Carrie's May Update

My list for May was short -- finish a felted yoga bag and do two more socks for my advent calendar.

I'm really happy that the bag is almost done! Just the felting left, and I'm saving that so I can do a few other felted items at the same time. So I'm calling it done.

I also finished my baby advent socks. I love not having second sock syndrome!

There is still dis-satisfyingly little knitting (and no picture taking, of knits anyway!) going on with the baby, but it's all good. A little bit at a time :)

June???

How can it possibly be June already???

I'm loving this Gift-A-Long concept... and it's keeping me mindful of always being prepared for upcoming gifts. But I'm finding that everything I've made is being given away well before Christmas. Birthdays, Mother's Day, etc.... So I need to focus some more on preparing ACTUAL Christmas gifts. Or I'm going to end up in the same pickle in December that I do every other year. Is anyone else finding this???

Goals for JUNE..

finish KD40 afghan - 75% done - asap
finish baby afghan - 90% done - by end of month
finish baby jacket - 50% done - by end of month

choose and make a gift for my brother - by June 20th
any ideas? knit or crochet... gift for a 29 year old male... married, no kids...

choose and make a gift for my daughter - by June 25th
she is turning four, so she is very easy to make for... probably a doll or soft toy of some kind

Movin' those WIPs to FOs

I participated in a challenge on ravelry to knit 1000 yards this past month out of the stash. I ended up finishing this sweater and being super popular with my mother when she turned 60! Enter Flutter Sleeve Cardigan and me being an appreciated daughter.

de-stressing cables - back washer

This gift was one I made for a cable swap at Woolaholics.

It is my own simple design.

The free pattern can be downloaded from my blog or through ravelry.

These thick luxurious cables are designed to massage, de-stress and exfoliate. Gently cleanse your back without straining. This is the ultimate back washer. A perfect gift idea, or an indulgent addition to your own bathroom.

Knit this fabulous washer in cotton so that it is easy to care for. After use, you simply rinse and allow to air dry. It can also be machine washed and tumble dried.

May update

No gift finishes for me this month, but I've almost finished another lap blanket - that will definitely be on my *done* list next month.
I've also decided on a couple more things I can do - I have three co-workers that I'd like hand made gifts for - I'm thinking along the line of personalised Christmas stockings at the moment, though that could change...............
I also have on great neice to knit for, and by the festive season will have another great neice or nephew, so that will be knitting, too. Hopefully by my next posting I'll have a better plan formulated!
Hope everyone else's plans are going well. ;)

Tam B

Tam B finished!!
Yarn: Cascade 220, Noro Silk Garden #267
For my Mom, for her birthday, in November.
I made a few changes to the pattern, including a solid rib on the bottom, and not carrying the noro all the way to the center. I am still so pleased with how quickly this knit up. I'll have no problem knitting tam c this year.

In other knitting progress, the first sock for my Dad is almost finished. I'm knitting fast to try and get them done for father's day. Also, I finally broke down and bought the yarn needed for the modern quilt wrap (though I'm substituting different colors), because I just know my grandmother would love it, and her 80th birthday is coming up this August. I really really want to cast this on right now, but I'm holding back until the socks for my Dad are done, since those are due much sooner.

I finished a shawl

052708121430
Originally uploaded by bianca_b

It is a small shawl, but I like it. Worked over 34 st. Design is my own.


The pattern is available as Ravelry download.

Updated knit list can be found at littleblueclipper.blogspot.com

Bespoke pillow cover FO

This is for my mother. It's the bespoke pillow cover. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Now all I have to do is find a pillow for it! So that's another FO ticked off the list.

Remaining list:
TBA baby gift
1x socks for Carrie
1x witch mitts for my sister
3x Juliet scarves

clickity clack.... Rachel

Elizabeth's May progress update

The Q2 Challenge has entirely taken over my gift-knitting, which I decided isn't an entirely bad thing, since it's a very ambitious project to begin with. This post is going be about only this project, since I've barely touched anything else (gift-wise) since I started it.

