New Shrug and Monkey

This one is for a baby girl. Pink and grey work socks, and embroidered eyes (buttons are not safe for kids under 3 years old). I also attached the hat, but it could be easily removed if later the child wants to play dress up. A pink embroidered heart makes it oh so cute.
Sneek peak. And I know, this shrug does not look right over that print tee, but I was Uber-Lazy and put it over the tee I had just made. Better photos and pattern to follow in a day or two when I get back to normal routine (blame it on the holidays and the visitors - who stayed longer than planned :0 , and the hours of holiday decor take-down I have planned for the weekend)
Happy New Year all!

Christmas at the Falls

Lovely blurry photo of Niagara Falls. We parked at one end and walked the whole length looking at the cool lights. Really mild night, great to walk off some of the Christmas dinner!
My favourite light sculpture. See the ferris wheel up the hill on Clifton Hill Road.
Mounties.
Really big Disney display.
Then the lights changed on the falls. Cool...
Perfect ending to a great day. Hope everyone had fun!

Chris Felt like Felting

In an effort to avoid Christmas baking and cooking and panic and stress.... I hauled out my collection of fleece, and tried to make my first pair of wet felted slippers! I sketched a boot shape and mirrored it on bubble wrap....
then layered merino fleece in several colours and different directions under the boot resist. I wet it down with hot soapy water, and laid down the boot. The I reversed the order of colours and laid the top side. After wetting everything and making sure the outside edges were evenly wrapped around the bubble wrap, I added the yarn heart detail (I took a picture, then changed it to a finer mohair yarn because I wanted it more subtle)
Cover with more bubble wrap and roll up . Now roll for 10 minutes, unroll and reverse angle of roll. Repeat until you are really tired of rolling, then roll some more... It's that easy! When it was really solid, I carefully cut it in half, then took both boots to the sink for the hot bath, cold bath routine (alternate with agitation about 6 to 8 times, until the boot is approx small enough to fit your feet). Then after a bit of hand pulling and pressing and using your foot to mold it into shape, you can set it to dry.
Ta da. Next pair I will try to make the instep a bit narrower and the toe a bit wider, but all in all they are really cute!
I would also like to mention that it is really advantageous to sew a sole of ultra suede to the bottom of any felted slippers. One to help them NOT slip on the hardwood floors, and two, so that they last 20 times longer (plain ones run through the soles very quickly!)

Now back to our regularly scheduled stress....

Upholstery 101

My first attempt of re-upholstery. I have always wanted to try my hand at this, although there is actually very little sewing (and NO knitting required). I found the above chair on kijiji for $15. Since I also had a few meters of red upholstery fabric in my stash, it was a good time to give it a go. Off came the furry orange fabric and all the dusty guts. Then I painted the wood a mat black. I re-padded the seat and back and stapled the new cover over the fresh padding (foam, poly quilt batting, and cotton batting). I used grosgrain ribbon to cover the staples, and finish the edges. The arm pads are envelopes of fabric, filled with quilt batting and wrapped around the arms. Ribbons hold them in place, although I will likely throw a few heavy duty stitches underneath to secure a bit better.

Will I do it again? It was a LOT of work and I think I took more time than I could have, just because I did not know exactly what I was doing... but I do like the end result, and I will keep cruising kijiji for other shabby treasures.
Almost done my gift knitting, and have started to plan my next original knitting pattern! Yeah!

Find the Bird....

Aspen likes the tree that has arrived in her living room. But after a while....


