and... FO's

The parade begins. It's so much more fun to show the finished object pictures. There is also a really good feeling that comes with completion. I wish I could keep a better hold on the satisfying completion feeling whenever I'm tempted to start something *new* and *fun*.

First up. Two very satisfying finishings. These became silent auction items for a Heartwalk fundraiser at my husbands workplace (they sell medical devices and are highly interested in all things that help with fixing hearts and keeping them healthy).

This is a dolly outfit meant to fit an American Girl doll or similar 18'' doll (like Greta has - hers is modeling). I love the Kaia Babydolly  pattern and was really enamored with how the bell bottom stripes worked out.

and ... my train wreck. Otherwise known as French Press Slippers. My first time with this pattern and clearly there is a learning curve for felting. I did expect this, though, as previously discussed I was under the mistaken impression that I'd probably make tons of these slippers so I didn't think the learning curve would be an issue. These were a hit at the auction and my husband reports many others requested them in their sizes. Any guesses how long before I make another pair?

I actually love how they turned out and they weren't so hard... and the planned recipient (with the size 9.5 feet) saw and loved them. So, you may see another pair in the works soon with a goal of fitting a little larger foot.

Also finished... shorties. One more pair after this and F is all set for summer!

This is a good start, right? Stay tuned for more (soon!)

UFOs

UnFinished Objects. I have many. If you know a knitter, she has some. It's an epidemic among us that some projects get left in the middle. High and dry. Un.Finished. A necessary evil actually. I mean, if all you can do is one project at a time and you find yourself hating said project... you might find yourself quitting knitting all together. Since we can't really stand that idea we instead have ... the UFO. Ask a knitter. Do they have an afghan started and shoved somewhere? I do. Do they have a sweater that isn't working? I do. Did they think they could be a sock knitter and try that? I did. I'm telling you . E.P.I.D.E.M.I.C.

In the interest of (almost) full disclosure I have gone through the knitting basket. (so long as you understand this to mean all projects started in about the last month - not the fossils long ago started and forgotten), I've taken pictures of all these projects hoping that if I show them I will finish them. Here's to hoping.

So. Here we go. *sigh*  Please don't be disappointed in me. We all have weakness'.

1.(&2 really) Firstly. I feel a need to revisit projects we've seen and I've admitted to already. The scrappie overalls, sadly needing only buttons, a front pocket and 2 (yes only 2)more ends weaved in, and the slippers of mass destruction. The many parts sewn up, felted to perfection I believe, needing only to be finished with buttons and tab application. *double sigh*

sadly a size 8ish instead of the 9.5 I needed

I blame these for the lack of blogging as I practically promised they would be done for the next blog entry.

3.&4. Customer projects. These are started and a good chunk done.  Halter onesie:

 

and shorties in Peace, Baby  by Western Sky Knits, which I a.d.o.r.e.  - everything Jess sends me is awesome sauce. everything. 

5. Last minute dolly outfit for hubby's silent auction at work. Blue Sky organic cotton YUM. must. finish. by tomorrow.

 

6. Project for dearest of friends. Ran out of colorway with 4 (yep just enough to require another skein) rows to go so here they sit. (yarn is now purchased for finishing)

7. The Curse-ed sock. You know how it starts to sound weird if you say a word too many times. Like FROG. frog. frog. frog - doesn't it sound weird now? like wrong? Well the same thing (sort-of) happens with knitting where if someone says something enough times you're compelled to try it - sock. sock. sock. Blasted Sonja(Sister-in-law, not to be trusted, wily and crooked with IDEAS) and blasted Yarn Harlot. This is a practice sock. Which I hope will be a practice pair. I hope.

