Wishful Knitting

Here are some kitty toys I made to celebrate/commemorate Chloë's (my sister's cat) 18th birthday. Eighteen years and still just as ornery : ) I guess catnip works on 4-year old children as well? A couple of the new S'n'B knitters asked about these. The pattern is Feline Dim Sum. I think it would be suitable for a beginner if you want to give it a try. These were made out of some leftover Encore Worsted and knit to a tight gauge so the catnip wouldn't all fall out.

In keeping with my inability to stay focused on any one project to completion, I have quite a bit of Starsky finished. I am making both the sleeves at the same time, so that's going pretty quickly. I imagine the collar will be slow. I was completely tired of knitting while staring at the graph, but I knew if I set it down for a time out that it would likely be a while before I picked it back up. So, the chart part is completed. When I was in high school/college we had a black-faced dog named Samantha. It was very difficult to get a good picture of her beautiful face. I am having the same problem with this black sweater! It's made with Cascade Ecowool-the skeins are so huge that it makes obscenely large yarn balls. Lovely to haul around.

Introducing the first-ever (that I know of : ) S'n'B Aviano. When I got here a year ago, I was saddened to find there was no established group...so I am trying to start our own. Last week was the first meeting and it was really fun. I am teaching a couple of new knitters, and I am sure before long, they will be teaching me a thing or two! See you tomorrow. P.S. Anne's mom- Look she's knitting : )

We interupt this knitting program to bring you a knitted slipper sock. Oh, wait, this has since been ripped out (several times) and replaced with a new version without the middle stripe of oatmeal color. I have no idea why I keep starting new projects, when I have so many other projects on the needles. I don't think any of them qualify as "languishing" but the knitting at knoon sweater for my daughter is getting close. This project has spent a long time in my husband's head. I'll tell you, making a knitted version of what is in someone else's head is no easy task. Yeesh. I have never knit anything for my hubby. He DOES NOT wear sweaters....except the one that I knit for my Dad and then re-worked the collar to suit him. The only knitted hat he wears is from the 70's and has snoopy on it. He wears specific motorcycle gloves. What does that leave? Knitted boxers? Well, it leaves knitted socks. He's been watching me knit these for others (and ...

This is the Odessa Hat. It was made with my love and positive energy in every stitch to help Sandy fight cancer. Ironically, she is a hairstylist and has spent her life helping people have beautiful hair. I think about her a lot. It seems I have a "scent memory" connected with her name. She always smells like Aveda products. Every day when I wash my hair, I think of her and hope she is having a good day. The hat was made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, one skein. I didn't swatch, because I didn't want to - besides, I am not even sure how to count in a pattern like this. I figured with this style, it would fit most. It was a quick, fun knit. I left the beads off- I thought they might be too lumpy on a sensitive scalp. I have no idea why Miss H has the long face, I think she was channeling her inner beatnik. Oh look, here's her inner beatnik now.

Just to see how far behind I am in this posting business. This scarf was knitted, washed, dried and mailed to Ohio for a birthday present. (I think it was even on time.) It has since returned to Italy- smushed in the bottom of a suitcase; been ripped and re-worked into a crocheted scarf. Here's H being attacked by the stiff and scarey scarf. It was made with large needles, but apparently not large enough to make it a fluid fabric. Everyone who saw it agreed it was ugly, including it's recipient- my mom. Luckily, she was honest and told me about it, and it was re-worked. Apparently it had a destiny in crochet. Yep, this is a poor photograph, but it was all I had of the scarf in it's new form. It was around my mom's neck the entire time- not only because it's very cold in this old concrete house, but I think because she really likes it! I'll tell you what, it was lumpy and irregular knitted up and it was wonderful and fluid in the crocheted version. M...

Thank goodness My Man came home to take a picture of me - the self-portraits were AWFUL. I happily cast on for Ms. Marigold from Zephyr style. I ordered the pattern during the summer, but was newly-inspired by Fancy Pants' version . I thought I could wear it layered with a long sleeve shirt now that fall has reached Italy. I cast on and took off, using Berroco Touche. I knit down to the waist area and tried it on. Ahhhhhhh!!!!!! The back was too narrow (I know I have to wear something underneath it, but it wasn't even close to covering my bra straps.) Rather than being the cute vest in my mind, it was like a knitted bustier. I am not that well-endowed, but yet the sides veered toward my arms and off my chest, and it was not pretty. I decided to try again. This is the first time I altered a pattern so much. I changed the number cast on, changed the increases, added decreases, changed the neckline finishing, altered the ruffle and all the bands. So, what did I get...

Oh my gosh, our little buddy looks so old in this picture! Here he is in his new sweater. Yep, it's buckeye colors left over from the baby sack. A long time ago, I bought him some Donnegal (sp?) tweed and a fancy book with adorable patterns. It remains unknit...but I did throw together this little number sans pattern. (There's still hope for the other one!) He does kind of have a funny body shape, though and the armholes were too big, so I tightened them up with some crochet. Of course, there's the "F." He can't wear it at night because he gets too hot, but during the day, he is more comfortable with his little sweater- no shivering for this pampered pooch. P.S. Thanks for the cute Halloween card for the boy Nanny-o, he loved it...oh, and he misses you too!

