Fun with Knitting (and Quilting)

Why am I buying stuff for me on Cyber Monday? Could be because no one else has given me ideas? Or perhaps I was too swayed by sale and the availablity of TALL pj pants, and yoga pants, and tees with sleeves long enought for me....

Over the River and Through the woods

to Aunt Sally's house we went...Or should I say down the interstate.. and across the state..(we left at 9:30AM and got home at 11:30PM)

Which meant lots of car knitting time so

I finished the knitting on my Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Cowl

I knit up 4-5 inches on my Merlot Shawl Cardigan

Then got quite a bit done on my plain vanilla sock. (it was about 3 inches long when I left the house yesterday) They yarn is Cider Moon Glacial in Asbury Park.  I'd of probably gotten more done but my little book light battery died about an hour from home home. Let me tell you it's hard to turn a heel in the dark!

So a lovely albeit long day. Lots of great food, and fun knitting time with my cousin Janet, and I got to see my little niece for a few too..

Now for my non-early Black Friday shopping!

I hope to get my tree up this weekend..just bought a (gasp) artifical tree..and continue with my crafting..trying to restrict my Christmas knitting to a few fun quick projects!

Slippers slippers everywhere

So the weather is getting colder and well that makes me want to knit new slippers. I've already made myself a couple pairs in years past..Fiber trends felted clogs, and the Cocoa Knits Malibrigo Loafers... Both very cozy..

Then I saw the Cocoa Knits Pleated Ballet Flats I have some yarn to make them but haven't yet. Soon I tell you..

Then my Ravelry/Cleveland Knits West bud Corrie Favorited the French Press Slippers and before I knew it I'd purchased, downloaded, & printed the pattern. Pulled out my needles and some yarn and cast on! Many is it super fast! I had the pieces all knit up in 2 days...a total of my 3 hours of knitting time. Then I sewed them up and giggled about how giant they appeared, then felted them at my mom's. Now they are very cute. I got my buttons and sewed those on and presto here they are!

So the other day I stopped at Michael's and well the Paton's was on sale for 2 for $5 so how could I pass it up? I bought 2 skeins and came home and started my 2nd pair. They just need felting now...

I am addicted to these I think...so fast easy and cute! I have some natural yarn  from Webs that I kettle dyed to make another pair! (except that I love the yarn I dyed and I think I want it to be a scarf or cowl) Yeah, I may have a problem.

FO: Favorite Cardigan

Well I've had cast on fever and procrastinator-itis...Have I have several projects that are ALMOST finished and I keep procrastinating finishing them up!

But I have one completed item! The Favorite Cardigan from Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard.  I started this way back in June..and was knitting away when I realized that my gauge was way off! So I ripped it back to the neckline and started again..I was a bit worried but in the end it fits great!

The yarn is Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky and well it really does look like a summer sky. Hopefully it can help keep my cheery through the winter! It took me a least a month to pick out my buttons, I ended up ordering them from House of Anoria (she has some great buttons over there!) cause I couldn't find any I really liked at JoAnn's. The fabulous Robin recommended her! Then they came and it took me a few more weeks to decide how I wanted to sew them on..then I procrastinated sewing them on.

Now the weather has turned cooler and I decided I needed to wear this sweater..so I sewed the buttons on last weekend and now it's ready to wear!

My only real mod was that I mirrored the cables on the front and sleeves. I also made the sleeves 3/4 length. All the rest of the details are over on Ravelry of course!

Hopefully I have a few more FOs very soon! Owls just needs it's button eyes sewn on, and I have like 3 other sweaters close to being done, as well as a shawl, and some slippers, and some other stuff too!

Seriously I'm going to get some things done this weekend!

...Like say post to this here blog...School starts and my fun stuff seems to come to a screeching halt for awhile, while I re-adjust to getting up at 6 again every morning. (I am not a morning person) I have been doing a fair amount of knitting...but here's what I've been up to!

Dyed some yarn for the Owls sweater. I so love the RYC soft tweed and when it was discontinued I went a bit overboard and have lots...this oatmeal color really not so good on me.So now it's a lovely grape color. (What a surprise right Pam?)

Finished my Corona Sweater. I was a bit worried about how it would come out, but I'm really happy with it... I'd post my mods and stuff but I'm feeling lazy so head on over to the Ravelry page for them if you want. It is knit out of Dream in Color Classy in the color Good Luck Jade. I think this will be a great sweater for fall winter!

I've also started the Heather Hoodie Vest from the Fall09 Knitscene as a Kal with my girls over on Cleveland Knits West.

I need to finishmy pink hoodie..the knitting's been done forever...but no button band reinforcement and snaps put in. (I'm just trying to decide how to put it in..by hand or by machine. I'd rather put it in by machine but need to put it in by hand I have a feeling)

AND Seam up my gray short sleeve cardi. Before it gets to cold to wear it. (though I think I'd be cute under a long sleeve tee too.)

I should but probably won't straighten up my sewing room and my yarny mess.

Plus clean up my house and get out a few of my Halloween decorations

I have high hopes, since hubby is taking some classed Sat. and Sunday and I have NO plans this weekend!

Boxing day

So summer has arrived here in Ohio! It is finally into the upper 80s to near 90! so now the AC is on and I can't knit outside. This afternoon I was bored and I'm still waiting on a box bag I ordered forever ago (it has supposedly been shipped)to arrive and wanted one..so I perused the internet and found this fabulous & easy tutorial at Drago(Knit)fly for making a box bag..and I had all the supplies so off I went to make one! It took me less than an hour to whip it up. It was really easy and fun and it's super cute. I wasn't real careful with my sewing and it came out really nice. Perfect size for a pair of socks I'd say. So I had to run to JoAnn's right then and there and get more fabric, zippers, interfacing.. and well now I have enough stuff to make at least 5 more! Hmm obsess much? I looked around a bit more and found this site with some clarificationon how to make the bag. I think I'll pull my serger out for the next batch! So I'll follow that when I make some more tonight or tomorrow! I may play with the size a bit too. Then I went from there to the llink for this cute little pencil bag. Might have to make some of those too! They'd be great for notions!

