Shawl, 2nd Pattern

I have finally finished the second pattern of my shawl. I had to take part of it out several times because I dropped a stitch and couldn't catch it. Not a good thing with lace. I have started working on the 3rd pattern. When I did my daughter's I didn't to the lace edging around the bottom, but put fringe on it. I'm trying to decide what to do with this one.

Soft Baby Blanket

I had a shower yesterday for a friend Heather that is expecting her first baby. I decided that I wanted to make a baby afghan for her. I searched the internet and found this one http://majorknitter.typepad.com/photos/patterns/oh_so_soft_baby_blanket.html

It is a little hard to see. It is called Oh So Soft Baby Blanket. It is worked with two strands of sport weight at the same time and with size 15 needles. It works up very fast and is soft as a cloud. I LOVE IT! I think it is going to be my new go to afghan. It turned out really well. Heather is having a girl, so I used white and a varigated baby pastel. Here is what it turned out like, and she loved it.

Mohana Shawl

I made this shawl for my daughter 3 years ago. I knew then that I would make it for me eventually. I started it about a month ago. I am almost through the second pattern. I chose a white cotton thread instead of yarn. Here is the detail of the first section. As soon as I finish the second section I will post that also. As challenging as lace is, I really like it.

Cross Stitch

After knitting presents for all of the family on my side, and not really getting a lot of feedback on what the got, I decided that I probably won't do that again. :( A friend of mine that a cross stitch kit that she was doing and I fell it love with it. It will be perfect to go on the wall with all of the family pictures. I started it the week after Christmas. I haven't cross stitched in about 5 years. I had to go and buy some reading glasses so I can see the fabric. I hate getting older! My youngest asked me how long it was going to take me and I figure about 6 months. He just raised his eyebrows and I said that this one I wasn't going to give away. I may have to revise that since I have had to stop for a couple of other projects. Right now it is about 1/3 of the way done.

Christmas Update

Yes, I know that I have been absent for about 6 months. I have been knitting, but just too busy to make time to update my blog. I got all of my Christmas presents done to send home with my mom when she came up for Thanksgiving so that I didn't have to mail them. In the rush to get everything finished, I forgot to take pictures. I could have cried about that. Oh well. Here are a few that I got after.

This is one of the men's ties finished. It was for my youngest brother. I thought that they turned out really well.This is the felted cable bag that I did for my sister. I decided that I really didn't like the way they did the handles, and if I do it again I am definately going to change them.The one on the left is the one that I made for my niece and the one on the right is the one that I designed for my mom.

Craft Room Update

Okay, I know it has been months since I finished the desk in my craft room. I finally took the time to move most of my sewing stuff down today. It is really nice to have a holiday to catch up on things. It still isn't finished, but things are a step further than they were!Now that it is nearing completion, I DESPERATELY need to decorate. Oh well, I guess it doesn't hurt to have a work in progress...

Baby Dress & Mary Janes

Darlene, a friend of mine at work, asked me to make a baby dress and booties for her daughter that is expecting next month. She knew exactly what she wanted. It was the dress and Mary Janes that I had made about a year ago for another shower.

Both of the patterns I found on the internet. The dress is Little Sister's Dress here http://knittingalot.blogspot.com/2008/01/pattern-for-little-girls-dress.html and the Mary Janes are here http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/free-baby-bootie-knitting-patterns2.htm. The Mary Jane's only take me about a half hour to work up. I make a newborn size with fingering weight and 6 month size with sport weight.

Last time I just used a varigated yarn. I liked it, but decided this time I was going to try having a bit more of an organized pattern. I used Bernat Baby Jaquards and this is what I got. I think it turned out really cute.