WIPs and FOs

Over the next few days, I am going to share all of my recent finished knitted items (aka FOs). I have grown and learned so much with my knitting. I have accomplished more than I could have possibly imagined. Here are some of my favorite finished projects:


                                     A Headband for My Sister

                                      

                                     A Beanie for My Husband

                                                                   A Cowl for Me

                                       A Cowl for My Mother

 


                                  I will share more tomorrow.

Knot for You

Here is the beginning of my first knit sock! Whatcha think??

A Whole New World

Lately I haven't been posting much, but that is because of all the exciting things happening! I have been working on my yarn stash (more is better, right?) and doing a few repeat patterns for friends. Tomorrow, I have a knitting date with a friend of mine who is going to teach me to knit my first pair of socks!!! I am super excited and a little intimidated. Here is the yarn I am using.....

Isn't it Gorgeous (yes with a capitol g)?!?! It is Sunshine Yarns by Dani in the Wildflowers colorway. I absolutely adore it.  I will post a picture of my progress tomorrow so everyone can see the beginning of my first pair of hand knit socks!

Update: As ashamed as I am to post this, I must give a huge thank you shout out to my friend valkerie for straightening out my mess of yarn. Here is the chain of events....

Pic 1: In the Beginning....Tori made a knot

Pic 2: Fabulous valkerie working so hard...


Pic 3: The little bit I was able to save...(turns out the middle fell out and knotted)


Pic 4: THE END...


We started this process at 10:30am and finally finished at 3:30

As Time Moves On

I have finished a wonderfully easy pattern for a headband! I knit one for my sister in gray wool and I love it so much that I immediately started another in a green yarn made of bamboo and silk. I hope she sends me a pic of her wearing it soon so I can share! I also have found another love...Sunshine Yarn! It is hand dyed yarn by Dani at www.sunshineyarns.com and it is exquisite! I have to take a break with buying yarn and stuff because sadly I am running out of money. Anyway, I hope to start on a few bracelets and some more headbands!

And the Day Continues

I have the greatest news ever...I have officially learned how to sew on a button properly! I made a coffee cozy for my mother and the buttons actually worked the way they should. I was so proud of myself. :D

I haven't done much with my knitting other than working on more cozies, due to lack of time. I have been super busy lately. I went to my church's craft fair over the weekend and was surprised that I didn't see anything knit! What I did see was an opportunity for next year. If I can build up a stash of finished knit projects and possibly get a friend to help out, I think we could have our own booth and make a bundle! Honestly, all I saw at the fair were bows and dresses (not knit of course) and some jewelry. I think if I/we could make a bunch of the beloved knit headbands with flowers to attach, we could sell a ton. Definitely something to think about.....

Cozy on a Stormy Day

I have finished my first coffee cozy! Granted my buttons don't work because I haven't learned how to sew a button on properly, but it just slides on and it's SO CUTE! Here's a pic...

Isn't it darling?! I got a few suggestions on selling them and a great idea too! I hope to get some purple and gold colors and make a striped LSU cozy! Right now I am 75% through on another one that is blue and brown variegated. I already bought some buttons that match perfectly! I am so excited to see what my little hands can create!

So Happy Together

I have some exciting news! I have finished a couple projects!!! I knit my mother and my grandmother each a dishtowel using the "Grandmother's Favorite" pattern on Ravelry. It was super fun and quick. I am currently working on a coffee cozy (first one is for me) for my mom and g-ma. I am excited to see some finished work and hoping to be able to accomplish a little more than the basics. I started on a one row lace scarf, but paused because I bought some alpaca yarn to use instead. The only problem with that is I am terrified of ruining it! I've been too scared to start so I have been using my hands for other quick projects. As far as the coin purse goes, all I have left is to sew in the velcro (zipper was too hard lol) and it's done! About time, I know! I also have my first swap coming up and I am so anxious to see who I have. I am thrilled that I will get stuff from someone who actually has a clue as to what they are doing. Maybe that will give me an idea of what I need to have and use. I am bound and determined to figure out this stupid gauge thing. I don't completely understand it, but it seems to be important as it is in just about every pattern I see. Maybe my swap group can help??

Poor Me

My knitting is coming along well. I am having trouble finding time lately to sit down and really work on it. I have been looking at Ravelry.com often and kinda feel slow with my progress. I know it's only been a little while, but I feel I am never going to get to the point to where I can make socks or a scarf even. My "squares" and boring projects are getting old. I am going to have to find a way to slow my mind down and keep up with my skill level. One day at a time, right??

MAYDAY!

I know I haven't posted in a few days and there is good reason for it. The other night I was working on my dishcloth and somehow messed up a stitch or two. In trying to fix it I made it worse. I completely freaked out. Add a dog mess in the house and an upset hubby and you get a total meltdown. I completely broke. I cried (total sobs and boohoos) for a while and deemed my work "ruined and useless". After my little hissy-fit, I picked up where I left off and continued working, messed up and all. I have since put that project to the side until I am confident again. I have started a new project that is simple and will work on my skills. It is a mat for Tucker to lay on. It is huge and will take a while I'm sure, but I know it will help me improve and be efficient in my knitting. I will post pics next time.

Oops...

Now that I have been working on this dishtowel for a few days, I am still not thrilled with how it looks. I know it won't be perfect and I don't expect it to be, but this is just sad. I was really frustrated yesterday when I kept comparing it to the picture. They look nothing alike! That was about the time that I realized I'd been looking at the wrong picture this whole time. The one I'm actually doing doesn't look too far off. I am kinda wishing I had done the dishcloth with a solid yarn instead of a multi-colored yarn, because I think it looks a little better as a solid. I am half wanting to quit this project and move on to another, but at the same time I have worked so hard and for so long that I want to finish it. *sigh*

This is my work

 The front image is the actual project....the back-ground cloth is what I thought I was doing.

Moving Onward!

I decided not to bring my knitting to work yesterday (mornings can be slow sometimes) and I almost went crazy wanting to work on it. I definitely brought it today. Last night I was able to do quite a bit of work....about 5 lines worth. Ok, so I have been working on my patterned project (the dishtowel) and I'm pretty far along. I will admit though as I hold it out and take a look at how it's going....it's looking kinda crappy. I don't mind though because it's only my second try and because it's my first alternating stitches project. I hope when it's finished that I'll like it just enough to keep it at least. I'm wondering if my technique is wrong too. I can't seem to keep a consistent "tightness". I think that contributes to its crappy-ness.

*sorry the picture isn't that great*

And....Begin!

   I have started this blog to post on my knitting projects and progress. I fully realize that I may have no readers at all, but I would like to write about my learning experience anyway. As of February 6, 2011, I am a beginner (self-taught) knitter. My first project is a coin purse that started out as a practice swatch. I am to the point where I can knit up the sides to make its shape then put in the zipper! I'd say that's pretty good for only a few days(ok almost a week). I have also taken the chance on making my first patterned piece, a dishcloth from a teaching book. So far it's going well (only restarted once), and I think/hope to be almost done by the weekend.