Scary Scarf finished! Plus Hat to Match

So I finally finished the Alien Illusion Hat from Stitch and Bitch. I will never be doing this pattern again! Illusion knitting is not for me. Its pretty monotonous, tedious work. I did learn some valuable lessons however! Use stitch markers and post its to mark off the graph pattern! Also knit something that my daughter doesn't like if I want any chance of keeping something for myself!

The hat pattern came from a magazine article my friend Linda gave me. I'm not sure, but I think it might be Good Housekeeping. I like how this turned out but it did take a lot of blocking to get the shape right. The earflaps were a little close in together in the front. Again, Amy has confiscated this too! I guess I'll take it as a compliment.

Aparrently, I am Dishcloth cotton...bleh!!

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Dishcloth Cotton.You are a very hard worker, most at home when you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain Jane, but you are too practical to notice.
Take this quiz!








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So I took this quiz, and these are the results. Oh my! Of all the yarns I could have been this is the type I am. Actually I agree with most of the assessment...except the part about being born to clean. Thats actually quite funny! I wish I was half born to clean

Christmas Presents I've been working on...

Here are some knitted Mary Jane's that I've been working on. I love this pattern-its from Berrocco. I'm hoping to have 4 pairs of these done by Christmas. I wonder will I have time?? I am taking a week off soon. Yippee!!!! But I found out last night that I'm going to St. John's on the 16th to see Kris Kristopherson. (I love my job!) So, no doubt that will cut in to crafting time but I will be able to have access to better craft supplies. So I'm really, really looking forward to it.

Here's a hat I crocheted for a young friend on mine for Christmas (won't say who, because I think she reads my blog sometimes). This pattern came from crochetville and it was the first time I did a pattern that was done around the post, for that cabled type of look. I love it, but it was kind of hard on the ole fingers.
This picture really isn't the actual colour, its closer to blue than gray.


And finally here's some jewelry that I've been working on.



I'm not really a jewelry person. I don't wear it, and don't usually like to make it, but these little 'tree of life' pendants are addicting.

Amigurimi Amy!

There is a crochet challenge going on over on craftster, and I couldn't resist coming up with my own entry. (of course, coached along the way by Amy) So here she is....I think I will get rid of the skull applique and go with a crocheted flower before I actually enter her in the contest. Not that I think I have a chance in hell of winning....you should see the entries. Amazing!!

Christmas Stocking Swap

I have been busy recently with swaps, and I don't feel right posting until my partner has recieved. Here is a photo of things that I sent to a lady in Alberta. I was pretty pleased with the things I made for her (and very pleased with the things I recieved!!)

I really liked the placemat purse!

30 Something Swap

These three items I made for a girl in Toronto for a swap called "30 Something Swap". She mentioned that she collected CBC memorabilia so I thought I would make her a bag from the squares that Amy got from a contest DNTO was hosting. She is a vegitarian so I thought I would make her something fruit or veggie related, hence the checkers set. I was very pleased with this, since it was my first attempt at double knitting.


And here is what I received from "knitwit"






I'm so pleased with all that I received from this very talented and generous lady!!!

Verb Swap...my partner has recieved.

My partner has recieved her swap package from me.....it went all the way to the UK!!!! This was a verb swap, and we had to craft items based upon our partners chosen verb. My partner chose "To Capture".


Here is a close up of the 'spiderweb' capelet from the "Stitch and Bitch" book. I made one of those beaded spiders to put in the corner. The spider is probably one of the best 'capturers' in nature.

I also captured something for her...well, not really, but I did make this little guy out of paper mache. I told my partner that he is a Canadian garden gremlin. I hope he likes his new home.

Finally, I sent her a recovered journal for her to 'capture' her thoughts. I was really pleased with everything I made for this swap.

Scary Scarf!!

Yet another project from 'Stitch and Bitch'. Its my first forray into illustion knitting. I'm really taking my time on this, since you really have to concentrate hard to get the lumpy rows right so that they pop out when viewed from the side. Not bad so far. I really should aim to have this done by Halloween.

An Original ...by Moi!

So I'm making a purse for my friend Natasha. (Tash if you ever happen to read this, do you realize this is the 3rd purse I've made for you??!!) She bought the wool, and wanted something with cables. So, here it is so far. I used the cable pattern that was in the gloves from "One Skein". Kinda cute in a purse hey?

