Hexagon dilemma

Great news, one of the friends in our knitting group is having her first baby in April...a little boy...awwww! She was hoping for a blankie and asked specifically for one done in "entrelac!" Being ahead of the game, I had already ordered some yarn, but when I stared knitting realised the yarn and the pattern just didn't work together. Sheesh. Since I just couldn't return the yarn I had to rethink the whole project!!!! You know that sorta thing happens to me all the time! I literally poured over  patterns on www.ravelry.com and this is what I came up with....not "entrelac" you say...but come on it has come of the same techniques e.g., picking up stitches building on the hexagons etc., so I went full steam ahead. Did I mention hexagons are all the rage! Okay enough idle chatter and long winded explanations.
Yarn:-Plymouth Encore Colorspun 75% acrylic 25% wool. Color#7722 'Very Bright Kids.' This is a great yarn with long colour runs..only one problem 'tho there was too much bright pink, which I had to cut out! Consequently now have about 14 little balls of pink if anyone wants it! I also used color# 7822 'Drifting' and #7711 'Lemon Lime. This yarn is machine wash, tumble dry.....perfect for a baby! Needles:-Double Pointed Sz#8. The whole blankie was knit on double points and I had absolutely no seaming to do! Woo hoo!
Pattern:-Modular Afghan by Anna-Beth Meyer-Graham. This is a beautiful pattern. The recommended yarn is Noro Taiyo and if I had been doing this for me I would have used the Noro! The pattern is included in the book KNIT NORO The pattern writer suggested weaving in ends as you went along...not me..as you can see in the first pic...I had about a million at the end! Duh, that wasn't too bright of me! My only modification was applying a 3st I-cord to eliminate the curling edges and it did help somewhat!
I loved knitting this...but I have ordered more yarn for an entrelac blankie. I wish I could have consulted with Leslie about the blankie...but I'll make another as I really don't want to disappoint her!!! Anyhow..this is my first finished object of 2012 and I'm happy with the result. Happy knitting everyone and Happy New Year!

Why yes......I do still knit!

My title says it all...I still knit occasionally!
These are Lou's Christmas socks finally done!

 This pattern can be found here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/circle-socks To add a little visual interest I decided to go with an afterthought heel.
It seemed to me these socks fought me every step and I didn't think I'd finish in time.
I love this pattern..mainly because the cuff is stretchy and will fit any ankle and has a little bit of a pattern.
Yarn:-Wisdom Yarn Marathon Socks--Maui #261. I didn't mind the yarn although it was splitty and it was bought at "Tuesday Morning" on sale for $4 something  a skein....a bargain, and Lou loves his socks.
Needles:-Sz #1 as usual!
I'm hoping I knit a lot more in 2012.
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and got lots of knitting goodies under your tree!
Mags.

"Chow...baby!"

My daughter is a "Speech Pathologist" and when I saw this hand-puppet pattern I kept saying I'd make it for her....well finally! Since she works in a school system  she had requested braces...I think just to make my life that much more difficult...
Pattern:-Chow, by Anita Mumm Wheeless. It can be found here http://knitty.com/ISSUEdf10/PATTchow.php
Materials:-
Yarn:- Patons Classic Wool, colours, bright red and winter white. I used Araucania Nature Wool, colour #42 for the tongue.
I used Sz#8 Double pointed needles.
Waxed dental floss for each tooth.
For the braces I used DMC Colour Infusions Memory Thread. This thread is a lot heavier than embroidery floss. I  was able to work with it and I made a 'french knot' on the middle of each tooth and then added a line of  stitches!
It really didn't take very long to do and it's so cute....I'm sure she's gonna love this little bit of whimsy!
I am trying to do a few things for Christmas.
Happy knitting everyone!

Felted mittens.

