COMPLETED- Fingerless Mitts

UFO Week Project 1 Completed

These Fingerless Mitts were sitting around unfinished for quite a while.  Glad to have them done. It is a quite quick and easy pattern to knit up but I can see now that seaming is not my thing.

I used some leftover Lion Brand Jiffy yarn for this.  This yarn is so fuzzy and splity.  Glad to know that so I won't choose it in the future.  Any yarn lovers out there?  What is your favorite to work with?

UFO Week

Yes, the dreaded UFO's are weighing on my inner being.  This is it, UFO week.  I have 2 sewing projects and 2 knitting projects that WILL be done by weeks end.

A New Look vest that I started about 2 months ago.  Why is it UFO you ask.  The fit is off so I need to take apart the straps, do the button holes and then redo the straps so it fits properly. (sorry, no pics)

A Butterick Cardigan.  Sleeves.  Need I say more.  Then finishing the edges. It would be more bearable with a serger I think but rolling and stitching those edges is torture.  Pure torture so it is in the UFO pile. (no pics again)

Fingerless Mitts.  A knitting project I started ages ago.  I had to reverse the pattern for the 2nd one and it just never happened.  I did start them today as a break to the project I am working on now.  Once I finish the second one I need to sew a seam down each and then that will be done.

Sweater for DD.  This is not really a UFO in the sense that it has been lingering around unworked on.  I have been working on it but it seems to be taking forever.  This is my first time knitting a sweater so of course it is slow going.  I just want to be done.  Once DD tries it on I can finish the body and then move on to the sleeves.

Wish me luck in clearing my UFO stash.  Usually a stash implies good things but a UFO stash, I am not to happy about it.

Planning to Sew Something

Clutch the pearls...this is a sewing post.  You probably thought you would never see one from me again now that I have picked up some knitting needles.  Lots of knitting needles with nowhere to store or transport them properly which leads to this.  A knitting needle organizer!!

This is just the planning phase.  I have looked at a ji-zillion (I am pretty sure that is an actual number) online but have been stuck in the mud on moving forward to make the darn thing.  They all seemed okay but just not perfect, probably just my excuse for going downstairs to knit instead of sew.  I did put my foot down and decide on the one I will make.  It will be a revised version of this.

What fabric to use is the first question that needs answering. I think I should have picked up a solid color during the 50% off clearance items at Joanns.  Solids are no fun but now I am thinking a solid will be necessary.  My eyes are hurting.  Seriously.  This beast needs to be tamed!!!  Take not in some of the pictures further down, you can barely see the needles on some of the fabrics.  It will be one of these two color schemes though.

Before I dive right in I also want to make sure the depth of the pockets was agreeable to the needles I use.  After measuring and comparing the pattern dimensions I think I am going to change the depth of some of the pockets to suit my needles better. 

I think I have decided to keep my circular needles in a completely separate pouch which means I may try to transform the front few pockets into some small zippered or flapped pockets.  They would hold cable needles, counters, and other small items.  Hopefully someone will just buy me the interchangable circulars and then that will be that.

The next step is to finalize dimensions and add in seam allowance.  I'll also get some solid fabric for both color schemes to have on hand for this project and future use.

One step closer to sewing something.

Another Dishcloth

Hi all,

Another dishcloth for your viewing pleasure.  Knitting these little cloths is addictive.  I am thinking I will have a whole lot of dishcloths, handtowels and washcloths pretty soon.

I need to work on carrying my yarn up the side but that is why these little cloths are great practice for things like that.

Double Bump Dishcloth

This sample was made from a free pattern on Ravelry.  It is the Double Bump Dishcloth by Missy Angus.

I don't keep a yarn stash so I knitted it up in the Red Heart Super Saver Yarn to see if I liked it enough to make multiples.  I think I do.  I am a new knitter and quite happy that I could get this finished result.

It looks great on both sides. 

Next time I make this I am going to try it with 100% cotton and a cotton/acrylic blend.  I want to knit up a bunch of dishcloths and washcloths so I need to find yarn that holds up well, feels good, and dries well.  The scratchiness of the acrylic is great if you like the feeling of a loofah.  I think for my face I want something a tad bit softer though.  The feel of the acrylic would be good for the dishcloth and cleaning cloths as well.

Unfaithful

I feel like I am in an adulterous relationship with my knitting.  Sewing I still love you but I have learned how to knit and I love it too.  What is a gal to do?  Lately my sewing mojo hasn't been up to par but knitting has really got me going.  My heart is torn.  I refuse to choose.  It WILL be both.  I just have to work out the logistics of how to devote time to each.  

I feel better now that I have confessed.  What a weight lifted off my shoulders.  

I started a 2nd and 3rd knitting project.  Another scarf and a hat.  The scarf is like the first one but a different type of yarn so I'll show that later on down the line, the hat is what I am excited about.

If you like hats go get Hat Heads by Trond Anfinnsen aka KNITKID.   It has all sorts of fun patterns and hats.  Here are all the hats on Flickr.  I made the Kjersti hat.  Ambitious for a novice knitter is what someone told me.  It really was not that hard though since it was just knits and purls.  That is one of the reasons I choose it, the other being there is only one color change.

I did have to wait and run to the store and get double pointed needles.  I thought since I only had about 12 more rows to go I would be done quickly.  Oh my, those decreases are a pain.  With time and experience I'll get quicker but I kept recounted to make sure I didn't screw something up.  Tying off and weaving in wasn't hard either.  VICTORY!!

You are asking for a few pictures.  Sure, no problem.

The beginning stages where it seems like it won't ever be done. 

Whoa! When did that happen?  This may actually be a hat :-)

All done.  It's over.  Really?

Close up of top.  Not that anyone will be all up in my head like that.  At least I hope.

Stitches and stitches and stiches.

And there you have it people.  My very first every knitted hat and my very second ever project.

One Fish, Two Fish...

....fifty some fish?  What?  Oh how did I get myself into that.  Of course, just trying to help LaniJ with homecoming festivities.  The theme for all of the classes was Under the Sea and more specifically her class was The Yellow Submarine.  Each class got to decorate their hallways and were judged.  The winner getting, I have no idea what, bragging rights  I assume.

LaniJ made fish and a whole lot more.  She traced a template and we cut, sewed and stuffed these things for what seemed like eternity.  It wasn't hard, just tedious. We went the economical route by using old donated t-shirts and shredded paper.  I like the ones with patterns but unfortunately most of the t-shirts we got were solid colors.

Hopefully LaniJ will come by and post what the hallway looked like when it was done being decorated but here is one picture of the very early stages of decorating.

Wow, I JUST noticed the fish hanging up. I guess this was the first time closely at the picture. When I walked through the hallway I just took one quick flick because I was hunting down LaniJ so we could go home. There they are hanging from the ceiling by dental floss and paperclips.  

Maybe if I beg LaniJ she will come back and discuss her homecoming t-shirt refashion. 

By the way, Happy November...are we really winding down 2010?  Sigh.