Scary felted monster...with thumbs!

Maybe not so scary.....altho' he does have huge thumbs.
This little guy is for my grandson James. I promised to knit the boys monsters for awhile now so this guy is long overdue! I'm sure he'll be loved!
Yarn:-Malabrigo worsted weight. Colour:-Oceanos. James' favourite colour is blue.
I used almost a full skein, but had more than enough left for seaming!
Needles:-Sz#10.5 and #8 DP's and a 10" circular 16" length.
Basically I used what needles I had, gauge isn't really important!
Pattern:- I made it up as I went along. I am going to knit another one for Will in his favourite colour orange and then I will write down the pattern .
This little guy after felting measures 9" in length from top of ears. The body width is 10" add the arms and it's about 12.5" wide!
I was going for seamless and for the most part he is...however I made the arms separate and after felting attached them to the inside. When I do Will's I plan to do his a little different and pick up the stitches for the arms. This way there will only be an opening across the top of the head to allow for stuffing! I knit a couple of squares in red and white and felted them for the eyes, big teeth and nose. I used my sewing machine to attach them after felting.
He came out pretty good and is so cute!
Happy knitting everyone!

Accessories....felted beads, knit beads and a scarf!

Knit Beads...

I promised Leslie, one of our Saturday morning knitting group a knitted bead necklace.

The pattern can be found here

http://www.pompomemporium.com/content/anjies-knitted-bead-necklace-0

Things I do different than what is written in the pattern....

I knit these with leftover sock yarn on Sz#1 needles and I use a small wooden ball instead of fiberfill to stuff the bead!

I do love knitting these altho' they are a bit fiddly and all the colour changes mean a lot of ends to weave in!

Felted Beads....

I thought while bead making I'd try my hand at doing felted beads..I used the wet felt technique.

I made a hole in each felted bead and this wasn't easy. Do them when they are wet as that's a little easier, but not much! Let the beads dry for about 48 hrs. I knit an I-cord and strung the beads about 1" apart!

Easy-peasy and I love the solid colours...maybe next time I'll embellish them!

Scarf:-

This little scarf is knit with "Socks that Rock" colorway "Fairgrounds." I had only 74 grams of yarn leftover after I finished another project and I couldn't figure out what to knit! I hated the idea of that much yarn laying around unused. I suppose I could have knit footies but I decided on this pattern, and it is called "Fit to be Tied" and it's by Kristi Schuler. I did the increases for 37 grams worth of yarn and then decreased for the other 37 grams. Perfect...the little scarf measures about 8.5" at the centre and it's about 40" long!

I used sz #5 needles.

This is a free pattern and can be found here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fit-to-be-tied-3

Another nice easy pattern but with a lovely eyelet edge!

I am working on a couple of things...but mostly I am spending time outside..I love warm weather!

Happy knitting everyone!

Mags.

Charity Donations.....

On June 18th., our knitting group is planning to have our "Knit in Public Day!"
The charity we are sponsoring for our day is
"Relay for Life."
Our "Sip and Stitch" group member Sarah has decided to get some donations from local business and of course our group members will do what they can. This is what I have made to contribute so far. I will add a skein of yarn to each bag and I have the book "Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders," edited by Judith Durant to add to the mix. Who knows by the time the 18th rolls around I may have a little something more...but I'm not promising anything!
The Bags....
Pattern:-http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sue-schaefers-noro-kureyon-bag
This is a free pattern and a lovely mindless knit.
This little bag after felting measures 31/2" wide, 12" long and 10" tall.
For the blue/purple bag, I used 2 skeins of Noro #254E (blues, green, purple,) held together with 2 skeins of Araucania Nature Wool # 29 (purple.) I don't remember what yarn I used for the flower..it's probably a mohair wool something!
For the green bag, I used 2 skeins held together of Araucania Nature Wool # 27 and 2
skeins of Tahki Kerry colour #5013. I only used the Tahki Kerry for the base and the handles.
For the red bag, I used 2 skeins of Patons Classic Wool Regency held together and 2 skeins of Patons Wool colour Chestnut Brown for the handle. For the sunflower embellishment I used Araucania # 37 yellow and the Patons for the flower centre.
The only changes I made to the pattern was to use an I-cord bind off and to double the yarn for a sturdier bag.
And for the green bag I added 2 cables front and back.
Next:-I am in the process of making some knitting magnets. These are just knit with leftover sock yarn.
I used toothpicks for needles and beads for the needle heads. I attached a self stick magnet bought at Walmart to the back! I plan on making about 20-25 all together.

