FO 2012: Fingerless Mitts

It was just a short time ago that I started winning my family over to the ways of hand knit items. My first few attempts were flops, such as a very large, too stretchy hat I made my Dad as a second off the needles project when I learned to knit. Now, however, over a decade later (oy!) I am much better at gauge and style and well, I can do it-I have faith, and confidence, and a stash to be busted!

My eldest sister's birthday rolled around in October 2011 and I gave her a set of Dextrous Mitts in a rich purple-Caron Simply Soft (modeled in the 2011 Finished Objects post). She was hooked. She works in a non-heated office and when the weather hit a cold snap this year, going from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 9, I knew I'd better kick it into high gear and get her another pair-STAT! She had picked red yarn for her next pair, but I didn't have time to start the next of that pattern. Instead I grabbed some Lion Brand Homespun in a bright red and cast on for some simple ones.

I'm hooked! I may need HELP!!! I knit the first pair and gave them to my sister. This was right after I'd frogged a bunch of this yarn. My sis mentioned, over and over again, how I should sell these. I thought, hey, I wonder how many pairs I could get out of one skein.

Trouble! Danger! Danger! DANGER AHEAD!! Turn back NOW!

Did I mention that not only did I stash a bunch of this brand yarn years ago when A.C. Moore was carrying it as mill ends, a pound for cheap, but right before Christmas I purchased two skeins to start a gift scarf and couldn't resist four more as they were on sale 2 skeins for $6. Help! Did I mention I need help??

Ok, so as it stands my sister has her red pair. I have another red pair knit but not sewn. I have a pair of red with a contrasting stripe that is being cast off as soon as I finish this post. Then...oh, yes...then there is still more to the skein of red (now in a ball after frogging mentioned above). I have yet to touch the four new skeins or the many others I have in drawers in the craft room. I look at them longingly though, knowing these projects are quick and addictive and can actually help others. How can I resist?

Is there a knitters anonymous group?

FO 2012: Doll Outfit #1

I love Microsoft Excel. I use it at work all day, every day. I took a series of classes in it years ago. I can do charts, and formulas, conditional formatting, even basic macros. Still, it wasn't until reading another's blog entry that I suddenly had an "Ah Ha!" moment and realized I could create a craft "To Do" list with Excel.

I laugh as I guess in all reality I never had a need for a "To Do" list for that part of my life. I would pick up yarn when I wanted and knit what I wanted and call it good. When/if I got an order I'd take the time to do that, based on what deadline was provided. Then, back to whatever, whenever.

Now, I'm focusing a bit differently. I've been getting more consistent orders and I can see my skills improving. I want to make this work. I want to keep feeding my constant customer and also build my Etsy shop. On top of all that, over the last year and a half I finally figured out how to introduce my family to hand knit items and have them understand how great they are. That's thrilling, but adds a lot to my list of things to make. People do tend to get hooked, you know.

One of my goals, as I noted above, is to grow my Etsy shop. I'm going to do it slow, making items throughout the year for a holiday launch this year. I don't want to get caught again in December with no Winter outfits in the shop. How silly to have to make only custom orders that late in the year. I've set a goal of one outfit a month for at least the first ten months. More would be good and can probably be easily accomplished as I make outfits for the girls this year and add here and there.

How's it going, you may ask? So far, so good. My second finished object of 2012 is a doll outfit. I'm quite excited as this was finished by the due date on my spreadsheet. I also made three other dresses, so I'm ahead for the next outfits.

As if that weren't enough, top it off with my friend completing my very first label to go inside the sweaters. I am so excited, it is hard to contain. Somehow, seeing the label makes it all real...as if I'm really a crafter of value, really a designer, really going to do this.

We'll see how it goes, but in the meantime I'll sit back and smile at this new outfit.

Hooked a Hat

Early this year Mom came up to watch the girls. It was finally starting to feel like Winter, one of those days  where it went from 60 degrees the day before to about 4 that morning. She was cold and wondered if I had, by chance, a hat she could use that would cover her ears.

