I need to upload some pictures...

OK, I have lots in progress right now. A couple of custom shorties, as well as a pair of capris and shorties (crocheted) for DD's. I have some neat pics to post of swatches I did for my latest "Woodland Fairy" custom shorties I'm doing. I'm pretty excited, as I've not swatchied things up as I did for this project before. Could have done the shorties all solid, but thought a trim might be nice, so swatched up 3 different trim colors with the yarn to see how it looked. The first color looked like it was hand dyed to match the hand-dyed yarn, but it wasn't... it was Knit Picks yarn. the whole thing left me feeling very "official" all of a sudden though. Not to mention the fact that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the waist and trim color chosen and the yarn itself for these shorts. One of my favorite knits so far (don't I always say that?!)

Really though, once I get picks up, you'll see.

Anyway, next up on my plate is another custom order of ? number of crocheted shorties. And, finishing the capris, shorties, and sweater for Jackie's b-day. Then, I have another shortie/tank/sweater combo I want to do for Jackie. AND a skirtie I want to do for Ella.

Needless to say, my desires and my stash are going to keep me busy for some time. AND, I WANT TO do more customs!!!! SO MUCH FUN!!

Have I said that I love knitting!!!????

Yarn BLISS????!!!!!

Well, I have a new FAVORITE yarn! The name of the yarn says it all, "BLISS." I knit these shorties up for Jackie using Orange Crush Zenstring Bliss Aran yarn. www.Zenstring.com. The whole project was nice from winding the yarn to casting on and binding off. The colors were perfect and the yarn like fluffy cloud sting in my hands. I just feel happy after knitting these shorts!

Never before have I knit something so quickly either. I cast on yesterday morning and finished this afternoon. Amidst playgroups, changing diapers, a few loads of laundry, meal preparations, and all the other daily grind of life as a SAHM, I STILL managed to knit in under 36 hours. WOWWIE!!!!!

Skirty Goodness!!!!

OK, so a breif entry about this now, and then another one when the entire set is complete!

Jackie's birthday skirty is done! I did a modified version of the BellaDonna Designs pattern, with the F&F soaker underneath, used increasing needle sizes rather than stitch increases for the a-line appearence of the skirt, and then a ruffle cuff from Knitting on the Edge rather than a standard rolled, garter, or seed stitch cuff/edging. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The only think I would probably do differently next time is possibly just doing shorties for the undersoaker, and adding short rows to the back of the skirt.

A matching tank and short sleeved sweater are set to make their appearance next!

Blushing Violet Soaker #2 - Knit

My first knit, front loading soaker! Using the Fern & Fairy pattern, I worked this up with WWBN Blackberry Ridge Merino with the last of my Blushing Violets yarn, coordinating trim, and a little bit of WOTA in a Lavendar shade. As you may have read in my previous post, I was having a love/hate relationship w/ soakers... seriously, they seem more work than shorties/longies... but, now that it's done, I really like it! And, am working on a new one that will be an undersoaker (rather than shorties as the pattern callsfor) for a BellaDonna Designs skirty.

I've adjusted so the rise will be more to my liking, and will again do a crocheted cuff. OH, and I vow not to chase kids while grafting my seam! That had negative effects on the Blushing Violet soaker (although I don't know anyone but me would notice!)

Oh, and the pic is a bit out of sorts... I pulled the soaker out of the laundry pile to take the picture... I finished the cuffs on Saturday, and Ella has worn almost nothing else since! So, another pic will be taken in a couple of days after the soaker has been properly freshened up with a good washing and lanolizing!

Front Loading Soakers

OK... so about a week ago, I finished a front loading soaker (Fern & Fairie) for the girls, all but the cuffs. I decided that it needed cuffs so have been fighting with picking up stitches. I finished a rolled cuff on one leg earlier this evening and HATE it, so swore off ever doing another soaker of the sort. But, after trying to start picking up the stitches on the other leg, I decided to try picking up the stitches in one stitch and to use crochet, rather than knit for the cuff... I did one row of SC and am now doing a picot row, and I think it is going to turn out lovely! I'll have to frog the other leg and do it the same way, but then I think I can be friends with the pattern again.

The other problem I had is although I followed the instructions perfectly, the rise ended up SO SO high... but after reading the pattern more closely, that's because the designer likes to have soakers with a high rise. I know exactly where to make modifications next time.

So, I think I'll do another one! Who would have thought that a soaker could be more challenging than longies!!!????

Pin Momma Longies

I just finished 2 pair of longies tonight for a local Pin Momma friend. One is orange and the other is striped cream and sage. I forgot how many more ends you have to work in with stripes, LOL!

Next on my plate to finish is a pair of shorties/capris for Jackie that I've been doing in a different pattern stitch, alternating single crochet and half-double crochet. The pattern is neat looking, but maybe not the smoothest, so I may do the body in all single crochet.

Also, I've just got the leg cuffs to finish on my first knit soaker using the Fern and Fairie pattern. The rise is SUPER HIGH, but I think that's how it's supposed to be according to the pattern... I know on the next one, I'll make some serious changes!

And, I've got some altering to do for Cece... maybe I'll get that done before bed tonight... we'll see...

I've not been posting much lately, and have missed my last 2 local Knit Nights! It's been kind of bad for my knit/crochet/blog mojo! I'm determined to go this week to get back my motivation!