Eye Candy...Shadow

I splurged on myself a bit this season. I know I shouldn't, but after seeing some yarn on sale over at knit picks I couldn't resist. I'm building a strictly lace yarn stash. I'm trying to get a bit of yarn in each weight. There's always those miscellaneous patterns that pop up from out of nowhere that say..KNIT ME!


Most of this batch is from before...the only new addition is the Redwood Forest and Vineyard. I'm not seeing the Campfire colors anymore on Knitpicks which is sad, it was such a beautiful color!



I finished the hunter hat for my Step-father for X-mas. He requested a blaze orange hat out of wool so he had one to go hunting with. I made him a hand spun green one for his birthday and he absolutely loves it. Which tickles the heart of this little knitter. This one is done in Orange/Palette from knit picks. It actually wears quite well. I knit this on #2 circs for a 22" hat. (Remember he's a 6'4" Swed). It's a little big on me (I have a small noggen.), but it's really comfy.


And something non knitting related but really cool none the less, this Monty Python holy grail bobble head. This is the black night. If you've never seen the Monty Python movie, you have too rent it immediately, it's a classic! This bobble head is for the Secret Santa Swap at my mom's X-mas party. I got it for my cousins boyfriend Joey, he's a huge Monty Python fan. He fits into my family well, since my family is a big fan of the movie. Sorry for the flash...this is a better picture here. By the way...THESE are on my X-mas wish list this year! :D

Garter stitch dog coat

Well here it is folks. The finished dog coat. :D I hope that my cousin likes it..more so..I hope her little doggie likes it. It's made from lamb's pride worsted weight, cream and turquoise, so it has a double thickness. It's WARM!


I love the colors. In the magazine it's a red and pink held together, but I decided to work with the turquoise and white since it was more a "boy" color and didn't seem to heavy. I think it would match a Schnauzer, don't you? :D




I made the buttons from sculpy clay. I was going to do the schnauzer buttons for it, but the more I thought about it, the likely hood of that actually working isn't very realistic. I figured since the button was so small the schnauzer would have to be at least 3/4 of the size of it, but with the holes and tacking it on to the coat, you wouldn't be able to make it out. I spose I could have painted it. Ah well, another day.


I did put it on my model though. Isn't he darling?! He just looks tickled pink to be trying on a giant wool coat right after a nap!


Actually...I woke him up from his nap for the picture. Can you tell? Doesn't he look just rested after his beauty sleep?


Ssshhhhh...he's going back to sleep. :D


Well, there's been an update on my spinning wheel. If you don't remember, there was that nice lady that was going to sell me an ashord traditional for $150. I was so happy about it, I couldn't wait. I was going to take the 2 hour car ride out there to just try it out! Then...at the last minute...she writes me an email saying that she's going to keep the spinning wheel but I can buy the other one. The problem is...it's needs major fixing and bobbins. I wasn't overly happy about that. But, what can you do? I don't think I'm going to get the old spinning wheel since I don't know where I could have it fixed around here. I'm sure there's places but, I'd rather not have to worry about that. If I was more experience and knew what I was doing, I'd feel more confident about taking it and restoring it. But, having never owned one, I wasn't very sure I could do that and feel comfortable in it. Anyways, if anyone knows where there's great places for spinning wheels..let me know. :D

Eye Candy..Flacon

I love Fridays. The weekend is almost here and tonight I can relax while my husband settles in for the weekend. This last week I did some decorating for X-mas. This wreath is one my mom sent home with me. She makes these, some have lights some don't. I loved this one with the antique star in it. I put it above my couch...it looks really good there. :D



I also did this the other night. My mother has these glass cabinets that she displays her fragile stuff in. There's glassware and treasures that my step father has picked up from around the world. I thought that this would help add to the cabinet's specialness. This is Flacon from Yarn Over. I did this, in two hours. It was such a fast and easy knit. And with written instructions I didn't lose my space as when I use a chart. (And with my son, that's a plus in my book.)