Gift Item: Q2 Challenge! Striped Chevron Afghan by Spinrite (ravelry project link)
Pattern: available through the way-back machine (ravelry link)
Source: Designs for America by Solutia
Recipient: my parents
Occasion: Christmas
Deadline: December 25, 2008

Other info: I only just finished the latest strip (sewing it together as I go) and think I'm going to start on a green strip next. I really hope I can finish this by the end of June. This project is about 35% done.



It will (hopefully) look like this in the end:

Keepin' up!

So... I finished off a Pinwheel Sweater for an adopted niece next month... great stash busting! Great for her to grow into!

Started with Q2 Challenge on a Barn Raising Quilt. I love busting through sock yarn leftovers:

This is great motivation!

desmond the lion

Didn't have this one on my May list... I guess I wasn't as organised as I thought I was!

It was my nephew's 2nd birthday, so I designed this lion from recycled yarns. He's very cuddly.

May-Dec List Update

Gosh, I really fell off the wagon on this challenge! I had to roll one project from April over to my list of things to complete for June. This is the Q2 challenge, which I chose to be my Mom's Stole project.

I just finished the Helmet Liner for my Dad for Christmas. Here's a pic:And, the updated list:

May:
28th: Dad's Birthday - hiking/camp socks (thick)

June:
30th: Stole/Bolero of some sort for my Mom out of some yarn I had given her.

July:
30th: Charity item (not sure which charity yet)

August:
29th: Myself - tank top (have wanted to knit myself one for a couple years now!)
30th: Hubby's birthday - sweater

September:
30th: Poppy - Winter Mittens

October:
31st: For the house - Knit felted pumpkins - saw them on a blog last Halloween, and I really want a few for the house!

November:
15th: Parent's House - table runner for the holiday table

December:
25th: Dad's Gift - Helmet Liner - Perfect while snow-blowing - DONE May 16th
25th: Mom's Gift - Mittens
25th: Sister - Calorimetry - DONE March 15th
25th: Brother-in-law - Winter mittens

First FO of the month!

I call these 'Happy Socks'. I just adore the bright happy colors. The are for me, and knit up super quick.

I'm making good progress on the socks for my dad. Since they are a surprise I need one of my guy friends to try it on and make sure the size is about right. No progress on 'my so called scarf' and I ripped the ribbed hat I was making. Instead of that, I cast on for another pair of dashing and have one of the pair done so far. I'm planning on casting on for tam B tonight. So I'm slowly making progress on my May goals, I've just scattered my efforts about.

finally!

so here i am, across the entire country (from california to connecticut). along the way i managed to work on about a third of babette. and as of today i finished the hurry up spring armwarmers from snb nation. for the rest of the month i plan on finishing unpacking,rearranging my new crafty/yarn closet, and working on whatever i feel like. i don't think i could stick to any other plan than that.

So many many ...

... gorgeous finished objects!!!
It's wonderful to see all the pictures!!

Another one down!

I'm finally getting around to showing off my latest completed gift, for Christmas 2008 - I present the Go Ravens! Socks:

Go Ravens! Socks enjoying a spell on the deck.

These are for my nephew-in-law, Pat, who is a big fan of the Baltimore Ravens football team. I had a little bit of a hard time finding yarn that was both purple and washable/dryable, but as has often been the case, Encore pulled through.

Details are here in Ravelry.

I am SO very glad I signed up for this!

Hurrah! An FO!

I finally have an FO to report!!

Dad's hiking socks which have been on the needles since.. *ahem* ... before Christmas are finished!

I'm so excited - can hardly wait to gift them to him :)

I'm very happy with how they've turned out, after languishing for so long neglected on the needles they were very quick to finish when I set my self to them!

(Haven't taken a photo of both socks yet! Was so excited to post about them I didn't want to wait!)

HOLY Guacamole

I had no idea what to make my mother for mother's day & her birthday. I tried these crocheted flower pots but they didn't cut the mustard. So I'm going to try this Bespoke Pillow. I'm going to have to knit like crazy, because I'm already behind... Otherwise, I haven't been getting v far with the gifty knitting...

