Yay!

Even though I haven't been good about posting regularly, I am trying ever so hard to craft on a regular basis.  It can be hard during the week 'cuz I've got lots of readings and assignments to work on (seriously, I have something due every week).

Stack of Christmas hats

Happy to say that all my Christmas hats are finally done (six in all)!  They're not completely finished, but all the knitting is done.  And that's something for me who has been lacking in the mojo and/or the time department. I just need a weekend to finish everything, as in weave in ends and make pompoms and such (Hoping to work on the ones that need to be mailed away first).

Last Angry Bird Hat

I managed to finish the last Angry Bird hat.  Even though it is the black Angry Bird, I decided to finish it in the same way as the red ones.  I'll just adjust the colours of the facial features so that the features will be visible against the black.

New amigurumi, but who could it be?

And I've started something new and interesting.  Can you guess what it might be?  I'll give you a hint.  It's amigurumi and it's something for which I have no pattern.  Yeah, that's right: I gotta wing it.

I'll give you another hint: I'm using a pattern for John Lennon and converting it into something else--or someone else.  Stayed tuned . . . . ;)

Score!!

Oh yeah!  After a busy week with little knitting (Who am I kidding?  There was no knitting.), I finally scored some crafting stuff.  Seriously!

Cute crochet kit

First off, a cool crochet kit.   Isn't it neat?  There's enough yarn for one Beatle, but the book has patterns for all 4 Beatles in their early years AND patterns for the Sgt. Pepper versions (I know, right?).

Sgt. Pepper's version

Besides the kit, I got my hands on two knit books.  One is a book on children's top-down knits (check out some of the patterns over at Ravelry.com). By far, top-down is my fave way to construct a sweater.  There are some cute items (and I dare confess that I've photocopied a pattern or two in the past . . . ). The only drawback is that the photos in the book are all B&W--but that's a small drawback.

Book on top-down kids' knits

View of more patterns

The other book is a re-working of vintage knits (check out more over at Ravelry.com).  And while I might admire the patterns more so than make them, there a few accessories that caught my eye (scarves, a hat, bolero and 2 shrugs).  It'll be a neat addition to the crafting library.

Vintage Knitwear book

Circular knit vest/bolero

Cute bolero

At a dollar a pound, we made a steal!  In total my husband and I spent about $37.00 for over 25 books (including the crochet kit, 4 gardening books, half a dozen kid's books, quite a few paperbacks and over-sized hardcovers.  All the items had been donations from the local community).  Seriously, we scored big time!  And all the proceeds go to funding our local library (seeing as our provincial government has frozen current funding, local libraries need as much as they can get in the way of fund-raising.  See CBC news for more details).

Now I'm off to peruse my finds.  
Later,

Creating a Teddy

Making a teddy bear involves the creation of various pieces . . . 

Legs and Feet

Pictured above are the legs and soles.  There's a whole lotta ends and seams waiting to be taken care of . . . *sigh*  Perhaps I've mentioned my dislike of finishing?  And all that goes with it: seaming, sewing, weaving . . . *double sigh*

One Arm

And this is the arm.  I've already finished the first arm and slowly progressing on the second one . . . 

Tally ho, little knitter!  Tally ho!

We Has Tentacles!

While there has been little knitting, there has been progress of sorts.  Remember my octopus friend Iggy (from here and here)?

Tentacles galore!

Oh yeah, baby!  There are tentacles all about!  What?  There's only six?  Yeah, I didn't quite finish all eight, but I still wanted to sew on the appendages.

Sewing on a tentacle

So I guess my octopus is really a hexapus--ha, ha! Still, he is almost done . . . two more tentacles to go!  

The original "Eggy" has been well loved over the years.  He's looking a wee bit worn.  The yarn has pilled in spots.  And he's gotten increasingly floppy over the years (as if he's slowly losing his stuffing).

The original octopus, Eggy

To compensate, I over-stuffed Iggy so he wouldn't suffer the same fate as Eggy.  His little legs look very sausage-like . . . hee, hee!

