On The Needles Friday

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday.

This is my little finish from last week that I wasn't able to share as I hadn't taken a picture of it. This is for my mom, as she requested. Definitely a quick knit. Might have time to make some more.

I finished one of the cardigans for a niece, all it needs is buttons. Feels great to have this done. I love the stitch in the bodice that I might make a scarf or something else using it.

The other cardigan is almost done. All seams are done, except pockets which the pattern suggests to leave to last. Need to do the neck and button bands but they shouldn't take me too long.

And I was so thrilled to almost finish both cardigans that I may have cast on a little something last night that isn't necessarily a Christmas present. I might keep it, I might not. We'll see how much I love it and if I can get it done by December 24th.

This week I made a list of all the things I would like to make for gifts this Christmas. There were 19 items on the list, including the two cardigans above. That leaves me with 17 left to make - some are started but not many. Some are really small and would probably take less than a hour and one of them is a cardigan for a nephew. I numbered them in order of priority but for some reason I don't feel like working on any that are in the top 10. I guess I need to wait until December 15th or so to work on those. Then I remembered teacher gifts which brings the list back up to 19. I will have the kids help with those and I'm trying to think of other gifts they could help make. I was trying to do a complete handmade holidays this year but I don't think I'll be able to . I guess I should lower my expectations in a year with a move across the country and a pregnancy:)

On The Needles Friday

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday.

Here is the only finish I remembered to take pictures of from the past two weeks. I have another which is a gift so I'll post it another time... and I forgot to take a picture of it. This hat is also a gift but I don't think they read the blog so I'm sharing it.

Finished clue #3 of the mystery shawl while watching the parade yesterday morning. This knits up pretty quick if you are interested in joining. The last clue will be released next Friday.

Finally forced myself to start putting this cardigan together. Yesterday I was able to get the shoulder seams done and one sleeve attached. I then decided to do the sleeve and side seam on the left. I hope to add the right sleeve today. Then all that remains is the neck and button bands. This is a gift for a niece.

This is a cardigan for another niece. I have made some progress on it. I finished the right front and have the back on the needles again ready to be worked. This is a pretty fast knit, I don't know why I've slowed down on it.

I didn't post last week for On the Needles Friday as we were headed out of town for a wedding. This is the quilt I finished last week to give to my cousin and his bride. Pictures aren't great. I threw the quilt on the living room floor just before wrapping it up. It's perfect size to cuddle under on the couch together.

This is the main quilting I did in each black square.

The back. 

A UFO Finished!

Yesterday I finally finished another quilt UFO. I started this quilt last summer when we got home from holidays and just wanted to piece something. I used most of a Just Wing It layer cake.

I finished the quilt top before we moved this summer. I even basted it but never got around to quilting it  in Idaho. I finally quilted it last month during Friday Night Sew-In and even though I had the binding sitting there waiting to be put on, I didn't get it attached until yesterday. 

As soon as it was done, I tossed it in the washer and never got pictures of before it got all crinkly. When I started this quilt over a year ago I wasn't sure who it was going to be for. As I finished piecing the top a few months ago I finally decided to give it as a birthday present to someone very special to me so they will get the quilt this weekend. A little late but hopefully still appreciated.

The back.

Something that is starting to become normal for me is to write the "label" directly onto the quilt back. I use to hate stitching the labels down and they never looked as nice as I wanted them too. This way the information can never be separated from the quilt.

After I finished this quilt yesterday, I basted another and started quilting it. It's also a gift I need for this weekend. Fingers crossed I get it done on time.

On the Needles Friday

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday.

I finished all the pieces of the cardigan for one of my nieces. They are currently blocking downstairs. They should be dry by tomorrow and I can start putting them together and weaving in ends.

I started another cardigan for another niece. A smaller size than the first cardigan, it is working up really quick. Have about 4 rows left before I divide the fronts and back. 

My kids return to skating lessons tomorrow which means sitting in the rink for 2 hours every Saturday. I cast on this hat to take with me. Not sure who it will be for yet as there are several men on my Christmas list that I don't know what to make or buy for, so figure this hat will go to one of them.

Today also marks the beginning of a Mystery Shawl KAL by Jen Lucas of Knitting Like Crazy on ravelry. First clue was posted this morning. I have the first four rows done and am looking forward to completing the rest of the clue this week. 

On the Needles Friday - Nov. 2nd

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for On the Needles Friday. I have a couple finishes to share from this week and a few from last month that I've been waiting to show off.

First what is actually on the needles right now is the cardigan for one of my nieces. I finished the right front and cast on the sleeves this week. When I need a break from the sleeves, I'm going to block the back and two fronts and get them together. Glad this is child's cardigan and not an adult, sleeves really slow me down, even if I knit two at a time.

My first finish this week was this pair of socks. I used the free Faux Cable Socks pattern by Jen of Knitting Like Crazy. She is starting a free mystery shawl next Friday on ravelry if you are interested. I love this sock pattern and might have to make it again and again.

I had enough yarn leftover from the socks to make a little hat. Here it is on my fist. It is the Easy Peasy newborn hat pattern you can find for free, here.

Here it is on one of my son's buddies. 

And here are the finishes from October that I have been waiting to share. A baby cardigan. Pattern found here.

A hat. Pattern found here.

And another Easy Peasy Newborn hat.

So, if you haven't figured it out, we are expecting a baby. Due the end of April, I am finding it hard to focus on Christmas knitting. I just want to knit cute little baby things. And they work up so fast. I'm already planning what baby patterns I'm taking with me on our Christmas holidays, because once the gift knitting is done, it will be all baby stuff. This is our third child and although I knew how to knit, I never knit my other children anything when they were babies; I did crochet them both blankets. I'm really looking forward to knitting all the baby patterns I've put in my ravelry favourites just in case. I've made a deal with myself that for every gift I finish, I can cast on a baby project but I don't know if I'll be able to follow through with it.