Quilting

So recently I decided I needed to make a baby quilt for my friend Liz. Probably because I don't have enough other crafty stuff to keep my occupied. Or perhaps because I don't want to run the risk of using up all of my yarn stash. But for whatever reason, I decided it was necessary to quilt.

I started with a practice baby blanket.I think it came out fairly well despite me not having a walking foot. So I decided to make the real one for Liz's baby. Of course, I neglected to take a picture of it before I gave it away. Oops. But it had this fun jungle print and blue and yellow with a red border. I liked it. I hope she does too... or at least her baby does.

I've also sewn a ton of flannel baby blankets. Plus a little bag for carrying around my sock knitting. A secret present for Grace. I'm still working on my Austermann Step Socks. And I have been working on a crocheted baby blanket with a round, 12 point star pattern. Someday I'll finish it.

So, I finally finished my first felted project. I made the purse part ages ago. The yarn was a wool blend, so it didn't felt completely. But I like the stitches. I just bought the handles yesterday. They are on sale at JoAnn's until Sunday. I even sewed in a lining and a little "An Original By" tag which made me very happy. My niece told me, "I want to hold your purse. I looove it!" Heehee.

Finished projects!

I finally finished my first Monkeys! I used Blue Hands Fibers yarn and love it. These are colors I wouldn't have thought I would like, but I absolutely love them. I also hope to get a picture that shows the colors better, but alas, it is night and supposed to rain for the next couple of days, so I don't know when that will happen. This pattern was really fun to make and I'm sure I'll be making more of them. Although apparently my knitting loosened up while knitting these because even though they are the same number of rows, the second one is slightly larger. But that's okay since it actually fits a little better.





I also finished a hat similar to this one. I made the one pictured first, but it was way too small for the intended recipient, so I made a larger one that I don't have a good picture of. I made up the pattern and used some Wool Ease I had in the stash already.


Next I think I'll cast on a baby hat for a friend who's pregnant. And of course another pair of socks, but first I have to decide which stash yarn I want to use. I'm thinking maybe some Tofutsies but I'm not positive yet.

Jaywalkers done!

I finished the Jaywalker socks for Grace. Yay! I told her it's an early birthday present. I'll remind her when her birthday comes around.

I also finished the Kittyville hat for Megan this weekend and sent it to her on Monday. It only took me two days. Although I did leave the pom-poms. Somehow I thought they might be too tempting for little hands.

I also made a giant pillow for my coworkers 1.5 year old to play on. Apparently the kid has been enjoying it, and not allowing his mom to use it.

I've got another Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch n Bitch on the needles. And another hat to use up some more of the Wool-Ease to give to another friend.

Next I'd like to make myself socks with my Blue Hands Fibers yarn. Right now I'm thinking either Monkeys or Nutkin. I haven't decided yet. And who knows... maybe by the time I get to wind the yarn into a ball I will have completely changed my mind. But hopefully that will be very soon.

Hats!

So I finished the hat for my co-worker's 6 month old son. I had finished one for his daughter (twins) a couple of weeks ago and had him try it for size. It fit, but a bit snug. So I made this one a tad larger. The real motivation was to get rid of some of my simply soft though. I might make some for him to use next year too. Trying to work through some of the stash.

And Megan moved to the cold, cold north and realized she doesn't have a hat. So I'm making one for her. I was all excited because I could go pick out some pretty yarn, but then decided to be good. So I started on the Official Kittyville Hat with some light gray wool ease that I already had. I might, if I finish this quickly, then go by some other yarn to make a second one for her. Or make her one for next year, since soon it will be spring.

I also told my friend John I'd make him a hat. I have some darker wool ease that I might use. But I also saw some dark blue Patons SWS that I thougt was nice. So I might go that route. But should I make a non-machinewashable hat for a boy? It might be ok... would he really ever wash it anyways?

I'm stillworking on the Jaywalkers for Grace. I turned the heel on the 2nd one, but haven't felt like working on it in the past couple of days. Hopefully some of the quick hat work will get me back in the mood to finish it. I am not letting myself cast on my next pair until I'm done though. The next pair will be for me. Yay!

Finger Warmer!

There are a few of us who meet during lunch and sit in some comfy chairs in a nook along the hallway. One of my coworkers often walks past and has asked me where here finger warmer is. Apparently her mouse finger gets cold. She's really just being a smartass when she mentions it, but in return, I have made her a finger warmer. I hope she enjoys it. I will probably just go leave it on her desk for her as a little surprise.

In other news I finished the first Jaywalker and Grace tried it on and said "Oh, it fits really well." So I guess that's a good sign and I shall hopefully cast on the second one tomorrow.

I also finished some baby projects. Two sewn flannel blankets and an umbilical cord hat for a shower I'm attending on Sunday. And another blanket finished for a friend. I have another one pinned, so hopefully will sew that soon. But it's difficult to watch tv while sewing. And so, even though there's only crap on, I still need my weekday tv fix which is limited to about 2 hours usually. So it might have to wait until the weekend.

WHAT A BARGAIN!

so, i have vigorously avoided blogging for some time now. sure, i made an occasional comment or contributed to a post that my former roomie was making, but i never quite got around to actually making an independent contribution. but, when i find a bargain, i have to share. i was at michael's craft in bowie a couple days ago, and they had Patons Classic Wool on clearance (which never happens). it was only a few colors--burgundy, dk rust, and lt rust--but i immediately thought of g. now i know that it's not as fancy as the yarn you have been using, but still thought i would share. also, if anyone is into scrapbooking and working on christmas or holiday pages now, the giant 180 page DCWV Christmas slab is on clearance for $4.97 at Joann Fabrics.

now an update on what i have been crafting. i finished my first knit baby blanket ever for my former clinical supervisor. it's the one from "stitch and bitch". i was very proud and almost didn't want to give it up. christmas gifts are (mostly) done. finally. i have several baby blankets in progress and have been thinking about what to make with my new wool yarn. i hope to see people soon!