Things I've done since march

Progress on my man's afghan.
Sexy wedding present.


Fun bachelorette gifts for a friend.
Vixen Cami
Lion Brand bunny for friend's daughter

Stripy Fingerless Mitts

I actually wrote down a pattern while I was making my stripy fingerless mitts! (For a picture see last post.) So if anyone is interested, here it is!

SIZE: S/M women
MATERIALS: 1 skein Patons Kroy Socks in Tuttu Fruitti Jacquard
NEEDLES: 1 and 3 dpns
2 stitch markers
1 ten inch piece of scrap yarn
yarn needle

GAUGE: 6 sts/1 inch st st on size 3

Abbreviations: sts= stitches, K=knit, P=purl, CO= cast on, BO=bind off, K1fb=knit into front & back of stitch, dec= decrease, K2tog= knit 2 sts together

CO 40 STS ON SIZE 1 DPNs
place sts evenly on 3 of the dpns
Note: Pattern is worked in the round

1. K all sts
2. P all sts
3. K all sts
4. P all sts
5. K all sts
6. P all sts
7. K all sts

SWITCH TO SIZE 3 DPNs
8. K this round while dec 6 sts evenly (34 sts)
9. K all rows till you reach 2 and 1/4 inches from CO or desired length

THUMB GUSSET
Note: If using a self striping yarn look at mitts so far and determine which side is the "pretty side." This will help you decide where to begin the gusset. The next rounds suggest where to add the gusset. (Gusset sts are the ones in between the markers.

10. K8, pm K1fb, K1fb, pm K the rest of round (36 sts)
11. K all sts
12. K8,move marker to right needle, K1fb, K sts until 1 stitch before 2nd marker, K1fb, move marker to right needle, K the rest of the round
Repeat rounds 11. and 12. until there are 16 sts between markers
14. K 4 more rounds
**You will remove the markers on the next round**
15. K10, place next 12 sts on the waste yarn, K the rest of the row (36 sts)
Note: 2 sts after the first marker and 2 sts before the second marker will be kept on the DPNs
16. K 12 rounds

SWITCH TO SIZE 1 DPNS

17. Work rounds 2. through 7. then BO purlwise break yarn

THUMB - USING SIZE 3 DPN

Place the 12 sts from waste yarn as follows: 6 sts on 1st needle, 4 sts on 2nd needle, and 2 sts on 3rd needle
1. K 12 sts, PU 4 sts (16 sts)
2. K 12 sts, K2tog, K2G=tog (14 sts)

SWITCH TO SIZE 1 NEEDLES
3. K round while inc 4 or 5 sts depending on thumb size (16 or 17 sts)
4. P all sts
5. K all sts
6. P all sts
7. BO knitwise break yarn
Weave in loose yarns

More Fingerless Mitts

A couple of weeks ago I went to Michael's and found some sock yarn on clearance. I've never had any desire to make socks, but my hands are always cold. So, I thought I'd make yet another set of fingerless mitts. I thought that I could use a nice bright spring pair. After knitting them up, I realized that I liked the yarn better rolled in a ball. Orange, pink, and green stripes.......not fabulous. Oh, well I'll wear them anyway.


I made these for Joy. She had bought a pair of fingerless mitts in the winter, and her boyfriend took them one night. She hasn't seen them since! She saw mine when we were all out at the bar, and complimented them. After she told me her story, I had to make her a pair. I made them girl size and style, so hopefully she'll get to hang on to these. :P
I modified the "XOXO" pattern from "101 one skein wonders" to give her unique mitts.

Pink Scarflette

I made this scaflette to match the hat I made for my mom last year, because last week she asked me for a pink scarf to match it. ;-) I still had some of the yarn left over from the hat. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough for a whole scarf so I thought that a scarflette would work instead. My mom is a pretty chic woman so I think she will be willing to don a new type of neck attire. I made this scarflette to mimic a belt with 3 belt loops so the scarflette can be adjusted to the desired length.



