Something for Little Emily Rose

My friend, or more correctly, my "almost" daughter gave birth 2 weeks ago prematurely to a beautiful little girl who weighed 2 lb 8 oz. Her name is Emily Rose. Emily's mother just loves sock monkeys. So I looked around to find a sock monkey hat to make to make for Emily Rose. I saw many nice ones, but I settled on by Ruth McColm, and the name of the pattern is: Sock Monkey Beanie with Optional Earflaps and it can be found on Ravelry. 
It was easy to make and I think it turned out rather well. I made a couple of adjustments. I didn't use buttons for the eyes, instead I stitched with black yarn. For the ties I didn't make braids or twists, instead I crocheted chains with double thickness of yarn. 

I'm planning on making a pair of socks and a bib to match. I haven't decided on patterns yet. I'll decide on those tonight. As of right now I think for the socks I'll use the "Newborn Tubes Socks" pattern on the website, Bev's Country Cottage.  I've made them before over the years. They're easy and they work up fast. I can't wait to get them all finished and sent off for Little Miss Emily Rose.

I'm Getting There!

I was almost halfway to the armhole decreases on the front and ended up having to start over. I found a mistake about 5 rows back but messed up royal when I tried to un-knit or frog it back to a row or two before the mistake, so I just ripped it all out and started over. I’m really very frustrated. A sweater this basic and this simple should NOT be causing so many problems.
I'm now at the point where I can start the armhole decreases. And since I have both the front and back ready for the decreases, it should go fast from here on. I plan to knit both sleeves at the same time, so I think I should have this done by the end of the month if I keep going at this pace. 

I recently joined a crafting book club. Of the 5 or 6 books I ordered, 3 are basic "learn to knit" type books. Although I've been knitting for 40 of my almost 65 years, there is much I don't know and much I've forgotten. I no longer have my wonderful mother-in-law to help me when I get stuck, so I must depend on books and sometimes videos. Aren't videos wonderful??  Oh, how I wish we'd had computers and instructional videos when I was first learning to knit and crochet! I'm finding the videos on knittinghelp.com are absolutely fantastic. I don't know what I'd do without them. One of the beginner books I ordered actually includes a DVD with instructional videos. That should be a huge help.
I'm hoping to brush up on skills I've forgotten as well as learn new techniques. I've been knitting for far too many years to be limited to 'easy' projects. 

IT'S NOT MINE!!!

In looking back over on comments on my previous entries, I noticed there were references to an online store by the name of "Sleepy's." This store does NOT belong to me. It's NOT mine. I have no connection to it whatsoever! Please take note of this fact. I do not want anyone to think I am ignoring them when they want information about this store. I have NOTHING to do with it!

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Making Progress on Lucy's Sweater

I'm still working on the sweater for Lucy. I did decided to use the Lavender for the ribbing and the Plummy for the body. It's looking pretty good so far. My procrastination gene did kick in again, though. I started the sweater just when I said I would. However, I made a mistake and somehow ended up with an extra 6 stitches by the time I was about a quarter of the way done with the back. So, I had to frog it and start over. I was very disappointed with myself and lost interest. I've picked it back up today and plan on sticking with it this time. I HAVE to stick with it now. If I don't Lucy will outgrow it before I even finish it.  

This is where I am as of right now. The colors are really much brighter than this photo shows.

I have about 3 or 4 more inches to go before I can start the armhole shaping. Once I get to the shaping it's all down hill and will progress quickly. 

I'm really loving this yarn. It's my first time using this variety of Red Heart® yarn. It's nice and soft without having no body to it. I think this is going to be my go-to yarn for garments for Lucy whenever possible.

