I picked up my Peacock Feathers Shawl and did 4 rows, and today I added another few inches onto the Summer Swing Top I'm making for my niece. Woohoo! It feels good to be on a knitting roll again.

My too many WIP's

Remember that New Years Resolution that I made to no longer allow myself more than 5 wip's at a time? Well, that resolution went out the window. I currently stand at 6, and I'm itching to start more. But, I'm not letting myself. Ok, so In the pic, the top left corner is a Boobholder from Glampyre. I am using Patons Classic Merino wool in the color Deep Olive. It's being made to wear with a brown tunic I have. The pink under it is a pair of Traveler socks. (pattern can be found on THIS page) I am using Cascade 220 in the color Baby Rose Heather. I am almost to the heel of sock #2. Below that, the grey, is a pair of Cascading Leaves socks (pattern found by joining THIS yahoo group) I am using Knitpicks Essential Sock yarn in the color Ash. The light purple to the right of those socks, is what I have so far of a Summer Swing Top (Pattern Found on THIS site) for my Niece's 2nd birthday. I am using Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in the color Lilac Haze, and I plan to make another (for DD) using Victorian Pink. The blue above that is a basic top down raglan baby cardigan (with some details I'm adding). I am not getting into any more details than that, the intended recipient hasn't been born yet and his mommy doesn't know I'm making something for him (but if she reads here, she will know so I don't want to post too many details, this way something remains a surprise.) The Deep purple at the top right is what I have so far of a Lacy Hair tamer Headband. I found the pattern on InterWeave Knits Website (I think from the spring 2004 issue?) I am using Knitpicks Elegance yarn in the color Lilac.

Just a quick update

still not much knitting going on. I have way too many WIP's again, but none are really getting worked on much. DH had Dental Surgery on Wednesday morning so I'm busy spoiling him, and I'm having a period from hell, so not much of any fun/crafty/unnecessary things happening right now. In a few days I will update with a pic of the too many wips.

Not much knitting going on......

I'm not quite sure how, but I've been busier this past week than normal, but I haven't been doing anything much more than normal. I did manage to knit a little bit, though. I am working the heel flap on the Cascading Leaves sock I posted about, I've done one more pattern repeat on the traveler sock, I started working on a Lacy hair tamer headband from the Fall 2004 Interweave Knits, and I've also started on a boobholder. No pics yet, I am in a lazy mood and don't really feel like getting everything out to take a pic...lol

WIP's

It really feels weird not having Starsky as a WIP anymore. But, here's what I am currently working on. The purple is a Summer Swing Top for my niece Laney's 2nd birthday (pattern on freepatterns.com). I'm using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece and the color is Lilac Haze. The Peachish/Pink socks are the Traveler socks I posted about with my finished Starsky (there's a link to the pattern in the comments of that post). I have 3 cable pattern repeats of sock #2 done. I'm using Cascade 220 in color baby rose heather. The Grey is the beginnings of sock #1 in a pair of Cascading Leaves Socks. This pattern is available in a Yahoo Group KAL, called 'TownsendSocksKnitAlong'. I am using Knitpicks Essential sock yarn in the color Ash.

I have yarn on order to knit a Boobholder for myself. I am going to make it without the border, and I'm thinking of changing the sleeves, but I'm not sure. I choose a dark olive colored yarn because the shirt I am planning on wearing it with (a smocked tunic) is a medium brown and I think it will look great. (IMHO, I look best in browns & mauves) I do have more shirts I can wear it with, but this shirt in particular is the one I need to wear something with.

Starsky is FINISHED!!!!!!!!

Not the best pic, but it's a great one considering my photographer is 6 years old :) I placed my beltloops a little high, and the sleeves are too baggy, but I love my Starsky! I was worried that this was a sweater that only looked good on skinny people, but, IMHO, I think it's flattering to me (a size 18) as well. (and speaking of my size, I've been loosing weight. I've only lost 11 pounds so far (WOOHOO!!!), but soon it will be 20, and then 50 and before long I'll be at my goal) This is the first adult size & first non raglan sweater I've done. I'm very happy with it!

I've also been working on a pair of toe-up socks for me. I can't remember where I found the pattern (I printed it a while ago), but it's called 'Traveler Socks" and It was a .pdf free online pattern. I have one completely finished, and one in progress. I am finished with the toe, and am on row 4 of my first cable pattern repeat.

FO

I finished the bag I knit for my niece, Justice's birthday Present. She will be turning 9 in August. The butterfly is just a little something I added, and is just tied onto the bag strap, so it can be removed and Justice can put it on something else if she wants. I didn't use a pattern for the bag. I just cast on enough stitches to reach around my 16" size 10 1/2 circ, and knit for several inches, changing colors every 4 rows. (except at the top when I ran out of black), when I got the bag to the desired height, I BO all but 6 stitches on each side of the bag. I knit 6 stitches from one side until I was almost out of that blue yarn, then I kitchener stitched the other 6 live stitches to the purse handle. I then turned the bag inside out and whip stitched the bottom of the bag closed. It only took one cycle in the washer to felt. The butterfly is a pattern I got from Stitch & Bitch Nation, it's the butterfly used for the 'Butterflies are Free' scarf pattern.

I did a lot of work on the belt for starsky last night. It still needs a few inches, but it was progress none the less.

