Hand Made Halloween 2014

 I spent a lot of time putting together my families Halloween costumes this year. It was really fun. I do love it when it all works out.

 My other half  and I are Hiccup and Astrid from 'How To Train Your Dragon'. Admittedly, neither of us have the hair for these characters, but it is fun anyway. The fake fur for the vest/waistcoat and boots, was a mess, and making shoulder armor for me was tricky. I am really happy with how my Fimo scull buttons turned out.

 Little Miss I is Batgirl. I saw this image on Facebook a while ago, and knew immediately that I wanted to recreate this outfit for my youngest. I found the perfect jacket at a thrift store and painted the bat on it. Also I painted an old pair of boots yellow. I had to sew a hat, cape, and utility belt. I probably spent the most time on this costume, and I think it's my favorite. I love doing something a bit different.

 Little Miss M wanted to be a Sheriff/Cowgirl. All I had to make was her vest/waistcoat. I found the hat and shirt at a thrift store, and someone gave us the boots.

 My oldest was 'Steve' from the game 'Minecraft'. This involved cutting up and taping boxes to the right size, and a lot of painting. The head took almost three hours. it's not the most comfortable costume, but he loves it. His 'diamond' sword is bought. I got sick of cutting and painting in the end and saw this on sale at Walmart.
 They had a great time at my in-laws Halloween Party, and we've been the the 'Trunk or Treat' at Church already. Tomorrow is time for the real thing.
 I've moved on to the beginnings of making Christmas presents. I should have a couple more things to share soon though.

Yellowstone Mittens

  Three pairs of mittens, for my three little monkeys. We went camping in Yellowstone for Labor Day Weekend. Something my husband I liked to do before we had children, and we lived over this way. I remembered how cold it got at night, so I decided wool mittens were in order.

The pattern was a free one that you can find here. I wasn't crazy about the way it was written, but it has lot's of sizes. I love the longer cuffs, and overall I think they are great mittens. I used Ella Rae Classic Print for the girls and Ella Rae Extrafine Heathers for the boy. I knit his on the drive there, which was great, because it made it go by fast.

Sadly we got rained out of Yellowstone. We made it through one night, but we were very wet. We will just have to go back next year, because it's such an amazing place.

Herbology Socks

 Last year I bought myself 'The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits' magazine from Interweave. This is the first of the projects from it I have completed. It won't be the last! I love all things Harry Potter, and the knits in this magazine are beautiful.

These socks were designed by Rachel Coopey. You can read her blog here. Her sock designs are amazing! There are two more of her sock patterns in the magazine that I will be trying out in the future. These are the 'Herbology Socks'. They have tiny, little, cables and lace. On the first sock I messed up a few of the cables and didn't realize until I was quite far along. At which point, I decided not to fix the mistakes. The second sock appears to be perfect, but don't look too close. The yarn I used came from a yarn swap, but didn't have a label. I believe it is 'Knit Picks Imagination', that has sadly been discontinued. I used this yarn for my 'Hermione's Everyday Socks', and I really like it.

 I love how they turned out. I'm sure they will get a lot of wear this winter. I've got a couple of other finished projects to share with you soon, I just haven't photographed them yet. See you soon.

Mr. and Mrs.

 Exactly seven days before before my sister, Miss C's birthday, I realized it was exactly seven days until her birthday! Not really the best thing to happen, especially when we live on the other side of the world from each other. Last minute gifts are extremely hard to do. I'll blame it on moving and summer busyness. Luckily I had bought the pattern and yarn for these cute Jolly Robins months ago, with the intention of making a few for her.

 I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and size US 5 needles. The red breasted robing I knit flat and then I had to seam. I'm not very experienced with knitting intarsia, so even when it's simple, it scares me a little. I don't really love seaming, so my second robin I knit in the round and skipped the red breast. Female robins are plain brown in the real world, so she's the other half of this couple. I decided to add a little bit over-stitching when she was done though, I felt she was missing something without it.