8. Totally and completely unplanned random project. Last weekend I went to Chicago with the bestest of women. We might've stopped at some yarn stores. I might have slipped and bought some ramdom yarn to start a Wallaby for Lukester. Oops. But it was super fun knitting on the way home from Chicago. :)

9. Customer/Friend sweater. This sweater/tank will be gorgeous. Oh it will. I cast on and knit the band 3 times already. I might've done some deep breathing before the third time. The yarn is not exactly what the pattern calls for so it's a little bit of adjusting for me, which is totally fine and I will handle it ... but... it wasn't enough fun for the trip to Chicago so I'm going to get back to it... really soon. It's going to be the cutest Sorelle Felici EVER.

10.&11. Longies which look done, but are not. The monster needs top teeth and an icord and the other needs it's bum design (a secret). So close... and yet, not finished.

So these are the UFO's. I am committed to finishing them. Tomorrow begins the parade of FO's (finished objects) ... I promise.

I should know...

There are projects I love, and projects I don't. Sometimes I know before starting that a project is going to drive me crazy. Sometimes I'm totally and completely surprised that I'm not finishing something. This is happening to me now.

About a month ago I had an "AHA" moment where I decided what to make for a special someone. I was thrilled! Whenever I feel particularly thankful or pleased with someone it makes me want to knit for them. If I know them well I can pick something they would like, colors they'd approve of,  hopefully a style that works well. In this case I'd been in a conundrum because I don't know the recipient well. Then. Aha!

I picked slippers. (yay, right?) Everyone needs slippers - it's MN we live in and even if she doesn't LOVE them she can keep her feet warm with them at home where no one will see and there is certainly no pressure for her to show me she's using them because they are strictly for use at home. Brilliant.

I picked a pattern. French Press Felted Slippers. Cute, trendy, seemingly simple, and (based on many of the notes on FPFS projects ) positively quick and addictive. Truth be told I thought this was the solution for all the people in my life who I've not been able to pick the perfect knitted gift for.

I picked yarn and buttons. Even this went well. I needed wool (for felting) and had it on good authority that green would be the right color. Easy. Peasy. I found some white buttons which I believed would be adorable on the finished felted beauties.

I picked needles. Here is where I should have started to realize that though things were going extremely well with the project, I might hit some trouble along the way. Size 13. I don't like large needles. I generally use 3s, 4s, maybe 6s if I'm doing a sweater. Instead of thinking how I detest giant needles I focused on how quickly my project was bound to get done, based on the gargantuan needles.

A month (at least, lets not try to remember the actual dates of supply gathering) later I have this

This is actually pretty good. I have one fully assembled slipper and 2 of 3 parts of the other slipper made. One more piece and the assembly and I'm good as gold. After knitting for so long I should know that I don't like giant needles or piecing things together (and possibly more important, without a deadline I'm not highly motivated to finish said undesirable project).  Hopefully the next blog post will be finished slippers. *sigh*

I wish this was the only project giving me trouble. Sadly I'm also struggling with another project. Scrappie overalls. A trade I'm doing with an incredible seamstress (her store here)who made my daughters Easter dress (love love love).It hits another of my knitting buttons that I should know would be a problem. Scrappieness.

The total un-matchy-ness of scrappies by nature messes with my need for order in my knitting. My knitting friends would likely tell you that they know I can't handle this. My house is a mess but my knitting I can control. Another UFO (un-finished-object).

Sadly even the finishing (I've already admitted to not loving the finishing, right?) of these is even more a problem than the slippers. Here is the inside of one leg which needs to be dealt with.

 When will I learn what I already know about myself? Here's to hoping these two will get done so I can once again knit something I love. The finished pictures are more fun, right?

Summer is coming!

Summer is coming and that means shorties! (it also means dresses and shrugs and skirties) I've been working my way through a wonderful box of delicious yarn for an adorable little fella in Kentucky and here is the latest set of finished objects (FO's)

I love the bright colors that always come with this particular customers yarn. Much boyish yarn has blue trim, but it seems I get to try all sorts of things for my little friend F. His mother (who is the brilliant yarn chooser) also likes the cuffs to have a variety of stitches which keeps things interesting for her knitter.  Here is a more detailed look at these four.

Thanks for letting me play with your yarn JH!!