WIP Wednesday

I interrupt my week of finishes for a WIP post. I had hoped that all the gifts that need to be made would be on the needles/hooks for this post but there is a pair of fingerless mitts and a pair of socks that haven't been started yet. Yikes. Anyway, here's most of what's left to make.

For some reason, this sock has been ignored a lot this week. I finally did the heel earlier today. I altered the pattern to do the Fish Lips Kiss heel. And I think I will only have to do 6 pattern repeats, instead of the seven the pattern suggests to get to the toe. My row gauge is a little off on this one, which makes for a longer sock. And now that the pattern is only worked on the top of the foot, it is knitting up a little quicker. Pattern is Embossed Leaves.

Using leftovers from my daughter's cardigan, I finally cast on the matching hat I said I would make her. This has been my travel/ meeting knitting this week. Using this free pattern as a guide.

The Side Squiggles sweater for my son now has one sleeve attached.

And the second one is started. 

The scarf for my niece is growing nicely.

And after attempting 4 different patterns and 2 different yarns, I think I have finally settled on a cowl pattern I like. The yarn is a pale green and almost impossible to photograph. I'm hoping it will knit up quick. Pattern is the Straightforward Cowl.

And I have a few sewing projects lined up. Two more Poochie bags and the little stack of half square triangle blocks will become a pillow very soon. And the mountain pattern peaking out? That is my reward once I'm finished all the gifts.  You can find the pattern here and is only for sale this month. I couldn't resist.

What have you been working on this week? Are you still busy making gifts? Or have you given up and braved the stores?

Finished Pair of Knitted Socks for Christmas

A late, quick post today to share a finish. It's been a long day. I ate supper in the car, as my husband drove me to a PTO meeting tonight. Now I'm taking a small knitting break to write this post - I even took knitting with me to the PTO meeting and I wasn't the only one. Tis the season to multi-task.

Today's finish is this pair of socks. These will be hard to give away but they're going to someone who deserves them. Yarn is Turtlepurl yarns in Iris. It comes as two separate hanks that are dyed together so the stripes match. 

This was also the first time I did a Fish Lips Kiss heel and I really like it. I need to memorize how to do it so I don't need the pattern every time.

I started gifting socks like this last year and I really like it. It prevents the cuffs from stretching out and they look a little festive. Now back to knitting. I have two more pairs of socks to knit. Plus some other stuff. 

Day 1 of Finishes - By Kids

This week, I said, would be a week of finishes. Today's finishes were made by my kids - except for 1.

My daughter sewed this bag for her cousin. I helped with the ironing and handles but she did the rest. We used this pattern to make it, although I got when it was free on her blog. 

Her cousin also has a pet hedgehog, so she made a little fleece bag for him. I folded up the first bag and put it inside to hopefully show it's size. It's reversible and we used this tutorial to make it.

My addition was to knit a tiny hedgehog. It was all good until I added the nose.  I used one of Anna's patterns, found here.

At least the feet are adorable.

I added a string so it can be an ornament.

Floyd has been getting crafty. He made a stepping stone for a grandma (as requested).

And my older son spent a few minutes at the sewing machine,...

... and made this infinity cowl for a cousin. (On my side of the family, the kids do a secret santa and they are in charge of picking out/ making the gift).

Daughter with her finished washcloth. I did the casting on and off. She did the rest. 

Tomorrow, more finishes.

WIP Wednesday - More Gifts

I think, like most creative, crafty people, I am busy making presents. I have several finishes to share. Some from last week that didn't get on the blog since our internet went out last Friday so no post got written. I'm thinking I will do a Week of Finishes next week, instead of trying to cram them all into a blog post this Friday. Maybe I'll even get a few more things done this week to share. Now, onto this week's WIP's.

I spent a little time yesterday working on this super bulky cardigan. The sleeves are now separated from the body. I really want to work on it, since it works up quickly but I need to try and focus on gifts right now. This will probably make good travel/ company knitting over the holidays.

I finished the body of the Side Squiggles sweater for my older son this week and started the first sleeve. I'm still confident it will get done in time. Have I mentioned that we open our presents a little early here? I think we're opening our gifts on either the 21st or 22nd.

Started crocheting a red and blue scarf requested by a niece.

And I finished a pair of socks (to be shared next week) so these ones will be going on the needles today. I hope. They will be a gift.

And my daughter has made progress on the washcloth she's knitting but my son's looks almost the same as last week, so I didn't include it in the picture.

And my daughter spent some time at the sewing machine this weekend. Here she is working on project #1. A bag for a cousin.

And project #2, a fleece bag for a cousin's pet. It was fun to spend some crafty time with her. I think her creations will get their own blog post during next week's Week of Finishes. 

What have you been working on this week? Are you almost finished your gift making? I keep adding to my list. Oops. 

WIP Wednesday - Gift-Making

On Monday, I made a list of everything I would like to make by the end of the year and...Yikes! I need to prioritize and finish up the things I have on the needles. I had some travel time this past week so I have a couple finishes for Friday and some good progress to share today.

The Side Squiggles sweater is just a couple inches away from needing sleeves.

Sock is ready for a heel.

