Slow Going

Things have been progressing slowly these days. I'm getting daunted by the big projects, and keep casting on new small ones.

NEW:
Bath Puff: I really had fun with this, it was so quick and fun to do. I've read a few reviews that says it doesn't lather and it difficult to use, but I wanted to knit it for the sake of knitting it. We'll see how it goes when I try and use it.

January Fingerless Gloves:
These fingerless mitts are done in Lett-Lopi wool. I can't help but love it - the whole time I'm knitting I am thinking of those awesome pure Icelandic sheep. I would give almost anything to go to Iceland! Anyway... The colour is called "Garnet" and Garnet is the birthday stone for January (and happens to be MY birth stone). It was a simple cast-on-40-stitches kind of thing, no pattern. Unfortunately, they are a little baggy, which is not the way I like my mitts.

Still On the Needles:
Radiating Star Blanket: I'd say this is about 60% done now. It's going alright, and I really enjoy how it's an easy knit, but it's SO long... it feels like I'm never going to finish it. I think I've come to the conclusion that I like doing the "big" part first... Starting with 8 stitches and ended with 300 or whatever seems like it's getting harder as you go (like a hill getting steeper as you climb it). I like working the other way. From 300 to 8!

Hunter's Snuggle Sack: This is going ever slower than the blanket. My mom is coming for two nights, and I'm really hoping that I can bribe her to help me plow through. Maybe I'll hand her the Snuggle Sack, and I'll grab the Radiating Star Blanket, and we can sit and drink tea until they are done. Maybe. :)

Mellow Mittens: I cast these on last night, and have since almost finished one of them. I LOVE stripes, I love yellow, and I love this wool. I've never knit a mitt before, and am slightly concerned about the thumb.... but I'm going to give it a go.

Finished!

Finished:
I wrote about a cuddly caterpillar that I was making for my son. I've finally finished it!

Also, I quickly crocheted up a ball and a cube for Hunter as well. They are far from perfect, but he doesn't seem to mind. :)

Still in Progress:
Hunters Snuggle Sack is coming along not too badly. I'm getting slightly bored of the endless miles of stockinette stitch, but the break to for the zipper opening helps a little. At least there is a "start" and "finish" available to me on a row-by-row basis.

New:
I've cast on a new project, however, I'm a bit concerned about the complexity of it. Here I thought knitting lace would be a breeze. Not the case :(
It's being knit out of Misti Alpalca (100% baby Alpalca) - Hand Painted Lace in Sugar Sand(29).
Love it! My fiance thinks it looks like the colour of the inside of a band-aid. He actually enjoys winding up skeins of yarn for me, and he comes up with some pretty funny observations while doing so!

Card, Knitting

I've finished a hat for my sister-in-law - and it came out pretty well. It is a basic beanie with a *fancy* trim on it, and took no time at all (these are the projects I like - limited amount of time to create them and nice end result!)















I'll be giving it to her tonight, and am crossing my fingers that she'll like it, and that it'll fit.

My birthday came and went, and it was an awesome day. My mom sent me some money, which I spent almost immediately on some nicer yarn that I might not have purchased on my own.


Purchases:
- Madil Eden 100% Bamboo in black
- Misti Alpalca 100% Baby Alpalca (hand dyed lace) in sugar sand
- Tahki Cotton Classic in dark teal


I came home and made myself a pair of fingerless mitts out of the bamboo. They were based on the Greenaway Fingerless Glove pattern that I did previously, however... I did a small rib cuff and then strait stockinette stitch instead of a 1x1 rib pattern throughout. I love the feel of them and how the yarn falls, but they turned out a bit big in the wrist (this is probably where the 1x1 ribbing would have helped).


And last but not least -- Thursday was my mother-in-laws 50th birthday, so I made her this card. I've just started making cards, and I'm having a lot of fun with it!

Fingerless Gloves

This is my first pattern I ever tried to follow. It is a Christmas gift for my fiance's niece - She's 10 years old, loves the colour purple, and is so sweet you can't even describe her. I am planning on making a hat to match, but as it's only 10 (!!!) days until Christmas, it may not happen!

Unless I can get my fingers to move quicker!

What I used:
- Pattern: Greenaway Fingerless Gloves
- Cotton Classic yarn
- Size US5 Bamboo double pointed needles
- stitch markers



I was mostly happy with the way they turned out. Somehow I made in increase that I shouldn't have made after I close off the thumb gusset, so the eyelet trim around the top kind of flares out compared to the body of the glove. Live and learn, I suppose.



Work in Progress:
I started a little crochet caterpillar for my son - it's not near done, but I had to put a stop to it until I finished my Christmas stuffs. It is made using three different colours of BabyBamboo, and it's absolutely fantastic. Love love love!

Carseat Straps

More handmade things:

I got the idea for this little project from Sylver Designs (http://sylver.etsy.com/)

Unfortunately, I can't follow a pattern to save my life, at least not when I did these, so I was forced to just make my own design.

What I used:
- Bernat Cottontots yarn in "Little Boy Blue"
- G Hook (4.25mm)
- 8 brown knotted buttons from Dollarama
- Tapestry needle

Our little boy is so thrilled to have his little cheeks protected from the roughness of the seatbelt. It was actually Daddy who was first concerned for him. (Un)fortunately, it's winter now, and the bulk of the little guys bunting bag keeps him safe too - But who doesn't need a little bit of crocheted goodness in their life, even if they are only 3 months old!