Fingerless Mitts

I finished and washed up my fingerless mitts the other day. They are a lot softer after washing and I'm glad. I hate itchy stuff and it's why I don't own any real sweaters. Hoodies don't count as sweaters.

Anyway. I'm glad I decided to give them a try. The pattern was super easy. Though, everything is easy lately. Not that I'm complaining!


I'm getting really excited for our trip to Alaska. 45 days! I kind of hope that it's at least a little chilly. Otherwise, I've wasted time on getting the scarves and my gloves done!

Knitting Update

Log Cabin Blanket: Put on hiatus until after summer when the weather isn't too hot. I'm in no hurry to get this done.

Black Shrug: I gave it a second try and it was not working out. I just didn't have the motivation to get into the pattern and I was making lots of mistakes. I used the yarn for a hat and slippers instead! Done!

Alaska Scarf: Done!!

Cigar Gloves: No hurry, as Jason will be in California next winter. Plus, he's not around for measuring purposes! On hold.

Grey Mitts: Started yesterday and hopefully to be finished tomorrow!

Striped Sweater: Scrapped project. The yarn I picked out really isn't all that soft - and I know I won't wear it if it isn't soft enough!

Harry Potter Socks: These will be for Jason probably. Or someone who wants a pair of socks. I don't like socks. On hold.

Dr. Who Scarf: DONE DONE DONE!! This was a monster!!

So I am actually pretty caught up on my knitting. Just in time for me to find groups to knit with 4 nights a week too! I have plenty of yarn (thanks to Pat!!) so now I just need to pick out things to knit and start using up my stash! Since I am unemployed I will NOT be buying any more yarn anytime soon!

Ideas for small, easy, practical projects are welcome!

Inventory Pt 2: Knitting

Log Cabin Blanket: My first knitting project started way back in September 2006. Why I started with a blanket, I'm not sure. For a while, the colors bugged me and I wanted to burn the hideous thing. When I get the time, I will be happy to finally get it finished.

Between 2006 and 2008 I was really good at finishing projects. Since then I have collected a LOT more yarn!

Black Shrug: Started in March 2008, I was hoping to knit up a nice cotton lace shrug for my Spring Break trip to visit my fiance. I didn't not know it at the time, but because I was knitting "backwards" it wasn't looking right and I ended up ripping it out. It was 60% done, but really ugly and not coming out the right size.

Alaska Scarf: I made one for my mom, and next I need to make one for myself. It's just a simple striped "tube" scarf in stockinette stitch . It will take quite a while to finish though. The first one was completed in August 2008 and The second one needs to be done by June 2009.

Cigar Gloves: In December 2008 I bought some brown cascade yarn to make Jason a pair of gloves. He picked out the cigar gloves pattern. Unfortunately, he won't get them until next winter.

Grey Mitts: At the same time I bought yarn for Jason's gloves, I picked out some grey yarn to make myself some fingerless mitts. They will match my new wool coat and I will hopefully have them ready to wear for next winter.

Striped Sweater: In December 2008 I also bought some green and cream colored yarn to make a sweater. The yarn totaled just over $45 so I'm not sure what pattern I'm going to use. If I'm going to make a sweater that costs so much I'm going to be sure it's something I will wear!

Harry Potter Socks: During the great yarn shopping spree of 2008 I also saw some Harry Potter yarn for sale. Even though it was $23 a skein I decided to splurge and make a pair of socks for Jason. He picked out the Hedwig color, but we haven't gotten to picking out a pattern.

Dr. Who Scarf: As a project for the new year, Jason's best friend Aaron asked for a Dr. Who Scarf. He bought the yarn and I am about 10-15% in. It's going to take me quite a while, but I hope to have it finished for him within a few months.

Inventory Pt 1: Sewing

Blue Party Dress: I started this dress in October 2006, after my mom bought me a new sewing machine. It's a dark blue color with light and super dark leaf pattern. It's about 75% done, but I got stuck when it came to adding the interfacing.

Brown Flowered Skirt: I bought some fabric and a pattern in November 2006 for a flow-y brown skirt with white flowers. Shortly after, I decided that I didn't like the pattern so I haven't gotten closer to a new skirt. 0% done.

Spanish Purse: When I visited my sister in January of 2008, I bought some thick fabric. It's traditionally used for seasonal dresses, but I decided it would be perfect for a purse. Unfortunately, I haven't yet gotten around to designing something. 0% done.

Fleece Wrap: As a quick project in February 2008, I thought I could take some left over fleece and make up a quick wrap. Perfect for sitting on the couch in the cold weather, right? Wrong. It didn't quite turn out right, but I still have it waiting to be fixed/finished. 10% done.

