ATC Rust/Brown Theme

September's theme for ATC-USA International was Rust or Brown. Since I couldn't decide, I did both. For brown I did "Love is Like Chocolate" - 5 layers of chocolately goodness.

For Rust I created "Russet" using the idea of the rusty oak leaves. The leaves are in 3 thicknesses: Sienna Ink, copper embossing and mini glass beads. Gee I should have made one for myself... :-)

I placed the cards in a wool orange/rust color mini purse that I knit, using an antique mother of pearl button to close it. The cards fit just right. I hope my swap partner likes them.

Disney ATC Swap

It is rather difficult to see here - the flowered column has been duplicated, cut and popped 3-D.

September is Rust/Brown Theme - I'd better get hoofing...

More knitting

3 Sisters Hat - Pattern on Ravelry.com - LOved it!!!

Branching Out Scarf finally done and blocked - hmmm who is it for?
Hermione Hat from Ravelry - Quick, Cut and Comfy!
Moultonboro Scarf improvised by me for Scarves from the Heart.
You may upload this free pdf pattern on Ravelry.com

June and July ATCs

My Teddy Bear ATC was fun. I'm not much of a "cute" person - but found this lovely bear and used some terry cloth plush for the border.

Sent out my Purple Theme ATC to Barb finally. Always late these days - Hhhhhhh. I love purple and enjoy the idea of color theme ATCs.

Basket O Berries Lace Scarf

I added a new scarf pattern to Ravelry.com especially made for Scarves from the Heart. I used Plymouth Fantasy Naturale (lovely to knit with). It is cotton and lightweight for mountain summers.

The pattern is of course free.

Materials: Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale Solid color shown #6092 Hot Pink or Raspberry

Needles US size 11

CO 17 sts

Row 1: k2, yo, k2tog, (yo, k1, k2tog) x2, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, k1

Row 2: p5, k7, p5

Row 3: k5, p7, k5

Repeat these 3 rows for the pattern to the desired length.

Add knotted fringe to each end to finish the look.

This makes for a reversible, textural, squooshy light scarf. Lots of movement - reminded me of the raspberries I shake up in the colander for my breakfast.

On Ravelry? To Ravel the Pattern - click on the Tiltle link "Basket O Berries Lace Scarf"

Lace Addiction

How many of you out there are becoming addicted to knitting lace - any lace no mater how simple or the materials used. I made a couple of these simple lace scarves for "Scarves From the Heart".
Nice, soft and lightweight - quick and enjoyable to knit.

There is I'm sure a stitch name for this pattern - if there is I don't know what it is.




Here is a simple recipe for this scarf.
I use Classic Elite Princess Yarn (soft and yummy)
US Size 11 needles
CO 15 or 17 (odd number)
There is one pattern row: k1, *yo, k2tog* to end
Repeat this row until desired length; Loosely Bind off ... TA DA

Visit Ravelry for many great inspirations and super patterns free and for sale by wonderful designers.

I am also working on the Diamond Lace Scarf,

Wisp Mohair lace scarf design by Cheryl Niamath (see Knitty)

branching out lace scarf and waterfalls lace sacrf. See Knitty.com or my Ravelry Projects page for more info.

Jacqueline's beautiful cards

If you want to see some beeyootiful creations and help J reach her 10,000 hits on her loveley blog be sure to go see and possibly win lovely blog candy! Her cards are lovely. - I've got lots to learn...

Received lovely PIF package

Lovely! What a happy gal I was to open this beautiful package from Vicki http://www.ldsvenus-knits.com/.

The Chocolate and tea have been long ago consumed YUMM! Also yumm is the yarn spun by Vicki - it is gorgeous in person. Look in my sidebar fiber stash for a good close-up. Thank you times a million Vicki for all the goodies. I have until December 2008 to gift my gals who signed up. I still have one opening if you check out my older post.

Latest Knit FOs

Cabled Lace Bookmark by Sivia Harding , 2 pairs of Fetching wristwarmers, design by Cheryl Niamath (pattern found on Knitty.com)

Spring Buds dishcloth by Maile Mauch, K1P1Keeping You in Stitches

Finished my first felted project - a small purse that still needs a button or some kind of decorative closure. This was one of my "Fire" projects for Project Spectrum - see sidebar.