 I packed them off to England  five days before my sisters birthday, and you know, they were only three days late. Not at all bad considering the times I've sent things more than two weeks before they need to get there, and then they still get there late! She says she loves them, but she needs more, so I'm going back to work.

Fernando

 My youngest sister recently had her second baby. My name suggestion was Fernando (we are Abba fans in my family). When she didn't go with it, I decided I needed to name the bear I made for him Fernando.

The pattern is called 'Flat Ted' and is by Zoe Mellor. It's in her book 'Knitted Toys: 25 Fresh and Fabulous Designs'. I love the look of her toys. It's just a shame she wants you to knit everything flat. I knitted as much of this bear possible in the round, so I would have less finishing to do.

 I was gifted some yarn that was just meant to become a bear. It's Rowan British Sheep Breed Fine Boucle.

It was a little tricky to knit with, but looks so good. I had a hard time making his face as well. Something I need to practice. I love how this rather large bear turned out.

Hopefully he will enjoy and long and happy life with my new nephew.

Almost forgotten

 I realize I have not blogged for a very long time. I have not stopped knitting, there have just been some really big changes going on for me and my family. Here's what I almost forgot to share.

Another Grrlfriend Market bag. This one was for my sister, Mrs. B.

I decided to try out Susan B. Anderson's pattern for worsted weight socks. These were for my Mum.

My lovely knitting group friends threw me a party, and sent me home with three bags and a basket full of knitting goodies.

Knitters truly are the best kind of people. I love them!

My second time knitting an Owls sweater. This one was for my sister, Mrs. M. She turned 40, so it was a special gift. This photo was taken before I sewed on the button eyes. I gave her white eyed owls in contrast to my black eyed owls.

So the big changes involved moving, which is why my knitting friends threw me a party.This is my house not long before it sold. We lived here for five years, and in the area for more than 6 years. That is the longest I have lived anywhere since I got married. It was not part of my plan to ever leave, but life doesn't always go the way we plan.

This is my new view. We have gone from east to west. It's going to take some getting used to, but I will knit my way though it.

Five years later!

 It's looking more and more like me and mine will be making a big move this summer. I'm supposed to be sorting through things, so I can declutter. Unfortunately I'm not very motivated, so I get distracted very easily. I came across a dress I started making about five years ago for my middle child. I guess I got side-tracked with moving, and having a baby, and completely forgot about it. I decided it was time to finish this dress.

 What do you know it turned out just the right size for Little Miss I. Thought  it's not a fabric she would have picked (it's a dog print, and she's more into cat's), she is very happy to have another dress to wear.

 The pattern is this one from McCall's. It says it's out of print on their website, but I'm pretty sure they still have copies of it at JoAnns.

Now my problem is Little Miss M. wants a new dress, I've already bought some fabric and a pattern. Do you think I will ever get around to decluttering and organizing my home for the big move?

Everything since The Witch

 I haven't knit anything for the past few weeks, but when I look back at everything I made in December and January, I realize I got a bit burnt out. Take a look at it all and you understand why I've been taking a break.

Three fun, and bright bibs for a baby boy. The pattern is available here for free. They were knit using dishcloth cotton from my stash.

My little Miss M. wanted a purple beret for Christmas. I finished that on time, and the coordinating scarf came a few days later. Both free patterns, just follow the links if you're interested. They were both knit in Lion Brand Wool-Ease.

 Another baby, this time a girl. I thought this cardi was quite feminine even though the pattern is called Baby Boy 5-Hour Sweater. It's available as a free Ravelry download. It's made in Knit Picks Swish Bare. I enjoyed shopping for the buttons at a local thrift shop. While I was there I got chatting with a woman whose daughter in law, like me, is from Bournemouth. What are the chances of that !?!

