2012

Here is a quick list of everything I got done in the year of 2012

Crochet: 5

~Baby Booties:

~~~Tootsie Wraps Crochet Baby Booties

~Baby Sweater/Jacket:

~~~Hexagon Jacket
~Hats:
~~~Dino Hat

~Scarves:

~~~Old Meets New Granny Square Scarf

~~~Zig-Zag Scarf

Knit: 14
~Baby Sweater/Jacket:
~~~Baby Surprise Jacket
~~~Very Versatile Top Down Cardigan

~~~Girly Girl Caplet
~Hand Covers:
~~~Simple Braided Mitts (turned mittens)
~~~Foxgloves
~~~Foxgloves with fake fingers
~Hats:
~~~Leafy Tops Hat
~~~Faux Cables
~~~Karkauspäivän Pipo - Leap Day Hat
~~~Cabled Scarf-hat
~~~Beasty Beanie

~~~Chutes Beanie

~~~Dropped Stitch Hat

~Scarves:

~~~Sherbet Smush

Got another one done in time!

I thought that I was done for the year, but it turns out I was wrong!

These are actually a combination of patterns.  The main hand is from Foxgloves(Ravelry link), but the bind-off is from Phalangees.  I love this way of binding off finger-less mitts!  I don't like how fiddly doing short fingers can be (I've tried it) but I also don't like how the top of finger-less mitts gape after you move your hand.  This fixes everything!  I had to do a bit of math to get the stitch-count to work, but I think they turned out pretty good.

Originally they were going to be for me, but I made the hand-part a bit too long. Oh well, I have my eye on some fall colored yarn to make myself a similar pair.

End of the year push!

Here are some of the things I was able to get done before the year went and slipped away from me.
Now I've noticed something about my posts.  They are a lot shorter than I had planned.  I had thought that I would share about a bunch of things and that there would also be pictures.  It seems, in reality, that I pretty much go "look what I made!"
As I was working at my day job I stumbled upon an interesting looking book: 642 Things to Write Journal
I thought something like that would be a fun project I could post on my other blog.  Then I realized that I really, really don't need to try and give myself another project.  I have my small business I'm trying to get re-started, this charity blog, and geocaching to try and juggle.  After thinking it over for a bit, I realized that I could add that as a project.  I could do a bit of writing and then post my usual "look what I made!" on here.
Here is where I stand on it now.  I'm thinking I shoudl try and send the people responsible for the book before I do anything to make sure it is okay with them that I slowly post their entire book online.  What if they say 'no'?  Then I could just post on both Craftster and NaNoWriMo asking for interesting questions or things to write about.
"A houseplant is dying.  Tell it why it needs to live."
How awesome is that?  I suggest that everyone go out and buy 642 Things to Write!

...and now onto the "look what I made" part of this post!

This is the Chutes Beanie I did as a test knit and actually found an error in how the pattern was written!  Very fun to knit and comes in a bunch of sizes.

Remember this from a good long while ago?  My Girly Girl Caplet is finally completely done!  It finally got a hook and loop attached to the inside near the top.  If I knit this again I think I will add three buttons to it instead of the hook.

I was teaching classes at work about the "old" granny square and the "new" granny square at different times. I thought that a granny square scarf would be cute, but I couldn't decide on just one, so I used both!

I know I mentioned that it was done before, but I never took a good picture of it!

I didn't start this Zig-Zag scarf, but since I had no directions to go by or anything I will count it.  It took me forever to realize it was done in half-double crochet!

It is really neat to see this Hexagon Jacket come together as you crochet the hexagons!  It is kinda magical!  I added a crab-stitch boarder, but that may have made the collar area a bit stiff.

I was at work making the sample for the stitch of the month.  It was a fun dropped stitch pattern.  I decided that it would make a really cute hat!  Instead of knitting it back and forth I went in the round and twisted the knit stitches.  It can make any size as long as your stitch count is divisible by 8.

These Tootsie Wraps Crochet Baby Booties don't look like much here, but they look adorable on an actual baby-foot, I swear!  I just don't have any around I am able to use.

That is everything I have been able to finish since my last update!

Falling behind on updates...