A New Hat for a New Baby!

So we are expecting a baby in our family. Kevin's daughter Aimee is due in January. I made this little cotton hat from the book "Last-Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson. I love this book!! There are so many sweet projects in it that I can't wait to try. I also bought "Weekend Knitting - 50 Unique projects and Ideas" by Melanie Falick. This is also a gorgeous book, with many fantastic patterns.

So if Aimee's baby is a girl, she will get this little hat. If not, there are plenty of boy patterns that I will undoubtably work on!

I'm thinking I will knit a different colour I-chord to match every outfit!

Mini Paisley Skull Bag

I seem to be on a bag kick lately. I made this little gem for a friend (who shall remain nameless, since I've yet to give it to her, yet one look and she will know its for her because its so ... well...her!) I used this tutorial to make it. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=32204.0

My only regret is that it isn't a little bigger, but I made this from left over fabric that I had from Amy's school bag. Yes, Amy decided that the huge yellow dance patterned bag was ... well ... huge. So now it is mine, all mine!! Though I may decide to give it away in the 30 something swap, depending upon what my yet to be announced partner likes.

So this is Amy's new school bag!


But I must say I do love this combination of pattern/colour. Amy picked it out for her bag and I used the leftovers. I tooks some pics of that too, but it does need to be altered, since in my infinite wisdom, I sewed the handle on backwards. She wanted a zipper too. So I sort of winged it.

A New School Bag for Amy.

A while ago Amy and I bought this really cute fabric. She wanted to make a school bag out of it. She had every intention of doing it herself. Well...school starts tommorrow, and she hasn't had a chance to do it. So I did it. I used the Jordy Bag tutorial from crafster.

It is huge, but I love how it turned out. I'm kind of hoping Amy won't really like it, since this would be the perfect knitting tote.

Now I just need to figure out what type of closure I'm going to use. I have the cutest orange buttons, but buttons aren't always practical when it comes to a school bag. Oh well, I'll just wait until Amy comes home and see what she thinks.

Verb Swap, DIY Swap and 30 something swap

Oh yeah, I may be in over my head this time. I have 3 more swaps on the go!!

I've already gotten my partner from the verb swap. She's from Bristols UK!!! We each had to pick a verb (mine is shiver..appropriate no?) Her verb is capture. I have to craft several things related to that verb. I've already figured out what I'm doing. One thing is almost finished in fact.

The DIY swap involves making a craft kit for someone else. And receiving one you would like in return. I can't rightly recall what kind of kit I said I would make. I think it was...knitted purse kit, crocheted purse kit, crocheted beanie kit, felt ipod cozy kit (cuz I'm a real pro at it...I did one!). I'm not sure what I asked for but it was probably needle felting and hand spinning stuff. I really want to learn this, but of course cannot find any supplies here. I'm going to St. John's on the 28th, maybe I'll find something then.

The 30 something swap is just that. A swap amongst my 30 something peers. It should be fun.

I received my pink goodies

Now that I know how to host pictures from Craftster, I don't seem to be posting as much on this blog. Well, I hope to remidy that. Here is my parcel of pink goodness that I received from the lovely roses are red. It was her first swap. (Not like I'm a swapping pro or anything)

I love that she sent something for Spencer, and also something for Amy. What a sweetie. Seriously, I love this swapping business. My favorite thing she made is this.



The coaster, made from old magazines. What a great way to recylce. She used hemp on the outside. Its very, very cool. I may try to make more myself. Aww...just look at the pink piggie. He's my new pincushion.

My Partner has Received!

Yay, my partner 'roses are red' has received her package so I feel it is safe to post the things that I have made for her.

Keeping in mind this was a 5 senses swap. The first thing that I made was for sight. Its a crocheted psychotic tomato. The pattern is from monstercrochet.com.



The second thing I made was for the sense of taste. I'm not sure how this came to me but the idea was all my own. Its a popsicle making kit. Complete with a recipe for dripless popsicles.




The kool aid, jell-o and the recipe are in this painted cherry box.

