A recent FO and some WIPs

I recently finished a set of sweater ornaments that my Aunt asked for and decided to use that to get back into posting about my knitting. I followed two patterns to make them up. I used the Minutia and Minutia '08 patterns from berroco. I love any project that allows you to use bits of yarn left over from other projects. All that is left for these is for me to make the hangers that go with them.

On too the WIPs I recently purchased the Tidings of Joy Kit

from knitpicks.com for the sole purpose to really make the Popcorn and cranberry garland. It is slow tedious work... anything that is knit in the round on Size 2 needles and starts with 4 stitches I guess would be.... slow going but I'm loving how it looks. Another knitpicks kit I recently purchased was the Design your first sweater I went with the red and white, I really like this pattern kit because it allows you the option to choose the bottom, the cuffs, the sleeve style and collar style. Plus it is knitted in the round and that means no Seaming!!! I am making pretty good progress on this one and hope to have it finished in the next couple of weeks.

A knitting contest

I once again can't imagine how long it has been since I last blogged. But to get back into the whole blogging thing... I decided I need to share with all of you about this great contest I recently read about. It is for a chance to win a set of KnitPicks new Zephyr needles. You can get all the details at: http://thingsmomslike.com/2009/07/30/knitpicks-zephyr-knitting-needle-set-giveaway-821/comment-page-9/#comment-8552. So go ahead and why not give it a try.

My First Drop Spindle Experience

I have taken the next step. I have now spun some yarn. I have always been amazed at people that make their own yarn and I am even more amazed now that I have tried the whole drop spindle thing. I recently purchased a drop spindle and some roving and figured I would be able to figure out how to do this craft.

So here are photos of the experience:

Here is the roving all laid out. I wonderered how much yarn I would get. I guess it depends on how thick you make the yarn.

Well I removed a part of the roving attached it to the spindle and started spinning.... and spinning..... and spinning.

After some trial and error I actually started to see progress. Yeah I was making yarn! Well as time passed the spindle began to get fuller and fuller. So I knew it was time to set the twist and hang to dry.

And after this I got a finished product.... a small ball of yarn. The thickness varies throughout the ball. But I've purchased yarn like that so I know it is okay.

Now onto what is left of the roving. This time the

process went much easier. Yes it still has its variations; but, I'm happy with what I've made. On this go around I put the yarn I made into a hank!

I guess know I'll have to think of something to make to work this into.

Knit Knack Blanket Squares!

Yeah! They are officially done. After much procrastination on my part; the squares are finished.

When I first signed up for this in May 2008. I thought no problem I'll be able to get 24 squares done in plenty of time for the deadline. But as the deadline approached I knew I wasn't going to make it. Luckily, it was extended till the end of January. Well here we are in February and I haven't mailed them out. But they will be all on their way to their new homes by the end of the week.

I hope everyone will enjoy the square I made. As you can see in the picture they are various patterns. I just couldn't decide on just one, and I didn't really want to get bored by doing just one design.

Now the next step will be waiting for all the squares to arrive. I have already received some... which makes me feel even worse that I haven't mailed any out. Once they arrive it will be interesting to see how long it takes me to put it all together.

A Glass Head and other knitting news

Well it is another year and I just past my 3rd year anniversary of knitting. I can't believe I've been knitting for 3 years. I am definitely happy with the progress I have made during this time. It is always enjoyable to look back on what you made in the beginning and seeing how you have improved. An example would have to be the teddy bears I've made, both were from the pattern used for The Mother Bear Project. The first one was made in about Sept. of 2006 and the

second was done in August of 2008.

In other knitting news I am working away on the blanket squares for a blanket exchange I am taking part of in the greatest ravelry group known as Knit Knack. I have procrastinated on making these squares and now with the deadline looming I have been knitting nothing but squares. I have until the end of the month and 12.5 more squares to go. Then the process of sending them all out. After that will come the process of me sewing the squares I receive together. I guess I should take some pictures of my squares...

Oh and now about the rest of the post title. A Glass Head. I just had to share that I am now the proud owner of a Pier 1 glass head. I have been looking for one of these for at least a year now and now I have one. I can't wait to make a cool hat to use this as a model. I guess I'll have to wait till those squares are done.