Knit-alongs

I decided to join a few knit-alongs this year.

Plus, I have participated in the Any Sock KAL over at Knitting Help.com and really enjoy it. I have met so many wonderful people.
Hopefully, I will be able to complete a pair of socks and two dishcloths each month. I guess my WIP will have to wait.

Topi Hat

Pattern: Topi
Yarn: Patons Canadiana-Deep Orange and Super Pink
Neeldes: Addi Turbos 2-24" Size 7 and Size 5
Hook: Size G

Even though I didn't have my daughter's Topi hat wrapped, I finished it Christmas day. She loved it and changed her clothes to match.This is her room one wall is this bright pink and the other is bright mango. She wore her hat all day and that made me feel good...I started her a scarf to match. She is a knitter/crocheter with no time to enjoy it right now so shes aware of the time put into a project. This hat was so easy to make and didn't take much time at all. My son even asked if I'd make him a hat...so I will have to find something for him.

I'm sorry but I deleted several pictures of my daughter in her room...I just didn't feel comfortable having her face exposed to the world.

Prefelted and Felted Clogs

Did you all have a nice Christmas? We still have another Christmas gathering this coming Saturday and then my sons birthday is the 2nd.We went to midnight mass so we were opening gifts at 2 in the morning. I don't know how much my son and husband appreciated their clogs. My son asked if they were oven mitts when he first opened them. He was tired so I don't think he really appreciated anything. I will probably felt his clogs today plus my husbands were a little big so I'll throw those in too.

Happy Holidays

Wishishg all my friends a wonderful holiday season and a blessed new year!

I finished my son's clogs and will post pictures once he opens them. The Topi hat is started and this pattern is excellent. If I had time to work on it today I could probably finish it to wrap for my daughter...she isn't expecting it so I'm not going to worry about it.

Son's Fiber Trends Felt Clog

One clog is almost finished...I added the bumper the correct way this time. Just need to sew up the seams. I need to get the second one started so that I can get these wrapped. I've decided to not felt them and see what kind of reaction I get from my son (almost 14 yo). I really, really enjoy making these clogs.

Next year for Christmas I will probably make them for my parents, in-law and step-in-laws, nieces and nephews...maybe even brothers and sisters...but thats only if I'm still having fun making them. I want to see how they wear and hold up first. I really need to get back to some other knitting/crocheting--afghan, scarf, socks, teddy bear.

Topi

My daughter (12 yo) wants a pink and orange hat. I showed her a several patterns on Ravelry and she picked the Topi. I bought Patons Canadiana in the Super Pink and Deep Orange and will probably stripe it.

I don't know when I will get to start on it...my husband wants me to help him downstairs. We are finishing our basement...drywall, taping, mudding, cleaning and mopping each night, then painting, carpet, etc. This is a large family room area that will mostly be used by the kids and their friends.

Fiber Trends Felt Clogs - Patons Classic Merino Wool

Finished the Fiber Trends Felt Clogs for my husband Saturday morning. I hurried to felt them so that I could run to the LYS before noon to buy more yarn...but first I wanted to make sure that I liked how Patons Classic Merino Wool felted.I love Patons Classic Merino Wool!! It felted in less than a full wash cycle and it looks great. I am thrilled with how the clogs turned out. So I bought more yarn to make my son a pair. I suggested to my LYS owner that she should make up a pair for the 2008 Christmas season because I think the pattern and yarn would sell since its under $25.00 for your 1st pair.

To make the men's medium size you need 1 full skein for the upper and over 1-1/2 skeins for the inner/outer sole and cuff. For the men's large size you would probably need 2 skeins for the upper and 2 for inner/outer sole and cuff.

Knitting Resolutions for 2008

1. Finish Woodland Scarf
2. Finish Pomatomus Socks
3. Finish Zebra Stripes Afghan
4. Frog and redo Jaywalkers
5. Work on Aran Weight Victorian Lace Shawl
6. Sew together Teddy Bear that I made 2 yrs ago...I hate to sew!
7. Make scarfs or clogs for family members for Christmas next year (start Jan, 2008)

This was started over at TexasPurlGurl blog ... she has a podcast called Knit Naturally. I think it will be fun to look back and see what I accomplish.

Fiber Trends Felt Clogs - Take Two

Fiber Trends Felt Clogs
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool - 2 skeins Dark Grey Mix, 1 skein Navy
Needle: 2 - Size 13 - 24" Addi Turbos
Size: 11
I really enjoy working this pattern...this time it is so much easier since I know what to expect. These will be for my husband. When I was at my LYS, I was looking at the Wool Pak and she would have to order it...plus its $20/hank--expensive clogs. I can't wait to see how these felt since others say that it felts fast. I will have to check out the SWS and see what colors my son and daughter might like.

