The Perfect Session

I was thinking the other day about when I get my best knitting done. I was wondering because I haven’t been getting nearly enough done and I was trying to figure out what I had to change so I make sure I capitalize on the time and get it done.

Here is what I have come up with:

• A good program to watch (I tend to do most of my knitting while watching television)
• A comfortable place to sit
• Beverage (knitting works up a thirst)
• Blanket/socks/warmth!
• Pattern/project bag/notions (I can’t tell you how many times I have sat down only to have the pattern across the room!)
• Dogs who are sleepy or outside (they always seem to know when I have settled in and just HAVE to go outside)
• A relatively empty bladder!

I think those are the basics to a good knitting session. I don’t think I could do a book on tape unless I had a mindless pattern to knit. I would get lost between the book and the pattern. Maybe some good music if I was without television.

So what are your must haves to a perfect knitting session? Did I miss something crucial? Hit the comments and let me know.

Dr. Frankenstein

I have been working on a little stuffy. I love to knit toys. It is so much fun to watch them come alive.

Now that I have said that, let me say that when it comes to finishing a toy, well I am little less enthused.

The little guy I am finishing up now has a lot of finishing work. A. LOT. The knitting went relatively quickly. But this finishing? This finishing is taking nearly the same amount of time to do!

I finished knitting his little bits on Sunday. I was ready to begin the finishing work on Monday, but had to make a trip to get some felt because, as is my life, I could not find any white or black felt in my house. So I made a trip to Joann’s on Tuesday, got white felt, picked up some dark green because I had an idea, and they were out of black. Wait, what? Out of black? At Joann’s? The day before Halloween? Seriously? Yes, seriously. Our Joann’s is a sad sad excuse for a craft store. I will leave that there.

I had to figure something out. I needed something black for his pupil. I briefly considered sticky back felt, but then I thought about dragging a sewing needle through that and that idea was quickly beheaded. I thought about just doing google eyes, but this is going to a wee one and that is not a good idea. Then I saw the answer. I could sew down, with a force as great as Sandy, some black pom poms and it would be fantastic and still safe-ish.

I also decided that I needed thread, some needles, a fancy pants needle threader and for some reason Mentos. Nearly $22 later I was set. Wait, $22 for felt?

I settled in and started cutting out tedious pieces of felt. It sucked my will to live. After an hour of that, I pushed it aside and set about sewing on his limbs. I sewed two tiny feet, two arms and a tail and it took me nearly two hours.

Last night I continued with the rest. After another two and a half hours I am still not done. But my eye idea worked out great. There is no way the wee one is getting those poms off. I will say that this guy is looking adorable and is so close to being finished.

I must admit that as I was working on sewing this guy up I was hit with the feeling that I was akin to Dr. Frankenstein. Here I am with all these pieces, sewing them together to create a creature. How fitting for Halloween right?

I can’t wait to introduce this little guy. Just another couple of hours of finishing and a photo shoot and he will be ready! 

Friday Four: Volume 1 Issue 1

A feature I do over on The Day Before Tomorrow and The Fat Journals, I thought I would start one here as well.

Four Christmas Projects I Have in Mind

 Three Brr Bears - I love Susan B. Anderson's patterns and my aunt loves bears, so it is like Kismet.  I plan on doing the medium sized bear using Knit Picks Comfy in white.  I was so excited to find the 4th ball I needed in my stash last week.

Fireball - I have had this in my queue for some time, just trying to figure out how to make it for myself who to make it for and I think that little Dane would love to snuggle this.  Or at least I hope he would love to snuggle it.

Gosling - I never know what to get for the girl who has it all, but I think these are beautiful and since it is chilly in the office, I think they would definitely get used.  I am thinking of diving into my KP stash in some luscious Comfy.  So soft, so warm.

Shhh...It's a Secret - Sorry I can't provide a link.  This is a top secret super special big sister gift.  And she is a blog savy girl and I don't want to surprise ruined.  I hope I get it done in time!  I will be sure to  link it up and post photos after Christmas (or her birthday just in case I don't finish for Christmas).

What's on your holiday knitting/crocheting/crafting list?  Do you fill it with complicated, long projects or keep them short?  Do you stress about getting things done in time?  Do you delete things once Thanksgiving rolls around?  Leave me a comment and let me know what you're up to this Holiday Crafting Season.

