Easter Chick

Another cute Easter goodie is the Easter Chick which hides an egg underneath. So fun for the little ones! My first attempt came out a little small... for this one I used Peaches and Creme cotton and size 5 needles (instead of size 4). I added two rows of ribbing and 2 rows to the head area. The pattern can be found here http://www.clevercreations.com/knittingpatterns.html

Easter Peeps

Here is a perfect Easter project! This pattern is so cute!!! - and quick too. I knit a couple of these in one evening. I plan on making a bunch more for Easter baskets. You can find the pattern here http://kat-knits.blogspot.com/2007/03/some-easter-peeps.html

I used Caron simply soft and size 5 dpns. I think I might try Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille (white) for the next one. I placed the wings pointing forward so it looks like the chick is waving!

Skeleton Sweater

I'm ready to reveal the skeleton sweater I made for my son, Zady. I started this on 1/28/08, using Leisure Arts booklet # 2996 "The Complete Book of Raglan Sweaters." I got the graph for the skeleton from Kate Buller's "Style Your Own Kids' Knits." I used Caron Simply Soft and size 6 and 8 needles. Because of the placket neck, it was made in pieces, rather than in the round. I thought the seams would drive me crazy, but they weren't sooo bad. I used matress stitch so the seams are nearly invisible. The directions sugested 1x1 rib for the sleeve cuffs and bottom edge but I did garter stitch for 8 rows to match the collar and placket. My son picked out the bone button. The motif was a little tricky because there wasn't large areas of color like you would normally do in intarsia, so there was a lot of stranding on the back, which made a slight bit of puckering. I think the placement of the skeleton worked out well, I was definatley worried about it, because of the placket. Size 6 fits him perfectly! I'm excited how well it turned out - and so is Zady... he's anxious to wear it to school tomorrow.

Knitted Babe Zoe

Here is my first knitted babe - named Zoe. I've been wanting to knit the pirate in the "Dream Toys" book for my son but I don't have all the yarns to make the appropriate costume so I decided to make a practice doll from the "Knitted Babes" book. Well, my son immediately fell in love with her! He calls her the "string arm doll" and named her Zoe (because his name starts with Z.) I knit this doll at a tighter gauge than recommended to get a denser fabric so she came out a little small - which is fine - except now I have to figure out all her clothes on my own because the ones in the book would be way to big. So far, I've only knit her a pair of underwear- so she wouldn't be completely naked. I also need to work on giving her more hair so that when she is being carried around, she doesn't look like she has a mohawk. I used sportweight cotton this time but I think in the future I would use wool, or a wool blend.

Here is what she looked like before I sewed her together...

Valentine's Day Cloths

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day. The last few days I have been working on these sweet Valentine's Cloths...

This "Be My Dishcloth" http://krisknits.blogspot.com/2008/01/valentine-surprise.html

I used size 6 needles and the finished size is 9" W x 10 1/2" L. I made a mistake on one of the rows...ARGHHHH (I'm a little bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my knitting!)

And I made 2 crocheted hearts -

These were super quick to crochet! The pattern is "My Heart Dishcloth" http://members.aol.com/JSchlossma/heartdc.html

I used size H hook with Peaches n' Creme yarn.

These were some fun "Love Day" projects...

Heavenly Headband

I've been ogling the kits at Morehouse Farm for quite some time now. Well, I decided to treat myself this year and ordered three of them. I got the Headband, Baby Alligator Scarf, and Gecko Scarf.

I cast on for the Headband right away.

I ordered the "Mermaid" colorway but the color that I recieved wasn't quite what I expected. I still think it's gorgeous! I love this yarn! It is sooo soft, and I'm usually sensitve to wool but wearing this headband hasn't really bothered me - so far!

I think the yarn is Morehouse Merino 2-ply and I used size 3 needles. I used approximately half the skein. The headband is knit in a 1x1 rib (with garter stitch borders.) I followed the directions for length and it fits perfectly! I've only worn it a couple of times around town so I'm anxious to see how it holds up while outdoors for extended periods - like at the ski area...

Bear Blunder

I recently received a new book in the mail - Knitted Toys by Zoe Mellor. I immediately found a project that I liked and could use up some of my stash on. A striped Teddy Bear named "Flat Ted." I cast on right away and had most of the knitting done in two days. Then I made quite a blunder while seaming.

I thought the whole project was lost until I looked over the photos of the beginning. The stripes DID match up so ...what happened?!?!

Now I'll have to redo the seam- but I guess that's better than redoing the whole thing. I think I will knit the arms in the round to avoid seaming! I used Caron simply soft in Mint and White on size 6 needles.

A Very Knitty Christmas

I hope everyone had a great time over the Holidays! I was just realizing that all of the knitted gifts I made came from free patterns at Knitty.com -didn't really plan it that way - thay just have such great patterns...
The picture above is of the Branching Out Scarf knit with Ornaghi Filati bamboo in "peach." I love how this scarf came out!!- so soft and luxurious feeling. I think the total length was 60" but I didn't get a pic of the final project because I had to wrap it immediately after finishing it - on Christmas Eve! I didn't even bother blocking it... My bad. Here is another pic of it in progress -

I made 2 pair of the Fetching wrist warmers out of Lana Grossa Bingo each in adifferent shade of blue. Size 6 dpns - they came out a bit snug... Here is a pic of one -which I already posted on this blog - the other I didn't get a chance to photograph.

And then there was the Foliage Hat in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted "Orchid Thistle" - also on size 6 dpns - ribbing in size 5. Again, a little snug...

My mom only got half a gift because I didn't like how tight the cuff was on the Knucks fingerless gloves. Competely my fault for doing just a regular bind off. But she tried the one I had finished on and said that she liked it the cuff didn't really bother her. They are made in Noro Shikisai on size 4 dpns... Below you will see the lonely one -

I actually did make something that didn't originate from Knitty for one of my sister-in-laws but we didn't end up exchanging gifts - (yet?) I'll be happy to keep this one to myself. It is a washcloth from a Fiber Trends pattern...Bathtime Blossoms. This one is called "Old Shale" - I meant to do the soap sack as well but never got around to it. I used Rowan 4-ply cotton and size 4 dpns. It was a little challenging to start but I eventually got the hang of it!

So, there you have it- a Very Knitty Christmas!

New Year, New Blog

I'm starting the new year off by starting to use blogspot instead of yahoo 360 -which has been annoying me lately, with all of its glitches. I hope some of my 360 friends will find me here - I don't want to lose touch with you guys just because I moved to blogspot. Use google reader to keep track of your blogspot updates. http://www.google.com/reader/ It's the best!

You can check out my older posts by going to http://360.yahoo.com/knitter_by_nature

Check back soon. I will be posting pics of FOs from 2007. As soon as I figure this blogspot thing out...