~Yuck~

Recently I've had to throw away two of my handknits:


Pigs Monkeying Around


How Fetching

Why? Because they felted in the wash! Boooooo I'm so sad! The Monkey Socks were the most disappointing. I washed them fine for nearly a year then all of a sudden they started felting. The yarn is 100% wool, but it was labeled as "superwash" wool, and the instructions on the label said to machine wash.

I'm certainly not happy about the Fetching mitts, but at least I am forewarned that the yarn is not machine-washable, because I have a scarf out of the same yarn. I'd hate for the scarf to get ruined since much more work went into it than the fingerless mitts.

*sigh*

And to top it off my ripple afghan is in need of washing. I'm going to hand wash it - there is no way I'm throwing it in the washer and crossing my fingers hoping it comes out ok! Not after I spent so much money on it!

~Another FO~

I just finished another little project for my coming little one, the Top Down Bonnet. I love free patterns! :-)



It was a very simple knit. I did learn one new tecnique - the Figure 8 cast on. It wasn't hard to figure out, and made the top of the cap very nice. There is no seaming on this cap. I just love the self-striping baby yarn I used. I made the "baby" size, rather than the "newborn" size, so I hope it will fit at the right time!

For more pattern/yarn details, please click here (Ravelry link).

~Baby Knitting~

Several months ago, I knitted a Lacy Baby Bonnet (link directs to free pattern). It was a fun knit that took me only an afternoon to complete. This is the newborn size. I would like to make it again with thicker yarn, for a bigger size.



This afternoon I finished a small Petal Bib, found in the book One Skein. This took only a few hours as well. I started it last night, and would have gotten it finished much, much sooner, but I think I spent as much time unknitting as I did knitting! I've done short rows before, but for some reason I had trouble getting the hang of this pattern. However, now that I've got it done, I think it would be fun to make another one or two. This bib turned out smaller than the pattern because I used a lighter weight yarn than the pattern called for. But that's ok. =) I learned several new techniques on this project, which is where the unknitting came into play!



As always, more details on Ravelry.

Sorry for the picture quality - it is a yucky day for pictures!

~Itsy-Bitsy Baby Booties~

I just finished these baby booties for my coming lil' one. I had purchased the yarn before we found out we're having a girl. I need to get to the store and get some PINK yarn. :-)



Pattern: Christine's Baby Booties
Yarn: Bernat Baby
Needles: Size 2 DPN's
Modifications: I only knit 15 rounds for the cuff instead of 22 rounds



Kevin called these "futuristic moon boots". LOL The ridges on the sides help keep these booties on...at least that's what the pattern says! We'll see...

~Blue Ribbed Socks~

I've been trying to do some stash busting, so I pulled out some navy sock yarn that I purchased quite a while ago. I didn't want to make just a plain sock, but since the yarn is so dark, I didn't want to do something with too much of a pattern either.

I finally decided on "Oak Ribbed Sock" in Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. I am pleased with the result. I knitted them up in just 11 days.



Ravelry link here.

~Finished~

Finished last week, the knitted baby blanket (Ravelry details here):





and a knitted teddy bear:



I actually finished knitting the teddy bear over four months ago. It was supposed to go with a gift, but I obviously didn't finish it in time. So I seamed it last week, and I'm somewhat satisfied with it. For all the knitting I've done, this is only the second project that has needed seaming - I need some more practice in this area!

~Projects~

Since so many of you expressed interest in projects I will be doing for our coming baby, I thought I would share the few that I've worked on so far.

This is still a WIP, but should be finished in a week or so: a cabled afghan, pattern by Debbie Bliss, from the book Simply Baby. The yarn is 50% cotton, 50% microfiber. It is working up so nicely, and when I'm not working on it, one of my bear friends is. ;-)





I just finished crocheting around the edge of a receiving blanket, and made a matching burp cloth. The pattern I used is modified slightly from the tutorial found over at Sew Chic. For crocheters: instead of slip stitching all the way around (I almost hate to slip stitch!), I did single crochets instead. I did use a slip stitch for the picot.




The burp cloth was my own "pattern", fashioned slightly after this tutorial. I didn't like the raggy edges, so I sewed and turned it, and topstitched around. Also, I didn't put batting in between the two layers of flannel. I've seen these around, in stores, and on blogs, and thought they looked really nice, because they wouldn't bunch up on your shoulder.

~Frogged Sweater~

This afternoon I frogged my sweater (frogged = ripped out). There were several reasons why I chose to frog rather than finish this project: my knitting was very tight and it was going to be much smaller than the pattern said, the size I was knitting was too small in the first place (yeah, not so smart), and the sleeves looked terribly wonky.

So. I like the yarn, and I will use this yarn for a different project. It actually feels good to have this sweater frogged - this project isn't hanging over my head any longer!

~WIP Wednesday~

I'm back in the "saddle" again! Yeehaw! ;-)

It wasn't lack of yarn that kept me from knitting. Perhaps I just needed a little break from the needles? I don't know, but I do know that I am thoroughly enjoying my project!

A year and a half ago, I started this project:



There were several things that went wrong: first of all, the yarn was not what the pattern called for. It really wasn't looking all that great. Secondly, I repeated the pattern wrong, and when I discovered that, I ripped out the whole project.

Last year on my birthday, I purchased the correct lace yarn (a mohair yarn) for this project. I didn't get around to starting it until a few weeks ago, and I had trouble starting it.

So finally last week I sat down, determined that this was going to work! And it is:




I love it! I'm glad I stuck with it!!!

