It's me again, with new projects!

Hey it's my 6 month check in. It's been a busy couple of months with planning a wedding and everything. Here's some of the work that i got done in that time.

This first piece is a work in progress for my grandma. It's her favorite flower and her favorite colors so i really hope she likes it!

The color scheme, bright spring colors

The inner squares alternate colors

Adding the border in the lovely yellow

4 squares all complete

Going for 8 squares now

It isn't complete yet but it will be ready by Christmas!

The next was a birthday gift i made for my sweet cousin. I didn't use a pattern for it and i think it turned out pretty well!

The Owl Bag

Theses are brick stitch hats that i thought were super cute! 

With a brim

And without the brim

Lastly these are some of the projects going for Christmas. The fingerless gloves are my specialty that work up pretty fast. The shell stitch blanket will actually become a mermaid blanket for my lovely little sister as per her request.

WIP Stained Glass Window Afghan

Hey everyone! My current work in progress was once again a pinterest find, the stained glass afghan! It's a long process since i'm doing 20 squares but it's totally worth it. 

This square is missing three rows but looks good so far!

I used Caron super soft yarns in brites and regular

So this is how far my squares are. It's a long process but i hope to get it done by fall! Here's the pattern for any interested, it's $5.99 here.

Handmade Gifts Are Not Cheap

So the title pretty much says it all, handmade gifts aren't cheap. I can see why people would think that way and i myself thought similarly when i was younger but it's a flawed way of thinking. Most people look at the value of gifts in terms of money, so if they get you a $40 gift they expect something equal or of greater value in return, or will settle for maybe $10 less. So in that thought lets look at a knit hat. Most hats use about a third to half of a skein of yarn depending on the hat. So if someone bought a really nice skein of yarn for $10 and used half that's $5. So a person getting a hat might look at yarn in the store after you give them the hat and scoff because you only used $5 of yarn on them. Now when people go to work lots of people get paid by the hour. If we apply that to knitting, the price drastically goes up. Now i'm not a fast knitter but i'm no sloth and a basic one color knit hat takes me about 4 hours in total. So if we use the minimum wage of $7.50 per hour that makes just the labor for a basic one color hat alone $30. So add the $30 for labor and $5 for yarn and that basic hat is worth $35.

When i make a knit gift for people it's typically for people that i am really fond of because my time is precious to me. People like to look over that fact when they receive handmade gifts. The only way i can think of measuring the emotional value is to show the amount of stitches. When i make an adult hat i typically cast on 80 stitches. So with 80 stitches per row a basic hat has at least 20 solid rows without decreases which is 1,600 stitches. When i decrease for the crown i like to do it by tens so for every decrease row i take away ten and then do a knit row.

So the hats crown with the decrease row stitches, starting at 80, would be
1- 70
2-70 (knit only rows for every even)
3-60
4-60
5-50
6-50
7-40
8-40
9-30
10-30
11-20
12-20
13-10
14-10
And this is where i close off the hat. So that is 560 more stitches.

Adding the 1,600 stitches to the crown stitches means that a basic hat consists of 2,160 stitches that who ever made it did by hand. They made every stitch in that hat so that they can give it to you.

So the next time someone gives you something hand knit remember this post. Everybody's time is precious and they chose to spend their time making something for you. So even if you hate the color, don't wear hats, or it's just not something you would use still thank them anyway for their time and never call them cheap. Thank you from all the handmade gifters out there in advance.

Crafts of Easter Past

So Easter has passed us by and although i have nothing new knit (say that five times fast) I do have some cute easter creations that turned out pretty well.

Thanks to pinterest i found these awesome dyed deviled eggs from Real Mom Kitchen and had to give them a try! I used the teaspoon vinegar and five drops of each food color (the yellow was just regular yellow but the pink and blue were neon food dye). They had to soak for about ten minutes to actually look colored enough because i tried sooner and they just looked really gross and tinted. They turned out great and were gobbled up within minutes, guess I have to make more next time!

I didn't really have an outfit for easter this year since it has been busy so i decided to dress up my nails instead!

I based them off the Playin With Polka Dots nails from the Nails By Kayla Shevonne blog. Of course i saw them on pinterest and thought they would be awesome! I had some pastels lying around that (mostly) matched so i took my dotting tool that i use for painting and gave it a shot. Most of the colors i used were Sally Hansen which tend to dry quickly so i had to work fast. 

Give the eggs and nails a try not just for easter but any holiday just by changing the colors! 

My First Fair Isle

Yes i finished my first fair isle!