can you spot the bird.... hint, she's the only blue thing on the tree! I am on track with my projects for Christmas, even got the tree up on time (usually about 10 days before Christmas!). No huge family dinners this year, just several small events, so that makes me happy. I enjoy smaller groups, you can really talk to everyone there. Don't you hate big dinners, and the next morning you realize all you did was say hello and goodbye to a couple of relatives? (maybe that's the way you want it to go.... but still... )

oh, and, Happy Birthday Dad! love Chris

Knit an I-cord Necklace

I wanted a thicker cord to mount some cool antique style rings into a necklace, and I could not find a thick one ready made... so... I did find some hemp style cording (soft leather cording would work too), and used a three stitch I-cord to knit the necklace.
Below are photos (sorry some a bit blurry) of three stitch I-cord. Cast on three stitched (I used 4mm -US6 double point needles - you only need two of them). Knit the first row. WITHOUT turning, slide the three stitches from the left tip of the right needle.....
to the right tip of the same needle. This needle now becomes the left needle ...
and you start knitting from that needle. The feed string will close the tube from the back (like magic)...
Continue repeating this one step over and over until full length required. Cast off three, and finish by sewing clasps to the ends (I did this in dark thread so you can see) You may want to do this after the beads are loaded if the beads will not slide over the clasp that you are using. My bar and ring work, because the bar side can slide through the rings.

Here is a close up of the cord, with some extra hemp in a contrast colour wrapped to stop all the rings from sliding down to the center.

Photo of the last few rings before loading them on the cord...

There, you have knit a necklace!

sack boy

I just finished making this....I used Alan Dart's Sack Boy pattern, but made a short row knitted mouth from sock yarn and stitched it in place instead of a thin line of embroidery.
Aspen does not like him, but I do!

ballerina monkey

As I am still knitting gifts, and cannot show you what is on the needles, I will show you a sock monkey ballerina. She is made the same way as the other monkeys, with girly knee highs and pink netting for the tutu. So cute.

New yarn and Jewelry design

I received a box of yarn from Elann, the Cyber Monday special. There were lots of sock yarn balls, and black lace mohair, and a mixed fiber grey (with silver sparkles).
In the photo are also a couple of necklaces that I made today. The black one is large rings on black fabric, with a pendant that also has a large ring mount. The tan one is hemp string knit in a three stitch I-cord, strung with rings and a pendant that came with lots of charms attached.
Still knitting like a maniac to finish gifts, but one big hurdle is done and I have packaged the gifts for far away relatives and they are going in the post today!
Getting there...

Wooly Inukshuk

OK. So sometimes I get weird ideas. I wondered if my gift knitting could be piled up to make an Inukshuk. I used finished AND as yet un-knit balls of yarn to make this.....

Next to the yarn pile is the old favourite knitted inukshuk that stands 11" tall. (You can find the pattern for him in the list on the right side of my blog!)

(clearly I am busy knitting things I cannot show you right now!)

Keep knitting, only 23 knitting days left....

Monkey Business

Inspired by Susan, who wanted a sock monkey to give to a special little person... I suggested we all make them together! Thus we had a monkey making evening last night. We got together and produced several monkeys, and we had some wine and decaf and lots of laughs.

They are cute and goofy, and each one is a bit different. One has button eyes, the other embroidered eyes (safe for babies). We may use left over sock yarn to knit hats and there is at least one tutu request to dress up the girly monkeys!

Here is a link to my tutorial for making sock monkeys. Just omit the black sock lining for the golf club and stuff full and sew shut.

I always have so much fun with my crafty friends!

Christmas Photos

Here are some photos that suggest Christmas is drawing near! The first is something NOT made by me. This little guy came from the Bay, and I love the home made look. It is not easy to find robins, but they hold a special place in my heart....
The second is my Christmas knitting, piled into a two foot high tower! Makes it look like I am making some headway on my gift knitting list!
In the last week, I have been to the golf club three times to work on the Christmas decorating. Today was the last installment, with the front entryway completed. We put up the last huge wreath over the big window, and plugged it in... no lights! We fussed with it, but no luck... So now we have booked another day, to remove the 500 lights, and re-string a new set. About two more hours of work! It made me wonder... how many other festive Christmas decorating moments are spiced with colourful words like the ones that raced through my mind today.
Fah la la la lah... la la la lahhhhh!

Busy, busy...

Here are a few of the Gift Knitting items I have produced in the last week.... I can only show some of the gifts, as they are requested by the favourite friends or family, and since I am making so many socks and slippers, they still may not know WHICH ones will appear under the tree!