I will try to post a pattern for it later when I have a little more time.

Craftster shirt

I ordered this shirt last Tuesday and I recieved it that Thursday. I couldn't believe how fast I recieved it! I've already worn it twice!

Erik's Afghan So far

I have been working on my boyfriend's afghan on and off since August 2008. The pattern is from "Knitting with Balls." I forgot the exact name of the pattern, but it something like, "mock hound's tooth." Erik wants it to be very large so he can wrap up in it. Oh boy, its going to take me a long time to finish. I think that I am going to knit 42 or 48 squares total. I have knitted only 12 so far! Yikes!

OWLS!!!!

I found this pattern on ravelry! It's FREE! Yay! I love owls!



I had a hard time deciding what type of eyes I wanted for my owls. Googly, buttons, beads? Hmmmm.....



I ended up choosing brown vintage beads from the 70s. I thought that they would be appropriate since owls were especially popular at that time. I used a 1980s vintage acrylic yarn for the mittens, I got from a garage sale a while back. [When I bought the yarn it still had the label, but I have since lost it :-( ] It only took me 2 days to knit the mittens. Hurray, instant gratification!

Tissue Holders

My friend Esther go me a book for Christmas called "Aranzi Cute Stuff." It has a lot of adorable patterns in it. I suppose I am probably too old for this type of thing, but I don't care. I'm still a kid at heart! The only projects I've made so far are these tissue holders.

I have allergies year round. So I thought this would be an appropriate first project for me. Every time I get it out of my bag I smile while I sniffle. ;-)


These are the examples from the book.

XOXO-with Love Handwarmers

My new book had a pattern for matching hand warmers and headband.


The pattern called for 40 sts to CO. I have small hands, so I only CO 30. The pattern had a heart on the palm of the hands. Since, I CO less than the pattern I didn't have enough sts to follow that part of the pattern.



These are the finished hand warmers from the book.



I made the left hand warmer while studying and watching a movie. I thought I had memorized the pattern.....I was wrong. Can you spot my blunders in cabling?




Matching XOXO set complete! I wish the book had a pattern for a scarfette with the XOXO. I think when I get some more free time I might make one up.
(Book: "101 Designer: One Skein Wonders"

Winter headband and kitty hat

This is called "hugs-and-kisses-with-love headband." Whew that's a mouthful! I love this headband! It is so warm! I walk to my classes almost everyday. Since, it is winter I need something to keep my ears warm. The pattern for this is in "101 Designer One-Skein Wonders."


I made this hat for my friend Anji. This is the 3rd kitty hat that I have made her in 3 years. The first one is believed to be taken by her former roommate. The second one I made was a little too large for her. (Bad gauging on my part.) She washed it and...........it felted! Yuck! It looked like a dirty kitty with matted fur when it was dry!

So, this is # 3. It is properly gauged, and my friend no longer has a roommate. I think this one is now safe from all issues. The pattern for this is called the "Official Kitty62 Hat," and is available for FREE online. I used "Yarn Bee: Luscious" as my yarn. My gauge was very different from the one in the pattern. I adjusted my cast on etc. to compensate for the difference.

Shower Soap Holders

I got the pattern for these from "101 designer one-skein wonders." I thought it was a cute idea to put your soap in 100% cotton bag and then use it as a wash cloth/bag.
These are all late Christmas gifts. I hope everyone likes them! I sure do!
While these bags may make showering fancy. I don't imagine they would be good for storing the soap after use. I can see the soap bar getting gooey in no time.

CPS cozies

A CPS device is something we use in some of my classes. We call them "clickers", because we click in answers to quizzes our professors present us in class.
I made these cozies for two of my classmates. I'll do anything to avoid studying for an hour!

Stray Cats and Halloween deco!!

