Shawl is finished!

Finally. . . the shawl is done. I worked on it most of the night Friday and didn't go to bed unti it was done. It looks great. It's not as big as the other one I did with the same yarn, Imust be knitting tighter, but it's a good length. It's triangular and the points go right to the end of my fingers so it should be a perfect fit on my sister too since we're the same height. Pictures are coming. I leant my camera out this week and should be getting it back soon.

Wanted to make it to the Hancock's sale, but that didn't happen so I still don't have fabric to work on the charity quilt. I'll have to get a move on with that. But, with the hubby gone this week, I probably won't get to the store. I did make it to a knitting store and got everything I need for my running mittens. I'm making the warmest mittens from the knit knack kit. I've fnished the ribbed cuff on the first one. I'm really enjoying them. It's nice to do something new, I've been making shawls for months now and I really needed something different.

Also started the sweater for my niece, but all I did was cast on the stitches for the front piece and then I got the supplies for my mittens and was too excited to start those. My niece is turning 6 this winter so I am making it in size 7/8 so it will fit her next year (just in case). I don't want to do all this work and finish it at the end of winter and she'll only be able to wear it once. It will be big on her this year (if I finish) and it should fit nice next year, granted I sew my ends in right and it doesn't fall apart at the first washing!!

OK, that's it for my update. I'll be posting pictures of the shawl and my mittens in progress in the next few days.

5 more rows

I did another 5 rows last night on the green shawl. Only 15 more. I'm absolutely determined to finish it this weekend. I'm going to Hancock's for a big sale they're having and I hope to get a border fabric for the charity wallhanging. I'd like to finish organizing the sewing room, it's close, there's just not enough storage, maybe I'll get another bookcase. Also gonna do some fun fall stuff with the hubby so we'll see just how much crafting I can fit in. That's it, Monday I'll be sure to post my "finished with the shawl!" post

10 more rows

Well, I knitted my fingers off lastnight and finished another 10 rows of the green shawl for my sister!! I unfortunately can't make it to my usual knitting group tonight, but we're having dinner with our good friends, so it's acceptable. We'll probably be out late, but I'll try to knit a little bit when I get back. It's coming along though.
I'm adding another project to my priorities, a pair of mittens! It'll be a little tricky for me, but I think that I'm up for it! Since my first pair of mittens will probably look a little silly, I think that I'll make them to match my running hat (which is also on the list) and then I'll make another pair to actually wear to work.
Hopefully my next update will be that the shawl is in the mail to my sister, and hopefully I'll remember to take a picture of this one!!

Shawl update

I'm trying my hardest to finish the last shawl. I've got about 80 rows of 110 done. It's slow coming with all the remodeling projects we've got going on at home. It'll be done sometime soon though. I've got a charity quilt wallhanging to make and I think that I will use a wallhanging that I already started called twisted star. I'd really like to hand quilt it and there is just no way that I could have time to piece and hand quilt something by the middle of November. Ok, well, that's just my little update.

Long time no write

Well, it's been quite a long time since my last post. I was working frantically on my surprise projects to try to finish them by my wedding day (Oct. 2). But it didn't happen of course. They are no longer a surprise. I was making shawls for my 4 bridesmaids. I finished 3 of them, but of course forgot to take any pictures of them before I gave them away. I'm still working on the last one, it's getting there. I've got 63 rows done and no longer have the wedding to occupy all my time so it should go a litlte quicker now. I'm doing about 110 rows on it, but it adds 4 stitches every other row so it seems to go on forever. I'm gonna try my hardest to get it done by the end of the month, but that may be hard. But, I left the last one for my sister who is also a knitter, that way just in case I didn't finish in time, maybe she would understand just how much time these things take and not feel like I didn't try my hardest!

The wedding was perfect, not a thing to complain about! But this isn't a wedding blog, this is all about crafts!! Oh, a craft related wedding surprise for me . . . my mom made me a wedding quilt. It's gorgeous! I'll get a picture up ASAP. It's a log cabin with a heart design all done in neutrals. We hung it up at the wedding and took some portraits in front of it.

Priority of projects:
1. finish shawl for my matron of honor
2. charity quilt for a silent auction. Not sure when I need it done by, but I believe the middle of November. (I have yet to pick out a pattern/fabric for this project, but I know I'm doing a wall hanging.)
3. hat for me - I need a hat to go running in and I can't stand the idea of buying one!
4. sweater for neice - I've got all the yarn/needles/pattern for this, just need the time.

