Woot! FO # 2!

I just cast off on the second shawl. I love it. It isn't blocked yet (but then, neither is my shawl), but it seems a bit smaller. Used two very different yarns though, so will be curious to see how they end up after they've been blocked.

In the mean time, yay! Another FO already, and a Christmas gift checked off my list. *dances* I wish I could share pictures of it, but obviously that can't happen yet. Sorry to make y'all wait a whole year before seeing it.

I'm not sure what I'll work on next. I think I may give my arm a break for a couple of days though - am feeling the strain of so much crochet ;-)

Interesting

So I was doing laundry at my mother-in-law's today, and working on my shawl. My oldest nephew (who's staying with her for the time being) walked in and saw me. Last time, he saw me knitting the fingerless gloves, and he was interested in those, too.

Today, he asked if I would make him gloves, too. He wanted to have a pair just like the ones I made for MIL (same "pattern" as the ones I posted about, but in Duck's colors; they're on Flickr). I told him I'd think about it, but I wasn't making any promises.

Then, I showed him some cool patterns for amiragumi on Ravelry, and he got all sorts of excited. Not asking if I could make some for him, but I planted the seed for him to learn, and now he wants to learn crochet so he can make gifts, just like I do. I told him to ask MIL, because she crochets better than I do, and (far as I know, at least) can understand patterns, whereas I don't. (Sorry, MIL)

I'm curious to see whether this'll amount to anything. After all, he's an eleven year old boy, who's generally excitable and will talk your ear off about any ol' thing. We shall see, I suppose.

Still, it was interesting. I actually kinda hope he learns. It'll be good for him, I think.

 On another note; I got to wondering about Christmas. I've got a few things in mind already for a few people (and let me just say how good it feels to be in this mindset again), and am pleased to know that I'll soon be done with the first of them. And I have ideas for more. Well, technically I suppose I'm done with one already, since it's already a FO, but yeah, you know what I mean.

I am still trying to work out what to do for certain people, but it's only just February - I still have plenty of time. As of today, 325 days, as a matter of fact. So far, I think I'm doing pretty good.

So what about you? Do you have anything planned for Christmas already?

So I've Been Waiting To Post...

mainly because I wanted to show off my Christmas stuff. But, I haven't got any pictures. They're on someone else's camera, and they're being slow to get them to me (that's what I get for forgetting to bring my camera lol). So pictures will have to wait.

In the meantime, I guess I can blab a bit about what I'm up to now. The Christmas post'll have to wait. Although, what I'm working on now is for Christmas lol. Christmas '09, that is. Danny requested a blanket like Treanna's, but in Beaver colors. So I started one. So far, it looks pretty good ^_^.
Mind you, between Treanna's blanket and now Danny's, I've made one blanket for us, and a smaller blanket that's the same colors but different blocks. Also for us. Those I've yet to take pictures of, since I haven't figured out how to do so without getting the cats on them. So yeah, pictures are forthcoming.

I feel pretty good though, to have a start on this year's Christmas knitting. Hopefully I can continue working on presents throughout the year. I know, I know.... I keep saying that and it just doesn't happen lol. But I can hope, right?

Haven't been up to very much besides knitting. I need to do some sewing soon. But it seems like I'm in blanket mode at the moment. Not sure what that's about. I tried working on another clapotis, but I just couldn't get into it. *shrug* So blankets it is.

Panic!

Found out this morning one of my nephews will be moving out of state next week. He will not be back for Christmas, so Thanksgiving is the last time in I don't know how long I will see him. And I haven't got a Christmas present ready yet for him!
Do have an idea though. I'm going to make the denim quilt for him instead of for us, and have the whole family write messages for him on it. That way he'll always have us close by.
Now I just need to learn to sew. And cut more squares. And have it all finished by Thursday! Yes, the panic button has officially been pushed. Yikes!

