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?

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?

A Weekend of Crafty Finishes

     I kept myself very busy this weekend and finished several projects. Of course I may have started some new ones, but those can wait until WIP Wednesday. 

     Saturday night I was able to finish this pair of socks for myself. Washed them yesterday and am wearing them today. Comfy and soft. Yarn is Kroy sock yarn bought at Michael's. I used a whole skein for each sock, plus some leftovers when I ran out for the toes.

Falling in love with gussets again.

Here's the other one.

     Friday, I finished quilting the quilt for my son's birthday. I wasn't sure if I was going to do more quilting or not so I left the pins in while I laid it out on our bed and decided. I came back several times during the day and decided it was done. Took the pins out, sewed the binding together, trimmed the quilt and put the binding on yesterday.

     Here is the finished quilt. He wasn't overly impressed when he opened it this morning - he turned 3. But it makes me happy that every bed in the house now has a quilt by me on it. He'll appreciate it someday. I used Cluck Cluck Sew's Stack n' Whack tutorial for the blocks.

     Binding was leftover strips from the solids used in the quilt. Had less than a strip left when I was done.

Backing fabric.

Had enough of the backing fabric to make a pillowcase.

Had to use this car print on the other side. This he definitely likes.

     And one last finish for the weekend. Once I was done the quilt, I wanted to sew something else. I took out all the 1.5 inch scrap strips I had cut, sewed them together and finished crocheting this basket. Ended up bigger than I thought it would.

    Inside look. It's 5 inches deep and the opening is 8 inches across. I used double crochets for the whole thing with a row of slip stitches for the edge. I used Crazy Mom Quilts tutorial for a crocheted mat.

Not sure what I'm going to keep in it yet but it holds a lot of yarn leftovers.

What did you do this weekend? Hope all those that celebrate Mother's Day had fun yesterday.

A Sneak Peek and a Finish

Coming up from Gift-Making Cave to do a quick blog post. My daily to-do lists are crazy. There is so much to do but it will be over soon and then I can knit things for me and spend days reading. January will be great. I'm not really complaining about making gifts. I do enjoy it and I'm still hopeful that I'll get the main gifts made. I've started to cross off the little extra gifts I wanted to make off my list as I accept the reality of the time I actually have before Christmas. We are opening here Saturday morning so the priority this week has been my gifts for the kids and wrapping presents. I'm almost done Floyd's sweater and hope to have pictures of a finished sweater tomorrow. Here's a bit of what I've been working on this week.

I finally decided how to quilt the last quilt for my mom. You can see the quilt top here, and if the weather improves, I'll have pictures of the finished quilt to share tomorrow. Above is the back of the quilt. I kind of love it. A little different than my usual free-motion but all quilting was done with my free-motion foot. I think my mom will love it.

What the?

I had planned on knitting my older son, Nova a sweater for Christmas. Knitting each of my kids a sweater for Christmas was a tradition I started for Floyd's first Christmas 3 years ago. However, Nova never wears the sweaters I make him. I decided not to make him a sweater this year - I could use my time better - but I still wanted to make him something. I thought of crocheting him an afghan as he likes having lots of blankets on his bed but I didn't really have the time for that (maybe for his birthday next month?). Anyway, last week on someone else's blog (sorry, can't remember who), I saw she was making pajama monsters for her kids and I thought that was a great idea. I didn't want to pay $5 for the pattern she was using so I decided to wing it.

Here it is. Not perfect but good enough to hold pajamas. His room is so messy and he just throws his pajamas on the floor every morning. Maybe this will help?

The back is a fat quarter from the stash. Rough measurement is 16 x 18. A bit big but I didn't want putting the pajamas in to be a struggle, or he wouldn't use it.

Pajamas on the floor.

Pajamas being stuffed into the Pajama Monster.

Sitting on the bed with a full tummy.

I'm trying to think of a funny saying or little poem to go with it.

