Vespergyles plus...a pesky squirrel.

I know, I know I said no more tampering with patterns...but I just couldn't keep the pesky squirrels off. I mean I had ripped these babies out umpteen times....so..

Pattern:- Vespergyles by Elinor Brown. This is a very nice pattern on it's own and it's free.

Squirrel pattern:-I found this guy in the 'Mon Tricot 1030 Stitches patterns,' pages 121-122.

Yarn;-Colinette Jitterbug colourway 'Sunflower Susie' and colourway 'Ginger Cinnabar.' My first time using jitterbug and I must say it's nice yarn.

Needles:-Sz#1

I'm glad I'm done. I'm now knitting wee Jamsey's socks. His only request was for blue yarn...I know he loves 'Pokemon' but I'm not going down that road again. He's getting just plain blue socks.

Happy knitting.

Mags.

Grubby mitts..

Between fighting with leaves and these mittens I really don't have very much to show.

These mittens are for my friend Elaine. She's been having the devil of a time with pesky 'squirrels' eating her bird seed so....I thought I'd incorporate the 'Sweedish squirrel pattern' on to the 'vespergayle mitten pattern.'

Well it worked okay...but...I just wasn't happy with the result...I just thought there was too much going on. (Although my daughter and eldest grandson loved the squirrels running around the top of the mitten and said maybe I could put squirrels on their stuff! No fear!! [heehee])

Anyhow, I put the mittens on the back burner for awhile and just picked them up and started knitting them again yesterday. I mean I had ripped them out and revised them so many times they were starting to get grubby and I was actually fed up, sick and tired of them!

As you can see I ordered some Christmas yarn for socks for myself but I won't be able to start them them for awhile as I still have to do socks for James and slippers for William.

I'm really not feeling any pressure about getting all my knitting done for Christmas even though I decided to fool around with a perfectly good pattern. Why did I do that? Never ever again..um...I hope not!!!

Maybe, with all the Christmas ads already I should be feeling under pressure...bah-humbug!!!

Happy knitting.

Mags

Seduced by a pattern..

First Christmas present done and I also finished my "Manly" sock for the October SKA challenge.

These socks are for my favourite son-in-law..yeah, I can say that..I only have one!

Pattern:- Oliver Socks By Marlowe Crawford.

I really was intrigued and seduced when I read the intro to this pattern. A series of increases and decreases give the sock a unique shape and it's supposed to fit like a glove. You can see the line of increases along the bottom of the foot and the funky 'V' shape on the top.

Even tho' this was a boring plain sock the increases and decreases kept me interested.

(Thanks you Grand Poobah for modelling it for me.)

Yarn:-'Shalimar' superwash sock. I bought this yarn a couple of years ago in Maryland and always put off using it because I wasn't sure I liked the colours. Let me just say I love it, and sadly it's been discontinued.

Needles:-Sz#1

I am planning mittens for my friend Elaine for Christmas. I usually knit her socks. Just doing something different this year.

Happy knitting.

Mags.

Knitting more mittens!

I've put up two pictures of these mittens because the image on the right shows the inside, (the stranding) work, and I thought you may like to see.
I really am fascinated by mittens. I'm still working although only briefly on my Christmas socks, but I will try to finish them this week.
Yarn:-Patons Kroy 4ply. Colours:-Gentry Gray and Summer Moss.
(I used about 36grams of each 50gram skein.)
Pattern:-I used the 'Four-leaf clover' pattern graph in "The Mitten Book." by Inger Gottfridsson and Ingrid Gottfridsson.
Let me just say, it was a challenge. There are vague instructions at the beginning of the book but it worked out and I felt a great sense of satisfaction when I was done. I decided to do a gusset type thumb. I don't really like the afterthought thumb, but this is a personal preference.
Needles:-Sz#1.
Although I have a couple of things I want to do for Christmas, but nothing is pressing...so that's good.
Happy knitting everyone.
Mags
P.S. Today we had about an inch of snow on the ground when we woke up. Brrrr..it's cold too. Perhaps that was our winter...well, I can only hope.(ha ha)
M.

