Cell Phone Blogging

Can I really blog from my cell phone? Well I guess so!

Well now isn't that funky! This is a picture of the phone on my desk at work that I took using my cell phone. Look out world - I can post at will now!

Mankato East Mittens

...for a special person getting ready to move to 7th grade there next year.

Warmest Mittens pattern from my earlier post in Cascade 220 yarn. Maybe 1/2 a skein of black and less than 1/4 skein of the yellow/gold. After the ribbing I changed colors every 10 rows.

These are pretty fast so finishing them isn't all that impressive. I spend a night making the ribbing/hand part and another night on the thumb and weaving in the ends... total of 4 evenings in front of the tv or watching your favorite youth practice/game.

Our "baby"

I haven't shown you the "baby" of our family lately.... he turned 5 on March 24th... 135 pounds of love and adoration!

A good days work

and a project that has been on my list for 2 years....

BEFORE:

AFTER:

What's the difference between Men and Boys?

the price of their toys of course!

Cobber Mittens done!

I finished the mittens last night and got them all washed up. They turned out pretty well. The only thing I would change is to not change colors right where the thumb joins the hand part... it's a little awkward there but I'm probably the only one that notices.

Graduation Present

We have a friend graduating this year and I wanted to make a pair of mittens in her new college colors for her gift... wouldn't you know this month seems to be flying by and her open house is only 10 days away! I found this pattern on Ravelry - over 140 people had made it and there were very few modifications so I figured I was safe to use it for a quick pair.

Would you believe this is one evening's work? It took me longer to get the pattern ready, find the needles and wind the yarn!

Cascade 220 yarn in Maroon and Gold (for the Cobbers) and the Warmest Mitten pattern from the Knitting Pretty book - or free online.

Picture-less Mother's Day

We gave each of our Mom's a knitted washcloth and photos of the boys for Mother's Day but wouldn't you know it - I didn't get a picture of any of the washcloths! Grandma R got a watering can on hers since she loves plants.... Grandma A. got a cat on hers since she's a cat person.... Great Grandma a daisy, her favorite flower (and mine).

End of April Monthly Dishcloth

This pattern is from a Yahoo group I'm in that walks us through 2 different dish cloth patterns each month. I'll definitely try out this stitch pattern again.

Notions bag

This is a notions bag... I'm not sure I like it but I can't quite decide. I used the directions I found in a book for an "exposed" zipper since I quilted the fabric I used to make it nice and firm to hold it's shape. I'll make another one, just not sure what I'll change first.

A finished Clapotis

I am in L O V E with this yarn - cascade paint!

it isn't stipe-y.... it didn't pool ... the individual colors shine clear and clean

Gorgeous!

Clapotis beginning

I have started the Clapotis I am making. I'm using Cascade 220 Paints yarn and the pattern from Knitty.

The yarn is really beautiful and I love the fact that it isn't striping. You can see on the very tip of the Clapotis where I started out using markers. It was taking so long I didn't think I would EVER be done. I then used the tip from the Ravelry group and made the stitch that will be dropped later a Purl stitch. This made it so that I could remove the markers and my speed increased very dramatically. The piece in my hand is what I did with the markers... the rest of it was done in a similar time frame but is a lot bigger. I seem to be cruising along now.

I am really loving the texture in the Clapotis and can't wait until my first dropped stitch.

Clapotis

My yarn has arrived for the Clapotis I'll be making with the Tangled Skein class. Isn't it gorgeous? It's Cascade 220 Paints in colorway 9826. I'm so excited to see it knit up!

Calorimetry

I have been wanting to try this pattern for ages - I finally did it.

Calorimetry number 1 made with ella rae classic print yarn. I've made a baby's ear cozy hat from this skein and now a calorimetry. I still need to weave in the ends, wash it and put on the buttons.

Calorimetry number 2 was made with one skein of Noro Kureyon .

This is how much yarn I have left...Like the other one, I still need to wash it, weave in the ends and sew on the button.

Pattern is from Knitty - you can see it here
I'll be teaching this at a class at The Tangled Skein this spring.

Woodworking class sign

It's official - I even have a sign!

Starting the Baby Mocs

I finished DJ's 2nd sock yesterday while knitting with friends at The Tangled Skein. It's so nice to have our weekends back now that the local hockey is over for both boys!

I found this pattern online here for Baby Moc-a-Soc's and just couldn't wait to make them. I'm sure their future recipient will reveal themselves to me one day.I'm using Dalegarn Dale of Norway yarn in Stork (100% cotton for easy washing) in a brown and a cream/white. I have two 50 gram (180 meter/195 yard) balls of brown and one of cream/white.

Happy Birthday Niece #3

Niece #3 turns 8 on Sunday - wow, time flies by! For her birthday package we are sending her American Girl Bath and Body Works products, a cute little American Girl bag and a washcloth knit just for her with lots of love. Happy Birthday Gorgeous!

Made with Rowan chunky cotton chenille on size 5 needles using the pattern from the Weekend Knitting book. I will definitely make this pattern again even though the cloth seems to be HUGE!

Welcome Claire and Liam

There is a certain goalie coach that has been a wonderful resource and mentor for our family and our young hockey goalie. A few days ago, I received a photograph of his brand new family with the recent addition of twins!

These hats are knitted with love for Claire and Liam. This one was knit with Claudia Hand Painted Yarns - Fingering Weight 100% Merino Wool on size 2 needles using the Open Top Preemie hat pattern from here.Liam's hat was knit with Lana Grossa D-85080 Gaimersheim yarn that is 80% wool and 20% Polyamid on size 2 needles with the same Open Top Preemie hat pattern from above. Since Daddy is a hockey coach and they are from a fellow hockey parent, I thought it would be fun to cinch the tops with the lace from a hockey skate. I've also included matching twisted cord ties for the hats for the "off-season".

High School Parent's Night for Hockey

Have I shown you my handsome hubby and eldest son lately?

This is our family on Parent's night. We were one of the first families on the ice since we have one of the youngest players on the high school hockey team.

The other players skated out, gave Mom a carnation and a kiss on the cheek.... Dad said "I'll give you $10 if you get a kiss on the cheek". My big smile is due to the kiss AND the $10 richer!

He has skates on so he has a few inches of assistance in the height department but I still am starting to feel short - and I'm 5' 9" tall!

Happy Birthday Baby Brother!

I PROMISE I'll finish the other sock soon!

One done and one to go. They are made from 2 skeins of Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino using the 8 stitch per inch socks from Ann Budd's book Getting Started Knitting Socks.