Sunset on Rock Island

Started August 4, 2011; Frogged 10/4/11

I bought this luscious shimmer hand dyed lace yarn and couldn't figure out what to make as the colors are so bright and vibrant. The yarn is so light and airy and I thought a shawl or wrap would be a perfect fit.

Then I came across the Rock Island design and fell in love immediately. 

Photo by Brooklyntweed

Simple Blue Bracelet

Do you want to build your faith? Do you understand what it is to believe in God? Do you know what having faith means? If you have questions like these and others then definitely pick up Beth Moore's book "Believing God." I am working through this book with some wonderful ladies in my Bible study and one of the things required is a simple blue bracelet so I volunteered to knit some. Pardon my camera as the bracelets look black in the pictures but they are actually navy blue in color.

Pattern up close

JJ Bolero

Started 5/27/11; Completed 6/21/11.

My sister loves my black bolero and tried unsuccessfully to take it from me. Don't take her side!!!! I was lucky enough to get away with some clothes. Besides she took all my summer sandals so I am left with the odd colored and rugged ones :( ...sigh!!

Anyway I found a great bolero knitting pattern (designed by Kelly Maher) and decided to knit one for her in her favorite color - purple.

6/4/11 - This is an easy knit and definitely a great project for a beginner knitter to advance their skills a little more if they want to. I love the lace pattern and the fact that minimal seaming is needed. Here is a great video on how to seam using the mattress stitch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvAS-HCWk9I

6/12/11 - C'est fini!!! I think it turned out pretty well. The pictures below show the bolero before blocking.

Get your own socks!!!

Started 4/19/11, Completed 4/30/11

Below is a picture of my once beautiful crochet socks.

To prevent further damage to my socks, I just had to knit a pair for my boyfriend so that he could stop destroying my socks.

Now his feet can stay warm and cozy and I can have some warm socks for myself :) I better knit more!!

GBMN Summer Shawl

Started 03/06/11; Completed 5/18/11


I convinced my friend GB to join me in the knitting adventure and I am glad she did. We decided to pump up our basic knitting skills by knitting this complex (or so we thought) shawl from the Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2011 magazine.

Knitting the shawl turned out to be quite easy. Unfortunately I ran into some headaches. Click on link to read on knitting mistakes - http://sparklearts.blogspot.com/2011/03/knitting-mistake.html. Thanks to GB, I am able to rectify missed stitches easily. I hope to post a video on this soon. 

So the third try is truly the charm. No mistakes have been made thus far.

Here is a close-up on the lace pattern

Other view of the shawl.

T-Cable Scarf

Started 1/21/11, Completed 2/27/11 

I started the 2011 with basic knitting skills so I decided to develop them by knitting various designs and patterns I hadn't done before. I discovered this cable scarf designed by Smariek. "What a perfect project!!" I thought, definitely more advanced than the knit and purl I was used to. I didn't have any experience reading a knitting pattern/chart so I ended up starting the scarf 4 TIMES!!!

At the end of the day I conquered the scarf. I love the way the cables intertwine into each other. The scarf is not as long as the 68inches called for in the design, but I think it will fit the person who will wear it.

The cables make the scarf chunky and warm. LOVE IT!!! :)

To knit this scarf check out Smariek at

http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/08/triumph-cable-scarf-pattern.html

Knitting Mistake

I am knitting a beautiful lace wrap/shawl (#11) from the Vogue Knitting Summer/Spring 2011 Magazine.

As simple as the knitting is, it has caused so many headaches because one has to pay close attention as there is a lot of increasing and decreasing of stitches. So there I was last night, so excited that I was about to use up the 1st skein, when I realized I only had 73 stitches instead of 74. Sigh...!!!! I think I will start all over again.This is the 3rd time. SIGH!!!

Here is a video to help fix mistakes made without having to start your work all over again.

Cable Hand Mitts

Started 2/28/11; Completed 3/11/11


I was looking for a hand mitt pattern to go with the T-Cable scarf and I came across this wonderful design by Delia Rau Cholakian. I loved the fact that the pattern was a flat design and I didn't need to purchase circular needles.

I ended up knitting 3 of them because the gauge in 1 mitt was too tight.

All the same this is an easy, quick knit for a nice handmade gift.

Snow Tubing Cowl

Started 2/19/11; Completed 2/21/11

Now those who know me know that I am not a fan of winter - from the trudging through the snow, to driving on slippery roads, to dealing with the SAD (seasonal affective disorder). So I try to make the winter season "fun" if I can crawl out of bed and deal with the layers of clothing. 

Snow Tubing has been on my "winter list of things to do" so I was so excited when the opportunity came up to go with a group of friends. Thanks to the handy dandy Google search, I read on the what to and what not to wear. I was so excited but was worried about catching a cold because I did not have the proper jacket or chest/neck covering. Being the frugal spender that I am (at least most of the time) I borrowed the jacket and knitted a cowl. 

This cowl is designed by Margaux Hufnagel. It was a quick knit but the wool was not cheap!!! (Defies my frugality. More on this later)

The snow tubing cowl kept me warm throughout and I love it.

This was my first time working with circular needles. When I purchased them I did not know that I had to buy smaller needles than what the knitting pattern calls for. For example, if the work is supposed to be 26" in the round, circular needles should be 24". Despite that it was not that difficult to work on.

I had some trouble weaving in the ends of the cowl but I tucked in the trouble areas into the wrong side. I also added some white yarn to break up the brown color a little bit.

  

 

The Rowan Big Wool used is pricey (a hefty $15.00 per skein) and sheds a little but does the job.

I am looking forward to knitting more cowls for next winter...or maybe I should move to a warm place eh?!?

Cute Bobble Scarf

Pin It

Started 2/8/11; Work in progress

I bit my tongue and finally bought a cute white.....yes, WHITE winter coat. Then I saw this scarf (another excellent cable piece of work from Smariek) and I thought it would go well with it. I have never done bobbles before so this will be interesting.

2/14/11 After 4 tries I am finally getting into the rhythm of knitting this scarf. I have to take the time to re-count the stitches after making a bobble because for some reason I lose one stitch at that point. I also thought this video was helpful in making the bobbles stand out more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0PU4ymWVZA