Time..Cute Knits..New Knits

It's been a pretty active start to this 2012 year for knitting.  While other things are in disarray, knitting is coming along to a nice start. 

It is surprising that this month is almost over, how fast these days have been going by.  So other than knitting, what am I doing? 

Well, I'm working, just as I'm sure many of you are, I'm trying, trying to keep things going.  Much harder these days, wish things would get easier, but they never do.

It's nice to have knitting, its a nice break from all the stress.  

I've been finishing up a number of projects, which should I start with?  I'll start with the cute and fun ones, although I must say, cute and fun ones sometimes take more work than full projects, like sweaters, cardigans, etc. 

I made this cute Memento Owlet, such a cute little thing, I named it Halcon, and gave it to Lil' Nenelle.  This cute lil' owl, is all crochet, and somewhat free form crochet.  There was a pattern to follow, but alot of it was, create a flat round to the size you want, crochet round until  the base measures up, fill, seal closed, stitch some ears, and so on.  That's it, so I was on my own, the tricky part was really for me the ears and learning to use what I've learned this far in crocheting.  I'm pretty proud of this lil' guy, it was a small milestone in my limited crochet experience.

Next up a Balloon Tie Sock Monkey!  Such a cool pattern, basically its built off of the premise of actual balloon tying.  You knit a number of tubes, different sizes, all continuous, and stuff along the way.

This is what you get when your done.

Then, that's where the magic begins!  You learn to tie the monkey, and voila!  Your sock monkey is born...

I'll admit, it took awhile for me to figure out how to tie this thing, and yes, the pattern does come with instructions, but once I fully understood how to do the tying, it was easy!   I really want to make more, the design book I have for these has patterns for a tiger, tiara, you name it. 

One last fun knit, this Pin Cushion! Love it! So super fast to make.

For all these, used nothing but stash yarn, no extra purchasing, even better!

I also was able to finish a quick lovely cowl, it is Tweed Burberry Cowl.

This one is fast too, and so warm, again I pulled yarn from my stash, love the tweed black yarn.

I have alot of other projects going on, I'll share a couple:

New SusannaIC Mystery shawl - Clue 1

New Through The Loops - Sock Mystery  - Clue 4

Much more going on and more to share, as always, hope all of you are enjoying this first month of the New Year!

What's in a year? 2011...

What's in a year?  For me, as a knitter, I always feel like I haven't done enough knitting, not enough projects, or techniques, etc., but then I have to remind myself, that its a hobby, and I work full time, and sometimes more than full time with other jobs, and then, oh yah, life.  So I'm not as dissappointed when I see what I've accomplished. 

If I factor in actual knitting hours per week, I'd say I get probably 10 hours at best combined, and at least 5 hours.  That's not all at once, it's an hour here, 30 minutes in the car (not driving), etc.  I also try to take it easy on my hands and wrists too, so I do tend to limit my knitting at times, more say lately since I injured my wrists months ago working out. 8( 

So, without further adieu, here's pictures of my 2011 Knitting Year.  I'm missing at least 5 - 10 projects that never made it to a photo shoot.

Just a little knitting

My mini-Christmas vacay was nice, and always too short. I made lots of tamales, and did a good amount of baking. I also squeezed in some knitting, primarily for Christmas. There were still a few things I couldn't get done or even start, but there's never enough hours in the day for us knitters, is there?

I wish I could just spend my days knitting all the beautiful patterns out there and then enjoy wafting though the many FOs...heaven 8) But reality always hits and I find myself always squeezing in some knitting, even if only a few rows, or even a few stitches.

I'm at the tail end of a few projects, and have a few news ones I need to get started, alas my New Year's knitting.

First on the needles will be a pair of socks, for the Through the Loops Mystery Kal 2012!

and then at least 3-4 more projects I'll be rotating.

I'll leave you some Christmas knitting...

The Mixt Cowl, on the top, wrapped twice, on the bottom, wrapped four times.

Knit with Cascade Ultra Pima, 1 skein.

1 pair of Knucks = 1 skein of Cascade Ultra Pima.

Mixt Cowl knit with 1 skein of Cotton Supreme.

Quick Post

Just stopping in to post a few things...I always have more to post, just need to find the time.

I have long days that start very early and end late.  I should be sleeping right now, but I'm compelled to post.  Never want to go too long without posting. 

Here's whats ON and OFF the needles.

Quick Flower hair pin knit with Anzula squishy sock yarn

Mixt Cowl blocking

What's coming soon to the needles

• Owls
• Acorns
• 2 additional Mixt Cowls
• Knucks gloves
• Much more...

What's blocking and waiting for a photo shoot

• Bulky Shrug
• Vita Cardi
• Balloon Monkey
• Traveling scarf
• Cerasifera shawl
• Malabrigo scarf
• February Baby sweater
• Mystere sweater
• Elm Row scarf

What's on the needles

• 2nd Mixt Cowl
  
• Rock Island
  
• Kiwi scarf
  
• Cranked socks
  
• Homin shawl
  
• Cotton Candy Hearts blanket
  
• And many others....

In other craftiness, I made a new Christmas Wreath to hang on my door.

I like it, but I think the flowers are too big.  Oh well, it'll do.

Til next post -R

So it begins

In the spirit of "Small Business Saturday", I mosied on down with my Mother to Green Planet Yarn to score some yarn for the annual "Black Sale". 

The haul was all my Mother, she got 20% off the entire purchase and got a great deal on some 100% Trauco Cashmere at 55% off.  It's such a lovely yarn, in the picture it's the 5 skeins at the bottom, in purple and wine.   From right side top, we have Ultra Pima Cotton in a gorgeous Colbalt blue, Mountain Colors sock yarn in pretty varigated purples and brown hues, Cotton Supreme in a very passionate purple, Malabrigo Rasta in gorgeous purple, gold, blacks, and lastly the 5 skeins of Trauco Cashmere in purple and wine.

So it begins, the gift knitting, I know its a late start but I always like challenges.  I'll end up with 5 long Moebius cowls and a pair of gloves and then something more.  The more is a few skeins have undecided fates, but that shall change soon. I'm actually making these items for gifts for my Mother to give, so I'm giving the gift of knitting. 8)  Although thats not considering I get to pet, squish, and knit with the yarn, always nice.

Here's one of the cowls already on the needles.

I better get going now, have alot of busy things to do, including knitting. 

Enjoy!

R