Lots to Share...and some Christmas spoilers

Hey Everyone!

I knew I hadn't blogged in a bit, but once I saw how many projects I've finished since my last post, I realized just how long it had been...yikes!!!  I actually have 9 projects to share, and a few that I've finished up, but am going to keep under wraps until after Christmas.

First up, The Diva's Bumbleberry Pie Hat.  I made another hat in the purple yarn I showed in a previous post.  This one fits perfectly, though I don't have a photo of the Diva wearing it.  I'll have to snap one this winter.

Next, a WCOBBS update.  As you probably read about in another post, I have been seaming blanket squares together to make some blankets for the WCOBBS.  I had some donated squares in boyish colors, but not enough to make a full 9-square blanket...so, I added a bunch of squares myself.  Here's the finished product (minus the border)...

On this blanket, I made the star squares in each corner, and the two burgundy squares (one is a dog bone and one is a football helmet).  I named this one "All-Star".  It took a while to finish, but was so worth it in the end!!

In other blanket news, I promised to post a photo of the blanket I made for my friend Jenn.  I wanted her to get it in the mail before I revealed it on here, and now that she's had it for a bit, here you go...

I'm really happy with how this blanket turned out, and I've gotten great feedback about the colors that I picked.  I like that it is girly, but it doesn't look like Barbie or Strawberry Shortcake threw up on it!!

Speaking of Barbie, here comes a Christmas gift spoiler.  I am quite certain that my niece H doesn't read my craft blog, so I'm not too worried about posting things on here.  So, Big Sis, if you're reading this, don't show the next few projects to your girls!!

I have whipped up a few items for H's growing Barbie clothes collection.  I plan on making a lot more, but this is the start. I made her a dress and sweater.  I also have plans for a fancy dress, some purses, maybe a hat or two, some pants...well, you get the point.

I think they look pretty good.  Because I have to use such small needles, I have to alternate Barbie clothes for H with American Girl clothes for her big sister A.  My hands can't handle all of the small needles!!  With the changing of the seasons, I have noticed my joints cramping up quite a bit when the needle size drops to below a US 6 or so.

Here is the outfit for A's American Girl doll.  When we were home in August, I showed A some patterns for AG clothes, and her face lit up.  I know she LOVES the color red, so I thought her doll needed something rosy red.

Here's a closeup of the skirt...

I really had fun making these!!  It was also fun dusting off my old American Girl doll so I could use her as a model.  The sweater is a play on the popular February Lady Sweater, and the skirt has a bit of texture, thanks to some carefully spaced ribbing.

Also in the works for A's doll, is a funky hat, some pants, another sweater, and possibly some socks.  Oh, and I found a pattern for doll slippers that match the ones I make all the time...do I smell a matching set??  Hmmmm....

Finally, I want to share some baby sweaters I made last week.  I am pretty thrilled with these...two sweaters in 3 days!!!  One of hubby's co-workers is having twins in a few weeks, and I thought they needed matching sweaters.  I didn't want to go all matchy matchy, so I did coordinating ones instead.  I used the popular 5-hour baby sweater for the girl, and the modified boy version as well.  I had fun making a "girl" sweater a while back for hubby's cousin's baby, but this one was so much better!!!  Not only have my knitting skills greatly improved since then, but my coice to use Vanna's Choice yarn instead of the Bernat Satin I used last time payed off!!!  The yarn almost has a woolly texture to it, and the stitch definition is so much better!!!

I sewed snaps into the garter borders this morning, and these sweaters are good to go!!  I hope to see some photos of the little ones in them!!! 

So, I think that's all I have to share today.  Like I said earlier, I have some other projects, but the people they are for might read this and see them.  I wouldn't want to spoil any surprises, so expect that after Christmas, I'll have a recap post that shows off all of the projects.

In the meantime, I have some more knitting to do...

Cheers and Happy Crafting!
Sharon

Chicken talk and holiday knitting

Hello Everyone!!!

So, I'm a knitting chicken...there, I said it! Not a cute knit chicken, like these, but a chicken when it comes to trying new things! The idea of knitting socks fascinates and thrills me, but the idea of going round and round on dpns bores me!! I know, I tried...needless to say, Olivia's legwarmers are not going to be done by Christmas!!

Knitting toys was a new challenge for me, since I had a fear of dpns. However, seeing the joy on the recipient's face when you give them a new handmade toy, made it worth it!

So, I decided to tackle yet another fear...mittens! We bought a pair of mittens for Hannah a few months ago at The Bay. They are super warm, but they don't fit her!! They have a draw string, which I thought would make them easier to put on, but they still fall off...her hands are just too small. So, I hunted down mitten patterns and found this one. I LOVE the way the pattern is written out...it is so user-friendly!!! I also appreciate the fact that they make it really easy to shorten the mittens for a custom fit!!!

So, I got out Nana's old dpns and cast on. I bought some UBER-soft wool at Walmart recently, and thought it would be perfect for mittens. Yeah, I know, 100% wool...hand wash only...not very child-friendly, but I don't have to wash Hannah's mittens very often, so I'm not too concerned.

