Knitting=Magic

Today I thought I would write about some projects that held my attention last spring and summer. First off, as I have mentioned before, I decided to make slippers for all (two of) my bridesmaids. This was actually a pretty simple endeavor but a bit tiring, mostly because they required felting (really fulling) and I don't have a washing machine. Also, because I didn't use the suggested yarn, which was entirely too expensive, and opted for my favorite yarn instead which (of course!) resulted in the wrong size of slippers.

So Lori at Cowgirl Yarn, the local Laramie yarn store, was very gracious and fulled all my slippers at least 3 times in the communal washing maching just trying to get the slippers to shrink. Some worked (a little too well), and some were still huge.

But, they are still really cool!

This was the first pair. They are adorable, but would probably fit a 3 or 4 year old and not my sister so...does anyone know a 3 or 4 year old in need of slippers? Just kidding, I'm keeping these for my own future 4 year old.

This is the second attempt. I adjusted the pattern to what I thought would work. This was the result before the washing machine. We (meaning Lori) ran them through 3 times and they were still really huge. They are just super long but I kept them for myself and wear them almost everyday. The top fits just fine.

This was the 3rd and final attempt and guess what? They worked! These were the pair I gave to my sister. I don't know if she wears them but she better, especially after reading this saga!

On to the summer....while we were on our very long, relaxing and really fun honeymoon (me on the shores of Grand Manan),

I was able to make this little dress for my friend Sara's new baby Paige.

I am still in awe of this dress.

Sometimes I can't believe I can make this stuff. It's magic I tell you, magic!

Social Work Knitter

This weekend (and all day Friday!) I had the priviledge of attending classes for my social work degree. I guess I shouldn't speak with such sarcasm because, truly, my education is a priviledge. It just wears on me to be in class for three days straight (8:30-5:30) after working a full week...but it's what I signed up for so, suck it up.

And suck it up I did.

Along with learning some of the wonderful ways to deal with people in crisis, I also knit these mittens for dan.

Bright orange, of course. After finishing these gems, I also started a new blankie for Miles (AKA the future owner of the Baseball Tee, which is also coming along swimmingly).

I made it blurry in case the future mother sees the blog (at least that's what we'll say). That way she can't make out the cuteness and softness of the blanket. My sister wants me to join some sort of craft fair in the next month or two. I think that would be totally fun but I'm a little bit worried about knitting enough things to sell as well as all the projects that I have bouncing around in my head.

It is fall now, and that means crunch time. If I want to knit presents for everyone I gotta get going. Even though I said I wasn't going to, I love those mittens and they are so fast! What to do, what to do???

I don't know, but I'm really excited to knit with this:

It is new handpainted yarn from Brown Sheep. More on this later...

Do Babies Need Pockets?

Of course they do! Actually I have bipassed the pocket on baby clothes before (okay, just once before on a coat that I am still making) but this one is so cute I had to make it. Often when I am knitting something new I get nervous that something will be more difficult than it turns out to be. After I get the difficult thing finished I think to myself, "Oh, that wasn't hard at all. I'm a brilliant knitter!"

And while this may be true (actually, not true at all because I just bound off the little pocket lining instead of putting it on a holder) I really think I just get too uptight about making mistakes. So here is the progress on the baseball tee for the little buddy:

Along with the bound-off instead of a held-on pocket lining. I'll make another one tomorrow, yeesh! Too tired right now. I love the colors and the yarn is very soft. I hope to finish it this weekend while learning about all the wonderful social work things I will be learning about (Friday-Sunday all day, by the way).

And here are the mittens I've finished and since dispersed.

These were a practice pair that I gave to the future mother of the future baseball tee owner. My first pair, with only a few mistakes. I like them.

I did the wrist different on all of them and definitely like the ribbing the most.

Again, the pattern is my adaptation from the book listed a few blogs down. I just bought some really bright orange yarn to make some for D. He always says I forget about him...so he's next. I'll probably start now...I know, I said I was tired.

One project or 50??

I've finished three whole pairs of mittens and I need a rest. This blog would be much better with pictures, and I really will use them eventually, but I just feel the need to keep writing. I don't want this space to go into oblivion like so many other sites I have started. Well, really, I only started and abandoned two or three but still.

Now I need to get cracking on a very cute little sweater for my friend's almost born baby. It is from Knit-Two-Together, a totally awesome book. The patterns are pretty simple and vary widely. For awhile I was stuck on the house slippers in that book and then I started one of the shawls. That project is still on the needles but I will finish it someday. It was supposed to be ready for my wedding this past summer but I was a little too ambitious. I wanted to make slippers for the bridesmaids and a lace shawl for myself all in the 2 months before the wedding. I'm surprised I got as far as I did. But I will finish that shawl someday!

Just like I will finish those socks and that cardigan.

See, I used to be a one project only type of knitter and now I'm doing at least four projects at a time. I also used to only buy yarn that I was going to use immediately. And, well, that is no longer the case anymore either.

I can't tell if I like the one project knitter more or less than the 4-project-at-a-time knitter. That later knitter was efficient and to the point. I like to think of myself in those terms in general, so that is appealing. However, the 4 project-at-a-time knitter is also pretty cool. She's ambitious and sporadic and totally determined to finish everything on time. I like her too. We'll see. When I'm buried in yarn for mittens and blankets and sweaters and hats for Christmas, I'll probably really miss one project knitter.

Here Comes the Snow

Well, not yet but I am prepared. I am ready and armed with my size 8 needles and Lamb's Pride Worsted weight wool. I am on a huge mitten kick right now. I actually just learned how to make them and I love them. I've made 2 1/2 pairs and I will be making them until Christmas I'm sure. They are adorable, fast, and warm. I've been using this book and modifying things as I see fit.

I will post pictures when I get home but for now I'm just having fun with my new blog. I figure, I think about knitting all day and do it whenever I can (let's face it, sitting at your desk all day and knitting probably isn't the most professional thing to do) so I may as well start writing about it. At least this looks like I'm working!