Cold and Crafty Days

So I've been busy during the freezing cold and snow we've been having around here.  The knitting needles are flying, glue sticks in hand, cardboard and scissors and a little fabric thrown in for variety.  Sooner rather than later I need to make some jewelry too!

So I came across a blog that I love StitchMana.  I love her patterns and immediately bought yarn to make the Spoilt for Choice and Foliage patterns.  Here is my Foliage vest...

I love the leaf edging.  It is knit sideways and I did it in about 2 days..







I have the Spoilt for Choice Cast on...just need to get to it.  I also took an UGG project and turned it into this hat with a little additional felting.



Yes...I've got "Hattitude".  I am currently knitting another hat to felt.



Then I was at a friends for a knit and well you know..and I kept losing my place so she gave me this pattern marker made from a ribbon and magnets.  My brain started to work immediately.  Such a simple idea and so easy to make!  All I needed was a few supplies.  She also had a pattern protector made from fabric that looked like a little portfolio.  Off to the internet I went to see if I could make one.  I ended up creating these using my own designs.

I also made what I am calling a Pattern Folio.  This is my first attempt and I can't wait to make the next one...learned a lot making this one. 

I was at JoAnn Fabrics today buying a few more supplies and picked up some retro looking fabric at Hobby Lobby too!  I'll post the pics as soon as they are done.

Justins Wandering Vine Scarf

My son has been wanting a scarf so I let him pick out yarn the other day at our local Meijer Grocery Store.  He liked the Lion Brand Tweed



 



We both loved this color.  Now I had to create the scarf.  I probably tried out 3 or 4 different stitches, needle sizes etc before I decided on creating a scarf using an easy lace pattern called Wandering Vines.  Here are my easy instructions:



One skein Lion Brand Tweed

Size US 10 1/2 needles



Cast on 22 stitches and work as follows:



Knit first 4 rows



Begin pattern repeat and knit until desired length;

Row 1 and all odd rows Purl

Row 2 - K3 *YO, K2, SSK, K2tog, K2, YO, K1* (repeat pattern) K1

Row 3 - Purl

Row 4 - K2 *YO, K2, SSK, K2tog, K2, YO, K1* (repeat pattern) K2

Row 5 - Purl

When you get to your desired length knit 4 rows and bind off.  Weave ends in and add a fringe if desired.

This is an easy but nice looking pattern and easy to knit.

I am about 1/2 way done.

Yup...It's Cold and I'm Knitting

So you haven't heard from me lately.  I can only say that October was a tough month for me.  I was in a very serious car accident and a concussion kept me busy trying to remember just the day to day stuff, let alone do any serious crafting.  I decided to exercise my brain by knitting.  Following the patterns, counting stitches (ripping all said stitches out) and ending up with a finished project I could wear was great brain exercise.  At one point my son suggested I just quit or give up, I told him that I was going to finish my knitting and that it just might take longer than usual.

Here are some pictures of my most recent finished projects:

 Thanks to my friend Susan for this beautiful yarn to make a shawl.  I also created the leaf shaped shawl pin.

 Here is my lovely model in a bulky cable scarf with another one of my shawl/scarf pins.  This one is called Abstract Rose.

 I found this beautiful Malabrigo Yarn at my local yarn store - Knit On and used a pattern from Knitty called Duet to make this neck warmer.  I then created the pin to match.

Here is my ruffled scarf...this was over 1000 stitches by the time you cast off!

Two Abstract Leaf Shawl/Scarf pins in copper.

Right now I am knitting a scarf for my son Justin and will post pictures and a pattern in the near future.  I also have a couple of projects lined up for me!  Glad the old brain still works.