Beads

I received my package from Shipwreck Beads yesterday!

In an effort to use up yarn in my ever-increasing stash, I have been searching for projects that aid my quest. I pulled out this yarn, of which I have two skeins left,

and found this pattern: TNT Beaded Scarf.

Fell in love with it on the spot, and istantly started a search for beads, which led me to Shipwreck Beads. I picked out these beads.

I am quite pleased with how they look with the yarn:


Unfortunately, I got ready to checkout only to discover that the website requires a $25 minimum purchase. Major negative, in my opinion.

Wearily, I went back to Ravelry to search for yet another beaded scarf pattern that would require the usage of some of my stash yarn. I found this pattern: Sea Glass

and ended up finding three different colored beads to go with some fingering weight yarn I had in my stash.

Another unfortunately, this pattern isn't available yet, it is still in test mode. So, I found the Dué Amori Gloves and Scarf set instead. I liked this much better, so now I have to figure out how to incorporate three different colored beads into everything. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. At least, I am using up some of my stash yarn.

Shalom - Finished!

I finally finished my Shalom cardi. (I'm not pregnant...just happens to be the way the sweater fell....) But I love it! I will definitely wear this a lot during the winter. Makes me want to knit as many of these type sweaters as I can. It was a very satisfying knit.

Bambino Taffy by Be Sweet

Yarn:
Bambino Taffy by Be Sweet
70% Organically Grown Cotton
30% Bamboo
1 Ball = 100 yards














Yarn Review:
This is a self-striping, textured, slightly thick and thin yarn. The texture of this yarn has a very nice rough/earthy look to it. The feel of the yarn is very soft. It feels like a broken in t-shirt. Wonderful! This is the first yarn with cotton in it that I have actually enjoyed working with. Although, to be fair, I haven't worked with many cotton yarns aside from Sugar N Cream, which is not one of my favorite yarns. The mixture of fibers also adds to the textured look of this yarn. The cotton is the soft, dull side, and the bamboo gives an extra kick with a little bit of sheen. If you are looking for a worsted weight yarn for a simple project this yarn is it. It has all the pizazz to make a simple project come to life.

Down side to this yarn: the producers created the self-striping effect by basically knotting five different colored yarns together.













I am not so crazy about that. I tried pulling two of the knots apart, and they held together very well. However, there is just something that I cannot get past mentally. It just seems to cheapen the yarn somehow.

Even with that one negative, I would still recommend this yarn, and I still really like this yarn.

Baby Blanket

This is a blanket I whipped out for my little nephew (yet to be named). This pattern is called Wool Leaves by Jared Flood aka Brooklyn Tweed. It was super easy to knit & the pattern was easy to memorize.

Pants on Fire Longies/Hat set

Finally a FO! This set I finished earlier this week. I loved the yarn. It was so soft. I definitely would love to knit with this yarn again. It was so lovely.

This set was made with Punta Yarns hand painted Merisoft. The set is going into my Etsy Store.

Mermaid Feet

I started a new pair of socks this past weekend! I saw the yarn in Erin's LYS and thought it would be perfect for the Pomatomus sock pattern. The colors of the yarn are what I always imagine an iridescent mermaid's tail to look like.

The yarn is Malabrigo Sock in color #416 - Indiecita. I'm knitting these socks on size 0 DPNs. I had hoped to knit these two at a time, switching out my DPNs from one sock to another, but my dearest daughter broke one of my needles AFTER pulling all the needles out of my sock. I didn't want to have to try to reinsert them without losing stitches, but the idea of losing seven rows of ribbing was sickening. I'm now down to five in my set, so that makes knitting these two at a time impossible. Oh well.

I can already tell these socks are going to take me forever to knit. The twisted ribbing would take me a while without any other complications. However, on top of that, I am having to keep my tension really tight in order to achieve a smaller gauge than what is called for. I'm hoping that will help these socks turn out a bit smaller than what is called for. 72 stitch socks tend to be a bit big on me.

Birthday Dishcloth

This is a dishcloth I knit up for the June birthday girl (well, one of them) in the Ga Swappers group on Ravelry. I hope she likes it!

AllHisKids' Shorties

I knit two pairs of shorties for my friend Kathy & her little boy. I think they turned out really cute! Sorry the pics aren't so great.

Amplification Test Knit

This was a test knit I completed for a designer on Ravelry. I loved the pattern but wish I would have chosen one or two solid colors so the pattern would have stood out better. Still it's pretty & now making a lovely runner for my buffet.

My Haruni

I started this project a few days ago & I really love it so far. It's just slow going because I have too many other projects on my needles to work on. Maybe I can knock this out this weekend.