Now, I have to get back to knitting. I'm halfway done the second sleeve of Floyd's sweater. Then I have a kazillion ends to weave in (only a slight exaggeration). Oh, and there's the sweater for my nephew and the socks for my SIL. And another quilt I'd like to finish but I haven't started sewing yet. At least all the fabric is cut. The next few days should be fun. I'm sure my family won't mind if I sleep through Christmas.

Friday Finishes

Have a few little finishes to share this week.

Crocheted these hats while on vacation. The one on the right I started and finished during our 10 hour trip north. These will be mailed with the other hats I've finished for charity, to Jen for her hat KAL/CAL that finishes next month. I've started knitting a 10th hat and would like to send her 12.

Before we went away, my husband had been complaining about the sad state of our floor cushions. They had become pretty flat since I made them roughly 6 years ago. Bought the 20 inch pillow forms from JoAnn's than made the covers. This is what they looked like after 6 years of being used.

While Floyd napped one afternoon, I ripped open the hand sewn seam. I put in squares of batting on each side and then put extra stuffing between the pillow and the batting. I sewed them shut again and took a picture to compare. Everyone is much happier with them now.

When we were north, my sister gave me an early birthday present. She had made it as a table runner (you can read more about it on her blog here) but I think I'll end up putting it on the wall so I'm going to add some buttons to the snowman. Love it, Sarah, thank you.

More Finished Project Bags

Last week I finished up even more project bags using this great tutorial. You can see the other bags I made, here and here.

I think I'm going to keep the one on the left and the one on the right will be used to gift a present in a couple months.

I found a child's skirt from the Liberty of London clothing line that Target had a couple years ago at a thrift shop. Yeah, I was thrilled to get the skirt for about $1. I was able to turn it into 2 bags which I'm going to keep for now. I already have a project in the bigger one. You can see knitting needles sticking out the top.

And here is my attempt at using a pillow case for a project bag. The size is nice but the handles are really long.

It will be great to hold a bigger project, such as a sweater or the beginnings of an afghan. I hope to start a sweater before the end of March and this bag will get used then.

Floyd liked running around with what was left of the ribbon.

A Finished Scarf and Cowl

Here are two finishes from last week that are now on their way north for a niece's birthday later this month. I hope she likes them. She's turning 14. 

This is the Mustard scarf designed by Jane Richmond. I've had this pattern on my to make list since I got back into knitting in 2010. It calls for worsted yarn, which this is, but I wish I had used Aran weight or smaller needles. It's a pretty quick knit. Make one long lace piece, put a button on it, then wear it. 

If she doesn't like the placement of the button I know her mom can move it for her. Glad I finally made this. 

An in progress picture from last week.

I also made her a cowl, as this was something she suggested as a gift. I was going to make the Mushin cowl but I didn't like how it looked with this yarn. I ended up just making it up as I went. I chained a lot of stitches and then I did a row of single crochet in the back loop and joined in the round. I then alternated between rows of half double crochets and single crochets in the back loop until I thought it was wide enough. I have no idea of the final measurements. Above, I have it wrapped twice around my neck.

Hanging as one big loop.

And both fit inside yet another project bag that I made. It feels good to send a handmade gift. 

Finished Project Bags

Last week I did a little sewing and finished up some project bags that will be mailed this week as gifts, if the weather cooperates - I can't take the toddler out if it's too cold. I used a tutorial by the Purl Bee that can be found here. All the project bags I made are on the small side but I'd like to try a bigger one that could hold a sweater or the beginning of a blanket. I'm going to use an extra pillowcase and try to make a big one this week.

The first bag I made is for me. I've started to get into the practice of doing a demo first, and if it turns out, I get to keep it. My ribbon supply is low so I used a purple and a black ribbon.

This one is a gift. I had just enough white ribbon to do the handles.

Perfect for a skein of yarn or a small project.

These two are for a special someone who celebrates her birthday today. Happy Birthday Sarah. She does more hand quilting/applique than I do and I thought she would like the ruler fabric to carry thread/ needles in.  The green bag holds her birthday socks and some more goodies. They should be headed north by the end of the week.