I'm So Proud

I'm so proud of my friend Kimberly! Interweave Crochet just published her lovely Moss Fern Wrap pattern. She is just so clever that it makes me want to learn to crochet. Here it is on Ravelry.

Thing is she also designs knitting patterns...a true inspiration. Go Kimberly!

What to Do?

I was trucking along on my Twisted V Pullover and was working both sleeves at the same time. I followed the directions for the cap shaping and started to realize something was wrong - very wrong! This is not a sleeve cap! I am supposed to knit until it is 5 1/2 inches from the first bind off row - this will look ridiculous.

I checked that I had the right needle size so I wouldn't do what Jennifer did with her Ribbi Cardi.
Check - right size needles.

I reread the instructions which had me decrease every right side row 8 times until I had 27 stitches.
Check - that's what I did.

I searched all over Ravelry and Interweave Knits to see if there was an errata page...nope.
















Now what? Make it up? I think I need to rip it out as it is wrong but I don't know the solution. I think the decreases should be every other right side row.

I want to finish this as I know I will wear it a lot and will wear it soon. Grrrr. Any suggestions?
















This is my 10 Stitch Afghan I started after I got the idea from KnitCrazy's comment on my blog contest. This reminds me of my baseball blanket I made and it's fun to find which color to go with next. I have so many other projects on needles this is kind a mindless knit for when I have 5-10 minutes to spare...it will take a LONG time to complete.

Third Time is the Charm

When I first made this sweater I found these cool buttons that were silver and kind of diamond shaped. Unfortunately, they were too small and kept coming undone.
















So I got these buttons but they were just too shiny and too blue.





















I finally sewed on these buttons which are silver have a slight decoration to them and it looks 100% better. Plus they are the right size!

And the winners are.....

This was fun! Thank you for commenting so much on my projects and giving me inspiration and courage to do something new and different.

Drumroll....the winners are:

Touche - Julie
03 Tweed - Krista
Porto Cervo - Mujercita
Himalayan Silk/Wool - Knitting Dancer
Felted purse - TripletMom

Please contact me with your full name and snail mail address via message on Ravelry (emhknits) or email me at niceknitsct@yahoo.com.

Felted Sweater Sleeves

Miss America saw the leftover sleeves from the felted sweater I used to make the pillow. She asked what they were and then pulled them on her arms. Then I suggested they could be legwarmers.

Well, they were a little small to get over her ankles but they keep her legs and feet warm. She loved them and immediately asked if she could keep them.

Now, I have to work on the other sweater and do something with it...the sewing machine is still set up. I could also FINALLY work on this.

Don't forget to leave a comment for the contest - drawing at noon today EST. Results tomorrow!

I feel so clever.

I feel so empowered in my creativity and I have all of you to thank. I don't think I would have ever made this without your input and feedback.

While most of you suggested a tote bag, it was Krista's comment that she just feels it is a pillow that stuck in my head. I always felt pillowish about this too. My DH agreed and said "you have enough tote bags" - I told him "you can never have enough tote bags". I went with the pillow.

Here it is in our family room. I put it on the sofa which is navy blue and it got lost but I think it looks wonderful in this chair. It's a sunny little sunflower in the corner and I can see it from my kitchen which will make me smile.

Keep the comments coming in as they all count towards the contest drawing tomorrow.

This Might Just Work

Thanks to your input I felted the two sweaters. Here they are in their shrunken glory.

















While cleaning the guest room, I found this felted sunflower I made back in December. I tucked it away not sure what to do with it. I had a lightbulb moment!
















Now my question is should I make a pillow or a tote bag? Any ideas?

All comments count towards the contest.

THANK YOU!

What wonderful input you all gave me for my many questions/problems! Today, I've already donated the sweater to charity. Hopefully, someone will get warmth and happiness from my handiwork.

I'm felting the sweaters as I type this post. I don't know what I'm going to do with them but several ideas are to make a tote or ornaments or pillows. I'll let the felted fabric "speak" to me and go from there.

Lastly, thanks to Knitcrazy who suggested the 10 stitch blanket. Perfect for using up the scraps. I even discovered this cool scarf which I might use with other scraps for Miss America.

Keep the comments coming as they all count towards Sunday's contest drawing!

