Dress Revised

When I went to Arizona last week for vacation I took a lot of the gifts that I have done. It feels good to have half of Christmas done all ready. I returned again and again to the little dress that I had made and decided that I really didn't like the crocheted flowers on it. They were too clunky. I went to the dollar store instead and bought some artificial flowers. I couldn't believe that I found the same shade of purple. I cut a couple of them off and sewed them on. I thought that they looked much better.

While I was down south I went to a couple of yarn stores. I found the yarn that I am going to use on one of the felted bags I am doing. I bought two skeins of dark brown and ecru and am going to manually stripe it. I found 3 skeins of yarn for the ties that I want to do for the guys in the family. Got to the register and it was $78. Even though I could have done it I decided not to while on vacation. I bought the yarn for the bag and one of the skeins for the ties. I will have to get more tie yarn later when it is in the budget.

I did a lot of knitting in the car and while we were visiting. I got one of the bags done, but kept having to take the one I designed out. My mom said I was never going to get it done. I don't know what the issue was. Concentration I guess.

Purse and Stocking

I have been working on two projects since I blogged last. I have finished all of the knitting for the first purse that I am working on. I am doing 5, at least I think I am. That is the plan. The first one is called the Mallory Bag. I found it in Creative Knitting Magazine and fell in love with it.

I ordered the purse handles a month ago online. They sent me an email confirming that they shipped them about a week later. They were supposed to call me and I hadn't heard anything. I finally went in today and they hunted them down for me. I can't wait to put it together and see how it turns out. I will post a picture as soon as it is done.

I started on a Christmas Stocking for my daughter's boyfriend for Christmas. He is old enough to be out on his own, so I though I would make one for him. I am making the one in the picture below. It is called the Hugs and Kisses stocking. It is an Aran pattern. I had it almost down to the heel this morning and found out I was off on the rows. I had to take about 20 of them out so that I could find my place again! It is turning out gorgeous though.

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.