Bibs galore!

I decided to find a pattern that I liked to make some bibs for my daughter...
Little did I know that I would quickly become OBSESSED!!!
Seriously.  I have made, like, 20 of these.
Here is the pattern.
I used Lily Sugar & cream for the majority.  Once I used some Knitpicks Dishie, I used that more frequently.  The end result was so much softer after laundering!  The Sugar & cream can get a little stiff, as I lay them flat to dry.  Otherwise, the edges curl under.
Probably, a press would work worlds better, but I don't have the time on account of the children.
The thing I might change if I made any more... making the garter edge more than 3 stitches.  I think that might help with some of the  curling under business.
Here's how some of mine turned out!

(Of course that's my Z modeling!)

I also did a few variations :

(Sheep and cabled owls!)
I have so much fun with these!  After making one or two, the pattern sticks with you.  I was able to knock out about one a day at first, then after a few were done, it only takes a few hours.
And... they are adorable!

Ruffle Gloves

I'm trying to keep up with this thing more!  I have oodles of knitting projects in the works...
So, this pattern was one of the first that I found on Ravelry.  It was my initial goal to be able to knit these when I started knitting again.  It took a while, but I finally got comfortable enough to use my good yarn to make a pair. 
Luckily, I over-bought, cause these are just a little snug for me.  I'll have to use a size 7 instead of 6 for my next pair.
Here's the pattern. 
Modifications I made:
-Sz 6 knitting needles
-1/2 inch buttons
-instead of purling a round in the MC then knitting in CC, I switched to CC, knitted a round, purled a round, then bound off.  It made the contrast a touch thicker than at the bottom, but I think I'm the only one that notices.
-I used Knit Picks Shine worsted yarn (60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal® natural beech wood fiber) and the finished product was very polished looking!  I was very pleased with the end result!

I never thought I'd be anxious for cooler weather!  I really want to show these off!

Shrek Hat

I saw during February that Craft Hope was doing Project 16... gathering hats and bags for kids (ages nb-18) who are fighting cancer.  This struck a chord with me... and I had seen so many patterns for adorable hats I wanted to try!
So, the Shrek hat!
Here's the pattern.   I used Vanna's choice light green heather yarn. 

It turned out so cute!  Tho next time I will probably use something a little softer.  I used to only knit with acrylic, but since I discovered Knit Picks, I'm kind of a yarn snob.

Viking hat!

This is another pattern I got from that awesome website that is "Suspended".  I'm going to do my darndest to re-create it... tho again, the credit is not mine!

Materials I used :
Caron Simply Soft in Silver (metal rim, AC1), Chocolate (upper helmet, MC) and Ivory (Horns, AC2)
size 6 circular needles (16") and dpn for hat and finishing
size 2 needles for horns (you can use any size needles... I used sz6 for the adult size hat and sz2 for my toddler's hat.  I like doing them size appropriate.)
Tapestry needle
Cotton batting or filler for the horns

Pattern Key:
MR - make rivet : knit into the front, then back, then front, then back again of the same stitch, turn, p4, turn, k4, turn, p4, turn, k2tg, k2tg, slip back stitch over front and off needle
k2tg - knit 2 stitches together
kfb - knit into the front, then the back of the same stitch
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
rm - remove marker

C/O 80 stitches using a long tail cast on (size can be adjusted in multiples of 8 stitches) with AC1
row#1 - *k1p1 repeat * until end of round
row #2 - *p1k1 repeat * until end of round
rows 3&4 knit
row#5 - *k7, MR repeat * until end of round

rows 6&7 - knit
row 8 - *k1p1 repeat * until end of round
row 9 - *p1k1 repeat * until end of round
Switch to MC
Knit all rounds until total work measures 5-5.5 inches

 *k8, PM repeat * until end of round
*k6, k2tg, SM repeat * until end of round
*k5, k2tg, SM repeat * until end of round
*k4, k2tg, SM repeat * until end of round
*k3, k2tg, SM repeat * until end of round
*k2, k2tg, SM repeat * until end of round
*k1, k2tg, SM repeat * until end of round
*k2tg, RM repeat * until end of round
continue to k2tg until 3-4 stitches remain, thread yarn thru stitches, weave in ends.

Now for the horns...
The original pattern called for small, skinny horns...

