Snowmen Snuggle

Somehow a snuggle from a snowman just doesn't sound like the best idea, does it?

Fortunately these little fellas really are very cozy as they snuggle up to a colourful pair of mittens!

I used the 'Build A Snowman' stamp set by Stampendous. The sentiment is from the 'Happy Messages' set also by Stampendous. Both sets were purchased at my local Michaels store

The papers are from the Mosaic memories Paper Pad by Recollections which I picked up at my local Michaels. I paper pieced the hats and scarves and added puffy dimensional fabric paint by 'Tulip' A bit of glitter glue and a few sequins finished it all off.

Double sided tape lifts the sentiment so the twisted easel card stays propped up nicely.

I'm sorry to see them go...but they need to travel with the mittens to carry a big hug to my friend!

For the mittens I used Red Heart 'Unforgettable' yarn (colourway 'Stained Glass') and the pattern 'Spring Is Coming' is available HERE on Ravelry

Test Mitt 4 - Another beauty!

From not having knitted mittens in 20 odd years, I've done 4 pairs in short succession. I keep thinking that these would make such nice gifts. realistic to make as far as time goes, yet one can personalize it and give something that is really special!

I called these ones 'Blue Lagoon' because that is what this colour reminds me of! Dagmara knitted hers in green so she called her pattern "Green Forest Mitts' 

I know I know...the table cloth had not (yet) been ironed, but this picture shows the colour so well! ;-)

The pattern is clear and well written and the pattern repeat is interesting without being complicated. The entire wrist and hand area is patterned and slightly ribbed, so that the mitts fit nice and snug.

Now all that is left for me to do is decide what colour and what pattern to knit for whom...sounds easy, but I know it will be hard to decide!!! Still it should be fun to whip up a few more of these!

Thanks again to Dagmara for letting me test these 4 mitt patterns!
Mittens 1

Mittens 2

Mittens 3

Year of Projects - Week 13

I'm a little late updating this. It has been crazy here at my place since Thursday, and not in a good way. Except for the 'Pride and Prejudice Tea Party' celebration for a friend's 50th on Sunday. THAT was good fun!

So let me see if I can remember what I did last week?

I finished Test Mittens #4 - You can find details and the pattern HERE on Ravelry

Used more of that Herrschner's yarn, but this one, like the pink is nice and soft and will be plenty warm enough for spring and fall. And for warm winters like the one we just had!
I took a picture specifically to show the inside of the mitt, which is textured all the way through. The mitts are lovely and snug and I'm very pleased with them. The pattern is easy and well written.

Next I did manage to add the buttons to the shawl, so that is now all done and I like the result! For details and the pattern link go HERE

I also finished off the crocheted 3D snowflake early in the week :

Love Knots from this pattern book. I headed outside to find a branch that I can 'plant' in a pot so I have somewhere to keep these safe as I continue my collection. BUT it is spring and between the birds and the wild flowers I got 'lost' and didn't remember why I headed out, until much later/too late. It was one of those weeks.

I was having a hard time showing the details on this as it is so thick and so intricate (but easy to crochet)

I'm enjoying making this collection!

I did not yet get round to updating my project list, but I have been looking for sock patterns and since all the other projects are done, I'm ready for something new. I did have to start the 'smile' project over again, and just this morning found a pattern that will hopefully work for me.


So let me recap my list :

My Year Of Projects  To Do list
My list is very flexible I’m ‘afraid’ I’m forever changing my mind mid-stride ;)

• I hope to make at least 6 Feel Better Friend Dolls ( the yarn arrived late January) Changed my mind, won't be doing these after all. 

• I would like to finish the afghan started early in December (that's the one featured above) Coming along with 12 blocks done. 12-15 for the final count with some borders also to be added. This will take  while yet, as I need more yarn to make more blocks.

• I want to knit 2 pairs of socks -yarn bought for first pair, just need to decide on pattern

• I need to knit a blue/aqua scarf for myself Finished this January 31st.

• At least 3 pairs of flip-top mittens (2 will be gifts) I changed this to 2 pairs of mittens and one scarf (which is crocheted and I have finished it - needs to be blocked), Yarn bought for the first pair of flip tops (yay)
• Completed 4 pairs of fingerless mittens (all test knits)
• Set of 12 3D snowflakes, from the book 'Dimensional Snowflakes' Making them 1 per month at least. (3 done)
• Smile project (mystery ;-) ) hoping the new pattern will work!

Test Mitt - the 3rd one!

Happy Birthday Mitts by Yellow Mleczyk over at Ravelry - This was another test knit that I really enjoyed. These mittens in worsted weight(#4) yarn are so quick to work up. I was thinking that these may also look good done in black & white. Maybe even in stripes.

I knitted these using Herrschner's Worsted Weight yarn again. This pink though, is not a scratchy as the green. I'm sure these will become favourites in my mitten drawer! The bright pink ('Raspberry') colour is perfect to brighten up a grey winter's day.

You can find the pattern for these mittens in Dagmara's Ravelry store HERE

Happy knitting!

Year of Projects - Week 12

It was a busy weekend, so I never got round to posting this update -

I blocked the scarf and had hoped to add the buttons on the weekend, but that never happened- still 16 buttons to add is not really that much. All in all this project has taken way longer than necessary, but that is how it goes sometimes, right?