I used Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) Natural Crimson.

PS3 Fire ATC

I made 4 versions of my Project Spectrum 3 Element "Fire" ATC. Two for swap partners, one for another ATC friend and one for moi. What scanned as a kind of purplish color is actually black ink. I was going to overlay the whole with gold plastic weave (the kind that chocolate coins come in). I decided instead to use it as a resist to let the color of the card stock show through.

I received a card from one of my swap partners. It was made by "Wishing on Clovers". Isn't it a beauty?!!!

Dance ATCs

The ATC theme for this month was Dance. I did a flip card the front being the 3 graphic images (of course you'd recognize those dancing feet). The card is hinged with black masking tape and when opened reveals Fred and Ginger in a colorized full picture version.

I also did a second card because I had two ideas and wanted to use them both.

This card was very 50's Rock and Roll and various paper, photo, napkin and hair wrapping foil was used - oh and one plastic button.

Scarves From the Heart

Finished one of my spring scarves pledges for the Scarves From the Heart Group. It is a modified version of the Knit Picks Fishtail Lace Scarf. I used one skein of soft sport-weight yarn and US size 10 needles and CO 31 stitches for a very loose cloudy soft weight. The scarf is approximately 6.25 x 48 inches. This was a fun pattern to knit.

Leaves ATC

My trade partner for ATC "leaves" just received it, so now I can post. We were supposed to spray paint silhouette images ala "Martha". Well on a 2 ½ inch by 3 ½ inch stock that was a bit well – let’s just say I did something else. I used gold and green spray paint on bass wood for the 1st layer, two consecutive layers of felt flocking powder for the pine needles (fuzzy), and a pine cone of card stock edged with gold leaf rub. Corner is a bit of satin ribbon. I really enjoyed the flocking and may want to try that again some day.

Harlequin Dishcloth

By Janet Hogan felixsisknits on Ravelry

The cloth was made for the Ravelry group Dishcloth Weekly Knit along. This pattern pops; the cloth shown is not blocked and is a reversible pattern.
The stitch pattern is taken from A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara G. Walker
Knitted By Jan using Peaches & Crème™ Peppercorn Ombre, size 7 needles

Pattern: (12 +1) 2x border 8
B4 = 4 border stitches (garter stitch or preferred stitch)
Cloth size approx. 6.5 inches square
Supplies: 1 Skein Peaches & Crème™ knitting worsted yarn1 Pair Size 7 US (4.5 mm) single point needlesTapestry needleScissors

CO 33 sts
Rows 1 - 6: Knit across
Row 7: B4, k4, *p5, k7; repeat from *, end p5, k4, B4
Row 8: B4, p4, *k5, p7; repeat from *, end k5, p4, B4
Row 9: B4, k3, *p3, k1, p3, k5; repeat from *, end last repeat k3, B4
Row 10: B4, p3, *k3, p1, k3, p5; repeat from *, end p3, B4
Row 11: B4, k2, *p3, k3; repeat from *, end last repeat k2, B4
Row 12: B4, p2, *k3, p3; repeat from *, end last repeat p2, B4
Row 13: B4, k1, *p3, k5, p3, k1; repeat from *, B4
Row 14: B4, p1, *k3, p5, k3, p1; repeat from *, B4
Row 15: B4, p3, *k7, p5; repeat from *, end k7, p3, B4
Row 16: B4, k3, *p7, k5; repeat from *, p7, k3, B4
Row 17: B4, p2, *k9, p3: repeat from *, end k9, p2, B4
Row 18: B4, k2, *p9, k3; repeat from *, end p9, k2, B4
Row 19: B4, p3, *k7, p5; repeat from *, end k7, p3, B4
Row 20: B4, p1, *k3, p5, k3, p1; repeat from *, B4
Row 21: B4, k1, *p3, k5, p3, k1; repeat from *, B4
Row 22: B4, p2, *k3, p3; repeat from *, end last repeat p2, B4
Row 23: B4, k2, *p3, k3; repeat from *, end last repeat k2, B4
Row 24: B4, p3, *k3, p1, k3, p5; repeat from *, end p3, B4
Row 25: B4, k3, *p3, k1, p3, k5; repeat from *, end last repeat k3, B4
Row 26: B4, p4, *k5, p7; repeat from *, end k5, p4, B4
Row 27: Repeat Row 7
Row 28: Repeat Row 8
Row 29: Repeat Row 9
Row 30: Repeat Row 10
Rows 31-36: Knit across
Bind Off and weave in loose ends
For larger cloths cast on: 45 or 57 and repeat pattern rows until desired length

