Hot Pink Turkish Socks

This is another stashbusting project, but I'm really happy with the finished socks! I did not have a whole lot of the dark burgundy yarn, after finishing a pair of socks, but I thought I would have enough for at least the leg and maybe more. I finished one leg of one sock, and then started the second. I could see that there would be enough for heels, so did one, and then the other, and then I could see there was enough remaining for some detail at the toe. These are from Red Bird Knits . The pattern is called Istanbul, and is just one of her many lovely patterns.

The sock is knit with 72 stitches on #0 dpns. I used Lorna's Laces sock yarn for the hot pink and some other yarn, I forget which, for the burgundy.

Peachy Burgundy Toe-Up Socks

Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Cotton Tip & Top Color, color 4076, and is part cotton and part wool. It feels very nice.

Toe-up with dutch heel on 64 stitches. Leg is done in 2x2 garter stitch rib with last inch in normal 2x2 rib.

Gathered Wire Choker

I took a class at Star's Beads in Vienna, VA recently, and completed this wonderful necklace. We had a fabulous time creating and our instructor, Linda Lumbert, was inspiring. I purchased the lampwork beads online.

Coronet Hat

Boating season is starting up and my knitting is going to be primarily socks, since that is the most portable and small. But in the meantime, here is a hat, Coronet Hat from knitty.com, for one of my granddaughters (whoever likes the color better - I will do a second one in a different color). I used Cotton-Ease for the first time after hearing that a lot of other knitters liked it, and I have to say that I am pleased with it. It wasn't to painful for my hands to knit like some non-wool yarns, and it stood up to machine-washing and drying and still feels soft. I knit this up as a large swatch, really, to see if I liked the Cotton-Ease, and now I think that when I buy more yarn, I can safely use this. The stitch definition is quite good and there are some nice colors available.

Now, which one of the girls wants this?? Hmm.....

Shiny Black Cocktail Treasure Woven Bracelet

An 80th birthday present for Frank's lovely sister. I love how this turned out.

Blue Harlequin Socks

These are my usual, standard toe-up socks on 64 stitches, using #0 dpns. The yarn is a blue
Sock it to Me! Collection Harlequin yarn which is quite satisfactory and I did not try to match the yarn, preferring unmatched socks for this pair. The ribbing for the leg is a repeat of 7 knit, 1 purl, merging into the final ribbing of 2 knit, 2 purl. They were cast off using a suspended bindoff technique, with identical results of the crochet cast off.

Houndstooth Cell Phone Cozy Necklace

I used black Opal sock yarn, natural colored sock yarn, and worked on #0 dpns. Here is a short recipe for the cozy.

Cast on 6 stitches. Work garter stitch for 12 ribs (24 rows.) Pick up 12 stitches on each long side and 6 stitches each short side. Work a couple of rows in black, then start pattern, using white doubled since it was thinner.

The houndstooth pattern is a four-stitch, four-row repeat which can be found by googling.

After sufficient length of the pattern, switch to a couple of rows of garter stitch. Cast off around the top, starting with last 2 stitches on the needle with 12 stitches, and continue around binding off until 8 stitches left (these are in the center of a long side.) Continue with garter stitch until long enough, and do a 4-stitch one row buttonhole, knit a couple more rows of garter stitch and bind off.

The i-cord was done with 3 stitches and sewn on to the sides after it was long enough to go around my neck.

I don't always have pockets to carry my phone, so designed a necklace to hold it.

Sterling Silver Slider and Bead

I took a WONDERFUL class with Sally Stevens, who taught us how to create this gorgeous pendant! In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I chose a green-colored lampwork bead for the foundation of this piece. I can hardly believe that I made this! It measures roughly two inches wide.

White Harebell Fichu

All blocked and finished. It ended up taking 23 gms of Jades Sapphire Lacey Lamb, a very fine merino 2-ply wool, which I love. From Victorian Lace Today.

RED Beaded Bead Necklace

RED!! The beaded bead is one I've made many times from beadinfinitum.
I was quite distracted due to workmen putting on new siding on the house, and painting, and so I thought I would calm myself by doing some beadwork. After I had sewn on the bead to one of the sides of the necklace, I realized that it was on upside down, so that the small bead I had incorporated, was no longer close to the focal. Taking it apart and redoing it was not in my plan. But it still looks okay.