I've actually finished a few things, but seem to have forgotten to share them! While this sounds like a post that will have some finished items and some links for you to follow if you want to make them, it is not.
I will post some pictures, but I have too many things that are soooo close to being done that I will put off posting about the ones that are fully done to try and motivate myself to finish the last few things.

 

Sleeve of a crochet baby jacket.

 

 

Part of a crochet fashion scarf. 

Sherbet Smush

I finished it! I live how it feels, I think I need to find the same kind of yarn in other colors and make one for myself.
I used the Directional Colors Scarf for the main part, but since I made it wider than the pattern I had to use Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf to finish the last triangle.
I found instructions to make the crochet version, so I think that will be next.  I'm excited!
I wish I had more to say, but that would take away from my crocheting time.

Directional Colors Scarf

Northward, ho!

Headed to OH this weekend for a wedding. I get to be a brides maid! It isn't as bad as it sounds, the dresses are quite nice and could be used again.
There is, however, a 7 hour drive between me and OH. Luckily for me, someone else is driving. Hopefully I will be able to do done catching up on charity work that I fell behind on because of my second job.
...I hope I brought enough yarn...

Baby what-ies?

The baby booties only need some buttons, but even folded they don't look totally like baby booties to me. I might have to find a foot to model it on. Real or plastic, I will make this work!
In other work, I have a scarf started that will be my "I have no idea what to make next, but I have to leave for knitting in a few mins" project.
Here is a picture of it next to some festive chai. I might need to go and buy some more red yarn. I left it at work and the red seems to have gone missing. I'm hoping that someone was nice and put it away to be safe and it didn't wonder home with someone.

Those are a funny looking scarf

The scarf is not playing nicely. Each of my triangles are getting bigger and bigger. It looks like I am going to check Ravelry to see if anyone else was able to figure it out.
In the meantime I am working on some crochet booties. They look funny now, but they will fold and become adorable.

Crochet Granny Square scarf is done!

Here is a picture of the scarf the night that I finished it. Flat Tire isn't a bad beer.
 

I have already started another scarf already. It is a crochet version of the This and That Way Scarf that I sometimes teach at Jo Anns.  Next to it is my blueberry spinach smoothie, yummy.

 

( I am also trying out the app, so if it looks funny, that is why)

So busy!

I've been so busy that I've pretty much had no time to work on anything of my own idea.
I work on my commissioned accessory job, go to my "day job" and then back to accessories.  I did want to give a short update though.
Here is a sneak-peak to the scarf I have been working on:

Last knit thing for a bit...

I finished the test knit for the most part.  I finished all the knitting and all the fun stuff.  I'm just missing some buttons and I will be done with it!  I changed the pattern on the sleeves a little bit to make it match the "design feature" of the body.

Very Versatile Top Down Cardigan (Ravelry link)

She offers a ton of sizes for this pattern and two variations.  I told her to charge more than she decided on in the end, but as long as she is happy with the amount, that is all that matters.  I knit the biggest size and it knitted-up very quickly.  I think I will be using the pattern again once I start adding knitting projects.

I think I need to give more love to crochet and sewing for a bit.  I have enough fabric I got for projects that I should use some before it starts to smother me at night.  Also, since I have been crocheting, I'm remembering how much I love doing it.

Here's to more variety of crafts! Cheers!

I feel very special right now...

The kind of special that makes you wonder how you manage to put your cloths on the right way all by yourself in the morning.
I am working very quickly on the second sample knit so I can try and get it done before the dead-line.  I get to the last little bits of the first skein of yarn and go downstairs to find the next one.  I check the first area I think it might be in, nope, not there.  But that is okay, I might have been a crazy person and put it somewhere that makes sense (aka, not my kitchen floor)
I go and look in the bin of yarn that holds my started charity projects.  It is also a space for extra yarn for said projects as well.  I find the bag with the right label and give myself a little mental pat on the back for being so organized.
Then I quickly take it back.
The green yarn in the bag (which I have 4 skeins of) is darker than the green I was using.  It's not even a dye-lot issue, it is a completely different colors issue.  This means I found the green I only bought one skein of (and not even on the same trip) and started with that.  I did some minor flailing to try and make everything better.
When that didn't work, I figured I could tink back to the beginning of the row, and just change colors.  Bill said that he thought it was a good idea and that I should go for it.