FP: Owl Hold That For You

Finished Project: Owl Hold That For You
Craft: Knitting
Begin Date: June ?, 2011
Completion Date: The next day
Materials: Knit Picks Comfy Bulky (?discontinued); Lining fabric
Notions: Button jar buttons
Pattern Source: Owl Diaper and Wipes Case

I needed a quick knit to go with a box of Pampers Swaddlers for a work place baby shower and then I remembered that I had purchased this pattern. I knew it would be perfect.

I quickly ran to my stash to see what I had in the bulky weight that would work (note: I don't have enough bulky weight yarn, and by that I mean, next to NONE!) I found some KP Comfy Bulky in the Marine colorway that I had purchased way last year for a different project that never did happen. I held my yarn doubled, to get a little more bulk. The Comfy Bulky feels like a worsted to me.

In the future I plan on using either cotton doubled or something more like Thick n Quick. I think I will shy away from the KP (too soft).

I had the lining fabric already sewn for another project (two years ago) so I was happy to finally use it. I just love the print. I wish I had more of it. *sigh*

All the buttons came from my button jar. Do you know how hard it is to find two of the same button? Oy...I was lucky.

I noticed that going from the tighter knits of the cables to the purls left ladders. I am not happy with that, but I am not quite sure how to fix it. I always pull my yarn pretty tight (I am a tight knitter, but these ladders make me look like a ginormous loosey goosey). If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please drop me a comment or email me at mystery@bresnan.net . I can also be found on Ravelry with the id: LdyPngn.

Happy little knit, I plan on making again and again. Owls are so in right now! Perfect for a boy or girl. This went to an expectant little girl.

FP: Red Queen

Finished Project: Angie's Red Queen

Craft: Knitting

Begin Date: January 2011

Completion Date: March 2011

Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool

Needles: US 6: US 10: US 11: US 17

Notions: Fabric covered buttons

Pattern Source: Antique Alice in Wonderland Spats

Raveled: Angie's Red Queen

In my big push of projects in January, I completed the wrist cuffs in just a couple of days. Then something happened and I lost my mojo, and put off making the anklets until March. During the hiatus, I was frantically looking for some buttons that would work. Finally, taking into account the other items in the gift, I settled on making my own fabric covered buttons in a fabric used on a little pouch that just so happened to be the same fabric I had used to line a red bag that I had given to the same friend 9 months earlier. I love the buttons and I love the whole look.

Such as easy pattern, it is quick and makes a great gift for a fashion forward young lady. I think the anklets would look great with leggings and the wristers are great with sweater or long sleeve t-shirts/tunics.

FP 5: These Booties Were Made For Walking

Finished Project: These Booties Were Made for Walking
Craft: Knitting
Begin Date: February 4, 2011
End Date: February 4, 2011
Materials: Plymouth Jeannee - Purple (20)
Needles: US 6 & US 5
Pattern Source: Inspired Booties

I had these in my queue for most of 2010 and never got around to knitting them.  Then 2mayboys knit up a pair and had so kindly gifted me some of the Jeannee yarn and I had no reason not to do them.  So Friday while home sick, I settled in to some dvr and knit these up in no time flat.  I love the construction and they work up so fast.  These are sure to go into the "baby shower knits project book".  They take no time at all, so baby can be set with footwear for every outfit throughout a good portion of his or her babyness months. 

Like 2mayboys, I chose to do the ribbing and I took it down to a US 5 needle just to make sure I got that tightness to hold these little cuties on.

I cannot wait to make a Pittsburgh Penguin themed pair.

FP 4: Dr. Duck

Finished Project: Dr. Duck
Craft: Knitting
Begin Date: January 15, 2011
Completion Date: January 16, 2011
Yarn: Lily Sugar & Cream: Warm Brown, Dark Pine, Hot Orange, Ecru
Needles: US 4
Notions: Safety Eyes
Pattern Source: Round Duck

First and foremost, I should emphasize the importance of reading the directions through first before beginning any project.  Like 97% of crafters, I did not do that and I had to frog a very unsymmetrical duck body and start over!  But, the second time around went so much more smoothly and I learned from my mistakes and even better, I was able to take full advantage of the clever way this little guy comes together.

