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

Meet Burke...the Bunny (and some other odds and ends)

Meet Burke the Bunny. I am so proud of this latest project!!! The pattern is Rabbit by Susan B. Anderson. I was a bit hesitant to try my hand at this little guy, since it involved so many increases and decreases, etc. I still consider myself to be a scarf/blanket aka square edges kind of girl. This also involved double pointed needles for the entire project, and if you know me, you know at I think that double pointed needles were invented by the devil!!! After Burke, I am starting to rethink this theory.

His body is knit up in one big piece...a round ball actually. Susan suggests stuffing the body with a tennis ball, though I decided to stick with good old Fiberfill. Then, the legs and arms are knit on their own and stitched on, and the head and ears are all one piece. I had a few "booboos" along the way, but thankfully I figured out my mistakes and was able to trudge on.

The entire project took me 2 days to do, so needless to say, there will be many more "Rabbits" in my future. I may even pick up some green yarn and take a stab a Rabbit's best friend, "Ribbit".

Along with Burke, I knit up some booties and mittens for a friend's baby that is due next month. These will be shipped off to VT along with my Willoughby blanket.

Well, I'm off to work on a baby bib that I started for one of Craig's co-workers. It will be gifted along with Burke. Then perhaps I'll start another bunny...we'll see.

Cheers!
Sharon

I Told You There Would Be More

Happy Friday!!!

So, as promised in my last post, I have a few more projects to talk about...

First up...Just Beachy. Though not my favorite blanket to work on (I love everyone else's sections, I'm just not super pleased with mine), it is special to me, since it was my 5th blanket with the WCOBBS!!! I originally was supposed to use a puffed rib pattern, but it just wasn't working, so I went with my old standby...the Moss Stitch. This time I jazzed it up a bit and did a Double Moss Stitch!!! I know, I know, I'm a rebel!!!

Each section of this blanket represents some part of the beach...the green is for seaweed, the dark blue is for the ocean, the lighter blue is for the sky, my white section is for the clouds, and there will be two brown sections added...one to represent driftwood and one for the sand.

I have also started on Hannah's sweater. I changed what pattern I was using several times, and I finally settled on a basic cardigan pattern from Lion Brand. So far I am 3/4 of the way done the back, and it is going right along. It is a basic stockinette sweater with seed stitch borders...nothing fancy, but perfect for Hannah. She should get a lot of wear out of this!! The yarn I am using is Bernat Chunky in the Summerset colorway. I love it!!! I'll be sure to post some in progress photos as I get further along.

Other than that, I am planning on making some winter items for the Inn from the Cold shelter in Calgary. I have some leftover yarn from other projects that will make nice hats and mittens for those who need them. I've never made mittens before, and I have limited hat experience, so this will be a learning experience for me!!

One final project that is being worked on is...me!!! Last weekend I FINALLY went to the eye doctor and got myself a new pair of glasses. It's not that my vision is bad, but I have an astigmatism in each eye, and glasses do help to correct them. Along with glasses, I am getting my hair chopped tonight. I would say cut instead of chopped, but when you are getting 12+ inches taken off, chopped seems to be a more appropriate term. I plan on donating my hair to Locks of Love for the second time, and though I am nervous about getting a new look, I am happy to help others...and I need a change!!! I'll be sure to post Before and After photos as soon as I can!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Love,

Sharon