Monday, January 26, 2015

Works In Progress; Finished Objects




Monster Pants are progressing nicely. A combination of washable wools (well-aged) are (dark blue) Austermann Juwel and (all the other colors Filatura di Crosa 501.

The actual Monster Face is embroidered in duplicate stitch or sewn on as knitted appliques.

Leg #1 is finished. This is not Sleeve Island.    And besides, they are very small.

It seems that I am getting into this random pattern thingie.


And for something a bit more traditional, this weekend, I finished a shawl, following the basic triangle that's started at the neck. Increase 4 stitches every other row, 2 in the center, two on the edge.

I used some stashed merino silk blend that I bought on-line umpty two years ago. I wound up over-dyeing  a lot of it with Wilton icing color (I think) in a strong blue which made  for shades of purple-y and turquoise-y that I striped with the green shades that seem to be original.

I used a little over a pound of worsted weight to make the shawl. It's about 80" wide.


I finished the whole thing off with a knitted lace edging from Sally Melville's The Purl Stitch that served to both embellish and bind off.

I'm pleased with the way it came out, though I did find Ella (our cat) had decided that she really, really loves this yarn. She was sleeping all over it on the blocking mats.*

In fairness, the blocking mats were on the pool table which is where she spends a lot of her time.

I may have to use the odd bits to make a little toy for her.

*Earlier, I found her dancing on the shawl-in-progress.

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// posted by Ann @ 1/26/2015 07:21:00 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Eleven Days


Eleven days into 2015 and I have exactly one FO to show!

Baby hat made from sock yarn (Rabbitworks Revenge colorway). Because of the ribbing, it will probably fit newborn to about six months and it's machine washable wool, so some little one will be toasty. If you look at the posts from December, you'll see that there are sockies to match.

Recipient to be named at a later date.

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// posted by Ann @ 1/11/2015 06:58:00 PM 0 comments

Thursday, January 01, 2015

It Was a Very Good Year

2014 is officially over and as I do every new year (okay, since 2002), I tallied up the things I finished.




This year, I finished 96 projects, using 17 miles of yarn weighing in at 23.5 pounds.

There were 2 full size afghans and 7 lap robes and/or baby blankets. Car seat blankies were a favorite. There were also 4 woven cat mats for Peaceable Kingdom (local animal rescue).




Add in 16 pairs of booties and baby socks 1 pair of adult socks, 2 adult sweaters, 5 child-size sweaters, 2 cowls, 3 scarves, and 2 shawls




5 hats, 7 baby hats, a pair f mittens and a pair of wristers

1 felted bowl, 6 dishtowels (woven), 11 facecloths, a pillow, a potholder, and a purse


3 pairs of slippers, and 14 toys.

All in all, not a shabby year.







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// posted by Ann @ 1/01/2015 08:42:00 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Going Out with a Bang

They say that you start the new year as you finished the old.

If that's true, 2015 will be the year of the sock.

Following the completion of the Mitered Sock Yarn Blankie, I started turning the leftover sock yarn into, well, socks. Baby socks.

Awaiting a suitable recipient.

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// posted by Ann @ 12/31/2014 08:10:00 PM 1 comments

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Brain Dead



I am off for the week, trying to use up vacation days that I will lose otherwise.

That's allowed me to assess my annual yarn output and to discover that I am coming up alarmingly short of FOs!

Which led me to a desire, no, a need, to complete some very small projects.

Witness the booties and dish/facecloth to the left. There were 2 more face cloths completed, but they are already in the hands of the USPS, so no pictures.



End of the year also forced my organizational skills to kick in. I sorted through several years of accumulated knitting/crochet magazines and leaflets and discovered these beauties (Mon Tricot, I think) from the 70s and 80s.

They, also, are in the hands of USPS, winging their way to Kentucky, where I hope they amuse my friend, who, I hope, will not recreate. . .






And as we were setting the table for Christmas dinner, I opened the drawer where we keep the napkins and discovered

Dave

at least I think that's his name.

He, too, is in the hands of the USPS. . . 

Edited to add: that Minion is Not Dave; he's Stuart!
How could I get that wrong??  

