Cardigan Sweater, Boot Slippers, Pinwheel Pouch and an Owl

Christmas is coming FAST and projects are everywhere in my house.

Right now I have a poncho, a sweater, a pair of socks and a shawl all on the needles.

This week I was able to finish up a few, including this great cardigan sweater.  I originally intended this one was for my Mom, but the sizing came out a bit small.  I will need to order yarn and start over 2 sizes bigger, but the pattern is super easy and it is a quick knit. This pattern is available on ravelry here for $5.00 by Megan Goodacre.  The pattern is well written and a very quick knit, well worth $5..
Just make sure you check your gauge and select the right size.
This one will go to my very petite friend!

 

 

 

These house boot slippers were super fun to make and are for daughter Erin.  In lieu of chunky yarn, I used double strands of worsted.  The pattern can be found here and is FREE!

 

I did some modifications to the pattern itself, but mine came out very similar:



This cute, cute mini pouch is perfect for my neighbor girl.. Plan to put a bit of cash in there for her!
The pattern can be found here and is also FREE

And lastly, another free pattern for this fun fun fun owl.  Knit up with scraps and left over buttons, this is for my son's girlfriend who really likes owls... Total project time for this one was about an hour.  Can't beat that!

Hoping you all have your holiday projects going in full swing and are closer to completion that I am!
Happy Knitting

Happy New Year 2012

I have seriously neglected my blog during December 2011 as I was busy with my holiday preparations.  I basically had a knitting project going in every spare moment for gifts to all my loved ones.  I gave away 2 afghans, 6 pairs of socks, a hat and scarf set and several knit book marks. 

I love the way this chunky afghan turned out that I gave to my daughter Sara.  It is very soft, thick and warm.  I loved working the cables and although there are a couple mistakes in it, they are very hard to find and not noticable at all.

Daughter Erin received this one, which is just as soft:

For Daryl, I found a pattern for Soldier Socks from WWI, distributed by the Red Cross.  I thought these would be interesting as Daryl loves watching the old war clips on TV.  They knit up quickly and brought me back in time.  All the while I was knitting them, I was thinking about the soldiers off to war nearly 100 years ago. 

For Alehk (daughter Erin's boyfriend)  I was most proud of this pair of socks.  Even though I used a self striping yarn, I was thrilled that I actually got them to come out to match perfectly:

Erin's socks didn't match stripes as well, but still a fun pair of socks anyway:

Daughters Katie and Sara and son-in-law Kris  went with the plain jane styles:

Now that my holiday knitting is over, I am looking forward to a productive 2012.  I've joined a knit along on Raveley for a Dozen Shawls in 20Dozen..  That is a shawl a month and I hope I can keep up with it.  I plan to cast on January's shawl this weekend and knit it up in a couple weeks.

I hope you all have a great 2012 and keep on knitting! 

Sunday Morning Knit Wit ~ Bobbles and UFO's

Do you ever have projects that you start and put aside?  They call them UFO's (Unfinished Objects) in the knitting circles and I have more than my share. 

The one that continues to haunt me is an afghan that I started for my daughter when she was in college that is unfinished 10 years later. That has got to be my oldest UFO, and I have many more.

But, recently I picked up and complete a pillow cover that began last winter.  I knit this with two strands of worsted weight wool and it was my very first project utilizing the bobble stitch.  I admit, that I was hesitant to try bobbles, but I was amazed at how easy they really are. Although they take some practice with tension, bobbles can be used in so many different patterns to add texture.

I thought that making flowers with them would be unique and fun.  I added a bit of creative cable work to make the stems to create a field of flowers.  I used 5 stitch bobble for the center and worked 3 stitch bobbles for the surrounding petals.

Making Bobbles: (5 stitch) worked on a background of reverse stockinette stitch

Make 5 stitches from one stitch ( Knit in front and back of same stitch 2X and in front once more)
Turn knitting work toward you (working on the back) Knit 5 stitches
Turn knitting work toward you (working on the front) Purl 5 stitches
Turn knitting work toward you (working on the back) Knit 5 stitches
Turn knitting work toward you (working on the front) Sl 1, K2 tog, Pass slip stich over, K2 tog, Pass slip stich over.

Work the same for 3 stitch bobble only make 3 stitches from one stitch and only Knit 2 tog and passover once at the end.

There is a great feeling of accomplishment when picking up a forgotten project and I am so glad that I completed this one. 

I took a break while writing this entry and went to find my daughter's afghan.  Her major in college was International Relations and I had a vision to incorporate flags from several nations into the afghan.  It looks like I only completed 3 nations and half of 3 more. Perhaps digging it out is one step closer to completion.....

Hopefully you will dig out some of your UFO's and get them completed this summer. 

Until next time, keep your needles clicking!

Sunday Morning Knit Wit ~ Ridged Rib

Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day

This weeks featured stitch is the Ridged Rib stitich.  It is super easy and is a great stitch for flat work such as scarves, blankets or placemats.  It is worked with 4 repeating rows that is easily memorized and it is easy to tell where you left off so it is a great portable project.  It has great texture and try mixing up colors for some really fun stripes.

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: P1, *K1, P1; repeat from * to end
Row 4: K1, *P1, K1; repeat from * to end

Repeat these 4 rows


Here I've used this stitch in a fun book jacket and is one of very few projects that I am actually keeping for myself.  I love reading and this cover just makes reading so much more enjoyable!

Be creative and have fun with this one!

Have you been tuned into the olympics?  What and amazing opening ceremony that was and I'm just amazed at how beautiful Canada is. 

I am determined to start my own little knitting olympics and while watching the real athletes do their thing, I will be finishing up all my projects that are half done and just waiting for me to pick up again.  I currently have a baby blanket, a scarf and a pair of fingerless gloves started and put aside.  My goal:  by closing ceremony they will all be done!  And hopefully I won't have more than one new project started!

Are you with me?  Let me know how many projects you hope to finish up while watching the games.

Till next week ~  Stay Warm and keep you needles clicking! 

Next weeks stitch -- Woven Stitch