Stephen's Blanket and Seattle Fingerless Gloves

Well, it's long over due, but I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures of some projects I was working on in 2011!!   First up, Stephen's Baby Blanket!!! 

The last picture I posted was of the completed squares-on the off chance that Brigitte might see, I didn't want to post any pics of the completed blanket before I gave it to her!

First I sewed the squares into rows:

 

Then the rows were all sewn together-ta-daaa!   

Here's the blanket with a little friend ;)

 Brigitte loves the blanket-so does Stephen! :) I think I might even have enough leftover yarn to make another one to donate to Maggie's Place. :)

Another project I worked on last fall was a pair of fingerless gloves.  When I walk to work my hands may be cold early in the morning, but about halfway to work they will get overheated so I'll remove my gloves, then the get chapped (ouch!)  The fingerless gloves are perfect-they keep my hands just warm enough and prevent them from getting chapped.

So I was looking for a pattern for fingerless gloves that could be knitting on straight needles (although I really need to get over my fear of knitting with dpns. ;) ).  I found this pattern for Seattle Fingerless Gloves-they are perfect! (I have to dig up the link and post it in my next post, which hopefully will not be 9 months from now. ;) ). 

The yarn I used was Boku from Plymouth yarns.  The color on the tag simply says #2, but I'm sure there is a name for it somewhere...  Anyhoo, I picked this color because it reminded me of the wonderful multitude of colors as the leaves change in the fall. :)

Here are a couple of pictures with some color detail:

 The completed squares:

Finished gloves:

Aren't they pretty? :)

I started working on a light scarf to go with the gloves, but alas, it has fallen into the UFO basket (at least for now!)

For the beginning of 2012 I worked on headbands for our library's  Relay for Life team, a pair of socks, two more pairs of fingerless gloves (using a different pattern), and a couple of washcloths for a friend of mine who was traveling to Africa and was creating some care packages to give away (details and pics coming soon!)

Of the projects I started in '12, I've finished the headbands, one pair of fingerless gloves (for Good Friday-more on that later!), and the washcloths.  Ahhh, I do love UFOs! ;)

Wraps and babies-baby wraps?

Ahhhh, my poor, poor little neglected knitting blog. Someday I will truly post more on a regular basis. Alas, 2011 was not the year to do that!

Actually, I was looking at my goals for 2011 post, and, well-yeah. Haven't even begun to try to organize my stash, I don't think I finished any UFOs lately. Eh, it's only September, right? ;)

This year has not been a total waste craft-wise. I did sew a purse and make a Steampunk Elephant pin (which I need to post on Wandering. I've also been working on several different projects this year.

Here's an updated pic of the Rainbow Wrap I started in 2010, using Jo-Ann's Rainbow Boucle yarn:


I don't know why I continue to try to work with boucle yarn-it's difficult to work with-thin and tangley. Yet I keep trying! I've already put one boucle project on hold-I'm determined to finish this one!

In March and April (actually, I may have started as early as February this year), I worked on headbands for our Relay for Life team at CWRU. I thought I had some pictures uploaded, but apparently not-will have to get some!!

This summer I have been working on a baby blanket for Persephone! She is due towards the end of this month. So far I am 1-1 on finishing baby blankets before the little tots are born. I finished Mal's baby blanket a mere hour before she was born-and poor Bella-her's is not finished yet!! As with the Rainbow Wrap, I am determined to finish that blanket-even if it has to be a babydoll blanket. ;) As long as Perseph's little one decides not to come early, I should be okay. This time I picked a simpler pattern to work on-a blanket which has 81 3 inch knitted squares, like so:

(square knitted in Lamb)

The yarn is Lion Brand's Vanna's Choice Baby:

It may be a simple blanket, but it is being knitted with love, and, as an added bonus-part of the proceeds from the purchase of this yarn is donated to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital, which I think is really awesome. :)

I have finally finished the squares:

(Colors from top to bottom are Sweat Pea; Duckie; Goldfish; Bluebell; Pink Poodle; and Lamb)