Then I went on to make something for the sense of smell. I had made some of these last year for our Christmas sale and they turned out so well, that I just had to do them again. Cherry Soda Bath Fizz. The recipe is from www.budget101.com




Amy made a mixed CD called the Red Playlist. A bunch of age appropriate songs (my partner is only 20) that had 'red' in the title.




The hardest thing for me to come up with was touch. Go figure. So seeing that my girl had a keyboard purse listed on her wist, I started to knit a keyboard, not knowing what I would do with it. Well, I ended up turning it into a pillow, and I also made a matching sleep mask.


This has been yet another great swap for me. I've yet to receive my package but I'm sure it will be great.

(Hmmm, am having trouble uploading images of pillow and sleep mask. Will try in another post)

I have been busy.......honest.

So I haven't posted any FO here for a while, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been doing anything. I've been crafting up a storm for my swap partner from London, Ontario "Roses are Red". I don't want to post anything here on the off chance that she may stumble upon this and ruin the suprise.

Amy is partacking in a swap as well. An ipod cozy one, and I've helped her with that, hmmm...maybe I'll post a picture of the one that we have finished. Its really cool. Knitted in yellow and red curling ribbon and lined in yellow cotton. It has a big ole clip on it too, so the recieving partner can hook it onto her belt loops or whatever.

All I can say is, I love this swapping business. My girl "roses are red" has sent my package already!! I still have a little work to do yet though.

5 Senses Swap

Eeeeeee! I signed up for another swap. Its called the 5 senses swap. You pick a colour, as does your assigned partner. You have to make 5 things which appeal to each of the 5 senses that are the colour that you picked. The gears are just a turnin' in my head. I like crafting for other people that you don't even know. It really encourages you to think outside the box. I just hope like hell my partner hasn't picked a blah colour like gray. What would you craft that tastes or smells like gray? Yikes!

Amy has signed up for a swap too. Her's is an ipod cozy swap. I think she is hooked too!

One Skein Unisex Gloves

I bought this beautiful yarn called Muskoka Canadian Warmth. Its 100% Merino wool and its so soft and lovely. I wanted to make something luxurious for myself out of this yarn. I decided on the unisex gloves from "One Skein". Now I understand why most people knit mittens, not gloves. What a pain in the arse these are!! But I'm happy with how they are turning out. I'm sure I'll appreciate all of my efforts this winter. Its hard to see the gorgeous pattern here because of my lack of photography skills, but it is a lovely waffely type of pattern on the cuff.

Craftster Challenge 14

Even though I said I wouldn't.............I couldn't resist. I just had to enter something in the latest craftster challenge. You had to make something itty bitty. Like 2 inches itty bitty. I know I'm not going to win, or even get any votes for that matter, but there is something about these challenges that just compels me to enter. So without further adeu (how the hell do you spell that word??) here is my mini etch-a-sketch





Something else that I can't resist on Craftster....Swapping. Oh yeah!! I've signed up for another swap. This time its the 5 senses swap. You pick a colour, as does your partner and you have to craft 5 seperate things that appeal to each of the 5 senses. I hope I don't get partnered with someone who has picked gray. God, I can't even think of a smell or taste for gray, maybe cigarette ashes or something. I hope for a cheerful colour (anything but gray). I picked pink, not sure why. But I wear alot of pink.

Another Bag Completed.

As I predicted this was a very fast knit. Just your basic rectangle in stocking stick, then sewn up the sides. I added a lining and then sewed on the handles and added a fabric flower.

It is safe to post!

I am posting the things that I have sent to knittingtwit, since she has recieved and just to show that yes indeed I have been doing some crafting.

Not a bad haul don't ya think?




I wasn't sure what to make for her since her specialties were crochet and knitting, as are mine. So I didn't want to make something for her that she could easily make her self so, I did two sewing projects. The t shirt pants were very easy and I like how they turned out. It is kinda funny with one end of the moose on each hip. They turned out very, very low waisted however, but they did fit her, and she liked them.






The bag is the item that I spent the most of my time on. The kanzashi flower (sp?) was very fun to do. I am currently in the process of making another.


The scarf is from Stitch and Bitch and I actually started making this before I was assigned a partner, but in her questionaire knittingtwit said she liked bright colours so I thought what the heck.

And of course no package would be complete without something from the region, so I sent her a book mark made from pressed wildflowers of Labrador.