A Couple Hats

I always tend to over buy yarn for projects and usually have quite a bit left over.  So when I purchased yarn for my current project, I did the math and ordered just what they called for. Well, this time I am running SHORT! 

Don't you just want to cry when that happens?  No only will I not get the same dye lot, but now the yarn is no longer on sale and I have to pay full price for 2 balls of yarn.  Woe is me! Well, the order is in and should be shipped soon.

Here are a couple of hats that I made with left overs from previous projects:

This one is my own design, knit for my son who has a huge  head, using left overs from a sweater knit for my daughter:





This one is knit from a pattern I found on Ravelry by Susan Moskwa called Joey.  This one was knit for my son in law with left over yarn from a sweater knit for my grandson.  This was a super fun pattern and it is FREE! 

What do you do with your left over yarn?

Reversible Cables

Using some left over yarn from a sweater, I thought I would try to do a scarf with reversible cables.

After searching Ravelry, I found a nice pattern called Braid Cable Reversible Hiking Scarf  by Jeanna Quinones.  I made it a bit longer than the pattern indicates, which requires more yarn, but I just kept knitting until I ran out.

This is the first time I did  a reversible cable, and it is actually quite easy.  The concept is that the pattern is done in rib (knit one, purl one) and when the cables are made, it is the same on the back as it is on the front.  Incredible... just like magic!

If you are a cable lover, most definitely give this technique a try!

Knit Mouse

Picture a dentist office. 

Ok, now that you have your vision in your head, picture this:

Hardwood floors, nice fireplace, beautiful scenic paintings on the walls and lovely decorative items on the fireplace mantel.  In the center of the room, a dentist chair, complete with a back massaging option.  Along one wall a high tech computer showing larger than life size xrays and along the other a huge bay window with a view of city traffic. 

At closer look at the fireplace there are tiny cast iron black mice peeking around photo frames, popping out of the fire logs and hidden here and there through out the room.

Not your typical dentist office, but then my dentist is not typical.  He is one of the most friendly people I know who is super considerate (LOVE the massage chair!).

Because his nick name is Mickey, people bring him mice that he displays in his office. So of course, I just had to add to his collection.

I found a great knit mouse pattern on ravelry by Dooley and Spud called Jingle Mouse - Cat Toy.  The pattern is actually a cat toy with a bell in the body, but I just stuffed mine as it won't be used for a toy.  And I also used little black buttons for the eyes rather than embroidery.

It knit up in a flash and I think it will fit in nicely with his collection. So, the next time I go to the dentist, I will give him a little thank you for installing the massage chair.