I'm currently working on sewing the squares into strips, then sewing the strips together. Since my squars are not perfect 3x3 squares, I may end up crocheting a border around the blanket, to make it look more even. In any case, I did not need all the required yarn at all-in fact, when the pattern called for 2 skeins, I ended up only using one. I'll have some more yarn to add to my stash (which I really must organize, LOL).
(and no, I am not posting a pic of the completed blanket until I give it to Persephone!) ;)

picture updates

In an effort to keep this blog more active, I thought I would post some pictures of projects I have been working on. :-D


Although the other two projects I will feature in this post are still UFOs, this is an actual finished project!! Every January Perseph's husband goes to the CWRU Film Society's Scifi Marathon. Usually it's right after the students return from winter break, around MLK Day. That weekend, Perseph and I have a girls weekend, and usually have a marathon of our own. :) Last year it was Family Guy, and I wanted to knit while watching-but it had to be something simple, as I didn't want to loose my place at the slightest distraction. Hence, this scarf was born. Knitted with Lion Brand Homespun yarn on size 13 needles. I used two colors knitted together: #85 Fuchsia & #386 Grape, in a straight garter stitch. This yarn was actually given to me by a friend who had trouble working with Homespun yarn (it tends to fray). I love pulling yarn out of my stash and finding a use for it! Dunno what I'll make next January-maybe I'll get adventurous, or maybe I'll just play it safe. ;)

Speaking of patterns that need to be done with minimal distractions, I know I've talked about it, but never have posted any pics. Well, here is proof that I really am working on a baby blanket!


Although Bella is getting big, I am determined to finish this blanket for her-even if it's just given as an heirloom, she will eventually get this!! This pattern tends to give me a hard time because I can be easily distracted, then loose count-I need to find a nice quite afternoon so I can work on it some more. Here is a little more detail:


Isn't it pretty? Even though I'm not a Vikings fan, her folks are, and I'm sure she's becoming one. (btw, the pattern just happened to call for the yellow and purple-or rather, Lemonade and Grape. ;)) The pattern is one I found in a Creative Knitting magazine, and is being knitted on a size 6 circular needle.

I do crochet!! I've had a couple of successful crochet projects (purses for my nieces). I don't remember how I found this-it was featured on one of my geeky lists. A crocheted Dalek!!!! The creator was on LiveJournal, and after she finished making one of her own, graciously shared the pattern with the rest of us crafty scifi geeks. :) I don't know why I have so much trouble with crochet, but I do. Here's the current status of my Dalek:


Kinda looks like a PacMan Ghost with a funny nose. ;)

I haven't completely abandoned it-I hope to one day create an army that can roam about a fuzzy Skaro. ;)

slow progress on the baby blanket

Oooh! another long bout without any posts here. Shoot.

Work on Shanna's baby blanket is coming along...albeit slowly. In fact, the baby came before the blanket was finished! (well, i sorta expected that to happen)

Welcome, Isabella!!! Your blanket should be ready by Christmas!!! :)

Must post pictures of it's progress. Despite the fact that it's coming along slowly, I'm really quite happy with the way it's turning out. The lace pattern isn't too bad, once you get the hang of it. ;)

baby blanket update

Just a brief update!!

I've been working on Shanna's baby blanket-i've finished the lower borders-both the lace and the slip-stitch. Didn't have too much trouble with the slip-stitch border-that was actually pretty easy. I just started working on the center panel-I was hoping to have more of it done so I could have an establish pattern before I went on vacation, but I just haven't had the time.

The center panel is similar to the lace pattern, and although it may be difficult the first pattern cycle, once it's established and I've done a few repetitions, it'll become easier. I can work on it in front of people, and not have to worry about getting distracted and loosing count when someone sneezes! LOL. ;)

I took a picture when I finished the lower lace border-I didn't get a chance to post it yet. Now that I've done quite a few more rows-I'm going to need a new picture! Boy, I'm slow. ;) Someday, I will start posting progress pics again!