Temperature Blanket Progress

I'm slowly, but surely, making progress on my temperature blanket.

Monday's Retro Makings

I have three ongoing projects that I wanted to share.  They're all at various stages of completion, and I feel like they need to be completed. The hardest one is going to be the quilt, but I'll keep plugging away at it.

Knitted Shawlette

A to me from me Christmas gift.

I use two skeins of light worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles to knit this shawl.

The pattern is free online.

Pincha

Thanks to sales prices I spent $7.03 on this shawlette including tax.

The feather pattern curves around the neckline creating a bit of an asymetrical feel when I pin it together.

I love that the short rows create an interesting patterning.

What do recylcing, knitting, and thrifting have in common?

A while back I picked up a yellow cotton sweater from a yard sale.  I didn't pay much for it, but it was in pristine shape.  I wore it once or twice, but to be honest, yellow just isn't my color.

I had put it aside with other items to take to the thrift store and when I was gathering them I took a second look at it.  The sweater was a nice name brand and because it was a more expensive sweater it the pieces had been finished and joined together.  Some sweaters do not lend themselves to unraveling because they have been cut and sewn....the end result is just a bunch of single strings and nobody wants to knit or crochet with that many knots in their thread.  At least, I sure don't.

I decided to invest a little time into unraveling the sweater.  I wanted a project, but didn't seem to have the concentration to work on any detailed.  This seemed to fit the bill.

I had a little waste, but I still ended up with this much yarn.

I've knit two dishcloths that are going in Mama's Mother's Day basket.  She loves bright colors and her kitchen is yellow.  I think she will love them.  (Two dishcloths only used up one ball, so I still have yarn left to use up.). My plan is to fill a small basket with dish detergent, scrubbies, etc.

Sweater Complete!

This camouflage sweater is for my grandson.  The simple shape is great for layering over little boy clothes.  The yarn is machine wash and dry.  I also added a little extra length to the body and the cuffs so that perhaps he can get two seasons of wear from it.

This is the ultimate "hoarders" project.  I found this yarn in my stash -- leftover from the last camouflage sweater I knit for my son, when he was a pre teen.  Yes -- I used the leftovers from years ago to make his son a sweater.  Kind of made me nostalgic thinking back to all those years.

I actually have enough left that in a year or two I should be able to knit him a vest as well -- if I do not find another project before then.  (Especially since my nephew is hinting that he really likes camouflage, too.)

Finished Project

This seems to be the week for finishing up projects. 

A few hours of British mysteries, channeling my inner Miss Marple and here's the finished product.  This vest will be packed away for next fall, but it fits well and will layer over a long sleeved tee or a blouse with no problems.

Frugal Slipper Replacement

My favorite slippers have an unmendable hole, but I have a huge stash of yarn. This pattern is one I learned to knit a million or so years ago.  I still cringe when I hear the 1980s items described as vintage or oldies, but I am pretty sure this basic design has been around longer than that.

I opted to add some crocheted flowers just because I love flowers. I'm also going to hand sew a small piece of elastic across the top to tighten them slightly.  Cost to me -- free because I literally used leftover yarns for the whole project and I will be using those small bits of elastic I have never known what to do with.

Garter Stitch Vest in Progress

Finished the front and halfway up the front.  Using two skeins of yarn from an earlier project.

Knitting Buddy

My knitting buddy and I are working on another vest.

Knitting And Crocheting Again

One of the things my growing family does is keep me knitting. My youngest niece and nephew were both overdue for a gift.  Yes! In my family I am that crazy aunt who sends sweaters. 

For my nephew in his favorite red.

For my niece in a yarn of my choice.

Wednesday's Yarnalong

QI've actually been knitting and crocheting up a storm.  Rarely do I have huge blocks of down time, but I have -- and I have been determined to use every minute of every day doing something.

 

I've finished two pair of socks, a bountiful supply of dishcloths, and three sweaters. 

 

 

These darling sweaters are for a little girl, who is a new addition to my brother's family through some sad circumstances.  She is such a sweetheart.

 

 

This is modified drop shoulder sweater -- 26 inch chest. I used Big Twist Baby Yarns in various shades.

 

This crocheted cardigan is made using the same brands of yarns.

 

 

Then I continued to practice my loom knitting and finished my first sweater on the loom.

This is for my grandson.  I had such a hard time getting him to be still for me to take a good photo.  Oh to have that kind of energy.

 

My daughter in love, who knows the way to my heart, gave me a wonderful new book for Christmas and I have been slowly savoring every story.

 

 

Go over to Ginny's -- Small Things -- to see what everyone else has been making.

 

 

16 in 2016

One of the groups I participate on in Ravelry is doing a 16 in 2016 "along" and I made my list.  It isn't a set in stone list, but one of the things that I decided to do was put a few practical things on there, too. That included updating some of my handmade dishcloths. I retired those that had developed holes and shuffled those that looked horribly used up over to the car washing and rag stack.  I took advantage of a yarn sale and came home with 15 ounces of worsted weight cotton to use.  My husband is happy because he now has car washing cloths that aren't shot and I am happy because I now have a dozen knew dishcloths and five scrubbies for about 80 cents each if I had paid full price for the yarn.  However, I had a $10 off coupon, which knocked my yarn down to $5 -- so these ended up costing me less than 20 cents each to make.  I doubled up my time while I was watching PBS and BBC shows I had been saving to see, kept my hands busy, and added a little beauty back to my daily life.  A win win situation for me.  I also am happy knowing that the thicker yarns hold up well and I will get a lot of use from these.

A Little Knitting for Myself

Christmas Surprise

My husband gave me a gift card and took me to a yarn shop for Christmas! I picked up several projects worth and two books. I have visions of projects dancing in my head.

Gift for a Friend

My favorite professor is retired as of Friday. This was my retirement gift to her.  I made this on the loom.