Felted hats.

Haven't been knitting much this year but did manage to finish these hats. I gave one to my daughter and the other has been sent to my mother..who has been asking for a hat! What 'she who must be obeyed' wants she usually gets!!!

Cath's hat:-

Fisherman wool; colour:-Nature Brown 8oz skein..I didn't use it all.

Circular and D.P's needles; Size #10

Pattern:- from the Lewiscraft Corp. (I think it has gone out of business, and that's too bad as I've gotten a few free patterns from their on-line site.)

Ma's hat:-

Patons classic wool; colour :- Burgundy, about 2 skeins.

Same size needles.

I then felted the hat...shaped over a bowl..and air dried.

I added a hat band. I just made a twisted I-cord.

Maybe I'll knit one for myself!!!

Happy knitting,

Mags

Fuzzy feet..

Fuzzy feet for the family...

Pattern from knitty.com, Winter 2002 issue with some modifications:-
I used (Araucania) Nature wool chunky, (mostly leftovers from the' stained glass' bag!)
Sz#8 DP's (If you have never knit a sox and want to try,this is an ideal pattern for learning how to turn a heel..pick up stitches..etc.. and any mistakes are felted away.)
I used a crochet cast on and after 14 rows picked up the live stitches and knit these with the ones on the needles to make a cuff.
I also carried a little fun fur with the yarn for Cath's and for the wee boys' I cut down on the number of stitches cast on. Because they have hardwood floors throughout their house, I also sewed on anti skid soles I made from material bought at JoAnn's..you know the stuff used for 'footie pj's'.
Needless to say they were all thrilled and the fuzzy feet were a big hit!!!!!
Merry Christmas.
Happy knitting,
Mags.

P.S. Thanks to Lou's new Nikon D300 camera for the great picture!

Mommy and the 'wee man's' sox...

I knit these for my stylist, colourist, brow -waxer!!! A Christmas gift.
Now I don't normally knit for folk who aren't related unless they are really good friends of mine ( and then they know that I have a knitting foible) because most people just don't understand the blood sweat and tears that go into knit gifts!!
I do not say that lightly...anyhow, I am hoping she'll see them as a novelty (gift)...as in wearing matching sox with her wee man!!!
Yarn:- Opal Rainforest collection
Colour:-Raupe (Caterpillar)
Sz:- #1 DP's
I just made up the pattern as I went along. I cast on 65 sts for Mom's and 45 sts for the wee man's!! I'm not sure how old he is....possibly 8months or so. I measured a pair of sox at 'Target' the 12-24 month size so I hope they fit..Mom is very tiny so I went with a K3,P2 cuff thru instep..this way the sox would hug her feet....same with the wee man's!!
Not much else on the knitting front...a few more gifts and I'll start a BIG project..UMM..maybe!!
Happy knitting,
Mags.
As usual another lousy pix!!!

Little gems mitts....

Pattern:-Little Gems Mitts by Donna Kay from Interweave Knits, 'Holiday Gifts' 2007.
Yarn:-Finullgarn wool Gray and Cream (Gifted to me by my 'Sockaplooza' pal Magni from Norway. (Thanks!)
(I used 50grams total and have enough left for another pair using cream as the main colour.)
Sz 1 : D/P's
These are knit in the round with an afterthought thumb. (This was the first thumb of this type for me but I just trusted the pattern and it worked okay.) I also did a twisted rib instead of the usual K1,P1.
You were supposed to use maybe 5 different colours for the colour-work but I used just one and stranded the yarn ...even over 6 stitches...I just was aware of my tension at that one place on every eighth row!!! Do you notice the center stitch in the cream block...doesn't it look like a little heart..awww......so they could hold the love you need..well...at least the warmth!!!
I enjoyed knitting these and they went fast. I did find the individual fingers very 'fiddly.' (I don't think there is such a word but you get the idea!!!)
Okay, moving on to something else.
Happy knitting.

Sienna, with a twist.....

Seamed and I love it. Maybe it was the yarn, but I took my time seaming and I was pleased with the outcome. The sleeves are a little long but it's so warm!!!

I wore it Wednesday night when I went out with my friend Elaine and she raved about it..awww..but what does she know...she can't knit a stitch!!!!

Brrrrrrrr..do you see the snow on the ground...it had melted some when we took this pix!! So I guess I finished the cardi just in time.

Pattern:- Sienna Cardigan by Anne E. Smith

(Interweave knits Fall 2006)

Yarn:-Tahki Kerry 50% wool 50%alpaca..colour Sage.

approx. 9 skeins

Needles:- Sz 9 straight and circs (for the collar)

Modifications:- a 4 st (mirror) cable instead of the fagot lace cable.

(I did the right and left fronts first and counted rows!!! )

This knit up fairly fast.

Up next...some Christmas gifts.

Happy knitting,

Mags

Blame it on 'Ravelry'

What's this...!! Doesn't the button in the left hand corner proclaim "I am not a SWEATER knitter"

So what's up???

Well I took a seaming class and feeling full of myself decided to re seam my red 'Sienna'..just the set in sleeves, since I didn't feel they were up to par!!

What a disaster...I cut a stitch and unravelled more than the seam...yeah, some of the (R) front. I could have wept!!! I tried to mend it, using a duplicate stitch, darning etc....but no luck...it looks sooo shoddy!!! And I loved that sweater too. Oh well, I'll try and rip it (all) out and reuse the yarn for something else!!

Meantime I swatched some of my stash...namely:-

Tahki Kerry colour Sage (bought for the 'Spartan Pullover' a long, long time ago)..used Size #9 needles and got guage...(wow)...I did do a 'four stitch cable' up the front edges instead of the 'cabled faggot lace.' At present, I'm working on the sleeves. The seaming prospect looms large for me but fear is not in my vocabulary..at least not yet!!

I have been eyeing 'Mr Greenjeans' from Knitty for my next project....well a least it's top down and in the round!!!

Did I say I wasn't a sweater knitter??? What can it be....I can't understand why I'm drooling over cardi's etc..I blame it on 'Ravelry' where everyone is so industrious and their work is beautiful...just the motivation I need!!!!

I do have one lonesome sox on the needles.

Happy knitting,

Mags

(Sorry the pix is so crappy. Clearly, there is something also wrong with the date or I'm still living in the past!!!!)

Grrrrr...tiger socks and lots of yarn....thank-you.

Look, look, these socks were knit just for me...and they are beautiful and a perfect fit and so well worth the wait!
They are from Magni who lives in Norway. She knit these toe up...a technique I have not yet learned!!
You can check her blog at:-

http://magfly.blogspot.com/

Magni, I love everything you sent and I will think of you every time I wear my sox....thank-you, thank-you!!!!

I can't decide (yet) what to do with the Norwegian yarn....probably sox with the 'FagStrikk' anyhow I know I'll have fun.
My package was waiting for me when I got home.
I also got an invitation to join "Ravelry".....and oh boy, I'm already sucked in, and can't do anything but explore the site...this obsession has got to stop...okay, maybe I'll stop to-morrow!!! (Yeah, right.)
Happy knitting,
Mags
P.S. Thanks Lou (and Mac) for the great pix...and thanks again Magni for the wonderful sox and goodies!!!!!