Knit, Shear Bliss!

Larger-Than-Life Bag

As promised here is that project I have been working on.

When I saw the interweave crochet spring 2007 issue magazine. With the "Larger than Life Bag" I knew I had to make it. I liked the colours and the thought that I could possible make this a travel project when my ripple blanket got to big to carry around.

So out came the Simply Caron Yarn. Well it is crochet, no need for huge expense on cotton or wool yarn. I had no colour scheme in particular just what grabbed me at that time and I began to crochet. I must admit at first I was a little confused by the pattern. I'm so used to knitting pattens that I had to think! But I soon got the hang of it. It became a little addictive.Below is one side completed with the single crochet border. I think it could have used some blocking. At the moment I am working on the side and bottom gusset and I hope to be making the lining to the bag soon. Meanwhile I have my eyes on another crochet project, which I hope to start soon...

 

Happy Birthday!

It was my friends birthday last week. They all just moved to Texas and I miss her so much. In fact they moved into their new home on her Birthday so as well as her gift I made her a hand knitted cup cake as I could not be there in person to deliver a real birthday cake. The pattern is very easy and I made it in just a few hours. I adapted a pattern that I found at "Blah, Blah, Blahhhg" blog. I decided to make the cup look more like an English, what we call "fairy", cup cake. I used some white, for the cup cake paper case, soft  yellow for the "cake" part, pink for the icing and red for the cherry on top all left over Caron yarn from my ripple blanket. I added a real candle for the top! It was stuffed with a fiberfill and a small clear plastic food container that I placed in the base to keep its shape. I think you could add a weight to it and make it into a paper weight or pin cushion.Why don't you make one too...they are fun!

Thank you for the lovely comments on the Crochet Ripple blanket, I really appreciate it :-) I will fill you in on my new crochet project soon...

What Crochet?

Sorry for my absence but I have been knitting all through the summer and, Yes! Crochet too! And ripples no less. I don't know what happened, but I became obsessed. Taken over by crochet.

I crochet as a child, lots and lots of Grannie squares and other small projects. It never really appalled to me, my love of knitting, certainly my favorite. I haven't crochet for years only on those few occasions that a knitting pattern required a crochet button band, border etc.

It all started when I found a vintage afghan crochet pattern leaflet at my local library book store, a month ago, which I bought for 10c! The leaflet had a pattern for a ripple afghan and it brought back memories of one that was gifted to me as a newborn baby gift. It fit a single bed and must have taken hours to crochet. It was crochet in those typical browns and creams that were popular "back then". I searched the web and found The No-End-In-Sight Ripple-Along. WOW!! I become obsessed, all those lovely ripples. Then I found this pattern, Susan B's easy ripple blanket. OK I'm set. I can have my own. So for the first time I visited my local craft store and bought batches of Caron's simply soft yarn. I love the color choices and you have to crochet in acrylic don't you?

So right now my ripple blanket is about 55in long and 40in wide or so, and I cannot stop. Its a little big now to carry around. I'm really enjoying the color changes. I started with a plan and I used the stripe generator and I had a real plan to follow and I did follow it, but I just wasn't convinced, so I switched back to just picking out the next three random choices of colors and I was much happier with that. So when should I stop. I didn't really have a plan, it sort of took me over. I thought it may be nice to have on the back of the sofa as a throw, or maybe the girls would like it on their beds? I'm not sure? I suppose I could end any time and always come back and crochet more rows if needed.

I am working on another crochet project check back later for more...

The long straight

The shawl is coming along. I am on the long straight part. The pattern is easy to memorize and it is a small project that I can take along to soccer practices and games and sit and knit quietly. The two pieces still fit on this pair of short needles, I'm happy about that.

I am wondering though ~ 15 inches from the marker ~  that seems like a lot. Oh well I'll keep going until I reach 15 inches or run out of yarn .

Sock Monkey

My eldest daughter who is 12, left today, with her school 6th grade class, for her outdoor ed camp for five days. This is the first time that she has been away from home for longer than one night.

The list for items that the students can take along is very strict and basically we will not be in contact with her at all until she returns home on Friday at 1:00pm.

I wanted to make her something, a surprise gift that she can enjoy while she is away and also something that may bring comfort just in case she gets homesick?

Both of us love sock monkeys and I found this cute sock monkey flannel fabric with the co-ordination banana flannel. So I set to work yesterday afternoon and, literally just over an hour (I surprised myself how quickly I made these) whipped up some pj pants and a matching pillow case cover. This is my favorite pattern I think I have made it at least 5 times as gifts. I wrapped them in white tissue paper, tied with a ribbon and added a little note card and slipped it in her sleeping bag. She doesn't have a clue, I wonder what her reaction will be. I guess I will have to wait until Friday....

