Winner…

…of the October Stitch Markers is: Leah. 

I already voted today and have the rest of the day to do as I please.

It would please me to knit all day but I can’t.  We’re having a friends over on Saturday for dinner and I really need to declutter and clean.  Why have all the spiders and other nasty insects decided to set up housekeeping (or web-keeping) in my house?

Last night I finished the green seamless slippers and sewed the soles on both the green pair and the orange pair.  I even sewed on soles for a pair I made for Mr. Aitch earlier.  I cut out extra soles to have ready for future slippers.

Orange and green slippers

Eyelet sweater photos

We went to a wedding over the weekend and I finally got a couple of pictures of the twins in the eyelet sweaters I made for them earlier this summer.  They were both actually standing relatively still for ten seconds.

Eyelet sweaters front

Eyelet sweaters back

The sweaters are still a bit too big so they will be able to wear them for a few more months.  Maybe even next spring.  Now that’s wishful thinking.

Train FOs and WIP

I went to a conference (work related)  in Philadelphia this past week.  Knitting on the train was great. 

 Unfortunately I didn’t get to any yarn shops.  The closest yarn shops hours didn’t work out with my schedule.  I packed enough yarn for several projects but not enough clothes.  In fact I ran out of clothes.  Oops! 

 FOs: 2 swiffer covers, an apple cosy.   All made from Sugar ‘n Cream cotton yarn in Black, Cottage Twists, and Hot Green. 

 WIP: A very good start on a soaker (using this and this)  for one of my granddaughters using Cascade 220 (Green color???) and Sensations Kashmira (Aqua, discontinued). 

Swiffer covers, apple cosy, soaker

 

The apple cosy has a red bag in it as I didn’t have any apples.  The leaf is a felt cut out that I sewed on instead of the knitted one in the directions.  I also found a cute lady bug button.  The one swiffer cover in the center is truly made from leftover yarn from all the other things I made from that yarn.   I do see a pattern with my color choices.  I like green.  

I needed the dpns from the Ruffled Bottle Sleeve (Knitted Gifts) for the soaker so I finished it Sunday afternoon.  I used about 10 yards of leftover sock yarn for each.  

Ruffled Bottle Sleeves

 

Nothing like a well dressed wine bottle.

FO: February Baby Sweater in Pistachio

Friday evening I finished the February Sweater on Two-Needles from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Almanac.   The light spots are the reflection from the sun. 

FBS Pistachio 2010

 

I couldn’t find buttons that I liked so I ended up making some out of polymer clay.  Only my second attempt but they worked.  I need to play with the clay more so I can get some buttons made ahead of time and not at the last minute…like I did this time.  

Buttons

 

The sweater fit my granddaughter!  I was so afraid it would be too small.  These photos were taken at the birthday party after the cake.  Jayne’s hair style courtesy of some icing mousse.  

FBS Pistachio Jayne 2010

 

FBS Pistachio Jayne with baby

 

I used US 8 needles and worsted weight yarn (Caron Simply Soft).  (I know EZ would be unhappy with me for not using wool.)  I knit the sleeves on dpns (double point needles) to eliminate seaming the sleeve.  I did have trouble joining the yarn as I had a gap where the body and sleeves met.  I’d really like to know how others do this.  I’m not happy with the join but it worked.

I went over to Ravelry and checked to see if others had trouble with this pattern, particularly the sleeve join.  Some people were very upset when one questioned the pattern.  I knew the pattern was vague and allowed for individuality but coming down one someone for not liking the pattern and lack of direction was just nasty.