Can you guess what I've been doing lately?

Three pairs of soccer gauntlets all in navy and white (the white does have silver sparkles).
Can you guess where I've been hanging out?
One was for my LittleOne and then her two team-mates. {This pattern did come from polarknit.com--their web site is a little wonky today.)

Just some hats I knitted recently...the green one and the pink one are the same pattern and super quick easy to make.

This one's from the book Knitted Gifts.


And this one's the Peek-A-Boo Cloche from Lace Style.

Two Knits and a BobCat

This bobcat and baby were right outside the fence the other day! Ella was very curious. The link here: bobcat, shows a better picture of one. These two roam the wash behind the house and sometimes are where I walk Ella in the morning. Quite scary up close! Not too bad with a fence in between!

The Oldest's new Winter hat. He picked out the yarn himself. {sorry it's sideways, didn't realize until ituploaded} I did follow the pattern as written, but when he tried it on, it was way too big, as it lenght-wise. So...I did what any knitter would do, I ripped back to where it would fit him, and re-did the decreases for the top. Fits him better and works great under his bike helmet in the mornings when he rides to school.

And my Owl sweater! I love this. It looks more pink here, but it's actually red. I did make the s/m size, I wanted it not as fitted and the sleeves, of course, are longer. I tried to put a hood on it, but didn't like the way it was looking, so I made it per the pattern.
More pictures to follow (most likely tomorrow)!

February Already!

Oh, my! It's February already! What happened to January? It went by like the flash!
I have finished some things, but haven't uploaded the picts yet (you know me, it takes me a while to do that), but I should have pictures of my red owl sweater later today, and a hat that I made for my friend and the knotty but nice hat and the hat I made for the oldest to wear under his bike helmet. I also started the xo cardi from Vogue Knitting Winter 2010. It was too cute to pass up. And acutally a quick knit. (and yes, I'm going to do the 3/4 sleeves as written)
Life's been busy. The oldest has projects upon projects from Jan and due in February. Also, the spring sports start this week. The youngest has softball, oldest baseball, so I'll be running for the next five months!
So...hopefully later today, there will be some pictures for you!
{sorry about all the links, but I wanted you all to have an idea of what these things look like--all ravelry links, too}

Not-So Dark Cowl

Finished this Darkside Cowl yesterday. It was a great and quick project. I think it only took about four days. What prompted a cowl, you ask? Last Friday morning I was walking Ella and the wind was so bitterly cold (yes, for the AZ desert is was--your blood thins out, you know), and I said to myself, you need a cowl. I do have a scarf that I wear, but...hmmm...how do I put this...you doggie moms will know what I'm talking about here...when you have to pick up the doggie poop (they all do it) the scarf seems to unwind and, well, you know....so, anyways, hopefully problem solved here.

Pattern: Darkside Cowl.
Yarn: Cascade 220 wool in pale pink (had in stash and have about 1/4 of a skein left).
Modifications: None. I did do three reps and then rows 1 and 2 of the pattern.
Now these are, of course, two more dumpling bags. I made them for my mom and MIL for Christmas, and just now (sorry) uploaded the picture. The blue one is for my mom and the pink my MIL. Both use Cascade 220, the blue is a heather which felted differently than the non-heathered, but came out just as nice.

Hope everyone has a great second week of the new year! {Going to get a new mouse and keyboard today, this one is sticking quite badly.}

1:35pm AZ time: got new keyboard and mouse---much, much, much better!

Dumplings All In A Row

Grey, misty mountains this morning. There is some snow up on the higher peaks. Just misty clouds now, and I think it's starting to rain.

The three little dumplings all in a row. This is before felting. (For those of you who don't know, these are from IK, Fall 2008.)

After felting.

These were started back in October. I did the brown one first, then the purple, and then the green was done last Thursday and felted on Friday. Since this is the last week of school before the Christmas break, these had to be done by the weekend. I knew it would take a couple of days to dry, and sure enough, this morning they were dry. All three are gifts for my kids' teachers. The purple is for the LittleOne's teacher, and the Munchkin has two teachers this year, a homeroom/math/science and then a language arts/social studies teacher. I like all three, so this year I decided to hand-make something for them. I am going to fill them with cocoa, tea and some chocolate. Something useful for them.
My ravelry page has some individual pictures of the bags before and after felting. I don't know which one I like the best. They all came out good (if I do say so myself)!
Off to the store to finish up all those last minute things!

Ella, Hats and Socks

Poor, poor Ella. She has such patience! The LittleOne had her birthday party with her girls over on Saturday, and they proceeded to use their science skills of static electricity to stick the balloons all over her. Isn't she cute!