Wedgwood Socks Completed

These socks are just lovely and fit me well. Who knew that when I started knitting these I would love them so much? The pattern I was following called for pastel colors and I didn't have any in my stash. I first started with two shades of vivid pink and charcoal, but that went to the frog pond. Then tried these too-bright colors, and I LOVE them. It is also a very interesting heel too.

Here are the details about these wonderfully designed socks. I used Opal Uni in natural, and Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn in Deco Green and Temple Turquoise. I knit them on #0 dpns and the leg was 80 stitches in circumference, as the pattern dictates.
I used #00 dpns for the start of the sock, which would be the facing of the hem at the top, so that they wouldn't flare around the picot edge, and switched to the #0 needles after the picot row.

Wedgwood Socks

From the wonderful sock book, 'Socks, Socks, Socks' comes this colorful stranded sock. The pattern in the book uses pale colors which I love, but I did not have them. Once again I was determined to use yarn from my stash, and I wondered why I had even purchased such bright colors, but I really like the result. I am halfway through the second one, and will post pictures soon.

San Diego Socks

This was my working project during my visit to my sister in San Diego. They were knit on #0 dpns, on 64 stitches toe up, out of Trekking Pro Natura 1602 yarn. They are very pretty but not flamboyant.

Usferud Hat

Here is the second hat from a Bea Ellis kit, in wool with a cotton liner. It came out slightly larger than the previous hat, due to my tension changing. It was also much more comfortable to knit too, since I wasn't using a death-grip on the needles.

Traditional Norwegian Hat

I promised to knit a Norwegian style hat for my son who is moving to the windy city very soon, and he asked for one in navy blue, gray, and white, and I bought two kits from Bea Ellis, one in black and white, and the second in navy and light gray. Both have a knit cotton liner which will cover the forehead and ears. The first one is finished here. The next one is almost done.

Just in case the cord and tassel is too much for him, it can simply be cut off and removed. I tied a knot in it on the inside for easy removal - it is not stitched in and the integrity of the hat will not be impaired if cut off.

Promenade Finished

The Red Promenade - she is done. This is a wonderful item from Hanne Falkenberg, and like all of her other designs, is a marvel. The rows are VERY LONG but it was a fairly simple knit and I'm very pleased with it. The colors are somewhat more saturated in person.

Finished Bauble

I finished this up the same day I posted the preceding post. It's cute but not anything I would really want to make again, mainly due to the elastic thread which was used. I don't believe it will hold up and that will be sad. In fact, the thread broke in the midst of construction. Maybe it was the big-eye needle I used to string the beads which caused it to break.

The pattern seemed like a good idea.

Beginnings of Bauble

I am stringing about 3 yards of seed beads interspersed with some larger cube beads, for the Bauble bracelet from knitty.com. It will be knit shortly.

Beaded Bead Necklace

I made this bead last year sometime and have been waiting for the inspiration to hit. The necklace is a spiral technique if 11/0 seed beads which I had never used, from Carol Wilcox Wells' book The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving. The netted bead was from beAd Infinitum. The spiral technique necklace has a wonderful drape to it.

Harebell Fichu in White

Here is the beginning of a very pretty victorian lace fichu! The pattern is from the lovely book by Jane Sowerby called "Victorian Lace Today". The pink wuxi scarf I made previously, is another pattern from the book. The yarn is very fine merino wool called Lacy Lamb, and is leftover from the Shetland Triangle Shawl I made a while back. There was 33 gms when I started.

Beaded I-cord Strap

This is a replacement necklace for an amulet bag I made some time ago. The original strap was a simple strung seed bead cord, but was not strong enough. This is a knitted i-cord with beads, done on #8 crochet cotton with #0000 dpns. Warning: VERY LABOR INTENSIVE technique, although it looks very pretty. The beads are inserted into each stitch every third row and are pulled through the knit stitch. If not pulled through, they will end up on the inside of the i-cord tube. Don't ask me how I know this.

Knitted Teddy Bears

These cuties were completed a few weeks ago, but were never posted to my blog. The pattern came from Jean Greenhowe's Jemima-Jane and Friends. They are fiddly to put together but not hard, but the embroidery of the faces was difficult at first. I used Vanna's Choice yarn which worked out well. Instead of buttons or safety eyes, I made very interesting french knot yarn eyes, following her directions, and they are wonderful.

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.