Bad blogger...bad, bad blogger.. :/ I've been making many, many charity items. I've made a few new baby sweaters and finished up some that work WsIP. They've been donated to Stitches from the Heart through my LYS, Yarn Lady. I've also made several burial buntings for a hospital that asked for them. And finally, finally.. I am going to attempt another sweater for ME! I got the yarn awhile back at the Yarn Lady bag sale and found a pattern that will work with it. The pattern is free from Knitty and is called Sitcom Chic.

Here's a few of the sweaters.

Baby's Coat

Easy Baby Cardigan
...from Knitting Pure and Simple. I did the collar and added buttons.

Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater

AND... I finally got invited to join Ravelry! Ravelry for those who don't know is the most awesome place for knitters (and crocheters although I can't speak for them). It makes it so easy to add your own projects and find others who have done them as well so you can see how it looks in different yarn or with modifications. As of this writing you still have to put your name on a waiting list, but they expect to open it up soon for all to join. The response has been overwhelming so it's taking a little longer to go public. If you're a knitter check it out!

A few hats for charity. The multi stripe is made from wool sock yarn, the other some random part wool donated yarn.

Well... been awhile since I've been here! It's been busy the last several weeks. Lisa graduated from the University of Michigan with a masters in public policy and Kristen will be graduating next week from CSU Fullerton with a BS in child and human development. Both have done well and we're very proud of them!! ♥

I'm halfway through a pair of socks, started on a dog sweater from the summer issue of Interweave Knits, and halfway through a scarf that I was testing the pattern on. Been kind of a scattered knitter lately, but it's all good and still fun. ;)

I've made a couple more felted toddler hats. I figured out how to felt them and have them still curl... follow the directions on the pattern. Heh. I like this, but I still like the pink/purple striped one better. I need to get a wighead or something to dry hats on..these got a little flat on top from the tupperware. LOL

An adorable felted toddler cloche! I started with this pattern, but the brim didn't roll after felting.. I thought this was adorable so I've dubbed it the Toddler Cloche. ;) No little kiddies here so I'll probably give it to charity.

I finally finished the pattern for my Simple Bow Hat. Click here for the PDF file. Let me know if the link doesn't work. Now I just need to figure out how to add it to the sidebar. Why is Blogger so complicated!?

I changed my blog and now I have added the pattern link on the side bar! Yippee! Thanks to Lu at KH for the help! Thanks to Vendie for the help also with the blog ring link.

Another little sweater made from stash yarn. This was fun and easy!
Steppe Sweater (pdf file) from the Dulaan Project patterns.
I've also learned entrelac and made this for practice. I'm going to felt it to see how it would work for a trivet or potholder.

Yeah, some FOs! Here are the two Baby Surprise Jackets I've done other than buttons. These are easy and fun. The i-cord is not difficult, but time consuming. Click image for a larger size.

Since the last post I've completed the i-cord bind off and attached i-cord.
Here's the second one. I like the i-cord bind off..it gives it a nice finished look. I extended the sleeves on this one and I like the way they came out.
I also made a little bear.. created the pattern myself because I hate seaming!Not sure what I am doing next...maybe another BSJ or possibly the Bog Jacket also by Elizabeth Zimmermann. Stay tuned...

The Baby Surprise Jacket is almost finished! The knitting is done...just have to weave in a few loose ends and seam the shoulder/sleeve area. It was fun to knit not knowing how it was going to turn out. I think I'll make one for me, too!

After knitting and before folding.


Before seaming and sewing on of buttons- the front
The back

I finally figure out how (with help) to make this blog wider. There was so much wasted space it was driving me nuts. Short trip I know. :) Anyway, now I apparently need to make a new header and clean up some stuff, but at least it's not all squished.

I am now working on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket. You can see the picture there, but I don't have the video right now. I also bought the adult size pattern so I'll get to that sometime, too.


I recently finished a little vest from Knitty called Easybreezy. Such a simple construction! Not sure which charity it'll go to. This is the side showing how it's "seamed" together. Kinda cool!

Oh I also forgot to mention that I have 5 little sweaters ready to go to Knit for Kids. These are all acrylic or mostly acrylic and Knit for Kids is one of the groups that still accepts something other than wool. I used various patterns from the book Knitting for Peace, the Knit for Kids website and Knitting Pure and Simple.

Wow..been a long time since I updated!! We had a nice Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I'm glad the holidays are over.

All the little hats for Caps to the Capitol have been mailed. Now to mail all the little sweaters to Knit for Kids after I finish the one I'm working on. I started making the kids sweater in the book Knitting for Peace. I've finished one side and am working on the second now. It's my kind of sweater with very little seaming and lots of options for personalizing.

