A Shrug

It only took a week of occasional knitting and I have my DD birthday present done. As you know I made her a shrug. I found the pattern online at Woolly Mammoth Knits. It is called the Bella Sera for cool beautiful summer evenings. It is a great pattern, and a very quick knit using worsted weight cotton. It also is a beginner level pattern. Stockinette, garter stitches, increases and yarn overs are all you need to know.

I had it almost done, and even though it measured several times and it showed that I was on gauge, it didn't look big enough. I brought it to work. There are two girls that are about the same size as Ann. I had Heather try it on and it fit her fine. I took it home and did the finish work on it. Brought it back to work and Keely modeled it for me, so I could take a picture for the blog. (Heather had on the wrong type of blouse). http://www.woollymammothknits.com/bellasera.html

They both fell in love with it, and want to make one. Neither of them knit, so they are going to start coming to knitting. I told them that we would be happy to teach them how! We have taught quite a few of our group. Everyone says she will love it. Now I just have to wait a month before I can send it to her. LOL

Yarn Shopping

I decided to go yarn shopping on my lunch hour. I really didn't intend to spend that much, but she had what I wanted and today was payday, so what is a girl to do? $57 later I have enough yarn for 4 projects. And it is all beautiful! LOL

I started on the next tie using the brown Zino that I bought. I had to go up 3 sizes on the needles to get the right gauge. From a 1 to a 4. Probably the difference in my knitting and the yarn. I only have several inches so far and I love it! I love the look of it so much better than the one I finished. I wanted to see if they had the same thing in a blue colorway. I bought the one below. Came home and started comparing it to the black/gray colorway, and they are the same one. This skein shows the blue and the other the gray. It has all three colors. I guess I will take one of them back and exchange for the red that they had. I couldn't believe that Jan and I didn't realize it! I mentioned in the previous post that I had found a bag online to knit for my sister instead of designing another one. I needed a feltable worsted. Galway came out with a brand new color. It looks like denim. It is gorgeous. Last, but not least I have been thinking of what to give my daughter for her birthday next month. I decided on a shrug. I found the cutest pattern on Wooly Mammoth Knits. It is called the Bella Sera Shrug. I thought it would be a great item for layering. I also love the detail with the ribbon eyelet.
I am going to make it out of this really pretty gray worsted cotton. She should be able to wear it almost year round down in Phoenix.
Well, now that I have enough yarn to knit for a couple of months, I better get busy!

Oh, I almost forgot. A neigbor emailed me yesterday and asked if I had anymore of the dishcloth/potholder sets left from by boutique at Christmas. She needed 8. I looked when I got home and had 7 sets and the dishcloths for the 8th one. All I need to do is make 1 potholder. She is going to buy all of them. I guess I will need to make a a couple more sets in my spare time! They are great for shower and neighbor gifts.

1st Felted Bag

I finished the knitting on the Booga Bag, and threw it in with a load of laundry this morning. The directions say to find a box the same size as the bottom, cover the box with a plastic bag and put it inside. Let it sit for a couple of days and that helps block it so that it will sit up. I searched HIGH and LOW for a box this morning and couldn't find one. Necessity then became the mother of invention. I ended up with a 3 ring binder, two oatmeal boxed and a piece of wood. Hey, it was the right size!!LOL
When I came home tonight I looked at it again and decided that it needed another wash cycle. It isn't felted enough. At least I have the insert ready when it is :>
I decided to do men's ties for Christmas. I found a really cool pattern on Knit Picks. They look really nice. I had a hard time finding yarn that I liked. I'm not sure that I really like this blue. It was supposed to stripe, and it looks more like jaquard. (bummer) It is all rolled up because it is knit on the bias. The pattern is super easy, although it takes time. It is done on size 1 needles. I'm thinking the lining is going to be the harder part of the project. 1 down 4 more to go! I found some great brown and black stipe though for the others. It is Zino by Plymouth. I may invest in a different blue if I can find one though since this is so easy.