Just finished my February "alooseknitgroup" hat. It is the foliage pattern found on Knitty.com. This was fun to knit and went very quickly after the initial couple rows in which I felt like all fingers. You can find more on the particulars at Ravelry.

Time to get back to my PS3 project (Project Spectrum). We are working on various knit and art related projects relating to the 4 elements (currently FIRE). more later...

24 Dish Cloth KAL Challenge

Not the best scanned image. This pattern by Janet Nogle comes from the Monthly DishCloth KAL (mid-month knit-a-long). The diamonds are beautiful and textured. This was a fun to knit cloth indeed.

Christmas Tree Mug Rug Free Pattern

I was knitting the Christmas Tree Row Cloth, by Maile Mauch. Find her exquisite patterns here. I thought that one tree would make a great mug rug design for the holidays. I knit a few and e-mailed Maile the pictures and pattern. She very generously allowed me to share the pattern on this site. The mug rug (coaster) works up fast and a few tied together with a ribbon or wrap would make a great little gift for a friend.
Here is the pattern...

Christmas tree Mug Rug
Supplies: Peaches and Creme cotton yarn
1 pair size 7 US (4.5mm) knitting needles

B2= border 2 knit stitches beginning and ending of each row

Cast on: 19
Knit border for 5 rows then begin pattern
Row 1: B2, k7, p1, k7, B2
Row 2: B2, p6, k1, p1, k1, p6, B2
Row 3: B2, k5, p1, k3, p1, k5, B2
Row 4: B2, p4, (k1, p2) x2, k1, p4, B2
Row 5: B2, k3, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k3, B2
Row 6: B2, p2, k1, p2, k1, p3, k1, p2, k1, p2, B2
Row 7: B2, k1, (p1, k2) x4, p1, k1, B2
Row 8: B2, p3, k1, p2, k1, p1, k1, p2, k1, p3, B2
Row 9: B2, (k2, p1) x2, k3, (p1, k2) x2, B2
Row 10: B2, p4, (k1, p2) x2, k1, p4, B2
Row 11: B2, k3, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k3, B2
Row 12: B2, p5, k1, p3, k1, p5, B2
Row 13: B2, k4, (p1, k2) x2, p1, k4, B2
Row 14: B2, p6, k1, p1, k1, p6, B2
Row 15: B2, k5, p1, k3, p1, k5, B2
Row 16: B2, p7, k1, p7, B2
Row 17: B2, k6, p1, k1, p1, k6, B2
Row 18: B2, p15, B2
Row 19: B2, k7, p1, k7, B2
Row 20: B2, p15, B2

Knit remaining border rows then BO and weave in ends

Knitmania

So busy knitting and reading I haven't been posting - baaad. I really enjoyed the Cloth of the Week KAL pattern "Fireworks" Lace. Love, love love all the patterns and techniques I've been learning there.

Check it out here.

Knitting and ATC"ing"

Arrrg - so late on my ATCs. I had to pause knitting and finish my Artist Trade Card (ATC) for oops November and December...

Here is the November ATC theme titled "Vintage". The woman is my grandmother Sarah Gerard Todd Connell Driver.

The original piece is 2.5" x 3.5"

PAY IT FORWARD (PIF)

This is a very cool idea going around in one of my knitting groups. I also couldn’t resist the idea of joining in. I signed up at Vicki's http://www.ldsvenus-knits.com blog site. Now after I get all my Christmas stuff out I will have another project to think about and what I want to do.

The guidelines: "I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days that is my promise!"

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog."Want to participate? Be one of the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post and make the same promise on your own blog.

Not So Random Acts of Kindness, and 365 days to do it in!!! What a cool idea!
So, here goes! If you're interested in participating, just be one of the first three people to post that you would like to PIF! You don’t have to be a knitter, you can hand craft any gift you are good at.

