Granny Squares - how I love you!

Last summer, I crochet a HUGE granny square blanket for my older daughter, made with about 24 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino yarn on a 3.25mm hook. It was time consuming, super duper fun and the results are spectacular if I do so say myself! See:



Another View:





I had alot of odds and ends of colours leftover so I made her a matching pillowcase:





Apparently I can't seem to get enough of crocheting granny squares, so here is the start of another one:


(sorry, couldn't get the colours to be as brillant as they are!)

This one is for Jay's best friend, but in no way shape or form will it be as big as the one I made Jay. That one fits a double sized bed. This one will be more the size of a lap blanket. I love her best friend like she is my own daughter, but I can't push myself to crochet another one that size.  She will be happy with a lap sized one. She has two crochet blankies a great auntie made her when she was born, but they are both ratty and dingy so I new, fresher looking one will make her squeel...

Owl Vest - a gift -

My younger daughter asked me to knit something for her teacher's soon to be born son, so I obliged:



This is the owl baby vest, a free pattern found HERE. Very simple pattern and extremely fast. This little vest gives the impression alot of work was required, but actually you can keep it your little secret - it is dead easy. I found the buttons at a small local fabric shop and am so happy they work so well. 

Maddy and I still have to create the label, wrap it up nicely and she still needs to make a card.  All in all, I am very please with this little vest and it now sits on the back of one of my living room chairs so that it reminds me items are still outstanding. I love looking at it, so it is nice to see it on display. At least for a little while.

Plain Ole Vanilla Socks

I am on a finishing role people!  woo hoo....Another pair of socks are done - like dinner!   I knit the first sock pretty quickly and then put them away, for about 3 years!  What the hell?  Unlike alot of sock knitters that do not like knitting the 2nd sock, as I on the other hand really like knitting the 2nd sock. I think it is because I can go on auto pilot, knowing how many rows to knit before the heel and how many rows to knit to the toe decreases.  Not sure why, but I like knitting the 2nd sock alot!

I knit these socks using a pink/grey Austermann Step sock yarn that I bought, I think at the Maryland Wool and Sheep festival 3 to 4 years ago. I think. Doesn't matter, because now they are finished, pictures taken, uploaded to Ravelry and a blog post is done.

How many knits is too many?

By my front door I have a lantern moon three basket tower that holds all our winter accessories.  This basket holds mostly hand knit goodies and gives me and my girls alot of choice of what to wear day to day.  But lately I am into knitting accessories and put my newly finished Fiddlehead Mittens (you can kind of see them at the top on the right, beside the orange mittens) and thought to myself, mmm...I think I have enough hats, mittens and scarves now, I should really stop knitting them. 

The thought immeditely left my brain as I picked up my Ripley hat and started to knit.  Guess it isn't that much of a concern.

Hineri Hat

Totally love this hat!!!!!  Pattern is called Hineri and is a free pattern found HERE. I used one of my most favourite bulky yarns  - Rowan Cocoon in the Slate colourway.  I used one ball and about 4 rounds of yarn from the 2nd ball...The pattern states you need one ball, but for me, I needed the 2nd for just a titch of yarn.  I used size 6mm circular needles and knit it in about two days.

My forearms were killing me after knitting this hat - I think the speed and thickness of the needles contributed to the pain. I wanted to wear the hat ASAP and my hands and arms always hurt after knitting with larger needles. 



Startitis! The bug has hit me.

Holy cow have I ever got the urge to cast on every single project in my Ravely queue!  Well not everything, but I've cast on these projects in one day:

1. Garter Yoke Cardigan - I'm using Noro Silk Garden and Cascade 220
2. Ripley Hat - I'm using Berroco Peruvia Quick
3. November Leaves hat - Malabrigo Worsted
4. Hineri Hat - Rowan Cocoon - I cast on, finished it and am wearing it today!
5. Fiddlehead Mittens - Drops Alpaca
6. Cruiser Mittens - Alpaca Peru

All the projects except the garter yoke cardi are quite small ones, but because there are so many projects on the go, I doubt I will finish any of the small ones anytime soon. Sigh. This is what you get when you can't help yourself by casting on some many freaking projects.

Funny, I don't seem to be the one person feeling this way!  Reading through my blog list shows me I am not alone.  Lots of us knitters our there have been bitten by the startitis bug!

Norie Hat

I just finished the Norie hat from the Shetland Trader's first book:

 

I used Berroco's Ultra Alpaca Light

1.5 skeins

Needles Size: 3.25mm

Purchased at: Needles in the Hay, Peterborough, Ontario

I am not sure if I like it, well on me anyway.  It looks good from the side view and back view, but the full frontal view kind of distubes me....What do you think?

Knitting with Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light is awesome. It is so nice to knit with and to wear.  I made this hat to match my fingerless mittens I made with the Ultra Alpaca fine.  Pictures soon of these lovely mittens...