Our outside Christmas tree got put up on Saturday as well. We re-did the backyard over the last month or so. It was all concrete and dirt, and we put pavers across the entire back and made sort of an outside AZ room-- we now have an outside living room/dining room.

My new hat! Owls! Owls! The hat pattern is the Who? [rav link] pattern. This is a great warm hat. The little bumps on the side are short rows (an idea taken from Cameron's Cap), to cover my ears. I love this hat! It's warm without being too heavy. I used 1 1/2 skeins of Lite Lopi in grey and made the ribbing longer and the top a little longer, too. (I'll wear it this morning to walk Ella as it's blustery and raining.)

And my socks! Took me over a year, but I finished them! Don't know why! They're socks, small, portable and easy to finish, but took me a long time. The second one only took, like 5 days to finish! Yay! These are spring pools [rav link], but I think in this picture, I look like I have Grinch feet --sort of fitting with the season! These are great. My first toe-up and magic loop socks. Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock yarn, 2 skeins in bright green. I did make them longer, did 4 reps of the leg.

There's my update for now! My kids have only two more weeks of school and then they're off for Christmas break for about 3 weeks! So, I'm going to be running around trying to get all my stuff done and knits knitted!

Now...It's December and Dogs on Thursday

I do have pictures of some finished things (on the camera) that I need to upload of what I've been working on, but for now, enjoy Tully sleeping on my dad's foot. Tully belongs to my parents. They retired this summer, went on vacation, and then came home and got a dog. It's difficult to get a pict of Tully and Ella--they like to play and Tully runs fast. I'll try next time they're together.

I have teacher gifts that I'm trying to finish (three of the same thing), hats that I've made, a pair of socks (these took me a year--go figure), a frogged sweater that turned into something better (at least I hope so) and I think that's it.
So...hopefully I'll be back later today with some pictures of some knitted goods.

Fabulous Fall Finished Objects No. 1

TaDa!!!
It's finished! Hot off the needles! (Last night I went out and bought the buttons! Got to do it quick or it will never get done!)
Took me almost two months (according to my Rav. dates), and that was knitting with wool/mohair mix yarn in the middle of the summer and the lingering heat we had in Sept.

Love the way this fits!
I used about 4 1/4 skeins of Brown Sheep worsted in the color -- tormented teal.
I picked this up while on vacation this summer and I'm glad I bought 5 of them, so I could work my modifications.
Pattern: Favorite Cardigan (rav link) from Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard (knitandtonic).
Size knit: small.
Yarn: Brown Sheep worsted.
Needles: US #8
Notions: 9 buttons (see modifications).





Modifications: When I knit the fronts, I started with a 2x2 rib, and then when I got the end of the row, I did a p2,k2 so that I would end with a k2 on the end. That's why there's more purl stitches at the ends. I like the detail though. Makes the cables stand out. I did not do as much waist shaping, only did 3 decrease rows and then made it longer (I used two full skeins on just the body of the sweater-from the top to the bottom). For the sleeves, I sort of custom fit them to my arms. I have long arms and didn't want the sleeves to fit tight, so I just tried it on as I went and decreased where I thought I needed to, ie at the elbow area and through the bottom of the arm.





This is my glorious self-timer shot! Came out pretty good I think. I did not block this, and don't think I'm going to.

Overall this is a relatively easy pattern. I do like that the sleeves are done in the round so you really don't have to seam anything but the small hole under the arm. I wanted this not as close fitting as my Central Park Hoodie (which I love but fits snug), so that I could layer a long sleeve tee over it.

Two-Hat Thursday

A Complimented lace hat [rav link]. In this lovely safety orange (it may even glow in the dark)! I don't know exactly what the yarn is, a cotton/acrylic blend I think. Everyone will see her coming down the street in this one!

An owl hat. This one is who? [rav link]. I did go up one size in needles as this yarn was a little thick, but I have no idea what this yarn is, only that it feels like a cotton/acrylic blend (I think it's the same as the orange) and is hot pink!

Both these hats are gifts for my friend C. in Colorado. She loves all my hats, but since she shrunk...uhm, washed....uhm, felted...two wool ones I made her (even after I told her to hand wash!), I don't give her anything that can't be thrown into the wash machine!

Also, these were both knitted in about a day...so they are a very quick knit and I highly recommend them when you're looking for a quick project to finish!

Ella (Dogs on Thurs.) and a Hat

a sleepy ella with her fox

Love this hat!

