Scarf #2

I actually got the second scarf done and blocked on schedule! This one is also knitted in NORO silk sock yarn, and the pattern is "Gate & Ladder". I took the pattern off of a calendar I have - each day is a different knit pattern.

I also got all the cookies baked tonight, and I'll frost them in the morning. Then, I'll make the White Chocolate Party Mix tomorrow afternoon, and everything will be ready for me to take to the salon on Wednesday morning. Somehow, when I make a plan I tend to get everything done on time. It's just when I mess around, I get off track. Hope the ladies like their scarves!

NORO Feather & Fan

So I was on Ravelery a week or so ago, and found this great pattern download from Susan at Stitches etc , and of course, I just had to do it! But, first, I had to order some NORO Silk Sock Yarn from my favorite online shop - The Loopy Ewe. So I ordered 2 different colorways, just cause. Started knitting the scarf, and had an idea! Yes, I would give this scarf to my hairdresser! Oh, but I better make another one out of the other colorway and give to my nail tech! Oh, and I only have about 10 days to do it in! YIKES!

But, to my credit, I did finish the first one - even got it blocked! I'm now about halfway through the other one (and, I'm using a different pattern for it). Of course, I made a major mistake when I was about a quarter in - and had to take it to my LYS and beg Viola to fix it for me! She's a genius - this scarf is filled with double yarn-overs - and there's no way I could have saved it. So now the race is on! My goal is to have this one finished and ready to block by Monday! Cause then, I have to make Christmas cookies and White Chocolate Party Mix! Sometimes I just wonder about myself!

Claudia Scarf

If you see the previous post (dated over 4 months ago!) - you will know that I had to re-start this lovely scarf. It's called "Claudia", and there is a free pattern for it here. I found it through one of my favorite blogs: Posie Gets Cozy by Alicia Paulson. Her blog is just simply eye-candy!


It was fun to do a crocheted scarf - and to use up some of my sock yarn! This one is from The Yarn Nerd - called "Cotton Candy". I'm now working on another crochet project - a "Granny Stripe Blanket". It goes pretty quickly, but you know how slowly I get things done -- might have it ready for Winter!

GRRR!

So here I was -- happily crocheting a scarf, using sock yarn that I had purchased in Kansas City probably 2 years ago. The yarn had been wound for a looong time. I get about 1/4th done, and the yarn starts coming out from all sides, all twisted and knotted!! I cut it off and tried to get it undone, but the yarn is so mad at me, I think, it refuses to cooperate! So, I threw it in the trash! OK, well, I took it out to take this picture and decided that I'll hold onto if for awhile -- maybe after I calm down, I can coax it into submission! This was to be my project to take on a little trip I'm going on tomorrow with my daughter. So, now I had to wind another hank of yarn (which was giving me all kinds of fits during the wind) and now I'm going to start another scarf. I'm thinking I'm having some kind of Bad Yarn Karma!

Yarn Love in the Mail!

What a wonderful Valentine's Day gift! I won this yarn from Christine at Treasure Goddess - last month on her blog! It's her Fruity Toes Sock Yarn in the colorway "Pinky Tuscadero"! How fun! I think I'm going to make a lacy scarf with it.

I haven't been knitting very much lately -- too much other stuff (baby quilt - getting paintings ready for a show) - but I'm starting to get in the mood again! I've still got a lot of projects on needles that have to get finished!

Finished the Baby Quilt!

I can't believe that it's taken me the whole month of January to get this little thing done! But, I would work on it and then put it up for awhile, then do some more - and stop for awhile. I'm really not in the mood to quilt, but I promised my stepdaughter that I would do this for her to give to a friend.

Cathy wasn't able to help me pick out the fabric, so I was a little concerned that maybe the pink and brown wouldn't be babyish enough. But, she told me that the mother-to-be had received several pink and brown things at the shower -- even her diaper bag is pink/brown! So now I think she just might like this quilt!

Now, I just have to make the label and send it off! Maybe I can get back to some knitting now!

Into the Lace

I'm well into the lace portion of my Traveling Woman Shawl. Really, it'll be more like a triangular scarf. Anyway, it's the first time trying anything like this for me. I've realized that I can't do more than a few rows of lace at one sitting. I'm so afraid of making a mistake (and that I don't know how to fix said mistake!) that it just wears me out! Also, my mind starts to wander and I mess up! Ahhh, the joys of getting older!

Felted Hat

I decided yesterday to knit this hat. It's knitted from the crown down with 2 strands on size 11 needles, so it goes fast! This was some yarn (Buko, from Plymouth Yarns) that I bought several years ago to make a felted bag. That bag never materialized, so now it's a hat! I love that it's striped - and by using 2 strands from different skeins, the stripes appear rather mottled.

The hat itself doesn't really fit me well, but it's not dry yet, so we'll see! Oh well, with my luck, this cold weather we're having will probably subside before this baby dries!

Carnival Scarf

My first finished project of 2010! I joined a group on Ravelry that suggested we do a color-block scarf using left-over yarn. So, I tried that, but didn't like the look I was getting. So, I decided instead to do a length-wise striped scarf, using only leftover Cascade 220 yarns that I had on hand.

I love the bright colors (hence the name Carnival Scarf) - I just wished I had made it longer. This one measures 58", and it's ok, though.

It's been so cold here - I needed another wool scarf to keep me warm! And, I can't believe that I started it on Tuesday morning, and finished this afternoon! Now, I must get back to several other projects.

It's a hot chocolate day!

I've lived in Florida for 8 years now, and every year I'm caught by surprise on mornings like these. It is COLD today! Went below freezing last night, and right now (10:20 am), it's 39 degrees. Now, I know that you Northerners will chuckle at this (cause I used to be one of you) - but believe me when I tell you that when you live where it's usually never colder than 60 degrees - your blood thins and anything below that is Freezing! And, we never have the right clothes for it!

When I took Barney out for his walk this morning, I had on my hat, coat, scarf and gloves (and, of course, my hand-knit socks) -- I felt like the Michelin Man! But, I will admit that the crisp air had a certain charm!

The photo above is of my Opal Petticoat socks that I finally finished last month. You know, I've knitted a lot of socks - lots of different patterns - lots of yummy yarn! But, the ones that wear the best are ones like these -- simple and tough. I'll never forget my Dream In Color Smooshy socks. I worked like a dog on a complicated pattern, and I loved them. I think it was after the 2nd time I wore them I found a huge hole in the bottom of one of them. I cried. And, I threw them both out. I wish I had kept the good one, though. Because I lost another one soon after that and I could have still had a mismatched pair to wear around the house! Lesson learned!

It's Gonna be a Baby Quilt

My darling stepdaughter, Cathy, asked me to make another baby quilt for a friend who's having a baby girl. As much as I don't want to sew right now, I just couldn't say no to her! I love this fabric, and so does she! I think it will make up just darling.

So, this is the month that I have to get it done! Hopefully, it won't take up all my time, and I'll still be able to paint and knit! (I may have to give up reading this month, though!) I'll show it to you when it's all done.