October means Pumpkins!

Just made a little pumpkin toque to be given out before Halloween
Just left every 6 stitch out of work after doing the 2 x 1 ribbing.  Decreased for the crown then continued in green for the stem.  Did the little leaves separately and sewed them on - Click on the photos to enlarge them.

Also knit up another pair of bed socks for me!  

Next on my "To Do List" is some toddler sweaters for my nephew's little girl and her little brother as discussed below.  Working up the patterns and they should get done soon.

Here is a little hoodie sweater I hand knit and gave to our nephew's sweet little girl in Fall of 2015.

Here is tiny Mabel modeling her new sweater which was a little big for her.  But we knew she would grow into it eventually.

Here she is in October 2017 still wearing the sweater and apparently it is her favorite according to her grandmother Bev who sent me this delightful email.

Hi Marg, I was at Stephen and Robyn’s yesterday and I told Mabel that she needed to wear a jacket to go outside and she said, no she was going to wear a sweater, and here she is with her choice of outerwear!!  Thought you might like to see that it is a favourite and has been worn and worn!  She even used the hood when it got cooler!

After her bedtime bath I changed her into her p.j.’s and we went downstairs for a snack, but she was cold, so I asked her to go up and get her cozy housecoat, but once again, she came down with your sweater on over her pyjamas :-)  

You knitted a winner!

Love, Bev

 Great granddaughter has arrived!

Ivy Florence Rayne Daley has arrived!  She was born August 23rd, 2017 at 3:48 p.m weighing in at 6 lbs. 12 oz and measuring 20 inches.  Both her mom and Ivy are doing just great.

Here she is wearing the little sweater I made her and also being held by my daughter (Ivy's grandmother) in the blanket I made.  Ivy is coming to visit later this week and we can hardly wait.  So precious!

Just 3 days old!

With her Grandmother!

New Great Grand-daughter arriving in August!

I am working on several little items for this new little person that will be entering our lives very soon.

Out came my trusty knitting needles and of course my most favorite machine, my LK 150 plastic bed and some Bernat Baby yarn.  Worked from a pattern on the internet for the sweater which can be found at:
https://tinyurl.com/yb8xbh79



First, I hand knit a little sweater for her

Then I decided to do a blanket which turned out to be a very good project to work with a graph and reversing stitches.  Even more surprising this little blanket looks great either side so that was just a bonus and a very delightful discovery when I was blocking it.

I folded one third of the blanket to show the public and private sides of the blanket - either one works for me

I just completed a circular blanket that maybe our little bundle could come home in ~ wouldn't that be delightful.

Both blankets were made on my LK 150 using Bernat Baby Sport #3 at tension 5 which turned out quite nice.  I think the round one needs a little more steam as it is not laying as flat as I would like it.  Will get that done before I gift it to my Grand-daughter when the new little one arrives.  

NEW VEST FOR HUBBY!

Hubby asked me to knit him a vest with pockets and buttons down the front.

That was okay until he said "Could you knit that up in black yarn?" - WELL, as we get older I think the dark colors are hard for us to see and I for one do have a big problem with them.

I decided to give it a go and for this project I used my Singer SK 155 with ribber and it went quite well - the knitting part that is.  When it came to seaming I did have a little trouble there but got it done!

I crocheted the button/buttonhole band but otherwise the rest was done on my machine.

Here is the final result.

Looks like he likes it but maybe next time I'll convince him to try a grey or light charcoal.  LOL

Canada's 150th Birthday - July 1, 2017

Our knitting group has put out a challenge to make something to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday.  I decided to knit a flag which when blocked, sewn and lined will become my sunglass case in the car.

I downloaded a pattern and did the whole thing using my Intarsia Carriage on my SK 360 Standard Machine.

What a fun project!  I'm anxious to see what others in our club have come up with to celebrate as well.

I am thinking of a sweater with the maple leaf on the back and maybe CANADA printed somewhere... Have to use red and white of course but I may do the bulk of the sweater in grey with black outlines or interesting bars.....  Still working on that one!

Here is the first photo of my little sunglass case as it has come off the machine.

More to come when I get it blocked, sewn and lined!

Blocked & Measuring the lining.

Lining Sewn up

Glass Case completed

I didn't like the white edge of the lining showing at the opening.  I got some red binding and put it on that outer opening of the lining. Then I sewed it together with the outer knitted part and it looks great.  Happy with this little project.

 Sweater/Jacket for Grand-daughter "Maddy"

I finally finished this basic crew neck cardigan/jacket with set in sleeves.  Maddy didn't want buttons/buttonholes (which was great as far as I was concerned).  She prefers to wear these sweaters loosely or wrapped around her therefore no need for buttons/buttonholes...

I used my old Knitware program size 38 (as she likes her sweaters kind of roomy) which should be fine for her slim trim figure.  My knitware program still works on an old laptop I have with Windows 7 and I would be most upset if I ever lost it as it is such a great program.

Here is a quick photo of the final cardigan/jacket.  Colour is a lot lighter than the actual but close enough.

Made with my LK 150 - Bernat Baby Sport Yarn

Hope she likes it!

I think she likes it - look at that beautiful smile!

Intarsia is fun!

Our knit club asked me to do a demo on intarsia or picture knitting.  So I got to work and came up with a simple block pattern that would teach them how to move from color to color and a how to create and read/follow a graph.   It was a fun day and I think a few were inspired to go home and give it a try.  Hopefully we will see some of their endeavours at our March meeting/knit-in.

Here is a small sweater I did as a sampler:

Made using my LK150 and AG10 Intarsia Carriage

This little project also gave a lesson on seaming which can always be a challenge.  We looked at how to deal with all the ends that needed to be dealt with when the project was finished and also how to deal with the yarn color changes as they occur so we wouldn't have any unsightly holes!

I think it was a great learning session and I sure enjoyed "playing" with intarsia myself.

Roly-Poly Clown:

I have had several requests for this pattern so I'm making it available here for anyone that wishes to give it a try.  Have fun with it.  A lot are making them up to give to the fire and police departments to hand out to small children when under stress after an accident or fire etc.  Great idea.

Here is the link:     Roly Poly Clown Pattern