Hello!

I've been thinking about my knitting blog lately and how I've tossed it aside for quite a while. I don't want to get rid of it, where would all the info go if I did??
I tend to keep my Ravelry page up do date so if you're not following me there already, come on over. My name there is smileshiner72. The website is such a good resource for all things knitting.
I have been knitting a lot lately and I even have some finished objects.
I'll try to get some posted here in the next few weeks.
If you're still reading this blog, comment so I know there are people still out there! Thanks!
This is one of my recent favorites. A monkey I knit for my cousins new baby Crosby John.
Project Details:
Pattern: Jelly Bums Monkey by Raynor Gellatly
Yarn: Plymouth Encore & Lamb's Pride Worsted
Color: 599 (brown) & M-115 (natural)
Needles: US 3 dpn
Started: March 12, 2011
Finished: March 17, 2011
Modifications: I knit the monkey in the round instead of flat w/ seaming
Knit for: Crosby John - born March 17th, 2011
Gifted with a monkey blanket too

Whoops

I knit this cool pair of socks for Socktoberfest using the mystery pattern by Through the Loops. This pair of socks were going to be my State Fair entry for 2011!! I thought for sure I would have enough Jitterbug yarn to complete the project but, surprise! I ran out. At least my Frankenstein foot is hidden inside of a shoe if I dare wear these outside the house. Aren't these the saddest socks you've ever seen? Nuts.

Candy Hat

Project Details:
Pattern: Candy Hat - on the label of the yarn
Yarn: Artful Yarns Candy
Color: 9361
Needles: Size 5 16" bamboo circular + birch DPN's
Started: January 23, 2010
Finished: January 25, 2010
Modifications: I added the "Marley Top" as written by Susan B. Anderson in Itty-Bitty Hats
Knit for: My friend April's anticipated baby boy

3 Years in the Making

Last night I met some friends for a night of food, wine and knitting but since I'm not working on anything substantial on the knitting front I was stumped as to what to bring to work on. Splatgirl suggested I bring the Wobbly Tote I've been working on forever and a day so I agreed, dug it out of the corner of my craft room and dragged it along. One of the things that kept me from finishing the bag long ago is I knit the 2 sides at different gauges. This is because I knit the two sides about a year or two apart and apparently the second time around I had some aggression to work out and I held the yarn much tighter than I had the first time. I figured since the 2 sides had equal amount of rows and stitches I'd just seam it stitch for stitch and it should work itself out.

It was a nice relaxing evening with lots of food and conversation plus I managed to almost finish seaming the totebag. A quick few minutes this morning and the job was complete. The tote bag took 4 trips in a hot / cold wash and now it's drying. It shrunk a lot as seen on the ruler I placed in the photo. Apparently in 2007 I needed a tote bag but in 2010 I really don't so I'm not sure what to do with it now but I'm happy that it's finished...what else can I dig up?

Project Details:
Pattern: Wobbly Tote by Leigh Radford in Interweave Knits Spring 2006
Yarn: Cascade 220
Color: 2433, 7805, 9477, 9446, 9421
Needles: Size 13
Started: January 2007
Finished: January 30, 2010
Knit for: ?
Ravelry Link

In Like a Lion

Project Details:
Pattern: Grrr by Alice Bell - Knitty Summer 2007 (non-Ravelry link)
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease
Color: 186 Maize
Needles: Size 5 aluminum straights
Started: December 26, 2009
Finished: January 23, 2010
Knit for: My friend April's anticipated baby boy

Christmas Knitting #2

My second project for Christmas was the mistletoe ornament I ran across one day on Ravelry. Mine didn't turn out exactly as pictured, my leaves resemble something I'm not too proud of instead of a nice wide leaf. I may try these again.

Project Details:
Pattern: Mistletoe ornament by Lindsey Lee (non-Ravelry link)
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted
Color: 144W Limestone
Needles: Size 7 birch DPN's
Started: December 12, 2009
Finished: December 21, 2009
Knit for: Me, I also gave one to my parents and saved the rest for 2010 Christmas

Christmas Knitting #1

I didn't do too much knitting for Christmas in '09 but vow to more, and earlier in the year for 2010!
Project number one is a wee felted tote bag.

Project Details:
Pattern: My go-to felted bag for a gift, a handout I received years ago at a LYS - for the Knit for a Cure MN campaign
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun & Araucania Nature Wool
Color: 144W Limestone & 43 respectively
Needles: Size 11 24" circular
Started: November 15, 2009
Finished: November 21, 2009
Knit for: Anita - I tucked some good organic chocolate inside for a fun Christmas gift!

Notes: I think Brown Sheep Nature Spun is one of my favorite felting yarns, I also like Patons Classic Wool.

2009 Wrapped Up

Looking back at the knitting I completeed in 2009.

Pretty slim, lots of miniature knitting, only a few notable projects. My goal in 2010 is to get more unfinished items off the needles and get through a bit of my stashed yarn. Happy Knitting in 2010!!

