Knitting friends...

I knit these booties/socks when we were told at our knit group meeting Saturday, that Lydia (one of our knitting friends) had a baby girl. The baby's name is Basia? (I think this is the spelling) and this is Polish for Barbara in honour of her Grandma. Sweet!

The baby was born at home and she weighed in at over 10lbs...owwwwww!

Yarn:-Red Heart, 'Heart & Sole.' I used Watercolor Stripe and Ivory!

Needles:-Sz#1 DP's

Pattern:-Just a basic sock knit over 40 sts. I did add the 'Circle Sock Pattern" by Anne Campbell on the cuff. I like to use this pattern on the cuff because it's nice and stretchy and if I know anything it's that this baby is a big girl! The socks look so big to me...I am so out of touch with baby sizes, 'tho better too big than too small!

I am also doing more ornaments for the group for Christmas...shhhh...these are all a surprise and I haven't put them on Ravelry yet!

Pattern:-Knitted Christmas Ornament Covers by Judy Sumner.

Yarn:-Noro Daria. It is like heavy string but the colour lengths are gorgeous. This is colour#5...very like jewel tones. The pic. doesn't do the colour justice!

Needles:-Sz#5

I wondered if it would fit over the glass ornament and I kept trying it on....just like I do when knitting socks..hee, hee!

Our group has been knitting squares for lap blankets and we have quite a few done. We are also doing caps for the Vets..

I really enjoy hanging out with my knitting friends every Saturday....mostly it's that I love to gab!

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags.

Another fabric strip/rag knit bag

One of my knitting friends asked me why I liked using other materials besides yarn. Ummm, let me see.....I think it's because the finished product has such a unique look.

Here is another little unique fabric bag.

I found the strips and material for lining the bag at a yard sale.

The bag isn't very big. 12" tall; 11" long; 3" wide base.

I used sz#9 needles and the fabric is dense.

I cast on 40 sts and knit a rectangle of 20 rows.

I finished my last row, switched to circular needles and picked up 10sts along the first short side, an additional 40 sts opposite the first 40 sts and 10 more stitches along last short side.

I knit on these 100 sts until I almost ran out of fabric strips.

I then did a 3 st I-cord bind off since it creates a nice slighty rolled edge.

I then turned the bag inside out. I liked the look of the garter texture on the outside.

I added handles from a straw bag I found at the thrift store and then lined the bag.

This is a great little bag...ah but there's the rub, it's a little too small for me. I like to carry a lot of junk! Maybe someone will want it...

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags.

Shades of 'greenjeans'

Here finally is Mr Greenjeans. This is Sarah modelling it for you. All my worries about fit were for naught...it's a perfect fit and Sarah loves it!

I finished a couple of days ago but I just got it washed and blocked. Our weather here has been rainy, and it seemed to take forever to dry.
Pattern:-Mr Greenjeans by Amy Swenson from Knitty fall 2007.
Needles:-Sz#8
Yarn:-Araucania nature wool colour #27 "Pea Green." This yarn is classified worsted weight 'tho I'd say it's more light worsted or a double knit! I have to say I like this weight and I love this yarn. What I didn't like was using two different skeins at once but felt I had to since this yarn is kettle dyed creating big variations in each skein.
Modifications:-On the yoke raglan increases I used a 'make one' (R) or (L) instead of a 'yarn over'. I also did a (R) or (L) twist on the knit 2 between these increases.
I made a shawl collar. To do this I marked where I wanted the collar to end and built up this portion of the collar with short rows 'till I reached the desired length.
I made 6 button holes instead of 1. I love these buttons I picked up a Jo~Ann's...a perfect match!
I decided to go with all cables on the cuff and not do the rib and cable pattern. I felt it was just a little too loose. I added 4" to the body and sleeve length....whew!
I am sooo relieved I'm done.
Did I tell you Sarah made me a beautiful sock bracelet and I decided to knit her this cardigan to say "thanks!"
I am now knitting hats for the VA hospital....so fast and easy!
I am also working on a new fabric strip bag.
Happy knitting everyone.
Mags.

Dusty Peonies...