 It was easier than i expected although i didn't knit it like they normally advise. Most people have one color in their right hand and one in their left but i just held both of them in my right and picked the color i need off my pointer finger. I have seen rings on facebook that go on the right finger and hold two yarns in place so i might check into one of those.

The pattern i used was Noro fair isle flower hat which i first found on pinterest and then downloaded on ravelry. As you can see in the photos i used a clip board and junk mail to keep track of my progress, After i finished a row i put a small dot before the finished row in case my paper slipped or i put it down and lost track. 

The inside looks like a yarn tornado but you can't feel it when the hat is on. I think if i make more as gifts i will sew a liner in each hat and it will be super warm! I would recommend this for beginners to fair isle since the instructions are very detailed and aimed at beginners. 

Have fun and best of luck to all who try it!

Easter Hat Shenanigans!

Easter always seems to sneak up on me, probably because once spring hits i clean my house like crazy. With my house clean enough, i remembered my promise to my awesome sister in law that i would make a super cute bunny hat for my goddaughters first Easter!

Aww isn't it cute! I made it to fit a newborn based off some charts i have. The brim is 11 inches and its 5.5 inches tall not including the bunny ears. I made it using the magic loop method and then made the inner and outer parts of each ear separate and sewed them together and then onto the hat. 

If only my son would wear cute hats i would make him one too! 

Bunny Hat-Newborn 

Red Heart- White, Red Heart- Pink

Size 9 circular needles (or dpns if you prefer)

Place marker, tapestry needles

Abbreviations
CO- cast on
Sts- stitches
K-knit
P-purl
K2Tog- knit two together


CO 40 sts
Place marker and join in the round, knit until piece measures 5 inches from brim layed flat.
Decrease
Row 1- *K2 K2Tog* repeat for row
Row 2- Knit
Row 3- *K1 K2Tog* repeat for row
Row 4- Knit
Row 5- *K2Tog* entire row
Cut an 8 inch tail from yarn and thread through tapestry needle. Run needle through remaining sts and tighten. I typically make a small knot on the inner side just to be double sure it doesnt come apart. Weave in top and bottom loose threads.




Ears
With white yarn CO 12 sts
Row 1-11 stockinette st
Row 12 (right side) K2tog K8 K2Tog
Row 13 Purl
Row 14 K2tog K6 K2tog
Row 15 Purl
Row 16 K2tog K4 K2Tog
Row 17 Purl
Row 18 K2Tog K2 K2Tog
Row 19 Purl
Row 20 K2Tog K2Tog
Row 21 Purl
Row 22 K2Tog
Cast Off

Repeat for next white ear


With pink yarn CO 10 sts
Row 1-11 stockinette st
Row 12 (right side) K2tog K6 K2Tog
Row 13 Purl
Row 14 K2tog K4 K2tog
Row 15 Purl
Row 16 K2tog K2 K2Tog
Row 17 Purl
Row 18 K2Tog K2Tog
Row 19 Purl
Row 20 K2Tog
Cast Off

Repeat for other ear




Ear Assembly
With right sides facing each other start sewing the white and pink pieces together. It's going to look funny at first but its going to form a cone shape so just knit to the appropriate stitch on each piece. I sewed up one side until the pink ran out then took another piece of yarn and stitched up the other side then sewed the remaining white at the very top together. Repeat for other ear.

Once ears are assembled turn right side out. Take another piece of yarn and sew the base where the white meets the pink to the other side which will make the pink kind of pinch into the white. Do that for both ears and then sew onto the hat. I used safety pins to keep them in place while i was sewing so they weren't crooked (not that i've ever done that.....). Once they are sewn on you have a bunny hat!




The ears are the longest part of this whole hat but once you have done it once it comes easier on the second one. Hopefully this isn't too difficult but if some parts are confusing just let me know!

Slouchy Beanie

This slouchy beanie was made using the same yarn as the half arm fingerless gloves and i am in love with it!

 It's nice and slouchy but still close enough to my head that it keeps me warm. I made my own pattern  since i didn't find one that really fit what i was looking for. This is a  great pattern for beginners since it mostly consists of just doing the basic stitch in the round. If you prefer you can do this on dpns but i personally like circular needles.

