Soakbox with socks..

Got this little "soakbox"  and right away figured I'd give it to my daughter. One problem though she doesn't knit and a skein of sock yarn would be useless to her.,,ha, ha! Decided I'd knit the socks and give her the box for her birthday! Problem solved.
This is such a cute idea. It comes with yarn, matching nail polish, heel cream, wool wash and a sock pattern!!
This colourway is "Grape Gatsby!"
You know I thought the included pattern was very nice but I decided to go with another I'd always wanted to knit.
Pattern:- Feather and Fan by Judith Sumner from the book SOCKS*SOCKS*SOCKS!
This is such an easy pattern almost mindless. Just 3 rows knit and 1 row pattern! To keep my interest I decided to do the http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fish-lips-kiss-heel
I have done a Jo Jo heel and I like this heel This new one is similar with a few differences!  I liked how easy it was and I like a wee challenge!
Yarn:- Lorna's Laces. This is nice yarn and I know it will wash and wear well.
Needles:- Sz #2. Call it old age. My Sz #2's were in the package marked Sz #1 and I was halfway done before I realized this..I would never, ever rip back and the size is fine and they feel very comfortable!

I'm sure she'll love them altho  she said she hates to get gifts in case she doesn't and then she'll have to be gracious and just smile. Ha..she can just give it back to me!!!
Happy knitting everyone.
Mags!

Snowflakes for Shirley!

 I bought this mitten kit last year and of course being a procrastinator I just started this project in January..better late than laying in my stash! I had every intention of keeping the mittens, as I have never owned a pair of lined mittens but I decided to give them to Shirley! Now, she may not like the colour and they may not fit her...but isn't it the thought that counts! Besides, Shirley loves winter and loves snow and lives in Pennsylvania..BBBRRR!!  Consider this...Shirley made "vanilla" just before Christmas and out of the blue sent me a big bottle. Do you know how expensive pure vanilla is??? I'll say no more. I do bake lots of cookies at Christmas and I really appreciated her generosity!
Kit....
Pattern:-"Snowfling Mitts" by Tanis Lavallée
Yarn:-Tanis Fibre Arts yellow label DK Grape and Frost for the outer shell/
             Tanis Fibre Arts purple label cashmere sock yarn jewel tone for the lining!

Needles :- Size #4 for the outer shell and sz#3 for the lining! (I think the suggested needle size was # 3 )
I thought the yarn seemed heavy for a DK weight..but that could be just me!
I honestly didn't  find adding the lining an easy task. Picked up the stitches..no problem but doing the lining of the first mitt was a bit tedious! I had to measure, rip and adjust a lot!! I made careful notes of what I  had done and the second lining went
 a bit easier. My biggest fear was that the lining would bunch up in the thumb and at the mitten top. I think mine is fairly smooth after lots of ripping and reworking! I thought that maybe if you were to knit a mitten liner separate from the outer shell and then to sew it in might be easier..I dunno!!! Honestly it will be a long time before I do another pair with a liner!! Just saying!
The only change I made was to mirror the <'s  >'s on the cuff.
I have set myself a little challenge for 2014.
A pair of mittens with a liner.
A pair of gloves.
A pair of  doubleknit mittens.
Well, one down..two to go!
Ha, ha!
Happy knitting.
Mags.

Sheepish!

I made a little sheep to keep "Gru" company and my daughter took it! Baaww! My grandsons wanted a sheep each and asked for a blue and yellow one...I was  a little surprised...considering they are 10 and 12...but who knows with kids these days! LOL                                                                                                                                                 

 

Pattern:- http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-lamb-sock-critter and altho' it is supposed to be knit in rows I just followed the chart and it is knit in the round...no seaming! Ta Da!!!!

 

Needles:- Sz #5
Yarn:- I used Patons Classic Wool. Black, blue and gold!

As I said I knit these in the round and I changed the face colour to black...just like Irish sheep! I also changed the ears! This was an easy, fun knit!
I also knit this little guy:- http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cabled-sheep

He is just so cute!!!!