Holy Cow!

has it really been that long since my last post? Yikes! I have no excuse, really. I've not done a whole lot of crafting, for various reasons. Among them physical and a major crafting funk I've been trying (and failing) to pull myself out of.
Well, failing... until today that is. I have a lot of house cleaning/organizing to do. I've been collecting our old worn out jeans to make into quilts. This morning I figured... hey, if I cut them up into the squares I'll need, they'll take up less space than as regular jeans do! So I pulled out my cutting mat, scissors, seam ripper and rotary cutter and set to work. I've finished one pair and started on the second pair. I've got God only knows how many more to go lol. But it's a start, and hopefully it'll kick me into gear for getting back into my crafts. I need to, because....

Christmas is looming!!! Only 37 more days! Panic! I've got a few projects going for that, but nowhere near done. And I need some ideas for a few people. *sigh*
Since there's a chance that some of the people I am crafting for (or buying stuff for, whichever way it turns out to be) might run across this blog, I'm not going to do anything on here to give anything away. Until after Christmas, that is. I won't withhold anything from you guys, promise ^_~

Ok then. Breaktime's over! Back to demolishing jeans... and some housework along the way ^_~

Happy New Year

and all that jazz.... Well, since I'm taking pictures (slowly but surely) for Ravelry, I figure I may as well update bit by bit here, too.

And, since it's after Christmas, why not start out with some Christmas presents!

First up, Bethany's clapotis. This one is relatively on the mark for color. Not the best picture, but it's all I've got. Here's another, closer, view.








Then, we have Teresa's clapotis.


Treanna had, at one point, requested a set, similar to the one I had made Trina. But instead of green/yellow, she wanted it yellow/green. I made her a hat and scarf, with a slight twist to the Harry Potter style scarf she had asked for. Dustin was kind enough to sew on the patches (by hand!) for me.



Sorry the layout with the pictures is so horrible. I can't ever seem to figure out how to make it look nice on here :(. It's always wanting to be contrary, which sucks.

I finished knitting a Liesel yesterday. Haven't blocked it yet, as I have nowhere to do so, nor anything to do it with. So it'll remain like this for a while. The yarn is actually a lot more pink in real life.


I think that's about it for the time being. I'll make another post once I've got more pictures taken, of some of the older FO's.

I give up.

On Christmas knitting for this year, that is. ;) I managed to finish the stuff for Teresa and Bethany (pictures'll have to wait until after Christmas). I need to put a finishing touch on Treanna's gift, but that's it. I'm not doing any more! It means I have no idea what to give 4 people, but I'm not going to stress myself out over it. There's always next year.

So what am I doing now? I'm learning lace! I wanted to try and make a shawl for myself to wear to when we go see Riverdance in January. However, what I have in mind requires lace knitting, so I figured I'd try and make Liesel, and if that works out, perhaps double it up for a small shawl (the pattern, I mean). I'm making the scarf version out of some pink yarn I had in my stash. So far, so good. We'll see how I fare though, once I get further along. If I can do it right, I'll try (given enough left over time) making the shawl version with some green acrylic/mohair yarn from my stash.
I'm actually looking forward to it. Even if the lace aspect is somewhat intimidating to me.

Once I've done that, I'm going to finish the WIPs I have lying around. I have a lot of knitting to catch up on, and January is the time to do it in, I think. I've gotten my confidence back, and *knock on wood* my body's been playing a little nicer for me, as far as my knitting goes. So I'm hoping to take advantage of that. Be on the look out for plenty of Fo's!

In the meantime though, I wish everyone

Merry Christmas

and I hope you will be able to make it through your merriment in one piece.

Eep! Christmas Is Coming!

Yep. You read that right. Christmas is coming! Can you believe we're only a week away from Thanksgiving? And after that.... *shudder*. I found a countdown banner, as you probably will have noticed. Figured it couldn't hurt to put it up (though Dustin'll call me crazy if he sees it).
I don't know about all of you, but I still have tons to try and finish. Not happening this week, but I'm hoping to get something done lol.
So what about you? How's your Christmas Knitting coming along?