Grandma's Tatted Cross

I started this cross

two years ago,

but put it down 

when the knitting needles took over.

A couple of days ago

I found myself, shuttle in hand.

Just like riding a bike,

it came back to me.

I made it using

one of my grandmother's

tatted crosses for a pattern.

I've seen many cross patterns online,

but none quite like Grandma's.

"Work" Socks

I made these

"Work" Socks

for my husband.

He's very happy with them

and that makes me happy

but...

let's just say that 

if he mows the lawn in them

or something like that,

I will probably cry.

Pattern by Purl Soho - Homespun Boot Socks

Yarn by Madelinetosh

I don't usually...

I don't usually

have much use for the cold,

but since the little nip in the air

this morning 

gave me a reason

to pull on my new

"mittens"

I won't complain...

as much.

yarn: Martha Stewart

pattern: Simple Fingerless Mitts

      by Tinksdarkerside

Christmas in July

I know it's October,

but I made this stocking in July.

Our knitting group's

fearless leader

got us to take the plunge

into colorwork.

It was SO fun and much easier than expected!

The pattern is

Cascade 220 Christmas Stocking

by 

Marji LaFreniere

How do they DO that?

It's still a mystery.

Have you ever made a mobius strip?

Well I knitted one for the first time.

I can see why people say it's addictive.

"Round and round she goes

and where she stops,

nobody knows."

That was certainly true for me,

but then I cast off my stitches

and I had my first mobeus cowl!

Yea!

I suppose I could think about it,

and figure out all the twists and turns,

but I prefer to leave it a mystery.

The pattern is Bulky Mobius Cowl

by Haley Waxberg

and is free on ravelry.

Fuzzy Wuzzy

It's fuzzy.

It's green.

It's a fuzzy, green, bandana cowl.

I think that says it all.

Oh! and it's soft.

Very soft.

Which just goes to show,

there is always more to say...

The pattern is the Bandana Cowl,

and is free from Purl Soho.

This cowl is for the knitting group's charity sale.

Beanie Baby

You could say that I enjoyed

making these men's beanies

since I made three of them

back-to-back.

I like their shape,

the pattern was simple,

and for the first time,

I could knit away

without constantly looking down.

I could even read sub-titles!

The pattern is Chunky Men's Beanie

by Jolly Nogin Knits

and is free on Ravelry.

These beanies are for

the knitting group's charity sale.

It Takes a Village of Knitters

 ...to make some projects successful.

This is Elis, Indian-Cross-Stitch Cowl,

a free pattern designed by

Reiko Kuwamura.

 The pattern is well written

and rewarding.

I was a bit headstrong

in my choice of yarn, though.

It HAD to be Patons Grace

because I liked the color and the sheen,

and it was in my stash...

and it was in my stash...

and it was in my stash...

The weight of the yarn was fine

but the fiber content is cotton 

and the finished cowl was way too stretchy.

I was kind of bummed...

but then I remembered reading a blog post

recently about a project which

had similar problems

and had been salvaged using crochet stitches

on the inside edge.

This knitter had seen the method on

the Yarn Harlet's blog.

I gave it a whirl and was very happy with the results!

It now has enough body to hold its shape when worn.

This cowl will go into my knitting group's charity sale -

I'll have to make another for myself...

Mohair, Ma Soeur

Just a touch of mohair in this yarn

gives it a nice halo

and the sequins really sparkle.

This scarf is for 

the knitting group's charity sale.

Yarn: Rozetti Penelope Sequin

Pattern:  Florence, a free pattern by Karina Westermann on Ravelry

It's Not the Day...

for hand warmers.

The temperature will have to drop 

about 50 to 60 degrees

 for them to come into vogue.

But they are ready for when the time comes...

Pattern: Long Striped Hand Warmers, a free pattern from the Purl Bee

Yarn: Madelinetosh, Tosh Merino Light (fingering), Composition Book Grey

Grab Bag

It's been a while since

I got the urge to sew.

That urge struck today 

and shortly thereafter

I had a new bag

to tote my knitting in.

My pattern came from

a 2008 copy of

Fast and Fabulous Quilting Ideas

by Better Homes and Gardens.

The instructions are here.

I plan to make another, but think 

I will shrink the size of the bag

and shorten the longer strap just a touch.

Yepper, that's the plan...

On the Fence

I'm not sure if it is dorkier

that I just had to take a picture

of my knitting when I laid 

down my needles and saw

my initial...

or that I took the time to

finish writing my name

and post it.

Why the Ruche?

I never would have guessed

that I could knit faster

than I sew,

but here's the proof:

Baby Doll's sweater, knit in two months

and

Boy's quilt, in its 13th year of incompletion.

Pattern:  Ruched Yoke Tee from

Interweave Knits Spring 2011

Yarn:  Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton

Knitting Gifts

What do you do when a

wonderful friend

gives you lovely bowls

for your knitting?

Fill. Them. Up.

Bandana Cowl

This is the

Bandana Cowl,

a free pattern

from Purl Soho.

Can NOT believe

how quickly this knit up

or how much I like it.

The yarn is

Madelinetosh, chunky

in Composition Book Grey.

LOVE the way it drapes!

Sweet Memories Cowl

This is the

Sweet Memories Cowl,

a free pattern

on

Embracing it all.

It's made from donated yarn

(probably acrylic)

which I could FEEL squeak

as I knitted,

BUT is actually VERY soft
and I really wish
I knew what brand it is
because I like the way it knitted up.

It's for my knitting group's charity sale.

Ripples

Soft as a kitten,

and

light as a feather,

I hope this scarf

will be of use

to my girl

with the 

strawberry-blonde hair.

Pattern from Knit Wear Spring 2012,

the Expanding Ripples Scarf

Yarn: Madelinetosh lace yarn, Baltic

Valentine

Have a happy heart.

Pattern from:  Baby Knits by Lois Daykin

No Rush

This super-soft pullover

is still a little big

for my narrow-shouldered

Baby Doll,

but it will keep until

next year.

I'm in no hurry...

Pattern:  Fern from More Knitting in The Sun

Yarn:  Classic Elite Sprout, Organic Cotton, 100g

Lark Rise

I did a little bit of knitting

over the Christmas break

and ended up

with a little heart warmer

for my cousin's 

little heart warmer.

Pattern:  Lark Rise

Yarn:  Sublime,

Baby Cashmere Merino Silk dk 50g

Gray Cap

It's a fine boy who puts on the cap

his mom knit 

(even though it's a little big

because it started out as a cap for his dad)

and weathers the cold

to clean out her car

just because he feels like it...

Pattern:  Scraptastic Hat

Yarn:  Woolie Wonka, Ceridwen Sock, 

   100% Merino Wool, Pewter