The monkey slippers are the Patons pattern (here). They are really quite quick to make and took two full cycles in the hot - heavy duty wash cycle. Buttons for eyes and ultra suede on the soles to prevent slipping finish them off.

The socks are my own favourite pattern (here). Using self striping sock yarns, I have around 8 - 10 pairs to make this season! My tiny bamboo needles are getting a workout (I have to watch they don't catch fire!)

I have also finished a larger garment, and will post the pattern and photos after Christmas.... I hope all your knitting gifts are underway. We need to pace ourselves, no need to add knitting stress! Knitting should be the relaxation after a long stressful day! Kick up your feet and grab a glass of wine (or cocoa) and your needles. Best times!

update...

The next thing I want to make are these monkey slippers. They are from the Patons pattern site HERE. They look fast and fun, and may end up under someone's tree in December....
It is the time of year when my blog becomes more secretive. I apologize for this. I know you like to see all the knitting I am doing, but most of it is Christmas knitting now, and I cannot reveal the secrets! I will still talk knitting and to that end, I had to show you the fabulous pattern that I found from Knitterbees blog! Angry Birds is such a huge hit, and the simple little critters make for great knitting. It is on my list of "things to knit" in the near future.
She also has a golf club cover version AND other characters from the game.... check it out HERE.
I hope you are busy with your gift knitting and I will continue to show you what I can and talk about patterns I find out there in web-land.

Flat Stanley Comes to Visit

On Wednesday Nov 2, 2011, Flat Stanley came to visit. He was sent to me by my young friend Emily from Picton, Ontario. Stanley has been having quite a trip, and let me tell you, he is the perfect house guest. He eats very little, he never complains, he can fit under the guest room door, and loves doing whatever I like to do!

Here he is visiting Niagara Falls (the Canadian side of course because he doesn't have a passport).

Here he is at my knitting group meeting, learning the basics. He is a natural and finished a new hat for himself in just one evening.

Here he is at the golf club. He played a round of golf with me and Rick, and posted a sweet 84 (ok, there were a few gimmees, but it WAS his first game)

Here he is playing with Aspen, our Parrotlet. She was a bit jeolous of the attention Stanley was getting and tried to bite him. She had to have a time out.

Stanley will be staying until monday, when I will package him up and Expresspost (first class travel for the flat folks) him back to Emily along with his souveniers and photos of his fun adventure in Niagara.

I will miss the little guy.

New Game...

I have a link to a free trial game on iTunes.... Kumundrum is a puzzle game that is fun and addictive. I would ask that all of you that have iphone, ipad, and ipod touch, PLEASE download and try it. If you enjoy it, please rate it on iTunes. This game is the first (of many we hope) that my son's new venture, Hope This Works Games, has produced. I think it's great (what mom wouldn't) but the real test is if real folks try it and play it and love it. Leave a comment here too if you would like.
I know this is not about knitting, but we occasionally need a break from knitting (rarely) and I hope you will indulge me on this request. Please pass on this link to other friends and family who do the ipod/pad/phone thing, and lets make this game viral! Thank you from my heart!

Excellent Knee Highs

Yarn: Sock yarn designed to knit on 2.75mm needles. (US 2) - 150grams (about three balls of sock yarn)

Needles: set of four 2.75 double point needles (I like bamboo)

More: four stitch markers

Cast on 76 stitches, and divide on three needles as such: 28 on first needle, 20 on second and 28 on third needle. Join to knit in the round (don’t twist it!) and work in [K2, P2] ribbing for 2 inches. Change to [k3, p1] ribbing and work for 6 inches.

Decrease row: k3, p1, place marker, knit 2 together, k1, p1, [k3, p1]repeat 3 times, place marker, knit 2 together, k1, p1 [k3, p1] repeat 7 times, place marker, knit 2 together, k1, p1, [k3, p1]repeat 3 times, place last marker, knit 2 together, k1, p1, [k3, p1] one time (end of 3^rd needle).

Work stitches exactly as established, slipping the markers for 5 rows.

*Decrease again: work to marker, after each marker knit 2 together, work like this to end of row.