Squirrelly Squirrels

Look at this silly squirrel hanging upside down to eat suet...

...his little friend is watching him, but earlier he was hanging from a different bird feeder. As you can see, we have ice everywhere. The schools were closed AGAIN (2 days now). The streets are cleared but the country roads aren't that great.

Finished Fiber Trends Felt Clogs

I finished sewing up the 2nd clog this morning. Of course I couldn't wait to felt them.
Before

They are actually the same size.

Note to self: Do not start felting 15 minutes before you have to be at work.
Did I mention earlier that I don't like felting with Cascade 220? Well, if I didn't, I DON'T like felting with Cascade 220. It takes forever!!! I went through 6 wash cycles and it took over an hour. After each cycle I'd add hot water (from the microwave). And I know this is a felting no-no but I let it go through the last rinse and spin cycle.
After

Leftover yarn: Purple .8 oz & Gray 1.1 oz of each

Even though I have all this gray left over, I think I will try Patons and see how I like felting with that. I have used New Zealand Wool Pak yarn and it is a felting dream--it felts in one wash cycle and looks wonderful. My LYS can order it for me but I don't want to wait. I think I'll stop by her shop and see what she has in stock.
New Zeland Wool Pack

Cascade 220

If you click on the pictures you will notice how the Wook Pak doesn't show the stitches and the Cascade isn't as thick and sturdy. I really like the looks and texture of the Wool Pak. Also, with the Wool Pak you don't have to double strand. Plus, I really don't like felting with Cascade 220!

Pre-Felted Fiber Trend Clog

This pattern is incredible. You're working away and thinking how in the world are these going to be clogs. TRUST THE PATTERN.

These photos above are of the pre-felted clog with only one sole.

These are of the 1st finished clog. Is the bumper suppose to be on the inside? Somehow thats where mine is. I'm going to knit the 2nd one and see how that turns out.

Fiber Trends Felt Clogs Progress

I worked on this for a couple hours last night . . . had the most trouble with the silly cast on. My tail is like two feet long but I refused to rip it out for the 5th time. This photo shows that I am up to Row 20 on the toe and instep. My tip is to trust the pattern! I read all the way through the pattern before I started and I was still surprised that the sole was just a narrow strip. Apparently you sew it together later.

This is a pattern that you must read every line and follow it. There was no working on it this morning when I went to coffee with a friend. Lots of counting and then more counting. Optimistically, I'd like to finish this one tonight.

Fiber Trends Felt Clogs

Pattern: Fiber Trends Felt Clogs
Yarn: Cascade 220 - 2 skeins Dark Grey, 1 skein Purple
Needle Size: US 13 (9 mm)
Start Date: 12/6/07

Went to my local yarn shop . . . bought the pattern and yarn for these Felt Clogs. I'm going to make mine first so that I can get all the kinks worked out. I've felted with Cascade 220 before and it always seemed to take forever to felt compared to other wools that I've used. My plan was to use Patons Merino Wool but I didn't care for the colors as much. I'll give Cascade another try with this pair and see how it felts. I'd like to make a pair for my husband, son and daughter, too.

Woodland Scarf Progress

Pattern: Woodland Shawl by Nikol Lohr
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Carol Green
Needle: Size 6 Addi Turbo (4 mm) circular

This Woodland Scarf is is turning out to be a relaxing and the easiest lace pattern to follow. At first I had trouble figuring out what was going on but then I found this chart on Talvi's Ravelry project. Once I saw this and realized that you will not always have 41 stitches at the end of the row, it clicked and I have completed 6 repeats of the 16 row pattern. I am knitting this on Size 6 using Lorna's Laces Carol Green--the perfect Christmas scarf. I really want to have this done before my work Christmas party on the 14th.

Yarn Thing

Yarn Thing left a comment on my blog. Can you see me jumping up and down?! How cool is that?!

Marly from the Yarn Thing podcast is one of my favorite podcast. I found her knitting stories and humor a hoot. She is very funny and her podcasts are extremely entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud. If you haven't listened to her podcast, I highly recommend that you check her out at Yarn Thing.

Woodland Shawl

I am now considering this Woodland Shawl I can use up some of my sock yarn stash. It appears to be a fairly simple pattern but I think it looks beautiful. Here is another picture of it. What do you think, this or the Candle Flame?