Twin blankets

So about those baby blankets! They should have arrived at their destination by now, so here we go.

Aaaaand I just realized I never took good finished object photos. Crap! OK here I guess you can see my not-quite-finished photos. Twin blanket #1:

And twin blanket #2:

Pattern: Jackson Blanket
Yarn: Red Heart Eco-Ways (Yes I know... I used red heart. Hell hath frozen over!!!!)

The blankets were quick and easy and I really like how they turned out. I modified the pattern to make it smaller, only casting on 92 sts. This made them more of a carseat/stroller size. I originally did it because I was worried I wouldn't be able to finish them quickly, but each one only took about a week to knit! Wow. I am happy though, I think the smaller size is nice for little ones when they start dragging their blankies around. Anyway Dana if you are reading I hope you got them and I hope when your little girls come out they like them!

More Monsters Multiplying

First off I finally went and bought some white felt so I could make monster mouths! Here is N's monster with his new mouth:

She can now stop pointing at his face and pointing at her mouth and looking at me like, "where is his mouth mom?" :-) If you can see in the pic, I decided to sew the mouth on instead of gluing... mostly because I don't have a hot glue gun and also I feel this is more secure. I only sewed along the bottom of the teeth so they can kind of stick out a little. Worked out well! I ended up needing to make 2 mouths... one for N's monster and one for...

Monster #2! He is going to my friend's son. When she saw the first monster I made she had mentioned how much she would love one for her little man and I couldn't help myself!

Pattern: Harold the Houseplant Monster
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted

I like how each monster has their own "look" and personality. :-) Right now I have started a sweater for Norah for the 2nd time (the first one was turning out huge), so I will post about that as soon as I make sure this one is going to fit. I am stashbusting using leftover yarn from the twin baby blankets I made... which I haven't blogged about because I was waiting until I sent them to my friend. Soon though!

Stuffed monster

After finishing my first ever monster, I immediately knew I had to make one for my darling little girl. She did like the first one enough, but I didn't think the green was quite "her". We talked about it (as much as you can talk with a one year old) and determined she wanted one that was boo and puwpuw! (blue and purple lol)

Here is the monster! Sans mouth!

Pattern: Bea the Basement Monster Yarn: Patons Classic wool (stash buster!)

I still need to get to the store and buy some white felt so I can make a cute monster mouth like the ones in the book. He's pretty cute. No real name yet, I just call him "monster". N likes to point at his face and whine that he doesn't have a mouth yet. I'm working on it kiddo!!!! :)

Sharpie added for scale - he is BIG! I could have stuffed him a bit more so he has the shape of the ones in the book, but I wanted him to be squishy. Also his "bottom" is knitted in the MC (instead of the CC purple, my mistake when I started him) and his arms are knit in the CC (instead of the MC because I ran out of blue!). I still like it though! My mom thought he was from a kids' cartoon or something, so I took that as a compliment!

Book Review - The Workshop Book of Knitting

My mom teaches at an elementary school, and sometimes their library has book sales to get rid of some older books and make room for new. My mom, being so thoughtful, picked up this gem just for me!

The Workshop Book of Knitting! This book was written in 1973 by Miss von Wartburg, who was a knitting instructor who ran a workshop for kids in NYC. (Sidenote: Anyone feel sorry for the author? I mean was her childhood horrible with that name? Ursula von WARTBURG? Yikes. OK back to the review!)

It is really interesting to compare the way knitting was described and taught by her at the time compared with the kids' knitting book that I bought in 2005 from which I taught myself. Overall I am able to understand it, but there are some things that were either funny, or just interesting in how they ordered/taught things. I am going to now post some of my favorite quotes, along with my comments. Enjoy!

"Hand-spun yarn has a quality all its own. It is uneven and bumpy in spots, which gives it a unique charm not found in machine-made yarn"

Uhh I could think of some people who might be highly offended by that statement! I know a lot of handspun CAN be bumpy and uneven but there is plenty of beautiful almost-perfect looking handspun out there. Sheesh :)

(In the "Winding Yarn" section:) "Make a Surprise Ball for someone. Wind candies and little trinkets into a knitting ball. The knitter will be delighted when the surprised fall out as the ball of yarn unwinds.

Hmmm not sure about that. What if the "trinkets" got tangled up in the yarn? Or the candy melted because the person you gave it to didn't knit with it for a year or two? Wait ew that would probably invite bugs to come live in your yarn! Ewwww!

"Knitting needles are made of either plastic or aluminum"

If those were the only choices I feel deeply sorry for the people of the 70s! :)

(From the "Other Helpful Tools" checklist:) Handkerchief, man's size, for wrapping delicate knitting

What, I need a handkerchief? Where do I even buy one these days??? lol

When they get to the actual instructions about stitches and knitting, they start off with "The Plain Stitch" which I am reading to just mean the front of a regular knitted stitch. They call the backside the "Purl stitch" which makes sense. It's just interesting they have names for each side of a stockinette stitch.

OK last part I need to quote in entirety, because it is funny to me!

"How to Take Care of Your Knitting"

1. Store your knitting tools and materials in a box such as a shoe box, and keep light-colored knitting wrapped up in a handkerchief or dishtowel.
2. Don't let the ball of wool roll around on the floor while you are knitting.
3. Wash your hands with soap and water before starting to knit. Also wash them if they become moist and sticky while knitting.
4. Do not rest your elbows on a table while knitting. Sit back in your chair and relax.
5. Make it a habit to finish the row or round before putting your knitting away.
6. When you put your knitting away, place one needle over the other and wrap yarn around the needles so the stitches won't slide off.
7. Make your workplace a happy place to be. Tidy up around you. Work with good light on your knitting.

Whew... Um anyone else break about all of those rules every time you knit??? Or is it just me? :-)

Monster Mash

After getting the Big Book of Knitted Monsters for christmas (yes i'm behind), I knew there would be knitted monsters in my future. I finally decided to pick one and go for it! Introducing...

Shammy Skywalker! He was named by his new mama, my BFF Kat. I presented him to her last night when we went out to catch up (she lives out of state but was home visiting). I think they both seem very happy together :D

As you can see he's a bit of a lush. ;-)

I was planning on doing the cute white felt teeth mouth like in the book but I forgot to get felt so I just embroidered a mouth on... but I like it. He looks happy!