New Plans

The bunnies did not felt, and I have a backup present for the people I was making this for, so I am not going to make them. Perhaps this will be one of those projects I will get back to sometime when I have had more experience!

WARNING: BUNNY CROSSING

Hi all,
I have added several patches since the last time you saw it, but I'm busy on bunny patrol right now.....I need to get at least 7 done by the end of this week, so that means cutting one day, felting on the same day, sewing everything together the next, and possibly adding eyes and nose, if I'm lucky. Will take pictures before I give them away to show you guys!

Bunnies and Blankets and Flags.....Oh My!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!
In honor of Memorial Day, here's a knitted flag pattern I found on the Internet!

And now, without further ado, the bunnies
Here's Bunny #1:
This guy was made about a month ago, using index cards.

Aaaaand Bunny #2:
(TV in the background is one of the "contestants" from the PBS show Fetch, in case you were wondering) Thanks to my little brother for holding the bunny. This was made with my new pom pom maker, which looks like this:

Pom Pom Maker

My Pom Pom Maker Pulled Apart

Now, for the blanket update:

I added 4 patches since you last saw this thing:
The pale blue strip of a patch, the little dark blue and orange squares, and the rainbow rectangle were added....Still, I have quite a bit to go. I am working on a square to add on to the rainbow rectangle; it's the leftovers from this scarf I made awhile ago; it's pale blue and rather fuzzy.

Questions And Answers

Hello everyone!

I am in shock. People actually read what I put up on this thing?? (I mean, othere than people who know me outside of the internet)
HDW asked me if I taught myself how to spin. Well, yes and no.
My mom's friend's daughter taught me how to spin on a drop spindle, and I sort of went crazy from there. I now have a Lendrum.
Tomorrow, I'll have pics of the pom pom maker I got, which is a lot different from the picture in Spin Off.

Lots Of News

This is going to take a while.
Let's see.... first on the list:

1) I finished the Subway Sweater!!!!

hi me!

the whole sweater

a close-up of the sleeves

This pattern is great--very clear and easy to follow. The top is a little baggy, but I doubt the problem is in the pattern; as I have said before, I'm a little small. So, DM (darling mom) and I are going to get some elastic to fix that. The elastic will also be used to finish my skirt.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this already, but before this sweater, I haven't ever really made a garment that I'm happy with the color, length, and comfort of--at the same time. There was always some mistake; the pattern was flawed, it was too hot, the length was too short, the edge curled....the mistakes go on and on. One of these days I should have a Wall of Shame, showing all of the weird stuff I have attempted to make.

2) Here is my blanket:

Yeesh!

Yes, I have tried to keep up with the holes over the years, but I've been busy lately. (I know, I know, bad excuse) My goal is to patch it all up by camp, which is in a few weeks. If I don't make the deadline, that's OK--it's a warm blanket either way!
I'll take this opportunity to use up some small yarn balls in my stash--the ones you couldn't possibly use for much more than a small square. If I use those up, I'll find some acrylic that I am not likely to use for anything else.

3) This is what I am going to make the felted bunnies with, (I should probably mention I am going to make 10 or 14 for certain special people. I will not say who they are, just in case they are reading this) or something like it:

p35 of Spin Off Spring 2007

The expected outcome is this:

p34 of Spin Off Spring 2007

Of course, I know the first one I make will absolutely stink--it will be something like a cross between a dog and a fox. The next one will be a fox-and-dog mix, and the third will, if you squint a bit, will be a bunny. The fourth will definetaly be a bunny.

Here's to finished projects and plans to come!

A Long Over-Due Update

Hi,
My camera is hiding from me, so I can't exactly show y0u many real pictures, so your imagination is up for the job!
I finished the front and back. I am a little worried about how I did the neckline; it's a little bumpy on the edge. However, since I am the impatient type, I am going to let it be, unless when I try it on all completed, it looks horrible.
Sleeve #1 has been started. As per the Subway Knitter's suggestion, since I am doing 3/4 length sleeves, I casted on 33 stitches, instead of the called-for 48, because the cuff of the sleeve fans out a bit. I'm past the decreasing, and on to the straight part, so when the camera is done playing hide-and-seek, I'll have pictures for y'all!

Summer Goals Part II

While looking at everyone else's goals for this contest, I've decided to add a little bit to mine!

(to see 1, 2, and 3 of my list, click here)


4) Patch up the blanket I've had since I was 4 (yes, it is my blankie, and yes, it is rather torn and messed up)


5)Knit something in Fair Isle, preferably from handspun


6)Felt a little bunny toy and knit (design) little accessories for it


Number 6 may sound a little weird, especially coming from a teenager, but I assure you, it is logical. I have never felted something (on accident or on purpose).

There was instructions to make a bunny in Spin Off. I thought, hey, what if the bunny had a little bunny bow, a scarf, etc. This idea is still in the preliminary stages of development, so don't expect anything till July or August--especially since I need to actually figure out how to make them!

If anyone has any felting advice, IT IS WELCOME!!!!

Happy Monday!

Third One's The Charm!

YAY!! The gauge works!!
Not only did I find the right needle size, I'm also surprisingly far in the front (I say surprisingly because I found the correct gauge yesterday):
I am a little uncertain about the holes in the top part of the side--I was not entirely sure as to how to end it, so I guessed:
Here's to hoping I'll be on the back the next time you check in!

We Interrupt This Gauging Dilemma With An O:

What do you call something you've knit, but not sewn the elastic into?
I'm calling it a O, or object.......

