Finished Objects

Well, Chloe didn't turn out too badly. Her head is big, but you don't notice it as much with the hair on. I hope to make more dresses for her wardrobe. The Quincy hat was a "wash". It is really big. I washed it, hoping it  would shrink some, but I think it got even bigger.
Also, have been busy making hats for Christmas gifts. My plan is to make nine, one for each male guest at our family Christmas get together. Then, we will do something like a Dutch Auction (or Dirty Santa) where you don't end up with the original gift you were given. If I am really ambitious, I will make scarves for the women and play the same game. We'll see, Christmas is still a long way off though.

Also, completed the Clover scarf. This is a scarf made from two colors. They gray part is wound around your neck and the pink sections will hang down. It was a pretty easy and quick scarf to make. Am currently working on my first shawl. It is also going quickly. Will post a photo when I have finished.

Seriously??

I have been working on Chloe, the doll on the front cover that goes along with Spud the sheep. The two brown blobs on the right are what I have knitted so far. The large brown blob is the body and the smaller brown blob is the head. Seriously?? Look how big the head is compared to the body. I do have to cover the top with hair, but am I going to have a doll that will tip over because her head is so big???? We'll see! I decided while knitting Chloe that I needed to also be working on something pretty. So I started (and finished) the Quincy hat. I loved knitting the hat because you knit an I-Cord on each side. I've never done that before. The yarn is beautiful and soft. But, alas, I don't like the hat. It's sort of big. Supposedly a man can wear this hat as well. I know Ron would never wear it! I guess I will just have to give it to the Coat Giveaway program at our church. My projects this week will be to: 1. Finish the Chloe doll 2. Continue to work on the Chicory scarf I started (again because I needed to work on something besides brown blobs!).

A Tribute

I would like to write a post in tribute to my mother who passed away one year ago this week. My love of knitting and creating in general I have realized this past year was passed down to me from my mother. This past year I have remembered that my mom was always doing something creative. She was always trying out a new "craft" of some kind, whether it involved ribbon, yarn, or even making a new recipe. Over the years I also have done many different types of crafts: cross-stitching, basket-weaving, scrapbooking, making books, knitting, baking, etc. (Yes, I consider baking crafty, especially when trying out new recipes). Now that I am knitting almost exclusively, it helps me to remember my mom. Everytime I pick up my needles to work on a project, I can remember my mom teaching me how to knit when I was a child. She always made me undo my knitting when we discovered a mistake. I hated that and everytime I have to do it today I can still hear her saying, "If you are going to do it, you have to do it right."

Another thing my mother passed down to me is my love of vintage items and antiques. The photo above shows my newest interest: vintage potholders. Yes, I am now collecting old potholders!! I saw an idea in a magazine showing these displayed on a wall. I already had four vintage potholders and purchased two more at an antique store in Cheyboygan, Michigan, while on vacation. The blue/orange potholder on the right was given to me from a woman I walk with a few times a week. She said it was from the 1920's. Luckily, these will be a fairly inexpensive thing to collect. My mom loved antiques and was always going to antique auctions and stores. So happily, I have many daily reminders of my mom. Thanks mom for teaching me to be creative.

I finished Jerry the Musical Monkey from Rebeccan Danger's Knitted Monsters patterns in time for Chloe's

birthday party on Sunday. She loved it and reached for it as soon as she saw it. He was very easy to make. I had intended to make one for each child at the party, but I found out there would be 9 children!! I do think I will make 2 more though for my niece Jordan and nephew Ethan to give as Christmas gifts.

I have started working on the doll named "Chloe" that goes along with Spud the sheep (see previous post). Also, because I needed something simple to work on while I have my garage sale this week, I started the "Quincy" hat. It is all knit to begin with, so I can work on it between customers.

FO's (Finished Objects)

Hurrah! I have some finished objects to show. I finally finished the pair of socks I started on June 6th. Yeah!! The pattern is called Spiral Galaxy and is from the Socks a la Carte book. I also finished Chloe's sweater vest in time for her first birthday party this Sunday. It is called "In Threes" and it was a very quick knit. I made it in four days. I love the little pink elephant buttons that I sewed on. The third thing I have finished is the felted diaper bag for when Lynn gets pregnant. Still working on the baby afghan, making about one square per week. Right now I am working on a knitted toy monkey I decided at the last minute to make for Chloe's birthday. Then I will make two dishclothes for a birthday luncheon I am going to for a walking buddy.

Knitting ADHD!!

I have many projects in the works right now (WIPs). I start one, then start another, and then another. I think the problem is that I was working on a hooded pullover for Chloe and wasn't seeing progress. So I started other projects that would knit up faster. As you can see by the photo above, I have several UFOs right now (Unfinshed objects).

I started the multi-colored hooded pullover for Chloe's 1st birthday on August 1st. I am making a size 18 months. I realized it was going to be too big for her, so I started the pink sweater. It is sized 12-18 months, so I think she can wear it this fall and winter. I made one sock from my new sock book, Socks a la Carte, and have the second one to start and finish. I also started making squares for a patchwork baby afghan. I'm hoping by the time I finish, Lynn will be pregnant and it will be already for the baby shower. I also started a red scarf from Charm yarn. It is very simple and something I can work on when I don't want to think too much. I also have completed a felted diaper bag for the hopefully soon to be held baby shower.

In the other picture you can see some beautiful skeins of sock yarn. There is enough to make 5 pairs of socks, in addition to the one I have to finish from Socks a la Carte. Again, I really don't have time to work. I decided to spend one hour each day this summer knitting during the morning. (I usually only knit when I sit down to watch TV in the evening.) So far I have only been able to do that 3 times and it is already July 11th!! While I knit I listen to the Never Not Knitting podcasts on the I-pad. It is inspiring to listen to and makes me want to knit even more. Hopefully I will be back soon with photos of completed projects!

I've been busy!! These two projects are made from Berocco Alpaca Yarn. They are so soft and I can't wait until next winter to wear them for warmth. The Shawl Collared Cowl was so fast and easy to knit. I would like to make more in other colors or for gifts. The hat was made from leftover yarn. It doesn't fit so great and I don't really like it all that much. Maybe I will donate it to our Coat Drive at church.

I finished the socks I was having issues with and am anxious to start my next pair. I checked out a great book from the library called Socks a la Carte. I have earmarked a few patterns to try.

I also started on Spud from the Spud and Chloe book by Susan B. Anderson. I hope to make all the farm animals in the book and of course, the doll named Chloe.