Emptyknitster

I did a little charity knitting this month and enjoyed knitting the baby items. Although I usually use leftover stash yarn I want them to be quality knits, something I'd give as gifts at a baby shower. This is a cute little Norwegian baby hat. I like it but might be just a bit old fashioned for most Moms. I don't think I'll be knitting it again soon. Pattern: Yarn: Norwegian Sweet Baby Cap by Gro Yarn: Schachenmayr Regia Festival Color 4-Fadig/4-ply Colorway: 2877 Needle Size: US Size 1.5 and US Size 2.5 Pattern: This was an experiment I tried. I wanted to knit some newborn tube socks but the sizing is off and I'll need to continue my experimenting. These are probably a 3-6 month size. Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal Reiselust 6-fach/6ply Colorway: 9427 Laoas Needle Size: US Size 1 Pattern: Seed Stitch Yoke Cardigan by Nichole Reese Yarn: Leftover bits Cascade 220 Colorway: Blues Needle Size: Us Size 7 The little sweater was quite fulfilling but there ...

Anna enjoyed playing with the Fisher Price Little People while she visited a few weeks ago and when I saw these small dolls I thought of her. I hope she will enjoy them all year long. Pattern: Pretty Izzy Dolls by Ester Braithwaite Yarn: Leftover Sock Yarn bits and pieces Colorway: various Needle Size:  US Size 1

I wanted to practice my helical knitting and thought the color choice would be nice. The finished fabric is okay, I’m not impressed with my finished project and am not sure it is gift worthy, but hope Anna will enjoy wearing it during the cold winter. Pattern: Flax Light by tincanknits Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage 150 and Schachenmyr Regia Festival Color 4-Fadig Colorway: Italian Plum and Color 02877 Needle Size: US Size 2 and 5

 I bought this yarn at Knotty by Nature while visiting Victoria last March.  If I lived on the island this would be my go to yarn shop!! Tucked on a corner of a quiet neighborhood this shop is welcoming even before you enter through the doors.  There is a table and chairs just outside the door inviting any passerby to have a tea or coffee while kitting or reading a book in the sunny afternoon. I picked the vibrant green yarn and decided to show off my Irish heritage in a bright Irish cowl. This is the third cowl I've made which is loose-fitted and knit in the round. I like this feature in the cowl because it won't slip off.  Among Cedars is a well written and easy to follow pattern, one I would suggest to my fellow knitters. Pattern: Among Cedars Cowl by Erin Randle Yarn: Knotty By Nature Hand Dyed Sock Colorway: Green with blue flecks Needle Size: US Size 4

Hubby had been resistant to hand knit socks for years but last winter, just before our trip to Iceland, I was able to talked him into just trying a pair. He instantly became a convert and now is the happy owner of several pair.  Yesterday, Hubby came to me in a panic, he'd had a "Major Blow Out" on the heel of his favorite hand knit socks! He wasn't sure how it had happened, it had "just appeared" and somewhat sheepishly he asked if it was possible for me to fix them somehow. Feeling quite pleased with myself, knowing I could fix them, I told him I'd see what I could do... Because I'd added a contrasting heel, toe, and cuff to each sock it was easy to pick up around the destroyed heel.  I then snipped around the entire heel...  and had a clean area to begin knitting a new one.  Within an hour I had a very impressed and happy husband!

I thought I needed some car knitting to get me to the Griz game and back this weekemd so I chose a bright colored pair of vanilla socks.  However, not forty miles west of Billings we hit such bad snow and roads we turned around and went home. This is a first we've every "called" a game, and I was so relieved, it took us two hours to go eighty miles! But the socks were started and I just can't leave a pair of socks alone! Pattern: Vanilla Socks with Fish Lips Kiss Heels by Sox Therapist Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Paints Colorway: Tea Rose Needle Size: US Size 1

An important part of planing for a trip is deciding just what projects I will bring. Usually its more than enough sock yarn and I happily knit sock after sock. They're small, brightly colored and patterns can be as simple or complicated as desired. I've knit so many I get the basic pattern set up and then pop in a textured pattern to go with the yarn color or activity I'll be doing while knitting. This trip, in an effort not to stress out over Christmas,  I decided to work on the Bunco Gals Christmas ornaments. I've knit ornaments for several years, sweaters , hats and mittens , Christmas stockings , and the Gals seem look forward to see just what miniature piece of clothing I will knit next. Last year, in my eyes, was a bit of a bust. I tried several different items but wasn't satisfied with any so finally settled on cloth Scandinavian Stars. The night of  Christmas Bunco the Gals were trying to guess just what was inside their gift. One Gal said, "Is it ...