Knitting like crazy

I'm not sure a day has gone by over the last few weeks that I haven't worked on some knitting project. My mom gave me yarn for Christmas for this gorgeous cardigan, so far I've gotten the back and the left front done. It's my first attempt at a sweater so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I love this seed wishbone stitch

I rarely use the yarn called for in a pattern, but since this is my first try at a sweater I went with the recommended and let me say I really do love this yarn.

While taking a break from my sweater to give my wrist a break I knitted this hat. It's my first attempt at multicolors, and the technique used is a great one to know. I think even Josh wants a hat like this but with straight lines instead of wavy. But he is going to have to choose another color to go along with his grey.

Holy smokes I did something in bright colors! Hooray me!

 For this hat I used Paton's Classic Wool. It's turning out to be one of my go to yarns, plus it's easy to get since Michael's is just down the street.

On a different note, we've started growing herbs for our kitchen window sill:

Basil

I bought this mug for myself as a stocking stuffer (I love this color) and when I went to wash it, it was cracked all down one side. Not sure when it happened but the crack isn't bad enough to let water leak out through the soil, so that is what gave us the idea to plant the herbs in coffee mugs. We only have two so far, but since these little guys are growing I'm sure we'll plant more.

Cilantro (yucky!)

Will post some pics when the indoor herb garden project gets farther along.
It's kind of a grey, rainy day today so I didn't have much natural light to do my photos. Had to rig up an indoor studio (and I don't have studio lights). I didn't think they turned out too bad for using a speedflash.

Gotta love the booze bottles holding up my fill cards!

Whew

Been juggling projects these last few weeks, but I've gotten quite a bit done. I finished my Hermione Hearts Ron hat. Turned out really cute I think. I really liked the yarn I used (even though I may be slightly allergic to Alpaca).

Used Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lana D'Oro

Really like the way this hat finished off!

I also got Josh's new beanie done, which I'm working on writing up the pattern for. Thought this one turned out pretty well too. Hopefully he'll wear this one! Should hopefully be getting this pattern up on Ravelry here in the next week or so, after some careful double checking of the pattern...

This one is Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash

In between hats I started a scarf just as an easy project while watching tv at night. This will also be for Josh. Got the pattern from Ravelry, it's called a waffle scarf.

Patons Classic Wool

Wow my last few projects are lacking color! Will have to something bright for my next project. Also I found out that my Alaina Beanie pattern had a few errors, so I got those changed. Guess that's about all, I have a bit of a headache so I'm not feeling to chatty today.

Beanie Pattern!

Well I finally got it done! My first ever (for the public) beanie pattern. The PDF is available on ravelry.

The Alaina Beanie
(StitchNation Bamboo Ewe in Eucalyptus)

I gave the prototype to my sister, so I decided to name the pattern after her. I never cared much for patterns with people's names, but it's so much simpler than diamond moss stitch cables beanie which is what I was originally going to name this. My friend Kelli is testing the pattern for me, but I was so excited I had to go ahead and publish without waiting (hopefully I won't regret that!). There are many chances for errors, between the knitting and rewriting and such.

Now I'm already working on my second pattern that is a hat for my husband so it will be called the Josh Beanie (I've just decided to start naming them after whomever gets the prototype).



This is me. (I'm really un-photogenic and really don't like having
my picture taken)



Husband Beanie

Since I first started crocheting and knitting I've wanted to make the perfect beanie for my husband. See he has this store bought beanie that he's been wearing for years, he loves it.

This is it.



Now I've always wanted to make him one that he loves just as much...okay, more. Well to say the least my abilities have been pretty limited up until recently.

I've searched the internet for a pattern similar to this one to no avail. Finally I found a pattern for a hat that taught me how to do the diamond cables, which was a good start. So I got out the circular needles and after some trial and error ended up with this.

Do I think this will take the place of the store bought one? No. But it does have a better chance of actually getting worn than some of my previous atempts. I'm working on another one that has larger diamonds and the moss stitch texture inside of them, but that one won't be for him:) Will post pics and hopefully a pattern when I'm done. I made this using Stitch N Bitch's Bamboo Ewe.

Here is a photo of the beanie I made that taught me how to do the diamond cables.

It turned out a little too long for me, but it's cute and was great experience. Here is the link to the pattern for it.

http://www.stitchnationyarn.com/Patterns/snowtracks-cap.html

This one was made with Lion Brand Yarn's Fisherman's Wool.

Just for fun here are a few of the beanies I've made for my husband over the years...