Big Sister's Fingerless Mittens

The original pattern on these fingerless mittens called for doing up the pattern in a variety of sock yarns. Karen made these in one variagated sock yarn.



You can find the recipe in PDF version here: Fingerling Fingerless Mittens.

The idea for Karen's gloves was derived from a great little project packaging idea we purchased at ABC's of Creative Pursuits. You pick out six different yarn cards for the eclectic look and get them and the pattern in a fun tin box for only $18.00, yo!


The photo is borrowed from the Creative Pursuits website.

The Sisters Finish Their Blankies

When I think about when we started this project, I'm a little amazed that we tore through the building blocks and piecing together so fast. Maybe it's because Karen and I were doing this together. Maybe we spurred each other on. At any rate, we are done with "mostly" the same blanket. Here's Karen's Babette Blanket ~



Both Karen and I redid one or two blocks to better fit the project. Karen's blanket has a more colorful border. First she single crocheted with black and then two rows of double crochet with lime green and pink. Her border really pops!

Here's my version of the blanket. A bit more subdued, with one row of double crochet in tan.



Karen wasn't as impressed as I was with our accomplishment. I guess that's because she's a far better crocheter than I, but personally I think we deserve medals. (I guess it should be pointed out that I think we deserve medals for any finished project, but that's just me.)

Chevron Scarf

I finished knitting a small version of the Chevron Scarf (recipe below). It became tedious knitting for me, but thankfully I attend to even more tedious things that require me to sit and listen, so out comes the knitting needles ~



I plan on knitting a pair of fingerless mittens out of the same yarns. They won't take nearly as long as the scarf.

As promised, here's the recipe:

Chevron Scarf This scarf can be done in two widths, the small scarf is 4 ¼ inches wide and the large is 5 1/2 inches. Both are 78 inches long. Yarn: Two 300 yd. skeins of contrasting fingering weight yarn. Do NOT try to match the yarns – make sure that there is a LOT of contrast. If the yarns “match” you won’t be able to see the chevron pattern. Needles: US 5 straights or circular CO 36 (48). With Color A do 4 rows of Reverse Stockinette. (Purl one row, knit one row, purl one row, knit one row.) With Color B: Row 1 – K2tog 3x (4x), K f&b 6x (8x), K2tog 6x (8x), K f&b 6x (8x), K2tog 3x (4x). Row 2 – Purl With Color A: Row 3 – Knit Row 4 – Purl Repeat Rows 1 through 4 until scarf is 77 inches long or until you are sick of knitting, whichever comes first. End with Color A – 4 rows of Reverse Stockinette.

Charm Over Perfection

Making this blanket, adapted from Interweave Crochet's Babette Blanket, has been one of more fun projects I've done, probably because Sis and I are making it at the same time. While we do noodle out the details together, I generally rely on Karen for making final decisions. She is a far better crochet hook wielder than I am.





Karen and I crochet at different tensions. I've adjusted crochet hook sizes a few times, but we are just going to end up with an irregular look when all is said and done. I think it will add to the charm of the blanket. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Releasing ain't easy

For the inexperienced knitter, letting go of a finished product isn't easy. The hours and hours that you spend with the project seems to instill in you the right to keep everything you make, even if it is something you have absolutely no use for in your own life. This baby blanket, for example ~



I decided not to go with the leopard print lining as I had planned in my previous entry, opting instead for a traditional "girl baby" color.





I had to hand sew the lining on to the blanket. First, my sewing machine is on the blink, and second, I thought it might look a little better. Hopefully, the stitches will hold up to actual use. It's actually quite small. By the time the weather is cool enough for a blankie of this heft, it may be good for nothing more than changing a diaper on.

Other than the smallness, I was pleased with the final result. And, since "Mommy" showed proper pleasure with the gift, releasing wasn't as hard as it could have been.

Yarn is like crack for old ladies

In keeping with Savanah's remark to my sister, Karen, and I about our addiction to all things yarn, here are a few projects that we've worked on and am working on ~

1. The first one is a baby's blanket in a simple basket weave pattern. I'm going to line one side of the blanket with a soft material. I'm finished except for the lining.



2. The second project is called Babette's Blanket, from a crochet pattern printed in Interweave Crochet. The photo of the finished product is from Interweave. We are just starting. The basket contains some of what we've done so far. Karen and I are doing this blanket together. She's a much faster crocheter than I am, but I'm a better weave-in-the-ends person. :)



3. This is an Entrelac Scarf I finished about six weeks ago. It was a bit of a challenge for me, so I was proud that I was able to come up with a finished project.



4. And, finally, a beanie I knitted for the little round-headed boy, Mason. Odds are that it won't fit by this winter, but it's his anyway.