I did this on #3 needles using Alpaca Silk yarn. I know I should use cotton for this...but, I couldn't resist. I'm going to try out some of the other patterns like Fanodugen on #7 needles and make it into a shawl.


Have a great weekend everyone!

Finally...some knitting!

Edit: I just noticed that some of my pictures have a smudge on them. It's not your glasses, it was Oogie prints on the lens of my camera. It took me a while to realize this since my glasses have this permanent smudge on them from the protective coating on my glasses coming off.

Ok, I'll start off with the finished works.

A teddy bear for little Oogie. I'm not really pleased with this one. I guess I'm just picky but I don't like how I put it together. The instructions were a little convoluted so it was hard to understand. At least for me. But, I would do a lot differently next time.




A little bag for Olive. The heart was done from the free heart pattern from Mochimochi land. I did one heart and sewed it on the front.

Notice the buttons?


Some smooshy (this word always makes me smile) soft socks for my husband. They WERE meant for Christmas. But do you think he could wait until then?


And now the works in progress.


Some Mary Jane's for Olivia. They were made exactly like the last ones, but instead of 30 sts c.o. I only casted on 18 sts and made them 6" long.


A dog coat done for the secret Santa at my Mother's house. This one is for my cousin's dog Baxter. I'm going to make some buttons specially for it. Since he's a little Schnauzer I might make some buttons with a silhouette of a schnauzer on it.


And a pair of anklets with an after thought heel. This heel was a nice change from the regular gusset heel that normal cuff down socks have. I have to admit, those heels really deter me from making socks. I think it's the tediousness of it, or the interrupted flow of the knitting that bothers me. But an after thought heel is really nice. I can make up all the socks, go in and make the heels. Basically, you knit the socks, and when you get to the heel you knit half to 2/3 of the stitches on waste yarn. Go back to your regular knitting of the round with the main yarn and finish the sock. Go back and pick up the heel stitches, knit 3-4 rounds and then make another toe. Simple.

Note: A lot of people tend to sneer and look down on this heel I've noticed because it isn't your regular tailored sock heel. I agree, it isn't meant for beauty, but practicality. It's meant for knitting up socks fast and to make it easier in replacement of the heel if it gets worn down.


I know, I know..the tension on my grafted toe is miserable. I'm going to go back and fix it.

A regular sock heel. Only one sock now..more to come. This one is worsted weight on #5 needles. VERY comfy. Sad that they're for my husband and not me. :(


And finally something for myself. Composed mitts from the fall issue of Interweave Knits...which is sadly sold out. I changed the colors a bit, but I like these better anyhow. It actually knits up fast. I did this in an afternoon. Sadly, this is going to have to wait until after christmas to be finished.


Well that's it for now folks. I'll post more as I finish them. :D

ugh..a cat post

Yes...yes. Another one of those darned cat posts that people happen to do. We know..you're cat is the cutest cat in the world and not like any other. Well..the truth is..my cat IS the cutest cat in the world and not like any other. :D He may be a little short for his weight (a.k.a. pudgy), getting a few grey hairs (he's hitting a mid life crises), and sleeps a lot (23 hours a day to be exact) but he's mine and I love him (I'm also between knitting projects and have nothing to show, so bear with me.)


Mike has been there with me through thick an thin, heart breaks and family tragedies, meeting my husband and the birth of both of my children, holidays and boring days. He's seen it all folks.


He's been through many things himself. He's had his leg broken, as you see below, it doesn't sit right and he usually sticks it out like that when he sits. He's had broken ribs and a punctured lung (car accident). And a traumatizing incident with fried onions. (He loves them, but they give them heart burn something fierce!)

He's the only cat I know that will eat shrimp and leave the tails. Who prefers chicken smothered in herbs and seasoning over tuna.


Don't let that placid "I don't care what you think" look fool you. He's an insecure kitty that loves a reassuring cuddle every now and then.


