FO Friday #8

I can't believe it's Friday, already. Did we skip over Thursday?

The Smurf hat has been completed. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of it before it went out the door this morning on my happy daughter's head. Go figure.

(Imagine right here a beautiful picture of Daughter, happily smiling while modeling her Smurf hat.)

And my swatching is done for hat #1 of Husband's. It is well on it's way to completion and if all goes as planned, I should be able to share it next Friday.

I know it's not WIP Wednesday, yet. But, I would like to share a picture of something. It's on DPNs because this yarn did not want to side easily on my circular's and I got tried of fighting with it. I started on this hat last night just before bed and managed to get the ribbing complete. Soon, the striping will start. But, more on this on Wednesday.

'Till then have a wonderful weekend.

So, hop on over to Tami's Amis to view some awesome FO's. They have pictures and everything :]

Wednesday's Blog Along #2

Swatchin' and froggin'.

I didn't swatch for Husband's first hat because the pattern called for yarn and size needles that I've used before in combination to make other hats with same amount of stitches. So, silly me was all like I've got this. No need to swatch. Yeah, right. What was I thinking. Instead of having 20 sts. per 4" I had 16 sts. per 4" = hat too big. Ribbit. I'm now in the process of swatching for hat #1 and #2. Go, me!

These are the two hats that I'm swatching for, The "Dave" Beanie and Oliver Jogless Stripes Beanie. Both via Ravelry as free downloads.

Daughter's hat 2.0 or what I'm now calling the Smurf hat is back on the needles. I liked the lace pattern of the headband but, had shortened the crown. And though she had liked it she also likes the Smurfs and thought it would be awesome to have a hat similar to theirs. Sigh. The things we do for our loved ones. The pattern for this hat is featured in Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011

This magazine has been well used :)

And in amongst all of this hat making I'm on a magazine kick.

Oh, and I'm still reading Sherrilyn Kenyon's Seize The Night during quiet times in the evenings before bed. Which are very few and far between.

Hop on over to Tami's Amis's and Small Things' blog alongs to view fabulous work.

FO Friday #7

Daughter’s and Son’s hats have been completed. Yeah!

I had to talk them into posing for me. Especially, Son. His hat turned out a little big, even after the modifications that I’d made to it. Oh, well. Something for him to grow into.

Daughter likes hers but, has mentioned on occasions that she wishes I had done the floppy version. So, it looks like I’m going to have to frog the top of her hat and extend it. A Mom’s household is never satisfied. Sigh.

Hope everyone is having a Fabulous FO Friday. I will be at the dentist today; it’s time for me to heard Husband in for his appointment. Wish me luck!

Hop on over to Tami's Amis for more FO’s.

Wednesday's Blog Along #1

Since I'm participating in WIPWs and Yarn Alongs I am combining the title/posts.

While knitting Daughter's hat, Son asked me to make him a new one too. He doesn't need a knew one but, you know, his big sissy is getting one. Then as I was finishing up her hat Sunday, Husband asked me to make him one too. Now, this is momentous. I made him one years ago, a simple dark green knit hat, he made the right oh and ah sounds, wore it for a few days, but then it has sat in the closet since. After asking me to make him a hat, he even went on line with me to pick out the pattern. On Monday he even went to the yarn shop with me to pick out the colors for his hats. Yes, hats. Two of them. So, my next few posts are going to be about hats. I even pick out a pattern for myself. Why not. Everyone else is getting new ones.

Last night I was close to completing Son's hat and realized that it was going to be to big ( I followed gauge). Even without the crown it would easily cover my whole head. That wouldn't do. So, I frogged it, have adjusted the numbers in the pattern, and have started over.

The pattern is Riley's Skully Hat via Raverly. Son is anticipating it's completion; he has handed me my work on numerous times. What a cutie pie :]

I'm still reading away at Sherrilyn Kenyon's Seize the Night. Unfortunately, I'm unable to hold a paperback and my knitting simultaneously. My reading has slowed down do to all the hat knitting. The Dark-Hunter series is quite long and I'm enjoying reading them one after the other in a continues story. But, my To Be Read Stack (TBR) is being neglected and the shelves are beginning to groan around it's strain. 

And with that I better get back to knitting. My guys are anxiously waiting. Hop on over to Tami's Amis and Small Things to view wonderfully creative people.

FO Friday #6

I'm late! As always. There are times that I find it hard to get to the computer in the mornings.

I've been following along with Interweave Crochet's Clones Lace along. Okay, this week's FO

is an Irish Rose (which was in the last issue) and a 3 Ring Clover with a buttony center (from this month's issue). Next issue there are going to be grapes. I'm enjoying making these as I learn a little about crochet's history. My two favorite things together, history and crochet/knitting. If you too are interested in these two check out PieceWork magazine. I LOVE it!

Now, hop on over to Tami's Amis to check out more wonderful FO's.

WIP Wednesday #7

Today, Son, had to go to the dentist and have three baby teeth pulled to make room for his permanents. He did really well and now is happily waiting for the tooth fairy to visit him.

My newest project on the needles

Daughter, has asked for a new hat. Hers has gotten a pit small. The pattern is out of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011. The headband of the hat is done in a nice lace pattern and then stitches are picked up along one side in the round to finish off the hat. This is 2.0. The yarn I was originally working with would not hold the pattern and started folding in on itself. So, ribbit. Plus, I've modified the band and took out the 6 row repeat. Oh, I don't know if it's my dyslexia acting up or not but, I found an error in the pattern. Where it calls for sl 1 pwise wyf on RS, what actually needs to be done is sl 1 pwise wyb on RS.

