December Socks

Ok, finally I have had time to finish my December socks for Sock A Month. I was so busy in doing Christmas knitting, plus papers and assignments and exams for school, that I didn't know if I'd ever get any socks done. These are another pair of baby socks (seems that's all I have had time for lately), and it's another pattern of my own creation. I call it Baby Diamonds and Purls, and the pattern is super easy - even if it's kinda goofy looking (but hey, I was just experimenting). If anyone is interested in the pattern, just let me know in the comments section and I'll post the pattern in the near future. I'll also be posting the pattern for the November socks I created very shortly too (either later today or tomorrow), so watch for that!

I'll also post a picture of the diamonds up close so you can see them a little better:

I'm sure there are better ways of designing patterns - I definately don't claim to know how to do it...I just make it up as I go and kind of experiment. I think these ones are ok, definately not anything fancy. I'll be putting them toward the mitten tree at church for next year.

Christmas Gifts

Ok, so I exchanged gifts with the girls at church today and they opened them - that makes it ok to post pictures of what I made (finally)!

First up, I tried my hand at felting a bag. It is the ballband bag from Monica's site. I think it turned out ok, but I don't think I did it quite right - I did learn lessons for the next attempt though.

This, to the right, is the before picture. I didn't use very large needles (like I found out after you should use), but instead used the 4.0mm or 4.5mm called for on the yarn wrapper. I didn't know that it should be the larger needles so that the felting process would be better.

Next is the finished product as it is drying. I used one of my text books (Communication Disorders) wrapped in several plastic grocery bags to protect it.

I don't have the sizes with me to record here, but in the height it shrank a few inches, and in width only about an inch. Also, for the handle I just did a simple garter stitch. It is a long handle though, but she's a tall girl so I think it would be alright. I've also informed her that she shouldn't but anything too heavy into it because I don't think the handle would do well under the pressure.

The felting job went not too badly, though I think it might have been a little better had I used the bigger needles. There was still the odd stitch definition here and there, but nothing majorly noticeable.

Above is my other friend's Christmas gift - mittens! I think this is considered Fair Isle eh (though they called it stranding in the directions; my understanding is that the term 'stranding' is now used rather than Fair Isle, but I could be wrong)?

I got the pattern from Knit Picks, and it is this pattern. The yarn I used was Knit Picks Merino Style, and I really liked using it. It is soft and easy to work with. I've tried the mittens on, and they feel so soft and warm.

Anyway, just wanted to post a quick update and show the knitting gifts I made for Christmas now that they have been seen by their recipients.

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas filled with joy, peace, and love! God bless!!

Six Weird Things

Ok, Monica tagged me with the following rules:

"THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things about you." People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog."

1. I will not drink anything after someone else has (whether from glass, cup, mug or bottle). That just totally grosses me out. I even said at communion at church one time that I was so glad we use the little individual plastic cups instead of everyone drinking from the same cup (I think Catholics do that, but not totally sure)...I would just be so grossed out and don't know if I could honestly do that...so thank the Lord for individual plastic communion cups!

2. I will not eat soggy bread (including hot sandwhiches that have gravy on them - nope, make my sandwhich cold please)...again, it's totally gross.

3. I will not walk in the grass in my bare feet - there are bugs in there!

4. I do not like cheese, nor will I eat it...EXCEPT on pizza, in lasagna, or the kind you sprinkle on spaghetti.

5. When I go to my friend Kristina's house, I need to sit in the chair I always sit in otherwise I get out of sinc...yeah, I know, weird (that's why I've included it).

6. I can't sleep with the blankets tucked into the sides and end of the bed. They have to be pulled free, otherwise I feel claustaphopic (spelling is wrong on that, but I'm too lazy to go look it up).

Ok, now I'm supposed to tag 6 people...so, I pick...Rhonda, Lexa, Janice, Tina, Charity, and Rebecca :o) (don't feel you have to do this meme if you don't want to).

"Hey Willy! I Won, I Won!"

Remember Alf, that furry alien guy from the '80s? That's where the title for the post came from, but I digress...