And now, some pictures:
The skirt: The rolled-up edge that I am going to sew up:

And Now, Back To The Gauging Delimma

This picture got a little too much flash, but this is the US9, checking gauge-it is perfect by rows, but one silly stitch off by stitches. I frogged it, and today, I am going to try US 10.

I just realised that the gauge on the yarn is 5 stitches to the inch. AAAAAAHHHH! I am so silly. Well, I guess I'll try US 10 and US 10 1/2, and if they don't work, I'll return (sniff) the yarn and get yarn with a better gauge. Also, on a completely non-knitting note: I finished my bigish project for school! YIPPEE!!!!!!!

Oh, Yarn, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways...

1) Beautiful, pale blue color
2) SUUUUUUUPER soft
3) Is a little fuzzy, but not too much
4) 100% cotton **UPDATE: I rechecked the fiber content--it's actually 50% cotton, 50% acrylic**
Now, if only I could find the right needle size for you to fit the gauge for the Subway Sweater.......

I tried US8, and got almost past the waist shaping (I had thought the gauge was right), and got the thought to check it again. AAAAAAAHHHHH! It had changed!! So, I frogged it, and I'm starting over on US9s--this time, I'm double checking the gauge!!!!

Changing Plans

You know how I said I needed to knit 1 3/4 balls? Well, now all I have is around a 1/2 ball I am planning on adding on to this skirt. Why, you might ask?
Because after consulting DM (darling mom) and the secretaries at my orthodonist's, we've determined that it's an OK length now. All I need is to knit the extra inch or so that is needed to put the elastic in. Yay!!!
OFFICIAL BALL COUNT-DOWN: 1/2 BALL TO GO!

Summer Goals/07-08 Goals

Because of this contest (which is going to be SO much fun!), I am going to recite what I expect my FOs will be by the end of the summer./end of the year 2008
OK, let's see........

1) Finish the skirt for 4-H (only 1 3/4 balls to go, btw) Just need elastic 5/26/07....I finished the elastic 5/30/07

2) Make the Subway Sweater top in the light blue Touche DONE!!! I just need to fix the back a little... 5/26/07--Fixed back in July, DONE!!!

3) Make a pair of socks with yarn I spin; I found this really neat pattern in my Spin-Off magazine that I want to try. They will probably get more frogging than they deserve, as I have never successfully finished a pair of socks. I made a pair of socks for my mom, now to make a pair for me! 7/10/07

These goals were added 5/21/07
4) Patch up the blanket I've had since I was 4 (yes, it is my blankie, and yes, it is rather torn and messed up) Done! 6/something/07


5)Knit something in Fair Isle, preferably from handspun


6)Felt a little bunny toy and knit (design) little accessories for it Done making the bunny, now I just need to make something other than a scarf for it..5/28/07

This goal was added 6/2/07-deleted 8/3/07 on account of losing the pattern...
7) Make a blanket with each patch representing a different month

This goal was added 8/3/07

7) Knit a shawl with lots of lace and handspun/hand-dyed, enter it into the 4-H Fair

2 1/2 Balls To Go...

Now, for an actual picture....
I'm really suprised as to how this picture turned out. I think that in the basement (that's where I took this picture) has a lot more sunlight than in the room with the computer (where I took all of the other pictures). Hmm. Something to test!
Well, I finished part of the "big project" due next week. I'll to the other part tomorrow. (Hey! A girl's gotta have some time to knit!)

3 Balls Left.....

What with a test and a quiz today, an orchestra concert, and a bigish project due next week, it's a wonder I am still standing!
Here is a picture of my progress....

(pretend picture is here, with a respectable amount of stockinette stitch)

Yeah....the batteries just copped out on me. Sorry about that!
I will try to get other batteries tomorrow and take more pictures!

4 1/2...

I am now on a count-down of the number of balls of yarn I have to knit until the skirt is complete. I had lots of odd moments to knit yesterday, so here's my progress....

As well as the close-up of the hole decorations, as promised...

It's a little blurry, you'll have to forgive my camera (or me, whomever you lay the blame with).

Progress!

I've finished the ruffles, and am now on the little hole decoration things. You can't really see them in this picture; I'll try to get another one by tomorrow where you can see them better.

Bye For Now!

TA DA!!!

Not only did I cast on all 540 stiches, I also knitted 2 rows!!! Hooray!!

Note the beaded stitch marker. I got it from a spinning guild meeting. Since I usually use a piece of stray yarn, this is rather fancy for me!

Dear Fiber Chic,

Hi, it's your circular US6s. You know, the ones you are going to knit a skirt on???? Hello??? Anyone there?? I only have 200-something stitches on me. Who cares about the first 16 Presidents when I need to at least have the cast on row finished this week?
Sincerely,
US6 Circulars

I know, I know. I have nothing to show you knitting wise. But, someone commented that they would like patterns. Here's patterns:

-I learned from the book Kids Can Knit! It's really good, with projects increasing in difficulty as the book goes along.

-Knitty.com is an online magazine for knitters. They have more hip patterns, I would say. Some are for boys, too!

-Another good book is The Yarn Girl's Guide to Simple Knits That has a lot of good patterns for shirts, sweaters, etc.

-I just checked out from the library a book called Knit Two Together. It has cute stories about knitting in the sidebars, and logical gifts in the acutal book.

Ummm.....Squeak Squeak?

Since I have not made any progress on either my skirt or my Subway Sweater, how about a picture of my gerbils?
TA DA!!!!!
The one on the left is Artemas, the one on the right is Annie. Both are girls. The white thing they are standing on is some paper towel I gave them to chew. Aren't they cute??
Check in tomorrow, perhaps I'll have actual knitting to show you.