Tis the Season for Stripes

I finished up the stripey scarf and even wore it to the Holidazzle Parade on Saturday night. It kept me nice and warm as we waited an hour in the cold for the parade to start. The nice thing about the scarf is it matches nearly every outfit I have.

Project Details:
Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf by Jared Flood
Yarn: Noro Kureyon
Color: 185 & 154
Needles: Size 7 Birch
Started: November 1, 2009
Finished: November 29, 2009
Knit for: Me!
Raveled here

We're in the midst of the 1st snowstorm of the year! Yipee! I'll try to post some snow photos later this week for those of you in warm climates.

Stocking Re-Created

I just finished the Christmas stocking I started back in August for a friends nephew. The original knitter of the Christmas stocking was a tricky knitter, she gave me a run for my money as I re-created her masterpiece.

I did everything as exact as I could right down to the braided hanger.

Here it is laying next to the original. I hope Nick enjoys the stocking for many years to come!

Project Details:
Pattern: Taken from original stocking
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted
Color: 0146 - Natural, 1386 - Red, 054 - Green
Needles: Size 8 Birch DPN's
Started: August 22, 2009
Finished: October 20, 2009
Knit for: Nick

Pink Sheldon

My little pink turtle has been living in a Ziploc bag for some time now, I started knitting her in February of last year. In my quest to finish up some long overdue projects she was brought out into the fresh air for a little bit of TLC and she came to life on Sunday!

Pattern: Sheldon by Ruth Homrighaus
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport
Color: 6555 - Blush, 6564 - cherry
Needles: Size 3 aluminum DPN's, Size 4 aluminum straight needles, Size D crochet hook
Started: February 2, 2008
Finished: February 22, 2009
Knit for: Me!
Thoughts on the project: I love this yarn! The finishing of the turtle is a bit putsy but now that I look back, it was well worth it. 2nd Sheldon I've knit, 1st one here.

...what should I work on next??

February Finished Socks

I'm on track to knit 12 pairs of socks this year!! Even though I cheated, this pair was started early in 2008.

Pattern: Basic Stockinette Socks
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
Color: 401 Neon
Needles: Size 1 birch DPN's
Started: March 20, 2008
Finished: February 16, 2009
Knit for: Me!

Whirly

I recently saw these whirlygiggle quilts popping up all over the internet and knew I wanted to make one. I have oodles (three) of co-workers due with babies this month so I was presented with an opportunity to make a whirlygiggle quilt (or 3 but I only made one). My friend Erin found out she was having a boy (she's in labor right now!) so I naturally went for all boy colors. I REALLY like this quilt a lot. It was a little fussy since the pieces have to be cut out using a template but it did go quicker than I expected. I can't wait to present this quilt to little Liam!

31st

Whew! Has it really been a month since I posted last?? I'll make a point to post at least twice in Feb :) I have managed a few finished projects in January despite my crazy busy schedule at work and lots of social activities.

Pattern: Basic 3 x 1 rib
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM
Color: P103
Needles: Size 2 birch DPN's
Started: November 9, 2008
Finished: January 11 , 2009
Knit for: Anita

And the other projects I've finished this month...

Finished Objects 2008

I didn't knit a ton this year but what I did knit I had a lot of fun doing. The wee socks are a hoot, the Soctoberfest Mystery Sock was a blast and Casey's birthday hat is just crazy. And a toy turtle? What is better? Hopefully 2009 will bring even more happiness from my needles.

Patriotic

My most recent finished quilt. Previously seen in the photos with Casey, who couldn't keep his paws off!

Project: Snapshots from Happy Hour by Atkinson Designs
Made for: a friend who retired from the Air Force
Started: October 2008
Finished: December 2008

Socktoberfest Completed

It's been 14 days since Socktoberfest has been over but I haven't shared my project with you yet!

Pattern: Through the Loops Socktoberfest Mystery KAL
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
Color: Purple Iris
Needles: Size 2 Birch & Rosewood DPN's (knit both at once)
Started: October 4, 2008
Finished: November 7 , 2008
Knit for: Me!

Monster Mash

I just love Halloween so I was tickled when I found the pattern for this Frankenstein's Monster Cloth. Unfortunately this weekend I've come down with a cold so I've been lounging around catching up on TiVo'd shows and knitting a bit too. Today I started a mystery socktoberfest knitalong on Ravelry and I may pick up a UFO or 2.

Charitable Quilting

One of my local quilt shops gathers baby doll quilts for donation over the holidays. This summer I picked up a few fat quarters and just recently sat down to make the baby doll quilt. I'll be dropping this off in the next couple weeks and feel pretty darn good about it.

The Things I Make My Dog Do...

Recently I knit Casey a party hat...

The photo shoot didn't go so well. This isn't really the pose I had in mind for the project I'm doing so we'll have to try again. He only keeps the hat on for about 3 seconds before pulling it off with his paw, which is cute in and of itself.
If you've been reading my blog since the beginning you may remember the original doggie party hat.
If you're on Ravelry you can see the details here.