shellebellecreates

Second sock

I loved everything about making sock one. Sock number two is still a joy to knit but lacks the excitment of it's partner. My feet are begging for the completion of these to keep them warm in the cool weather. The socks were inspired by the peace fleece socks in Knitting for Peace, a book that I highly recommend. The stories are inspirational and the patterns lovely.

Sweet satisfaction

My kids are growing up so fast. Now when we go to the pool I don't have to be in the water with them the whole time. I love that because I get cold the fastest and the knitting time it adds is a real treat. Today I finished a simple ball band dish cloth while my kids played together in the water. I'm off to play with them for a bit and then a trip to the hot tub. I love my sweet life!

Quick knits

I have tried to knit the perfect pair of socks for myself and after weeks of knitting I was always disappointed. I have pairs that are too loose that sag, too tight which makes the wool feel crazy itchy but I am not a quitter! Today I started worsted weight socks and I will know in days not weeks if they will be perfect. I think I am on the right track with a lovely purple yarn in a great thickness for fall in Birkenstocks. I just need to nail the sizing.

A new hat!

I love knitting hats, they are so fast, satisfying and useful. This is a simple hat out of Manos naturals loosely based on the hat pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I have two more hats that need to be phographed and shared. I am contemplating making one for me with ear flaps, is that too silly?

New beginnings: leftover crazy blanket

I love this blanket pattern! I have so much leftover worsted weight yarn that this can be made without ever entering into the yarn shop. The memories of the projects past plus the stitch memory from making the blanket will make a great heirloom.
pure bliss!

Patience is a virtue...

that I do not always possess.  I received a lovely gift of lace weight yarn that I am eager to knit up. Before I could start I needed to wind it into a ball and could not wait for my experienced swift (my manthing holds the hank while i wind) and had to settle for the 10 year old. Things were moving along smoothly until he had an itch on his nose or something and then the yarn was all tangled with a quarter left to wind. I wanted to cry, and suggested to j that he might want to buy me a swift for Christmas. Me and the manthing tried and tried to undo the tangle but failed and took a scissors to the nasty knot. Now I am even more ready to knit the shawl but cannot find a copy of the pattern I want to make. I am hoping that the designer will be kind enough to let us download it again as I do not want to pay for it again. Should I give up and choose another pattern?

Barbie Spring fashions aka I've gone mad

  I never ever thought we would have a Barbie in the house but my Mo is  a princess who loves dressing up with her "daughters" and going to fancy dress balls- her words.  I  was concerned that Barbie lacked regular clothes and  I took to the needles, and sweater one was finished in a couple of hours.

Although I like this sweater it was difficult to put on. Barbie has funny arms and those thumbs that stick out. I thought a cardigan would solve that problem, sweater two was born. It took a little longer as I decided she needed a lace sweater and did not want to do the math to change the pattern and was winging it...

Barbie is used to her clothes being difficult to put on and thinks the color is perfect but practical me said you need a poncho!

I actually like knitting mini sweaters and might consider a Barbie swim suit... to be continued...

started: new socks for me!

april 1. outside. and in:

with mo and papa outside playing in the snow and j in bed sick. i decided to cast on for a new pair of socks. i have knit many pairs of socks but have not found a pair that i love yet. i am hoping this will be the one.

pattern: priscilla's dream socks from this book

yarn:knitpicks essentials, pumpkin

needle: size 2 dpn's

FO: luck of the irish mitts

Funny when I started knitting these mitts I felt so smug. It was 70 degrees here and my poor sister still needs these to keep her warm in Wisconsin. We had the sun and my garden is growing... Well my dears the current temperature is 16 degrees and more snow is on the way! I know Colorado's snowier months are March and April but it is usually followed by warm sunny days. me waiting for the warmer days:

pattern: fetching knitty summer 06

yarn:debbie bliss cashmerino, from stash

needle: size 6 bamboo dpn

for: my older sisters bday

the very same crocus minus the snow :)

finished

finished
Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

This scarf was to be the first of four that I knit for Christmas, one for each of the "girls". Sadly, this happens to be the only one I managed to finish. I am not sure if it was the last minute idea was too ambitious or just that my knitting slowed to a crawl towards the end. Either way I have one more on the needles- different lacier pattern which can only be knit when I am not being disturbed and yarn for one more. Now I can look at it as starting my christmas knitting early! (329 knitting days left!)

pattern: classic elite breast cancer awareness scarf
yarn: patons bamboo silk- apricot
needle: 9&6
changes: grafted together instead of whatever the pattern called for :)