Been busy

As if you couldn't tell from the last couple projects I posted, I seem to be moving away from the loom and focusing more on needles. I have to say learning to use needles has opened a whole new world of possibilities. I now go into the yarn stores with confidence or see a pattern I like and say "Hey! I can do that." I don't think I'm completely ready to give up the loom just yet. I love my infinity loom for large projects and plan on keeping it around for a while, but I'm finding there are some things that are just easier done on needles.

Here's a few of my recently finished projects.

This is my first attempt at a seamless sweater. Based on the Felix Cardigan pattern at The Complete Fabrication. It’s supposed to be a cardigan but I forgot to stop increasing so it turned into a kimono. Not wanting to take it off the needles and frog it back I just decided to put ties on the bottom and make it a wrap around. Picking up stitches and knitting in the round for the sleeves scared me so I just left them.


This one I did for my esty shop (if I ever re-open). Another kimono style sweater, but knit in pieces. I found I really don't like sewing seams, so I probably won't do another one like that again.

Remember this? It's the loom knit blanket I started back in April. Each piece was knit and then sewn together and then the edging had to be knit and sewn on. This is where I really decided I didn't like seaming, that's why it took so long. I finally decided to finish it when I saw the LYS was a drop off site for Bundles of Love. Bundles was who I had originality intended it for in the first place. Despite every curse word I uttered while sewing it together, I think it came out beautiful.

Here's one of my WIP's. Another pattern from The Complete Fabrication. Holly's Jacket. I love her patterns; they're great for beginners because they're pretty straight forward. A little secret, the ruffle on the bottom; much easier that it looks. I was able to get over my fear of DPNs and knit one sleeve. I'm still working on the other. When finished this cutie will be going to Bundles of Love also.

Knitting those baby sweaters inspired me to finally attempt to knit a larger sweater for Funky Princess. And of course I can't do anything the easy way and follow somebody else’s pattern, I have to make it up as I go. All I can say right now, it it's based on the seamless sweaters with some lace thrown in. It's still pretty iffy, so we'll see how it looks once I get past the armholes.

Told you I was busy.

Yes, I'm still alive!

I know it looks like I've fallen off the face of the earth, but I've been busy. I decided instead of completely closing my esty shop, I'd put in on vacation mode and take some time to work on projects just for the shop. I figure with all the time I have to kill this summer with Funky Princess at Sylvan 3 times a week I should be able to use that time to work on projects. I have 4 items ready and I'm working on 2 more and starting another one soon. I'm hoping to re-open in the fall.

On top of that I also have a personal project I'm working on. Something I've been thinking about for a long time. I'm embroidering (by hand) a denim shirt with graphics & symbols that inspire me. So far I only have one done, but the whole thing will be a work in progress so it will take a while. I have a few more things that I know I'll be adding to my shirt right now, it's just a matter of finding the time transfer the picture and then embroider it.

And sometimes life in general gets in the way. The kids are home, which means more meals to make, more dishes to wash, more laundry to do, more picking up after everybody.

So don't let my lack of posting fool you. I am here and I am working.

Starting to take shape

I guess I spoke to soon when I said you couldn't tell what the seamless cardigan was suppose to be yet. My nephew told me he thought it was a bib. But it's really starting to take shape now. I can actually tell that it's suppose to be some kind of top. This was a practice sweater, so it's for Funky Princess's doll, and there's so many mistakes in there that I wouldn't feel good giving it to anybody else. This doll will have more clothes than she can use if I keep making practice sweaters.

At this point I'm debating if I should finish it as a cardigan, a kimono or maybe a kimono shrug. I know if I finish it as a cardigan it's going to be way to big for the doll so I'm leaning more towards one of the kimono options. The next thing I'm concerned about is doing the sleeves on DPNs.

Careful it's contagious

The other week Telaine posted about her battle with Startitis. I really didn't think about it then, but now I think I have it too. Hence the 3 projects I currently have going. I'm still working on that blanket. All I have left is to sew the edging on, but I just can't seem to find the time. So while I'm waiting to do that, my hands are twitching to get going on another project. I started another Yoda Sweater, but it knits up fast and I'll have it done in no time. To give myself a little bit of a challenge I decided to use up some of this baby yarn I have (which I really don't like and will never used this particular yarn again) to make a seamless baby cardigan.

None of these projects are really photograph worthy right now. The blanket really hasn't changed much from the last photo I took and you really can't tell what the other two are yet. It seems I'm spinning my wheels and getting nowhere. Don't get to close, I don't want to pass it on to anybody else.

ACK! I created a monster

So now I have lots of requests for knitted animals coming from the kids & neices and nephews. On top of that they want clothes for their animals to wear. T (Bunny Cabbit) asked for a sweater with a button. JC asked for a vest and hat for each of his. He currently has 2 but there's another one in the works. Funky Princess wants a poncho. These are great projects to use up some scraps, but I really don't want to spend all my time making toys and toy clothes. I'll never get anything esle done.

My first sweater

It's finally done! My very first sweater. I'm surprised it turned out as well as it did. It wasn't without it's problems though. I had some problems figuring out where and how to attach the sleeves and like I mentioned before the back piece is a little longer than the rest of it. Other than that I would say it was a success and plan on knitting another one in the near future.

Side note: The socks the doll is wearing, I knitted last summer on one of my little sock looms.

Finally making some progress

Sorry for the awful pic (it's a cell phone pic, what do you expect?) I'm finally making some progress on the baby sweater I've been working on. I sat down last night and managed to sew one sleeve and the side seam. Mattress stitching all the little parts of those stuffed animals boosted my confidence in sewing the sweater together. I got a lot of practice doing the mattress stitch on those animals. The only thing I don't like is the back piece is about a half inch longer than the 2 front pieces and it just doesn't look right. I thought I followed the directions perfectly, but maybe what I'll do next time is knit the back piece a half inch shorter so they match up.