1 Year??!

I just noticed it's been 1 year since I've posted on my blog. I peek over here once in a while but since I keep track of all my knitting on Ravelry (get over there!) it seems redundant to post here too. I'll try to be better at getting a post up here once in a while, OK?
This year I'm trying to knit 12 pairs of socks and read 12 books...my 12 in 2012 project of sorts.
So far, I've finished 2 pairs of socks and 1 book. Not off to a great start but there's still a lot of time left.
So the 1st book I finished was The Hunger Games and I also saw the movie 3 times!! I'm now reading the 2nd book in the series, Catching Fire.
This is the first pair of socks I finished this year, I name them Pink Ribbys.
And my 2nd pair, given to my mom for her birthday. I named them Winter in Ely since I purchased the yarn in Ely, MN in the winter, the color reminds me of winter and my mom's birthday is in the winter.
See you soon!!!

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

October is for Friends

A long time blog friend is celebrating her birthday and her blog anniversary this month. Head on over to her place and enter to win some super cool prizes!

And in the mean time, LOOK! I've been knitting, I've found my friends again...needles & yarn. I actually started 4 new projects in the last 2 weeks. Soon I'll have finished object photos!

Knitting Mochimochi

I've been a big fan of amigurumi for a long time but I don't really know how to crochet so this knitting amigurumi book is right up my alley. Hey...I just noticed there's a slipper on the front of this book too!

There's so many (20 exactly) cute patterns in this book I just don't know where to start, the Petite Pencil? Human Beans? Grouchy Couch? TV Guy? Love Muff? Feet Eaters? Pigs with Wigs? Yes, definitely Pigs with Wigs and when I get around to finishing it there are plenty of instructions with photos for that too. I love giving handmade baby gifts but I get so bored with hats and booties so I love knitting toys. This is a great resource for those 'out-there' types of gifts for all ages.
This book will definitely be staying on my knitting bookshelf.
Order yours today...it's released on June 29th! If you can't wait there is a free pattern available for the baby gators if you click here.
Check out the Mochimochi Land blog too!

The Week of Book Reviews

I've been given a task to review a few new knitting books & they've been sitting on my coffee table long enough so I'm going to knock them out this week.

First on the list is One Ball Knits - Gifts. It's the 3rd in what appears to be a series, the 1st was Accessories and the 2nd was purses. I don't own either of the first two books even though I'm usually a fan of one skein / ball / hank pattern books. Buying one skein of yarn is usually a habit of mine because I want the yarn right now without a long term plan. So I now have quite a collection of 'one skeins'.

Unfortunately this book was a little underwhelming for me. The first 37 pages were full of good basic knitting information if you need this type of help and considering knitting a gift with one skein of yarn is somewhat beginner I think the basic information in the book is well placed. Moving along, there are 20 patterns in the book. My favorite pattern? Toasty Toes Slippers, the slippers that are featured on the front of the book. Other patterns include: a pillow cover, place mats & napkin rings, baby blocks, gloves, socks & a felted laptop back just to name a few.

I definitely think this book is worth checking out, it just all depends on what floats your boat whether or not you think this book is worth your while. I think next time I'm at the bookstore I'll check out the 1st two books in the series to see if they suit me a little better.

Book Review

Recently released in paperback, the Mason-Dixon Knitting book is still one of my favorites but at a more affordable price than the hardcover version. One of my go-to dish cloth patterns came from this book, the ballband dishcloth I think I've knit about 423 of those things. There are so many patterns through out this book but scattered in between those patterns are tip, tricks, stories, jokes and tons of great photos. Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne are long time bloggers who met online and came together in a collaborative effort know as Mason-Dixon Knitting, how can it get any better than that? They have a great wit about them and are very talented knitters. The patterns in the book range anywhere from dishcloths to curtains, nightgowns to shawls, seat cushions to towels, blankets to rugs and everything in between for beginners and the more seasoned knitter. If you don't already own this book it is definitely a good one to pick up. It's more than just a knitting pattern book, it's entertainment.

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

What I'm Up To

Lately I've been catching up with some friends but when I'm at home I'm re-reading The Lovely Bones. I saw the movie on preview night and enjoyed it but not as much as I remember enjoying the book so I thought I'd dig it out and read it again. I received the Sony Reader for Christmas but I'm really struggling with it since I like to have a real book in my hands. Plus I have SO many books around the house that I have been meaning to read, probably a whole lifetime worth. I'm knitting a baby hat for a friends upcoming baby boy and I'm catching up on podcasts...oh how I love podcasts. And I'm hoping for a Vikings win this afternoon. What have you been up to?

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

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.

I Love Stripes

I've been busy knitting a fun stripey scarf which has ended up to be a nice project to work on during TV shows and lunch breaks. Not 100% sure if this will be a gift or something for myself. As far as Noro goes, I've been pretty happy with the yarn so far. Very few twigs or weird things and the colors are meshing pretty well I think.

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

Christmas in .... August

I started doing a little knitting recently, I can't even believe it. I've been asked to re-create a Christmas stocking for the youngest of a bunch of cousins who never got his because their grandmother passed away before his was completed. I'm hoping the family will be pleased with how it's turning out.

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!

Sock on My Back

My goal for 2009 is to finish a pair of socks each month and they must all be knit out of my stash. In January I finished this pair and I plan to finish this pinky striped pair in February. I started knitting these socks way back in March of 2008. It's about time I think about finishing them don't you think?

On an unrelated note, isn't LOST just rockin' the boob tube this season??

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.