Garge the Monster

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Heather

In September, I took part in a little knit-along on Ravelry. The goal was to knit up a project using only one skein of yarn. And you know, it was harder than you’d think. It seemed that just about everything I wanted to work on needed more than one skein of yarn. But, then I came across this cute little guy:

Presley Cash the Monster from Rebecca Danger

The pattern is Presley Cash the Monster by Rebecca Danger (it is available for sale through Ravelry or at the Danger Crafts etsy shop), knit from about 60% of a skein of James C. Brett Marble acrylic yarn in colour MT4 Heathers. Baby Man, as of the writing of this post, as named him Garge. Who knows how long that name will last though.

The pattern was fairly straight forward, and it only took about three days of knitting, including time spent on knitting mini socks (more on those another day) as well as time spent stitching September’s ornament. The only issue I had with the pattern was when it came to making the feet. They are essential socks done on fourteen stitches. But I didn’t really understand the heel flap directions. As written, it seems like the two rows together have to be repeated 7 times, for a total of 14 rows. But it turns out that you knit 7 rows, follow the pattern set up by the two rows given. It’s hard to explain, and it didn’t make sense until I was actually working through the foot.

Anyway, Garge is as cute as cute can be, and currently lives in Baby Man’s room. I hope this will be the first of many more monsters for him, but somehow I suspect that his disliking of soft toys is not yet over.

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Ornament of the Month – September 2011

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Heather

I have a confession: September’s ornament isn’t quite done. It is all stitched, but I’ve misplaced the beads I want to use for embellishing it.

Victorian Christmas Tree from Sue Hillis

While is it very pretty, my Victorian Christmas Tree from Sue Hillis (2003 JCS ornament issue), is very bare. The model has small white bugle beads and gold seed beads on it, which look just like candles. Sue Hillis also used some faceted beads to make swags around the tree. My plan was just to do the candles, but my package of bugle beads has gone missing. I came up with a few other ideas while trying to sleep last night, just so I could get the ornament completely finished today. But, I ultimately decided that I’d rather miss my self-imposed deadline and make the tree I wanted, than just do something to finish it up. Still, I’m calling this ornament done, for now, since the stitching is complete.

Next month is busy, what with Thanksgiving, birthdays, the Creativ Festival and Halloween. If I was smart, I would get started on October’s ornament early. And, that is exactly what I plan to do. I’ll be working on Victoria Sampler’s Gingerbread Scissor Keep from the 2009 JCS ornament issue. I’ve got the thread pack sitting on my table, so all I need to do is hunt down the fabric.

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TUSAL – September 2011

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Heather

Another month gone, and also another new moon gone by. I’m a day late again. I’m sure everyone is shocked.

TUSAL - September 2011.

Sadly, I haven’t added too much this month. Between the trip to Vegas, and a million other little things, I haven’t found much time to sit down with a needle of any type in my hands. However, I will have this month’s ornament done on time. Although, it might be late at night on the 30th before I put the final stitch in. 😉

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Lucky Kitty

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Heather

I love to see maneki neko in a store window or near the cash register. I think they are a lovely little bit of fun and, of course, good luck. We have one in our home, with its left arm raised and pointing towards the door, inviting money in.

When I came across a cute maneki neko crochet pattern, I knew I had to make it.

Maneki Neko

I used a combination of Bernat Satin and Mary Maxim Starlette yarn. The bell isn’t quite right, but it is all I had on hand. And, sadly, my embroidery skills aren’t great, but I still think this turned out pretty cute. The pattern, for those interested, is Maneki Neko Lucky Cat Amigurumi from Handmade Kitty on etsy.

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Vacation Projects Progress

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Heather

Well, I’ve been home from vacation since last Thursday and I still haven’t gotten around to posting an update. We did have a great time, although Vegas has changed a good deal from the last time we were there (a scant three years ago). It is very clear that the city is hurting and that tourism is down. None the less, we still saw a great show (the other one we wanted to see was cancelled due to rain, if you can believe it), ate a lot of great good (I highly recommend the Wicked Spoon at the Cosmo and the buffet at Paris), and even did a tiny bit of shopping.

View from Room

I did manage to find some time to do a little bit of knitting. That picture up there is the view from our room. We had a lovely, large balcony with a lounger. I sat outside and worked on my socks for a little while.

6x2 Rib Socks

Unfortunately, I don’t like how the stripe is turning out. It has stopped stripping and is now pooling, so I’m going to be ripping them out and trying again with a slightly difference stitch count. I like the yarn too much to make socks that I don’t like the look of.

 

Architecture Mitts

And progress was made on the fingerless gloves too. I worked on them during the plane ride down. I’m a bit worried that they are going to turn out to be too small because of the colourwork. So, I’ve put them down and I’m afraid to pick them up again. I do really like how they are turning out, so I’m sure I’ll get back to work on them soon.

I didn’t make any progress on my cross stitch project, unfortunately. I noticed that I had made a pretty significant error that would require quite a bit of picking out, which I didn’t want to have to worry about. I don’t know if it will get done in time for Halloween this year, but at least it is on my WIP list now. 😉

 

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Vacation Projects

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Heather

Later day, the husband and I are setting off on a short vacation. My main criteria for the destination was being not here, which meant that we had a lot of options. But, ultimately, given the short time we have to be away, my desire to sleep and eat well, and also a desire to go somewhere we sort of knew, we decided on Las Vegas. And, for some strange reason, perhaps it being the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, air fare was particularly cheap for today. So, our bags our packed, Baby Man’s baby sitter has arrived, and our passports are in hand.

Of course, I couldn’t go anywhere without a whole pile of projects. Here’s what I’m bring along:

Architecture Mitts (Aqueduct) from Knit Picks

I’ve cast on for the Architecture Mitts (Aqueduct variation) from Knit Picks, using Knit Picks Comfy Fingering yarn in colour Whisker. My contrasting colour, nestled in my project bag, will be Lilac Mist, a very light purple.

I’ve also cast on a pair of simple socks of my own devising, using a 6×2 rib. They should be perfect for working on when standing in the inevitable line-up waiting to get into a buffet. The yarn is Wendy Happy, a bamboo and nylon mix, in colourway Venus.

Las Vegas Socks

And, of course, I’m taking a cross stitching project: A Spirited Mandala by Ink Circles.

Here’s my “little” pile, ready to go. I made sure I’ve got wooden knitting needles, a very small supply of needles, and a tiny pair of scissors. Hopefully everything (including me!) will come through the flight today just fine.

Lots to do!

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Purple Pumpkins

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Heather

So, I started another project: A Spirited Mandala by Ink Circles, from the Just Cross Stitch Halloween Collection (which I reviewed just the other day).

A Spirited Mandala by Ink Circles (WIP)

It is stitched on a one-of-a-kind piece of hand-dyed fabric from Enchanting Lair. It looks to be 28 count linen of some kind, or maybe 32 count. I’m not sure. The thread is good old black DMC.

Why start another piece? Well, I love this design. And, Halloween is coming. And, being all one colour, I figured this would be a great design to take on my holiday.

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