Mission Colour Affection Complete!

 I get to share pictures of my completed Colour Affection with you today. I've been working on it for about two months. The pattern is available to buy here. I knit it up in Cascade Yarn Heritage in shades of Charcoal, Lemon and Snow.

I thought this shawl would take me at least three months to knit, so it was a pleasant surprise to get it done in in two. I have shared a couple of progress pictures with before, but just in case you missed them, here they are again.

When I first bound off, it was way too tight, so I had to unpick it and try again. I had never done a super stretchy bind off before, and it's clear to me I need practice. So although this shawl is not perfect, I still really love it. Best of all, it's for me!

Progress and prizes!

 I've been working away on my Colour Affection. Here are a couple of progress photos. It's going faster than I imagined, and I'm loving it more and more as I go along. It will definitely be finished before the cooler weather hits, though I think I could use it in some of the air conditioned buildings I have to spend time in now!

 I entered two items in my local fair this August and look I got two ribbons. Second prise for my Owls sweater.

 A third place for my Hermione everyday socks. I won a whopping eight dollars! Since it cost twenty five cents per item entered, I'd say that was a pretty good return. I saw lots of my friends items on display as well. All of which were beautiful. It feels good to know so many talented knitters who inspire me always. Now I'll go back to work my colour affection, which I think may just win a ribbon next year. What do you think ?

Pretty things

 I told you I'd be back with something pretty after my husbands weird beard hat. Well here it is. My third time making the Grrlfriend Market Bag. It's a great free pattern, for a great bag. This one was for my sister, Miss C. She had requested it for her birthday. The yarn is O-Wool Balance in the cinnabar colourway. I thought it looked like coral to me, which is one of Miss C's favorite colours right now. I'll have to make one of these for myself eventually.

 
Right now I'm working on a Colour Affection shawl for myself. This is what it looked like last week. I've gotten a little further on since then. I picked up the yarn for it while we were visiting family out in Utah from a great yarn shop called Knit Unique. If you are ever in Logan, I highly recommend the place.

I find knitting a great creative outlet and stress release. I think everyone needs a hobby like this to keep sane. This week I've really needed it. I already have a 'Keep Calm And Carry On' poster hanging in my house, but I've been thinking I need one of these too.

Weird Beard Knit.

 If you're my friend on Facebook or Ravelry, you will have already seen this hat/beard combo I made for my husband. A couple of days before his birthday my other half requested this. He never asks me to make him things, so I felt kind of obliged. It's about the silliest thing I've ever made. He saved it for a camping trip. We've been out west this past couple of weeks. He wanted to give his family a laugh.

The pattern is available as a free download on Ravelry. I'll warn you that it's not a great pattern. I wouldn't recommend it. There are a few other beard patterns out there that you should probably look at first. I had to restart this several times, and made quite a few adjustment to the pattern. I used Lion Brand wool-ease and held the yarn double and knit on US size 8 needles. It is really dense and therefore very warm.

 My husband thinks it's great. He even went to chase a grizzly bear while wearing it. He came back alive, so maybe it's good for scaring bears. I wouldn't suggest you test that theory though.

Just for a laugh I took a picture of me wearing it too. It's pretty ridiculous. I'll be back with something a little prettier soon.

Hermione's Everyday Socks

 These are what I worked on for most of June. Socks always take me a while, but I love handmade socks so much, so they are totally worth it. These are for me, and I'm looking forward to wearing them once the weather cools down again. The pattern is available as a free Ravelry download. The yarn is Knit Picks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn in the Wild West colourway.

I started the heel on the first sock and did not really like it. I picked it back and re-knit it using the pattern from the Susan B. Anderson's socks. I also followed her pattern for the toe.

I love the way this yarn looks with the texture created by this simple pattern. I feel sure I will use it again.

Tomorrow I'm off to visit family in Utah for a couple of weeks. I'll have something fun to share with you when I get back, and of course I will be taking a project along with me to work on when I have a chance. I just hope I won't have any problems taking my knitting on the plane with me.

A month of pink knits

 May was a very pink month. Starting out with some pink socks for my Mum's birthday. They are knit up in in Zitron 6 ply yarn. I used the Susan B. Anderson's pattern for how she makes her socks again. This yarn was a little thicker/heavier that than yarn I've used for socks before, so hopefully they won't be too big. I figured if they are, they will make great house socks, as they are very warm.

One of my little ones wanted to get in on this picture.

 Next up in this month of pink are these fingerless mitts made for my sister Mrs. M. They are to match her Meret I made her last year. I added thumb holes and a little extra ribbing at the beginning and end of them. I love how they turned out.

 I'll end this post with possibly my favorite knit of the year so far. I can't remember where I first saw this idea, but I immediately knew I had to find someone to make it for. It's a Boobie Beenie, you'll find the free pattern here. It's a really simple rolled brimmed stockinette hat. I knit it up in Classic Elite Yarns Liberty Wool. It's a really soft, washable wool. I gave it to my friend who is expecting in July. She is a fellow kniter, and a breastfeeding mama. I wish I had seen this pattern when my kids were babies. I would have loved one.

 I'll have more to share with you soon. Keep happy everyone and enjoy your summer.

The Snake Boy Quilt

 Way long ago, when my boy was only four years old, I made him this little quilt. He picked out all the fabrics himself, and he totally loved it! Then when he was about 7 he lost it. I was sad, he was sad, we were all sad! He begged and begged me for a new one, this time bigger and better. I kept putting it off for other projects. Even after I ordered the fabric I was really slow to get started on it.

Finally on Sunday night it was done. Little Mr. M is now 9. So it didn't take so long;) He didn't pick out the fabrics this time, but he thoroughly approved them all. It is all about him. His favorite colour is orange, he loves snakes, and is always dressed in camouflage.

 Most of the fabrics are from the 'Backyard Baby' collection by Michael Miller. I found them online at Fabric.com. I threw in the camo and found some fun grey chevron fabric for the backing and Ta! Da!

 I love the snakes and other creatures in jars, and the little ants crawling around.

Here is my happy boy ready to head to bed with his new quilt. I'm really hoping this one doesn't get lost!