Decisions! Decisions!

My husband and I are going on vacation next week and I thought I'd take along my current WIP, an eyelet baby blanket. However, I started this blanket two weeks ago and I'm pretty sure I will finish it before we can get back home to the safety of my stash. I have nightmares about being stranded somewhere with nothing to knit; no yarn and no needles. So now I must choose another project. Should I start something big or should I just make slippers and dishcloths until I get back. Decisions! Decisions!

Ribbons and Lace Christening Gown

Ribbons and Lace is the name of the Christening gown I designed to match the Lacy Baby Shawl in my previous post. It took me about two months to design and knit this but I am very pleased with how it turned out.


The pattern for this gown can be found here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nittineedles

Lacy Baby Shawl

I call this Shetland Lace Shawl.

The Pattern for this shawl can be found here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nittineedles?ref=si_shop

Lacy Baby Shawl

I had been working on a turquoise, lacy baby shawl as a gift for my grandson, Tyler, who is due on May 30th. The thin, cone yarn I was using had been found at a Salvation Army Store. To make the yarn thick enough I had to knit with two strands of it together. Everything was going swimmingly until I got about half way up the last side of the shetland shawl. That's when I knew for sure I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish the shawl. I frogged the entire thing and spent the next two days separating the two strands of yarn and rewinding them into balls. I paired the single strand of turquoise with a single strand of off white and started again. The shawl is turning out much nicer than the first one. The darker turquoise has been toned down to a nice light, heathery shade, much more appropriate for an infant. Another four weeks and it should be ready. I just hope Tyler appreciates the blood, sweat and tears (and swears) that have gone into it. LOL
I tried to get a picture but my scanner won't pick up the green and the shawl ends up looking like it's a grey/blue colour.

Dishcloths

I had originally planned to knit two Valentine's Dishcloths for my mom and two for my younger sister but instead, gave one to each of my mom, sister and MIL. When I first designed this dishcloth I had only ever used store bought. Since then I have used the hand knit and found they shrink quite a bit. The first dishcloth I knit from my pattern would have been the size of a postage stamp after it was washed and dried in the machine so I had to resize the pattern for the next two. Then I ran out of time for the actual knitting part so I ended up with three dishcloths instead of the four I needed. Hence my MIL got the little one. It actually works out great because she told me it's too beautiful to use, also, she thinks it's a hot mat. So, as I suspected, hers will be put in a drawer somewhere, never to see the light of day again.LOL Valentines Day isn't until tomorrow so I'm knitting three more. One each for my two DDs and one for my DDIL. If my DS complains that I never knit anything for him I'll tell him his wife is more than willing to share her dishcloth.LOL

2nd Attempt at Posting My Blog

My mom's slippers were well received and can you believe it? They matched the pants and top she just happened to be wearing. lol

Now I'm working on some Valentine's Dishcloths of my own design. I thought I'd give a couple each to my mom and younger sister who has been there every Sunday since our dad passed away, except for one when she was sick.

Guess I Should Have Tried Them On

The moss green slippers I knit for my mom were too small. I know because we take the same size. Not much of a problem to fix. Just undid the top stitching and tinked back to the last pattern row, then added one more pattern. Fortunately I tried them on before I knit mine. Feet are getting a bit chilly. Think I'll go put on my new slippers. :o)

I have finished a pair of moss green thrum slippers for my mom. I knit the slippers with Alafoss Lopi and used alpaca rovings for the thrum. They should keep her tootsies warm. It only took me an average of six hours to knit them so I knit a pair for myself as well. Mine are a royal blue with red and orange bits in it. Unfortunately, the groundhog didn't see his shadow yesterday so I probably won't have a chance to wear them until next winter.
The blue with silver thread baby blanket is coming along slowly. I'm making it for my sixth grandchild, Tyler, who is due around the end of May. I also have to knit the lacy baby shawl that I've knit for the previous five grandkiddies. Those along with the other baby things I've already knit should complete Tyler's Birth Day gifts.
My fingers are itching to start the forest green and brown alpaca vest I want to knit for myself. Sigh........................So much yarn. So little time.

OK. Since I was able to figure out how to put my picture on here, I'm going to give this another go. Can someone, anyone, PLEASE, explain to me in very simple english how to get links to other bloggers? I am SOOO computer illiterate.

Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of yarn?
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She had mittens.

I have purchased the book, "Knitting from the Top" by Barbara G Walker and I'm almost finished a three quarter length sleeve, V neck, pullover in salmon coloured Baby Silk (80% baby alpaca, 20% silk). It is so soft I can't help stopping knitting to pet my new sweater. I bought too much yarn and will have about 150g left over. Socks? Fingerless gloves? A scarf? Please help me decide.

I spent some money on my addiction today. I bought four "Knitting Pattern-a-Day Calendar 2006" (because some of my designs have been published in it) and the book "Knitting from the Top" by Barbara Walker. I purchased them on line at elann.com so it will be a week or so before I have them in my hot little hands. I'm really looking forward to the book as I hate running out of yarn half way up the last sleeve or finding I could have made it another inch longer.
I'm currently working on a mohair jacket for myself, an Aran sweater for my sweety, DH, a little Aran sweater for my 15 month old grandson, thrummed mittens for my son and slippers for my youngest daughter and her three year old and 7 year old sons.