Work 5 rows even.*

Repeat between * and *two more times!

You now have 60 stitches on the needles. Continue to work in the round until total length beyond last decrease is about 6 inches.

Heel: Put half the stitches (30 ) on one needle by knitting next 15 sts, and transfer previous 15 onto the front of this needle. Rearrange the other 30 sts onto two needles with 15 each. These 2 needles will be ignored for a while.

Working on the 30 st needles, Purl (wrong side) across. Right side: [Slip one, K 1] repeat across row. Work these two rows until repeated 15 times. (the heel should be almost square and be about 2.5 inches).

With right side facing you will now do the magic that is a heel turn! K17, K2tog, K1, turn to wrong side facing. Slip one, P5, P2tog, P1, turn. Slip one, Knit to the stitch before the gap (the space between the slipped stitch and the old heel stitches). Knit 2 tog (thus closing the gap and picking up the last slipped stitch and the next old heel stitch), K1, turn. Slip one, Purl to st before gap and P2tog over gap, P1, turn. Repeat these two rows, until all the old heel stitches are involved and worked.

Right side again: Knit across heel, pick up 15 sts up the side of the heel (put these on needle 1).

Work next 30 sts on needle 2, AND work them in the K3, P1 ribbing, as they are already still looking at you. Pick up 15 sts on the other side of the heel and knit half of the bottom of the heel sts. (needle 3). Check and make Needle 1 and Needle 3 have the same number of sts on each, adjust if needed.

Round ONE: Knit down Needle 1 to 3 sts before end, K2tog, K1, Needle 2: work in K3, P1 pattern as established, Needle 3: K1, K2tog, knit to end of needle. Round TWO: Knit needle 1, Pattern needle 2, Knit needle 3. Repeat these two rounds, until back to 60 sts (15, 30, 15). Then continue in stocking stitch for the under foot and ribbing stitch for the top of foot, until about 6 inches from the picked up stitches of the heel (or until sock is about 1.5 inches short of your foot length). Toe: round 1: Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Needle 2 K1, K2tog, K across to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Needle 3: K1, K2tog, K across to end. Round 2, Knit all sts without decrease. Continue to knit these 2 rounds until 16 sts are left. Graft two rows of eight sts.

Do it all again for sock two.

Cast on 60 stitches and join in the round. Knit for 1.5 inches in K2, P2 ribbing. Change to K3, P1 ribbing, and continue to work in the round until total length is about 7 inches.

Heel: Put half the stitches (30 ) on one needle by knitting next 15 sts, and transfer previous 15 onto the front of this needle. Rearrange the other 30 sts onto two needles with 15 each. These 2 needles will be ignored for a while.

Working on the 30 st needles, Purl (wrong side) across. Right side: [Slip one, K 1] repeat across row. Work these two rows until repeated 15 times. (the heel should be almost square and be about 2.5 inches).

With right side facing you will now do the magic that is a heel turn! K17, K2tog, K1, turn to wrong side facing. Slip one, P5, P2tog, P1, turn. Slip one, Knit to the stitch before the gap (the space between the slipped stitch and the old heel stitches). Knit 2 tog (thus closing the gap and picking up the last slipped stitch and the next old heel stitch), K1, turn. Slip one, Purl to st before gap and P2tog over gap, P1, turn. Repeat these two rows, until all the old heel stitches are involved and worked.

Right side again: Knit across heel, pick up 15 sts up the side of the heel (put these on needle 1).

Work next 30 sts on needle 2, AND work them in the K3, P1 ribbing, as they are already still looking at you. Pick up 15 sts on the other side of the heel and knit half of the bottom of the heel sts. (needle 3). Check and make Needle 1 and Needle 3 have the same number of sts on each, adjust if needed.

