Update on Cloche!

SIL and Lily modeling her hat!  So very cute!

Another Cloche

This post has been waiting for the mail to reach my SIL!   She bought me Boutique Knits for my b-day and fell in love with this hat too!  So as a special thank you (for several favors she has done) I made her one!

She said she was going to send pics....but I haven't gotten them yet....will update when I do because I have a feeling this hat will look much better on her!  (which she loves by the way and it goes with all her coats as I hoped it would!)

Pattern: Sideways Grande Cloche from Boutique Knits

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran (very soft)

Needles: US 7, 8, 9, 10

Mods:  None

Random update:  Remember Henry?  the baby born very early?  We saw him in church the other day and he is doing great!  Up to over 11 pounds!  Praise the Lord!  Thanks to all who joined me in prayer for this little one!

More socks on the needles

Earlier this spring I embarked on my first toe up socks (the Anastasia Socks)  they were okay....but I honestly don't enjoy the process of short row toes and heels....they fit my foot okay, but I don't look forward to making them.

But I haven't given up on toe up!  (haha)  maybe because the idea of not running out of yarn is so very appealing.  So I ordered Wendy's new book...Socks from the toe up....and it is amazing!  

She talks about so many different ways to do toes and heels....these are toes with Judy's magic cast on and a gusset heel...yep a gusset!  It was easy and enjoyable!  I'm totally rethinking toe up!

I'm loving watching my handspun become socks!  (this is the Targhee!)  and it has such a long leg because I still had yarn :)  oh and as someone mentioned on the last post....yep these are on dpn!  Even though I wrote magic loop tutorials (and still get lots of blog hits for them) dpn are my comfort knitting.  Some projects seem better for magic loop and then I will go for it, but in general I reach for my lovely harmony dpn!  

Socks #8 finished!

We had an awesome day at the beach this weekend....I didn't take pics.....instead read, napped, swam, watched DH build sand castles.  It was such a nice reprieve!   Of course it did slow my knitting down a little bit, but it was totally worth it!

I love how things transform with blocking....socks don't always get a blocking, but these softened up so much and smoothed out!  I'm quite pleased!

Pattern:  Flame Wave socks from Favorite socks (one of my favorite books)

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock DK (now you know why these went so fast!) in potluck purple

Size:  I made the larger size with 56 stitches

Needles:  US 3 and US 2.5 dpn

Mods:  I did a round toe...they just fit my foot better and added two rows of single crochet around the top which solved the rolling issue (plus a little blocking)  Some mentioned picking up stitches and knitting ribbing....I did consider this, but thought crocheting would be easier and would keep the scalloped edge in tact, plus if the crocheting didn't work it would be easy to take out and pick up the stitches!  Overall I'm pleased!  Now it just needs to cool off enough to wear them!  

Flame Wave Socks

These are in progress and are a nice quick knit in DK weight yarn :) (Another pattern from Favorite Socks)  Can't say how much I like that book)

This pattern has some issues though...

See how it rolls at the top!  It is even worse on a foot!  If doing these again I would do a couple of rows of garter stitch....since I was in serious denial about the amount of roll going on, I'm going to do a couple of crochet rows and see if that fixes it!

I couldn't resist sharing this picture with you!  The other day when I was studying I hear Knox rummaging in my backpack.  I finally get up to make sure she isn't taring it up and find that she has wedged herself inside.  Guess she really wants an education too!

Crochet Fun!

A dear friend of mine is getting married next month....and I wanted to make her something for her new home.  So I thought some little doilies would be perfect!

I made these four...and am going to wrap these with a ribbon and send them on their way!  I decided to make them all different, I thought that might be more fun!

Pattern: Classic Coasters to Crochet, Leisure Arts Leaflet 2611 by Terry Kimbrough

This was one of my favorite pics.....with one of my favorite wedding presents in the background.

My personal fav!  Maybe I need to whip up some of these for my own house....hmmmm, so much to make! :)

Oh, I almost forgot!  I got a huge complement on ravelry today....they wanted to feature two of my pics on a pattern page!  You can see them here (it was for a baby blanket made for my adviser's baby)  I must say I am quite honored!

Socks #7 finished!

After one false start on these socks I'm done and happy with the results!  Plus the feet can model a complete pair now (mom found them at an antique store for those of you who asked and I didn't have a way to answer you back!)

Pattern:  Embossed leaves from Favorite socks

Yarn: Happy feet (won on Tienne's blog)  This is the first time I've used this yarn and am happy so far.  It knit well and the fabric it created feels nice.  Now to see how they wear!

Needles: US 1.5

Mods:  I added an extra pearl stitch between all the leaf patterns to bring the stitch count up to 68...which works perfect for me!

It has been a fun week here....DH and I celebrated anniversary #7, boy does time fly! .... Knox (the cat) got fleas for the first time....and tomorrow I get to babysit! (I'm quite excited about that actually....enjoying others cute babies for awhile is always fun!)