Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I could cry...

Okay, so sitting here looking up some websites that were published in my knitting magazines and we came across this website....

What Not to Crochet

DEFENITELY check it out. Hilarious. Make sure you check out the post labeled I Nearly Didn't Write This Post. I almost cried I laughed so hard. I thought about posting one of the pictures as my wallpaper so I got a laugh every time I turned on the computer...but it boarderlines disturbing when you look too long....

Check it out!

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I promise to catch up soon...lots of knitting going on over here in Ireland....

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Cable Gymnastics!!

I just learned how to cable without a cable needle! I think that it is REALLY going to make my cabling faster. Eventually anyways, it may take me a few times to get the hang of it. I learned how from a tutorial here. It is REALLY easy to follow. I will keep you in touch about how it goes. SO far so good! It is going to make doing my dad's Reversible Cable Scarf SO much easier!!
Theresa

Friday, October 17, 2008

My First Pattern!!

I just did my very first pattern all on my own. I'm pretty proud of myself. I know that it is a very simple pattern and project, but it is the first one I have designed entirely on my own. The story behind it is that I made myself a pair of pink hand warmers and Layla really really wanted a pair so, of course I wanted to make her a pair. I didn't want to have to do the cabling on her's though because most likely she will lose one somewhere and I didn't want to put that much into it. I realize that sounds mean, but come on, she's 3. Chances are, she is going to lose a warmer. So, this design came from wanting to make something simple that could go on either hand so she would't have to figure out which hand was which (we are still working on Right and Left, although she is getting better). I'm sure that there are similar patterns to this out there, so any similarities are completely accidental. Let me know if there are any mistakes, OK. I hope that your little one will enjoy them as much as mine does.

Layla's Pink Mitts
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Materials
Worsted weight yarn in 2 different colors. Make 1 (A) and the other (B). (I do not know the exact amount, but it really wasn't very much)
I used Plymouth Encore Worsted in Hot Pink (A) and Light Pink (B). I used 2 different
colors, but if you want to use only one or more than 2, feel free. The directions are just what I did with two colors.
1 set US #6 DPNs
Tapestry needle

Gauge
14 sts/15 rows = 2" in 2x2 rib
11 sts/17 rows in 2" in stockinette stitch
I am really bad at figuring gauge, especially in the round and in rib. Luckily since it is a rib
pattern, gauge is forgiving. You won't be knitting in St st, but I included the gauge in case
it helps.

PATTERN
CO 32 sts with A as follows:
Needle 1: 12 sts
Needle 2: 12 sts
Needle 3: 8 sts

Knit in 2x2 rib pattern as follows:
A for 8 rounds
B for 8 rounds
A for 6 rounds
B for 5 rounds
On next round, continue knitting with B and knit in pattern across Needles 1 & 2. On needle 3, K2 then BO 4 sts knitwise, then purl remaining stitch.
Next Round: Switch to A and knit around in pattern to where you bound off the 4 stitches on the row below. CO 4 sts (I used the Backward Loop method), purl the last 2 sts on that round.
Continue in pattern with A for 3 more rounds.
B for 4 rounds
A for 2 rounds
B for 2 rounds
Bind Off in pattern with B.

Turn inside out to weave in ends. Make another Mitt the same way. ENJOY!
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Lots of Catching Up To Do!

Wow, I haven't posted any progress on here in a LONG time! I can't believe that. I have gotten several things done, I should probably tell you about them, huh? :) OK,where to start...My first pair of fingerless gloves. I LOVE them so much! I will have to come back and link the pattern from Ravelry because it is down right now. :( Anyways, they are done with Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" in Ombre Navajo. They are really pretty. They are to go with my orange hat. They have a really pretty braided cable up the middle. They were actually my first FINISHED cable project.
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I have also made myself a hat. It is the same pattern as the umbrella hats that I have made for babies, but I LOVE the pattern, so I made myself one. I just cast on an extra Umbrella flounce or whatever you want to call it. I think that it turned out pretty cute. It is kinda long, but at least it will keep my ears covered.
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I made myself a second pair of mitts to go with the hat. Well, unfortuantely, the colors don't match very well. I have enough yarn that I will probably make myself a quick hat out of this yarn, just so it matches, but we will see. I LOVE these handwarmers, I want some in every color. I am not sure which I like more, these or the Navajo ones.
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Finally, Friday night before a bonfire on Saturday, I realized that if it was cold Saturday night, Jillian would have nothing on her hands. So, I got busy and made her some mittens really quick. These were a SUPER fast knit, and only took a couple of hours. I used some scraps to embroider on them. I think they turned out well.
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I now only have 2 projects on the needles, my dad's scarf and my grandmother's wrap. I do still have my elephant on needles, but that project is hybernating for a bit...just wasn't in the mood to finish it.

I have some other stuff I want to cast on for, I may have to make a list from my Ravelry page...too many things!
Love,
Theresa

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

My Sanity project...

I've been working earnestly on my brothers manbag, and I'm so glad he wants me to knit him one, but wow. Navy blue chunky yarn doesn't knit up quickly at all. In fact, it may make me CRAZY!!!!! I finished the front panel, and have cast on and finished about 2 inches of the strap (I couldn't force myself to do another panel of ST st in navye), when I decided I desperately needed a fun fast bright project to get motivated.

So I knit Hazel a Cuddly Bunny by Lion Brand. (I'd link the pattern if I didn't have to go look up my password...I'm lazy today)

It took about 3 hours from start to finish!!! And it doesn't have a face b/c she's latched on to him/her and anytime I go to work on her/him, Hazel comes to snatch him/her!