Happy Knitting Day!

Today was a very happy knitting day for me.

I spent about an hour working on my son's socks, getting about halfway through the heel on both socks. Once I turn the heels, it will be smooth sailing to the toes. :)

After a long nap, I woke to the sounds of my hubby coming home from work. He kissed me and handed me a package that had been sitting on our doorstep. The package from my "Summer Swapper" in the Knitting Help Forum! YAY!

Check out all these goodies!


Here's a non-flash photo of the yarn, so you can see the gorgeous colors of the yarn!


After all the excitement of looking through my package from my swap pal, we decided to go out to eat a nice dinner at the Mexican restaurant down the road from our house. It was only about 4 PM, so we didn't have to worry about any traffic or a crowd. It was nice! :)

After dinner, we decided to venture into Matthews. My sweet hubby took me to two craft stores so I could see what kind of sales they had. Hobby Lobby and Michaels BOTH had lots of good deals. I'm a happy "knitty" shopper now!


When we finished craft shopping, we stopped by Game Stop so my hubby could play "Guitar Hero" on the Xbox 360 they had on display. It always cheers him up when he plays that game. While he was playing, I looked through the shop and found Season One of "That 70's Show". I'll enjoy watching that while I knit at night. I just hope I don't laugh so loud that I wake up my hubby!

Knitting for my Family

I've been getting LOTS of charity knitting done, and it feels good to do it. ;)

Here's another square I've made for a blanket knit-along.


And since I've finished my current charity projects, I've decided to make some things for my family.

Tonight, I cast on to make a Harry Potter scarf for my hubby:

I'm using Caron Simply Soft yarn in burgundy and yellow, and size 8 circulars from my Denise Interchangeable set.

And I've started making a pair of ankle socks for my oldest son:

For the socks, I'm using Lang Jawoll yarn in a DEEP red that is just beautiful! As usual, I've cast on both pairs at the same time, using dpns. The thing I love about Lang Jawoll sock yarn is the reinforcement thread included with the yarn. It's just tucked away inside the skein! :)

I've also been buying more yarn (like I really need it!). Maybe I should open up my own yarn shop, because I think I have enough yarn to do it! Ha!


And look at the yarn a friend gave me the other day! (I think I'm gonna FAINT!)

Knitting for Charity

I had to set aside my personal project, because charity knitting was calling my name again. I really enjoy knitting for charity, so I didn't mind the interruption at all. :)

I added some white, pink, and glittery stripes to an Oddball Shawl we're working on in the Knitting Help Forum:


I made a 6 inch square for another Charity Blanket Knit-Along:


I added a yellow section to an Oddball Baby Blanket we're making in the Knitting Help Forum:


And I made a hat and neckwarmer for the Dulaan Project:



I'm also sending the alpaca neckwarmer I made earlier to the Dulaan Project, because I can't imagine ever needing anything that warm here in Charlotte, North Carolina. When I looked through my craft room, I found a little baby hat I knit earlier, so I'm including that as well.

Here's everything, ready to go!

Time to Knit for Myself a Little Bit!

Since I've been knitting for charity so much, I've decided that maybe I should actually knit something for myself for a change.

So, I've been trying to finish some of the UFO's (unfinished objects) in my craft room, as well as choosing some new projects that will excite me.

I found some Lion Brand Incredible yarn on sale at Michael's for a GREAT price, so I nabbed several skeins, then found a cool pattern for a top on the Berroco website. "Willa"
It is SO fun to knit, and it's really going fast!




In the midst of making my Willa top, I made a super soft scarf for my step-daughter, using some lovely Italian yarn.


I also finally finished a Prayer Shawl for my church.


I made a neckscarf, using some alpaca yarn I spun on my spinning wheel.


and, I've started making some more slipper socks for my Grandma.


I'm also making some socks for my oldest son, using some Lang Jawoll sock yarn in a natural color. It's not photogenic yet, so I'll post a photo later.

Knitting Help Forum Knitting 2007

When the new year began, I picked up my knitting needles again, and joined a knit-along in the Knitting Help Forum. It was called the "Sockintine's Sock Swap". We had to knit a pair of socks for a partner, and mail it to them by February.