Pattern designer Clare Doornbos provides a very detailed pattern with loads of photos (that you should totally look at before beginning).  Her clever short-rowing and the in-the-round pick up for the head is just something that I gushed about for days (of course it was to all my non-knitting friends so they just smiled along with me).  I will definitely be checking out more of Clare's patterns at Natty Knits.

I love this pattern and will be making many more Round Ducks, I am sure.

This is for my NCIS swap partner and it represents Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard so to go with it, I designed my very own Ducky Bow Tie to finish the English Gentleman Look.

FP 3: 2 for Tripping

Finished Project: 2 for Tripping
Craft: Knitting
Date Began: January 8, 2010
Date Finished: January 9, 2010
Pattern Source: Craftster
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft - black & gray
Needles: US 6
Modifications: Cast on 19 for the blade, leave 4 on either end, bo 11

I just needed to have these for little Lilith to wear when we watch games.  Especially now that she has her whole Penguins outfit (onesie, custom hat).  What girl does not want hockey skate booties to keep her feet warm and show how much she loves the game? 

These knit up super fast and would have been done in one afternoon if I had not taken one of those unintentional naps. 

I left a long tail at the beginning (so glad I did) as I did not know at the beginning which edge would be stitched to close the boot.  Turns out it is the cast on edge.  So, I definitely recommend that.  A simple whip stitch is all it took.

I originally had this great idea of using baby rick rack to lace up the boots, I don't recommend that.  I ended up just using some gray scrap yarn to lace up and tie.

A great free pattern that could easily be adjusted with either larger/smaller needles/yarn or some math and little ones can be totally rocking the look on hockey night!

FP 2: Stashed Away

Finished Project: Stashed Away


Craft: Knitting

Date Began: January 2, 2010

Date Finished: January 5, 2010

Pattern Source: Lily Sugar 'n Cream Eco-Kitchen

Yarn: Sugar 'n Cream - Sage

Needles: US 10



I wanted to get an early start on Christmas gifts for 2011 and I knew that I really wanted to make this basket for a dear friend and fill it with lots of little goodies.

I didn't read the pattern all the way through and went to start and realized I needed to knit with three strands! Really three strands? And only on a size 10 needle? With 100% unforgiving cotton? Are you sure? Yes, yes I am sure. So off I went to wind balls from my brand new fresh cone. That was fun. Note to those of you wanting to do this...just buy three or four balls and knit from that. I am sure it will be much easier. I wound and wound my way and finally was able to get started.

The pattern is really easy and is only a four row repeat. To get the required 2 1/2", I needed to complete two and one half repeats. The four sides looked kind of small and I thought, well it will still be a cute basket.

Once I started the bottom of the basket, I thought that the whole thing was going to be one big wonky mess. The bottom seemed huge and the sides seemed tiny. How was this ever going to come together? But together it came. Once I seamed all the sides together I found out the basket was going to be much larger than I anticipated. Oh well, more stuff to fill it with! It needs a bit of blocking (I am just looking for the right shape to fit in there to block it around), but I am super pleased with it and I think that the recipient might just like it.

My First Sweater

Finished Project: US Olympic Sweater

Pattern: Sweater Ornament
Begin Date: 2-21-10
End Date: 2-21-10
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette – Blue (Cream, Pimento)
Needles: US 2
Size:
Modifications: None

Comments:
I can’t believe I knit my first sweater in one day! Oh my gosh and it was so easy! This was a fun little project, once you got past all the rounds and rounds of knitting and got to join the arms to the body! I started this on Sunday afternoon during the Russia/Czech men’s hockey game and finished it during the US/Canada men’s hockey game (GO USA!). I had a few breaks in between (trying to take a nap and running out to the store).

I spent a could couple hours on Tuesday night doing the duplicate stitching while watching some skiing action (who would have thought it would take a couple of hours!?!). I wish I would have gone with just one solid color, but live and learn. I certainly do not want to pull it out and start over!

I received the ornament kit from Knit Picks for Christmas and I really want to knit the Sipalu (just waiting for Teal to become available (I might have to check ebay!) but I wanted to work with the Palette  first to see how it felt. I had not problem with it at all. It didn’t make me itch and feels nice on the finished project.

Perhaps next I will work one with the fair isle chart to get my feet wet on the isles!

These would be super for a gift add-on on the outside of the package or holding a gift card. You could easily settle in with a good movie and have one (or more for you fasties out there) by the time the end credits roll.