The 'Bernat Baby' blanket is all done. It turned out a bit bigger than expected, which is really nice. I'm pretty pleased with the result.

And I started work on a project that is taking a different route from what I originally planned. I was going to knit some with this variegated yarn and some of the dark blue solid that is in the variegated. Upon seeing this irl, I did not like the amount of orange and the yellow of the green, so I'm revising this project. I made a start with some squares and I have some sketches of roughly where I'm heading with it, but will see how it changes and grows from here. Right now I'm thinking of combining knitting and crochet, but we'll see how it all works out. Instead of being a straight forward kind of project it will now be a 'process' 

The third test mitten just went live this morning. You can find the pattern for Happy Birthday Mitts by Yellow Mleczyk HERE

This pink ball of Herrschner's Worsted Weight yarn is much softer to start with and I really like how these turned out. 

I hope to cast on for test mittens #4 tonight! Whoot!

I'll be revising my list for the year this week, adding more projects that I know I'll be doing/planning etc.

Test Knit - Mittens #2

At the beginning of March I got yet another chance to test knit a pair of mittens, by the same designer as the first pair I did - Dagmara. (See the first ones here and the pattern here)

This pattern is called 'March Weather' and you can find it here in Yellow Mleczyk's store at Ravelry.

I like the little detail created on the inside of the arm!

And here's my progress on the first night, with 2 pattern repeats completed. Ready to start the thumb increase on the next round.

And the first one done - trying for size!

All done and ready to wear. I think this pattern will make great mitts for men too. I do not like the yarn (Herrschner's Worsted Weight) at all though. There is quite a bit of discrepancy between different colour. This green was quite scratchy to work with although it did soften up after washing, which is good.So not all is lost...I think knitting the thumb in 'knit' would also look nice and the ribbed hand allows for a nice snug fit.

All in all I'm very happy with the result. The pattern is easy to follow and well written. And I just love how quick these are to knit up!

Year of Projects - Week 10

It's been quite the productive week, but the 'revealing' will be slow in coming. I wrapped up more test knits. One (another pair of mittens) I can only show you once the pattern is available.

I can however also share the last test knit, that pattern has now come available : Spring is Coming I found the pattern well written and easy to execute and am thrilled with the results.

Like I said before, I used the left over yarn from this scarf that I knitted earlier this year using Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable - Dragonfly. It is great to have a matching 'set'

I also finished another knit from the Testing pool. The pattern is available HERE - Puffed Rice.  It looks adorable and was a quick and easy knit.

Just see how cute the slight 'frilled' detail on the back looks! I'm looking forward to seeing my precious little friend wearing this one!

Aside from these projects I've also continued on the blanket that is my 'pick-up-whenever' project. It is becoming a 'presence' on my lap especially on row changes! Love the soft cuddly feel of the (Bernat Baby Blanket) yarn though!

I'll be casting on another test knit (mittens) tonight and hope to wrap up the gift scarf this week. Not much to go now.
I did get yarn for the flap top mittens I want to knit myself as well as a ball of sock yarn. I found a pattern in a library book for 'flip-flop' socks. You know the ones that look like foot mittens LOL. I'm thinking I might just try some of those, but we'll see when I get to casting on....

Test Knit - A First

I'm not new to knitting (learnt before I ever saw the inside of a school) but I am new to 'test knitting', which simply means knitting a pattern on behalf of a designer to see if it works out well, is clear and easy to understand etc etc.
I was totally thrilled to do my first test over at Ravelry. I'm sure it may become ho-hum one day, but for now I enjoy the newness of it!
Anyhow I saw these beautiful finger less mittens pattern and I had just the yarn for them! The remnant of the scarf I knitted earlier this year. Pretty pleased I was to use this as well as end up with a mitten-and-scarf set.

Here they are all done :

I like the light cable running the length of the mitten. Also the cuff is ribbed, as is the last section over the fingers, making for a nice snug fit. Of course this yarn is just beautiful...and would you believe I still have some left over! I only used 45g  for this pair. (Which means I can get 2 pairs out of one ball of this Red Heart Unforgettable)

It is pretty hard to capture the gorgeous colours of this yarn... the picture below is more true to the colour.

The pattern is a design by  Yellow Mleczyk and is available at her Ravelry Store HERE. It is easy and quick to knit and I found the pattern very easy and clear to follow.

Year Of Projects Week 08

I did not much to show for this week....the soft fluffy blanket is about halfway (as far as the yarn that I have is concerned, who knows but that I may change my mind and add to it, once I finish up what I have!) and seeing as it looks just the same, I did not take new pictures. I still find the thick yarn and thick needles unpleasant to work with.

Far more pleasant is the test pattern I'm working over, over at Ravelry. It is really nice that I can end up with mittens matching the scarf I made, plus I get to use the remnant yarn and I get to take an item off my list. Not bad getting  3  'flies' with one swipe...

...and the pattern test I'm working on...

I've finished the first mitten and hope to start the next one later tonight. I really like how these are turning out!

And other than turning my drawers inside out looking for my cable needle...that's been it for my knitting escapes this week!