I'm hoping it is going to look okay...

Another knitted item

I know I said I was tired of knitting and would do a few crochet items.  After I said those things I went and signed-up for two knitting pattern tests.  I finished one tonight and seriously started the other right after.  Once I am done with both of them, I promise there will be more crocheting.  I have the yarn, hook, and pattern all picked out and everything.

Beasty Beanie (no link yet, will update when there is one)

It is not the best picture of the project.  I don't have anyone with the right sized head.  I also think I sewed the second ear (your left, its right) on better than the first.  Oh well.
This was such a quick knit (until it came to putting the ears on) that I have plans on making at least one more.  I'm thinking of a bear once next.

Dino Hat

I finished the hat I had started before I had begun the socks.  I got most of it done before I started them, but all those cables on the socks kept me distracted from finishing it.  My other problem was that I couldn't find the yarn I wanted, it was hiding under the bed!
When I made the spikes, I made the first one too small and then attached it before I re-checked the pattern.  I then thought it would look cool if the spikes got bigger as they went down the head.

Stegasaurus Dinosaur Hat

Freedom!

I finished the socks and I have since signed-up for two pattern tests on Ravelry.  I am most of the way done with the hat, and I have the yarn and needles ready for the small sweater.
I've also been commissioned to work on some jewelry/accessory samples.  While that means I will have more money for yarn and beads, it also means I will have a bit less time to work on charity projects.

Not forgotten, just no updates

For some reason the cabled socks I have been working on have been kicking my butt.  The test knit is going to be done before the 10th (which is also the deadline)  I'm only a pattern repeat or two away from decreasing for the toe.
The pair also seems to have made me a bit tired of knitting, so I think I will be focusing more on crochet for a while.  I've been ignoring the craft for a while anyway, should be time to give it some love.

Another one bites the dust!

I finished the Foxgloves(Ravelry link), which was my purse knitting.  I will need to figure out something else for my purse knitting.

I do have a pair of socks started, I might pop those in there.  Though I am having some problems with them.  The last purl stitch before the magic-loop and the one at the end of the round are very big for some reason.  I am tugging on the yarn before I begin the next section, but I don't know why this is happening.
I'm wondering if I should buy a pair of size 2 9" needles.  Then I could just go 'round and 'round.  It would make doing the cables easier, since some of them cross different needles.
I would be able to use them for other sock knitting and some fingerless mitts...
...sounds like a plan to me!

I love a parade!

I decided that I needed to take pictures of all the hats I made last year.  Some I already had pictures of, some I didn't. So without further ado, pictures!

Precious Preemie Hats (Ravelry link)

Presto! Preemie Hat 

Faux Cables Hat (personal pattern)

Baby Pinwheel Hat (Ravelry link)

Baby Beanie (Ravelry link)

Greenleaf Baby Hat (Ravelry link)

Berry Baby Hat 

Textured Two Color Hat (Ravelry link)

Free Zaggity Hat Pattern 

Flower Hat (personal pattern)

(You will also notice that my total to the right hasn't changed.  That is because I made all of these last year, so they won't count for this one.)


Also, Happy Pi Day everyone!

It's a hat...and a scarf?

It is done, and I think it is cute!  I need to wait until tomorrow to get a good picture of it, but here it is laid out.

I think I might change one thing on it.  The hat I based it off of had a 1" difference between the back and the front.  If I make another one, I am either going to make it only 2 rows difference, or join in the round all on the same row.

*insert a you-don't-know-what-you-are-talking shake of the head here*

Dear All-knowing-knitting-lady,
I'm so glad you talked to me today.  Since all the people I know and the people on TV are wrong and have no idea what they are talking about, it is a good thing you were there to tell me what is right.

Here is the story on this.  I was at work putting some paint away when a lady approached me with a skein of yarn.  She said she needed 6 for her project.  I scanned it, and the computer said we had six.  I was happy for her.
Turns out they weren't all in the same dye-lot.  She then explained to me that if you knit something with a difference dye-lot it will leave a line.  I then told her that if you use the one color for one row and the other for another one for a few repeats, it is harder to tell.  I also told her it would look more like she did it on purpose.  She then shook her head at me like I told her that there is no such thing as a dye-lot and it was only a myth.  She then asked me if I knit much, and I told her I did.  She then shook her head at me again.