He puts up with so much. With both my kids learning to walk and tripping on him. Both children teething and munching on that silky smooth tail of his. He's a very patient if not stubborn cat. He will refuse to move from his spot...even if his tail is being very adamantly yanked.

He is also very routine. He sleeps in the same spot at the same time every day. If I don't have a watch, I just look at the cat. I must be the only person in the world with a fully functioning cat dial.


I admit...I'm a cat person. I like the self cleaning and self pooping thing they do. They take care of that and only want to snuggle. Of course..they do it when you're pretty busy..like in the middle of a good book or right in an intricate lace row of a complicated shawl.


He's also a bit of a Garfield himself. He's got a stuffed animal that he needs to cuddle. It's a few years old now, missing an eye, missing some stuffing and really needs a washing. It's also a pony and bright pink. I initially got it for my daughter. But my cat saw it and fell in love, and with the recent laying to rest of his teddy bear, it was the perfect thing to console his heart.


Mike has to be the sweetest, cutest 1 foot tall furry best friend a girl can have. Believe me I'm the luckiest gal alive.

...

I'll post some knitting soon. :D I promise!

ugh..a cat post

Yes...yes. Another one of those darned cat posts that people happen to do. We know..you're cat is the cutest cat in the world and not like any other. Well..the truth is..my cat IS the cutest cat in the world and not like any other. :D He may be a little short for his weight (a.k.a. pudgy), getting a few grey hairs (he's hitting a mid life crises), and sleeps a lot (23 hours a day to be exact) but he's mine and I love him (I'm also between knitting projects and have nothing to show, so bear with me.)


Mike has been there with me through thick an thin, heart breaks and family tragedies, meeting my husband and the birth of both of my children, holidays and boring days. He's seen it all folks.


He's been through many things himself. He's had his leg broken, as you see below, it doesn't sit right and he usually sticks it out like that when he sits. He's had broken ribs and a punctured lung (car accident). And a traumatizing incident with fried onions. (He loves them, but they give them heart burn something fierce!)

He's the only cat I know that will eat shrimp and leave the tails. Who prefers chicken smothered in herbs and seasoning over tuna.


Don't let that placid "I don't care what you think" look fool you. He's an insecure kitty that loves a reassuring cuddle every now and then.


He puts up with so much. With both my kids learning to walk and tripping on him. Both children teething and munching on that silky smooth tail of his. He's a very patient if not stubborn cat. He will refuse to move from his spot...even if his tail is being very adamantly yanked.

He is also very routine. He sleeps in the same spot at the same time every day. If I don't have a watch, I just look at the cat. I must be the only person in the world with a fully functioning cat dial.


I admit...I'm a cat person. I like the self cleaning and self pooping thing they do. They take care of that and only want to snuggle. Of course..they do it when you're pretty busy..like in the middle of a good book or right in an intricate lace row of a complicated shawl.


He's also a bit of a Garfield himself. He's got a stuffed animal that he needs to cuddle. It's a few years old now, missing an eye, missing some stuffing and really needs a washing. It's also a pony and bright pink. I initially got it for my daughter. But my cat saw it and fell in love, and with the recent laying to rest of his teddy bear, it was the perfect thing to console his heart.


Mike has to be the sweetest, cutest 1 foot tall furry best friend a girl can have. Believe me I'm the luckiest gal alive.

...

I'll post some knitting soon. :D I promise!

Mary Janes

I've always wanted a pair of mary jane slippers. Or shoes for that matter. Like these!! But..unfortunately, my shoe budget doesn't even come close to being that big. I'm the kind of person who will spend $10 on a pair of shoes and try to get it to fit into most wardrobes. It's not that I'm cheap, I'm just not a shoe person. The last thing I think of is my feet. But, to tell you the truth, those Fluevogs are pretty darn tempting and just might be inspiring me to expand my shoe wardrobe.


