Poncho and Dress

I did the finishing work on two of my projects last night and today. Here is the other little girl's poncho that I was working on. The pattern doesn't call for the flower. I added it for an extra something. I think it looks really cute.

This pattern is one of my first dress designs. I combined a couple of patterns. I turned out pretty much how I wanted it to. It is a size 18 months. I like the roses, but I'm not sure about their size. I did them in sport yarn like the dress. I think that I would like them a little better if they were more delicate. I'm thinking about taking them off and doing the same thing in crochet thread.

I have all ready got my next project 1/3 of the way done. I am working on a cabled purse. It is the Mallory Bag by Barb Bettegnies that was in Creative Knitting Magazine. It should be done in a couple of days. I need to go get the handles for it. It also has a lining. I am excited to see it finished in person.

My New Cardigan

In October last year I started a new cardigan for myself. I got the back and both front pieces done, and then Christmas happened. I finally picked it back up last week and finished it. Just in time to wear it once before I put it away for next year. LOL! I like the color and the 3/4" sleeves. I am not really sure I like the neckline though. I stands up a bit, when I thought it would lay flat. Maybe it is because my shoulders are so narrow. I think that if I were to do the pattern again, I would pick up less stitches on the top, so that it would lay flat on me.

Poncho

I finished the first of the two ponchos that I want to make for Christmas this year. I think that it turned out really cute. The pattern is so easy. I think I am going to add a crocheted rose to the front to dress it up though. Flowers are really in right now.

Going to the Next Level

In an effort to better my blog I have asked my daughter to make a new one for me. She is an amazing artist. I told her I would like to hire her to draw one for me. She said she would. I can't wait to see it.

I have signed up for several knitting newsletters. The other day I noticed an ad for a website that I had not noticed before called "Ravelry". I thought I would check it out. SO COOL! It is a website for knitters and crocheters. There are forums, that are fun on 1000's of topics. What I am really excited about is that there is a section to keep track of all your completed projects, works in progress, and a queue for the things that you want to do with pictures. You can also keep track of your yarn stash, books/patterns, needles and that kind of thing. They will even link to your blog and update when you update your blog. How cool is that? I spent part of the weekend putting some of my Christmas projects in, things I am working on and a list of things that I want to do. This is one of those times that I say "I love technology". My grandmother would have loved it!

This and That

I have been a bad blogger lately. It isn't that I haven't had projects going, I have. I just have been really busy lately. I will try and be better. The picture below is a dress scarf that I finished in January. The yarn I used was a bunch of novelty yarns put together into one skein. I tried to do a different pattern originally and it just didn't work with the yarn. This is what I came up with. I would tell you what I used, but I can't find the yarn label. I am going to have to call my LYS and ask her what it was!In my last blog I mentioned that I had just finished an afghan. I am doing two of them the same for Christmas. I revised the dimensions a little when I did the second one. I liked it so much better that I pulled the first one apart and reknit it. Thankfully the pattern is really easy. They are both now done and will go on the shelf to wait.

I designed and knitted a felted bag to hold my phone charger and earphones. I take them to work every day so I can listen to music if I am filing or it isn't too busy. I will post a picture as soon as I find a button I like to put on and finish it.

I have a new "large" project. It originally started out to be an afghan for my daughter for Christmas. I showed it to a friend that knows her well and she mentioned that the colors seemed more mine than Ann's. I thought about it for a couple of days, and had to concede that she was right. I am still going to finish it. I love the pattern and the colors! It is an Heirloom knitted 9 patch quilt. I am going to make it for the guest bedroom. I haven't decorated in there, and so it will be my starting point. Now I just need to decide on a new Christmas present.

A couple of nights ago I pulled out a sweater that I started before Christmas for myself. I have all but the sleeves done. It is out of Bernat Baby Jacquards yarn. It has a background of white and then a lot of pastel colors. The yarn is dyed so that it looks like I am changing colors and making its own design. I really like the way it is turning out. Too bad that it is really starting to warm up here. It was in the 80's yesterday. If I can get it done I will debut it at work. With the air conditioning I am usually cold.

When I get my sweater done I will start working on the two ponchos that I want to do for Christmas. I have yarn for the smaller one all ready. Thankfully I have nieces and nephews that I can knit for since my kids don't want anything any more.

First One Down

I am really excited. I am on track for my goal. I finished my first Christmas present today. It really didn't take as long as I thought it would. I love the way it turned out. I made a lap afghan. I used JoAnn's Sensations Rainbow Boucle that I got on sale for about 40% off. They are huge skeins at 11 ounces. I got 3 of them, but only ended up using 2. I doubled the yarn and used size 15 cable needles. The pattern was really easy. It was one I found on the internet. It is garter and stockingette stictch in alternating rows of 8. I think I made this one a little too wide, but the way the length worked out it is still a rectangle. I have another one to make. I will just adjust it so that it is a lot less wide and the rectangle goes up, not across. Chris asked me what it was this morning. When I showed it to him, he said that he wouldn't mind one of those in blue!

Head Band

One of the women in our knitting group is Chinese. She has only been here for about 8 years. Xiaoping is one of the most amazing fiber artist's that I have ever seen. She can look at something and know how to knit or crochet it. She holds her needles like a pencil and is even faster that some of the English knitters that I have watched.

Last week she came to knitting with a winter head band. Her daughter had bought one for $20. She couldn't believe it. She borrowed it and made her two for the price of one. She brought it to show all of us. Everyone wanted the pattern, but we were having a hard time following her directions. She finally set down with me and showed me how to do it. I got the assignment to come home and write the pattern down. I had to make one while I was doing it to make sure that I was doing it right. This is the result. I put the flower on. I thought it was cute.

Sydnee at work has been biking at 5am. (Crazy girl!) I gave it to her to wear under her helmet. She loved it.