I looked at her for what must've seemed an eternity. I was awe struck. The weekend before the girls came home from a visit with new hats, scarves, and gloves. I tucked away their handmade, felted wool ones to be washed sometime soon. I have a shoebox near the door filled to overflowing with Fall caps and longer items.

Did I have a hat? Uh, uh...yeah.

I dug out the two my girls had just retired as the best warm options. My girls have large heads and I had made their hats to last a few years. Mom has a purple scarf so Carebear's matched best as it is orange, pink, and purple.

I laughed to myself and was glad for my crafting skills. Then, as any good daughter/crafter would do, I started a hat for my Mom. I pulled out some wool from my stash (I don't have much wool, believe it or not)...alpaca in fact. I then paired it with my favorite Caron simply soft in a violet. The two together made a super warm fabric, which is important as my Mom is forever cold in the Winter months.

Instead of knitting I decided to crochet a cap. It seemed like it would go quicker, until I realized that with double thick yarn and a small needle it would take at least a couple days. Still, I kept plodding along. Ruffle added for girly effect, as Mom is that kind of gal. The color was flattering. Then to the top and time to embellish. I asked my girls for input and following their advice and my own I put a large flower at the pinnacle and small ones all around.

Now, don't be fooled by its appearance here, it truly is a girly-girl hat in person. The pointy top disappears when on a head. I forgot to snap a photo when I tried it on, but I'll try to get one of Mom in it. The hat stands up ever so nicely just because the yarns held together make the fabric super thick and warm. Awesome for the recipient, I think.

So, without further ado, here is my first finished object of 2012:

I wish I'd taken a side view as well. Next time...

2011 Finished Objects

Whew! What a year! I ended with a flurry of activity, as most crafters do, and was lost in anxiety over getting it all done (or not). It wasn't until long after, or so it felt, that I started to pull together some photographs of my 2011 finished objects that I realized I hadn't done as bad as I'd thought. So, just for kicks and giggles, let's take a look at the year in review:

We have a t-shirt design contest at work and I was one of the hosts for the little gathering when the winner was chosen, so in honor of that I made t-shirt cookies and hands clapping (the winner was to be determined by the most applause):

Around the house we decided to start using cloth napkins instead of always using disposable ones. I read on a blog, and I apologize that I can't at this moment remember which one, that the napkins are easy to make. So, I grabbed two squares, two sharpies, and two large pieces of fabric and set the girls to work tracing and cutting. They picked which fabric to use and were thrilled to be crafting. I was then responsible for ironing and sewing the sides. They are a bit smaller than standard napkins, but they work very well for all of us and it is always a special treat to be able to pick which one is used.

My girls went on their first overnight visits this year and it was a challenge for us all. In preparation I made all three of us "matching" pillows. The girls took theirs on their visits and I kept mine with me. The pillows are all made from cute fabric I had picked up at a quilt shop a year or so ago. It was fun showing the girls the pattern options and letting them pick out which they liked best.

I learned a new skill this year--spinning with a top whorl drop spindle. It is such a wonderful experience!! I have A LOT to learn, but I've made enough to be able to ply two singles into two small balls of thick/thin wool. Not perfection, but oh so satisfying.

Other odds and ends were these fingerless mitts for my sister:

89 (or more-not all pictured) star shaped fabric ornaments (yes, you read that right..eighty-nine):

 and three new stockings for the three new members of our family:

Now, on to the organized items...

In 2011 I had reason to make baby items again, and I sure did enjoy it:

I attempted my first two tied fleece blankets (one twin/full size and one baby size):

I made doll clothes. I guess that goes without saying. I made A LOT of doll clothes (some of the December crowd don't appear here-a tutu, three sweaters, two skirts, and two sweater dresses):

Warm heads were needed, so I took care of that with some hats:

Last, but not least, I dabbled in some sock making in 2011. Some are still patiently sitting on the needles waiting to be completed, but here is what made it off:



Well, I know a parade of pictures isn't everything, but this is certainly a step in the right direction. There are over 30 items on display, and that's not counting each individual star or tiny Dawn dress, or ensemble items. No wonder I'm exhausted!

2012 is starting off at a quick pace as well with about a half dozen items off the needles/hook/sewing machine already. Crazy? Maybe...