It's Finished

Popping in on a gorgeous Saturday for a Tah Dah moment then I am off for a walk as its another awesome warm sunny day.

I have finished the entire pattern loved the way it crocheted up...was really pretty darn easy. I plan on putting together a pattern took notes as I went a long. As soon as I get them together hopefully over the weekend. I will post them for you to make one yourself. It's easy so if you're a more experienced crocheter you can play around with the pattern. This is a 12 months version.

Have a wonderfully day my friends <3

Little Fox Needs Crocheted

My daughter and her family, it's still hard to believe sometimes...

that my nest has been empty for nearly a decade next year. And her family grew by one little sweet boy who has captured my heart. I am so proud of her my radiographer, amazing mom, and daughter, waiting 7 years after marrying, spending time with her hubby, before her family grew.

And grew it did...this little guy if you remember (in the photo on the left side of blog in the gray owl cocoon set) was born last year 11.12.13 unique I know, is now one. It seems it's always printed somewhere, no matter what you read, time flies, how fast they grow, and growing he has. 

William loves posing for photographs, and his smile, look out girl's, it's a heart breaker with brown almond shaped eyes, he lights up a room. Happy One Year, little guy, grammie loves you more than you know.

And knowing how much I love William, it's near time for a winter hat, how could I not fall in love with this one. Perfect for grammies little fox who explores everything.

So, I better get crocheting...yes it's here...our first snow of the winter. I would have gone outside and photographed, but, it's bitter cold, in fact, 3 degrees below zero. Burrrrr!

Knitting Continues...

Well the snow is falling again, what else would one expect it's winter! Luckily only 1 to 3 inches and it's already near the 3 inch mark. I like to watch the snow when it's falls especially when it's large and falling slowly. It's snowing like that tonight makes for wrapping up in a nice handmade blanket, lighting the fireplace and knitting away. It's what I like about winter, not having to run outside mow the law, tend to the garden, it's just knitting time. Which is what I've been doing. I seem to be stuck on making these hats designed by Stephanie Dozen in her book "Woodland Knits"  This one which is my third, is done in the Lion Brands "Wool Ease" Thick n Quick color Oatmeal. I took the pattern and revised it a bit, made the hat shorter in the back am adding a scarf to this one later with pockets at the bottom, for a young girl Alexia who feel in love with a hat scarf combination I wear all the time, it has pockets at the bottom of both ends of the scarf. A lot a people compliment and always ask, where did you get that, it's really neat. That's when I decided to add a scarf to this hat. The next one I'm making is going to be worsted weight yarn instead of thick and bulky. I can't tell you how incredibly warm this hat is...it's amazing. There is another book I'm waiting for in the mail called "Botanical Knits" by Alana Dako's I just love anything to do with nature. I love the details from nature Alana adds to all her knitting patterns. After I finish this project hopefully tonight I will photograph it again in it's finished form. I have to say....it's really difficult to photograph oneself wearing the final projects. No, I'll tell you what's really difficult...first I boiled 6 eggs only to forget about them until I heard them popping like popcorn, to falling down on the kitchen floor after tripping over my own shoe, to breaking the key off in the door to my apartment. I guess things really do happen in three's, why is that anyway. Hmm...must do some google research before knitting.

An Enchanting Pattern

 

 Dragon Watchers Hood Pattern shortened by me.

Color -Cilantro- Original Dragon Watchers Hood Pattern

A late night pop in to show what I've been up to since my last post. Christmas Eve was spent at my oldest son's home with the grand son's opening gifts from me. (photographs to come in next post with all the details) I've been knitting with Lion Brands Wool Ease Thick and Quick a yarn I usually don't use and thought I'd give it a try. The pattern I used was from Woodland Knits by Stephanie Dosen. The pattern is called  Dragon Watchers Hood, (deep red hood in post link) it's Stephanie's very first knitting book. I am really enchanted with the fantasy patterns that seem to just take you away to another place in time. The entire book is done so beautifully the images alone will captivate. I've done the original Hood in the same yarn, color, Cilantro, but need to purchase more yarn to for the long I-Cord that goes through the front of the hood. I love the way she designed the casing in the front it was simple with The Dragon Watchers Hood done entirely seamless. This is my version of the Hood done shorter with a seam up the back, if you look at the original it has a long tail behind the hood. Although I usually work with worsted weight or dk yarns I really enjoyed the thick and quick. Not to mention this hood is incredibility warm. This would make a wonderful gift or a project to keep for yourself, either way your sure to love it!

Update- How I did the shorter version will be in my Ravelry Sunday evening.

Tah! Dah! Set is Done!

Hello my readers, I do hope your count down to Christmas shopping is going well, and you're enjoying the Season. I know it's late posting, but I have been playing with my new Cannon Camera and love the results of the photographs. I am still reading away and experimenting learner slowly, but learning. Being a visual learner it would be easier to have a helper, yet, I am still enjoying it all. With that being said, I finally finished baby, Will's, sweater set and I am pleased. Especially the color I added to the hat, Berroco Comfort DK color is 2703 it's similar to a beige and  this yarn...is so incredibly soft. I've also been using the mattress stitch to close seams and love it, it's literally invisible. I am growing in knitting to the point I can actually sense when I am not working the pattern properly, and that's an accomplishment for me. I am dearly loving the knitting process, crocheting most of my life, afraid to pursue the knitting process beyond scarfs, hats, the simple things. I am now confident to keep moving forward with each piece and so looking forward to it all. It's cold here as it should be, we've even managed to miss the snow like we did last year. I dare not get comfy in that thought, it's been a couple years since we have been hit with snow above 6" to 8" although it would be nice to remain in inches, we are in the snow belt. So it's up to nature as to whether she will continue to be kind.