(That's my husband modeling...)
Granted, the pattern I modified was for a 3-6 month hat... but even if I had used bigger needles, they still looked a little wimpy.
So, this was my modification to them:
Using AC2, c/o 1 stitch
row#1 - kfb
row#2 (and all even rows) purl
row#3 -kfb, kfb
row#5 kfb, k2, kfb
Continue to kfb on the first and last stitch of the right side of work until you have 16 stitches.
next row - kfb, k11, turn, p8, turn, k11, kfb
next row - purl
next row - kfb, k12, turn, p8, turn, k12, kfb
next row - purl
next row - kfb, k13, turn, p8, turn, k13, kfb
next - purl
continue to increase on ends with odd rows and purl even rows until you have 34-36 stitches on your needle.
b/o

 Stitch sides together with tapestry needle, stuff with batting and stitch to hat.
Viola!

Much better!

I also made one for the kiddaroo, sz2 needles for the horns...

I am also going to make one for my daughter... complete with red braids!

Cupcake hat!

So, I'm going to start posting patterns instead of linking them to other sites... One of my very favorite pattern sites is "suspended", so I kind of had to wing this pattern to make it again.
Also, there was a pineapple hat on said site, and I'm bummed that the pattern is gone for the time being...

So, the credit for this pattern isn't mine... I'm simply sharing!

Material I used :  Caron Simply Soft in Chocolate (cake)  and Persimmon (icing) & scrap yarn in red for pompom.
Needles : sz6 16" circular and dpn for finish (Knitpicks, of course)
Tapestry needle

Abbreviations:
MN : Make nubble - cast on an additional 4 stitches with a knitted cast on, then bind off same 4 stitches (video to follow for additional clarification)
k2tg - Knit 2 together
PM - Place marker
SM - Slip marker
RM - remove marker

What I did:
C/O 80 sitiches with a long tail cast on (size can be adjusted larger, in multiples of 4) with "cake" color
Join in the round without twisting
k2p2 rib, continue  until entire work measures 2"
Switch to "icing" color and k 1 round
Next round :* k1, MN* repeat * until end of round

Knit in stockinette until work measures 5 - 5.5" total
1st row before decrease : *k8, PM* repeat * until end of round
Next - *k6, k2tg, SM* repeat * to end of round
*k5, k2tg, SM* repeat * to end of round
*k4, k2tg, SM* repeat * to end of round
*k3, k2tg, SM* repeat * to end of round
*k2, k2tg, SM* repeat * to end of round
*k1, k2tg, SM*  repeat * to end of round
* k2tg, RM* repeat * to end of round
Continue to k2tg until 3-4 stitches remain.  Thread yarn through stitches, weave in ends

 Make Pompom out of scrap yarn (I have a groovy pompom maker thingie) and attach to top... Viola!
I'm currently making a "red velvet cake" cupcake hat... Dark red for the bottom and cream for the top!
Also going to try more of a textured yarn for the top to make a whipped cream icing... Play with the colors and textures!  I have had several requests for this one already!

All day beret

I saw this pattern as a free "take away" at Hobby Lobby.  I loved how it looked but was completely freaked out to try it!  I went back a few days later and bought the yarn and dpns to make it... that was before I discovered 16" circulars and the amazing website Knitpicks.com.
Here's the pattern!
Here's how mine started out!

Switching from left to right sloping

And finished!

I also made another hat with the same pattern, only with the "Full O' Sheep" yarn in Ivory for my sister-in-law!  It looks so cute!

Fingerless gloves

I was looking for an easy pattern for my first attempt at fingerless gloves.  Luckily, Ravelry had this pattern, so I decided to give it a whirl.

Here's the first one!  I loved the color of this yarn... they turned out a little big, tho.  I have another pair on my list of "Things to knit"... I need some to match my coat!

Shawl for me!

My ultimate goal when I first started knitting again was to knit a shawl.  I'm not really sure why... it just sounded cool and I saw a few that I really liked!  I wasn't thinking at the time that I would probably need a shawl pin to wear the thing, and since I have a 7 month old on my hip a lot of the time, wearing it would have to wait. 
Nevertheless...
I completed the shawl in a few days.  The pattern is super easy and is just 4 rows repeated.  So super cool!