Now, I came across a great pattern for incredibly easy Mary Jane slippers. No felting. No working in the round. Just plain garter stitch slippers. They're cute and insanely simple to do. Just what I need for being around the baby. I'm sure if any of you have little ones, you'd know what I'm talking about when I say, "Nothing get's done in this house!" Knitting lace is a far and distant dream right now, I needed something simple, easy, and that can be done with little concentration that I could do for gifts.


The only problem is, they are REALLY comfy. Too comfy in fact. My feet, being chilled all day really welcomed a pair of nice soft cotton slippers. Notice the button? Yep, one of mine. :D They were knit in blue sky Alpaca cotton. This cotton is so soft, it actually feels a little like silk. :D Now, how can I part with them. Oh well, guess I need to make a pair for myself.

When life gives you lemons..

..you make lemonade. Then you find someone who's life is giving them vodka and have a party.
I heard that off of the blue collar comedy tour. I was only in the audience vicariously through comedy central.

Speaking of lemons..I haven't posted in a while seeing as my computer mysteriously decided to NOT connect to the internet. (*Warning..Geek content*) I'm not sure why, but in order to connect, I had to turn on my computer, put in an Ubuntu C.D. and reboot and run an operating system from a disk. Which meant I couldn't print, save, or download anything without first saving it to a U.S.B. drive and turning off my computer and rebooting it.

Sound complicated?

It was.

My husband was finally able to fix it for me. In good time too, as I was nearly close to throwing the darn thing out the window. Then my neighbors would REALLY love me, seeing as I live on the 2nd floor of an apartment.

So..now I'm playing catch up.

Thanksgiving was great. I had two. One with my husband and children on Thanksgiving. It was nice and small. Although I think my oven is broken. I roasted a 10 pound Turkey for 4 1/2 hours at 350 degrees and it came out bloody. Put it back in for another 45-60 minutes..still bloody! The outside was really dark and almost burnt. I even covered it with foil! All the appliances are being replaced...I'm going to put my order in for a new stove. The one I have now is from the 70's!

The other Thanksgiving was at my mother's. It was wonderful. No bloody turkey, lot's of cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes...and lot's and lot's of alcohol. :D Here's my husband showing my grandparents his cell phone, with internet access, key board, camera and so on. My grandfather used to ride to boy scouts in a model T and had to manually turn the nob for the windshield wipers when it rained. Quite a jump on technology, huh?


What do you get when you have a room full of Norwegians, 1 Jewish guy, 1 Swedish Pastor and lot's of wine? A dirty joke fest. Oh the hilarity. Guess what. The pastor won.



My aunt was also there and found these in her shelves of books. I love these books. The handicrafter has some relatively modern designs which kind of surprised me. Maybe some slight alterations, even something as simple as color would make it really modern.

Couldn't you see this in purple, green and yellow with black sleeves? I'd wear that. Even pink and a darker rose and cream colored crosses, with charcoal arms instead.

School colors! But I thought Griffindor first. :D

I don't know why. But I thought that this was really sweet looking. I saw green and tan. Or a light and dark rose.


And yes, I've been making the gifts again. This time out of clay. (Sculpy or primo..whatever you can find at Michaels. I go for Sculpy..it's only $1.99 a block..and I got it on sale for $.98!)

A Pegasus and Unicorn necklace for my daughter. It'll fit her until she's my age..of course..I don't think she'd want to. But then again, you never know. :)


A little penguin bracelet. Admittedly, I did this for myself for the holidays. My son loves it. As you can see. If I'm not looking, he'll try and pry it off my hand and run off with it.


Buttons, buttons and more buttons. I wanted pretty buttons that match. I've got pretty buttons, but very few that have matching pairs of 2 or more. So, I made them out of clay. I should do a tutorial sometime. They're EASY. And fun. And addicting.

What I'm going to do with them? Well, sweaters, pocket book slippers and bracelets. For starters..outside of that I'm not sure. But aren't they pretty?!