So, while I could understand how doing the different row thing could be annoying, and would show something.... the yarn was variegated.  Not only was it variegated, but it was mostly white with bits of other color.  I don't think you could tell enough for it to even matter if you didn't stagger the rows!


Anyway....
I am almost done with the pink hat, I'm at the point of decreasing.  After that I am either going to start a baby hat, or a pair of socks.

Another one done

I finished another hat already.  It is one of my own patterns, developed from something I saw in a sock book at one point.

I'm calling it Fall Faux Cables.  I am very happy with it.  It took be about five restarts to get it right.  First the ribbed cuff was too long, then the faux cable was looking funny.  I've gotten it down now!

I couldn't find anything that was the right diameter and head-shaped, but that will give you some idea of what it would look like.

I was hoping I would have enough to make another hat just like this, but I do not.  I'm thinking of using the last bit of the yarn to make a small gathered hat.

The first is done!

Last night I also finished the hat I was doing a test knit for.  It seems I messed-up a bit.  The body of the hat was supposed to be 4.25", but I didn't pay enough attention and made it 5.5".  Oh well, I was testing the decreases, so that didn't hurt the test.

The colors are close in this one.  I think it looks like fall, it is so soft, and I love it.  I need to buy myself some of this yarn and make myself one of these.  I also finished it in about 3 days.

The pattern is Leafy Tops Hat(still a Ravelry link) I'm not mire some of the changes suggested in the test have been made yet, so I would give it a bit before you download it.

This is something crazy about this yarn.  You can see how in the hat, there is a bit of orange through all the other colors.  However, now that I am back to all orange, all the other colors are by themselves.  This will make the second hat I make look so different from the first.  They will look related, but like they are made out of different yarn.  I think that is awesome.

Happy Leap Day!!

I finished the leap-day surprise project, and with time to spare!
It is the Karkauspäivän pipo - Leap Day hat. I love it!  Don't worry, the pattern is in Finnish, you haven't forgotten how to read English.
I was afraid that something went wrong with the design because the ribbed band was so big.  All the cabling pulled the knitting in and made it so nice and thick and smushy.

I can't seem to get the colors right in the picture. It is a more pinky-purple, or a dark magenta.

I did learn that Finnish is a cool language.  As I was playing around with the translator I found that one work meant one thing, but together with a second word, it meant something else.

Time to go play with some color change yarn!

Less than expected

I went over to my parent's house today to go and get my skeins of yarn.  I then learned that none of the colors I was very excited about was there, but that was fine because the color that I got was perfect for the pattern I had in mind. The one thing that was a bit disappointing for me was that each person only got 1 skein each.
I can understand why that would be a good idea.  Some people might just hear about the yarn and say that they will make hats out of it, but for one reason or another, don't manage to use all the yarn.  I'm hoping that once I use all that I have, that I will be able to get at least one more.

(picture from Universal Yarns website)

I got the color Chili Peppers(near the bottom of the page), and I think it will work perfectly for the Leafy Tops Hat(Ravelry link) I will be making with it.
I am so excited about this hat that I:

• powered through the surprise project to get it to a good place so I will be able to finish it on time
• put the pink hat on hold (doesn't help that the hat and surprise need the same needles)
• ignored my purse knitting
• moved my friend's mittens onto some scrap yarn because finding my other set of size 8 needles was taking too long

I really did consider finishing the first mitten before casting on the hat, I really did, but the pretty colors were calling to me too loudly.  My only defense on it is that if I knit the mittens one after the other, I have the best chance of them coming out the same size, where if I take a hat break, I'm just asking for giant gauge differences.
I also know that this hat will work-up quickly.  Each row might be 96 stitches, but since the yarn changes colors I tend to knit faster.  I am very entertained by color change.  I love seeing the color I am working will diminish on the skein, and I get excited because every stitch brings me closer to a new color.  Then I get to wonder how far in a row I will get before I actually get to the new color.  Once I am into the new color, I want to see how big of an area it will be.  Then I get to start it all over again as I get closer to yet another color.

