Knitting my fingers away

So while I'm supposed to concentrate on quilting this year, I just can't seem to put down the knitting needles. I've finished the first dish cloth for the Monthly Dishcloths group. It's a football. I didn't have the proper color, but it will do. That pattern is definitely a keeper.

I've also been knitting fishies for and afghan that will (hopefully) be a Christmas present. I've been using bits of leftover yarn and they are so easy to make I'm already up to seven of them. The pattern comes from the Bits and Bobs group on Yahoo. I'm thinking if I can do a few a month I'll have them ready to piece together in time for Christmas.

Out of necessity I started a pair of fingerless mitts last night. I actually finished them in two days. I can't believe how easy they are to knit. I'll be making another pair in a solid color after I knit the mens version (Dashing). This is a great pattern!



I've also got to start the second sweater some time soon for my sister. I've been thinking about the first one and have some things I'll be doing when knitting this one that should make seaming easier. Always room to learn.

On to the sweater now!

UFO's

I have decided to finish a number of UFO's I've had on hold for what seems to be an eternity.

One of them is an indigo and cream colored quilt that I've been literally working on for years. Well, working on isn't correct because I haven't touched it in over a year, maybe longer. That is one of the ones that needs to be completed. I believe it is quilted over 2/3.

The other is Eric's quilt which was to be completed two years ago and still isn't done. Then I need to make one for new little brother Nathan. Only he's not that new as he's now 7 months old.

I started cutting pieces for a Double Wedding Ring and a Grandmothers Flower Garden eons ago. Time to finish cutting them and start piecing them. I've also got quilts I've been gathering fabrics for that need to be done. Lots to do this year.

Then there are cross stitch and knitting projects to finish.

I'll start a list and add to it as I come across more. I'm hoping this will be a very productive year on the craft end.

Happy 2008

Here's to a new year filled with much crafting and joy. I plan on completing a lot of UFO's this year. I have to knit two more sweaters, but then it's a push to finish the UFO's I have hanging around. Time to get them done.

Ravelry

I'm just now getting around to talking about Ravelry on my blog. Like many others I had no clue what it was. I just saw a lot of ladies chatting excitedly over being on the list and waiting for their invitation, so I headed over and did the same.

It took about a month and I got my invitation and am now a member under ChickMistress.

What can I say - I love the place. I can spend hours just looking at other peoples projects for inspiration. I've uploaded my yarn stash (nothing terribly exciting), done the same for my projects and I've joined three groups.

I love that I can be somewhat organized by using the site. It's wonderful. I've added a Ravelry button to the side bar that links you to Ravelry.

If you haven't joined, sign up for the invitation and come see what it's all about. There are a lot of beautiful items and patterns on this site and if that doesn't get your creative juices flowing, I don't know what will.

George's Sweater Is Done!

The sweater I was knitting for my sister as a gift to George (who is a girl by the way) is done. The skull was done using a duplicate stitch. I wasn't really thrilled with it to the point that I ripped it out 3 times before I accepted the final. I have a feeling the next two will be better. She wanted two originally and has now "commissioned" a third.

This was my very first sweater of any size and I'm just happy to have gotten through it without having any major disasters. Now on to the next one!

Happy holidays to everyone!

Sweater Update

The sweater is coming along well. I've finished the back, two front sides and am working on the sleeves which will be a breeze because the seed stitch is only used on five rows!

That's it for now. I'll put a picture of the components on when I block them (hopefully tomorrow night).

Lion Brand Eyelet Yoke Cardigan

This is the sweater that I am making at my sister's request for two little girls as Christmas presents. They are both in Cotton Ease Charcoal and will be embroidered with the a skull with a bow. She wants hip sweaters instead of cutesy.

Here's the sweater. If you click on the picture it will take you to the pattern. It is listed as easy and so far it has been. My only downer is the seed stitch which makes me nuts (K,P,K,P,K,P) but it is a pretty stitch. Fortunately it's not the entire sweater, just the bands:


So far I've done the first 5 rows of seed stitch and 5 rows of stockinette. I've got to do stockinette for quite a while so I'm going to get to work. This is the first sweater I've every done, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it comes out.