My two older children have started to knit washcloths for gifts. My 10 year old son's washcloth is at the top of the picture. 14 year old daughter's is at the bottom. Both with mistakes but made with love and will be very appreciated.

Making some gift bags. Think I need to buy some ribbon for them this weekend. And then finish up some gifts to put in them.

And I couldn't resist some selfish knitting once I saw this new pattern this week. A great way to use up sock yarn leftovers.

And, it's the end of November and NaNoWriMo. I didn't finish this year. I don't think I wrote more than 3,000 words. The story was just too depressing and I couldn't handle writing it, right now. However, I did spend time this month learning about designing my own website and trying to convince myself I can do it. And I've been researching a project for 2017. Not sure yet if I'm going to do it or not, need to do more thinking and research.

What have you been working on this week?

Friday Finishes - 3 Shawls!

Hope everyone who celebrates had a good Thanksgiving yesterday. And I hope to do a little shopping today, then I'll be watching Gilmore Girls with my daughter. Very excited! 

Anyway, I'm finally getting around to posting these shawls today. They have been finished for a while but getting modeled pictures taken just kept being forgotten. Let's get to it.

Flower Garden shawl. Pattern by Jen Lucas of Knitting Like Crazy. I picked this yarn (knit picks Stroll sock yarn in the Forest Heather colourway) and pattern the night my mom called to say she had lung cancer. We now know it wasn't cancer but a slightly rare infection but she still had part of her lung removed last month- which helped with the clear diagnosis and saved her from endless tests while they tried to figure it out. She will now be taking medication for four months to try and kill the infection completely. I knew I wanted to knit her something that would stay on her shoulders while she rested, watched tv or read. I've had it finished for a while but didn't want to post it until she received it. I'm actually wearing a tank top and shorts in the modeled photos.

It's nice and light, but provides that extra bit of warmth you sometimes need when your upper half is covered by the warmth of a quilt on the couch.

Sits nicely on the shoulders. I still need a picture of my mom using it.

Nice, simple pattern was quick to knit up. Think it would be fun in a worsted weight yarn. Then it would be perfect for sitting outside on cool evenings.

Close-up of the flower border detail.

Bradway shawl. Pattern by Shannon of Very Shannon. A worsted weight shawl, it is so warm and comfy. It will be hard to put this one under the tree for somebody else next month, but I will. Can you tell I have plans to make myself a nice, warm, worsted weight shawl soon? Once the Christmas knitting is complete... one is going on the needles for me.

It was really cold when we took these pictures.

So warm! Love it.

I haven't taken measurements but the shawl is huge. 

Love the colours. Yarn is Cascade 220 but I don't know which colours. I thought I bought them at The Loopy Ewe but I can't find them in my order history. I was a little unsure about using two dark colours but I was trying to use stash and not buy yarn. I think the blue/teal really helps. I added a few extra garter rows in the last section since I was trying to use up all the yarn and I wanted the shawl to have more colour. I then knit one brown row before binding off with the brown. Think the dark colour on the edge really helped define it.

A texture pic.

And last, but certainly not least. Another shawl designed by Jen. This was her MKAL this fall. I don't think the shawl has an official name yet. I ended up making a few mods to this pattern since the one clue was causing me a lot of trouble. Go here to see what the shawl is actually suppose to look like. I think I like mine better.

All wrapped up.

Ended up being a fairly long shawl.

Detail shot. Even with aggressive blocking, my points didn't stay pointy. Got an almost ruffley edge which is okay. Wish they had stayed a little pointy.

Have you finished anything this week? I have a quilt to share next week and I'm close to finishing several other projects. Guess I better go watch some Gilmore Girls and get them done.

WIP Wednesday

I've been making good progress on three WIP's this week. 

This is a test-knit I am doing for Sarah of Imagined Landscapes. Her designs have great texture. I am past the halfway point and now that I am decreasing stitches it seems to be knitting up a little quicker. Wait until you see what happens to the bottom edge once it's complete. I'm nervous but it should be fun.

Pocket on the Side Squiggles sweater for my older son is now attached to the body of the sweater. Still have several inches to knit before I have to make the sleeves. Thinking on making one now. I wonder if that will help me get the sleeves done faster?

And the socks have seen a little attention this week. I am now onto the second green section (I actually got to the next purple section since taking this picture). I realized this week that I wanted to have 3 pairs of socks knit for gifts this year. This is the second sock of the first pair. I need to get them finished and start the next pair.

What have you been working on this week? Come back Friday as I have 3 finished shawls to share.

Making Felt Ornaments

Yesterday, my daughter and I hunkered down and made some ornaments using felt while we got our first snow.

Here are our four little ornaments waiting for us to put up the tree.

My daughter made the bell and stocking. The bell will be given to a cousin but the stocking will go on our tree. She says she made the lines on the stocking "jaunty" on purpose.

I made the tree and owl. The owl eyes are a little off centre but overall it was fun. 

I still have a ton of felt leftover (and I mean a ton), so I see more felt creations in my future. 

The tree and stocking templates can be found here. And the owl template was from a book, but there is a online tutorial here that is similar.