A of little this and a little of that

So where on earth has summer gone? I can't believe I go back to work in a week and a half! Wow..I guess it's that the weather has been really cool this summer(not that I'm complaining-cause I'm not). We did finally have 2 days above 90!

So I've been working on many things...I did finish my ultra cool "laptop bag" to use for school. It really came out cute. I still am looking for a button that will work for it. The yarn is Lion brand Wool-Ease in Sea spray. The pattern is loosely based on The Aran Laptop Cover. But mostly copied frm my good bud PKJewelry.  Oh and by the way all the awesome row counters you see here are hers from her etsy shop! Check them out! If you do tell her I sent ya.

Also socks...I finished my Oatmeal socks awhile back and started on a Blueberry waffle sock. I'm just over 1/2way done with the 2nd sock. I also cast on for the Summer Lovin sock my friend Dawn designed. The yarn is Malibrigo sock...and it is yummy!

I'm moving along now on the Favorite Cardigan. I did knit it longer than the pattern and am going to make the sleeves 3/4 length. It is really coming out pretty. I love the Dream in Color  Classy it is so pretty!

Then yesterday I drug hubby to Soft n Sassy a LYS I'd never been to and I saw the "lace-panel cardigan" and needed to make it RIGHT now..so I bought they yarn for that and cast on right away!

 the yarn is called Jeans and is a weird cotton tape yarn  but it really knits up nicely! and feels a bit like well jeans

Oh yeah..I also dyed some yarn...It was Oatmeal Fisherman's wool by Lion brand..now it's this... a lovely teal! Destined to become a cardigan of some sort probably!

Well I guess that is the catch up...

Webs Winner

OK so this post is a few weeks overdue!

Back in June I entered a contest on the Webs & Berroco blogs to win some lovely new Blackstone Tweed yarn and the pattern book to make Nuss.Well can you believe it (I still can't) I won!!! So I got to pick the color yarn I wanted I of course went with plum island. I was excitedly waiting on my package to arrive and then it did (Kathy was waiting on some Addi turbo's to come in). Oh boy was I ever surprised!

When I opened the box I squealed! No not just yarn, the pattern book and needles but a Lexie Barnes bag!! (I get compliments on it all the time) and a bunch of fun little goodies too!! I just love the little leaf measuring tape! Look at all this fun stuff!!!! So much more than I expected! It was wonderful! There are several patterns in the book that I love! Look at those little sheep magnets! They are leaping over their fence and my Whirlpool logo on my fridge!

I have a couple of projects I'm trying to finish up before casting on but will soon!!!

What an awesome prize!! Thank you so much Kathy, Steve, & Webs as well as Berroco!

Wresting along

OK so I've been trying to wrangle my WIPS into submission!!

Finished Miley!

Can you see the purl increases on the side? The yarn is Seduce, I used size 5 and 7 needles. It was really easy pattern.

Finished Toe-Up Socks!

Just a basic toe up straight stockinette..(good car knitting) They yarn is Austermann Step.

Frogged-Favorite Cardigan-it was way to small..I ripped it back to the neckline. I need to swatch and move forward again (I'm sure It won't get done this month now-but that is OK)

I'm hoping to finish my little purse here soon too but my focus has been on Hey Teach. I'm on the last sleeve then to seam it up! So it should be done by the end of the week.

I did cast on for another pair of socks. I need to have my easy car knitting with me at all times. I have resisted the urge at this point to cast on for Sandrine. but I really want too!!!

I also made and finished my baby quilt for my friends baby shower last weekend. The couple were both really excited. (Of course I forgot my camera so I don't have a picture)

I'm still plugging away on my "summer cottage" quilt too. I really need to take my sewing machine in for a tune up before plugging on. but I'll probably work on it some more today!

UP next my fabulous prize from WEBS, but that deserves it's own post!

Here a project, there a project, everywhere a project

So quite apparently I have startitis or cast-on fever what ailment you prefer to call it. I have cast on many many projects so far this summer, and haven't finished any other than my indigo ripples skirt. So with Stacey's prodding I decided to join WIPS WRESTLEMANIA 09 over on Ravelry. I have got to get some of these things done. Now I may not finish them all this month, but I'm going to try! My goal is to get some projects done and not cast on any more till I do!

So here's what I'm working on:

1. Miley

2. Layout Tank

3. Summery Purse

4. Hey Teach (which I um started today) But it's a KAL with Annie!

5. Corona

6. Favorite Cardigan

Which may have to be ripped out and restarted due to gauge issues (like me not checking my gauge)

7. a plain vanilla pair of socks

(And yes there are other WIPs but these are what I am focusing on this month.) More details on all the projects are over on my Ravely page, if you care to find out more!

I did dye another skein of yarn the other day..still haven't gotten that out of my system! I have more acid dyes on there way to me as we speak! I used 2 different shades of blue Kool-Aid and it came out really KOOL! First I squirted randomly with Berry Blue and then but it into a bath with ice blue lemonade.

And Voila I got this:

I did go up to Frankenmuth, MI with friends last week and got this cute mug at Bronner's. I looked at it last year and didn't buy it. It was still there this year and it was on sale! I also got some Panda Cotton.

And of course last but not least, if you haven't voted for my school today please head over to the Lots2Give website and click to vote for us!