I chose to make the "River Rapids" socks by Sockbug. I used Wildfoote Luxury Sock yarn in a lovely pink shade.


I love to knit for charity, so I cast a baby blanket, using Bernat Baby Coordinates.


At this time, I also came up with an idea to make blankets for charity. I thought it would be cool to work along with the other members of the Knitting Help Forum in making several blankets for charity. I would cast on 300 stitches, and knit for about an inch and a half. Then, I would mail the knitting on the needles to the next knitter. We would be mailing it from person to person, sending along fun little gifts if we wanted. The idea took root, and soon blossomed in the forum.

I cast on the first blanket in February of 2007. 25 knitters signed up to participate for the blanket. I handed my knitting off to another knitter in the Charlotte area, and she added her knitting also.


Pretty soon, we had another blanket started, with another 25 knitters involved.
I started Blanket #2


Blanket #3 followed soon after, and this one was designated as a 100% Wool Blanket.


Needless to say, a 4th blanket was soon begun as well.


And just this week (May of 2007) I cast on Blanket #5!


I wonder if we'll ever stop making blankets for charity? I hope not!
Here's one of our blankets after it's gone to a few different homes.


We've also been making Oddball Shawls for our friends in the forum.
Right now we have 5 shawls in the works.

Bubble Bag

After the Christening Gown was complete, I was a happy knitter.

I felt energized, so I looked for a new pattern to make. I decided to make the "Bubble Bag" I found online for one of my piano students. Her favorite colors are green and blue.
http://myeclecticmess.com/blog/felted-bubble-bag-pattern/

I gathered together everything I would need for the bag


The knitting went very fast!



After it was felted, it looked so cute!

And my student really liked it!


Next, I decided to make a scarf for the Red Scarf Project, and it didn't take long at all.



By this time, I had learned to spin yarn, so I wanted to make something with the wool I had spun. I chose to make a pillow. The yarn was overspun, so the knitting twisted. I ended up with an assymetrical pillow! But, it didn't look too bad.


I had finally finished the teal shawl:


It was October of 2006 by now, and my husband and I were planning on going away for our 5th wedding anniversary. We decided to stay in a cabin in the mountains, so I quickly knit some warm hats for us to wear. Here's one of them.


I also made some warm slipper socks for my hubby.


When we got back from our trip, my mother asked if I could make a hat and scarf set for one of her coworkers. I went ahead and started the scarf, because I knew that would be the easy part. I used Moda Dea Dream yarn in Winter White.


I found a beret pattern at the yarn shop, and got started.


It looked so soft and dreamy when it was finished!




I really liked the set when it was done.


But, my mother said to add fringe.

(I hate fringe...but that's the breaks.)

Next, I made a Christmas stocking for my cousin's yarn shop.


Then, I made some slipper socks for my Grandma for Christmas.


I decided to not knit anything else for Christmas 2006. I wanted to relax and enjoy the holiday, and took a break from knitting. It was nice! :)

Knitting a Christening Gown

When I was asked to make a Christening gown for display at my cousin's yarn shop, I was a little intimidated, but decided to give it a shot.

I searched through all my patterns, and finally decided to use this free pattern:
http://www.geocities.com/jewedyknit/babydress.htm

The beginning wasn't too bad, but I sometimes had a very hard time understanding her directions.


When I finished the first sleeve, I felt much better about the design.


After finishing both sleeves, I tried it on a full-size baby doll, and it looked pretty good!


Even the buttonholes in the back didn't look bad, and they were my VERY FIRST buttonholes.


When I got to the skirt section, however, the pattern was incorrect. The number of stitches she said to pick up just would not work with the lace pattern she selected for the skirt. So, I searched in my knitting design books and found a different lace pattern.


The further along I went, the better it looked:


When the skirt was finished, I was amazed! But, the skirt was VERY revealing.


I added some pretty buttons, and it looked so pretty!


Since I was worried about the openness of the skirt, I added a simple lining, by sewing in some satin fabric by hand.


Finally, the Christening Gown was complete!!