Tis the Season for Cuffs

For my first pair this season I tried to add some stripes, it worked out pretty well, although it is a touch harder to seam them together perfectly.

Knit iPad Case

I saw this pattern a while back and now that I actually have something to put in it I had to make it. A few nights at home feeling sick were a great time to knock out this project...and amazingly enough I did it ERROR free!! There are a few things I would change myself in the pattern if I make another one, but overall it will serve its purpose of keeping my iPad nice and safe inside my bag.

Back

Front

All Together

In Action

Knit Bracelet

Over the weekend at Dickenson Island, after I had a bit too much sun I was able to finish a knit bracelet for Andrea (I have a few more to make yet...) It was my second attempt at it. I think Jill has the first one. I wanted to teach myself how to knit cables and trying it with something small seemed manageable.


With anything knitting if I can't remember quite how to hold my needles or turn them You Tube is the answer to all my questions. It is a great resource and it doesn't care if you have to play the video 7 times before you actually figure it out.

There will be more of these to come soon!

Okay, one more pair

At the request of his mom - I whipped up one more pair of cuffs to keep another set of hands warm for my baby nephew Holdan. Let's hope we don't need these much longer!

Cuff Queen

This week I went to my second knitting class and had a great instructor - Carmen, she taught us way more then the class said it would which was great! So this week I learned how to increase, decrease, and 2 new stitches as well as what books are good references and how to read patterns! My next couple projects are going to be way more exciting then scarves and cuffs, but it is still nice to finish something in a day so today I whipped up a pair of cuffs for a friend. I have to say I think I am the Cuff Queen after 5 pairs and they are fun to make so this will stay in my repertoire.



Supplies:
Lion Brand Thick and Quick Yarn in Spice
Size 13 Needles
Large-eye plastic yarn needle

Snowday Project

We had a snowday today, so I was able to knit myself a pair of cuffs. I used the 3 colors I had left over from knitting mom, Jill and Sarah a pair. It was a good chance for me to practice adding a color. Youtube videos are great for knitting because if I forget how to do something someone has posted a video on how to do it on youtube. Usually it only takes me about 6-8 times of watching the video to figure it out. Pretty snazzy if I do say so myself :-)

Product Testing

It is important of course to check your work before you give it to others...just like when you are cooking you always taste it before sharing with guests. So being the helpful puppy that he is, Chimmy went to work to make sure Jill's scarf was both warm and comfy. I think it passed the test. (and I finished it Saturday just in time for the ice skating parting.)


I was also able to get a couple more pairs of cuffs done for my mom and Sarah as well, now to make a pair for myself!

Comfy Cuffs

It is only day 2 of 2011 and I already knocked out my first knitting project of the year! These comfy cuffs only took me two days and I am wearing them right now as I type. Jeff gave me an early birthday present which was a full set of knitting needles so I put them straight to use. Look for pink and purple versions coming soon!

1 Down, So many more to go!

I finally finished my first knitting project - a scarf for Holdan. Now I am on to the next. More photos this week of the fun stuff I am working on.

Knit This!

As you know one of my creative endeavors for the year was to try out knitting and maybe even pick up. So Jessica and I signed up for a knitting class a Joann's. Despite the fact that our teacher was Kuku for coco puffs, I did actually learn a little bit, now I just have to find time to practice so I can decide if its something I really want to pick up.

So let me take you through my first knitting masterpiece (aka a 3x4 inch swatch of orange yarn :-))

Step 1. Casting On (there are 2 ways to cast on to get your project started either knitting on or long-tail cast on which is what I found easier.


Once you have your first row cast on then you can start knitting, which is a bit awkward at first but I found holding the needles a certain way did help (of course not the text book way but whatever)


Then basically after that you are transferring your knit knots from one needle to the other (note you always hold your work in your left hand so once your knots are moved to the right, then you switch hands) and it starts to look like this.

It was surprisingly hard to keep an even tension so that will be my biggest challenge to figure out. And after a while of knitting the same stitch (Garder I think?) Then we learned a different stitch (purl) so the when you see those nice v style knit sweaters it is a combination of both (stockinette).
Then after a while you can switch between the two and it starts to create a pattern. We finished off class by learning how to bind of the piece and voila here have my finished piece!


Here's to all the knitters out there - you are amazing because it isn't easy! To another creative week!

P.S. To all of you are wondering about my teaching - some of my students have been very creative which has resulted in my brain feeling like it is going to explode, so I may have re-categorize teaching into a category that is not 'creative' :-)

Think Big, Make It Happen!

What a great time on Saturday girls! A bunch of us got together to create our goal boards for 2010. The theme for mine was think BIG, Make It Happen. Here's a glimpse below.

The girls... who doesn't love magazines, glue, a bit of glitter and friends. That has to put you in a good mood!

The best part of the night was when Debbie thought Lipstick Jungle was coming back on T.V. then realized it was an old copy of Cosmo. You are soo cute!

Cheers!

P.S. Officially signed up for knitting class on Feb. 3rd and have my first project picked out which is inspired by a White House Black Market pocket Scarf. I'll try to find a photo to post here.

Looking Ahead (Part 2)

Okay, so I took my first stab a PsE today... and tada... you can see the results to your left on my profile picture and below in my before and afters...don't I have a certain glow now :-). This is going to take a little practice and a ton of tutorials, I already have a book requested for my birthday from Jeff to help the process along.

Next up - Signing up for knitting classes and creating my 2010 goal board (with friends of course since that makes it so much more fun!) Looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend for some crafty fun and here's hoping this cold isn't with me!

Before

After