I ordered some Patons Classic Merino on sale at Joanns, plus free shipping! I'll have enough for a felted bag for DD2 and a few little sweaters and/or hats for Afghans for Afghans, Children in Common or some other charity. I wish the yarn would get here already!! LOL

....off to knit.....

I've completed 12 little hats now. I'm not thrilled with the dark gray one, but it was fun trying the fair isle diamonds on it.
I've started working on another Knit for Kids sweater now using stash yarns. It's going to be pretty bright, but I'm sure some little kid will love it!

Wow..it's been awhile since I've updated! Since this is mainly a knitting blog I didn't have much to share. :( It was so freaking hot this summer, unusually hot, that I didn't knit for at least 6 weeks. With no a/c the house was just too warm. Plus August was full of relatives visits so with all that I just set it aside for awhile.

It's cooler now and I'm back to knitting though! I am making some itty, bitty hats for a Save the Children project called "Caps to the Capital." I've got 6 done and one on the needles. They are really fast..I made two yesterday. The original pattern was to knit flat and then seam. Ugh. Someone from Knitting Help was kind enough to post a link to the pattern done on DPNs so that's they way these are done. I threw a little fair isle in there to make them more interesting since they are all the same pattern.


While I'm here, I'd like to make my last comment/review on Boca Java Coffees and Tea. The last one I tried was Late Night Log In. I really, really liked that one! I think it was probably my favorite although the decision was a hard one. My least favorite was Blogger's Boot Up Blend. It was enjoyable getting to try lots of different coffees and I do recommend Boca Java!

Boca Java Coffee review #4

I've been trying the New Media Mavericks blend this week. This one is really good! Not too strong and no bitterness even made nearly full strength. I think I'd have to say this is one of my favorites so far. It's a tough choice between this one and Pajama Passion blend. That one is flavored though so it holds it's own special place! Yum!! :)

I just finished this little hat! I made up the pattern and I'm pretty happy with it. I wasn't sure about the i-cord, but it came out okay. Modeled by the lovely Cheer Bear. :)

Boca Java Coffee review #3

I tried Blogs of Bravery today and really like it! The package said it is a blend of dark and medium roasts so I was expecting it to be a little strong or to have a bite to it, but it doesn't at all. It's nice and smooth and very tasty even made a little stronger than I normally do.

Here's the little sweater I'm working on for charity. It's a Knitting Pure and Simple pattern #9730. The yarn was donated for my charity stuff. ;)


I just finished my first fairisle/stranded hat! I love doing this and found it pretty easy so I think I'll be doing more in the future! I made this pattern up myself.

Boca Java Coffee Review #2

Since I'm the only one that drinks coffee at home on a regular basis it takes me awhile to get through a bag so I'm only on bag #2. Today I tried the Boot Up Blend. It says on the bag that it's a medium blend and I've have to agree with that assessment. I'm not a strong coffee drinker so this one is right up my alley. I made it slightly stronger than I normally would based on suggested brewing instructions and it's still rather light so I might try it even stronger tomorrow. I'm not very good at judging "hints and overtones" in flavors, but I will say it's really good!

I would also like to say I love this coffee mug that came with my sampler! I tend to drink coffee slowly because I'm always doing something else at the same time so my coffee sometimes has to be reheated in the microwave. The cup and coffee get hot, but the mug handle does NOT get hot unlike some other cups! It's a great size, too!

In other news...it probably looks like I'm not knitting...but I am. I've done some squares for a preemie blanket project and I'm working on a charity sweater. The body is done so now it's just the sleeves left. I also completed my first fair isle project! It's just a little sampler purse, but it came out really cute. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be!

Here's a couple sweaters I recently completed for Knit for Kids . I don't think I'll make anything that requires that much seaming at least for awhile. I made these using the magic ball method. It was fun watching the colors all come together, but there were a lot of loose ends to weave in. I prefer that to seaming though. LOL

I just received my coffee from Boca Java! For promising to review their coffees on my blog I received a hat, mug and 6 bags of various blends! I have to tell you they all smell great even through the sealed bags! My DH was in the room when I was checking them out and he asked me to make the Bloggers Pajama Passion blend. I made it stronger than I normally do but not as strong as they recommend. I LOVE this blend! The flavor isn't overwhelming, just light hint of the flavors in the blend and the scent is wonderful! I think the scent alone would sell a house! I will definitely make this one again and can't wait to try the others!