- 2-3 more juliet scarves for gift stash
- witch mittens for sister (these look fun)
- a to be determined baby gift. baby socks?--or Otto the Owl? (update: geez that owl is cute. Will do the owl.)
- crocheted flower pots for mom--I've started one. I don't think I'm doing it right... what-eve- (update: am going for the bespoke pillow)
- socks or shawl for Carrie. Not sure yet.--update: going for socks, bought super yarn for this.

It's bright and beautiful here in London. I'm going to get into some outdoor knitting... must burn stash and make pressies! Happy Spring! xx

Bustin' the stash for gifts

I've been inspired by the Stash and Burn discussion group on Ravelry to knit from my stash and I've enjoyed shopping in my stash:

A good friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I knit her a prayer shawl from Thrifty Knitter's Woodland Shawl. I knit with Smooshy Yarn and loved that yarn-it's so much fun to knit and the colours are fabulous. I'm so pleased with how it looked. I gave it away immediately before her third chemo treatment.

My admin got a pair of hand knit Broadripple Socks for Admin Professionals Week at the end of April. No one else got handmade gifts-the other staff got Costco flowers... My admin does so much for me, I was happy to do something significant for her:-)

I said that I wasn't going to enter the Q2 challenge but I just realized that I'm starting a significant large project. A friend and I are going to do a Barn Raising Quilt for a friend who is pregnant after a difficult eight year journey with infertility. As I don't have a toddler, I think that I'll be the one doing more... which is fine... they are so fun to use up leftover sock yarn.

One in progress... the other one is already blocked.

For the rest of the month, fix up a tank I knit for mom and she needs more room in the armholes, finish up a sock and two more barn raising squares.

Mothers' Day Gift

My Mum has been unwell for quite some time now, and I was really stumped about what to make her for a gift this year. I wanted something that would cheer her up... not necessarily something practical!

She has been in need of regular platelet transfusions... so I had the idea of creating an EMERGENCY BAG OF PLATELETS as a novelty gift idea.

Here it is... She loved it... and it made her laugh and laugh and laugh!

May FOs

Two completed FOs for May... #1 & 5 on my list:

Carie Lynn for my friend, L... she saw one I'd done and loves neutrals. I love the color combo - the brown is less-gray than in the picture but didn't have good lighting. And don't notice that I got myself off on the slip-stitch pattern and the bottom... just wasn't paying attention and didn't notice.

And then baby vest for baby boy due next week... this was a fun quick knit (worsted weight) done by modifying a pattern from DROPS.



Happy Saturday!!
JavaNut

May's gift to knit

In May I will knit socks for my husband.
The colours will be black, red and gold - the coulours of the national flag. So he can wear the socks while he's watching on tv the European Soccer Championship.

April's FO

Finally I finished the April's FO. I don't like the sewing and so it's a little bit later.
It's the third St Claus Sock.

Carrie's May List

I didn't finish the yoga bag in April, so that's a rollover! I do think I'll finish it this month, so I'm adding another small gift to my list. It's hard to know what to work on when I am only managing a few rows a day!

Here's the full list:

• Felted yoga bag / MIL / Christmas
• Advent calendar socks for May
• Strawberry bag / niece #1 / Christmas
  

April FO picture

Here is the picture of my April FO. It is a golf club cover for my husband. It matches his golf bag and this particular one is for a 5 wood. The stripes on the cuff correspond with the club they are for. I messed the first stripe up a little on this one. I still don't have a digital camera, so I brought the FO to work and borrowed their camera. I'll have May and Q2 updates soon. Happy Knitting everyone.

May Update & More Prizes

Hello Gift-a-Longers!!

We're nearing our halfway mark now for the year - are you still feeling motivated?
I hope so! I've seen some wonderful gifts being posted here, and we've got a loooong list of Challengers for gifting BIG this quarter. I know that as time goes on, it may get harder to keep pace with your goals, but you should feel proud of what you've done already! If you're like me, thinking about gifts ahead of time is a new commitment, and I'm so glad to have you to commiserate with :)

I want to keep us all excited about being part of this adventure. One way I've come up with to do that is to hold a random prize drawing just because!!

