Knitting, Feathers and Fans

My sisters and I have formed a group we are calling 3 Busy Sisters. We plan to do craft shows together and all 3 of us are starting to get things made to make this possible. So far I have tagged and ready to go dishcloths, hot pads, market shopping bags, headbands and some prequilted baby blanket panels that I put a crocheted trim on. 

Next up to prepare to be shown off and sold are some baby/toddler afghans. I have 6 done in red, teal, 2 yellow and one pink and yarn ready for 2 more in white and gray.

The most recent finish is the pink one in a very traditional pattern of feathers and fans. I am pleased with how they all turned out. Now I just have to spend some time taking care of the dreaded ends needing woven in.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

Always Something New

I finished a baby blanket recently, the teal one that I showed you here in this post. By finished I mean the knitting is done but the ends need to be woven in and I am considering a steam block too. I am a little afraid of trying that but you only live once, right? 

The new start you see above is a bold and cheerful red. Another baby blanket and I have yarn and patterns for a few more because I don't know how to stop making stuff. The pattern is called Making Plans. I am very pleased with the pattern and my knitting of it so far. If you want to check about more patterns like this, the designer, on Ravelry where I bought my pattern, is Fifty Four Ten Studio. I bought 3 patterns because at the time I am writing this, if you buy 3 or more patterns you get 15% off your order. To make up my 3 I also got Stay On The Ridge and Piece of Home afghan patterns. The nice thing about these besides the lovely design work is that you get information to make these afghans in multiple sizes from very small baby to large blankets. I love having this when I am looking at afghan patterns! And if blankets aren't your thing check out the pillows, small things or hats, scarfs and shawls patterns.

Hey, if you are starting or finishing or even thinking about making a great pattern from a Ravelry designer share all about it in the comments. Let's inspire each other!

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

 

A New Baby Afghan Started

In my determined quest to knit only from stash and to use up the supplies sitting for years so that my craft room is not so overwhelming and cluttered I have started knitting a new baby afghan. So far this year I have finished 3 of these and now baby blanket number 4 is underway using a pattern I have made once before. Below is a progress picture from the first one in a lovely green. The pattern is a free Ravelry download named the Pine Forest Blanket. 

I have plans to do 2 new ones in Caron's Simply Soft which I also used on my first blanket made in this pattern. They will be in the fruity named colors of Blackberry and Blueberry. I only have 2 skeins of each color so gauge is important this time because the pattern calls for 600 yards and 2 skeins gives me 630 yards to work with and I am in no mood to play yarn chicken. With that in mind I found that to get the same size as the original I needed to go down to a size 6 needle instead of the size 8 the pattern called for. Doing that needle change gives me a blanket that is exactly 26 inches across as the pattern says. 

Pictures will be posted on another day when I have made more progress and am in the mood to take pictures. In the meantime you can check out the pattern on Ravelry or click on the pin I created from the pattern page and embedded here and then you can see more of what I have pinned. Just a warning I pin food, lots and lots of food.

  

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

A Finish and a New Project Started

I finished my blue and white mini shawl. I say mini because it is really more like a triangular scarf. This piece was knit in garter stitch. I love garter stitch when I want to create a fabric that feels squishy. I think this is a very versatile shape to knit. If you wear the point in the back you have a nice accessory to keep your neck and shoulders warm. Is it just me or do you know that sometimes that is all you need to feel comfortable and keep you from tensing your shoulder muscles and getting sore? If you wear one of these mini shawls with the point in front under your coat on a blustery winter day you can keep the wind out and stay nice and cozy while "walking in a winter wonderland".

So moving on I have started a new baby afghan. Have to have something on a hook or needles at all times. It is how I get through life without hurting people. LOL. This is the third time I have made this pattern and certainly won't be the last. This time the yarn is a cheerful, sunny, you just gotta smile yellow. The pattern for the knit Free Sunny Baby Blanket can be found by clicking here. I like this pattern for its ease. It makes for great tv knitting. I also like solid rather than lacy patterns for baby blankets. This is so that little fingers and toes don't get caught. 

My triangle mini shawl all done.

Rows and rows of squishy garter stitch.

The next project (a baby afghan) cast on last night.

I have to end with a rant. I had a new version of blogger show up last week. It may be older than that but I didn't post for a couple weeks. I hate it. formatting with pictures stinks. I can't easily arrange text and pictures like I used to. Setting up labels for posts is not as easy as it used to be either. Before you typed your label and a comma, next label and a comma and so on. Now you are supposed to be searching labels. It is just clunky and wrong. Look Google, I do like learning new things, I really do but I don't see how you have made things better so I want to learn them. What are the wonderful benefits of this new design. These changes kind of remind me of Etsy and some of you may know exactly what I mean.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Knitting with a Deadline

Like so very many knitters this time of year I am working on a project with a deadline. Once again I am knitting a baby blanket for the first baby born in the new year at the local hospital. After doing several bright little blankets in the previous years I am doing a soft, kind of traditional cream color this time.

The pattern being used this time is Sunny Baby Blanket. The pattern name link goes to Ravelry where I have saved this pattern. It is a free pattern that I have knit before. For any of you looking for tv knitting, this pattern works for me.

What's on your needles (or hook) these days?

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

For a Princess

Yesterday for Wordless Wednesday, which is a way of blogging on Wednesdays that I intend to continue, I showed you a pink baby blanket I am working on. In an effort to reduce my stash of yarn and fabrics I decided to make this with yarn I already. As any of you who knit or crochet know sometimes it just does not work out. It looks as if, oh darn, I need to get some more yarn to finish it to the size I want. I am thinking about a green border to enclose the pinks.

I am pleased with the way it looks so far and when finished it will go online in one of my shops so someone can make the life of a new princess softer.