Not long ago, Karen had a contest for her 100th post where she picked a name - or actually her daughter picked a name - from all who left a comment. Well, I commented and it was my name that was chosen!

Here's a pic of what I won (colours are pretty accurate): 3 skeins of Knit Picks Parade (not sure of the colourway as it's not given, but there is pink, grey, darker pink, and purple); some Opal yarn (not sure of the colourway, though I think the number might be 1237 but I don't read German so I'm not totally sure...I tried to see if I could find it online but didn't have any success), a purple "I heart knitting" t-shirt that Karen embroidered (using her machine), and a bag of chocolate covered pretzels!! What an awesome package! I can't wait to get into the pretzels and use the yarn. I've never knit with Opal, so I'm really looking forward to that, and seeing the pattern that develops from those pretty colours. I've used the Knit Picks Parade before, and didn't have any complaints with it; I can't wait to use it again!

Thanks so much Karen! I love everything!!

I'll leave a with a pic of miss Tinker Belle inspecting the goodies:

New Look...New Name...

Surprise! I have a new look...only thing is, it doesn't have anything to do with cats or kittens (but that's ok). I decided that it was time for a change, and I wasn't really liking the other template anymore. I found the background, while cute, was a little distracting underneath the words in the post.

I've also changed the name some. The blog still has the same link as before, so you don't need to change that - just the name of the blog on your links. The new name is Kitten Knits Yarn. Since I have more than one blog, I was finding that often when I would venture over to a new knitting blog and leave a comment, that person would go to my Confirm the Work of Our Hands blog to leave a comment. I figured they were missing out on the knitting goodness, so I thought if I put Knits in the title, it might help guide them...we'll see. Not that I minded them going to the other blog (I would actually enjoy if more people went there too), just that if they were looking for knitting content, they wouldn't find it there.

Also, you'll notice that my sidebar is waaaaayyyyy down at the bottom. I think the reason for that is some of the pictures in previous posts are large and might be affecting it. I'm not totally sure on that though. If someone knows what to do (other than wait for those posts to get off this page), please leave me a message in the comment section so I can try to fix it.

Well, school is done for winter break now...Yay!! I have been working the last coupld of days on my Christmas knitting, and I think it will all be done on time - at least I hope it will. No pictures to show yet, but after Christmas, I promise I will post some. I've also got two or three projects I want to make for myself that I am anxious to start on.

Just wanted to make a quick post (are any of my posts ever really "quick"?) to let you all know about the new changes here at Kitten Knits Yarn. Happy knitting!

Scarfy Goodness

I finally got the scarf that I had been working on completed. It was a super duper easy peasy pattern, and was memorized within the first few stitches! It was a quick knit as well, when I was actually able to work on it. The pattern was the Yarn Harlot's 1 Row Scarf...at least that is what I think she called it. She had the pattern posted on her blog a few months ago and I copied it down...just don't have the pattern handy to see the name of it.

To the left you will see the completed purple one and a newly started blue one. The purple was made from Pattons Classic Wool, and was from my first experience at dying with Kool Aid. The Kool Aid absorbed better in some places than in others, but that's fine because it gave it a sort of varigated look...adds a little character in my opinion.

To the right is a closeup of the stitches and you can see the "mottled" sort of look of the dye job, though it isn't the best picture to see it in.

The blue scarf is being knit from Briggs & Little in the "bluejean" colourway. It's not as soft as the Pattons, and feels a little scratchier. I am hoping that if I do a handwash or soak after I am finished with it, that it will soften up a little. I'm thinking of giving these both as gifts, and I don't want the recipient to not wear it because it is too scratchy. So, if anyone has any hints, tips, or suggestions on how I can soften it up some please let me know in the comment section!

I must go now, and get back to working on my essay and assignments. Some are due tomorrow, and some on Friday. I would like to get them all done for tomorrow, but I don't think that is possible. Studying for next week's exams will begin on Friday. I will leave you with a picture of little miss Tinker Belle...it looks like she is smelling the yarn, which she no doubt is doing, but just before I snapped the pic, she had been licking...gross!



Edited to add the link to the Yarn Harlot's scarf pattern.