Wavy Baby Afghan Finished!

Behold, the baby afghan is finished. I liked this pattern and will definitely use it again! I am now moving on to a secret squirrel project that is due next Saturday and then I will try to finish up the scarf for ISE 7.

mini yarn balls

these stitch markers are going to my scarf pal for the ise7.

Swaps and Facebook

Just wanted to let you all know that we at the Knit Kat have started a swap page over on Facebook. You can join and we can do yarn swaps. Some of us may have put a kabash buying yarn in 2009 and well, maybe some of us are already a little tired of our stash. The group is called The Voyage of the Yarn Trader and everyone should be able to join! Hope to see you there!

New Addition and New Masthead

Ok, Kendra has started posting on the Knit Kat, let's all welcome her and tip our needles in her general direction. It's been a busy few weeks here, but I"ve managed a little knitting and a new masthead. The quote "Different Stitches for Different Bitches" comes to you directly from a knitting lesson with my favorite student Maureen. She was knitting in a totally new to me way which was working just fine, and the phrase just popped right out!

Since there's more than one knit kat now, I thought the sentiment was appropriate.

Happy Knitting...

baby things

some progress

this is what i have so far for my ise pal. i had to stop work about 24in into the last one because of a wool allergy. then i started again about 5 more times with different yarns and different patterns and finally settled on this.

Project of the Moment

There are several projects in the works here. My ISE7 scarf has started to take shape and this sweet little afghan. I am in love with all of the colors I am working with in both projects and can't wait until they are finished and given to their intended people.

I am using a brick pattern for the scarf and wave pattern for the afghan. Both yarns are from Knit Picks. I am extremely happy with the cotton I am using for the afghan. The colors are bright and the yarn works up so easily. The problem is I can't go to Knit Picks too much because I fear I may soon purchase these needle sets and spend WAY too much money! (i'm sure they are a great value, or at least I could conn myself into thinking so long enough to place the order)

Cast On for ISE7

Christmas Gift from Kendra!

My friend Kendra is a gifted knitter and this year she graced me with a hand knit delight for part of my Christmas gift. Actually it is more than delightful if you count the hand made stick pins she made to accompany this cupcake pin cushion. I am only a little concerned that the deliciousness of the toppers will entice some tiny human into taking a bite someday.

Knit Picks

So, I am gearing up for the ISE7 here at the Tiki Lodge and just bought an armful of yarn at Knit Picks to use! I also purchased some cotton which is going to become that sweet wavy afghan I posted about months ago but probably smaller for yet another baby someone I know is having.

I have never used Knit Picks but have been looking there for a while. They seem to have some very good deals on higher end yarn. I will make sure and post a review of the yarn and the customer service so if you've been riding the fence you can make an informed decision about buying yarn online.

Slipper Socks for Christmas

Today is the gift exchange at the preschool where I teach music once a week and I was included which is a very nice feeling when you only see your co-workers once a week. The person who I had to get a gift for likes purple and wants things in a vanilla or lavender scent. I am planning on getting some smelly cream or lotion to go with these footie socks which I knit the other day using a pattern from Ravelry.

The top photo is a cute little elf footie I am working on for a very precious little cutie who I got to babysit for the other day! Hopefully she can wear them on Christmas and be our little elf!

Both projects were done with Homespun by Lion Brand, the bigger footie has a light celery green trim and I am sad to say I have no idea where it's from or even what it is. It was given to me by a friend of a friend.

Third Hat and the Reason I've Been Quiet

I knit another hat for my dad and finished it just in time to give it to him for an early Christmas present. We celebrated Christmas while home for Thanksgiving. My dad loved his hat and wore it almost immediately after receiving it. Here he is with my mom at Macy's in Chicago in front of the giant Christmas tree in the walnut room.

I knit this one in Cascade 220 black and another 220 that was sort of greenishbrown. (yes that's one word sillies)

This is the hat I knit for my brother as a Christmas gift. I am really happy with the bright rainbow of colors! He actually asked for such a bright hat to go with his snowboarding coat. I have another hat on the needles, this one is for my dad. It is not as bright:)

This hat is done in Cascade 220 Black and Red Heart and Sole sock yarn.

It is Finished!

I finished the hat! I am quite sure that the gentleman who gets this one will like it!

I even started a new one!

I

Students First Project.

Maureen is done with her first project and I think she did a splendid job! We are calling this her leaf button dishrag!

Isn't it cute!

Holiday Knitting

It's that time of year when I start knitting dishrags furiously!

I have three down. Many more to go!

Knit One, Save One 2008 Results

Thanks to everyone who came. Those on that list include: Kelly, Aly and Heather! I hope we can do it again since none of us finished our hats. Here is a pic from the event! I knit one hat as a test the night before and I"m including a picture of that as well!




At the event, we were talking about how much we enjoyed getting together for this event and I am thinking about setting up a crafting circle once a month. Wayward was a great place for this event and it seems like they are open to having crafters come in and use their big table!

New Hat on the Needles!

Remember way back at the beginning, I wanted to knit this hat?

Well, I started it over the weekend, along with painting our bathroom. I was nervous because this hat is not going to be for anyone in my family, I actually finagled my boss into having it made for her husband Jason as a Christmas Gift. Thanks Maureen! (she is also my knitting student)(sneaky hey)
It's coming along nicely although I cheated a little and started it on straight needles because I kept twisting it at the join. If someone has a good plan for avoiding that please let me know!

I am using Lion Brand Wool Ease in Oxford Grey and Paton's Kroy Sock Yarn in Bronzed Berry Stripes. Although this hat is for a boy, I"m getting a little excited each time I see a faint purple hue that shows up in the stripe. Just don't tell Jason:)

New Student

I have a knitting student. She had her first lesson at the Mongolian Grill today. She is left handed but does sewing right handed so she is learning in the traditional right handed method. She did great for her first try AND didn't scream and throw the yarn, which is world better than some students I've had...

Right now she is working with olive green kitchen cotton on a dishrag. Happy Knitting Maureen!

Still Knitting

I am still working on the garter stitch garter kimono. It is a fun and easy project to pick up when I have a few spare minutes. I have to confess that this week I did much more sewing than yarn crafting. I am still excited about the Knit One, Save One project though and hope that you are all gearing up to knit or crochet the best baby hat you can! If you can't make it to the event on November 15 you could always sent your hat to Save the Children or here to the Tiki lodge where I will put with the others to be sent in. Of course if you live far far away, you could host your own event and get even more cute little baby heads covered in warm handcrafted hats!