A Contest! A Blogiversary Too!

I just realized that September 10th was the 1 year anniversary of this blog SO I've decided to have a contest...before showing you the prizes, I'm showing you what I'm hoping you will comment on and give suggestions.

First, all these miscellaneous but lovely partial skeins of yarn...what do you do with your leftover bits of yarn. Save them? Make them into little somethings?

I made this v-neck sweater a while back. It is too small for me (even though I swatched and everything) and the friend I gave it too can't wear wool easily without itching. What should I do with this? I don't think frogging will work...felting? Donate to charity?

Our dental hygenist gave me these two partially felted sweaters thinking I might be able to felt them fully. What to do with these? Do you have a project idea?

Okay, so if you leave a comment with a suggestion for any/all of these quandries OR leave a comment over the next week (deadline noon EST Sunday), you could win (randomly selected one of the following:

A skein of Berroco Touche in Cool Red.

A skein of Classic Elite 03 Tweed.

Two skeins of Porto Cervo Cotton.

A skein of Himalayan Yarn Co. 60% wool/40% recycled silk (175 yards) - the photo doesn't do justice to this lovely color.

A felted bag made by yours truly.


So, here's your chance to help me out, comment on my blog at will and often, and win something!

Cleaning out My Knitting Closet - Mini Stash Flash

It was an overcast, dreary Saturday so in addition to baking cookies, doing laundry, changing the beds, etc. I decided to clean out my knitting closet.

I have these two shoe/sweater organizers in which I store my stash. I rearranged all the stash and put it in neat piles of work to be done, Cascade 220, etc.














I straightened my book and magazine collection as well.



Now, I have some remnant balls and I don't know what to do with them. They aren't a lot of yarn skein by skein but a lot collectively. Some wool here.

Some Knit Picks Shine and CotLin.

Just in case you were wondering what happened to it...my cherished skein of Qiviuk has moved to the top shelf of the organizer. Front and center. Now I need to thing about what to make with it and savor every moment knitting it.

Next blog post: a contest! Yup, I'm having a contest and you can win something if you give advice on some other quandries I have...

An Early Morning Trip

To the Frog Pond!











This was the Tempting II that I was making for Miss America - it is a tube if K1, P1 right now and I was up to the sleeves. I wasn't in love with it, she hasn't worn the Tempting that I made for her (too off the shoulders for daily wear)...so I decided to take this UFO and frog it for Finish or Frog it Friday.

Isn't it odd how quickly you can rip out a project that took so long to make? It IS very liberating though to get that UFO out of your hair.















Now what to do with five skeins of Knit Picks Shine Worsted...hmmm. I'll think about that another day.

It's Wednesday, So...

I'll show you some WIPs.










First is my Inca Marle Ruffled Coat. I'm just beginning this and have done about 7 inches on the back. It's straight stockinette and is perfect for watching the US Open. I'm aiming to wear this in March when it is still cool but you want more spring like colors.














This is my Twisted V Pullover which I'm knitting in Knit Picks Merino Style in Hollyberry. What is it about reds that you can't get the true color on film? This is a much deeper color. I've started the sleeves and should be ready to wear this when it gets chilly.














I'm designing something with this yarn. Miss America and I bought it at Rhinebeck last year and I've started the project. I'm going to keep it secret for now. I'm enjoying it though and I love the name of the color - Bubblegum!















As if I don't have enough to do, I was in Katonah Yarn Company today and saw this yarn by Sheep Shop Yarn on sale 1/2 price. It has 325 yards per skein so I picked up these 3 to see if I can design something else for Miss America - the colors are divine.

I almost got more to make something for me but held back...good thing, huh?

All Buttoned Up

I'm all buttoned up after hitting the local sewing store. I got my Annikki finished last Friday during a rainstorm. It took hours to sew on the button bands but it really turned out well. I see this as being a definite staple in my wardrobe.

A close-up of the buttons I chose. It really is hard finding the right buttons.

This is my Tilted Duster. It still needs to be blocked so the hem doesn't curl. I love how it looks and you can get an idea of what a wardrobe staple it will be with jeans. It is VERY warm.

The buttons have a bit of color variation on them which makes them interesting but not fighting with the sweater. The color isn't very true in this shot...the one above is better.