FO Clapotis

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: Blue Heron Egyptian Mercerized Cotton in the colorway Summer Meadow (less then a whole hank, maybe used about 2/3 or so...)
Needles: Knitpicks Options in Size US5

Ravelry Link
Time Frame: Started this August 2007 finished January 2008 (This was the project that I picked up in between other projects).
Modifications: Knit on smaller needles to fit the smaller yarn. I added in a couple of extra repeats of the straight sections. I think I should have added 2 or 3 more as it's a bit short for me. This yarn is probably (ok definitely!) the nicest yarn I have ever used! The colors in it are just amazing. They are deep greens and vibrant greens mixed with royal purples and bits of ocean blue (best represented in the first photograph). The yarn is very soft and has a lovely shimmer. The colors on this are going to go amazingly with my nice "dress up" purple coat. I even have a green dress that this clapotis might match with if I use it as a wrap.

New Year!

Finished Knit Items from 2007! Click on it to be taken to the big version!

Do you make knitting (or other hobby) goals for the New Year? This year I think my goal is going to be mainly to work on sweaters or tops for myself. I know that I will have some non-sweater projects mixed in, but I’ve found that the sweaters are what I enjoy the most! I’m currently working on Cloud Bolero and Nicole. I’ve just recently started both of them, so there is not too much actual work to show. I usually do not plan my knitting projects out ahead of time. I just keep a long list of potential projects (now that list is on Ravelry in my queue), and when the needles are free I wander through my potential projects and find something to cast on. I usually only have one sweater/big project going at a time. However, I started Nicole first and it is complicated, so I needed an easier project going as well and that is how I came to be working on the Cloud Bolero as well.

Do you look at this time of year as an ending (of 2007) or as the beginning of something new (2008)?

In general, I think I am an optimistic person. I tend to want to think of this time of the year as a new beginning, as a fresh start with endless possibilities. 2007 was not one of my best years. There were many lows in the year, many points of the year that I would personally love to forget. Of course, there were also many incredible moments this year. The arrival of my niece was the most amazing event; I never could have predicted exactly how much I would love her. Another would be celebrating my 10^th anniversary with my boyfriend. With this past year, I’ve noticed that many of my “highlights” were actually based on happiness that came secondhand. I’ve been happy because of sharing the joy of others. Not that much in my actual life is happening that causes me happiness. Sometimes it gets hard when I really just want a little happiness of my own.

My goal for 2008 is just to bring more happiness to my life, to find out what brings me joy. Whether this is a little thing (like a new magazine), or a larger thing (like finishing a knitting project). I need to learn to make myself happier. I cannot depend on others always providing my happiness. As a part of this, I really need to know myself better. I need to stop putting myself in positions that lead to unhappiness. I need to put myself first more then I do now. I need to take the time to enjoy the little moments. I need to accept the things I cannot change and learn not to dwell on them. I need to learn to say “No” when I really mean it, and not worry about hurting other people’s feelings.

Enough rambling from me, Happy New Year!

New Stuff

For the last 2 weeks I have been so sick. Sicker then I've been in years. I even had a fever, and I never get fevers. I feel like I'm only working on 80% health right now. I wish I would hurry up and get better! I need to do my christmas shopping. All I've gotten done is 1 present! I know I've got some time before the holidays, but I am already feeling the crunch. This year I am only making one christmas present, a stocking for my niece. Myself and my siblings all have the same type of stocking, a felt and sequin appliqué stocking. I've been "nominated" to make a matching stocking for my niece.



There are 100 pieces to be cut out, sequined, embroidered and appliquéd. I'm on piece 22. I will get this done before christmas!

I've finished my stocking swap, so I can finally post some pictures of the things I sent out.



Pattern: Lengthwise Garter Stitch Scarf
Yarn: Random bits and pieces from the stash in blacks and greys
Needles: US 10
Modifications: I just cast on 300 and knit while randomly changing rows. It came out really long, so next time I think I could do like 250 and it would be alright.


Pattern: Raisin Beret
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in black
Needles: US 3 and US 10
Modifications: I made some mistakes in the top decreases. I think it still looked ok. No pictures of me in it because I made it for a swap.




Pattern: Molly's Headband from Interweave knits
Yarn: Knitpicks Totem
Needles: US 6
Modifications: No modifications, it was easy to do and an easy chart to follow. No pictures of it on, because again it was for a swap.

Pattern: Sugi
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Sport in Coral
Needles: US 4
Modifications: I changed the legs and just did them as I-cords. I also used a thinner yarn and smaller needles.

I'm still working on my tree jacket, but I'm almost done. I am about 1/2 done with the second sleeve and then it is done baby! I cannot wait to wear it. I think it fits really nicely. It feels like I have not made something for myself in so so so long. Maybe I'm selfish, but I've had enough for awhile of knitting for baby showers and swaps. I think I need to focus a little bit more on me me me!

One last bonus picture, Bud in the first snow of the year. He loves the snow. He likes to sit outside with his head up in the air just letting the snow land on him, until he's covered in white.