Some time in the next 2 weeks, I'm going to put all of your names into a numbered list and use the Random Number Generator to select one of you to receive some goodies!

Think of this as a Door Prize - you're entered just by being one of the GALs :)

Remember to keep tagging your Q2 Finishes with Q2FO and/or Q2ChallengeFO.

Happy gifting all!

Elizabeth's Q2 Challenge progress update

I've been plugging along with my Christmas Afghan that I'm knitting for my parents. According to my spreadsheet I'm 22% done, and have sewn together the first of the stripes! I'm very excited, and wanted to share it with someone, so I'm sharing it with you!

Please excuse this sad excuse for a photo. I took it with my cell phone and tried to fix it in Photoshop. Better than nothing right?



And in case you need a reminder, this is my plan for the colours:



~ Liz

April/May update

Yikes- we're well into May already!! I've been out of blogland for a while but wanted to post my update...

April List with photos of FOs I hadn't posted yet:

Celtic Tote/tbd/April 10 => DONE
Changed: Roses at Midnight Bag/SD/April 30=> DONE

Carrie Lynn Bag/tbd/April 30 => DONE
Carryover: Ballband bag/kelly/April 30 => DONE

Pebble Beach Socks/tbd/April 30 => DONE
(made with Socks That Rock in Pebble Beach colorway)


And now for my May list:

Carie LynnBag /Liz/May 15 (almost done with this one!)
Carie Lynn/me/May 15 (cast on)
Baby girl tbd/Romina/May 30
Jaywalker Socks/tbd/May 31
Baby boy/cousin/May 31

And I'm still working on the Voyager Stole for the Q2 Challenge. I also hope to make myself a sweater but won't consider it an entry since it's for me instead of a gift. But I want the challenge-motivation!

Phew! Better get goin' on this list!!

Mary B May List

Wow, sure glad April is done with, but unfortunately I am rolling over 3 items. I did however get 1 item off that list and posted that before! (it was the pocket scarf)
Sorry I've been gone so long..everyone has done a great job on their items! You'll are gonna have lots of great gifts this year!! Which leads me to my May gift list:

Rollover- felted slippers-Crystal-by Christmas time
Rollover- Convertibles gloves- Grandson Tj- by fall
Rollover- Convertible gloves- granddaughter Kalee- by fall

am adding a couple of purse key chains -anytime gifts- no one special at moment

As for the Q2 Challenge there is no way I'd get my angel afghan done, no yarn for it yet. :(
I will shoot for a beautiful sweater from my new book- project I will be doing is called
" Ivory Shells Sweater" from Positively Crochet and it will be for Crystal for Christmas. If I get the chance I want to make one for my DIL Krista also. So I will be shooting for 2 of them!

Cardigan ready

I had planned to make this one for his birthday, but had the knitting blues in March. It is ready now...LOL!

PICT0217
Originally uploaded by bianca_b

This little cardigan was waiting for a little over a week, to have the buttons sewn on. Found time to do it this morning, and now Wietse is wearing it. He tried to bite the buttons off... it has proven to be yarn-eater proof.

April FO and May To-Dos

Quant headband -- April's only FO

This was my first entrelac project. I used the leftover yarn from the loafers I finished in March.

For May:

• My first toe-up socks/my son/leftover from April -- I've got one sock done already.
• Chevron socks/for me/May 31.
• Working on my Qtr 2 challenge afghan.
• Working on my son's Norwegian-inspired pullover -- got some frogging to do, but I should make some headway this month.

Sara's May List

This month is really busy for me, and I don't think I'll have much knitting time, so I'm keeping my list simple.

1. Keep working on 'My So Called Scarf'
2. Keep working on ribbed hat for Ken
3. Work on socks for me
4. Work on socks for Dad for Father's Day
5. Tam B, if time permits.

Michelle M's Q2 Challenge

Ok, I've conferred with Marce and I'm changing my Q2 challenge to 1 afghan.. that's 90 squares, plus a LOT of seaming :-)

Seems much more attainable than 3... hehehe (that's what I get for not READING the requirements before making my first post about the Q2!)

