Socks!

Took a little break from hats to finish a pair of socks I started in the middle of November. 

Pattern:  Ribbed Socks for Bigger Feet (by Susan B. Anderson)
Yarn: Zitron Trekking XXL

I used my digital kitchen scale to measure the skein of yarn and divide it in half.  I wound the yarn into two separate balls, and cast on both socks at the same time on separate needles, paying close attention to the pattern/colors.  Ended up with some very matchy-matchy socks.  Yay!  I would like to make some different sock patterns but am stuck in a rut with this pattern because it's a great fitting sock!  The ribbing makes the socks stretchy so it's a nice form fit.

Finally... Christmas hat and scarf are complete!

Gift set for my coworker, Mrs. W.
Scarf Pattern: Wakefield Scarf (Click HERE for link)
Hat Pattern:  Lace Edged Women's Hat (Click HERE for link)
Yarn: Kollage Yarns Temptation

I was so proud of myself when I purchased yarn for my coworker's Christmas gift in July! Finally a year where I had a plan and would not be in a last minute panic.  Pat me on the back!!!  Mrs. W and I have been coworkers since January 2007, and each year, we've exchanged homemade gifts.  She LOVES purple.  I had this scarf pretty much complete a few months back but kind of grew tired of the pattern, but really... it's pretty typical for me... I was excited to try out some new yarn and a new pattern... so this sat in my closet in a gallon sized Zip-Lock bag for the past several months.  It was just a few weeks ago when Mrs. W and I were commiserating about the stress of the holidays (SO much to do and NO time to do it all). We realized we would not see one another for several days before Christmas (because of our days off) and I think simultaneously our faces turned ashen and our eyes started darting around in panic.  We confessed to one another that neither of us had completed each other's gifts.  I heard her call her husband on the phone a few moments later and I was trying not to eavesdrop, but I just had this sinking feeling she was calling him and asking him to do something for her regarding her gift for me. I quickly got on my email at work and sent
Mrs. W a quick message.  Here is how the conversation went:

ME:  "You know... this should be a no-stress zone... how about we exchange New Year's gifts?"
MRS. W.:  "Sounds like a plan!  That's a load off!!!!"
ME:  "I am so glad we are friends!"
MRS. W.:  "Me too!"

Phew, what a load off!  So I sat down yesterday and finished the scarf and put it on the blocking mats. I noticed I had at least 1 1/2 hanks of this spendy yarn left and I hated the notion of it going to waste. I got on Ravelry, typed in "Kollage Temptation" and, wouldn't you know, there was the Lace Edged Women's hat I made awhile back completed in "Kollage Temptation".  I cast on right away and got it done last night.  Happy New Year!  Both are nice patterns.  If I could do one thing differently, with the scarf, I'd add a border of two or three stitches in garter stitch so the edges of the scarf had a nicer finished look. I saw on Ravelry where someone had done that and it looked much nicer. 

A little knitting and a little crocheting....

Pattern:  Shells and Trellis Chemo Cap
Yarn:  Caron Simply Soft in Lavender Blue
Click HERE for pattern link.

 
Peachy Baby Cap (with knit 2, purl 2 rib for the brim)
Pattern:  Berry Baby Cap (I modified the pattern a bit)
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK (left over from chemo caps)
Click HERE for pattern link.

Upside Down Flower with rolled brim
Pattern:  Berry Baby Hat (I modified the pattern a bit... by accident)
Click HERE for pattern link.
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK (left over from caps)
I got a little full of myself and did not refer to the pattern instructions when completing the decreases.
The decreases ended up in the wrong place.  Still turned out pretty cute though... :)

Having a fun using up yarn in my stash to make caps.  The Shells and Trellis Chemo Cap pattern is a super quick crochet project.  I completed over two evenings.  The pattern is easily memorized too. I learned about this pattern on my Ravelry Group called "12 months=24 caps". 

I am using up the yarn left over from previous chemo caps to make caps for babies.  These two caps above will probably fit some preemies.  They are being modeled on a lemon keeper which I got recently to keep cut lemons fresh in the refrigerator. Turns out it's also good for modeling tiny caps! 