OTNs this week

For a wonderful Knitting Care group in CA Scarves from the Heart I am trying to complete a second scarf before Christmas. Don't you love that pattern "My So Called Scarf"?

This yarn is so soft and easy to work with you might doze off while knitting...

Also working on a pair of wrist warmers for my niece. I'm using the pattern that is on Knitty called "Fetching" by Cheryl Niamath. I had to make some adjustments for long slim palm size. Since our hands are almost the same I've been testing them out. Hmmm... I haven't told her yet that I'm making them...

KALs completed

COTW KAL Christmas Filigree

Christmas KAL (Reindeer) knitdishcloths group

I finally got around to completing 2 dishcloth KAL pieces, a hat for DH and another bookmark. I feel like I'm knitting in my sleep. I've started so many projects - it is nice to complete a few.

a fine wool tightly knit. He likes a close fitting hat - that would drive me batty, but he says it is comfortable for him.

Pine Tree Bookmark

Pine Tree Bookmark designed by Annette Derksen

This is my first ever completed bookmark. It was the October KAL of the Monthly Bookmarks Knit-a-long Group. What a fun design! This bookmark was done in a pretty cinnamon color cotton (I think #10) that I got from an Elmore-Pisgah grab bag. I'm not sure exactly what size it is because there was no label. It was great to knit with and I'm sure I'll be knitting a few more of these gorgeous bookmarks as gifts. Visit here for her free pinetree bookmark pattern. - thank you Annette

La Petite Sweet Sweater Ornament from Mrs B

I found this awesome "petite" sweater ornament on the theknitoriousmrsb's blog site. If you want to see how cute she makes it with buttons and also the pattern, visit her here. I had so much fun knitting this cutie with Moda Dea "Sassy Stripes" self-striping yarn. I was knitting away at the Doctor's office while waiting my turn... When my Doc saw it she said "ooooo - that is sooo cute! - Wow!" I guess I know what I'll be giving Doc and her staff for a Christmas thank you.
Thank you again LB for posting such an adorable pattern. It has been keeping me out of trouble... :-)

knitting up a storm

I've been so busy knitting and trying to catch up with KALs (Knit-a-longs) that I have neglected my blogging. Also I have been enjoying other gals gorgeous knitting and crafting out there. This cloth is called "Dainty". It is knit in Peaches & Creme Shaded Brown. This cloth was the November Just Dishcloths KAL. Thank you Anne for the great pattern.

Whenever I get a new cotton yarn color I usually whip up a "DW" (Darrel Waltrip) washcloth to see what the colorway looks like. It's more fun than a swatch and I know what the DW pattern looks like. At the same time I get a new cloth or a gift to give! This is another beautiful Elmore-Pisgah cotton named "Oasis". It has beautiful soft peachy and smokey tones. It is much prettier than any picture can do for it. That is one of the reasons I ordered the color cards. I have to see and feel the yarn before I buy - pretty hard on-line - LOL...

This cloth was the COTW (Cloth of the Week) KAL for week November 11, 2007. This KAL is a great way to learn different techniques and try out new colors. The designers give a variety of cloth sizes and ensembles to knit with pictures before you start. I love this group! See my sidebar for KALS.

Fall ATC

Just mailed out my October ATC to my trade partner (theme - Fall). I knew those miniscule glass beads would come in handy sooner or later. Creating those little cards is just darned addictive. Time to start the next one!

Knit Crazy

So much to see - so little time. I have been knitting and browsing and trying not to spend. I have visited so many sites lately on ravelry and that brings me to interesting blogs, then to a yarn site, then to a new pattern then to... arrrg! Okay I admit it - I'm a yarn'aholic and I don't feel too bad, well maybe a little, or maybe not. hee hee...
Finished a cloth for my trade partner last night - oh I'm so late, but I hope to add a lot of goodies to make up for it.



The pattern is Honeycomb designed by Nancy in SC. I found it on KnitList

Newbie

Here I am trying to figure out my first blog - what a dufus... Being a newbie is trying. I was invited into ravelry - YAY!!! So I figured I'd better get my you know what in gear. Knit or blog, knit or blog - hmmm... Gotta go