Finally, I made some "felted soap." I had a bunch of roving I had purchased at http://www.northcoastknitting.org/Directions.pdf
and thought I would try some soap. The soap was easy to felt and looks pretty but doesn't lather very well...I did read somewhere that if you add your own shower gel it lathers nicely and also make sure your felted bar dries out well between uses. The soap smells good and is great for exfoliating your skin, but not worth the trouble.....in my opinion!
Lets hope we make lots of money for our charity. I don't think too many folks will be interested in the knitting stuff..I don't think too many knitters are coming. I am hoping since we are supposed to be celebrating "Knit in Public Day," that I am pleasantly surprised. I would love to introduce people to the craft and exchange ideas with others..so fingers crossed! We have however heard from the Erie groups who are also donating some things! Woo-hoo...thanks guys...we appreciate everything!
Happy knitting everyone,
Mags.

Neglectful....

I know I have been very neglectful about blogging....two months and nothing written...I'm surprised you all haven't just deserted me!

But...I have managed to finish a little knitting and in my own defense I had two weeks of jury duty during this away time. My oh my, what an experience that was. It was a malpractice suit and the outcome was in favour of the plaintiff...woo hoo!!! I earned the princely sum of $227, met a few nice folk and felt honored to serve! So it wasn't all bad, hee hee!

Now, back to knitting!

I have been working on this little vest and it seems like forever ages! As you can see it is a little big for me..but I'll wear it anyway. The construction is so unusual that I can't figure out a way to take it in, short of ripping and reworking it...which I am definitely at this point not considering...no way, no how!!! I tried felting the hell out of it but since the yarn is 75% wool 25% polyamid I had no luck..but it was worth a try! Okay, specs...

Pattern:-Design 6523 Ladies Vest from Regia Magazine 112 by Kaffe Fassett
Needles:- Sz#5

Yarn:-Regia Design Line 6-fadig Landscape Colour Fire 50g. I used 5 balls.

Regia Design Line 6-fadig Mirage Colour Fire 50g. I used 4.5 balls.

This yarn is classified DK weight and I got it at a bargain price at http://www.littleknits.com/

It was an easy knit but a little tedious at times. The back and cap sleeves are one piece and the patches (mitered squares) are one long scarf, and this is the fronts and collar and part of the back.

I don't think I'd knit another...I'd have to rethink the whole construction thing. I think I'll just stick to more conventional type patterns.

Sooooo, thanks for your patience.

Happy knitting.

Mags.

Forgive me...I'm obsessed with clothesline bowls/baskets!

And another basket....ummm, at least this one is a little different....it has a lid!

Not quite as crude as my first. I guess it's true practice makes perfect.

I made this one for my daughter. I may make one for my friend Elaine.

I am still knitting my vest and so far have the back done. Pictures soon!

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags.

Fabric covered clothesline basket

I was just playing around on the internet when I saw these fabric covered bowls/baskets and I wanted one.

Since mine is a first attempt...it's really rough.

I had some fabric strips, and so I just bought some cotton clothesline. If you decide to make one do buy cotton..nylon covered line isn't recommended because you will break your sewing machine needles!

You cover the line with your fabric and do a section of about 12" to 18" and then using a zig-zag stitch start forming your bowl or basket.

Wrapping the line with fabric and cutting the strips was really time consuming....at least for me!

If you decide to make one, look on the net, there are lots of tutorials.

You know, I think I will try to make a tote bag, although really I should try to stay focused on one project at a time!

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags.

22.5 degrees

While I was waiting for my yarn order I decided to cast on something. I was debating knitting socks or a scarf.

I wanted something not too big, not too complicated and would work using wildly variegated sock yarn.

I bought this yarn from http://www.littleknits.com/ and as it was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up. That was when I first started knitting socks and I've had it for ages.....I just didn't know what it wanted to be.

Some patterns don't work with yarn this colourful, but this one is a perfect marriage of yarn and pattern.

Yarn:-Opal Neon Colour#1932. This is a mix of blues, reds, pinks and a little purple.

Needles:-Sz#3

Pattern:-http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/225-degrees

This is a free pattern and I loved knitting it. I started with 3 sts and I stopped at 349sts.

I was afraid I would run out of yarn and I wanted to do the lovely little scalloped edge. This little edge looks a lot like crochet but it is knitted. I had 10 grams of yarn before I started the scallops and 4 grams left after I cast off.

All in all a lovely mindless knit.

I will give this scarf to Lindsay, our waitress at our Saturday morning knitting group. You see I have knit something for everyone and Lindsay does love a scarf.

I finally got my yarn I had on order and I have just started my next project....yeah!!

Happy knitting everyone.

Mags.