Fat cat Hoodie!

Okay, I know I said I wouldn't be blogging for awhile because I would be working on my 'East meets West' bag....well, things change and here are my reasons to blog......

Reason #1:-For this bag, you cast on 450sts

Reason#2:- You're using sz#1 needles

Reason#3:- You're working with fingering yarn.

Need I say more....it's tedious......I have reached the short rows, but right now I want to get some stuff finished for Christmas and a few odds and ends cleared up and the bag is so daunting I'll put it aside 'till after Christmas.
Meantime this is a baby gift for my friend's second wee grandson.

Pattern:-Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy. This little jacket is knit top-down and I knit the 18mth. size..

Modifications:- I made it totally seamless by using a provisional cast on and kitchenering these hood stitches. In my opinion a nicer finish than seaming.

I also used a make one stitch increase for the raglan sleeves, although I think the knit f/b increases work equally well. I used an attached i-cord around all the edges except the cuff edge. Looks neater and keeps the garter band from rolling. I incorporated i-cord-loop buttonholes. I used these instead of making ties for the front.

Needles:-Sz#7

Yarn:- Plymouth happy Feet DK. Colour:-Lemon/Lime. It does have a little blue throughout.

Buttons:-3. Fat cat design, bought at Jo~Annes.

I added a close-up pic of the buttons and edging, mainly because the buttons are so cute.

I love this little hoodie and I hope the new Mom does too!

I have decided to participate in the SKA October challenge. I'll be knitting men's socks. More details when I'm done. These will be a Christmas gift.

Happy knitting.

Mags.

Snowbird Mittens and mysterious yellow socks..

The mystery is solved:-

Pattern:-Fox Faces by Nancy Bush. (The Sept. mystery sock.) This is a lovely lace pattern which includes a 'Vikkel' braid, 'Dutch' heel, EOP heel flap and a pointy toe. The fit is good and since the pattern is done on the front of the leg only the ribbing is carried thru 30 rows to keep the sock neat on the back of the leg, and it works perfectly. I would recommend this pattern as a first lace project, it's easy and looks really nice.

Needles:-Sz#1 DP's.

Yarn:-Baby Ull. [Obviously yellow] this was my first time using this yarn and I loved how nice it knit up and I'll use it again.

I also must include a picture of the finished "Snowbird Mittens"..let's just say I love them. Since I'm caught up on my projects..I know I still have a baby gift to knit..I will start my bag. It looks daunting, but I'm getting anxious to start, so I probably will have nothing to blog about for a while. Read about the mittens in the previous post

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags.

"Let It".....what??

Since I had to wait for the clues for the SKA Mystery Sock I was thumbing thru my old patterns and came across this and thought I'd give it a try.

Okay so now I have one done and I'm showing it off, 'cause I'm so pleased with the results. I think the outcome is stunning. I particularly love the backside.

Pattern:-Snowbird from Vogue knitting, Fall 2008. This pattern is really only a chart, but it's easy to follow. I found the thumb a wee bit fiddly, but not too bad.

Modifications:- Added extra rows to cuff and kitchenered the top.

Yarn:-Fortissima Disco Socka, light gray with bluish green. It is full of sparkles, which you can't see on my monitor. Leftover Patons Kroy, 'Gentry Gray' from Jim's socks.

Needles:- Sz#1

I am now so smitten with mittens I had my daughter order me 'The Mitten Book." (heehee)

I also ordered a bag kit from www.KnitPicks.com the new one 'East meets West." I will start it as soon as I finish the yellow mystery socks and mittens. I'm not particularly fast at colour work, so we'll see how it goes. If you see a UFO flying by your house you'll know it's my bag...causing me all sorts of grief. (haha)

Happy knitting.

Mags.