Some fun for CHINS

I got a call from my mom to go and check Ravelry.  I saw a post on the Knitters and Crocheters Care Ravelry page that mentioned that CHINS (Children in Need of Smiles) is going donate some Universal Yarn: Classic Shades yarn.  They want teen, children, and toddler hats.
I love making hats with funky yarn!  It is especially exciting because I want to start planning, but I don't know what colors they are going to give.
I have one pattern I know I will be making, but I will need more.  I would not mind if anyone wants to take a look at the link to the yarn and give me some suggestions.

A couple of projects and a surprise.

I started another project today.  This is my third one I am working on now (that I am actively working on).

This is what I have been carrying around in my purse.  I now know the benefits of this.  I sometimes find myself needing some knitting, but since I didn't know that before, I didn't think to bring any.  Now I will usually have some with me.

This is the first ear flap/scarf that will soon have a friend.  It is a remake of a hat I saw in the store.  The one in the store was $32, and none of the colors they had (bright blue, or bright pink) made me want to spend that much.

This is going to be the surprise project.  I know I just started a new project earlier today, but I have big plans for this.  I hope to either start it later today, or tomorrow.  I'm also really hoping that I will get it done on time.

The project I started earlier today isn't pictured because it is for a friend, and not for charity.  Though if it goes well, I will probably make another pair to give away.

Mittens are easy!

I started the mittens Fri morning, had to go to work for 8 hrs on Sat, and finished them today!  They might not be a perfect size (a bit short for their width) but I know they will fit someone.  They are also very warm, my hand became sweaty in the time it took for me to take the picture of one of them.
The pattern is Simple Braided Mitts (Ravelry link) that I turned into mittens.

The colors are a bit light here, but it lets you see the stitches better.

The colors are still a bit more yellow here than they are in person, but this is a lot closer for the color.  They were so fast, easy, and fun to knit!  I also have an idea on how to make the braids look a bit better.

I think I am going to try something a bit different on the next hand-covers I make.  I think I will only add a braid where the colors change.  That will, hopefully, let the ribbing pull in a bit tighter.

Now the hard part...picking out yarn!

Something almost done, and something started.

The caplet is off the needles. I just need to weave in ends and find a closure so it can be worn.
I have promised some people knitted things, but no one has given me any yarn.  I figured I could work on smaller things in the meantime. I've started on a pair of mittens.  They are turning out bigger than I had thought, but people have different sized hands.
After a quick post on my facebook it was decided that I should add some Latvian braids to my mittens.  I was a bit nervous since I had never done them before.  Except for the fact that the yarns are different(their bands claim to be the same) I had nothing to worry about.  I think they look really good and I can't wait to finish the first one.

No pictures this post, but I hope to completely finish some things so I can fix this problem.

The joy of purling

I finished the present this morning and took it in. I had put it in a shopping-bag from work and I was going to claim that it was a return and surprise her with the jacket.  When I got there the line was too long and I didn't want to wait, so I just went looking for her.  When I saw her I said "Oh, there you are.  Here." and handed her the bag like she should have been expecting it.
She loved it and wished it was in her size.  She has promised me pictures of her Little Man in it!

To reward myself I have done a few things so far.  I took myself shopping in my stash.  I came out with enough yarn for 1.5 sweaters, a shawl, some fingerless mitts, and a few pairs of socks. I may have overdone it a bit.  Also, while watching Julia Child hack at a turkey breast (sending bones flying though the air) I ate a giant shortbread cookie.  I am now back to the caplet.
The only real reason I have gone straight back to something big is because I couldn't find the perfect yarn for the Natalie Mitts I want to start.  I have one in the perfect colors, but it is cotton, and I have the perfect yarn, but it is in the wrong colors.
Though, even though the caplet wasn't my first choice for knitting right now, I am very glad it happened.  After so many days of just knitting garter stitch, I am kind of tired of the knit stitch.  With the lace pattern I do a few plain knits and some odd knits (decreases), but on the way back, it is so nice.  I just purl across!  How I have missed purling!

Distracted!