"Ravellenic Games 2012" Project and Musings

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be participating in Ravelry's "Ravellenic Games 2012" beginning tomorrow. I will be attempting to start and finish a sweater, child's size, during the Olympics. It's just a basic stockinette stitch, raglan sleeve, crew neck pullover. There will be a "mass cast on" during the opening ceremonies and hopefully, we will all finish our projects before the Olympics closing ceremonies.
I'll be using a new-to-me yarn. I'm using Red Heart Soft Yarn. I'm using the colors, Plummy and Lavender, although I may just use Plummy.
Here are the colors

Plumy

Lavender

 I'm still undecided whether to use the Lavender for the ribbing on the hem, cuffs and collar. I'm afraid that if I do that, I'll have to stripe the whole sweater and I really don't want a striped sweater, at least not this time. 

I like the texture of the RH Soft but I have a hunch it may be on the splitty side. If it is, I'll just have to make the best of it. This sweater is for a child and I wanted something nice and soft, and cuddly for her.

I'm going to try to keep a running log of my progress. At least, that's my intention right now. 

Playing Catch Up Once Again

Once again it's been a very long time since I've posted anything. There are lots of reasons, not the least of which is simple procrastination. Also, I was injured in a fall last year and spent a month in the hospital and am now in a wheelchair. I'm not complaining, just stating a fact. Complaining does no good and doesn't change anything. I'm just grateful that I no longer am in the constant pain I was in prior to my fall.

I am now a Grandma!!! My darling Lucy Marie was born almost 3 years ago. We went to see her for her Christening when she was 8 months old. We had planned to see her for her 2nd birthday but instead I was in the hospital. It broke my heart to not be able to make the trip! I'm so afraid she's going to grow up not knowing me and her Papa. We're planning on going to see her, and her Mommy and Daddy sometime this coming Spring. I can hardly wait!!


Naturally, since knowing I was about to become a Grandma, all my knitting and crocheting has been done for Lucy, and I've loved every minute of it!

The very first thing I made for her was this pair of baby tube socks. The pattern is Bev's Knit Tube Socks Beverly A. Qualheim. I love this pattern because it's so easy and so fast to work up. 

My next project for my darling Lucy was this layette.

I used Bernat Baby Coordinates in Green. I normally use Boye crochet hooks, but I found with this yarn a Susan Bates hook worked better for me. The yarn tended to split with the Boye hook. The pattern came from Baby Layettes to Knit and Crochet by Jeannine LaRoche from Leisure Arts #460, Baby Layettes Book 2.   Here is my sweet baby laying on the blanket on her first Christmas. The sweater was much too big for her to wear yet. Not living nearby it's hard for me to estimate what size to make for her. She eventually wore it for Mother's Day 2011.

 

I also crocheted a blanket for her Christening. The pattern is from The Little Box of Crochet for Baby. I neglected to get a picture of it once it was finished or with her using it on her Christening Day. It did turn out beautiful, though.

Once we got home after spending a week with Lucy and her Mommy and Daddy, I started on a couple of hats for her. I had never attempted using circular needles in the past, but decided now was as good a time as any. I bought a new leaflet All American Kid by Edie Eckman from American School of Needlework #1344, Quick-to-Knit Baby Hats & Socks and started what I thought would be the easiest. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I expected it to be. I used Red Heart Bikini because I love bright colors. This is how it turned out and how it looked on Lucy.

Now I'm in the process of making her another hat from the same book. This one will be a stocking style hat, sort of a Santa style, but longer. I'm making it in green, white and orange, the colors of the Irish flag. I hope to have it finished for her for Christmas.

I have more but I think I'll post them in a few days.


The Olympics will be starting in a couple of days. Along with many, many other members of Ravelry, I will be participating in what used to be called the "Ravelympics" but is now known as the "Ravellenic Games" due to a dispute with the US Olympic Committee. I will be attempting to make my Lucy a sweater.Wish me luck!!






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Catching up, FINALLY!!

I made this for my Grand-niece, Ruby, 4 years ago. I had it posted before, but not the way I wanted to. It's made with Red Heart White, and Red Heart Stars and Stripes. The pattern is available at http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/angelcrafts/patterns/grannyripple.html.