I have a big stash of sock yarn that is weighing heavily on my mind and since I haven't been knitting any socks I have turned my attention to one skein shawls or shawlettes!
This is free pattern and you can find it here:-
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zoe-8
Zoe by Emily Kausalik.
I liked knitting this 'cause it was so mindless, 20 rows of garter and 20 rows of stockinette stitch. The 20 rows of each were to be done 3x's but I had so much yarn left over I did them 4x's.
It really was such lovely TV knitting. There is too, the optional ruffled edging. As you can see I choose to do the ruffle! It just adds a nice feminine touch.
Yarn:-Zoe hand paint sock. I love using Zoe yarn.
Colour:-Peonies
Needles:-Sz#5.
This little shawl measures 40"X 20"...perfect!
I made a little tag with the yarn wrapper (you know, with washing/drying instructions) and the 'Grand Poobah' bent a long double pointed needle in half to make a two prong fork that can used as a shawl pin! I have to say 'tho my Mother frowned on sticking needles in knitting! She said it would make a hole....oh well!
I have someone in mind for this shawlette. She has been having a rough time...I thought of her while I was knitting and just added some hope, prayers and love for a successful outcome!
Happy knitting everyone.
Mags.

Ripping and still reworking

As you can see I'm still plodding along on Sarah's cardigan. I decided to rip out the cable bit and follow the pattern as written. So it has been slow going because I was almost ready to cast off the body part when I realised I had read the pattern wrong, aaagggghhh. Soooo.....here is the corrected version! This will add more room, and fingers crossed it will fit.

Okay, I can hear you saying. "Mr. Greenjeans doesn't have a shawl collar!" That's true...but this one does. Sarah said when she had a little try on, and I took her measurements it needed a big collar, she may have been joking but I ran with the idea! I just marked where I wanted the collar to end and did a few short rows here and there. Truthfully, I hadn't a clue about the process but figured I could always rip it off if I wasn't happy!

I know I should have waited 'till the sleeves were done before adding the button bands and collar, but I was a little bored and decided I needed a wee bit of a challenge. In case you were wondering...the pins are for the button placements. So far I love everything about this cardi.

I am also working on the mystery shawl! O my God...this is gonna take forever to do! I hate to complain but we get a clue once a week and it's only about 30 rows, tops!

I did start another little shawlette, scarf thingie using one skein of sock yarn. Really I have so much sock yarn and since I haven't been knitting socks lately, this is a good way to use up some! Probably it will be a gift for someone!

Haven't I become fickle in my dotage....a bunch of projects on the needles and I can't commit to one! This could be the reason I can't get anything finished. Okay, that and http://www.ravelry.com/

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags

135 days 'till Christmas

It's never too early to get ready for Christmas..especially if you decide to do fiddly stuff!

I know you all understand the "ship in a bottle," concept, well this is "knitting in a Christmas ornament," and they are super!

I thought I'd make one each for my Saturday knit group, and since they turned out well, I must order more glass balls and send a couple to my family who knit.

They were not terribly hard to do once I figured them out.

I used toothpicks for the knitting needles and put beads on the one end. I used sock yarn for knitting. Fun, fun, fun!

For those of you interested in unique "knitting" gifts, this is a free pattern on Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knitting-for-the-holidays

Honestly.....who thinks of these things???? 'Tho I for one am glad they did. I will tell you, the 'Grand Poobah' does think I have too much time on my hands...and sometimes I have to agree!

I took a couple of pics outside but they didn't come out too well. The sun was reflecting off the glass...sorry for the glare!

I am still working on my mystery shawl.

I am still plodding along on Sarah's cardi and I've started another shawl for a friend!

Have fun with the ornaments!

Happy knitting.

Mags.

A little mystery, called Ludivine.

This is a package I received today and I love it. I got it because I joined a mystery KAL on Ravelry by Shalimar yarns. It wasn't necessary to use any particular colour of Shalimar yarn, but to participate you have to use Zoe sock yarn by Shalimar.
I just went ahead and ordered the suggested colour for my shawl, as I love this yarn!
With my yarn I got some extra goodies...

1. a. a pattern, for the lovely "Heike Shawlette" by Linda Minnick. (This is not the 'mystery' pattern.)
2. b. beads

c. a sachet of lavender

d. and of course...a gorgeous skein of Zoe sock yarn. (The pic doesn't do the colour justice!)

We will all start getting clues for the shawl on August 1st...I can't wait. I'm hoping to be able to work on both Sarah's cardi and the shawl, fingers crossed I'm not being overly ambitious..we'll see!

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags.