Wishful Knitting

This post is about my friend- I wanted her family to see the proof- this girl can knit! People, let me tell you, my friend S decided she wanted to learn to knit. I only had to show her the basics and off she went. (We had a few phone conversations, and luckily I live close by, so there were home visits- which were all fun...she is, after all, the hostess with the mostess.) Her first sweater is a lacy little cardi for her adorable daughter. The pattern is available on the Lion Brand website and I think the yarn was their cotton blend in the color Berry. It only took a couple skeins. Her daughter, was a little hesitant to wear it. (In this pic the ends hadn't been woven in, but the little munchkin wasn't bothered by that, she didn't want to wear it because it didn't have princess buttons, or some similar, very valid reason : ) And my friend knitted a little toy for her munchkin- the pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I think this is the first project we ...

I realize this doesn't look like a cupcake. It looks more like a marshmallow wearing a night cap : ) It seems, however, none of that matters to the kids.

It's been cool here, so this yarn is likely higher up in the Q. I am planning on making this sweater Knitting Pure and Simple #241. (It's a long-sleeved cardigan, but with cotton, it should be great for cooler summer evenings. I am not crazy about the color of the yarn....I wanted something neutral but this has a "pinkish" quality I could not notice on the computer screen. It will be nice when I have a local yarn shop again. I am going to try Sizzle again... I love this yarn. And now, in order to satisfy my one faithful reader, my sister...here's #2 in her finished (almost, still haven't put a closure on it) cardi.

I cannot believe there is a group of crafters on Ravelry- or in existence anywhere- who loves this yarn. I cannot tell you how much I hate it. It all started very simply. I have started crocheting a little here and there, so I got the notion in my head that I was going to try to crochet a blanket. I can't even remember how I happened upon this pattern . I thought it was just beautiful, I still do. I was wholly unfamiliar with the Homespun and innocently let the Lionbrand site help me purchase the 2 million skeins I would need to complete this project. The pattern was labeled "Advanced Beginner." With my army of Amigurumi creatures smiling at me, I thought I could handle it. I knew the yarn was synthetic, which is not my favorite, but I knew I wanted something I could easily wash and dry. I honestly can't imagine hand-washing a blanket! When the package of yarn arrived, I was disappointed. It's "hairy yarn," people. I am not a fan of hairy yar...

I had never had this happen to me before. Here I was, knitting along, thinking everything was fine, and it was not. I was very surprised to see this. The knitting version of the "cosmic slap." The moment has long since passed, but, it's part of the story. I am following the silk camisole pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I am using Hempathy to make it. I didn't choose this pattern becuase I am in love with it- and the picture in the book is rather "unfortunate." I chose to knit this based on the fact that I had the correct material, and I wanted to try the hemp. Of course I am modifying the pattern to make it more "wear-able." Of course, I don't have an "extra" skein. So, I can either stop the mods, or scour the internet. It calls for I-cord straps over four stitches. There's no way I would wear that, or if I did, my bra straps would be hanging out. Despite current fashion trends, I am not a fan. Sure I could go ...

I made this for my fellow SnBer, Jan. I gifted it to her long ago, but I never put up the pictures. It was, as are most of the amigurumi projects, FUN! It's from the book in the side bar there- Ana Paula's. And it's made with mystery market yarn. Of course, my eldest daughter wanted to keep this little fellow. But he was created specifically for my friend. I told my daughter I would make her one, as she wants every project I make, but I haven't done so yet. It's on the list, I keep telling her. Good thing she doesn't know how long the list is : ) I think I will make the mini-cactus for her instead. I am currently working on an ice cream cone (for both girls) and after that I think she wants the apple. She's even requesting crocheted items for her stuffed toys. Apparently Bitty, who is my second daughter's lovey, needs an ice cream cone too. It's getting out of hand! Fear not sister of mine, Odd Fellow is on my mind again, and I do mean t...

I am certainly no designer. I don't even aspire to "design" anything. I would like, however, to be able to put together a simple sweater/shrug with any yarn for any person. This is my first attempt and so far I think it's going well. This summer cardigan is actually not for this willing model, but for her sister. (Who is less apt to be bribed most of the time.) I am using white cotton that I picked up at the market. I have chosen to knit it at a tighter gauge than I normally would because I keep thinking the cotton is going to stretch out. Hopefully it won't be like a suit of armor when it's finished! I am using Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top Down book as my inspiration. So far, so good- I am pleased with it. I finished the sleeves with a very simple yarn-over lace edging- I'll probably use it along the lower edge as well. I think I will single crochet along the front and neck and then use a single button at the top to close it. The weather her...

My friend's son has an imaginary friend- a bunny named Tiny. I just think it's the sweetest thing EVER. Apparently, Tiny can be naughty and is responsible for a whole slew of mischievous behavior at her house. Tiny also has been known to jump out the car window- requiring my friend to pull over to give him a chance to catch up. It's just so sweet. Tiny was born red, and has since metamorphasized to purple. I have wanted to knit Tiny for a long time, and I am so tickled to have finally completed this loving task. Tiny is safely in the arms of his boy- his sister is the one who got the elephante. Tiny is from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book and is made from Swish Superwash from knitpicks. The yarn was soft and squishy just the way Tiny should be. I wish I had an entire army of these.

My dear friend recently moved her family to the Washington, D.C. area. I thought it would be nice to send a softie to her kids so they would have a little something extra to hold onto during all these changes. Her little girl is named Ella, and here is her elephant. The pattern is from the fabulous Ana Paula's book- see side bar. I am tickled pink (ha, ha) with how she turned out. I had several hesitations with the trunk. Plus, she looked like a pig right up to the end. Finishing it was very fiddly and not fun at all. It will be a while before I make another one of these. I don't know how any crochet toy that I make will hold up to "play" from a little one. Her brother's bunny is waiting in the wings for his photo shoot.

Blossom by Knitting@Knoon is done- it's a wonderful knit! The pattern is interesting, but not overly complicated. This is the first time I used Cascade 220- I had no idea what I was missing! It feels very soft and has a nice drape. I adore this sweater and my daughter likes it too. I might try to make one for myself : ) I love the picot edging and the bell sleeves. And this is what it would look like if you made one for a pirate.

Now that the latte is safely on the table of her new owner, it's blogg-able. The patterns are from Ana's book (see side bar)- and the recipient is my ever coffee-lovin', Seattle-livin' sister. Umm, sorry that the cupcake didn't come along for the ride, but there was no prying it out of H's hand! Most of the faces in the book have wide-set eyes. They look darling, but when I try to duplicate them, it doesn't seem to look as cute. I usually settle for closer-set eyes. The finishing is a bit labor intensive, more so on the larger critters. I bought felt here in Italy, but it can't be used for my purposes. It's about 1/2" thick! I should have told the store clerk that I didn't want it, but she went upstairs and then returned with 5 bolts of different colors, while I was shopping around. When I went over to the cutting table, she had most of it cut already, so I just bought it. Oh well. Maybe I'll come up with a use for it- doubtf...

These were my first projects from Ana Paula's book. It all started off so innocently, and now it's hard to stop! I have made several of these little cuties and they get rave reviews from the kids! Easy, cute, why not? I am still experimenting with the nose. The book calls for a nose made out of felt and sewn in place. I don't like how thin and flimsy the felt seems. The embroidery skills could use a little work, but I think that's the way to go.

With any new obsession involving yarn, I find it necessary to acquire more. Although Amigurumi is billed as a stash buster, a stash enhancer is so much more fun! Here are some misc. pictures of the market. I didn't get a shot of the yarn guy's stall because it's in a tight alley. It was impossible with the alley crowded with shoppers. Just a few skeins in various colors. They were 3 Euro each, I think. I seem to have conveniently forgotten. The yarn is 80% wool and 20% acrilico. While at the market, a woman approached me and asked for help. She was a fellow Americana. She thought the yarn was silk because of the name "Silke" on the label. An honest mistake, she would only have to touch the yarn to know it's not silk. Anyway, she was looking for something to take to her mom back in the States as a souvenir! How thoughtful! Help spend someone else's yarn budget- heck yeah! I asked her what kind of knitting her mom preferred- she had no idea. She answered sim...

Just look at that happy kid- I suppose this is what/who started me down the path of late nights and tingling digits. Seems I have gotten into the habit of making my girls a new stuffed toy every Easter. This year, she wanted a guinea pig. For weeks I tried to get her to change her mind, to no avail. I couldn't find a knitted pattern- in hindsight, I am sure I could have just come up with something, but instead, I found this site: Planet June . While I have tried basic crochet before (with the help of the Happy Hookers ), I hadn't tried anything like this before. So, I gave it a whirl- and, judging from the smiles, I think it went well. Lucky for me, Nanny-o has been here for Spring break to do the hard part...the faces! And, as usual, we have to do it late at night, the eve before Easter. Hey, it's tradition. It's when we do our best work! (heard that before?) Note the blue rooster pitcher filled with red wine : ) Thanks for your help Mumsey! The pattern is the...