A glittery shrug for Mom

I made this shrug for Mark's mom for her birthday. It is cream colored mohair with a little strand of gold in it. I've had it quite some time and got it at the thrift store, so I don't really know what kind of yarn it is. I used the Something Lacy Shrug pattern.

For Naomi

I've had fun making baby girl things lately. Hopefully Naomi will feel the love! The dress pattern is "Miss Violet" from The Handmade Dress. Sweet and simple!

Summer knitting...

This summer was full of adventure for us--a cruise to Alaska and a trip to Denmark and Norway. I did manage to fit in a little knitting, though. First a ruffly scarf made from Red Heart Sashay--quick, easy and an interesting experiment. I just followed the pattern on the ball band.
These Rose Wristers were inspired by my trip to Norway. The pattern comes from "Norwegian Handknits". I found them to be a nice foray into colorwork. I love how colorwork looks, but I'm not sure I'm ready to sign up for anything much larger.
Finally, these fishnet socks got left in Norway with a friend there. In fact, she is modeling them in the photo. The pattern for these is on the Purl Bee blog and I used some leftover yarn from my stash. Hope you all had a nice summer!

Big Lace Scarf

This is the Big Lace Scarf from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts and an attempt to use up a large cone of fall colored wool. It was a quick knit and I've tucked it away until it finds a home.

Hat for a Young Friend

This hat is the Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood. It took 52 grams of worsted weight yarn for the smaller size and two days of knitting. It looks even better on a head, but it needed to head out the door pronto as a friend leaves town, so this photo will have to do.

A Little Dress with a story

Once upon a time, there was a little girl born to two parents, two sisters and three brothers. Her sisters doted upon her, so much so that her oldest sister sewed many clothes for her. She also had plans to sew things that never ended up getting finished. When that baby girl grew up and had a baby girl, her big sister gave her some red fabric with numbers woven into it for her to make something for her little girl. However, the little girl-now-mama lost track of time and soon her little girl was a teenager and the red fabric still sat in her sewing boxes. One day a friend with a love of all things vintage had a baby girl and the red fabric was taken out and finally made into a little dress. I think it has finally found the proper home--vintage pattern, vintage fabric, new little girl. And there is still enough for one more little dress. Perhaps someday the little girl-now-mama will make a similar one for her little girl's little one....

Quarter Goals?

So, this is what I would like to complete before July 1. Included here are my first foray into weaving on this type of loom, a vest for me, a couple of scarves, material to finish reupholstering the kitchen chairs, material for throw pillows for the couch, material for a baby dress, some scraps for icord bracelets and some fingering yarn. I've forgotten to include another pair of socks that I am interested in completing. We'll see how I do!

Off Kilter Mitts

My knitting has been slowing down the last month or so. I can't say I am more busy than usual, only that I've been knitting less. Anyway these have been finished. The pattern is called Off Kilter Mitts and I made it from "Alpaca Love", which has a nice feel to it. I love the way the cable moves around the thumb opening!

Big Ole' Cowl

This is an effort to do some stash-busting with some big yarn. It was a quick knit and I imagine it will be nice and warm. Hailey thinks it is ugly. I think it could work on the right person. (Hailey assures me that she is NOT the right person!) Regardless, 300 grams out the door!

Another Little Thing

I am enjoying making these smaller projects. This is called "Aviatrix" and will be for a little friend of ours. It is a free pattern on Ravelry and knits up quickly!

Super Easy Legwarmers

I made these legwarmers from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" for Hailey for her birthday. They were easy and nice and long for a good "scrunch" factor, as you can see. They are also made from some yarn I've had around for quite some time. It is a possum/wool blend from New Zealand and is really quite nice.

To Haiti with Love

These photos show what I've been up to lately, along with a couple friends. These are safe birthing kits, headed on their way to Haiti. They contain items needed for a clean birthing environment, along with a baby blanket and a stuffed toy. Friends Maria, Cecilia, Lauren and I make 7 kits together. Maria made the bags, I made the blankets and we culminated the project by having a stuffed toy making day. The kits are on their way via Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership. Thanks to Jade at Craft Hope for making this project known. We've had such a great time with this!

Smitten

This pattern left us all giggling with delight. A few weeks ago, Hailey had gone on a walk with her boyfriend. It was cold and she came home chilly. I asked why she hadn't worn her new handwarmers to stay warm and she replied, "Mom, it is no fun to hold hands with gloves on!" Shortly thereafter, I came upon this pattern on ravelry and had to make it! It is called "Smitten". Perfect, no? I started knitting it and it made me giggle so much that I couldn't keep it to myself. Soon everyone in the house but Hailey knew about it. I decided to give it to her on Valentine's Day before she went for a walk with her boyfriend. When I handed it to her she couldn't stop laughing about it either. She and her boyfriend used it on their Valentine walk and I think it is a success. It made her facebook status and makes us all smile. Perfect!

Pleated Denim Purse

Another project completed! I had the knitting done on this one last year, but just in the last couple of days have I finally added a lining, buttons and wrist chain. This cute little purse is from Boutique Knits. I love how it turned out!

Project Marathon

I am having a blast after working on some intricate projects, just making some quickies. Hailey is modeling the Urchin hat (pattern by Ysolda Teague) made from some yarn that had been in my stash for years! I'm pleased with the hat and think that it sets off Hailey's henna dyed hair prettily! Also made a stationary holder for a young friend with some fabric I had left from a similar project for Hailey. I love the fabric! Last are some hats for newborns to send off to Caps for Good. They'll be distributed to low birthweight infants in poverty to help them keep their body heat while they are small and hopefully survive. They were so quick and used just tiny bits of yarn.

First knitting project of 2011 completed!

This scarf is the Arrowhead Scarf from an old holiday issue of Knit Simple. It is knit from an angora/wool blend and an alpaca. I thought it ended up being a good way to use some variegated yarn. (Note to self: don't buy variegated yarn anymore--the colors are pretty in the skein, but I don't really like how it looks knit up.) This scarf is for Grandma Clow's 90th birthday. I think she'll enjoy it. Off it goes in the mail tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Malakai!

Made this birthday banner for my nephew's second birthday. The fabric letters are fastened on with Heat-n-Bond. Funny thing is that I thought that I'd go easy and buy iron on letters. I just couldn't get the iron on letters to work after messing with them forever! I finally broke down and cut out the letters after I ironed the fabric to the heat and bond. It turned out to be much easier and I'm pleased with the result.

Bird and Vine Mitts

I made these for Hailey for Christmas, though she saw them ahead of time and thought I was making them for another friend. I love how they turned out!

Sweet Violet Scarf and Cable Lace handwarmers

These were made for Heidi and Mark's Mom as Christmas presents. I loved the way they both turned out!

Catching up....

I haven't blogged here for so long. I really haven't completed much in the way of crafts over the last months, but as I think of things, I will post them to keep a record. The Raider's blanket is a Christmas gift for my BIL, Micah. The handwarmers were for Noah's bike rides across town to the Exploratorium and the hat was for a friend who moved to Ohio. She needs some warm things! Noah's handwarmers were made from some homespun that I spun myself. The yarn was uneven, but nice and springy!