I think someone will be very happy.

The Year of Amigurumi

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I can look back at 2012 and all my crafting endeavors.

First off, I made a lot of stuff, especially baby gifts in both crochet and knitting.  And I tried new patterns.  In particular, I'm proud of my Modern Log Cabin (aka Garter Surprise).  It was a big project size-wise and I managed to finish it within four months--not bad for me, the queen of procrastination!

Most of all I made a lot of toys this year.  In fact I'm still working on some knit toys: Iggy the octopus and my artist bear.  I'm sure I'll finish one of them in the next month or so.  Most of my completed toys, however, were crochet.  Not bad, eh?

Finally no review would be complete without assessing the projects that never quite made it to the finish line.  Some I've only recently started.  Two are long-standing projects that I would love to complete in the next year: Bohus Redux and my crochet blanket (the latter I'd like to use as a bedspread 'cuz I think it'll be big enough for my bed--maybe as a light summer covering?)

I'm looking forward to the new year's crafts! How 'bout you?  And crafting goals for the new year?

Crafty Stuff

The knitting is moving along slowly (now that I have some time on my hands).  My son's octopus now has four tentacles.  Only four more to go.  And I started a new project.  And yes, it is another toy!  Why do you ask?

I've decided to revisit Debbie Bliss' Teddy Bears.  Years ago I made some cute teddies for my boys (reminisced about them here).  And while the bears were cute, I found the patterns rather tedious--especially for  a "beginner" knitter (at that point I had been away from knitting for a while so I felt like a beginner).

Now that I'm more experienced, I'm tackling the patterns with better skills and hopefully more knitting knowledge.  In particular I'm checking out the Artist Bear.  He's a cute fella with smock and beret.  My artist will be more feminine with a raspberry beret and fuschia bow 'round her smock.

Bliss`Artist Bear

For now, she's only got legs (I might be dating myself, but isn't that a ZZ Top song?).  I'm currently working on the soles of her feet.  I'm using some Briggs and Little Heritage in heather brown.  

Legs in Progress

I just love the colour: there are specs of red and green, almost as if the dyer used red and green to create the brown and the colour mixture didn't quite mix well or get absorbed evenly.  Very cool effect!

Briggs and Little Heritage in
Heather Brown

Hope you're enjoying your weekend.  I'm looking forward to the upcoming holidays.  Hope you are too. :)

And Now for Some Knitting (and Crochet) . . .

Looking back on my posts for the last couple weeks, I realized there hasn't been much knitting content--in fact, no mention of crafts!  For shame!  'Cuz there has been knitting--much knitting!  

Meet Shroomy

First, meet my lovely new assistant, Shroomy.  She's a bit of a noob, so her sister Toadette is showing her "the ropes", so to speak.  I know Shroomy is missing her spots and her braids, but the wee one is finished as far as I'm concerned (maybe over the holidays, Santa could drop off a few spots and braids--maybe).

Two Sisters

And a new friend patiently awaits his tentacles.  I've got two done and am working on a third.  Since I'm working in the round, it's been a bit of a pain trying to remember how to avoid that dreaded colour jog . . . 

An octopus with his tentacles

The process works the same for either method: work one round with the new colour.  With the one on the left (below), I slipped the first stitch and then worked the round as usual.  With the right one, I picked up the stitch below and worked that with the first stitch.  Which one looks better?

Which looks better?

I prefer the one on the right 'cuz it doesn't leave any loose stitches (not visible from photo).  I just have to be careful how I pick up the stitch below so that it doesn't get twisted.  In the end it won't matter too much 'cuz the "seam" will be facing inward.

I also finished one big project (psst, its the Garter Surprise), but I think I'll wait before posting FO photos here (although you are more than welcome to check it out at my Ravelry project page [Rav link]).