Michelle M

Michelle M's May List

Hey all, seems I slightly misunderstood the Q2 challenge and posted that I would make 3 blankets. I'm quite certain that is not a truly attainable goal.. but.. since I posted it, I'm going to give it a go and see at least how far I get... My only other May project goal is to make my friend Mary a Marshmallow Man :-) I knit most of it in April but the shawl I just posted took me so long to complete that I was unable to finish the marshmallow man...

So as a review:

1. Marshmallow Man for Mary
2. Finish at least ONE of the 3 afghans this month

Now I'd better get knitting!

Michelle M's April Update and Q2 challenge

Hey everyone, I'm so proud of my April object, even if I didn't finish it completely until May 3rd... It came out beautifully and we had such a wonderful event where it debuted! My oldest daughter wore her shawl for her first communion yesterday and both were absolutely stunning!






I was unable to complete my only other April gift as the shawl demanded so much more of my time than I'd expected. Additionally I only got 1 of the anticipated 6 squares done for my Q2 afghan projects, but I did complete one and have another OTN now. I'm going to revisit that goal on how many I complete each week... I'll post that in another post once I photograph the one completed square.

Socks to be put away

for my husband... as gift for December...

April FO and May List

I only finished my Golf Club Cover in April. I decided not to do the rest of my list and to focus on my Q2 challenge product, which isn't going that well, but it'll get there. I'll post pics of the golf club cover soon, but I broke my digital camera, so it might be a bit.

Here is my may list:

Cell sleeve / hubby/ anniversary
Spoon rest/ me/ because I want one

that's it... I am taking it easy. I am going to do those two things and then focus on the Q2 challenge.

I'll send pics ASAP.

2nd Quarter Challeng Update

I am making a crocheted afghan for my sister-in-law for Christmas 2008. I am finished with 3 strips of 6 squares and will be doing one more strip. Once finished they will be joined and bordered with black yarn.




I have made progress on my cape, which is a bd present for my pal. Sorry no pics. My poncho is at a stand still. I seem to have lost interest!

I am going to start preparing for a holiday craft fair in Oct that my guild is participating in. I am really looking forward to that!

I will keep you posted!

Elizabeth's May Gift List

MAY LIST!

1. Gift Item: Handbag or Purse

Recipient: Chantelle (brother's fiancée)
Occasion: Christmas
Deadline: December 25, 2008
Other info: I don't have the yarn yet so it's not likely I'll start it this month.

2. Gift Item: Voyager Lace Stole in JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk (pattern) (ravelry) by Shui Kuen Kozinski and Benne Ferrel
Source: Elann.com
Recipient: Rin
Occasion: Birthday
Deadline: June 7, 2008
Other info: I've purchased the yarn and chosen a pattern. Here's the yarn:



3. Gift Item: Q2 Challenge! Striped Chevron Afghan by Spinrite
Pattern: no longer available online (ravelry link)
Source: Designs for America by Solutia
Recipient: my parents
Occasion: Christmas
Deadline: December 25, 2008

Other info: I was actually having trouble trying to decide what to do for my fifth project for this month. Even if it doesn't get started, I at least wanted to have five things in mind. Well, the Q2 challenge has pretty much solved that dilemma! I picked up the yarn on the 19th (and my oh my was there a lot of it) and it's sitting there starting at me all intimidating like. I had help picking out the colours, now I just have to figure out how they're all going to fit together.

Here is the yarn I chose with some help from my friends.

And here is my plan for the stripes. I haven't decided if I'm going to do it in strips and sew them together, or if I'm going to attempt it intarsia-style. The numbers at the top are referring to how many balls of yarn for each stripe section.

I finished the first strip! It's 6.5" wide and 72" long. Wow.



Also, I started the second strip which is being knit in two pieces, and sew together (mattress stitch) afterwards. Currently, 6.5" wide by 20" long. I'm hoping to finish this strip in the next couple days and start sewing things together! I think the progress of having at least part of it assembled will help motivate me to finish.

Happy May Day

It's hard to believe that it is May already!

