Knitting progress

I took my knitting outside at lunch today and mastered provisional cast ons. I've been struggling with that cast on trying out different methods. Mr Foster's scrub outfit calls for a knitted edge that folds over on both sleeves and hem. It was a must to get an edge that could be easily undone.

I went to the web and found a couple of different ways. I had tried using crochet but obviously was missing something in the translation because I could never get it to undo with ease. I found one easy method and it worked like a charm.

Now I have two tiny short sleeves and have got the stitches ready for the bottom edge of his scrubs. A triumph of mind over knitting. Makes me glad that others have posted the information that I needed. Thanks for all the help.

Some bunny loves stitching

This photo doesn't do this cute little pincushion bunny justice. She's so cute, poseable and usable. She'd look good in anyones sewing room.

A jump on christmas with this Lizzie Kate design. It came out really nice if I say so myself.

I finished stitching a tiny ornament that needs some blocking before it can go to be finished. So many fun projects in the works.

Lizze Kate

Some more quick projects finished half way. Be merry is getting me thinking ahead.

Be Jolly is the second in the series, soon to become blocks.

Crafting update bonanza

It's been a finishing bonanza this week with this sunflower mat ready for gifting or using.

The sparkly socks got finished but there isn't enough yarn to make another adult size pair. Some little kid could get a pair though. Quite the bling on ones feet.

Pincushion or faux oreo cookie, you decide. A fun pattern that cries out bake up more of us.

But even better than that are the doughnut pincushions with pin sprinkles. I need to make a bakers dozen of these.

This Lizzie Kate design is destined to be finished into a cube with bows on top. It's what every mother needs to know.

This Lizzie Kate is going to get framed and put on the wall in my kitchen. Yeah something for me. I just love the sentiment.

A flag in a bag was just the summer stitching project I needed for the mantle. Another project for me. Yeah. Fun and fast to stitch it came out really nice.

I'm working on two color socks, clothes for a monkey, more Lizzie Kate designs and lots of fun pincushions. Loads of fun projects in the future. Some for me but lots for gifts.

Adding to the herd

In the last two days I've knit two additional sheep for my herd. They are both knitted in Lionbrand Fisherman's wool yarn. I love the colors and the feel of the yarn and after the first wash load they are felting beautifully.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the speckled brown w/white yarn felts up. I anticipate more cute sheep for the herd.

It's a holiday made for crafting

It's a holiday just made for knitting as I told any one who asked what my 'fourth plans' were. If it was sunny I was knitting outside and if rainy, knitting inside. I cast on last nite and knit before the fireworks got started this 'glomit' mitten from the 'halcyon' yarn website.

http://halcyonyarn.com/social/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=6&page=1#Item_0

It's a mitten that folds back and you can use your fingers. I'm making it out of brown sheep, lambs pride worsted weight and it's going along fast as one is complete today and the 2nd has the cuff already done.

I started and finished my second market bag from knitpicks. I changed the color waves using the darkest on the bottom until it ran out then the next and then the third color for the handles and top. It was way easier to do this way then changing colors every two rows and every 10 rows untangling the mess of yarn. I also used a stitch marker between every lace repeat and could instantly tell when I was off patterns. This one knitted up quickly, 2 days, and is going into the gift portion of the closet.

This gator also got started and finished this week. Mama gator is outside looking for her baby. I loved knitting this morehouse farm scarf. Clever shaping makes it stand out as an easy project with a great wow factor.

This slice of cake pincushion from Spring 2009 BHG Quilts and More magazine is going to become a favorite and will soon have some other slices. Perhaps enough to make a cake?

Now I'm back in my closet looking for another project to bring with me for the week. It's a lace cowl or smoke ring, the pattern and yarn both from webs, that is a trial 'gift' project. As with all lace from now on, markers go on the needles between each and every repeat and the highlighter tape on the pattern to show what row I'm on. I like successful projects and every little bit of guidance and assistance helps.

Knitting with Math

I kept thinking of ratios and math as I shrink different knitted objects in the washing machine. Some shrink about a third of their size and other shrink even more. The little boy above shrank about a third.

The sheep above started live as knitpicks wool of the andes yarn and came out about 11 inches tall. Very cute but lose and lots of stitch definition. A really nice yarn to knit with.

Three loads of wash later and 'snickerdoodle' the sheep is now only 7 inches tall and extremely cute and playable. Snickerdoodle in the color of the yarn but is such a cute name for a member of my toy flock. This is my favorite fibertrends pattern. I've knitted usually in lambs pride bulky or other feltable leftovers in the attic but never in a worsted weight. I love the finished size it came out. I checked on their website and they have knit it in blues and purples and I actually liked the other hued sheep. I'll have to go outside of my comfort zone and knit some more additions to the flock.

This is my needlepoint canvas I'm working on. Right now I'm working on the sky background. I like to do needlepoint in order because in this project you build layer after layer. This project also has a deadline of the first of August. I'll have to do less knitting in the next few weeks and more stitching. Notice I said 'less knitting' not none at all. I can't keep those needles out of my bag. So many fun projects to work on. I finished a large triangle shawl this morning and have to block it today. I'm looking around my craft area for a flat, cat-free space to lay it out. Another project in the finished pile.