Ball Band Dishcloth

I even managed to cast-on and finish another project: the ball band dishcloth(free pattern link at Ravelry).  That pattern has been sitting in my queue since forever!  I've been meaning to try it out and finally succumbed (mainly 'cuz while searching through the stash, I came across lots of leftover Bernat Handicrafter Cotton).

Lovely Dishcloth

The pattern is easy enough to follow.  I used the finished dishcloth this morning and it didn't stretch out too much when wet.  Of course I used the wrong size needles, so to compensate I cast on six less stitches than called for in the pattern.  Me thinks I'll make more . . . ;)

The Beginning of . . .

A new friend. It's been so long since I've shown any updates to my "Iggy" project.  He was started early September.  

Body In Progress

Soon his head and body were completed . . . In fact, it was a matter of days!

Doesn't he have quite the happy face? And he already has a friend waiting for him.

Eggy Already Loves Iggy

I've introduced Eggy before (Rav link).  He is patiently waiting for Iggy's completion so he can finally have a cephalopod friend to play with. 

Sadly his tentacles are . . . well, they just don't exist.  At least not yet.  

I started them.  Well, I started one tentacle and I got as far two stripes.  I was trying to work them in the round, but I had forgotten how to hide the colour jog created by changing colours in the round. I need to find some how-to videos online.

Meanwhile there are other more pressing projects needing my attention.

Later,

Get Crafting

So says the cat.  

Patches the Cat

I'm doing the best I can, but my time has been occupied elsewhere.  And it'll only get worse as I start my course next week . . . 


Meanwhile, I did go to knit night where I worked on my sock (and we lamented the decreasing yardage in Patons Kroy).  Slowly but surely I am working my way to the toes (and I better have enough yarn or I'll be very, very cross).

Sock in Progress

And although I have assembled all the pieces of Toadette, there are a few pieces that need making before I can finish her (although that hasn't stopped me from using her on my boys' blog Mushrooms and Octopi.  We have fun working on it together).

Toadette#2 in Progress

On top of all that, I started another project--and not 'cuz I wanted to.  This was a project of necessity.  I need new slippers.  All my other lovely slippers have holes in the soles.  No one else has holey slippers.  Just me.  Maybe I'm too rough on my feet . . . 

Slippers in Progress

I'm none too pleased with my seaming technique, but I don't think these slippers will last long.  Maybe I need to sew on  some sort of leather or leather-like sole to the bottom . . . I'm thinking about it.

One Finished Slipper

Guess I'd better listen to cat and get back to crafting.  Have a good week.

Not a Good Week . . .

This has not been a good week: battling a bad cold;  lack of sleep; facing cold wet weather; dealing with a little stress . . . let's just say I was more than a wee bit happy to see the weekend arrive.  


Needless to say, there is little progress to report.  My socks are almost ready to turn the heel--almost, but not quite.  Need about another inch to go, maybe less.  I'm aiming for a 6.5 inch leg (my previous socks have had 7 inch legs, so there should be enough yarn).

Sock Progress

The most vexing thing about them are the needles that keep slipping out!  Twice I had to deal with a mischievous missing needle, resulting in dropped stitches and a little tinking back . . .not happy!  When I went to buy more needle protectors, my favorite brand was no longer being carried . . . not happy!


At least my crochet is cooperating.  I'm attempting to finish Toadette #2:  I stuffed her head and body and attached some of the pieces.

Assembling Toadette #2

There are a few more pieces to finish making too, namely her vest and braids.

Toadette's Vest

I'd like to finish her as soon as possible.  There are a couple of other WIPs that need attention.


Why the rush?  I don't know how much extra time I'll have once I start my course . . . did I mention I was going back to school?  Part-time of course.  And online.  It's been a long time since I've been in school . . . I have few more weeks reprieve.  


Hope you had a better week than mine. :S

Craftiness

So we've been working on the veggie garden and I've been adding perennials to the flower garden.  But I haven't neglected my crafts.  There's still craftiness over at casa d'Acrylic-girl--it just happens in short spurts.