Amber's Citron Shawl

I made this shawl for my oldest daughter, Amber. After seeing my Citron shawl, she had to have her own. And she has been wearing it everywhere! The one thing I've knitted that she actually uses. Who would have known?!

Eva's FarAway, So Close

This was a ravelympics project that I knit up last week. Went super quick. Can't wait to give it to her!

Leafy Hotpad

Another swap item. This was a really fast knit. Super easy too!

MItered Hand Towel

This is a towel I made for a round robin swap. Love it a lot but it was hard work!

Ava's Cabled Owl Hat

This is a project I test knit for a gal on Ravelry. Super cute hat but the pattern was a bit big for Ava's head. Oh well - at least she'll have something to grow into! And it's her favorite colors so she's happy.

Gaia Shrug

This is my Gaia Shrug completed two weeks ago for the Ravelympics. I almost never knit for myself so this was a nice project to have on the needles. It was super quick to knit. I want to make more in different colors.

AllHisKids' Shorties

I completed these shorties last week for a local mama. They are so cute. Loved the yarn. And she wanted a seed stitch strip down both sides of the legs. I'm proud of the way they turned out.

JP's Teddy Bear

I've gotten the legs done!

JP's Teddy Bear

This project stemmed from a hat I was supposed to make on behalf of my friend's Aunt. She had made a sweater for my friend's little boy and had yarn left over, from which I was supposed to make a matching hat. Well, Christmas came along, and my gift knitting kind of took over. I forgot all about the hat. After Christmas had passed I called my friend to get a measurement of her baby's head, only to find out that he had already outgrown his sweater.

I had intended to make this teddy bear for him anyhow, so I figured it would be made all the more special by the fact that it was knitted with the yarn that his sweater had been made of. Hopefully, both baby and mommy will like it.

This is the body of the bear.


And these are the arms.


I am knitting this on size 4 needles and using Plymouth Yarn Baby Bunny in colors 204-Blue and 206-Celery. The pattern for this bear is free, and can be found here. The pattern calls for size 3 needles and a DK/Sport weight yarn. Since Baby Bunny is considered worsted weight I went with the size 4's, but I think I could have used the size 3's. The knitted pieces probably would have been a bit tighter.

We'll see how it goes. I'm really looking forward to completing this project, just to see how it all turns out. This will be my first ever stuffed animal.

Headband/Neckwarmer Test Knit

This is a test knit I did for Tickled Pink Knits on Ravelry. Super quick project using two strands of bulky weight wool.

Always & Forever Mitts

I made these mitts for a swap. And I will definitely be making more! The pattern was so quick & easy. I really enjoyed knitting these. They would make great gifts!

Pyroclastic Socks - 1 Down!

Here's my first Pyroclastic sock. These are turning out well. I love the pattern. They move quickly. Just need to cast on for the second one.

Twinkleberries - Finished

I finally finished my Twinkleberries which had been on my needles for over a month. But I'm super happy with these. The fit is terrific & I discovered just how well the short row toe fits my wide, fat feet. :)

Gull Stitch Dishcloth

This is a free pattern for the Gull Stitch Dishcloth. It is so lovely & makes a wonderful gift for someone you really want to make feel special!

Gull Stitch Dishcloth

2 Colors Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn
Size 7 needles

CO 42 sts in color 1. Knit 4 rows of your choice of border.

Row 1: (WS) In Color 1, K6, *P2, K5; rep. from * to last 8 sts, P2, K6.

Row 2: In Color 2, K6, Sl2wyib, *K5, sl2wyib; rep. from * to last 8 sts, sl2wyib, K6.

Row 3: In Color 2, K3, P3, sl2wyif, *P5, sl2wyif; rep. from * to last 8 sts, sl2wyif, P3, K3.

Rows 4-5: Repeat rows 2-3 in color two. Be sure to carry color one up the side of your work.

Row 6: In Color 1, K3, *K1, Right swap, Left Swap; rep. from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Repeat these 6 rows until desired length is reached.

Knit four rows of border.

Bind off.

*Right Swap: sl2wyib, drop next st (this should be the first sl st in color 1) off the needle & to front of work, slip the same 2 sts back to the left needle. Pick up & knit dropped stitch, K2.

*Left Swap: Drop next sl (C1) st off needle & hold to front of the work, K2, pick up and knit dropped stitch.

Amber's Beret

Finished this up for my girl today. Looks soo cute on her. Now I have to find one for Ava. Here's the pattern.

AllHisKids' Linen Stitch Longies

Chinook Shawl

Here's the progress I've made on my shawl. I'm into the border chart now, and have actually finished six more rows since taking this picture. I think I am on row ten or eleven out of thirty-seven, so just a little more to go! I can't wait to see this project finished!

I should just mention that along with the second chart being numbered incorrectly, the last chart of the shawl is as well. Still a very easy problem to solve.