Round ONE: Knit down Needle 1 to 3 sts before end, K2tog, K1, Needle 2: work in K3, P1 pattern as established, Needle 3: K1, K2tog, knit to end of needle. Round TWO: Knit needle 1, Pattern needle 2, Knit needle 3. Repeat these two rounds, until back to 60 sts (15, 30, 15). Then continue in stocking stitch for the under foot and ribbing stitch for the top of foot, until about 6 inches from the picked up stitches of the heel (or until sock is about 1.5 inches short of your foot length). Toe: round 1: Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Needle 2 K1, K2tog, K across to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Needle 3: K1, K2tog, K across to end. Round 2, Knit all sts without decrease. Continue to knit these 2 rounds until 16 sts are left. Graft two rows of eight sts.

Do it all again for sock two.

These are ribbed throughout so that they stay up really well.

Beautiful Fall Photos....

Check out my golf course!

The leaves are just starting to show the best colours. Reds and oranges and yellows. Right now there are only a few leaves on the ground, so the trees look their fall best.
Many are just like this photo with red tips on a green tree.
I am just finishing a pair of knee high socks. If you are interested in the pattern, I will be posting it tomorrow. It is a variation of the best sock pattern ever, but the numbers start a bit bigger to slide over the calf to the knee.

Mohair Multi-Coat

This is a quick knit. You can use any bulky mohair that knits to gauge. This one is knit from four different colour-ways of Mode Mohair from Elann - mine was the self striping version now out of stock, but there are lots of the solid colours left at Elann! Just 8 skeins (50gms - 100 m).

Needles: 7mm (US 10.5)
Gauge: 11 sts = 4 inches.
Size: Large (chest = 48 inches, length = 30 inches)

Back: cast on 60 sts, and work in seed stitch for 2 inches. Change to stocking stitch and work for 21 inches. Cast off 5 sts at start of next two rows. Continue even until armhole measures 9 inches, cast off all stitches.
Left Front: cast on 35 stitches. work seed stitch for 2 inches. With right side facing, work first 30 stitches in stocking stitch, and the last 5 stitches in seed stitch(front band). Continue to work up front with 5 stitches in seed at the front band, and the rest in stocking. Work such until 21 inches, cast off 5 stitches from the armhole side only. Work even again (keeping the seed stitch band) until 5 inches above the armhole. Cast off 8 sts (including seed band) at the center front neckline side only. Cast off 3 more at next neckline row, and one stitch FIVE more times. Work even until 30 inches from start and cast off all stitches.
Right Front: Make same as back (reversed shaping) BUT add button holes: At 3" in the 5 seed stitch band: work 1 stitch, knit 2 together , yarn over, knit 2 together, continue along the row. On the wrong side in the seed stitch band: seed stitch for one stitch, knit in the front and back of the yarn over, seed stitch the last two stitches. Continue to seed stitch the band.... placing another button hole 5 inches above the last one, repeated until 5 holes are spaced along the band.

Sleeves: cast on 30, work seed stitch for 2 inches, then stocking stitch for the rest: Increase one stitch every 6 rows until 48 stitches , then work even until 20 inches from start. Cast off all stitches. Make another!

Sew shoulders, pick up 60 around neckline and work seed stitch for 1.5 inches. Cast off loosely.
Sew sleeves into armhole space, and sew side and arm seams.
Mix your colours anyway you want or stitch it in one colour!

Spot the little blue bird in the photos! She loves mohair!

Lots of Jackets!

I have been sewing up a storm. For any of you who pop over to my sewing blog, you will already know that I have been making suits for my sister. I also made the fabulous CAPE for her (yes, she knows she is very special to me!). The deal is that I make the suits, and she will fly me in for fittings! (She lives in Winnipeg and I am in southern Ontario!) I will be travelling this weekend and we will do the fittings and shop for yarn and eat turkey (it is Thanksgiving in Canada). This is one of the suit jackets, but you can see them all HERE if you scroll down.

The other jacket I want to show you is a mohair multi-coloured one.... This yarn was purchased by my friend Jane to make shawls, but was TOO chunky and I quickly snapped them up with this coat in mind. Knit on 7mm needles it was a really quick knit and I will post the pattern soon.

It is knit of 4 different colours of self striping mohair from Elann, so it has almost every colour somewhere on the coat. I had some bright red buttons in my stash, and they finish it perfectly.