I've gotten about 2/3 of the way through the lace pattern on the girly caplet.  This means that I am some sort of bigger percentage done with the whole thing (since I did all the increases before I began the lace)
This was all well and good until the other night.  My original plan was to finish this and then make a Baby Surprise Jacket for one of the managers at work who recently had a baby.  The other night I found out her husband had been told that he had gotten a good job down south.  I also found out that she had announced this on facebook a week before.  Since I still don't have a good way to get to FB I didn't hear about it until a week later.
So now I have until Friday to finish the jacket.  I also have a plan to make some fingerless mitts once I finish the caplet.  I know I said I had a nice nerd scarf planned, but I think a nice quick project would be a good idea before I take on another big one.

There are only 10 kinds of people...

I have to say that I love that joke.

While I was looking around at random projects I ran into a binary scarf.  I think I want to knit one as my next charity project(once I'm done with the Girly Girl Caplet)
The only thing I can't decide on is what it should say.  It is going to be in manly colors, so I don't want it to say anything too girly or mushy.  I want it to say something about keeping the person who gets it nice and warm.

edit:
Right after posting this I actually found a good quote to use! But you will have to wait and see what it is ^.~

Now I know why it went clearance...

I've been working on my Girly Girl Caplet. I was really excited to get done with the increases and get to the lace pattern. The yarn had a but more fuz come off of it than I'm used to, but otherwise I thought it was soft and cute.
Then I ran into a thicker white spot on the yarn.  I thought that was exciting and wondered if it would happen again.  That is where it all went wrong.
I next encountered a spot where the white was sewing-thread thin.  It was then followed by a VERY thick spot.  I thought that was interesting and kept going.  It then started happening more than the yarn was normal.  I kept hoping that the thin spots would stack with the thick spots and that it would all 'come out in the wash.' (or even that is would just stop) Nope.  Of course not.  The thin spots stacked with other thin spots, and the thick spots were just white fluff areas. While this does not ruin the knitting, it is a bit annoying.
At least the two pinks stay the same thickness.
The good news is that the lace pattern I altered is looking good so far.

Also: Still no word about the needles. I think another e-mail is in order.

Out in the world!

This is what it looked like while I was waiting for my friend Annette.

The caplet and I enjoyed a hot chai latte.  It took a bit, but I got it.  I have a funny story that goes with it.
I got to Saxby's and couldn't find my credit card.  I then knew that I must have left it in my work pants when I had gone and gotten a bagel the day before.  It took me a text message to Annette and two rows before I remembered something else.  I had gone to put my pedometer in my pocket that morning, but I couldn't because I hadn't brought my work cloths in from the day before.  Sure enough, my credit card was sitting in my work pants that were sitting in the back of my car.

You have to start somewhere...

Numbers still don't like me.  I figured my final number for the bottom of the girly caplet I am designing.  I knew that the increases would add to my beginning number by 8 every increase row.  So I took my 229 (final stitch count) and subtracted 8 until I got a number in the area I wanted.
Sounds easy, right? Not for me.
I got 77 half the time and 73 the other half.  I'm not sure how I did it either.
I tried the 77, but it turns out that, while close, is not the number I need.  I've taken it out for the zillionth time and this is how it looks right now:

Time to start again (4th times a charm?)
To make it all up to me for lacking in a math skill that small children can do without thinking about it, my fiance made me this:

It is a rice bake with Italian herbed cheese cream sauce, and Argentine style chorizo.  Why yes, that is also a glass of champagne, I feel it makes dinner so much more fancy.  It also makes me feel like we are celebrating something.
I also helped him make it.  I added more milk when the cream sauce thickened too quickly.  I added the packet of cheese once it was the right consistency.  I also cut opened and crumbled the chorizo.
I did get some odd looks as I took pictures of my plate.  I told him that I didn't want to let down my blog followers!  I know he's just jealous when he continued to give me a funny look.

Another thing....I still haven't heard back about the broken needles.  They do, however, make a good hair stick.

Surprise, it's done, and also a baby jacket!

I know it was corny. Saying it would be a surprise and was a baby surprise jacket amused me.
I took a nice and artsy picture of it to show everyone.

I had fun knitting it.  I love how the Elizabeth Zimmermann Baby Surprise Jacket becomes an odd shaped blob as you make it, but then becomes a cute little jacket with a bit of folding. Knitting + origami = okay in my book.
Not sure what I am going to work on next...probably that caplet I have pictured in my head.