OMG! A project finished in a week?!?

Yes, that's right! Believe it or not, I actually was able to start AND finish a knitting project in a week, despite a 6 year old and 18 month old twins running around and screaming the entire time! I'm so thrilled! And if that's not enough for you to be impressed (if you know my knack for not finishing), it was also only my second time working with DPNs!

So what is this miraculous project you ask? It's the Spiral Rib Wrist Warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It's a pretty simple project, but like I said, it was only my second time working with DPNs, and really the first time (hard to believe I know) doing ribbing. TA DA!!!

Oh yeah, these are done in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in Navy Blue. Sooooo soft! Even my little 18 month old daughter asks to pet them! :D

I was also able to convince my 6 year old not to use his draft stopper as a scarf. It took a little longer than I thought, so I was just able to felt it yesterday. And I forgot to pull it out of the dryer while it was still a little damp, so I'm going to have to spritz it with water again and block it. But my DH already got me the kitty litter to use to stuff, so I'm excited! Hopefully I'll be able to finish by next weekend.

Wondering how I got my DS to let me felt it? I thought you'd never ask! ;) Remember that blue Noro Silk Garden I wrote about in the last post? Well, I did it with this:

He LOVES it! In fact, he just went with me to the LYS to pick up 2 more skeins to finish the scarf and maybe make a hat. We also got some coordinating Berroco Comfort DK to make gloves or mittens. I wanted something machine washable for the hands, because lets face it....he is 6! The scarf is already half finished (done in the same week I finished the wrist warmers I might add), so hopefully I'll finish the second half this week as well. It would be nice for him to get some use out of it before while its still cold enough!

Now my DH has also stated that he really likes the scarf and would like one for himself! This makes me sooo happy! But I wasn't sure if he would really like that bright green after a while, so instead I found some Noro Silk Garden Chunky in a similar colorway, minus the bright green. It also has some darker, more muted blues in it. Anyway, I thought it would be a color he would enjoy more. We'll see.

I also whipped up some little hearts that have gotten my mind running! Now I have several designs I want to do using these little guys as a base. So stay tuned for that! :D

Edited to add: I forgot to mention the bookmarks! I was blocking them last post and now they are completely finished. My 6 year old picked out some Pearl Cotton today for a bookmark he has requested for his teacher. He hasn't decided on which pattern yet, but we have time. He wants to give it to her for Teacher's Appreciation Day which isn't until March (I believe). I told him I would let him pick out the colors and pattern and I would make it for him. So there will be at least one more!

All in all, it has been a very busy, and very productive week! What's that you say? What about those toys that were supposed to be Christmas presents for the kids? I promise I'll get back to them after all of these scarves are done! Which reminds me, I still need to block my Nutcracker Scarf! Looks like another blocking party is coming soon!

Happy Crafting!

It's a Blocking Party!

Yes, that's right, I'm having a blocking party this weekend. I'm blocking 2 lace bookmarks and my Nutcraker Scarf. Well, ok, I haven't actually blocked the scarf yet, but I'm planning on getting it done before the day is over!

Also, I have FINALLY finished knitting the draft stopper for my oldest DS. He looked at it and told me that now, he wanted it as a scarf! So I'm weaving in all the ends (still!) just in case. But secretly, I'm hoping he will change his mind cause I was SO looking forward to felting it! If he does change his mind (today I hope), I'm dropping in the washing machine right away so he can't change his mind! And besides, I just bought a skein of Noro Silk Garden to make a scarf for him. I think I'm gonna have to go buy more of it though, cause when he saw it, he liked it so much that he asked for a hat and mittens to match! I guess that should be flattering that he thinks so highly of my knitting. :D

I've still got the kids toys on hold, so clearly, I won't have them finished by the end of January. I think I've just needed a break from them. But since they've been on hold, I've finished knitting a scarf, 2 bookmarks, the draft stopper, and started on a pair of spiral rib wrist warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I've noticed my hands have been really cold this week while trying to knit that even the babies have complained about it! So they seemed like the perfect thing. I'm knitting them on DPNs (my second time using them) using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in Navy. Although not my favorite color, they are turning out pretty. Seems like everyone was out of the yarn in the color I wanted, so I make just have to make another pair in some sort of green when they get stock back in.

I also bought myself a skein of Noro Silk Garden to maybe make a pair of wrist warmers in. I'm not sure. It is just one skein, and I'd really like to do something that shows off the gorgeous colors of the yarn. Maybe I'll go back and buy some more of this colorway and try an entrelac scarf or something. At least that way, I'd get to try yet another new technique! :D

I think I'm becoming knitting obsessed! It IS rather addictive. I think I'm just trying to get as much done as I can while DH is home. I know he will be working weekends for awhile here shortly since it's one of his busy seasons. In fact, I'm enjoying him giving me so much time for ME this weekend, that I haven't done any of the things I'm supposed to, like going to the grocery store and laundry and what not. Oops! I just can't seem to tear myself away from knitting (or writing about knitting) for long. This has been a fantastic ME weekend! And it all started with a blocking party! :D

Happy Crafting!

Knitting Project Updates

OK, I finally took a moment to update some photos. If you saw this when originally posted yesterday, sorry for the lack of pics. I still haven't figured out how to get Flickr pics to post, but I did figure out how to get them on another way. So, here we go....

The turtle really could have been completed in time for Christmas. However, since I was making one toy for each kid, I didn't want to only give one to one kid. So, I decided o put him aside and wait to work on the others. That way, I can give all 3 of them their toys the same day.



The monkey has only had his body stuffed. His head is ready to stuff and I still need to knit 6 hand/feet parts. And of course seam and stuff and assemble. But my main focus of late has been on the princess, since she was so much farther behind.



The princess now has a dress, mostly done. I learned new techniques on the dress! I got to finally use circulars for the first time and DPNs as well. The DPNs were difficult and I had to frog that part of it at least once, but I got through it and managed to finish. I think I didn't do too badly. Now, I've just got to seam the bodice, add the sleeves and trim and finish the crochet edging. I'm debating about whether or not to add the "petals" that are in the pattern. Maybe I'll knit a few up to look at on the dress and see. I've also still got to figure out how to seam up the arms and attach to body, stuff the body, add hair and facial features. Then of course, there's the socks and shoes and a crown. So, there is still a LOT of work to be done on her, but I'm feeling much better about it. The big stuff is finished. And the skirt took a lot longer to do than I had anticipated. But then again, I don't get to work on this stuff very often.



And in between all of these, I've also been working on the draft stopper for my oldest son's window.



In case that's not enough to be doing for now, I just bought some Moda Dea Dream to make a "Nutcracker Scarf" for myself. As soon as I can find where the kiddies put one of my US11 needles, I'll cast on for that as well.

I'm telling you, I have the attention span of spam! I just cannot work on one project and one project alone until it is finished. I always have to have about 40 things going on at the same time. I guess that's just because there is so much I want to do, and so little time! LOL

Anyway, a big thanks to my friends on Ravelry for helping me with these knitted toys. I definitely couldn't have gotten this far without them! :D