Preparing for Xmas

Like last year I'm trying to anticipate Christmas presents working since November, and Like last year I'll never finish on time... But I have progressed a little bit anyway.

I've finished a little Santa's hat, those absolutely adorable fake maryjanes that I really love and a tiny purse for a little girl. I've done the cache-cols for my girlfriends, and right now I'm felting the flowers that I'll apply to finish them. I've used the bulky Blue Sky Alpaca, but I'm not 100% satisfied with the texture. A little bit too thick and not that soft (Rowan Polar is softer, thinner and the results are better, so I've just ordered another 10 skeins on the Net!).

I've also finished a beanie for a friend, nice easy patter. Worked in vertical rows of crochet Half Double Chains, and then sewed together. Lovely.

unfortunately I haven't progressed a lot on my sister's socks, and I'm not totally satisfied by the heel, some tiny holes are pretty well visible, doh! I guess I have to practice a little more before finishing a real pair of socks.

Snowflake galore

Christmas is approaching and I'm feeling in the mood for a snowflake galore. I know that it's already late, but there are so many nice patterns online that maybe I'll find something easy to make for a little Christmas tree... :-)

By the way, I've received the Blue Sky Bulky Alpaca skeins. The colors are pretty darker than expected and the scarf that I wanted to make... Well it's really really skinny!! :-((( How disappointing.
As you can see, the wool is pretty thick so it's not easy to find a substitute pattern... After many tries I've decided to make two bulky scarf collars, very warm. I've worked them in asymmetric ribbing, and the result is nice, I'll post a pic when I've finished them. I'd love to add to the collars a couple of crocheted flowers, jut to make them more interesting. Let's see what it gives... :-)

A scarf I Like

I love this scarf. The last two years I have looked at the pattern and I wanted to make it so much!

Only problem: the wool. The pattern uses a Bulky Alpaca by Blue Sky, that it's very hard to find in stores. Now that I live in France it's even harder, and the shipping too too expensive. So annoying!
If there is among you a French blogger who knows where can I find or order a similar yarn with same gauge please please tell me!!

Some more progress icons

Hi,
I made a few new progress icons for a Vi Poncho and a felted purse, feel free to use them if you like'em :-)

Socks fever

I couldn't resist, before even finishing my first sock, I've started another project. I found the Knee Striped Socks by Diana so adorable, that I started to make a pair for my sister.


After practicing the 4 needles knitting, for the first pattern, I'm now approaching two new techniques. Which is cool cos' I'm learning so many new things!!

For now I've learn the Turkish Cast On (thanks to the fantastic tutorial by Deby) and the Magic Loop Knitting thanks to Knitting Help.com! And I have successfully combined the two techniques, look at this seamless toe, isn't it nice? I'm proud ;-)


At the beginning everything looks extremely difficult, but after a while it gets easy and very fast!
It's a socks fever!!!!

My First Sock

After such a long period without knitting and crocheting I guess I'm willing to do as much projects as I can right now, I'm full throttle. After the granny pillow, and the felted bag, I've started a new challenge: a pair of socks, my first socks ever.

I'm just exited by all this 4 needles work, the difficulties of the the heel and the toe... I love it!!!!!


Three patterns I like:
I've started with the Sassy Striped Socks, very nice
I'm planning on doing these Knee Socks, so fashionable, for my sister (the pattern looks pretty hard though)
And one day, when I'm good, I'll try these pretty Elfine Socks

I'm so into it that I've made some progress icons, that of course you can use as you like :-)
Sock progressing from leg to toe:

Socks progressing toe up:

Felting mood

Besides the Granny Pillow, I feel I'm in a felted mood and I think I'll felt felt felt... Of course I'll have to knit knit crochet before.
I'd like to make a felted computer bag... I have a lot of wool but no much time... Anyway let's see what I'll do :-)

I have already felted my beloved Booga Bag, but I want mOre...
Look at those projects, they're so cute, I'd love to make them all!!

The French Market Bag by Knitty
The Coco Felted bag, isn't it lovely?
The classic felted tote
and this one with small felted flowers, so cuuute!!!

By the way the picture I posted belongs to this pattern

Granny with a twist

This could be my codename in a few years ;-)
I'm coming back, after all the stress and pressure I've decided to take a break, just focusing on me and my healt. Of course crocheting and knitting are part of the ure, and I've started crocheting a pillow, using the 200 Crochet Blocks book, once again. But this time I'mm make it very fast, I feel motovated :-))) I'll post a pic asap, I'using the "Granny with a twist" square pattern.
Best wishes!

Here's the pics I promised:

Back to knit and crochet

This horrible series of evil events won't stop me. I've stated crocheting and knitting again. Slowly, but happily. I'm progressing on the (in)famous blanket wich will be ready in 4-5 years, maybe! And I've started another poncho, from Viva Poncho! very nice, I'll post a pic asap.
If nothing elese bad happens, I should be back online (and in the US) by the end of september, then I'll come back to visit all your lovely blogs, my friends, I miss you and your fantastic jobs!
Lot's of love to eveybody, see you soon!

sniff

my mom didn't make it


:°°°(

Later than late

Oh yes... I'm still late and I'm even later if possible. It seems that this summer and my crochet aren't getting along very well. Ufff! :-/


Everything seemed to be going fine, and then yesterday my mom got back to hospital. So I kept going back and forth from her house to the city nearby. The results, I'm a bit anxious and I don't have any time to finish my blanket. Actually I should say, to start it, because I'm still at 2 squares!!! How lousy!!! Buuuuuu

Making "the" blanket

Here it comes, along with summertime and holidays: my blanket for the 200 squares CAL (it's never too late isn't it?!). I have chosen the orange/red/blue one at the beginning of the book, because is the only one I can make with the odd skeins that I have inherited from my friend's grandma. I have started with the centerpiece:

and I'm making (very very slowly) my way up to the rest... I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime I came back to France to spend summer with my recovering mum, who's doing great. My boyfriend and I have left California for good and we'll be back in NY in September, right on time to enjoy the falling leaves... And the first snowstorm!!!