Promenade in Red

This kit from Hanne Falkenberg is the most amazing combination of vibrant colors! It is a joy to knit as well, although I must say that it is a huge commitment of time. Each row is currently taking about 20 minutes to knit, because of the very large number of stitches and garter stitch compresses so that it seems that no progress is being made. I am a couple of inches away from completing the right side and then I will be able to see more. Ms. Falkenberg's colorways make me drool. If you would like to join in the drooling, check out her web page.

Aqua/Green/Silver Lampwork Focal Necklace

This gorgeous etched lampwork bead just arrived in the mail yesterday, and it has been calling to me ever since. So naturally, it all came together very easily, and quickly. The focal bead is breathtakingly beautiful.

Pink Quartz Wirebead Necklace

This was also from my stash - pink quartz rounds and then lots of coiling pink and silver wire beads. My mom took it as soon as she saw it! The clasp came out very nice and easy to use.

Amethyst Nugget Bracelet with Fringe

This was so much fun to do! Each beaded bead is a different technique and color, and are mostly peyote stitch with embellishments. Then they were strung intermittently with the amethyst nuggets. I purchased it online at buythekit.com Many more kits may be found at that site.

Whirling Pinwheels Bracelet

This was a high quality kit I purchased online here.

Unfortunately the clasp which was included in the kit (a bayonet clasp) was so difficult to use, that I had to replace it with a magnetic one, which is great.

The tanzanite seed bead beads are made individually.

Teal/Copper Bracelet with Tornado Clasp

Again, I am attempting to use my stash beads! And the tornado toggle clasp I made a while ago. I'm happy with this one too, with the exception of the silver colored beading wire. Copper colored would have blended better with the colors.

Brown Coiled Bead Bracelet

Made with 26, 22, and 20 gauge wire, both brown and copper, plus assorted delica and seed beads. Just experimenting with different techniques, and using my stash (which is HUGE.) I think it came out very well, and I am pleased with it.

Sea Mineral Mittens

This is a free pattern available here . I used Knit Picks palette fingering yarn but changed the colors specified slightly, and am not totally happy with my new colorway. Live and learn I guess. My gauge is about 10 stitches per inch and the mittens are very nice and warm and feel good. I love the scallop edge.

Lacy Newborn Sweater

This cute baby sweater is made from Louet Gems fingering weight merino wool. Took almost no time to knit, as compared to an adult size! There was no provision for a button in the pattern, but I think one of the picots will work just fine for a button hole.

Drops Cardigan 66-6 Finished

I am a contortionist now, after taking my own pictures in the mirror. I'm not unhappy with them either, and the sweater cabling shows up nicely. The cardigan took almost 7 skeins of Louet Gems Merino sport weight in grape. The yarn is fantastic and has wonderful stitch definition, and is also machine washable and dryable. Not important for a garment for me, but for others, it would be.

This is the final project for my correspondence course from The Knitting Guild of America's Finishing Techniques. I learned whole lot and now have a wonderful notebook of samples and notes for my further study. I am now the queen of mattress stitch!!

Felted Squirrel

Okay, everyone knows how I love acorns, so is this such a surprise? He came out really cute, even though he is quite stout. It must be those large acorns which cause his obesity!

Mr. Mio Sock

Mr. Mio, our trusty portable GPS, needed a covering to keep him safe from scratches when being carried about. I used my sock-knitting prowess to design him a warm sock. The sock begins with a garter stitch bottom knit flat, and then picked up all around and knit until long enough. There are a couple of rows of garter stitch edging before binding off most of the stitches and then continuing on for the little button strap. It fits a multitude of electronic devices too.

Copper Tornado Toggle Clasp

This is the second tornado toggle I have created. Since I have no immediate plans for this toggle clasp, I thought I would leave it simply copper-colored, with no contrasting crystals. The technique is pure fun.

Norwegian Teddy Bear Cardigan

Just in time for the cooler weather, Mr. Teddy models his smart cardigan.

Tornado Toggle Clasp

I took an online class from beaducation.com for this toggle clasp technique, and I'm very pleased with the course and the instructor. This is my first attempt and was a lot of fun to do.
I highly recommend this course!!! There are two pieces in the picture, in case you can't figure it out: the toggle and the ring. Since they aren't attached to anything yet, it may cause you some confusion!!

Colors of the Rainbow Bracelet

Sterling silver handforged links with gorgeous handmade (not by me!!) lampwork beads.