This baby girl hat drove me a little crazy. It was supposed to have little bear paw mitts to go with it, but I only finished the hat the morning of the baby shower, so the mitts never happened. The pattern is here for free if you are interested. It's not the greatest pattern, though it is cute.

I decided I needed a new hat for me. It's been a long and snowy winter here. I've had to dig out my driveway more times than I can remember. This hat keeps my ears nice and warm. I've used this pattern before for a friend. It's called Hinagiku Hat. It's a free Ravelry download. My friend posted a picture on facebook in which she is wearing hers, and I decided I really wanted one for myself. I knit with HiKoo yarn that was given to me at a yarn swap. I love the colour.

Well, I need to get my motivation back, since birthdays are looming, and there are a couple of really important ones this year. I'll be back soon.

The (not so) Wicked Witch of the West!

 I've had this Alan Dart pattern for years (thanks to a knitting friend). I knew as soon as I saw it that I wanted to make her for my mother in law. I know that might sound a bit weird to some of you. But if you know my MIL at all, you will know how much she loves Halloween.

I put off knitting her for a multitude of reasons, but finally I bit the bullet, and went for it. I knew she would be fiddly. The pattern is written so you knit every piece flat and then seam everything. I didn't want to do that. A few other knitters on Ravelry said they knit the majority or her in the round, so I went ahead and did that too.

The ruffles on the bloomers and boot cuffs I picked up stitches and knit. I had to stuff as I went on her body. On the fingers, I knit I-cord. The hair was so funny looking, I wish I'd taken a photo before I sewed her hat on, she is completely bald under it. I separated the plies of yarn to make it look as much like hair as possible.

 Putting her all together was so satisfying. Her fingers were the most tricky part, but so worth it! I then had to make a broom for her with bits and pieces I bought at JoAnns. I am totally thrilled with the finished product. I packed her up and sent her out west to her new home.

 My daughter, Little Miss M., was so reluctant to let me give her away. If she hadn't been for Grandma I think she would have had a fit. I love the picture she drew of her on our very dirty chalk board. I used almost all of the black yarn, but I have plenty left of the other colours. I used Berroco Comfort DK. It was pretty hard to find the right yarn for this project. Luckily they had this at Webbs. I hope to make us our own witch in the not too distant future.

Another yummy hot water bottle cover.

 This was sent to my Mum for Christmas. It's the same pattern I used for my sister's hot water bottle cover, but this time I put in the optional cable down the middle.

 Pink continues to be my mothers favorite colour, so I used Cascade Yarns 220 superwash paints wool. There are some great colours of this yarn. I added a few extra stitches on either side of the cable, because I thought it didn't look wide enough, and I put the cable on both the frond and back. I filled it with Reeses Mini Peanut Butter cups, and put it in the post. Boy are those chocolates heavy!

I love hot water bottles! I'm really happy with how this cover turned out. Luckily hot water bottles are much easier to come by over in England. My big sister and my niece sewed hot water bottle covers for my kids and I as Christmas presents, and sent them with much needed hot water bottles inside. We couldn't be more thrilled with them. It has been sooooooooo cold here lately, that we have been enjoying them night and day.

Hats, hats and more hats.

 Here are a bunch of hats I've knitted and given away recently. The four in this top picture were for a sister-in-law and her three kids. The girls got my modified version of Hermione's cable and eyelet hat. The pattern is available for free here. You can find my modifications on Ravelry.

The forth hat was for the boy in the family. The pattern is also a free one, it's available as a Ravelry download. It is called the Strib hat. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn for all of them.

 This next hat was for a baby shower. I've made this one before, for one of my nephews. It's a great hat. It's called the Striped Elf Hat and is a free Ravelry download. They yarn is a mystery. I got it at a yarn swap at my knitting group.

 The hat is super stretchy. I tried it on my Little Miss I. and it looks so cute on her.

I've got a few more knits to share with you that were Christmas presents, and then it's all about baby shower gifts. I think there must be something in the water. I'd better not drink any!