Off The Needles - Dec. 19, 2014

I managed to get in a little knitting this week in between cleaning and decorating for a Christmas party, cooking and a start to my shopping.  Still way behind.  I did finish the purple wash cloth and looked over my yarn stash to see what was next on the needles.  No decision made yet.

I also took a little time here and there to sew the rest of the star blocks for the Honor Flight quilt, added small navy sashing strips between them and completed the top. Now all I need is time to quilt and bind it, which I hope to do before the end of 2014.

What have you been up to this week. Are you as far behind as me and rushing around to get everything done before Christmas? I know many of you are making knitted gifts.  Would love to see what you are making.  Stop by Judy's OTN and see what others are finishing this week.  

Here's What's On and Off My Needles

Here's what I've been working on this week in the knitting area.  First, I finished my 4th pair of socks. These were made with Diversity yarn, which has an elasticity and but feels like cotton.  They are fun to make because of the self striping and feel so good on.

Then I did a little more on my faux infinity cowl from months ago.  This yarn is awful to work with so I'm not too excited about knitting with it.  I love the color and look of the yarn after it's knitted though.

Maybe part of the problem is I'm using an interchangeable circular needle, and because of the fibers in this acryllic yarn, it seems I have to constantly re-tighten the tips almost after every round.  Not fun.  I do it because the alternative would be awful -- having it coming apart midstream.  You cannot see your stitches with the yarn even though it's all knitted.  I would never be able to find my stitches to get them back on the needle correctly.  It will be the last time I buy any of this yarn. 

Since I was so frustrated with the handling of this project, I decided to cast on a simple facecloth for some easy, peasy knitting.  I give these as gifts, so it's always good to keep a supply on hand for those occasions.  I add a good smelling facial soap with each cloth as a little Thank You gift, or "just because" gift.

That's about it for this week's knitting.  I am waiting until after the busy Christmas season to concentrate on learning toe up socks on circulars.  If you have been following me, you know, I've been saying that for a long time, but I WILL get there. lol

I'm linking up with OTN over at Patchwork Times.  Check out what others are up to.

On and Off the Needles Friday 3/14

Here it is Friday already and I'm still working on my first sock with those tiny double pointed needles.  I've successfully made my way through the leg, the heel flap and am now learning how to do the heel gussets.  I hope to have this sock completed before the next On The Needles post.

Last week I finished two more dish/face cloths.  I tried a new free pattern called Pips Dishcloth; but because of all the distractions while knitting,  I kept messing up.  What resulted was very serendipity, knitting and purling whenever I felt like changing stitches.  No rhyme or reason or repeats of rows or sequences.   Actually it turned out better than expected under the circumstances, but don't ask me to duplicate it. I haven't the foggiest what I did.  That white spot in the picture is not a hole.  Really it isn't. They are pinned to my design wall with flat flower head pins.

I will be linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times, so stop by and see what others have on their needles this week.

On The Needles - December 27, 2013

This is the last 'On the Needles' for 2013.  You are probably getting tired of seeing the same project on my needles.  I know I am.  I was hoping to finish my 3S shawl by the end of the year, but it doesn't look like that will happen.  But there was a little progress made on it this week-- it now measures 6.25 inches from neck edge to the lower point, which is about a third finished.  Maybe by the end of January, 2014 it will be ready to wear.

I also spent some time on gifts and finished a couple more face cloths.  The lighter ones are used as "face cloths" and the darker ones dish cloths.  These face cloths and a bar of homemade soaps are little thank you gifts for friends.

3S Shawl

To see more great ideas for knitting projects and some beautiful finishes, go to On the Needles at Patchwork Times.

On the Needles - 12/13/13

Knitting time has been very limited this week because of Christmas luncheons, guild parties and sewing all those small pieces for Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt.  But I did manage to make a little more progress on my 3S Shawl.  It's very slow going.  I figured out that two complete rows of knitting only yields a quarter of an inch in depth from the top of the center stitch.  That means I have to knit 8 rows to gain one little inch.  This becomes even slower when you realize that each row gets longer and longer -- but I'm getting some good practice, right?? 

Here's what it looks like so far.  I've inserted one eyelet row about 4 1/2" from the top.  The whole shawl has grown about 1.5 to 2 inches since the first photo.

3S Shawl

I also finished another face cloth for gift giving.  I decided to call them face cloths instead of dish cloths because I'm going to put a special handmade bar of soap with them. This one is too soft for doing the dishes. lol

face/dish cloths made w/ Cream & Sugar cotton yarn.

To see more projects, visit Judy's blog HERE.

On and Off The Needles - Nov. 22, 2013

I kept missing the Friday OTN post because I hadn't taken any pictures of what I was working on, but finally got my act together this week.

I'm addicted to these little guys.  I guess it's the instant gratification and the fact that I can finish them without having to rip anything, and they are so relaxing to knit!  I just can't stop making them.  They will make great stocking stuffers, so I'll keep making them for a while longer.  Some of the yarn only makes one with a little yarn left over, but not enough for a second one.  I'm hoping the tangerine yarn will last enough to finish this second one that I have on the needles now.  If not, I'll take some of the leftover green or multicolor yarn and finish it for my use.  My dishes won't care if they are scrappy looking.  The yarn is the 100% cotton Sugar and Creme brand, but the length varies within the skeins.

On my circular needles is the beginnings of a shawl that I started last month.  It's taking forever to see any progress.  It seems after an hour or two of knitting, it only grows a half inch more; and, I have to concentrate more, can't talk and knit at the same time.  It's the 3S Shawl that was so popular earlier in the year and everywhere I looked someone was making it. Anyway, I still have to check the pattern frequently so I don't make silly mistakes.  You see, I still don't know how to fix dropped stitches, especially when I don't realize I've dropped them!  Another reason it's taking forever might be because the needles are Size #2.  I wish I had started this on a #3 or $4. By now it might be half finished. lol Sure hope I can finish it before Spring arrives so I can at least wear it once.

Stop on over at Judy's and see what others are working on this week.

On and Off The Needles 10/18/13

This is what just came OFF my needles--a set of the multicolored dishcloths.  Just have to weave in the ends and they will be ready to use.  These were fun to make, but this yarn did discolor the tips of my fingers as I was working on them. I've never had that happen before. Maybe this yarn is not colorfast. It is the Sugar'n Cream - new super size, which I used for the first 2 I made in solid green.  No problems noticed there.

Now that I've finished 4 dishcloths, I think I'm ready to try my hand at the 3S Shawl.  This is reportedly an easy shawl - the 3S stands for Super-wide, Super Simple.  We'll just have to see. I'll let you know if it's easy for a beginner.

There are more knitting projects to see over at Patchwork Times.  Check them out. 

On and Off The Needles

I can't believe it is already the end of the first week of October and my last post was almost 2 weeks ago!  The knitting bug has started taking over my extra time these days.  I guess because Fall is in the air and cooler weather is due to arrive this weekend, I found myself visiting my local knit shop, Knit and Caboodle Yarn Shop in downtown St. Charles, MO.  They have so many beautiful yarns that it is very hard to get out of there without buying something--yarn, needles or patterns.  I'm still practicing my knitting and trying to get the rhythm and technique to be more fluid before attempting a bigger project; so I bought more dish cloth yarn and some wool blend yarn for one of the popular shawls.

I've finished 2 green dish cloths like the one shown and am starting another one with a new variegated Sugar 'n Cream yarn called Psychedelique. After I finish 2 more dishcloths, I may be ready to start the 3S Shawl that everyone was showing earlier this year.

I am linking up with On the Needles at Patchwork Times.  Check there to see what others have on their needles this week.