Slouchy Hat
Yarn : I Love This Yarn- Spring Heather
Needle : US 8 circular needles and US 8 DPNS (double pointed needles)
Others: Tapestry needle, place marker, ruler

Abbreviations
CO- cast on
Sts- stitches
K-knit
P-purl
K1FB- knit one in front and in back
K2Tog- knit two together

CO 80 sts place marker where join in the round
Brim- *K3 P1* repeat for row. Continue this pattern until brim is 2 inches
Body- At 2 inch mark *K3 K1FB* for 1 row. So where every purl stitch was is where you will now be K1FB (Now 100 sts on needles) At stitch marker knit entire row and continue knitting until piece measures 9 inches (with brim included in those 9 inches)
Crown- After the body is complete it's time to decrease. I switched to dpns when it got hard to knit. I switched on the third decrease row and put 10 stitches on each of the 4 dpns
 *K3 K2Tog* entire row (80 sts)
Knit next row
*K2 K2Tog* entire row (60 sts)
Knit next row
*K1 K2Tog* entire row (40 sts)
Knit next row
*K2Tog* entire row (20 sts)
Knit next row
Finishing hat- Cut yarn leaving an 8 inch tail. Put tail on tapestry needle and thread through remaining sts. Remove sts from needle and tighten the closing. I typically create a simple knot to tighten it like you would with your shoe laces. Weave in tail on both the top and bottom of hat. Enjoy!

I made this hat while watching a movie so it took me about 2 and a half hours from start to finish. I prefer the long tail cast on method but it doesn't really make a difference with this hat. And that's about it! If you see any thing that doesn't add up or that i typed in wrong let me know!

Half Arm Fingerless Gloves

So taking time aside from the orders of hats and blankets i decided to knit myself some half arm fingerless gloves.

 My sleeves are normally rolled up to my arms for some reason and i decided that instead of just dealing with having my sleeves down (and driving me nuts) i would make these gloves. I custom made them to fit my arms by going inch by inch and measuring my arm then using my gauge. For the upper arm part i made it an inch less and then i kept the same amount of stitches from my middle arm down to the hand.

I took a different route on the thumbs and just did a bind off when i reach my desired amount of stitches.

All in all they turned out pretty fantastic and they only took me 5 hours to knit from measurements to binding off! My next project that involves gloves or socks i will try the two at once magic loop method. For now though im using these bad boys to keep me warm on my walks.

Cable Knit Hat

Yes it is the cable knit hat i promised!

I used the pattern for the Snappy Hat but next time i'm thinking of making different cables and making it a bit bigger. I love knitting cables because they are easy enough not to get discouraged from knitting them and they look so awesome! Here is a cable that was in process on this hat.

It didn't take me long to knit it either so that is a bonus! Now back to the second chevron blanket.

Works in Progress

Hey everyone! It has been crazy busy around here and i broke my rule about having one project in process at at time. I just finished the first part of another double knitting hat but i haven't settled on the design, i'm thinking the rainbow star from Mario or Bubba Fett.

I am also making another chevron baby blanket in the same colors that needs to get done by march so i have some time yet

Now unlike my last one i am running the yarn up the side of the work so i don't have to weave in so many ends after i finish.

Using four different colors i was worried it would stand out but so far it seems to be working out okay. The pattern start with a knit stitch and then a ssk so the area where that first stitch is seems to be folding over the yarn running up the side.

I am also going to make this snappy hat in a light grey which looks like it will be a fun, easy knit since i really love doing cables. I'm assuming that will be my next post (but no promises!). 

Coffe Filter Heart Wreath

Yep i made this bad boy with coffee filters, cardboard, and food coloring! It was a fast, fun project to do right before valentines day! I saw it posted here http://byebyesoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-heart-shaped-valentines-wreath-with.html
and got to work on it!
I started by cutting out a heart from some cardboard i had laying around and then used a couple of coffee filters to determine how many i would need to complete the heart. I ended up having a two inch strip for the heart and did three holes every inch or so.

I used a small phillips head screwdriver to make the holes which went by pretty quick!I recommend using a smaller screwdriver first because if you make them too big the coffee filters will fall out. To color the coffee filters i divided them into groups of about 15 so that i could fold them i half twice, then i used a container with about an inch of water and 9 drops of red food coloring to dip them into.

Sorry its a little blurry!

I dipped all my batches in and then let them sit for a couple hours.They looked really red at first but turned pink after a while so don't worry if they seem too dark at first! Once they were ready i folded them in half twice and then folded that into thirds and twisted the bottom so it would fit in the premade holes. This is what they looked like after being twisted.

At first i would twist one and then put it on but my patience had ended so i twisted them all before hand and then put them in.

You could easily twist them and put them in while watching television, just make sure to pull them as far through the premade holes as well as possible so they don't slip out. You could probably use tape or glue to make sure they really don't fall out but i didn't go that far. And here it is!

 I hung it up after i finished and added in about three or four extra "flowers" to fill in the openings. I think it turned out well! You  could add a cute ribbon to hang it with or add a bow. Good luck and happy valentines day!