Some Inspiration!

Sorry I haven't got any new pictures up, I use my boy's computer to upload my pictures and I haven't been over there much, what with end of semester workload and all....but here's some ideas I've been pondering for projects that may inspire you too!

Isn't this knitted sheep dishcloth cute? I don't think I'll use it for a dishcloth, since I have some concerns about the sanitariness of cotton cloths, (although they must be the most satisfying projects ever!)but imagine a pillow or bag, or even sweater with this little guy on it! I'm not sure about the technique of knitting bobble stitches, but I imagine a crochet popcorn stitch would work just as well.

http://www.knittingknonsense.com/bobbles_sheep.html



My old school pal and new roommate Brittany wants me to teach her to crochet because-get this- she wants to crochet herself a full-body catsuit. The mind boggles. I'm pretty sure I actually have a pattern like that in one of my old magazines, too....
She's also crazy about these ferociously ugly knee-length lace-up knitted moccasin things I have a pattern for (which I bought at Goodwill just because I couldn't believe what I was seeing). I foresee that my projects may soon be worthy of Stitchy McYarnpants' museum.


I lopped off my hair last night, and I'll admit it, I was surreptitiously trying to look like Amelie Poulain...at least it wasn't Jennifer Aniston or anything. So now, I look good in hats! Unfairly cute, even, if I do say so myself. So expect a bunch of cotton summer beanies to be surfacing soon!

I'm going to see Salman Rushdie speak tomorrow at the University of Buffalo. (!!!!!)Brittany's sister is a student there and she scored us free tickets! How lucky am I!

Just so I remember..

I did nothing but play with yarn yesterday, and I finished Marnie McLean's ribbon choker, a snail keychain based on Missa of Midnight Knitter's, a kerchief, and made some progress on the circle pillow for Brittany. I also started crocheting a jute backpack, which doesn't feel nice but will be very sturdy. I'm thinking of making a bag out of my leaf squares.....I really enjoy doing them, it's so much fun to watch the leaf appear. I'll put up some pictures later on.

Magic Ball Knitalong scarf.

Crocheted strawberry purse.

Salon Capelet from Interweave Crochet...

Easy peasy cardigan...

A lot of hours went into these babies.

So here's what I've been up to:

The black cardigan, (which looks tons better in person! And not nearly as chubby on me! It really looks fantastic!) was the easiest garment to knit you can imagine. I got the pattern from the book Teen Knitting Club, by Wenger, Abrams and Lasher. I highly recommend this book to any beginning knitter. All the projects are classy and nifty and EASY. I finished this cardigan in three days and didn't get confused once. It would look better if I had used better yarn..I used Caron Natura or something like that,100% awful acrylic from the D&K Store, 63 cents a skein, on size 13 needles....I figured since it was my first attempt at knitting a sweater I'd keep it cheap. It actually feels pretty good and I'm very happy with it. I'll be making more.

But not as happy as I am with my Salon Capelet!! I bought the Interweave Knits Crochet magazine from Ebay and this capelet turned out even better than I expected. It also looks a lot better in person..the drape is so beautiful! I used recycled cotton yarn and a G hook, and left off the popcorns....but I love this capelet. Now I just want to find the perfect pin to keep it closed with. It took me roughly eight hours of work.

The strawberry bag is a copy of a knitted one on Craftster, which didn't turn out as nicely as the original, but I still like it. I feel extremely...whimsical. The pattern really isn't a pattern at all...it's just the same as all my other patterns....you know, crochet in the round. Same thing.

The scarf is from a knitalong, the idea is that you tie together all your bits of scrap yarn and make something out of your resulting mutant yarn monster ball. I am very very pleased with mine, except that it curls like a mother, despite my best blocking efforts, so I essentially have a tube scarf. But it's pretty. Very Pretty.

Currently I'm practicing knitting embossed leaf squares, and working on an extremely vintage round knitted pillow for a friend. It's from a booklet I got from Ebay...wait til you see this thing. It doesn't get more 70's than this....

So do you like my stuff? =)