Saw this hat here, and couldn't resist. I had this yarn in my sock stash. It's Opal, neon, a very springy color! (Pardon the wrinkly look, I haven't blocked it yet as I wanted to wear it right away!) I did have a couple of modifications: used #2, #3 and #4 needles, and did one extra repeat of the lace pattern. I'm glad that I did, because I do like a hat to cover my ears. It's been unseasonably windy and cool here in the desert, and I have worn this to a late-evening, windy little league baseball game!
Here's the Ravelry link: Springtime in Philidelphia Canopy.

And, last of all, Ella looking particularly cute posing for the camera. Shows her grey muzzle. (Her tail's blurry because she's wagging it! Her tail never stays still!)

The hat helped me get back on track of my sloooow knitting. I'm still working on the whisper cardi, but it's going a little faster now! And still working on my skirt!

My Mittens are Finally Freaking Done!!!!!!!!!!

After a fun trip to the "Town too tough to Die"(Tombstone, Arizona) with my handsome husband and well-behaved children, I uploaded some new photos.

Back to regular blog author, thanks to guest picture uploader and title writer!, thanks Hubby!

The bird in the hand mitts are finally done! Yeah! Yeah!

I love the way these turned out. Only problem is...they don't fit me. But, the LittleOne likes them and they fit her small hands, so she's been wearing them to school in the morning.

The lighter part is coming across as grey, but they are dark blue and light blue. I don't know if I'll put the bird on the palm, we'll see...right now I like them as is. This was the first time I used knit picks yarn, and I liked the way it knit up. I bought some other fingering/sock in different colors, I have a hat pattern that might work.

I want to thank (not-so) cynical knitting gal for her Gracie's Golden Blogger Award! Go on over and check out Ella's friend!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

Ella getting ready for her walk one morning.

...well, Christmas.





Been a busy, busy week(s)here trying to get all the Christmas stuff done as well as some knitting.





I made an ear flap hat for my Hubby, and then of course, the Munchkin wanted one and then I got caught up in some mittens, which I've cast on 3 times for (once because I used the wrong color, second time too small and not anywhere close to gauge, and third, and hopefully all will go according to plan). {all pictures subject to when I actually get to take them}

And then...the kids are out for the break tomorrow so I'm running all my errands that I need to finish up before they're home for two weeks!

So...I hope all have a happy and productive weekend!

Yet Another Hat

Pattern: Norwegian Star Earflap Hat by Tiennie
(thanks Tiennie! It's a great pattern!)
Yarn: Cascade 220, olive/sage green and winter white/cream.
Modifications: I knitted extra rows above the snowflake section to fit my Hubby's head and make sure it came down over his head. I also added a red fleck in the middle of each snowflake (not pictured) and I think it makes the snowflakes pop!

This was a great and easy hat to knit! My Munchkin wants one too! (he's modeling it and has been wearing it around the house even though it's too big for him)
I think I'm on a hat kick because I already started another one! This one's a father/daughter in a yellow tweedy wool/silk/cashmere blend!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

I love hats. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll probably already know that fact. So, when my LittleOne (whose birthday was actually on Thanksgiving this year) wanted fingerless mitts, well...I had to make a hat to go with them! She's very particular about the knitted things she wears (as most 1st graders are), and will not wear anything remotely scratchy. So...what's a knitting mom supposed to do? Whip out all that acrylic she's got hiding in the stash, that's what!




A purple floppy hat.

Pattern: My own (if anyone wants it let me know).

Yarn: Caron Wintuk in violet.

And the mitts that started this whole adventure. (I love the fingerless mitts, too. They're such a useful knit for those early morning walks to school when it's chilly, but I can still hold Ella's leash and do the dog owner thing {ie: pick up after dog}.)

Pattern: Evangeline.

Yarn: same as above.

Modifications: went down a couple of needle sizes to fit her small hand. Otherwise worked the pattern as stated.

Now....this next item is probably my most favorite, favorite, favorite (can I say any more?) hat I've ever knit and worn.

Isn't it great?



Pattern: Selbu Modern.
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in navy and winter white.
Modifications: went up to a size 3 for the body of the hat (and the ribbing was done on #2's) to accommodate for the bulkier yarn.
Note: I did knit the color work inside out on the circular -- keeps the floats from pulling too tight! Try it! It works.

Love, love, love this hat! It's warm, but not overly so. The alpaca/wool yarn is lofty and has just enough fuzziness to it to hide any imperfections of the color work. I did wear it here on Friday morning when Hubby and I hit the stores at 5 am! It was drizzling (yes, it does rain here in the desert) and damp for the weekend. Now we're back to the coolish mornings and warmer afternoons. Once that sun goes down though, the desert gets cold!


