Final Knit of 2010

My last knitting project of 2010 was a little neck wrap by Sivia Harding called Knotty Scarflet. I chose this because it's pretty, was portable for my Christmas trip, and it has beads. I have been wanting to learn how to add beads with a crochet hook to a project.

I did not choose this project because of the name. "Scarflet" is one of those cutesy words, like "cardi", that just isn't in my vocabulary.

Whatever you call it, I'm quite happy with the finished product.

Japanese 6/0 seed beads came from a shop in Houston called Bead Traders. The button came from Joanns. How I love their selection of buttons!

Happy 2011!

Christmas Knitting

I managed to knit two Christmas gifts this year! I have cut back on the number of people I give gifts to and I have only a few recipients who would appreciate a hand-made gift, so two seemed like the right number this year.

Gift #1 is for my friend Ariel. It's a shawl in her favorite color, purple. The pattern is found on the Classic Elite website. I used one of my favorite yarns, Malabrigo Sock. I love that yarn! I must warn that the shawl used quite a bit more yarn than the pattern said I'd need. I wrote about that on my Ravelry project page. I am quite happy with the finished object.

Gift #2 is for my mom. She seems to really like purple these days. I made her a super simple scarf in the mistake rib stitch (cast on a multiple of 4+1 stitches, K2, P2 till last stitch, then K that stitch--repeat every row the same until you get tired of doing it). The scarf is squishy, reversible, and in a happy coincidence, coordinates with the new jacket my brother got her for Christmas.

Happy new year!

DOT -- Puppy at the Beach

I haven't posted anything here in a long time! So to let you know I am still alive, here's a photo of Lucy at the beach. We went to Galveston last weekend for a quick trip. It was cool and gray and not the prettiest weather for a trip to the beach. But because no one was there, Lucy was able to run and play without disturbing anyone. She enjoyed herself!

As for knitting, I am working (still) on a cardigan. I will try to take some in-progress photos and post them here next week.

Tote Bag

Last year at the Houston Marathon my friend Carol won a trip to Greece to compete in the Athens Marathon. How cool is that? I'm totally jealous because I've always wanted to win that drawing. But if I can't go, I can send Carol off in style. So I made her a totebag out of this year's (never worn) T-shirt, some coordinating cotton, and a few notions.

I made a similar bag once before. When I finished, I thought about how I would improve the design if I ever made one again. I decided a small tag in the seam to identify me as the "designer" was needed. (This must come from years of reading Vogue.) So I had some little tags made. I folded one in half and sewed it into the seam. Here's the front.

And here's the back.

And I put a little red heart button inside to continue the theme of the tag.

I'm happy with this. I hope Carol is too.

Cowl

This is the Thermis cowl. (Ravelry link) I used the same kind of yarn as I did for my Hawthorne scarf/shawl, Dream in Color Classy, in the same color, Gold Experience. Yes, it was a leftover skein from that project. The leather buttons are from Joann's. I love the selection there.

I hope the recipient likes this as much as I do!

Movie Star Scarf

I was looking through the book More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts and I saw this cute little scarf. It was inspired by a vision of Grace Kelly wearing a similar one, cruising through Monaco in her convertible. Hmm, I have a convertible. Maybe if I make this scarf, I'll have a life as glamorous as Grace Kelly's.

I made the scarf. My life still isn't glamorous. Maybe that's because this is a gift. I need to make another one, just for me, and maybe the good life will follow.

One end of the scarf goes through the keyhole so there's no bulky knot at the neck. The yarn is Knit Picks Gloss Lace and I used less than 100 yards.

Happy Fall

It's October. That means fall. Even the weather feels fall-like, at least in the mornings. Maybe, hopefully, in a few weeks I will be able to wear my newest creation, the Hawthorne shawl/scarf. This is another great pattern from Twist Collective by Susanna IC. (I've already made her Abrazo and Annis.)

The yarn is Dream in Color Classy. The color, Gold Experience, really says fall to me.


It's really big! It's going to be cozy, wrapped around my neck on chilly days.