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// posted by Ann @ 12/30/2014 03:53:00 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Coming to the End (Of the Year)


I love the camera on my phone! Taking and posting pictures no longer involves fighting with (the now defunct) Kodak. But it also means that the colors are sometime a little muddy.

Witness the woven scarf to the left. In Real Life, it's actually quite bright. It's woven. The yarn is alpaca. Lime, turquoise, purple. Faux plaid, don't you think?

Three skeins of Filatura Lanarota Alpaca DK Splash. From Smiley's. No longer available. Made it on my 10" Cricket rigid heddle loom.

I still have some of the red/pink colorway that I am debating for another.

To the right, the Spiral Log Cabin blankie. You can search on Ravelry for the pattern. It was a quite mindless knit (stopping only occasionally to count ridges).

About 10 skeins of yarn, 5 each of two colors: cream and denim. 

Yarn is also from Smiley's, Filatura Lanarota Easy Wool (wool/ack blend). All that's currently available is black, but this is their house brand, so keep checking back for other colors.



And I finished my walking hat.

Filatura Lanarota (do I sense a theme) Puno, a 100% alpaca in  a berry heather and a denim heather. I love this stuff!

Double thick, reverse stockinette. Yum!

Same hat, turned inside out.

The Other Half has requested one.

I think black and camel. Or black and charcoal.

Still working on stuff to close out the year. Mindless small stuff. Still stash-busting whenever possible. Watch for the year-end report in about a week.

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// posted by Ann @ 12/23/2014 05:29:00 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Two of Them


Shopping in the Baby-Stash of Mom got Younger Son nowhere on Saturday. A Coworker is about to become Father To Twin Girls (possibly already).

Quick as a wink, Mom (that would be me) cast on a pair of tiny Rib-a-Roni hats (smallest size) using Encore an a heathery pink and gray.

Both were finished during the never-ending Breaking Bad marathon (only 17 or so episodes to go) that we DVR'ed back in December and the first two episodes of Boardwalk Empire (Netflixed).

Baby hats are a quick present, and this pattern is fun. Click on the picture (right) to see the cunning decreases that maintain the ribbing.

Pattern is available (free) on Ravelry and comes in sizes from infant through large adult.

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// posted by Ann @ 1/26/2014 09:28:00 AM 0 comments

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Selected FOs

 We took a little trip last week (photos will come, perhaps later today).

I discovered the perfect memorizable pattern for car knitting, odd ball-using: the Morehouse Merino baby bootie.

Eighty-two miles for the knitting of a pair!

Aren't they cute?


Assortment of washable wools and blends. All in teeny tiny newborn size. I have officially replenished my Welcome to the World stash. All are in need of ties of a sort. Must check the ribbon stash for something suitable for each.


And what's that in the background?

Fresh off the needles, the latest edition of Mindless TV Watching knitting. Rambling Rows afghan (by Cottage Creations) in the smallest size, using up leftover balls of Plymouth Encore that have marinated long enough in the stash.

I plan to make a matching sweater and hat (to become a fair entry -Infant 3-piece Sweater-cap-blanket) and then will add an edging to the blankie with the yarn that is left.

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// posted by Ann @ 4/22/2012 05:50:00 AM 2 comments

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Little Things



 Some tiny foot covers, all in washable yarns, all newbornish sizes. Just waiting for little feets. The two on the left are from 50 baby bootees to knit by Zoe Mellor.

And a dishcloth for March. Pattern here. This is not a direct link to the pattern; there are so many nice ones on this blog. noodle around and enjoy!

I used Rowan Linen Drape and a size 2.5 needle.

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// posted by Ann @ 1/29/2012 08:07:00 PM 1 comments

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Definitely Eleven (or maybe 12)

Ribbon-o-round from Knitters 104

Okay, it's finished! The 11 in 11 is done with hours to spare.

Yarn is Filatura Lanorata Wool Heathers from Smiley's.

Modifications--the obvious--I didn't make it in multi-colors (original pattern is shown in black with bands of purple, yellow, green, and red on the yoke). I also lengthened the sleeves. Original pattern calls for elbow-length, and while I like that, not in outerwear wool.