I have started to prepare for winter and as my hands are always so cold I thought I'd knit myself a pair of mittens!
Yarn:-Patons  Classic Wool. Colour:-Grey Mix. I have 5/8 of an ounce left...so I used 3.4 and 3/8oz...almost but not quite a full skein for the large size!
Pattern:-Cuffed Tweed Mittens by H.L. Wintermute and this is from "Interweave Felt" the 2008 issue.
Needles:-The pattern calls for Sz#15, but I only had 10.5 double points so I made the larger size and used them....I know I'm so cheap!
Modifications...or I'd say "tweaks" and who doesn't tweak patterns. I added an I-cord after felting.
 I picked up the stitches after felting and did a 3 inch cuff but I turned it to the inside and tacked it down. These mittens were long enough for me without the cuff going halfway up my arm!
I decided to add a little flower too...I used the picture from the "Rosework Mittens," by Nancy Bush and Jane Fournier from the magazine "Knitting Traditions," 2011. Honestly I hadn't a clue what I was doing and I used leftover sock yarn for the embroidery thread. It's supposed to be "satin " stitch! "Hee, hee"...you say, ha, me too!
I guess I'm ready to snow blow, and my hands will be warm and the flowers will remind me of warmer days!
Happy knitting everyone.
Mags.

Duffers...19 row felted slippers!

As you can see these are ballerina felted slippers. You know, I must be in a felting frame of mind, my last few projects are felted!

I decided to make myself a pair...lately it seems I'm always cold. They are so nice and toasty plus fast, we're talking 19 rows here, woo-hoo! I thought while I had everything at hand I'd go ahead and knit Elaine (my friend) a pair for Christmas. She's getting the green ones with the decorative "french knot" embellishments!

Pattern:-on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/duffers-19-row-felted-slippers This used to be a free pattern but the designer had some copyright issues and she now charges a couple of $$$$$'s! Well worth the price 'tho because these are cute and would made an easy and fast gift!

Needles:-Sz #11

Yarn:- I have a lot of Nature Wool Araucania leftovers and various colours, but any wool works!

Modifications:- I held the yarn doubled and I added a 3st I-cord around the top of the slipper.

I did the medium size US 7/7.5 UK 5 and the slippers are snug and stay on perfectly...of course they do stretch out a bit with wear, but mine don't fall off or anything!

All in all a great pattern!

Mags.

P.S. I am a very private person...but I did want everyone who visits to know that I had a sudden devastating loss in July and 'tho knitting soothes my soul I can't seem to recapture my passion. I will add that I want to thank everyone who continues to read my blog and I would ask that you bear with me and I would also ask for your kind thoughts and prayers to help me cope! Thank you all.

Old geezer felted dolls..

This is the link http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scrappy-doll for the pattern I used. I know it doesn't really look the same as the pattern version but I just used the doll and added my own "old geezer" touches.

I was asked to make an older guy doll and this was the best.

The dolls were knit on Sz#8 needles using leftover scraps of wool. Different wool felts at a different rate..so the doll wearing purple has skinny legs (they felted fast) and more of a fulled face! Awww...I don't think anyone will care!

I made the glasses out of pipe cleaners and using the buttonhole stitch wrapped them in sparkly gray sock yarn! I just needle felted in the hair and beard!

I'm sure the dolls will give a little comfort and be loved!

Happy knitting everyone!

Mags.

Big Thumb #2

It is funny how the two "big thumbs" were knit with the same type of yarn following the same directions, on the same size needles, by the same person (hee,hee) and are different...the orange monster is taller and skinnier...oh well, the boys are happy with their "big thumb dolls." and that's all that counts!

Yarn:-Malabrigo worsted weight, colourway #16 Glazed Carrot.

Needles:-Sz#10, 16" circular and 10.5 DP's. I also used Sz#8 for the thumbs!

Pattern:-my own..and I will write it up..one of these days.

This little guy as you can see was knit entirely in one piece...then I felted him..then I added the eyes, nose and big teeth. I knit squares of red and white and felted the pieces and then cut out the eyes etc....this way if the monster gets dirty he can be machine washed in cold and line dried.

We are enjoying "Granny Camp," for the next week and are hoping to go to the lake...so no knitting!

Happy knitting everyone!

Mags.