Pattern: McCalls, M4708
Fabric: Sock Monkey red
Yardage: Approximately 2 yards
Started: March 25th 2007
Finished: March 25th 2007

Rebecca...The End?

A few of you have asked about my Rebecca Cardigan. Where is it? How did it turn out? Can I see pictures?

I am very embarrassed to say that, Yes I finished knitting Rebecca in August 2006. As you know I was obsessed, possessed by this cardigan. I knit till my hands cramped. "She" came with me everywhere, to the pool while the girls had swim team, to soccer, while the girls played in summer soccer Tournaments, "She" was famous to all that saw her! She drew attention and became REAL!

Then I finished knitting her and I was LOST? I mean she was completed right? No more knitting Rebecca? It was that feeling, like after the holidays. A HUGE ANTI CLIMAX!! I think I hit a knitting "Rebecca" depression.

So the truth is "she " sat, alone, dark in the bottom of the cupboard under the stairs.

People would ask, where is that cardigan you where knitting? Did you finish it? YES I did, but I just could not face sewing her together. I would happily knit another (maybe I should have). I think I just didn't want that  good feeling of "Rebecca" to go away. Does that make sense?

I was in mourning! So the answer is YES, I finished knitting the Rebecca cardigan (but I didn't finish blocking, sewing and adding the buttons).

Last January I did pull her out of the hole of the dark cupboard and I did block her. So she has been blocking for 2/3 months!

So this is "Rebecca" today. She is finally seeing the light of day. And she will soon see her full glory!

Oh I love lace....

Oh did I say. That I love, love, love this pattern :-) Its so cheerful.

This is a close up of the lace pattern.

I think I am, about, an inch to inch and a half into the straight part of the pattern. The pattern calls for 15 inches of the straight bit.

Right now, I'm enjoying the fact, that, I have gotten to the widest part of the knitting, and its still a fairly short row. So, I am  able to complete a row of lace, without it taking 5 hours. Well OK not quite 5 hours but you know what I mean some lace shawls are so intense. I stress. This one is stress free. Like I said Cheery knitting :-)

Lace Knitting

I am like the Duracell battery, just going and going, knitting and knitting. I am addicted to the Clementine Shawlette pattern from Interweave Knits Spring issue.

I am loving the lace and the feel of this soft silky yarn and the color is a gorgeous soft pale blue. I am so thankful that I decided to knit both parts at the same time. I am still on my short, vintage, metal knitting needles. I am not sure yet if I will have to switch to circulars or longer knitting needles. It's still comfortable knitting at the moment.

A great reason for knitting both ends at the same time (for me), is the yardage. I can always stop when I am nearing the end of this yarn, as it was discontinued and I cannot purchase any more in this dye lot.

I really think I could knit this pattern again, maybe for myself next time. The pattern is so easy to memorize, I think this would be a rewarding and great beginner lace pattern. Most lace patterns are knitted with fine yarn and this pattern calls for Sport weight yarn.  I am using Double knitting, which is a little thinker than sport weight. Here are a few close up pics of the lace.

Yummy Clementine Lace Knitting

OK, so there I am ready to order the Blue Sky Alpaca Silk yarn on line to make the "Clementine Shawlette" for a good friend for her Birthday. All I have to do is hit "CONFIRM". Then, I'm thinking, I can't wait 3-5 days for the order to be delivered. I need to knit this now! I must have something in my stash that's soft and special? I found it! Hayfield "Kimono". The softest mixture of textiles including silk. I bought this yarn in the UK probably 10 years ago and it was sadly discontinued. You may be able to pick some up on eBay? I checked the yardage and I think I have just enough, 3 balls of yarn. The yarn is a wonderful soft pale blue sky color. Perfect!
The Shawl pattern is made in two identical pieces that are grafted together at the midpoint. I am not patient enough to make one piece than repeat the whole process the second time. So, I cast on for two pieces and decided to knit the two half's up together, the one time.

The pattern is addictive and pleasantly easy lace knitting. I thoroughly enjoyed knitting the start of this pattern and pushed ahead with the pattern and knitting while I watched T.V. I knit until I was beginning to get tired and make silly mistakes around 10pm. This was taken after knitting for a couple of hours of, on and off knitting.

Clementine Shawlette

Its that time of year for me to start thinking of making a special Birthday gift for a good friend of mine. I really love the "Clementine Shawlette" in the Spring 07 issue of  Interweave  Knits. I have a craving for some lace knitting. I think this shawl would really suit her and would be a special gift. I like this mandarin shade, but I really love the Chestnut shade too. Em, fun decisions.