This f!$@&^# belt is driving me nuts

The Belt for Starsky, that is. It's an easy knit, it's just that it seems that I knit and knit and knit and it never gets longer! I'm tired of working on it, but I just need to add about another freaking FOOT to it's length and it'll be good enough for me. I've also decided that I don't like the sleeves on my Starsky. They're okay, but they're just too wide/loose for my arms. I want a more fitted look on them, but I've already sewen the sleeves in and seamed everything up. Any ideas on what I can do now to achieve a more fitted look? I absolutely LOVE the rest of my starsky, it's wonderful and pretty, I'm just not happy with my sleeves. However, I'm NOT unhappy enough to undo the seaming and alter my sleeves.

I am also fighting the itch to post about a 'secret' project I have going. It's my best friends Christmas present and she reads here so I can't post about it. I could always start a new blog and post my secret present projects on there, but I want you guys to read those posts too, and I would have to post a link to the new blog so it really would be totally useless. So I guess I'll just have to keep my big mouth shut. Damn it.

This might hurt some......

I am almost finished with sock one of the pair that I'm knitting with Regia Strato (that I posted about before). I am less than an inch away from closing the toe. But I'm just not happy with it. (this is where it gets painful) I am going to frog the entire sock. It's pretty and fits well, I'm just not happy with the toe shaping I choose, and I'm not completely satisfied with my short row heel. Oh well. I will frog this sock and set the yarn aside and start on socks for my mom. I'm not sure which yarn out of my stash I want to use. Probably the Knitpicks Sock Memories in the Yukon colorway.

To some more pleasant news, I am almost finished with my Starsky! I have both sleeves finished, sewn in and all of the seams sewn, the only things left are to finish the belt and beltloops. I won't post any more starsky pics until I am completely finished with mine. I love it!

I've got a good start on my niece, Laney's, Birthday present. I'm knitting her a Summer Swing Top (from freepatterns.com) with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece yarn. I've got only 2 inches done so far, but it's a pretty quick knit.

Pic of Starsky

ok, here's a pic of what's done with Starsky. I had to have my 6 year old son take the pic (forgive my pajama pants...lol), and this was the best out of the 10 pictures he took. Starsky is still missing her left sleeve, belt and beltloops, which are all in progress. I expect to be finished soon (guesstimating a week), and even sooner if I make myself knit more than 4 rows a day. I've been going slow on this because the weather outside is beautiful and I've been outside running around with the kids. I made(making) the sleeve(s) 18.5 inches before sleeve cap shaping instead of the 23 inches the pattern calls for. I may be a big girl, but I have short arms.

WIP's

On my Starsky, I now have both front panels and the back panel finished, the collar finished and one sleeve finished. All of these are blocked, sewen togather and seamed. I am still working on sleeve #2 and I'm also working on the belt.

I have also started working on birthday presents for my nieces Justice and Laney. Justice will be 9 in August and Laney will be 2 in August. I am knitting Justice a small striped purse that I will felt and then sew on a knitted butterfly, and Laney is getting a Summer Swing Top (from freepatterns.com).

I'm still working on that pair of Regia Strato Socks that I posted about before. These are going really slow because they're my 'for when I'm bored/waiting' project.

Yesterday, I didn't feel like knitting. So you want to know what I did? I went through all of my saved internet/free patterns and the ones I've already printed. I printed the ones I had saved then I organized all of the patterns into a 1" binder I have. I have a sock section, sweater section, hat section, a section for scarves/shawls/wraps, a misc. accessories section, general help section and a crochet section. I have 76 knitting patterns in this binder. If I want to add any more I will need a new binder. I could barely close the rings on this one.

Starsky! getting close......

This picture shows everything I have for Starsky. I folded the back section up onto itself so I could get it all into the pic, and you can see the two front panels, what I have so far of the collar, the finished sleeve off to the right, and the sleeve in progress to the left.

My mailman delivered a package today. When I answered the door, he handed it to me and asked "more yarn?". I laughed and said yes. (it was 10 balls of Knitpicks Get Away yarn in the colorway 'Nap') Both my UPS man and the USPS guy are both shocked when my packages aren't yarn. You guys should have seen the look of confusion when the UPS guy delivered 2 baby gates to me. He even asked me if they were to keep DD out of my yarn...LMAO!!!

Another Starsky Update

Now finished for Starsky, I have both left and right front panels and the back panel. I am working on one of the sleeves now. I would estimate that I'm about 1/3 done with this sleeve. Once I get both of the sleeves finished, I get to pick up stitches and knit on the collar of the sweater, then the belt & belt loops.

Other WIP's: since I've been primarily working on Starsky, I still haven't finished DD's sweater. I am still working the sleeves and then I just have to sew on the buttons. I am also still not finished with sock #1 in the pair I have going (still working the foot of the sock). I absolutely love the yarn (Regia Strato), but the size 1 needles are rough on my hands and if I do too much with them in a day, it aggravates my arthritis. This sucks.

Stolen Random

I stole this idea from Craft Pirate and I saw it on some other blogs as well.

Put your iPod on random/shuffle songs and list the first 10 songs that play.

Mine are:
1. Cheeseburger in Paradise- Jimmy Buffet
2. Crazy on You- Heart
3. Opspeculat- Creed
4. When I grow Up- Garbage
5. Heavy - Collective Soul
6. Frantic - Metalica
7. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
8. I will buy you a new house - Everclear
9. You Don't Know How it Feels - Tom Petty
10. Live and Let Die - Guns & Roses