~WIP-less Wednesday~

Wow, I still don't have a knitting project going! *taking my temperature* What is wrong with me??? I have projects I want to do, but I suppose I've been lazy in the evenings and just haven't felt like starting them. You know, starting a project, especially a knitting project, is the hardest part for me. I really don't like casting on and counting and recounting to make sure I have the right amount of stitches, then knit the first row or two, tear out, and then repeat several times over. Yes, that's usually how my projects get started.

So next week I hope to have an actual WIP to show! :-)

Happy Wednesday!

~Taking a Knitting Class~

I've been going through my 101 List trying to get things done. I have less than a year left to accomplish my list! Eeks...

OK, so some of the items on my list are just not going to happen. One of which is: #89 - Take a knitting class. When I wrote out my 101 List, I was a fairly new knitter, and there was a lovely yarn shop which offered classes for a decent price. I anticipated taking a class there.

Two things have changed: I have a little more knitting under my belt, and the LYS (local yarn shop) closed its doors. There are other LYS's around, but they charge an exorbitant amount for the classes, and they require you to purchase all your materials for the class there. I can understand the latter, but not the first. If they really want to encourage people to learn to knit/learn new knitting skills, why do they have to charge so much?

So I've made the decision to not complete this goal on my list. At least, not unless the class meets my criteria: fairly inexpensive and interesting !

Image source

~Rivulet~

Heather, at Knit or Knot, has just published her first knitting pattern - a lace scarf - and it is free! Click here to see the scarf. It is so pretty! I would love to make this, it just might become a WIP soon!

~WIP Wednesday~

My WIP's (works in progress) haven't been very WIPpy...I finished a few big projects and haven't really been working on much of anything. But I do have these afghan squares that I finished here and there:



My counted cross stitch is slowly coming along. All I have left is backstitching:

~Coming from Amazon.com~

Oooh, I can't wait! Tonight I ordered this:



Which of course has this in it:



I'm looking forward to receiving it! I hope I like the other projects besides this afghan. LOL But at least I'll have a copy to prove that my knitted work is in a published book! Too fun. *Smiles*

~Pigs Monkeying Around~

Using Sunnyside Ellen's Pigs In Mud colorway, I knit a second pair of Monkey socks. I love this pattern--so fun to work up!



The foot ended up being just a smidge on the long side. I think next time I knit this pattern, I'll switch to from size 2 to size 1 needles for the toe, and that would take care of that problem. It really isn't that big of a deal though--I wore these socks yesterday and they are very comfortable.

~Pigs Monkeying Around~

My newest sock venture:



So named because I'm knitting the Monkey pattern with yarn died in Pigs in Mud colorway from Sunnyside Ellen's shop.

I'm totally loving the yarn and pattern combination. My "piggies" will be nice and comfie in these socks. *Smiles*

~How Fetching~

As defined by Webster's New World College Dictionary:

fetch·ing adj. attractive; charming

Knitty's definition of Fetching:



I made these to go with my cabled scarf (same yarn used). I started them on Feb. 3rd, finished one and decided to pull it all out because it didn't cover my knuckles/palm. Then yesterday I looked at it and decided to add two more cable repeats to mirror the cuff. I just now finished the second one.



How fetching...a fun little novelty project. I do like my fingers to be warm, but I can see the benefit of these when I run my errands! I won't have to pull my gloves off to get into my purse for my bank card, keys, etc.

~WIP Wednesday~

I have one square done for my afghan:


I'm calling it "My Sock Afghan". I blocked it this morning. Now on to the rest of the sock yarn I have! *Grin*

My cabled scarf is 99.9% finished. I just need to weave in the ends and lightly block it. I'll post a picture when I get that done.

And my ripple afghan is coming right along. I think I have enough yarn left for four more stripes. We'll see! That should be finished shortly!

~WIP Wednesday~

I always, always, always have some sort of project going! It doesn't feel "right" to have no WIP's about!

My ripple afghan had been neatly folded and set aside for awhile, and now I'm determined to finish it up as quickly as I can! I had to buy one more skein of yarn, but that is it! I'm buying NO MORE YARN for this project!!!

This is a picture from last spring, since I procrastinated today and never got around to taking a decent shot while it was still light out!



My cable scarf has been in and out of my workbag, but mostly in. I have a love/hate relationship with the cables. I love the way they look, but I get to feeling annoyed every row that I need to pick my cable needle up. It's just one more thing to have in my hands, I guess. I know there is a method for not using a cable needle, but I have tried it several times and it doesn't work for me. That being said, I hope by next Wednesday I will have a finished scarf to show off! I'm about 75% finished!

And then, because I needed another project, I cast on for this afghan:



The book with this pattern in it is coming out this spring. Oh, see the tan and brown square near the lower left hand corner of the picture? I knit that, and it ended up in the afghan pictured in the book! *big, silly grin*

So of course, since I have the pattern, I decided to start the afghan now. It will be a sampler of the socks I've knitted. I figure it will take a while, but that's ok! My first square is being knit with the yarn from my mother-in-law's socks.

That's "all" I have in the works...for now! *Grin*

PS. Stop by Mrs. H's blog if you have a WIP Wednesday to share!

~Ravelry~

Ravelry is becoming increasingly addictive to me. Yesterday I spent an exorbitant amount of time adding my stash of yarn, complete with pictures. I forgot I had so much yarn! And I found out that two skeins of yarn, which I thought were the same dye lot - they aren't. And it is very obvious. Hmmm.

Do you knit or crochet? Do you "do" Ravelry? If not, why not join in the fun? I got my invite in July, promptly joined...and then did nothing. But now that I see how fun it can be, and how organized I can make my knitting (and crocheting), I'm having fun with it!

My user name is "Tammy" (very original, huh?). If you are a Ravelry member, will you leave your user name in the comment box? I'd like to visit you. :-) (I already have Mrs. H and Heather of Knit or Knot as friends on Ravelry.)