I'm Back!

After a few weeks break, I'm back. I did a lot of Christmas gift knitting/making, but couldn't really show you the finished pieces just in case one of the recipients happened to be reading this blog. It really turned out to be a handmade holiday this year even though I didn't make any pledges. Here are a few items that I knit.

Cap'n Crunch Cowl
By Jennifer Adams
String Theory Worsted doubled
US size 10 straight needles

Clemence
by Katya Frankel
Laines Du Nord Cashsilk
Us size 7 (16 inch circular needle)

Toast
By Leslie Friend
Laines Du Nord Cashsilk
Us size 7 double pointed needles

Each of these projects was a free pattern. All of them were quick and the directions were easy to follow. I love the color of the String Theory hand dyed yarn, and the Laines Du Nord Cashsilk was dreamy to work with. It is a combination of extra fine merino, cashmere and silk.

I wasn't able to finish the Wisteria sweater before Christmas, but I did finish it before New Years. I'll have some pictures of it shortly. Off to clean my messy work space from a busy December.

Best Wishes...

It's getting a little hectic around here. I'm eating a bagel, making a dessert for tonight, and writing a post all at the same time and hoping I'll remember to pick up our dog at the groomer's. How is that for multi-tasking? But I just wanted to take a moment to wish you a wonderful holiday with your family and a healthy, joyous and peaceful new year. I'll be back sometime after the new year.

Peace,
Mary

Man's Best Friend

Wow, where did this week go? I was hit really hard with a chest cold this past week. Our dog was happy to keep me company on the sick bed. She is good that way. When I was feeling a little better (able to get off the sofa, but not able to drive to a crowded store), I decided to make her some Christmas gifts.

First up was a recipe for peanut butter dog treats. These were so easy to make, only four indredients and our dog, who is finicky, did like them. I let her be the taste tester.

Next on the list was a neckerchief. I just cut a 15" square, folded it on the diagonal, right sides together, sewed the two open sides together leaving a four inch opening for turning. I turned it right sides out and top stitched around the edges which secured the opening closed. Seriously, ten minutes start to finish. Now, you can't even find a parking space at the mall in ten minutes time.


Finally, a dog toy was needed. I saw a free pattern at Joanne's for a fleece doll, and I used that for inspiration. I cut strips of fleece (three each) to make braids for the arms and legs and knotted the ends. I made an amoeba shaped body out of cotton. I added some eyes, pinned the legs and arms in place, and with right sides together sewed around the shape leaving an opening at the top for turning. I turned it right side out and stuffed it. I made some hair by cutting fleece into strips, pinned it into the opening and sewed it shut. I think it has all the elements my dog would be looking for - stuffing and braids to pull on.

Now the dog is done, and I didn't even have to leave the house. I wish it was all that easy!

Once upon a time...

in a land far, far away there lived an obsessed knitter. She would knit and knit forgoing any laundry, vacuuming and dusting. When she wasn't knitting she was day dreaming about knitting. When she wasn't day dreaming about knitting she was on the Internet searching for new things to knit. One day she came upon a pattern for bird ornaments. She dropped everything she was doing and began knitting like a mad woman. She knit day and night and even into the wee hours of the morning. Now, she was forgoing sleep, but it was all in the name of knitting which she thought was a good cause. She had knit six of these little birds and her fingers (especially the one she had stitches in) were starting to become weak. Finally, in this moment of weakness, she put down her needles and went to bed.

When she woke up in the morning she went straight to her knitting basket to admire her little birds, but they were gone. It seemed that they had flown away. She looked high and low for her precious birds. Alas, she found them.

They had made a new home for themselves where they lived happily ever after.


The End

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas.

I finally learned how to do a mosaic! I used bighugelabs.com, and it worked great. I have always wanted to learn how to do this.

We don't have a tree yet. Next weekend we will put it up. I finally got around to putting a few decorations around the house today.

The cookie swap was fun. Lots of laughs. I helped my mother with her cookies on Friday and cut my finger on the blender blade. Silly me. I ended up with seven stitches, but no cookies were harmed in the process. It is slowing my knitting down though.

This is only half of the cookies - I'm sending them into my husbands work.

It's all about the cookie...

Yesterday was all about cookies. 100 cookies! My Aunt is hosting a cookie swap this weekend and I signed up to drink wine, chat and eat some cookies. It all sounded so good until I got the email - each person brings 100 cookies. What!
I used this recipe. The recipe says that it makes 50 and it really does make 50 cookies.

So, I doubled it! It is an easy recipe, and they taste delicious.

Oh yeah, I also bound off on the body of Wisteria. I'm working on the sleeves now. I really love this pattern. I hope I finish in time for Christmas.

Anthro-Inspired Scarflet

There is a very cute scarf available at Anthropologie right now - Le Petite Scarf. Well, Kim from Chronic Ennui worked up a free Ravelry pattern . I can't tell the difference. I love this pattern. You can dress it up or down and totally make it your own. Kim knit several examples and they are all cute. I chose to follow her lead and make a flower pin that I attached, but the scarf can also be worn without it.

Details:
Pattern: Anthro-Inspired Scarflet
Designed by: Kim from Chronic Ennui
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool 100% merino superwash, 2 skeins color 006
Needles: US size 8 straight
To make the flower: Cast on 47 stitches.
Row 1 - *P1, yo, P2tog* repeat to last 2 sts, P2.
Row 2 - Purl
Row 3 - *K2tog* repeat to last stitch K1.
Row 4 - *P3tog* repeat to end
Row 5 - K3tog, K2tog, K3tog (3 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a 10" tail, with tapestry needle run tail through stitches on needle. Coil flower as desired, (Optional: I added a button to the middle using the tail), take a few stitches and fasten with tails to safety pin.

Thanks Kim!