Winter makes such a perfect time for knitting and trying my hand at creating some real projects. I have just learned the process for designing beyond baby hats and wash clothes. Again this is the owl sweater set without the owls and just a simple little hat knitted on 4 needles adding the stripes. For those reading that don't think they can accomplish a sweater, please try, if I can manage this girl who had so much trouble reading patterns, you can too. Just keep pushing it does get easier.

Thank you for stopping, keep the yarn moving on the needles or the hook, and keep warm!

Baby Cocoon and Hat finished...Adorable Owl Sweater Pattern

Blocking is done and I've added the Hat! Plus a Found Owl Pattern.

 

 

Last night while watching Criminal Minds, (another of my favorite shows) I knitted up a little hat to coordinate with the cocoon pattern I found on Raverly. I love browsing Raverly they're are so many talented people it's just amazing.

 

 

If you remember I discussed in my last post, how blocking didn't seem to make much sense to me when knitting or crocheting with acrylic yarn, however, much to my surprise this particular yarn really made a different in the cocoon, after the blocking was completed. Isn't that little hat just adorable?

 

 

The yarn I used was some I bought on sale at JoAnn Fabrics, we are limited on yarn shops in our area. The yarn was Bernat Softie which is great if you're knitting up thing for babies, or for someone who is looking for really inexpensive yarn which is comfy soft to the skin. My daughter is not one who likes anything with wool or a wool blend, which made this yarn, even more appealing for this project. I have to say it doesn't compare to the yarn the pattern originally called for...as this yarn was a lighter weight. It has a lot of stretch which is good and I'm glad because it knitted up a bit narrower than expected. Every brand of yarn I work with tends to knit up differently which is expected, yet for me, it doesn't matter. I have learned even when I work the gauge, I end up knitting looser as I dive into the project. So I am really learning to focus on my needle sizes more than the yarns. It's an easy pattern to knit, the only stitch you really have to know is w&t (wrap and turn) and then neating it in your work. This is an excellent tutorial for leaning w&t.

Currently I am working on a this owl baby sweater set pattern... I found while web surfing. My daughter requested a sweater done in ivory, another cashmere project is in the making.

 

Thank You for popping in have a spectacular day.

 

Tad Dah! It's Finished...

 

 

Since my last post I've been working on the not a cowl project. Out of the whole process photographing myself was the hardest. I think I took some fifty, cutting myself out, showing half the hat. Needless to say it was quite the experience, especially since I usually close my eyes nearly every time someone snaps a photograph of me. Surprising so... many years ago I was a photographer at an Olan Mills Photography Studio. Way back before the days of digital camera's unloading the film in a dark room to be sent out. So yes, this is me at home no makeup no prep...ooh and wearing the project which now you know is a hat or is it!

 

 

 

I have to tell you there are mistakes, it's why I always work the pattern first before making my final color choice. The colors are me without a doubt and so are the mistakes. Which is also why I work the pattern a first time...did I already say that! And trust me the mishaps are there, while watching NFL football ( a big football fan here) on Sunday is were they all started. No, they started in the first two rows. Like I said, I always cast on and do the first two rows by going down 2 to 3 needle sizes depending on the yarn. I work my yarn very loose when I start although temps to correct it haven't worked I just learned to adapt. I really like how easy this pattern was to complete and the hardest part was simply figuring out the flap which turned out to be easy. My biggest mishap was knitting one extra row of color then I needed which you'll see later. I am pleased with the results despite the whoops!

 

 

Which is why I decided to cover my face...not really...I wanted to show you how the flap comes down. Well first lets go back to the top photograph, there is something missing. On each corner of the flat there are button holes where the flat buttons to the hat so it doesn't fall. I still have to put those on plus two on the bottom in the tan area by my chin...Why!

 

 

Okay, first I have to undo the top!

 

 

 

Wait a minute as I open the top and pull it down over my entire face to my neck! I have to tell you I despise coats with bulky hoods, hats that unzip from your coat or tuck inside the neckline. Let's just say I hate hats that attach to my clothing, or one I have to take off carry around or stuff in my purse....which is what drew me to this pattern. It's not only warm it's functional and that's say me too.

 

 

And functional it is....how convenient isn't it... and yummy fashionable!

 

 

 

So much so even my cat I think was impressed...I'd like to think so...actually she's eyeing the i-cord that closes the top of the hat and ties around the neck.

 

 

I knitted the hat/cowl with Caron's Simply Soft on size 7 circular needles if you remember them. I am smitten with the way this yarn gives and maintains it's shape, not to mention it's incredibly soft. Not good for showing stitch detail but for me I just wanted function. The pattern starts at the top where the i-cord sits..then down in a k2, P2 pattern. It should have actually stopped at the cream before the flap row making it a cream flap, hence my extra football row, making too much bulk at the top were it ties when in the hat function. Four buttons are needed two to for the flap when in the cowl stage. Two in the beige area under the chin to roll down as a cowl. I am currently working the final one in colors that will match my winter coats and make it easy to coordinate with outfits. This one will find it's way to being used while shoveling the driveway or walking in the woods. Like I said, "I am pleased."