For Yarn Along, I'm continueing on my Sherrilyn Kenyon marathon and am now reading Seize the Night.

All of my books of hers are well read and are looking a bit rough for wear. A few I'm going to have to doctor up with some tape. Maybe, eventually, buy new ones to replace the ones (almost all) that are worn out and falling apart.

And a share, Monday, we not only got our first snow for 2012 but, for this winter!

I ran outside right when the snow started falling to take this picture. They were HUGE fat flakes. What little fell, melted about 2 hours later. This winter has been so unusual. By now we would've had about 6 feet of snow fall. But, I'm not complaining. It's a nice change to having to shovel our way out of the house. And I just know that by March we'll have reached well over the 6 feet mark.

Hop on over to Tami's Amis to see more fabulous WIP's in action. And Small Things Yarn Along for awesome stories.

FO Friday #5

Sorry I'm late with posting this. Daughter had a check up at the doctors today and then we had to run errands.

The pattern used for this soft basket is out of  More Last Minute Gifts . I really like Joelle Hoverson's style and am planning on working up a few more projects from this book in the near future.

I've only the one basket that has become full of Hexipuffs with no where for more. So, I decided to make this soft basket, now crisis advert.

Hop on over to Tami's Amis to view more wonderful FO's.

Happy Friday!

Basic Granny Square Tutorial

Your basic granny square with your favorite hook and yarn. Pattern is written out in long form for clarity.

Chain (ch) 3 and join with slip stitch (sl st) into a ring.

Ch 1, 6 single crochet (sc) in ring, join with sl st to first sc. Do not turn.

Ch 1, 2 sc in first sc and 2 sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. Do not turn. There are now 12 single crochets.

Ch 3 (counts as first double crochet here on out), double crochet (dc) in next st, dc in next st, ch 2, dc in next st, dc in next st, dc in next st, ch 2, dc in next st, dc in next st, dc in next st, ch 2, dc in next st, dc in next st, dc in next st, ch 2, join with sl st to first dc. There are now 12 double crochets and 4 ch 2 spaces.

Ch 3, turn, 2 dc in ch 2 space (sp), ch 2, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 1, join with sl st to first dc. There are now 24 double crochets, 4 ch 2 spaces, and 4 ch 1 spaces.

A basic granny square can be easily built upon by changing yarn and hook size, making many single little ones to join up or one gaint granny square. I hope this helps beginners to crocheting or those looking for a refresher.

Good luck and happy crocheting!

It's Wednesday!

Lots to share, lots to share.


I got a book for Christmas (a staple present for me). It's one that I've been wanting for awhile but never got around to purchasing for myself.

My lovely MiL got it for me.

Already, I've read 3 of H.P. Lovecraft's short stories. Love it! And she gave me a B&N gift card to get more books. Yeah!

Also, I'm reading my absolute favorite Sherrilyn Kenyon novel. Okay, one of my favorites. It's so hard to have just one.

The only drawback is that, no matter how hard I try to slow myself down, I read it so quickly that I might as well be inhaling it.

Now, my newest WIP's:

First, I'm working on a soft basket, that I'm close to completion on.

It's a pattern out of More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. So far, I'm enjoying this book and am eyeing a few more of her patterns to work up in the near future.

And second, I'm making one last Christmas decoration. It has multiple pieces and will probably take me sometime to make. But, nothing to hurry over, I'll be working on this in between other projects. Like I do the Hexipuffs.

It's another, pattern from Knitsimple Holiday issue 2011. I'm looking forward to hanging this next Christmas.

This post is being linked with Tami's Amis and Small Things yarn along. Make sure to check out their great blog alongs.

Winter Vacation is Over!

I meant to post yesterday. Well, with the kids trying to cram last minute Holiday fun into one day, I never got around to it.

Love my children. But, they are back at school! Happy Dance! They are good kids but, after spending so much time together they start to fight. I'm tired of playing referee and sending them to their opposite corners. Ding, ding, ding, come out swinging.

Hexipuff update. Bought new yarn some time ago to make Hexipuffs with. (Sorry about the awful photos, the sun had come up fully where my photographic center is by the time I was able to take them.)

There are now 33 Hexipuffs hanging about the house. I know it doesn't sound like much but, with everything else I'm working on, this is an accomplishment for me.

Patons Spumoni Stripes. I really like how this yarn is working up and am thinking about buying more to make a pair of socks with.

Micheal's Brand Redwoods. This yarn looks much better in person than what is shown in this crappy picture I took.

Micheal's Brand Ocean. I think this yarn would look great in a lace work shawl.


Oh, and as promised in a previous post, FO Friday #2, that I would link the Mobius Mosaic from my shop. It's my first listing of the New Year. I'm so happy to FINALLY have it available for sale. And I made a sale over the Holidays and to celebrate I bought....more yarn. Yeah! Can't wait for them to get here. I bought them for the Hexipuffs (of course).

Ugh! have I mention how friggin cold it is outside? Especially, at 7:30 in the morning when getting kidlets on the bus! Oh! and speaking of cold I have to go check the fire. Must keep that going if I want to stay warm :p See y'all tomorrow. I have a few things to share with the WIP Wednesday blog along.