Dishcloth: Round and Square

Ok. Since I have been on Christmas vacation I have been knitting up a storm. My right hand is now swollen and hurts. I am forced to take a break. Booooooo! Before quitting I made 2 more dish cloths. The round one looks much better than my first yellow round one (http://www.mielkesfarm.com/dishclth.htm). I used size 10 needles instead of 8 and sewed the seam up correctly this time.  Here is the site for the square one:  http://majorknitter.typepad.com/photos/patterns/dishrag_and_magazine_photo.html.

Found out that my husband's cousin Sarah is going to have another baby!!! I must get busy on a girl sweater and booties and a boy sweater and booties since I don't know if it will be a girl or boy. She is due in August so I have time.

So much knitting to do and so little time!

Dishcloth Madness

I made 6 easy dishcloths for my office co-workers. I finished the last one the night before the last day of school. Now I am busy making them for Christmas stocking stuffers for my family.

Made my first round dishcloth and love it except for where I sewed the seam. I tried to graft it and it is so noticeable. Oh well. I will do it differently the next time.

Baby Kimono Sweater!

Here is the baby kimono sweater. The most challenging part was picking up the stitches around the neck side. It was hard to keep them looking even. The pattern is from the book shown above. This book has many cute baby knits. The best part is that I found it at Halfprice Bookstore. I am currently working on a vest sweater for Daniel. I have the back completed and almost have the front done. There is a problem with the front that I am trying to figure out. I may have to pull it out and start the front over. Ugh.

Raglan Baby Sweater

My first sweater is done! I can't believe I did it. Sewing in the arms was the hardest part. Can't wait to start sweater number 2. It is going to be a baby kimono. Stay tuned!
Raglan Baby Sweater by Joanne Hinmon:  http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babysweragcard2.htm

Sweater Pieces Done

All of the pieces to the baby sweater are completed and pressed. I was so excited that I took these pictures before they were completely dry. Just a little nervous to start sewing the pieces together. I will post a picture as soon as it is complete.

Knitted Bookmark

I took a break from the baby sweater and made this "Chain of Hearts" bookmark (http://brileyknits.blogspot.com/2007/06/chain-of-hearts-bookmark.html) for my Aunt Jan. Fast to make and pretty. It is sprayed with fabric stiffener.

Baby Sweater

Here is my first attempt at a baby sweater. Here is the back of the sweater. I will start on the sides and arms next.

Knitted Moccasin Slippers

Daniel is so thrilled with his superhero slippers that I knitted for him. He wants me to knit some for daddy so that they can play superhero together. Daddy is not much of a slipper person. I am now making a pair of these slippers for myself. I adjusted the pattern by using size 6 needles so that they would be small enough for Daniel. He wears a size 8 toddler shoe. Here is the address for the pattern: http://crochetandknitting.com/mocslipk.htm

Here are a few items that I have knitted. I have only been knitting more complicated items since Dec. 2007. I still have lots to learn. My 8 year old daughter was thrilled with the slippers (http://knitwits-heaven.tripod.com/pocket_book_slippers.htm) I made her. The baby outfit was the first thing that I made other than scarves. I created the dress myself but got the Mary Jane Booties pattern (http://home.howstuffworks.com/free-baby-bootie-knitting-patterns2.htm) and the diaper cover pattern (http://www.birdcrossstitch.com/soakers/pattern/index_printable.html.)

Knit, Swurl, and Other Stuff

Knit, Swurl, and Other Stuff sums up what I love to do. I love to knit. I love to "swurl"--drink coffee, (which is a play on the word "purl" in knitting), and I love other things like nature, chocolate, reading, family and Jesus.

My grandma loved to knit. She made bandages for a hospital in Africa, dishcloths, and blankets. My mother taught me to knit. The first thing I did was a bandage. I moved on to scarves and then got brave and tackled a baby outfit. I have fallen deeply in love with knitting. Whenever I see anything knitted I find myself naming the stitches and how it was made. Grandma Bollinger knitted even when she couldn't see very well. She would say, "It might not be pretty but at least I am still making something useful." That perserverance is one of the qualities that I loved about her. She loved God with all her heart and she truly believed this verse from the Bible: Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."