Seasons Greetings...

For "Operation Holiday Stockings" in 2011.

For "Caps for Good"
(caps for small birth weight babies in developing countries).

Just for fun! 
My mom sent me this cute mini-sock blocker kit with pattern for Christmas.  What a fun project.  I whipped up this little stocking in one sitting after a busy Christmas day. 

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day as well. 
Happy Knitting!

Chemo Caps for a Very Important Person (VIP)

Someone very important to me was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2010.  It's strange to me that I've never really known anyone diagnosed with breast cancer before this year.  And now four people I know are undergoing various treatments.  You've seen me making lots of chemo caps lately and this is why. 

My very important person (VIP) started chemo a week ago

and these are her caps which I completed in the last week or so... 

Pattern: Coronet
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in "Lavender Blue"

Pattern: Hermione Hearts Ron
Yarn:  Berroco Comfort DK

Pattern:  Odessa
Yarn:  Berroco Comfort DK


Do you like my hat model? Her name is "Miss Wiggy!" :)



Squares, Squares, Squares....

Whoops...sideways... sorry!

Yarn intended for felted bag... re-purposed.

Crochet and knit...

A little "Kodak Fever"... bear with me...

A close up to see the textures...

Granny Squares a few different ways... even a knit mitered square in the mix...

I joined a group called “Yarnfest: BSD Project” about three weeks ago.  The group is on Ravelry but you can also read more about the project on Dina’s blog called Yarnfest.  My friend, Kerri, invited me to join this group because Dina, Kerri, and I all have something in common. We all graduated from school in the Beaverton (Oregon ) School District. Dina is in the midst of a multi-phased project to make home-made items for homeless kids attending the schools in the Beaverton area.  Kerri and I both joined.  I’ve been busy making squares ever since. I mailed off my box today… 44 squares, all 100 percent wool.  The first phase of the project was to make hats, gloves, scarves… I missed that phase.  Now the project is focusing on squares which will be stitched together to make “crazy afghans”… all different squares, all sizes, all colors, all yarns… they will be great. 

I keep remembering the story of Stone Soup... you know the story, right?  Two men stumble upon a nice town, they are hungry, and all they have is the clothes on their weary, tired bodies. They go from house to house... asking, "We are hungry, can you spare any food?"  The town's people are not sympathetic; the hungry men are told, "we've got nothing to spare!" and door after door is closed on the two men.

The two men go to the town square and there they build a fire.  The town's people gather and they ask the hungry men what they are doing. They say, "We are making Stone Soup... if only we had a kettle."  A man replies, "I have a kettle!" and a kettle is provided. The two hungry men fill the kettle with water and place a large round stone in the kettle of water.  More of the town's people gather, as they are curious about this Stone Soup.  One by one, the town's people approach the two hungry men to ask about the Stone Soup and to each person, the hungry men say... "We are making Stone Soup... if only we had a carrot!"... and then a person replies, "I have a carrot!"  And then the hungry men say, "If only we had a potato!"... and then another person replies, "I have a potato!"  And then the hungry men say, "If only we had an onion!"... and an onion is provided.  Before you know it, the hungry men and town's people are feasting on delicious soup and bread.  

The Yarnfest: BSD Project reminds me of Stone Soup. If you asked me to make an afghan measuring three feet by five feet, I would think... I don't have the right yarn, I don't have the time, I am too busy... but I CAN make squares.  And when we put all the squares together... imagine how great it will be! 

Foaming Waves Chemo Cap

Somehow I missed posting a photo of this cap. This pattern is called "Foaming Waves Chemo Cap" from http://www.knitmichigan.com/ (lots of great cap patterns here).  Click HERE for the pattern link (Note: Pattern link updated 04-25-2011).  Knitting with peach colored Berroco Comfort DK yarn, which I find so appealing.  Made for Halos of Hope.  Both photos above show same hat (just drastically different lighting).

I found another new great project... more about that another day...