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.

The One with Finished Projects

I figure since I still have this blog, I may as well use it right!?!?  Right!

I haven't done a lot of crafting this summer.  Really not a whole lot in 2012, but I feel like I am back on track and thought I would share a few things I finished up over the summer (now that we are officially into Autumn/Fall).

First up, a few baby shower items for my friend all the way in Pennsylvania!

A little owl lovey that I think is so adorable.  I love the Cotton Ease colors for baby items.  I adore the little "ears".  I hope little Ryker loves on him!

My most favorite cloth to knit.  The multi-directional cloth using the Maize & Stone Cotton Ease colorways. I wanted to do another with the colors flipped, but I ran out of Stone and could not find any on my little day adventure.  The garter combined with the Cotton Ease makes it so squishy soft.

A hippo bib, because what little boy doesn't need a hand knit hippo bib?  Seriously the most adorable hippo.  I kind of wanted to make a ton of hippo squares and make a blanket out of it.  For me!

And a giraffe to boot.  I love the seed stitch border, even if I had knitting it.  It makes it pop!  

I worked up this granny corner cloth for a September KAL.  I like that the colors came together okay.  Originally I thought the variegated had that shade of blue in it, but it didn't.  Still I love the look.  I thought, while working on it that since it goes so fast and is super portable, you could easily make up a bunch and then piece them together.  Of course I still have hexie's waiting to be pieced and finished!

I did it!  I finally finished a blanket.  This is probably best described as stroller sized (it is folded in the photo).  I was aiming for receiving, but may have missed the mark.  I was pretty much done increasing though and to save my sanity said it was wide enough.  I used the old grandma's favorite pattern for this.
The cotton is so squishy with the garter stitch.  I wish I could make a huge bed out of cotton and garter stitch.  Of course I would never get out of it!

Another Milo.  This is a six month size and is for Ryker.  He was born on September 10th.  I just mailed it off this past week.  It took me a while to find a long-sleeved onesie to go with it.  It is machine washable, which I know his momma will appreciate.

Now it is time to get in the spirit and get some Christmas knitting done!  I can't believe that there is only one week left in September.  That is crazy.  I have a couple of projects planned, patterns picked and yarn on hand.  Now to just get that motivation needed to get it done!

FP: Fi-Fy-Fo-Fum

Finished Project: Fi-Fy-Fo-FumCraft: KnittingDate Range: May-August 2011 (took long breaks!)Yarn: Happy Feet (merlot & taupe)
Needles: US 2 & US 4Notions: Buttons (from button jar)Pattern Source: Fiona's TopModifications: Changed needle size to get a newborn size

Journey:

When I first saw this top I knew I wanted to make it.  I thought that the bodice was joined and knit in the round, but then I found out it was seamed and so I put it to the back of my mind (I am not much on seaming (not too good at it)).  But it just nagged at me and then I saw the Happy Feet and I knew that it would be perfect, so I sucked it up and cast on.  It went great, the first part of the back went fast, then I started losing focus.  Then I picked it back up in June and got the second part done and was almost done with the back and for some reason put it down to do something else.  I didn't get back to it until July and started the front and was going great, then focus started drifting towards nothingness again and finally I was so close, that I took a day off work to get it done.  The seaming went pretty darn good.  I am pretty proud of it. 

I had a heck of a time picking out some buttons for the back.  I must have spent an hour going through my button jar looking for something in the brown family and finally I thought, a pop of color and so I found two of these fucshia buttons (it is hard to find two matching buttons in my jar sometimes).  They were perfect!

It turned out exactly how I wanted (could be a touch longer).  I am keeping it for me (no I am not having a baby (far from it)), just for a little something special.  I am pretty sure that if my friends have girls, they can expect one at some point!

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.