Silky Top: As things started warming up in Spring 2008, I took some random silky fabric and started cutting out a tank top. I was going to add eyelets and ribbon, but when I got to that point I was uninterested and it's been in a bag since then. 70% done.

Alaskan Tote Bags: In preparation for our cruise to Alaska, in May 2008 I started sewing up tote bags. They were just starting to look good and were close to being done, when our trip was canceled. All I have left to do is stamp some fun images on the fronts, but I lack the motivation since the cruise isn't until this coming summer. 50% done.

Baby Blankets: While my mom was cleaning out her house in June 2008, I snagged some leftover fabric cut out for a girl's and boy's baby blanket. I know a few friends with babies, so I decided that I would eventually sew them up and give them as gifts. 10% done.

My Baby Clothes Projects: I also got some of my old baby clothes from my mom's house in July 2008. I have a blue dress that I've thought about changing into a purse or wallet and a robe that might make a nice throw pillow. 0% done.

Pants Repairs: I popped a button (glow in the dark star) off of my pants in September 2008. I'm just too lazy to take 5 minutes to sew it back on. 0% done.

Needle Cases: After joining a knitting group in October 2008, one of the women gave me a TON of straight and circular needles. I decided to make some needle cases - one each for straights, circulars, and dpn's. I have one almost done and two cut out. 30% done.

Kitty Wallet: I saw some cute cat patterned fabric at the store in November 2008, so I bought it for the purpose of making myself a little wallet or cell phone pouch. 0% done.

Pictures will be posted when the project is completed.

The New Year

Throughout the month of December, I was knitting away at a handful of small washcloths. I sent them to Europe with my mom for Christmas to be delivered to my nice and nephews. They are cute and I'm told that the kids love them. My sister is also quite impressed.


The downside to making 9 washcloths in 3 weeks is that I am sick of cotton yarn and size 7 needles.

Since then, I have knitted up my very first pair of mittens. They are an ok first attempt, but I will not be using the pattern again. Unfortunately I do not have pictures yet since the weather has been dark and dreary.

Sometimes I miss my old apartment, simply because it had good light in the afternoon.

Up Next:
Green/Cream Striped Sweater
Grey Fingerless Mitts
Brown Gloves

Jason's Simple Soap Sack

I decided to knit up a little soap sack for Jason tonight. It seemed like a good thing to do to get rid of some random cotton I had, plus, he has a little stash of half used bars that just sit there feeling neglected. I didn't see any on Ravelry that I liked (plus most of them used DPN's and I have none) so I made up my own little pattern and I'm pretty happy with it!

I used size 7 needles and a ball of cotton about the size of an egg.

Start with a long tail
Cast on 30
Knit all
Knit 1, Purl 1 for 3 rows
K2tog, yo to end
K1, P1 for 3 rows
K2tog, yo to end
[K all for 3 rows
K2tog, yo to end]
Repeat brackets for a total of 6 times
K all for 3 rows
K2tog
K all
K2tog
Cut off a tail and pull it through the remaining stitches. Thread some yarn (an i-cord if you prefer) through the first yo's for a tie. Add on and extra loop for hanging if desired.


I actually sewed up the seam with the "wrong" side facing out, just because I liked the criss-cross patter that the yo's made. I love the way it looks and hopefully Jason loves the way it works. If so, I may be giving some more of these out for gifts later!

Many changes!

Graduated (yay!) and moved to Kentucky to live with Jason. I was there for about a month before I went home to visit my mom in Chicago. My Grandma passed away, so a weekend trip turned into a month. I helped mom pack her house as she prepared to move. I managed to get an interview in Springfield, and they decided to hire me. I spent one more week in Kentucky until Jason and I moved into our new apartment here.

I haven't been doing much on the crafting front. I made some tote bags for our Alaskan vacation, however, we didn't end up going this year due to my grandma. So they are incomplete at the moment. I decided to forgo making anything with a complicated pattern and instead I'd been knitting some long, soft, simple scarves.

But since everything has gotten crazy, I haven't knitted anything since the beginning of June. I figured that once Jason and I settled in somewhere I'd get into knitting again. However, my job is simple, busy, and it wears me down. I don't want to do anything once I get home and that makes me feel lazy and useless. I don't like what I'm doing - I'm just a glorified secretary for 75-100 people at any given time - which is why I'm kept so busy.

My new thought is to open up an Etsy store again. Maybe I can find some time to make some small things. Maybe I can sell some in the break room at work. Plus, if it works out enough, I can quit or at least go down to part-time until I find something else.