Sheldon...

This is Sheldon...I used
Yarn:-Frog Tree Alpaca sportsweight. Color:-chocolate, green, gold and white!
Needles:- Sz # 1double points
Pattern:- by CID Hanscom. It includes wire that is inserted in the body, legs, feet, neck and head and safety eyes. Because he is wired he is poseable..hardly a toy...more like an ornament! Let me tell you it was the most awkward fiddly thing I have ever done! The pattern was a little vague in places and I made  quite a few mistakes!!  Aw well..live and learn!
Shelly Sheldon is very cute but  before my Grandsons got a chance to see him and want one just like him I sent him off home to Leslie!!! You see I'll never, ever make another!! LOL
Happy knitting everyone!
Mags.

Mittens with all the bells and whistles!

These mittens are fresh from the needles they still have to be washed and blocked.
This was a "mystery" knit along given by the "I make Mittens" group on Raverly.
No, normally I don't participate  in these sort of knit alongs..too time consuming and then you're never sure what your finished object will look like! But...I decided to take a chance since the mittens were to be designed by one of my favorite designers and also Christmas is creeping up fast!
The mitten are nice but the knitting was a little intense  since I couldn't get the charts blown up large enough for my old eyes and I could only work in good  bright light!
My eldest Grandson howled with laughter when I said the knitting was intense...but another knitter would understand!!!!
I said they had all the 'bells' and 'whistles' because they do incorporate a lot of techniques!!!
They started with a 'provisional' cast on,  'picot' cuff  followed by a latvian braid and 'catching main color float' and also 'catching contrast color float!' I started these on Sz #0 needles but my knitting was too tight.
Pattern:-Quaternity By Rose Hiver can be found here   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quaternity 
Needles:-Sz #1
Yarn:- Hazel Knits sock color Nickel (grey) and Vamp (red)
I am glad I joined this group and the mittens are dense and very pretty and finished in a little over a month. If I am lucky my name could be drawn for a prize...now that would be a lovely bonus!!! LOL!
I am off to do a little mindless knitting now!
Happy knitting.
Mags.

Sparkly brioche scarf..

Pattern :- 

Rodekool by Nancy Marchant is a free pattern and can be found here

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rodekool

This pattern is doubleknit lace chevron and I have always wanted to knit this little reversible scarf.

Yarn:-

Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Colori Disco Socka

Colorway

02 Grays

 

Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Colori Disco Socka

Colorway

03 Blues

Needle :- 

US 4 

 

I bought this sparkly sock yarn when I first started knitting socks! It has been in my stash forever! Have always wanted to knit this pattern and although it almost killed me to learn ‘brioche’ and to figure it out, after probably a gazillion tries I got it to work!! It did require a bit lot of concentration or I would make silly mistakes and my only option was to tink back stitch by stitch. I learned so much from this pattern. The Italian cast on and cast off...thank goodness for You-Tube!!
I have to say it was all worth it…and I loved the challenge!!

Thanks to my grandsons for modeling it for me!

 

Happy knitting.

Mags

Despicable Me! Knitted "Gru"...villain or hero?

You know, although I have been knitting on and off, it has been a long, long time since I posted anything. I hope if I have any readers at all left...you'll be kind and forgive me! I will try to do better! 
I couldn't resist the challenge of  knitting "Gru" after all I had knit his "minions" a long time ago!!
Once again I am in awe of the people who see a movie and write up an amazing pattern!
This one is free and can be found here........
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gru
This pattern is by Sarah Chandler and as I said, is free! Thanks Sarah.
Gru's details....

I used sz# 4 double points
Instead of worsted weight yarn I used Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash Black and Gray! For his face I used pink that I had in my scrap bag! So I have no idea what it is!!
The pattern was easy enough to follow..however it was a bit fiddly!
The little fella is about 7 inches tall and is so cute and definitely not despicable...my hero!
Hope you all make one!
Mags.