I wanted to get a picture of his face, but he was more interested in watching the snow fall then in getting his picture taken!

Best Dressed Baby-to-be...

I am already crazy about my sister's baby and it's not even done cooking yet. The baby shower was this past weekend on Sunday. In preparation I have been knitting until my fingers want to fall off. I had to do all those irritating things that I had put off. Like sewing in ends and putting on buttons. So naturally, there are some new FOs to report around here:

Pattern: Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan for Baby by Dream in Color.
Yarn: Cotton-Ease in white, purple, pink, and lime green.
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I used garter stitch instead of the seed stitch. I removed the i-cord edging. And I added a little collar on to it. I had my mom (thanks mom!) add on this snap tape as a closure. It worked out good.

Pattern: Flower baby hat.
Yarn: Cotton-Ease leftovers.
Needles: US 7
Modifications: This is a made up pattern. I based my numbers on the umbilical cord hat, then I added a flower and stem to the top of it. I was inspired by a hat in Itty-Bitty Hats but I didn't want to go and buy the book and the book was not available through my library. I think it's pretty cute.

Pattern: Baby Mitts
Yarn: Cotton-Ease
Needles: US 7 and US 4
Modifications: I knit these in the round to avoid a seam. I also grafted the tops in a totally clumsy way to avoid having to seam that as well. Still need to add a ribbon to them. On the pink ones I added an extra set of decreasesto the top and I also used a size bigger needles to make them a tad bigger.

Pattern: Ruffly Baby Hat
Yarn: Cotton-Ease
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I based the numbers on the umbilical cord hat (hey, it's easy...) and then I just multiplied that number by 2 and then that number by 2, then I did 2 rows of k2tog to bring the number down to the right size. Get it? And that caused the ruffle. Then I just added a little ruffly flower to it.


Pattern: Golden Yellow Brick Road Booties
Yarn: Cotton-Ease (those baby sweaters leave a lot of left-overs...)
Needles: US 7
Modifications: None. I think these ended up kinda square looking, but still cute. Hopefully they will fit baby feet.

You can take your applied i-cord and...

shove it up your bum. Really I hate hate hate the applied i-cord. It takes forever. I find it fussy. Bleh. Obviously I've just done some applied i-cord. Ya wanna see? Well I would hate to disappoint, so here goes:

Pattern: Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan for Baby by Dream in Color.
Yarn: Cotton-Ease by Lionbrand. (white, popsical blue and candy blue (white is the new cotton-ease, the others are the old formula).
Needles: US 7
Modifications: This is the second size which is for 12-18 month olds. I love this sweater. I still need to weave in the ends of this. I hated doing the applied i-cord. It was irritating. On the next sweater I'll try something a little bit different. Because there will be another one, in fact I've already started it...


And then because I had some yarn leftover from the blanket and sweater, I decided to whip up a little matching hat.

( I love this picture! Yes I am a dork.)
I completely admit that the idea for this hat was blatantly stolen from someone on Ravelry.
Pattern: Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch 'n Bitch
Yarn: Cotton-Ease leftovers..
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I used the stripe pattern from the sweater. I think I made it a bit longer before starting the decreases then the pattern recommended.


If I have time before the baby shower I will make some of those little mittens. The kind with no thumbs, ya know what I mean? I don't have a pattern picked out yet, so if anyone has a great pattern that they would like to pass on to me, please leave a comment!

Speaking of comments, this week my goal is going to be to comment on more of the blogs that I read. I started yesterday, and I'm determined to change my lurker ways!

you got a bandwagon?

Hello, is that a bandwagon? Well let me jump right on it! I am apparently such a huge freaking follower... I have jumped on several bandwagons started by famous knitbloggers recently. I have recently knit a couple of baby items that I only found because of my obsessive reading of knitblogs. These items are for a baby shower that is in October for a child of unknown sex of a friend of mine. (the pics are showing up kinda weird, click on them to see the whole picture. ok?)

First up, a mostly finished Ribbons Baby Blanket from Fibertrends. I found this from reading Grumperina's blog.



Pattern: Ribbons Baby Blanket
Yarn: Cotton-Ease by Lionbrand. About 1.5 balls of each color (white, popsical blue and candy blue).
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I didn't do the suggested method of joining in the new colors, therefore, I have a billion ends to weave in. This was a surprisingly fast knit. All together it was very easy as well. I would definitely make this again.



Here's my other follower of a knit. This one is a WIP, but is going so incredibly quickly! I got this one from reading the Yarn Harlot's Blog. It is obviously for the same baby as the blanket.



Pattern: Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan for Baby by Dream in Color.
Yarn: Cotton-Ease by Lionbrand. Leftovers from the above blanket. (white, popsical blue and candy blue).
Needles: US 7
Modifications: No modifications besides the yarn substitution. Another knit that is just flying by. I am making the second size which is for 12-18 month olds. I think this pattern is another keeper that will be made time and time again!



One last picture of another work in progress. I'll give the details later! It fits the theme though, I apparently do not have an original thought in my knitting mind..

Knitting Update!