That's all I have planned at the moment.

First Sweater

I decided to try to make a sweater. I made this for my nephew since it would take the least amount of yarn (he's a little guy!) I used homespun yarn, 2 skeins colonial blue, 1 skein cream. It worked up very quickly. The front, back, and sleeves were worked up as flat pieces then sewn together. I then had to pick up stitches along the collar and knit a few rows of stockinette so it would roll over. The cuffs and bottom are done in garter and the rest is stockinette. The pattern was on the label of the homesupn yarn and is also available on the lion brand website.
I'm gonna try to make one for my niece now. A little pullover with a front pocket and a hood. I can't find the yarn that it calls for in the store, but I'm going to order it online. It'll be bright pink, perfect for a little girlie girl!!

Pictures!

I finished my craft barter quilt this weekend. I think it turned out perfect, of course!
I also finished the little companion bags for my sisters. This one is for my older sister, done in the same colors as mine.


This one is for my little sister. I was a little worried that the colors wouldn't have enough contrast. But I think it's my favorite one! It was also done in bulky and the rest were done with worsted weight. It turned out a little bit bigger than the other ones and the strap seems to be just a little bit too short, but I have no yarn left to make another one. It can still be used as a shoulder bag though. And if the straps are pulled all the way through it works as a longer purse with a pretty secure closure (the same goes for the other ones).

Here's all three that I made, with mine on the right.Next up: I need to get some small needles and I'm gonna attempt some socks. Nice and small project for the middle of the summer! Quilt wise, I'd like to get to work on the blue and white quilt again, but it's just too hot. I'll have to go home tonight and look through my stash for the next project. Maybe I'll work on the shop hop quilt my mom got me at the Quilt Festival in Houston 2 years ago!! It's main fabric is a pretty burgandyish floral, if I remember correctly.

Bag lady.

More pictures of bags are coming! I lent my camera to a friend to take some pictures of her craft projects. So I'm going to take pictures this weekend and hopefully get one bag felted (maybe both if I feel ambitious enough). The bag for my older sister has been completed. The one for my little sister has the straps done and is about 8 inches tall (the pattern calls to work it until 10 inches then begin an i-cord bind off). Any day now they'll both be done.

I'm going to try making a pair of socks when the bags are done.

The craft barter quilt is almost done. I've got the binding sewn on for 2 sides. 2 more sides, then make a label and sew it on. I'm gonna try my harest to get that done before the end of the weekend. I do have house chores to do as well though. And I've got a home inspection for a dog adoption which means I should really get the lawn mowed and house cleaned up pretty well. That's Saturday afternoon though. Which leaves the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday to craft my brains out!!

Bags, bags, bags!!

Ok, I'm officially bag crazy! I love these felted bags. It's a quick project with a really cute end product and I feel like I've actually done something with my time. I finished the bag part of the one for my older sister, it's the same colors as the last one I made, but it's mainly the ganet color since there was the most of that left. I also got the yarn in for the one for my little sister. She wanted grey and green. The colors are very pretty, but there's not much contrast. I'm a little worried about how well the stripes will show up. But, if she doesn't like it I can always keep it around for an auction my friend wants to have to benefit another friend's assistance dogs. The yarn is also bulky weight, I thought it was worsted. I guess it will make the bag a little bigger, but I'm working on the same size needles and the pattern does call for either worsted or bulky. I can just let it go another cycle in the washing machine and it should shrink down to the same size.

Once I finish the straps on my older sisters bag, I'm going to felt it and post more pictures.

NY trip

First off, here's my finished felted bag:


I love it and already have some requests from my sisters! Anything to keep me knitting! I can't believe how much it shrunk.

I've been in NY for a week visiting family and planning my wedding. I managed to squeeze in time to get the craft barter quilt pinned. I think it's absolutely gorgeous (I'm a little biased, you'll have to judge for yourself). I'm tempted to make something similar for myself. But I've got lots of other quilting projects to do first!
I just have to tie it and put the binding on. I'm going to use pearl cotton to tie it and the binding will be the same black that's used for the outer border. It should be done soon, but the 100 degree weather may slow me down a little. Who wants to have a huge quilt (super queen) sitting on their lap to tie in the dead of the summer? But I do really want to finish. This may be a time for air conditioning to come to the rescue.