Teddy Bear Norwegian Cardigan

This is a steeked, stranded Norwegian cardigan for my granddaughter's stuffed animal. I'm using my own personal teddy bear as a model, but he doesn't look so happy. It must be because the sweater is not finished yet, don't you think?
I'm making this sweater up as I go, using traditional Norwegian techniques, and untraditional Lion Brand Vanna's Choice acrylic yarn leftover from alligator scarves. The neckband is the only remaining part to be finished now. I even found yellow buttons to match in my button stash.

Grape Cabled Cardigan

This is the cardigan I am knitting for the final project of The Knitting Guild of America's course Finishing Techniques. The yarn is Louet Gems Merino Sport weight in grape, and is wonderful yarn, but very springy so that the ribs really contract. It does stretch alright but I'm wondering about blocking it. Time will tell. The pattern has the cables on the center front and just ribbing everywhere else, and is a V neck. It calls for 6 buttons but I may put in more, simply because I don't want the closing to gap. The pattern is free from Garnstudio web site:
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=66&d_id=6&lang=us

Black and White Bracelets

More of the twisted wire bracelets. These bracelets are better if worn in the summer, when there are no coats to cover them up and catch.

Pink Wuxi Scarf

This is the most amazing silk and merino yarn ! I bought it in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago during a boating trip, and have been anxiously awaiting inspiration. The scarf is from Victorian Lace Today, and was a very quick knit. Can't you just see how it glows from within??

Bronze Age Wire Bracelet

This was so much fun to make. I had a little box of mixed beads and found the perfect colored wire to go with it, and twisted away.

These are also the first pictures taken with my newly purchased light tent. I have a feeling a new camera is in store for me soon too, as my current little camera's battery is failing, and it's expensive to buy a new one. The camera is a SONY Cybershot, and is quite a few years old, but just keeps taking great pictures.

Wire Bracelet

This has a core of 10 mm periwinkle beads on a nylon C-lon base, with 2 crocheted wire and bead strands twisted on it, and then a final strand of strung beads on wire twisted around that.

Yet Another Alligator Scarf

Here it is, in the wild, eating a small pumpkin!!! Knit with Vanna's Choice in dusty purple, and acceptable for acrylic. This completes the fifth one.

Shawl Pins Created

My many lace shawls are not so easy to wear, so I was in need of some pins to keep them on. My knitting friend Shafer came to our knitting group earlier this week with a pin she has just made, which was keeping her sweater fastened, so I felt inspired to try my hand at it too.

The curlicue pin is my favorite, and includes my own polymer clay beads. They are incredibly fast to make and so much fun.

Completed Norwegian Rose Cardigan

Hot off the needles, here it is. I found the perfect buttons at Joann Fabrics and I'm so very pleased with this sweater. The button band fabric is so very firm and even, with the exception of my buttonholes, which are not perfect. Next time.....

Almost Completed

I'm on the home stretch now, with a little bit of duplicate stitching to be done, and buttonhole stitching around the button holes. The actual buttons are not procured yet.

It turned out quite well, I think, but I wish I had knit it a little firmer. The yarn is not heavily twisted and is very soft, but I like it with more twist.

Sleeve Lined Up

I am getting close to the end of the knitting of the sleeves. The second sleeve is a couple inches shy of being finished also, but now I am awaiting more yarn. I steamed the sleeve but not the body, and lined them up, just so, in order to get more of an idea of how they will go together. Soon, I shall have to do the machine stitching and cutting of the steeks. Naturally, I procrastinate on this step, even though I have done this before. I'm a procrastinator - what can I say?

I'm really liking this pattern and the use of the rose border is genius.

Max's Booties

I made these yesterday for a friend's new grandson. This was the first time I used this pattern and it's really cute. The booties used up 1/2 oz of fine fingering yarn and were knit on #0 dpns. To make the I-cord strings, I used my handy-dandy mechanical spool knitter, which churns out the I-cord with the simple turn of a handle.

Alligators Stalking

Here is a pair of garter stitch alligator scarves. See my previous post for more details about the pattern. These are knit with Lion Brands Vanna's Choice acrylic. While I am not happy knitting acrylic, my grandchildren will not wear wool, and this will be easy care. There has been no pilling so the yarn may work out well. I am in LOVE with this pattern and have two more colors which are waiting for more alligators.

Rose Border Duplicate Stitch

I couldn't live with the original rose border which I totally knit so it went to the frog pond.

Here are the closeups of the duplicate stitch I am doing. You can see the progression that occurs: I knit in just the green areas, and then did the duplicate stitch to make the completed band. It takes some time to get used to it, but I sort of like doing the embroidery on the sweater. It sure does look a whole lot better.

I am starting to think about the front bands, and what I should do with them. Maybe the duplicate stitch, but then again, maybe just gray with the row of red on the edge, as the neckband shows in the original design.