Over the last couple of months I've been feeding this cat at random with soft cat food. It used to come around every once and awhile. Last week, I decided to buy dry cat food. Now she comes around everyday! She looks pretty healthy so it makes me wonder if she really is a stray. She sure does get excited and eat a lot when I feed her though. In this picture, she wanted to come inside! What a cutie!
This is the other stray that comes around. I do think this one is defiantly a stray. It is skin and bones!!! I took this picture today, after feeding it for a week. It is starting to look a little bit bigger, but I think we still have a ways to go. If I had the money, I'd take them to the vet. and get them checked out. Alas, I'm a poor student.
This is one of my window's Halloween decorations. I guess I got a little excited for the holiday. Sorry the pictures is blurry. I wanted to try it to get a night shot, so the black lights would show up. After I took this picture, I made a giant spider web that I put behind the skeletons.
This is a close up of the window during the day.
Close up #2.

What I've been up to lately

I made this fish for Sabastian, my friend Anji's cat. I thought this pattern was so cute! The pattern put the eyes a little lower and the front fins in a slightly different place than I did. Gee.......I wish I would have looked at the pattern better. Up close my fish looks my like a weird orange creature with funny little legs. Ahhh well, I don't think the cat will mind. ;-)
I added a handle for my fish so it will be easier to play with the cat. (Pattern from LionBrand.com) I made my fish from simple soft yarn instead of microspun.
All of my amigurumi creatures so far. I did have one more....a turtle....buuuut....one of the stray cats I've been taking care of played with it a little the other day, and then took off like a bat out of hell. I guess he took it to his 'secret place.' I haven't seen it since. She sure looked cute with the little green turtle in his mouth!!!
I made this market bag for my summer vacation in August. I now use it when I walk to the video store and to Dollar general. I love this bag!
Now I am making a afghan for my boyfriend. The pattern is from "Knitting with Balls." When its done the pattern will look like a mock hounds tooth. You can sort of see it with these squares that I have ready.

Pumpkin hat

My co-worker Anthony is having a baby soon. I got excited, I've been wanting to knit a baby item for someone.
The leaf pattern is a modification of one that I found online. The original pattern made a leaf that I felt was too large for this particular hat. I just wanted a mini leaf for a mini person. I think it turned out adorably. I am greatful for the pattern I found. I would have never thought of how to do the tri-leaf pattern. Hurray for FREE patterns.

Amigurumi

For my birthday a couple of my friends got me an amigurum book that I wanted. It was a wonderful surprise! The little turtle and the legless octopus (so far) are from the book. I haven't had time to make the legs yet. Busy, busy summer school!!

Slouchy Fountain Hat

I finished this hat a week after finals thinking that it was going to be the perfect summer hat. Well, I can't say that I love it. I just don't think my hair cut can pull it off....but.....I was planning to cut my hair anyways. Maybe my future haircut can pull this off better....I'm thinking sweepy bangs.
The pattern is available on Knitting Daily for free. Yay! The designer was inspired from the movie "The Fountain," which I have actually seen! And I am sooo glad this hat was designed because, after I first saw that movie I totally wanted a hat like the character who wore it.

The pattern called for size 4 needles. Hmmmmm....PASS!! I like larger needles thank you! I need instant gratification! So, I used size 7 and reduced the number of stitches. Also, I've been desperately been wanting to make another slouchy hat in hopes it will look cute on me. So, I made it extra slouchy.
After trying the hat on several times, my friends and I decided that it miraculously transforms us into sub-culture cliches. i.e.: a hippie.


: a nineties grunge rocker.


: A beatnik

Long Time No Post!

I have a few new projects that I have started and finished since my last post. Here is the first:

I got the pattern for this wallet from "Knitting with Balls." This book exclusively has knitting patterns for men. So, I just had to girlify the wallet a bit starting with a feminine soft yarn in a lovely shade of purple. ;-)


The pattern called for 2 large pockets and a medium pocket. I didn't understand exactly where the medium pocket had to go. So, instead I used it as a flap, and attached a bead to keep the wallet closed. Cute! and useful!

The pattern used a much more manly yarn and color.