After approx 24 hours of non-constant knitting, I present...

Hannah's Hand and Heart Warmers!!!

I am quite pleased with how they turned out. There are a few mistakes in them, but nothing that is noticeable or worth frogging for. I am so excited that I got over my fear!! Hmmm...what will be next? Socks, an adult sweater...*gasp* crochet??? We'll see. I have a few unfinished projects that need some post-holiday TLC first...oh yeah, and a few unfinished projects that are still supposed to be done pre-holidays!! Yikes!!!

Here are a few of the other projects I have been working on...

First up... another American Girl sweater. This one is a wrap kimono style sweater. It took a day or so to do, and is so cute!!! It has a nice eyelet detail in the front, and buttons along the bottom. I really like the way this turned out!!! WooHoo...another Christmas gift done!!!

I also decided to make myself a hat. I wish Hannah's would fit me, since she won't wear it, but its a no go. So, I found a similar adult pattern and got knitting. It didn't take me long to finish, but once I put it on...it looked AWFUL!!! My hair is too short and too close in color to the cream...so this one is destined for someones Christmas stocking too. Dang!

And finally, here is the sweater I started for Hannah when she was in the hospital recently. I don't have much done, as I am not in any hurry to finish it. I'm making it big and in spring weight, so there's no rush. It can wait until after Christmas to be finished. It is the same pattern as Hannah's Raspberry Tart, just in one size larger and with cotton-ease instead of bulky yarn.

So, that's what I have been up to. I still have to finish (err...start) a few gifts and then make a sweater for our friend's baby's first birthday. I figure I'll tackle that one when we're home for Christmas. I'll need something to keep me occupied and out of trouble!!!

If I don't write again before we head out of the country...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Christmas Knitting...and Other Stuff

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I want to warn you before you read this post that it contains Christmas gifts in it...if your name is Olivia, please STOP READING!!! So far, you're the only one I've started knitting for!!!

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So, I wanted to start off with some non-Christmas knitting, just in case my niece Olivia happens upon this post...I don't think she knows about my knitting blog, so I should be in the clear.

A little while back, I mentioned that I had started a new OBB...well, here it is. The blanket is called, “Ilanaaq”, which is the Inuktitut word for “friend”. It is also the name of the logo for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The whole thing will be done in the logo colors and in garter stitch. It is already with the third knitter...pretty cool, huh??

Next up...Hannah's Miffy. Hannah and I were browsing through patterns on Ravelry, and we stumbled upon one for a Miffy doll. She really liked it, and asked me to make her one. So, off to Michaels we went to buy some white and blue yarn. I am not 100% happy with how it is going so far. The increases say to be M1, but I think if I had kfb, I'd be in better shape. The M1s are leaving little holes, and I'm not thrilled about them. I'm not going to frog what I have done, but I will make a note on the pattern for the next time I make this one...since I am sure that Hannah will request another. I also plan to make the dress with snaps, so I can make several different colored ones.

So, this is Miffy's head. I am in the process of doing the decreases and then I have to split out the ears.

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Okay Olivia, if you've read this far...STOP NOW!!!!

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So, now for some Christmas knitting updates. I asked my sister-in-law, Eva, if the kids had any requests, and she informed me that leg warmers are popular back home. Okay, I can handle round after round of stockinette...but then she threw me a curve ball when I asked what color Oliva is currently fond of (it has always been purple in the past, so that's what I was expecting to hear). Nope...not purple...ORANGE!!! Yikes!!! I am not a huge fan of orange, and it isn't a real easy color to find...unless of course you count the scratchy stuff at Michaels which is perfect for little pumpkins...not so much for leg warmers.

Well, I lucked out and found some multi-colored yarn that had orange in it...and purple. So far, I am liking the striping effect, and I think the colors will appeal to an 11 (almost 12 year old) girl.

Sorry that the photo is sideways...I have no clue why this happened!!!

I still have a LONG way to go, since this is only the first one, but I figure that I'll work on them for a bit and then move on to something else...then come back to them. I am also thinking about getting another pair of dpns for this project...the ones I have are not liking the yarn. I think I need something a bit sharper at the ends.

Here is my first finished Christmas gift. Olivia collects American Girl dolls, so I thought I'd make her some clothes for them. I started off with a basic cape. I still need to find a clasp for the front, since I don't care for the I-cord look as much.

Here it is...modeled by my Kirsten doll.

It is just basic stockinette with simple increases...then you pick up stitches around the neck for the hood.

My only real mod to this pattern is that I didn't do a 3-needle bind-off on the hood. Instead I seamed it up. I really don't mind seaming, so I was happy when the directions said you could do either!!!

Not bad...if I do say so myself!!!

So, that's what I have been up to. I have lots more AG clothes to make, a scarf/hat set for one of my nephews, and who knows what else. I'll keep you posted as I move through my "To Do" list!!

Cheers!

Sharon