I'm pleased and it will definitely get worn. Maybe even today if the weather cooperates.

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// posted by Ann @ 12/31/2011 07:19:00 AM 3 comments

Monday, April 25, 2011

Stick a Fork In It

It's really done!



This is the latest scrapghan, made from DK weight ack. From the scrap bag.

I started on 8 stitches (4 dpns size 6) and increased 8 stitches every other round until I ran out of scraps. It goes without saying that I switched needles until I was up to my 60" Addi.

Finished size is 36" or just about the right size for cuddling a little one (and for dragging around if you happen to be a toddler).

Threw in rounds of garter and rounds of k2 tog, yo as the spirit moved me.







It's done!


I think it looks like a god's eye when it's turned this way.










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// posted by Ann @ 4/25/2011 04:10:00 PM 4 comments

Sunday, April 03, 2011

One Trick Pony

I promise you that I formatted this post. Blogger is messing with me right now. I'll try to go in later and edit so it's more readable, but if I don't post this now, I might not get it posted for days! Edited to add: Blogger isn't adding breaks and paragraphs today. (I added them manually)



Babies are popping up all over and so are baby booties! This makes 3 pairs I have finished in the last couple of weeks. (One pair has already been given away.) Super easy knit from Morehouse Merino Knits in washable wool or wool blends.

I went on a quest yesterday for washable wool. Came up empty in all 3 big box stores locally, so I decided just to make do for the next couple of pairs. I'm sure that I have something washable here that isn't Red Heart!

Did I mention that these still need their little ties? I'm debating the benefits of chained strings vs. ribbon.



And in other Knitting Knews, I finished the March Challenge Dishcloth (one of the groups I participate in) just under the wire. This might be a fair entry, though I'll need to decide whether it's a dishcloth or a doily between now and August.

I am making some progress on a sweater/tee-shirt/vest that I am making for myself, and I am nearly finished with TPT's "drag around"/scrapghan. ::whew::

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// posted by Ann @ 4/03/2011 06:52:00 AM 0 comments

Friday, January 07, 2011

First and Second of the New Year





I hereby resolve to be a better blogger.

I will blog regularly and often.

I will post pictures of Finished Objects even when it's hard to discern what the heck they are. Witness: black wool cap for Ship Support that is my first 2011 FO.


Pattern from One Skein Wonders (the original) edited by Judith Durant. Yarn is Naturally Loyal (dk weight washable New Zealand Merino wool).



Second FO of 2011 is this baby blanket fashioned from leftover odds and ends of Big Box ack. Mitered squares, lots of ends to work in, but no seaming.

If it looks a bit like a nine-patch quilt with a lot of unbleached muslin, well. . .my work here is done.

It will be a fair entry with a baby sweater (Rambling Rows Jacket by Cottage Creations) and some sort of hat in the red, yellow, green, blue and natural.

Lots more in the planning stages. I promise to post them as they are finished.

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// posted by Ann @ 1/07/2011 04:30:00 PM 1 comments

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Some Finished Stuff

Here's a picture of the next three woven dishtowels. I hesitated to post this so soon, as they were just put in the mail to the intended victim recipient earlier this week.

But what the heck. If I wait, I'll forget and my loyal reader will never get to see them.

Same as before: long warp, then differeing patterns for the weft.

Cotton chennille.




And here's a stash-busting mitered square blanket that I will be putting in the mail to Afghans For Afghans as soon as I finish the sweater that's on the needles. Fall campaign for youth is in full swing. Blankets, sweaters, socks and mittens are the most requested items.

This one is odds and ends of wool and other animal fibers. I believe there's a tiny bit of soy silk in a couple of the squares.

Worsted weight, size 8 needles.

Sadly (or gladly) I have at least as much odd bits of wool left as I used.

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// posted by Ann @ 11/06/2010 05:21:00 AM 1 comments

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Driveby Blogging


It is almost past my bedtime (yes, folks, 8 in the P is sleepy time around here for us that gets up at 5 in the A).

Since I have been so noticibly absent I thought I would share a quick post and show my version of the Garterlac Dishcloth.