So, here's the blog where I got the pattern! It was linked at Ravelry.com!

And here's the pattern: (My personal notes are in italics)

Aubrey Shawl Pattern

A simple lace shawl, worked from side to side. Pattern is written for fingering weight yarn but can also be used with other yarn weights. Use a needle several sizes larger than called for on the ball band.


Materials
Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi (195 yd/skein), 2 skeins (I had 2 balls of Lion's Brand  yarn that was 375 yards each, so I had plenty of yarn left over!)
Size 10.5 straight or circular needles  (I used sz 13, I had to get 14" needles for the center of the shawl.  The stitches got a little smooshed on 10" needles.)
Tapestry needle
Coil-less safety pin or removable stitch marker (optional)  (we don't need no stinking stitch markers... I say that only cause this project was completed before I had ever used them... I have since gotten some.)

Gauge: not critical

Abbreviations
yo – yarn over
kfb – knit into front and back of stitch
k2tog – knit two together

Pattern Notes
This stitch pattern is based on garter stitch and will be very stretchy from side to side.
If possible, join new balls of yarn at the beginning of a WS row to facilitate weaving in of ends.
Cast on 2.

Work increase section as follows:
Row 1 (RS): Knit to last stitch, kfb
Row 2 (WS): Knit
Row 3 (RS): *yo, k2tog* to last stitch, kfb
Row 4 (WS): Knit

Repeat these four rows 38 times or until shawl is half of desired width, ending with Row 4. (Note: If you are using two equally sized balls of yarn, do not wait until the first ball runs out to work the center rows. Give yourself some wiggle room and work the center before half of your yarn is gone.) (I talked myself into making mine a little bigger, tho when it came time to do more than 38 repeats, it was not necessary to make it any larger.)

Work center rows one time:
Row 1 (RS): Knit
Row 2 (WS): Knit
(I added an extra row to keep the decreases the same side as the increases... to make the FO triangular as the pattern states, otherwise it would turn out like a parallelogram instead)
(side note: I just used "parallelogram" in a sentence... Boom.)

Work decrease section as follows:
Row 1 (RS): *yo, k2tog* to last 2 stitches, k2tog
Row 2 (WS): Knit
Row 3 (RS): Knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog
Row 4 (WS): Knit

Repeat these four rows until 2 stitches remain. Knit last two stitches together. Break yarn and draw through last stitch. Weave in ends. Block, if desired, to even out triangular shape.
(I am totally going to block mine... not just because I got these cool blocking mats... in working the last 6-12" of the decrease, the shawl gets really stretched out... it was kind of asymmetrical as one side of the triangle was super thin and the other was more substantial.


I will include a picture of the awesomeness once I get it blocked!
 

The monster scarf...

I have been knitting since 2005 or so.  I remember working at the salon, (back when I was working as a massage therapist... it seems like a thousand years ago!)  knitting in the break room between clients.  Back then, it was straight up garter stitch all the way... I didn't even know how to purl!  I completed a few scarfs and the hobby died, like many other interests did that way (not without buying lots of stuff of course. My hobbies include but are not limited to jewelry making, scrapbooking, knitting and crocheting, and sewing).
Within the last 2 months, I decided that I wanted to knit like my aunt.  She has made my kids several pieces and her talent is amazing!  I knew that to get to her level, I would have to work my booty off and really commit to learning.  Since I don't work outside the home anymore, I have a little time to dedicate!
The first thing I decided to make was a scarf for my husband.  At our monthly craft night, a wonderful friend taught me how to purl stitch!  I picked out a skein of yarn and practiced.  My husband saw and said that's how he wanted his scarf... 6 feet of ribbing. Eek.
I started on the project, not really realizing how tedious it was going to end up being.

Several hours, days, and weeks later, the scarf was completed.  I did throw a few projects in the mix to break up the crazy of the ribbing.

In case anyone wants to know how this beast was created:

Ribbed scarf

CO even # of stitches (gauge doesn't matter at all, tho I would use a sz 7 or bigger needle, just for sanity's sake)

Rows 1-(@) *k2, p2* (repeat * until infinity)

@ = enough rows to make a scarf, or until you run screaming into the night.

BO with rib.

Needless to say, I can purl like the dickens now!  I have sufficiently gotten my practice ON!

Stay tuned for other projects and patterns!