I have been knitting up a storm lately. Lots and lots of baby items. It's fun knitting up all these little items, but I am craving a little bit of "me" knitting. Ya know? I really want to start making myself some sweaters. But, I must finish all the baby stuff by the time of the baby showers! Here's a few of the items I've done lately:

Baby Surprise Jacket

Pattern: BSJ
Yarn: Shine Sport from Knitpicks
Needles: US4
Modifications: No modifications. Still need buttons. I kinda messed up the area where I picked up stitches. All in all, not a bad first try.

Saartje's Bootees

Pattern: Saartje's Bootees
Yarn: Shine Sport from Knitpicks
Needles: US 4
Modifications: None. Still need buttons. Fun and quick little pattern that I would make again and again.

I just finished another baby blanket, but I need to weave in the ends and then I'll take some pictures.

Well I'm Back...

From outer space....

And I've been a workin' oh so hard! For awhile I was in a bit of a knitting funk. Well a creative endeavor of any sort funk. But now I'm back! This post will just be an accounting of my current knitting and FOs. I think I shall spread out my FOs through a couple of postings. Perhaps, later I'll get intimate and post about my life, dreams and desires (ha...). If anyone is on ravelry (which I am totally in love with at the moment!), my name is rebeldaisy over there!

Pattern: Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket
Yarn: Shine Sport from Knitpicks
Needles: I think I used US 5.
Modifications: I added an attached/applied I-cord instead of the one recommended in the book (see picture at top of post!). I also changed the last few rectangles. I didn't want to do the intarsia bits that it recommended. This is going to my niece/nephew that will be born in the beginning of November. I am really super excited about baby.

More FOs will be coming soon, I've got a few. I am going to go and continue to photograph my stash for my ravelry account!

I finished some things in February!

So I did finish one of the sweaters I was writing about in my last entry. Of course all it needed was a bare minimum to be finished, darning the underarms and sewing in ends. Really I do not know why I procrastinated so incredibly long! I don't have pictures of it on, but here are some of it laid out.

Pattern: Minisweater, by Glampyre.
Yarn: Cotton-ease
Needles: US 8?
Modification: I joined the body and made it a full length sweater, and I added full length arms on to it. I haven't worked too much on the other sweater that has been languishing on the sidelines for a long while. I started a sleeve, and I've done maybe 2 inches. I did start one item that I had not planned on. One of my cousins has just announced that she is pregnant, so I started a baby blanket. I have a while to work on it (baby is due in September), but I thought I might as well start it now. I am doing a "dishcloth" blanket. Like this pattern, with yarn that was on sale at Hobby Lobby last weekend. It is going super fast so far!

Another thing I've been working on is putting a few items on Etsy. I put up some jewelry and little things that I've made. I already sold one beaded knit bracelet that I made! I have a couple more that I've finished that I think I will be adding either today or tomorrow as well. I completed the earrings below yesterday. They are made with Czech Glass Beads. I think they are simple and elegant! Click on the picture to see some other items I have made.


I am feeling so tired! It was a trying morning (already). I had to take the dog to the vet for an ultrasound, which will hopefully figure out some problems he has been having. He hates hates HATES to ride in the car, so it was fun in morning traffic to be driving a big crying baby dog. And he hates that I had to leave him there alone to have the tests! Hopefully they will figure things out and it won't be anything serious.

I am working on figuring out how to do things a little better with this blog. For example, I now made it so clicking on the pictures of the sweater will take you to my Flickr page, and clicking on the picture of the earrings will take you to my etsy shop. Really, I know it is such a little thing, but I feel all kinds of proud of myself!

Finishing Items in February.

So I hear there is some kind of knitalong about finishing things in February? I cannot find the link now, but I know I've seen it around. So that's what my plan is. No more starting new items until I actually get some of the WIPs done! I swear I am gonna keep with this. So here are the items that I have finished this year!

Pattern: Colorful Waves Throw
Source: Knitpicks free pattern online.
Yarn: Variety of knitpicks yarns (most as suggested in the pattern) plus a few extras from my stash.
Needles: US 10 1/2
Modifications: Just the addition/substitutions of yarns. I have to say that I would never choose to knit with Suri Dream again! Seriously I hate hate hate the stuff. Which is unfortunate because I've still got some left. This is about the size of a twin bed. I didn't actually measure it or anything. Should probably be washed.

Pattern: Chemo Hat (cannot find the pattern at the moment, but it's a basic hat pattern) These are for the Childrens' hospital of Boston.
Source: Minestrone Soup
Yarn: All Fun Fur except the "bronze" which is Disco!
Needles: US 9?
Modifications: None, I just made a couple of varied sizes.

I know that picture is scary!

Other items that need to be finished include two sweaters, both black. One needs sleeves, and some kinda buttonband/closure system. The other one just needs the underarms seamed and ends woven in. It also might need the sleeves lengthened. And yeah it's been like that for approximately the last 5-7 months!

I've also been working on my Flickr account and some other little things around the site. I need to figure out how to make a picture into the blog header thing and do pictures in the background. But I really have no idea how to do that!