So here's how I did on my April goals:

1. I FINALLY finished the guitar strap that I have been working on for my son. This was my first crochet project in many years and I am thrilled that it is done. It was a bit too long for him, but I figured out a way to loop it up until he grows into it.




2. I did not finish the Sideways Spencer that I was making for myself, thought I did get the knitting on the body done. So this gets rolled over to May for me to do the finishing.










3. I made a good start on the Wallaby that I am knitting for my friend's baby. I am up to the sleeves This is my Q2 big project.





4. Finally, I finished the first sock of the fuzzy socks that I am making for my Mom's birthday.










So my May list is:
1. Finish Sideways Spencer - May 15
2. Finish Mom's Fuzzy Socks - May 30
3. Get Wallaby up to the hood - May 30
4. Pick pattern and yarn for A's going away socks and get started - May 30

Happy springtime knitting all!

Behind, as always!

I am behind in my gift-along. I finished Kristal's Clapotis (her birthday was in January!) in March. I finished my mom's socks for her birthday in March. But in April I was sidetracked by the Afghan for Joel's Girls project (rav link). Still I am getting more done this year than I would have without the Gift-Along, so I am grateful for that!

For May:
Pillow Cover for Mom for Mother's Day.
Begin Clapotis for Mom for Christmas.
Finish Socks for MIL that I started in January.

Photos soon!

already may?

rolling over a couple of items from april

kd40 afghan... birthday gift for Karen... due asap... 3/4 complete

baby afghan... newborn gift for tess... due june... 3/4 complete

baby kimono... newborn gift for tess... due june... 1/3 complete

purple people eater... newborn gift for tess... due june... 1/3 complete

new items to work on for May... mothers' day gifts x 2... need to decide quickly :)

May Gift List

Due to the loss of a beloved pet in April, and the recent adoption of two others, my knitting plans went astray last month.
So this months gift list is the same as last month:

* Burgundy Cup Cozy (pattern in Interweave Holiday Knits) - for a friend - for Xmas 08 - finish by end of May
* His Facecloth (pattern here) - for Steve - for Xmas 08 - finish by end of May
* Prizoner of Askaban facecloth (pattern here) - for Alison - for Xmas - finish by end of May
* Flourish Book Mark (pattern here) - for Pat - for her birthday in November - finish by end of May
* 3 x sets of 3 Balsam Sachets (pattern in Handknit Holidays) - 1 set for Pat, 1 set for Diane and 1 set for Anne - for Xmas 08 - finish by end of May

Sally's May Gift List

Cross posted at Sally Comes Unraveled and Year Long Gift-A-Long.

Lots of stalling in April. I'm stuck in a couple of my projects.

April Wrap Up:

1. Gift Item: A lace shawl. This is my large project for the second quarter challenge.
Progress: Still no work since this pathetic swatch. I'm looking for the needles I want to use.

2. Gift Item: Finish Boogie Time (2 of them) (Rollover)
Progress: I'm still stuck. I still need a watch face that works for a boy.

3. Gift Item: Rainbow Socks (Rollover)
Progress: I haven't done any work on this since I lost the sock! (I'll find it eventually.)

4. Gift Item: Fetching (Rollover)
Progress: Finished

5. Gift Item: Mystery Crochet
Progress: I crocheted a red blood cell for my Mom's birthday. It's finished.

May Gift List:

1. Gift Item: A lace shawl. This month I want to settle on a yarn, pattern and needles, then knit a swatch, block it and cast it on. (Rollover - Again)
Recipient: Grandma
Occasion: Christmas
Deadline: June 2008, for the Second Quarter Challenge.

2. Gift Item: Finish Boogie Time (2 of them) (Rollover - Again)
Recipient: Family Friends
Occasion: last Christmas
Deadline: Overdue

3. Gift Item: finish my sister's socks (rollover - Again)
Recipient: Sister
Occasion: Birthday
Deadline: Overdue

4. Gift Item: Secret Knitting
Recipient: Friend
Occasion: Birthday
Deadline: Late May

5. Gift Item: Secret Knitting/Felting
Recipient: Top Secret!
Occasion: Birthday
Deadline: Late May