First off, I started a new project for no reason other than I wanted to.  I bought Patons Kroy on sale a few weeks back (not that I need more sock yarn); it's a pretty stripey red colour.  I finally cast on this week.

New Sock Project

I've used this pattern before: its Ladies Vintage Ribbed Socks from Vogue.  And yes, it is a cuff down pattern (I tired of the toe-up).  My previous attempt at this pattern netted a well-fitting pair of socks.


Since I had previously used 2.25mm dpn's, I was hoping to pick up a couple of circulars in the same size.  I prefer socks on two circulars.  Do you think I could find needles in that size?  I looked online and had a hard time finding them on a Canadian website.  Thankfully my in-laws were travelling to the city and kindly dropped into a yarn shop; sadly they only bought one circular.  I need two . . . So new plan: work the leg with dpn's and then switch to a combo of circular and dpn for the foot--unless I find something suitable.


In crochet news, my work progresses slowly.  Did you figure out the identity of the yellow object?  I've added more parts to it.  

Minion

Does it look familiar now?  It's a minion (from the movie Despicable Me).  It's a free pattern from Wolfdreamer.  I've used her patterns before and they are well written with stitch counts and ample directions.


Hope you had a crafty weekend.  
Later,  :)

Hookin' Away

So happy to finish off my baby booties and cap.

Baby Booties and Matching Hat

I trimmed the booties' cuff in pink so it would match up with the hat.  And perhaps they needed more pink, but I'm happy with the final product.

Crochet Baby Booties

The hat, also trimmed in pink, got a cute pink flower and pink button to dress it up.  

Crochet Baby Hat

Very pleased with the final items.  I carefully wrapped the pieces, along with the knit hat and shoes, in tissue paper; then placed them in a gift bag.  The new mom will be receiving the gift tomorrow.  Hope she likes it.


Meanwhile, I've begun work on another amigurumi.  Any guesses as to what it might be?

Long and Yellow

It's very yellow, isn't it?  I've actually gotten farther along than pictured here, but I didn't have the chance to photograph a proper progress.  Of late, most of my time goes to gardening: mowing, digging, prepping and planting . . . It's hard work, but feels very satisfying.


Hope your weekend was filled with crafty goodness. :)

A Little Crochet

I've been busy with me hook.  First off, meet my newest friend: Toadette.  I opted not to give her a vest.  And I used little buttons painted black for eyes.  Essentially she's finished except for the braids--they're so small and fiddly, but she'll get them nevertheless.  In fact there are little people in the house who will ensure she gets properly finished.

Toadette

She's a wee bit smaller than the other Toads I've made.  Checking Ravelry, I noticed my previous projects used a larger hook..  So I started another Toadette using a larger hook.


This second Toadette is gonna be a lovely raspberry colour.  Resorted to using Patons Classic Wool 'cuz I couldn't find anything comparable in cotton (and I wasn't sure I wanted to use acrylic--I know.  My name is acrylic-girl.  Go figure).  Haven't quite finished all the pieces, although all the major components are complete.

Toadette the Second

I probably would have finished it if not for another project.  One of my co-workers is expecting a baby girl soon.  So I started a baby project: a wee hat and matching booties.  I tried one hat pattern that sadly turned out too big.  On the plus side it fit my niece rather well.  Happy someone will use it.

Toddler/Preschool Summer Hat

The hat is a free pattern called "Rose is Rose" over at Pickles & Ice Cream.  I'm sure the pattern could be easily adjusted to fit a newborn head, but I wasn't prepared to do the math.


Instead I opted to try another free pattern (Ravelry link) called McKinley's Springtime Hat.  Thus far it is working out much smaller than the previous one.  So I'm hoping this pattern will be a good newborn size.

Newborn Hat

Once I finish the hat, I'll tackle the booties.  Hopefully I can then finish my Toadette.  And after that, I can tackle the rest of the amigurumi requests . . . whew!


Have a great week. :)