(And, yes, this was the hat that inspired the LYS owner! She wrote down the pattern name and was going to look it up on ravelry!)

Finally...Some Pictures...

Pattern: Ski Lodge Scoop from Twelve Months of Knitting

Yarn: Cascade Jewel, 3 skeins, shades of dark pink, maroon, and light pink

Modifications: Only made the ribbing 9" (as opposed to 10"), used #8 needles, and did the ribbing in the round and then separated at that part and worked back and forth. Also, did not make the back as long, only about 20". So, I guess I just made this a little shorter than the pattern. But it came out fine. It looks much better on me than on this hanger attached to the bush! (No one was home to take the picture and I really wanted to show you all!)

Pattern: Canopy Cardigan, from Knitscene, Fall '08

Yarn: Cascade 220 in like an orange/rusty heather.
Modifications: I made the sleeves longer. I don't care for the 3/4 sleeves (my wrists get cold). This fits me a little tight across the back, next time I'd probably add just a tiny bit of give there for me! I did get to wear this yesterday! It was cool enough here for a sweater over a tank! Yeah!! Got to wear a hat this morning walking the munchkins to school, too!

Now I'm finishing a shalom cardigan and have to make another amanda hat for my friend. Why? You ask? Well, she shrunk the first one! And I do mean shrunk!!! It may fit a baby now! Thank goodness it doesn't take too long to whip one up!! (the above link shows the original hat and what yarn was used! so beware it shrinks!!!) She wants the same color, thank goodness I bought two balls of it!!

I did finish...

...the Garter Edge Fingerless Gloves.

Pattern: Garter Cuff Fingerless Mittens from the book Weekend Knitting (ravelry link).

Yarn: I think it's a Cascade 220 superwash in a deep purple (the ball band was not attached to the yarn).

Modifications: None to the specific pattern, but I custom fit the fingers for my hand.

And...my Canopy Cardigan:

The front edge detail.

This is the fronts and back seamed together and pre-blocked. (I seamed it, blocked it, added the sleeves and then re-blocked [these picts to follow once I take them!]). This was an easy sweater to knit, I did have a little bit of trouble setting in the sleeves, but after I re-blocked, it was fine.

From the previous posting, I've completed two out of the five. The gray hat was frogged, the headband is in my bag going everywhere with me and waiting for the i-cord finishing tie. The skater top...haven't picked it up in a while. That yarn is...well...sort of sticky and the lace takes more concentration than I have right now!

I've also finished a hat for my hubby (again, pictures to come). He liked this version of the Irish Hiking hat (ravelry link).

There might be some other things once I get around to taking some pictures.

Happy October!

Hats on a Hot Day

For some reason, whenever it's the hottest around here I knit hats. I think I just know that it's going to get cold soon! Or rather, I try to convince myself that soon, one day, it will be cold enough to wear a knitted wool hat in the desert!
Anyway...here are two!

I love this top view!Pattern: Cabled Rangoli hat (yes, this is the second one I've done and with the same yarn). Ravelry link: here.

Yarn: Wool-Ease, color is chestnut heather (sort of red tweedy brown).
Modifications: made the bottom ribbing longer to cover my ears.

Don't you just love these colors?

Pattern: Perpendicular Hat. Ravelry link: here.

Yarn: Cleckheaton Tapestry; color is pastel multi.

Modifications: I don't think so. I made this hat back in June/July and I can't remember! I do like the way this fits even if it looks like a muffin on top of my head!

Bias Shrug

close up of the lace pattern

the sleeve (you can see here that it's longer than the magazine picture)

Pattern: A Good Bias (ravelry link: here), from Interweave Knits, Spring 2005.

Yarn: Cascade 220, blue (I think it's called marine). The sleeve picture shows more of the true color.
Modifications: Made the sleeves more wrist length as opposed to the pattern's bracelet length (my arms get cold), and added two extra repeats to the back.
This was a super simple lace project (and for me to say that is great) and didn't take all that long. This was finished in June, and I did wear it on vacation! I used to be anti-lace, thought it was too hard all that stuff, but now, that seems to be the only thing I've been knitting lately!

The kids went back to school yesterday, and I went on a cleaning binge! Yes, I know, I cleaned! I mopped the floor, cleaned the toilets, cleaned the kitchen, caulked the shower! You know, all that stuff that gets shoved aside when the there's other people in the house with you all day! They had great first days, and know most of the kids in their respective classes (always a plus!). And were ready to go this morning!
Hope all have a great day!
(And, yes, lots of knitting will be getting done today--more than yesterday!)