This is my attempt at the "infamous" Seraphina Shawl. http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/donisfuff/croshawl.html, corrections and helpful hints available at http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?p=1205529. There is a chart for the pattern here: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showpost.php?p=1203781&postcount=2
I started this prior to going in for heart surgery, but still haven't finished it. Once I finish the project I'm working on right now, I plan to go back to this. I'm seriously considering giving it to my daughter-in-law for when she nurses my future granddaughter. I just have to get it finished in time, and I'm not sure that I will.

This is as far as I've gotten on a sweater for myself that you can see I started almost a year ago. It's really more of a jacket than a sweater. The pattern is located at
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-flatteringJacket.html. The yarn I'm using is
Bernat Softee Chunky Twists Tawny Rose.

This is the beginning of the blanket I made for my Grand-nephew, Brady. It's made with Red Heart Blueberry Pie. It's also from a very old pattern that I've used at least 3 other times. I neglected to take a photo of it when it was finished. I hope to get a photo from Brady's Mommy, Brittany, and will post it when I do.

I knit this hat to donate to our local VFW group. I did a second one, with slightly different colors. This is from a beginner's book that I've had for at least 30 years. It's a very basic k1-p1 pattern. I can't begin to guess how many hats I've made from this pattern over the years. This one is made with Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solid Colonial Blue.

This is one half of a pair of fingerless mitts I made for myself. I made them because during the cold weather my hands sometimes get pretty chilly when I'm at the computer. The yarn is Red Heart Plum Pudding. The pattern calls for G Hook, but I crochet tight and ended up going up to a size J to get it to fit. I LOVE this pattern!!! Only took me a little over an hour to finish each one. (Okay, so I crochet slow…LOL) But being able to finish the pair in one day is a real bonus for me. The pattern is available online at http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2006/02/fingerless-mitts-pattern.html.

This is a blanket I made for my Grand-niece, Sarah. It's made with Red Heart Bikini. It's from an old pattern that I've had for quite some time. It's a simple pattern, but time consuming because it's all popcorn stitch.

I'm in the midst of a project for my coming granddaughter. I'll post pictures as soon as it's finished and on the way to Philadelphia.

Oh my, I certainly have been remiss in keeping up with this blog. The only excuse I have is part health issues and part simple procrastination. In April of 2008 I had heart surgery to replace a valve. Due to some post-surgical side-effects my left hand was partially numb for a few weeks. That made crocheting nearly impossible for a while. It finally cleared up and I did get a few projects done. I had completed a few prior to surgery which I didn't post until now, although I did post them on Ravelry. I will post them here, but can't promise I'll actually get them in the right order.
Another reason for my procrastination was my intense interest in the Presidential election last year. I haven't been so interested in an election since I was in 7th grade and John F. Kennedy was running against Richard Nixon. I won't get into the politics of it here since this is a blog about my knitting and crochet projects and not about politics.
I've also been very involved in researching family history, both my own and my husband's, and when I get on a roll with it, it takes all my time.
Enough with the excuses.....let's get to what's happening now.

I'm going to be a GRANDMA!!

My son and daughter-in-law in Philadelphia are expecting in mid-September. According to the ultrasounds so far, the baby is a GIRL!! After having 3 sons, it's going to be so much fun making things for a little girl! I've got so many things in mind already. She is going to be one spoiled little girl!!

We went back to Michigan for a week in May/June. It was so good seeing the family. It had been 3 years since we'd seen everyone. Hopefully, we'll be going home to Michigan at least once a year from now on. While back home I was able to get to a few stores and stocked up on yarn. Most of what I bought is intended for projects for my new granddaughter. I also picked up a simple hat pattern, a pair of circular needles, and yarn to learn to knit on circular needles. You'd think after knitting for over 35 years I'd have learned to use circular needles long ago.

Within the next few days I hope to post pictures of projects I've completed since my last posting.