This is a very fun knit- with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino- so nice and soft. I think instead of ruffle scarf, it should be "study in Short row" scarf. The only think I don't like about it is how well you can see some of the stitches. I suppose this is called "stitch definition." I just don't like it in this particular case. Oh well. Hopefully no one else will notice the lumps. Lots and lots of pics as I owe them to family members who have been stalking me- you know who you are. See the little bumps??? There was little cooperation on the part of eldest daughter, so it's all the small fry. I am pretty sure this was the day I decided she MUST get a haircut no matter how many tears would fall!

Another finished object that is happily on it's way to France. It was a "thank you for hosting us" gift to French Maman. I sent cereal to R- some granola that I think he'll like. It cost a fortune to mail and we are right next door. The pattern was a simple add a stitch/yarnover triangle. I think she'll like it. I thought I really liked mohair, but in all actuality, I am not a huge fan. Too sheddy.

This little number was soooo much fun to knit. What else can one do when Aunt Buffy and Uncle L are having a baby of unknown gender.....no matter if it's a boy or a girl, we all know it will be a BUCKEYE! The pattern is Zodiac from Knitty 2007. It calls for a summer weight yarn, but I substituted some Encore Bulky from the stash. It was the first time I put in a zipper, and it wasn't bad at all. Creepy pic, I agree, but I don't have any little models myself! the only modification I made to the pattern was to opt for crochet edging along the armholes and neckline rather than attached I-cord. The I-cord just seemed too bulky to me with this yarn. The next one I make would probably be a little wider and shorter and I would move the logo up a little bit. I didn't have any buttons, so I attached 2 from one of my favorite sweaters. In a super crafty moment we decided (Z and I) to make a pompom for the package. She had fun...come to think of it I did too. The giftie made it t...

Yep, my fizzle! I lost steam on this project probably about the same time I realized it was not going to fit me. There was nothing amiss about the pattern, only my choice of size! I don't know what I was thinking....I decided to finish it up and gift it to my mother-in-law. I think it looks great on her. I will knit another one at some point, likely with the same yarn and the same color...we'll have to be careful not to wear them to the same function : ) (in a few years anyway!) I think it looks great on her and the yarn is really smooth and kind of "cool" to the touch. It's Berocco Cotton Twist in the Navy colorway. It's dark blue with some black. It's the only yarn My Man has commented on...wow, that's a nice yarn- or something like that. It would have been a very quick knit had I not slowed to a crawl at the end. So, here's to her Sizzle.....

It's so fun to knit for pets because: 1.) it's a fast knit 2.) the victim always looks so cute in their sweater : ) This sweater is for Jake, a little puppy we babysat for 3 weeks. This is Jake not sitting in his new sweater. I made up the pattern by doing the math. It was a quick knit- mostly because he weighs 6 pounds. The yarn is leftover Encore Bulky from a baby bunting- I used this pattern as a prototype for one for Fonzie. This is Jake still not sitting. This is Jake sitting in his new sweater : )

I think that could be the title for all my recent knitting endeavours. My not-so-little sister is the recipient of these little goodies. It's an awesome, quick knit. The color makes me think of beautiful Washington State- I wish I had more leftover. Project specs: Hand/Wrist Warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts Yarn-Aurora 8 Because of the stretchy nature of the pattern, they fit almost all hands.... almost. (Yes, sister dear, I did reknit the sweater...there are pics somewhere on this blog. Oh, and the washing instructions- hand wash in cold water, roll in towels to get rid of the excess water and then lay flat to dry.)

I have fizzled a little with Sizzle. There's no good reason, I just have been distracted lately. I am still working my way through the Stitch and Bitch crochet book. It's going well and I have made some huge swatches that the girls are using as blankies for their baby dolls. Anyway, the Sizzle pattern is great and I am loving the yarn. It has good drape and kind of a "cool" feeling to it. It's Berroco something or other, I forget at the moment. I only need to finish the bands on the sleeves and weave in the ends. I have the sides seamed up already. It would really only take a good hour or so to be completely done with it. Maybe I will do it this weekend. I think it will be a little snug on me, and a little shorter than I would like, but that's okay. I can always make another one. I think I will still get some wear out of it. I have also been working on this. It's from some mystery yarn that we (Nanny) bought in France at a yarn shop- pics later. It's ...

Another One Skein Wonder. Sure, it's the same color as my last one, but that one has been sent over the pond to my MIL. This one is a little bigger- I think the 17 inch across the shoulders size. I love the color. I love the pattern, and I would love one in every color available. Specs: Pattern-One Skein Wonder, Stefanie Japel Yarn- Cottage Knits Cotton Gauge- 16 sts/4 inch Mods- None I have slowed a bit on the knitting scene- what with summer and all our visitors. I am working on Sizzle and should likely be done by now. I am having gauge problems again. I don't know why I bother making a swatch at all!

I have been knitting, I just haven't been posting. We have had an influx of visitors and it has been great. I have a hard time sneaking away to blog about knitting, when really, two of my three fans are here in town : ) So, I finished the Tiny Elf's blanket and I love it- she does too. It really went fast at the end, which is odd as it is knit from the center out. I think I just can knit faster than I used to. Progress is good. The yarn is warm and fuzzy after a trip through the washer and dryer- I splurged and used the dryer. I think she will like hers as much as elder elf likes her own fuzzy blanket. EE noticed that TE's blanket had pink on it, and yet hers did not. I noticed that her blanket had a hole. EE requested that I fix the hole with pink yarn so hers would have some pink too. Cute and no problem, as I had some pink left over! Project specs: Pattern: Vogue Baby Blankets Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted. I also have been working on Sizzle- due to a gauge i...