My First Pattern! Happy Flowers Sweater!

This is my first pattern published in any way!  Hope someone likes it!  Now on Ravelry.com!

Happy Flower Sweater size 24 months

Yarn: 1 6oz skein Yarn Bee Snowflake Wool Blend
Needles: size 5, 16-inch circular
Hook: F and G
Gauge: 20 sts x 28 rows = 4” x 4”

Cast on 104 stitches. Working in round, work in 4x4 ribbing for 6 rows. Continue in stockinette stitch for 6 ½ inches.

Arm hole shaping: Bind off 12 sts, knit 40 sts, Bind off 12 sts

Work front and back separately.

Front:

Work in stockinette stitch for 16 rows. Move middle 28 sts to waste yarn or stitch holder. Work 6 sts on each side in stockinette stitch for 10 rows. Bind off

Back:

Work in stockinette st for 19 rows. Move middle 28 sts to stitch holder. Work 6 sts on each side in stockinette st. for 10 rows. Bind off.

Sew shoulder seams.

Neck:

Knit 28 sts off holder, pick up 8 stitches along the side of the neck, knit the back 28 stitches off the holder, pick up 8 stitches along the other side of the neck.

For next three rows, k2, p2 around. Bind off.

Sleeves:

Round 1: With G Hook, single crochet 33 evenly around arm hole.
Round 2: Ch 6, (skip 2 sc, dc in next sc, ch 3) 10 times, slip stitch to ch 3 of first ch 6.
Round 3: Ch 5, sc in 1st ch 3 space, ch 2 (dc in next dc, ch 2, sc in next ch 3, ch 2) around. Join with ss.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 twice more. Change to F hook. Repeat rows 2 and 3, 3 more times. Finish off.
Repeat for other sleeve.

Embroider flowers on front as in picture.

Felted Kindle cover!

Yay!  I got myself a Kindle!!  Now I just need to get motivated to read all my actual physical books before I can start buying books on Kindle.  It's a little hard to see in the pictures but the front has a celtic cable.  Then it's felted, cut to size, and has a zipper.  I also have the Kindle attached inside with a clear elastic.  I wanted to make more than a slip cover that the Kindle would go in and out of.  I wanted the Kindle to stay in the case. 

Yay a Finished Sweater!

This pattern is from the most recent Interweave Knits.  I bought this yarn months ago and figured I would find the right pattern later.  I knew it the minute I saw it.  I'm still working a little on trying to get the front to hang just right but I think it was a success.  Lots of compliments at work today and I love the colors.  The little bit of sparkle makes it even better.  Also, it's really soft, the mohair creates kind of a halo-effect around the yarn! 

The best part is the pattern is really, really easy.  Basically it is two rectangles.  The front one is longer and twisted once.  Then stitches are picked up and sleeves added. 

All you think about is Sox, Sox, Sox...

Well, that's not true.  I think about lots of things.  Like sweaters, hand warmers, scarves, just how many elephants my upstaires neighbor has living with him now. 

Anyway, back to socks.  I finished them!  Aren't they lovely?!  I love making socks because it's the only time I get to wear socks that actually fit.  You may have noticed that when you buy socks, they come in a size range.  For Example 6-9.  Maybe this works for people who wear size 9, but for those of us on the lower end, it means we end up wearing the heel up on our ankle.  I have, in the past, bought boys' socks to combat this problem.  They are quite narrow most of the time and I find I am not happy with them either.

Let's talk about color now.  If you swear by white socks...Hallelujay, inexpensive, multi-sock packs are for you.  If you want something a little darker or professional, it is possible to get trouser socks for a slightly less reasonable price.  If you would like something fun, with some great colors, that don't have hearts, or reindeer, or shamrocks on them, good luck.  They only time fun socks are really available is during holiday season.  Now I do have a friend (and a mother, for that matter) that will continue to wear these socks long after the holiday has passed, but I am not one of those brave souls. 

I think it stems back to my freshman year of high school.  I was wearing my favorite Harvard sweatshirt (a lovely burgundy color) and a pair of mustard colored socks.  Now my reasoning in my head for this bizarre combination was that 1) the socks matched the lettering on the shirt, and 2) no one really notices that sort of thing anyway.  Well, my fragile world came crashing down the day after school when walking by the "Sugar Shack" some.....girl (trying to decide the right word here) called out "Your socks don't match your shirt!"  Needless to say, I was deeply traumatized by the whole incident and immediately tossed out those socks when I got home. 

Now that I am older and hopefully wiser, I don't let such things get to me.  I like to wear fun socks, especially if they are handmade and fit perfectly.  Someone asked me what I will do when they wear out.  I thought, Yay! I'll get to make another pair.  Please don't let you socks become family heirlooms or something.  They were meant to be treasured by your feet! All you who have worn handmade socks will understand that!

2-at-a-time Toe-up socks!

Working on my first pair of 2-at-a-time Toe-up sox!  Love the color, love the pattern! So far pretty slow but I have to admit, it will be really nice to have a pair of sox when I am done and not a half a pair.  I refuse to succumb to the dreaded "SSS" (second sox syndrome!)

My new favorite sweater

Crocheted in concentric circles starting at the elbow.  The original pattern from Lionbrand.com was for a pullover.  I modified the pattern to be a cardigan.  I didn't even out the front edges and only seamed the back.  I also added a plain trim to make it more finished looking.  The closure is an old pin I happened to have laying around that matched perfectly!  The best part is the yummy soft yarn - Sensations by Joann. 

Knitting Toe-Up Socks

I am finally finishing my first pair of toe-up socks.  I am really liking the figure 8 cast on and the seamed bind off.  I think I may be a new sock addict!  This pair is for Dad for Christmas.  One of the things I will always remember about him (besides knowing every book he had read by the blue-edged pages from the chalk at the lumber mill he worked at) is that he loves red socks.  I remember the lint and fuzz that used to be all over everything else in the wash because of those socks.  It's hard to find red socks now for men so I thought it would be fun to make him some red socks.  Besides, I think he would appreciate socks more than me chalking up his books now!

Off-topic but a rant I need to get out of my system .... Did anyone out there know that the remote entry button of the car does not work when the car is running?  I locked myself out last week because I locked the car with it running to warm up to keep someone from taking it for a joyride then couldn't get back in.  Thank goodness I have the right coverage with my insurance.  $45 for the tow-truck guy to unlock my door.  Crazy!  They should consider that some of us live in Montana and it gets cold here.  I hate to leave it unlocked so I can warm it up in cold -20 degree weather!