I used Sugar n Cream in one of the stripes (Lime, I think). Planning might have made the colors fall better.

This was not difficult, but it requires some concentration.

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// posted by Ann @ 6/17/2010 06:58:00 PM 0 comments

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Only Small Things



This week, I managed to finish a facecloth/dishcloth in Peaches and Creme (color: Salmon Royale). The pattern is called Speed Bump and since it's not mine, I can't share it (or even offer a link). Reverse engineering will get you there, though.

Cast on the number of stitches for the width you want, then work alternating bands of stockinette and garter stitch.

Voila!






The week's other FOs are woven. Place mats (2) and a table runner.

I used crayon colors of crochet cotton for the warp and white-white chunky cotton for the weft.

These are fresh out of the drier and could use a hit from the iron. Maybe I'll do that before I use them to set the table.

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// posted by Ann @ 5/09/2010 12:53:00 PM 1 comments

Friday, April 30, 2010

Around and Around




I had a bunch of odd balls of mercerized cotton in DK weight.

Pattern is loosely modified from Bad Penny. I cast on for the largest size and just did my own thing with the color sequence. Since I had the most of the blue, I saved a full ball to use for the neckline and cuffs.

Total yarn used: about 400 grams (8- 50 gram balls), about 920 yards.

It's comfortable and nicely casual. A jeans sweater for summer.

This makes seven.

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// posted by Ann @ 4/30/2010 06:07:00 PM 1 comments

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Fit For a Princess

This was going to be a long ranty post about the morons I encounter on the road. . .



but then, I finished this sweet little princess dress and everything seemed too fine to start a rant. I'll save that for another day.

I love the lace panel. And the top-down, practically seamless construction. And the picot edge on the sleeves and hem.

Pattern is available (for free)here. You can see the modification I made, subbing 4 rounds of ribbing for the eyelet round and eliminating the satin ribbon.




Do you like the buttons? They are tiny bows. (Click on the picture to make it bigger.)

I have to say that this was a very quick knit. Something like 5 days start to finish, just working on it a couple hours a day. Of course, I made the smallest size.














And here's the whole thing. I like it!









.

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// posted by Ann @ 4/22/2010 09:58:00 PM 3 comments

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Six Down; Four To Go


Sweater Number 6 is finished!

Why yes, it is a Wonderful Wallaby (pattern available at yarn shops and also direct from Cottage Creations: at the farm on Deer Creek, Carpenter, Iowa, 50426-0070). Yarn is Moda Dea Washable Wool. [yarn review: Who decided to drop this yarn from the line? It's lovely to knit with and makes a wonderful fabric].

Size is a 6 and used about 350 g of yarn. Just under 600 yards of worsted weight.

I'll be mailing it this week, I think, so that it can be worn before it's outgrown.

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// posted by Ann @ 3/28/2010 08:16:00 AM 4 comments

Saturday, January 09, 2010

End of the Week

It's been brutally cold here in the Northeast, so it's been a pleasure to knit bigger things:



This week, I worked diligently on the second scrap lap robe for our local rehab, and then found out that the prizes won't be needed until late April, so I am "good to go" as they say (whoever "they" are).

The big mitered square is #2. Same yarns and colors as the first, approximately the same size.

Best laid plans aside, there was a pattern in my head. Unfortunately, I ran out of one color mid-way, and being cheap frugal in stash-busting mode for these, I refused to buy more yarn. I punted.

A motivated inspector will see what I did.

Then I found a tiny bit more of the color that I ran out of. Rats!



I've made a bit of progress on the sweater for Afghans for Afghans, and started another.

Again, stash-busters. The green yarn is some Lily Sugar and Cream 100% wool (I don't even want to guess how old it is) . The yellow is Elann Peruvian Highland wool, left over from another project. When this one is a little further along, I'll post a photo of the pattern picture.

It's a vest.

To my mind, it can be spring any time now. I am tired of Arctic temperatures and wind chills. I need it to be warm.

No chance at all that there will be a beach vacation any time soon, either.

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// posted by Ann @ 1/09/2010 06:55:00 AM 2 comments

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