Happy Birthday to me!

A month or so ago, I bought this beautiful sock yarn on Etsy. I have been hoarding and loving it ever since,  trying to come up with the perfect item to make with it. I finally decided to make my first pair of ankle socks for me, on sock yarn.  Since it was my 50th birthday last  wednesday, I decided these will be my birthday present to myself, thus I call them "Birthday Sox"  :)  

The finished product:

Previously to these I made my first ever pair of socks for my husband. They were supposed to be for me, but they came out a little big, so he got them instead. I learned my skills on these, and yes there are a few mistakes, but he loves them just the same. I am quite happy with how they came out. :)

My favorite yarn

Right now I'm making alot of fingerless mitts for gifts. I love the chunkyness and softness of this yarn. Please request by name what you would like. Please make sure I have it available though, if I dont, I may have to order it if I can't get it locally.

Please pay attention to the images below. Some of the yarn is self striping, and some have just a random pattern of 1 color.

 Cotton Candy (0 available)

Grape Jam (0 available)

Moss (1 available)

Pink Candy (1 available)

Pond (1 available)

PuppyDog Tails (1 available)

Seven Seas (1 available)

October Update

Since I havent blogged in a while, I figured it was time to update my project list. Here are the most recent items I have completed, and are in the process of working on...

Lofty Wool Cable Mittens

The only thing about varigated yarn is you don't appreciate the cable work.. it gets hidden in the color.
Here's the link to the pattern:  Lofty-wool-cable-mittens

I used Vanna's Choice #4 yarn instead of a chunky yarn. I used the mens medium size and went down a needle size. Obviously, these mittens are BIG. I have big hands, so they fit me appropriately, but wouldnt for anyone with med, or small hands.
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Codename Wintergreen

This is a pattern for fingerless gloves, that I decided to make into a fingerless mitt instead.

The color doesnt show, but it is a wonderful deep purple.  Yarn is Vanna's Choice, in purple.
Link to the pattern is here: Codename Wintergreen  I used #3 dpn's. Again my choice is a little big, but I love them regardless.
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Vanilla Frappe Fingerless Gloves    (WIP)

A lovely lace fingerless glove. This pattern runs small, but is very stretchy. I am making these for my mother in law who fractured her wrist over the summer. I thought having something over it on the rainy days might help with the arthritis pain.

My yarn is by REYNOLDS REVUE. Its a beautiful creamy grey color, in 100% Wool Merino Extrafine Superwash yarn.

Here is the link to the pattern.  I LOVE THIS PATTERN!~
Vanilla-frappe-fingerless-gloves
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Mens hats

I found a pattern online that I liked, but it had earflaps on it. My hubby and son both wanted warm winter hats for the cold Maine winters, so I made up my own version from the earflap hat pattern. This is how they came out.  Pretty good I think!

Ravelry: Duchess1228's Projects

Today I have updated my recent project list in Ravelry. I have a few WIP's going right now, but that's because I get bored easily. I find myself easily frustrated at times because I want my projects to go a lot faster... I dont seem to have the patience for any long drawn out projects. For instance, this is the 3rd sweater that i have started. I frogged the other two, as I got half way done and didn't care for how it was shaping up. I am determined though to keep this third one going. And if it doesn't fit, I will just put it away until it does! 

Here's the link to my latest project listing:   Ravelry: Duchess1228's Projects

Driving Mitts

Thought I would whip up a pair of fingerless mitts for winter driving. Yes, I'm a little late getting these done as it is April already, but they will be ready for next winter!  These were made with super soft yarn and I love them!

Glasses Case

Thought I would try to make a case for my new sunglasses. Well.. this didn't come out as nice as I wanted it to... but at least I will be able to keep them scratch free in my purse. The camera isn't cooperating though.  The colors are bright bubblegum pink, bright yellow and bright lime green.. nice and Eastery! :)

Girlie Slippers

Made a pair of girlie slippers for my friends daughter. Something has happened to the color on my camera though, and I must apologize for the terrible picture. These slippers are purple, hot pink and white.

This is a much better picture of Miss E wearing her new "peeshoes" as we call them in french! 

Modeling the mittens!

These first three photos are from Texas! Yes.. they get cold hands there! 

And now, New York.  More like my type of weather!

Good Morning friends!

It's a lazy Saturday morning and I am about to pick up my needles and get started on a couple of new projects. I thought I would show you that I have a new friend who "helps" me with my knitting, although I can't specify just how much "help" he really is..   

This is Flint, my Coton de Tulear.

This is how he destroys helps me with my projects!

Finished!

Well the baby sweater is finished!  A few tiny mistakes here and there but not too bad for a first try. I learned how to sew pieces together, do buttonholes, (which i think are MUCH easier on a sewing machine!) and pick up stitches.  I also figured out how important it is with variegated yarn to get your colors to match up correctly!  Anyway.. here 'tis.. the final product, awaiting baby D to try it on. 

My first B I G Project

I decided that it was time to try a bigger project. Since I have baby CutiePie to make things for, I decided to try a sweater and hat for him. I tried the hat first, and ended up taking it apart and moving onto the sweater instead.

I have the bodice of the sweater done now, and have just started on the sleeves. Here's the latest pictures of it... 

The bodice, just waiting for a neckline, sleeves and the buttons.

Beginning of the first sleeve. Notice the all important coffee. 

Every knitter/crocheter needs one of these OTT lights. They are carried at most stores.. Well worth the money!! I got mine today and LOVE IT!!!

Will post more when sweater is finished! :)

Hats I've done so far

So far I experimented with a few hats. I can't say that I've had much success with sizing on these either.  After I learn how to measure my gauge, I will probably try again...

Hat #1 - Done on a round knitting loom  (just for fun)

It came out preemie sized. 

Onto hat #2 - a little larger.

Next I thought I would make a regular knitted hat for myself.

After it was finished I didnt care for it, so i have put it away in a bag, I  plan on making hats and mittens of various sizes to give to the local homeless shelter next fall.

Double yarn, done on a knitting loom.

The next knitted hat was done for my friends baby, I'll call him Cutie Pie.

As you can clearly see, I goofed again! Too small.  So here is the larger sized one, which actually fits him. Picture to come soon.

The next hat was done in the John Bapst High School colors 

And this one in the Brewer School colors for my friend's son.

NO MORE HATS!!!  

How the friendzy started!

This blog is an attempt at showing my craftiness.. and i must say, I don't have much! But.. I am totally obsessed with Knitting! My mother showed me how back in my teens, and I did a little bit in college, but never really did anything more than a couple of pillows and a basic afghan. Now I find that my sister is getting very talented in this craft, and I want to be able to share that with her and make things for my family and friends.

So far I have made hats and mittens.  My first mitten was HUGE!  It stays in the car to use when I'm gassing up so i dont get that darn gas smell on my good mittens. My next pair was still too big, but I put a second pair inside them and now they are perfect and extra warm and cozy.  The issues with size come from the fact that I havent really spent any time trying to figure out my gauge on each pattern.  I have signed up for a knitting class, that starts in two weeks, and that is a1 on my list to accomplish. The next after that is double pointed needles!

Here are the mittens I've done so far:

The "gas up the car mitten" size XXXL   

The pair I wear now, black and pink

I made a mistake on these blue ones, and one is bigger than the other! At this point I started doing both of them at the same time. I guess I forgot to mention that these are done on straight needles, as I hadnt learned to use circular or double pointed yet. 

Pink/Green

Purple/White

These next ones were a special request from Texas, done in the Copperas Cove school colors!

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