Hat and scarf

They do not go together but both were fun to knit. I got both patterns from my knitting pattern a day calendar I got for christmas. The scarf is called Flourish, I have also seen this stich pattern called fether anf fan it think.

The hat is the Helix Cap. I like this pattern. There is no jog in the stripe where you change color. I think I need a smaller needle next time as is is a tad big.. No worries though. My friend with the dreds will like it

In the photo you can also see that I got myself an old wig head. It works great for blocking caps. I want to find one that is a little bigger. This one is a little on the small side.

In other knitting news, I am still working on triangles for the stach blanket. that will take for ever. Maybe I will have it done for the holidays. I also just cast on my first bag design.. I liked my Center Square hat so much I am going to use the chart for a bag. I was not really happy with the bag I did for my little monster girl, so this bag will get the handles I bought for the other bag. The old bag will go to the land of misfit knits...

Secret Pal 10 Queationnaire

So I got my confirmation for Secret Pal 10. I can not wait! Here is my Questionnaire.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I like almost any kind of yarn. I am not a fan of novelty yarns or Red Heart Super saver type stuff.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

A large rubber maid tub

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting on and off for most of my life. I picked it up again last summer and have not stoped. I would say I am working toward intermediate

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

no but I will have to check this out

5. What's your favorite scent?

I like clean scents, nothing too fruity. Sage, mint, vanilla are my favorites

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I have a bit of a sweet tooth, I love chocolate, mints, and dried apples
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I do not spin, but it sounds like fun. I also like to loom knit, paint boxes,decoupage, and a little beading.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like just about everything rock some of my favorites include: Billy Joel, Rush, REM, They Might Be Giants, The Bobs, The Beatles, Pat Benetar, Janis Joplin... The list goes on and on

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Red is my favorite over all, but I love color. I am not a fan of neon or pastels

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am married for 11 years with 2 kids. 6year old girl 3 year old boy. One large lovable mixed bread dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Haven't had a poncho since I was a kid. All cold weather stuff is welcome in the Midwest!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Hats and handbags right now. I seems to change

13. What are you knitting right now?

A feather and fan scarf, a scrap blanket, I am also cooking up a new bag design

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes! I love to make gifts too!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I use both straight or circ. I use aluminum and a few plastic but bamboo are my favorite.
I don't really like the plastic

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

no

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I think I still have a scarf I started in college

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, with Halloween a very close 2nd

19. Is there anything that you collect?
cut glass, Harry Potter, Pop culture, classic novels, yarn, knitting stuff

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I don't get any magazines.
as for things I would like
Books: a good learn to knit socks book, One Skein Wonders, and a stitch guide.
I love patterns of all kinds, I have a big pile.
Needles: any bamboo. I am replacing all of my needles with bamboo. I just like them better. I haven't tried wood ones yet

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I want to learn to knit cables, and socks. I also hope to try my first sweater.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

not yet but someday I hope...I am a ladies 7 1/2US
23. When is your birthday?
May,4,1972...shhh don't tell

Center Square redux

So I wanted to have another go at Center Square from Knitty. I love the purple and have worn it on many cold days but I was un happy with the fit. The gauge was wrong. A smaller neddle and now I have the hat I wanted. It needs a little blocking but as you can see I have solved the gauge problem. It fits perfectly.

Still waiting to here from SP10... can't wait. as soon as I here I will be posting my questionaire.

Lefty knits

So I am trying to teach my 6 year old to knit. She wants to learn. The problem I am having now is she is left handed and I am not. She is having a little trouble getting it so she gives up pretty easy. She likes to knit on the looms and has mastered it pretty well, she just wraps the loom the other direction and off she goes. Being 6 she has the attention span of a nat so she only knits about 3 rows and then puts it away. Ah well this too shall pass. Anyone have any ideas for the left handed knitting?

Leahs bag

Here is the bag for my little girl. She picked out these big plastic handles but I am not sold on the idea. She loves the color which is really pretty much like the photo. I saw a cute pattern for a backpack for her... Maybe I'll try that one later

So I finished felting this bag just the other day and now it is ready to give to its new owner. I friend of mine just got her 1 year chip from AA ( I am very proud of her) so I made her a gift. Hope she likes it. It is the Booga Bag pattern again, in patons classic merino wool.

SP10

I just signed up for Sceret pal 10. I am so excited to get to know a new person. I will be doing my questionare in the next few days. I hope they let me join as I don't have 10 post to this blog yet. But as I have 2 Fo's to post and a new WIP I should be ok. I hope....
Back later with the FO's. Got to go see what the kids are yelling about...

New things

So I pulled out me pattern a day 2007 and found this scarf pattern. I knit a few rows of the pattern and put it back and now I need the name and can't find it. Oh well.

This is my first try at something lace like. I like it so far. The yarn is by Jojoland I love the changes in color. Needs blocking but should turn out nice. I think a bag to match is in order.

Where I learned to knit

Julie over at http://samuraiknitter.blogspot.com posted a tag asking her readers about how and when they learned to knit. So here is mine.
I learned to knit 4 or 5 times from my Great Aunt Harriett. Every few years I would ask her to show me and she would go through cast on and knit and purl again. I did not knit much over the years untill My Great Uncle Kenny passed away last spring. My Great Aunt showed me the dishcloth I had knit for her years ago... I started knitting the very next week and have not really stopped since then. I taught my self to knit on a loom which gave me a greater understanding of my needle knitting.
I know a little short on the details but that is how I remember it. My Great Aunt and I sitting together... knit purl knit purl. Some of my dearest treasures are the sweaters she made my little ones

wip's

couldn't sleep last night so I cast on for the Helix cap from my Knitting pattern a day thing I got for christmas and I started a learning seed sitch. not to bad. no pics though...maybe later. I think I am going to go to the bookstore today and look at knitting books and books for the kids. DD wants to learn to knit. She lost interest in the loom pretty quick, so we will see how it goes. As I type this both kids are yelling that the other hit them. I keep telling them that this is what brothers and sisters do but they do not care, only more yelling. Time for Mommy intervention.

First post wip's

So this is my first post on blogger. We will see how it goes. I think this blog will be mostly knitting. I hope to track my progress from beginer to intermeidate knitter. So here is a picture of my first fair isle project. What should I try next? I need to master my DPN's. On tthe neddles now is a booga bag for my 6 year old daughter. I need to start something else.