I got this wise idea last year to knit matching infinity scarves for my three lady friends.  I found the GAP-tastic pattern and immediately fell in love with it.  Simple.  Trendy.  Useful.  So I casted on with light brown yarn and got started.  I finished in about 2 months.  And then I casted on with pink yarn.  I finished it in about 3months.  Finally, I casted on with purple yarn.  Six months later, on Thanksgiving Day, I wove in the ends.   And it will be a very, very, very long time before I even blink at another pattern that has a seed stitch.  But the screaming fingers and 11-month time line was well worth it.  Because they were perfect.

For Natalie, a natural color.

For Abby, a bright and lively color.

For Kelly, my Little Skipper, purple. When I look at her, I see purple.

Squishy.  Warm.  Perfect for a cold winter day.  I really want one for myself… but I will be waiting a long while before I even decide what color I want.  Just the thought of knitting the seed stitch over and over and over again… yeah, it will be a long, long while.

*Pattern: GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley, free download on Ravelry.com.

I patted myself on the back a little too early with this project.  I was so proud of myself for reading the pattern, not skipping a yarn over or a slip slip knit, until one evening at knitting class.  You could say the conversation was distracting.  Or that I talked too much and forgot my place.  But I had messed up – enough to throw the pattern off and make me a sad knitter.

Luckily, I surround myself with prized knitters and the following evening at dinner (in a booth at BW3s), Navi attacked my project.  She slipped out the needles and began to unravel it.  I closed my eyes to avoid the horror.  And as she slipped the stitches back onto the needles, all was well again.  A stitches were accounted for, even the yarn overs.  And so I began to knit again and my pattern was perfect.  Until I tried it on.

I bound off too tightly.  So tightly that this beautiful cowl didn’t want to fit over my head.  If it wasn’t going to fit over my head, how in the world would it fit or my friend’s?  I pondered my two options: give to a kid who has a small head or undo the binding and reknit it.  I chose the second and I’m glad I did.  Because even though I had two set backs with this piece, I loved how it looked in the end.  How it actually fit.  How the leaves climb up the neck.  And I loved sending it off into the mail to keep a neck in Indianapolis warm.

*Pattern: Growing Leaves Cowl by Meghan Macko from Macko Design, free download on Ravelry.com.

It’s true.  Every gal needs pom poms in her life.  They’re cute, they’re fun and the name itself is darn fun to say.  Pom pom.

When I first started knitting, I hated pom poms.  I didn’t understand the point of having a tuft of yarn to top a hat.  But after looking at knitted pieces and patterns over the past couple years, the pom pom makes complete sense to me.  It’s the finishing touch.  And I love them best on ear-flap hats, right on the end of the I-cord that ties around your neck.

I finished another hat a couple weeks ago.  A kid-sized hat, with ear-flaps, pom poms and two little triangles on top – it was a kitty hat.  The hat itself is cute.  But the pom poms are my favorite part.  Fluffy, soft, perfect to tug on.  They make the hat, people.

*Pattern: Kat’s Hat by Diana Foster from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve finished my last knitting project and it’s been so hard to bite my tongue because I’m in love with it.  Of course, it was super secret.  Super secret is my new theme for knitting.  Shhh… don’t tell.  I torture myself with super secrets, but they’re usually worth it.  As this one proved to be as well.

I gifted the super secret last night.  To a good friend.  Who is expecting.  (Who isn’t expecting these days?  Riddle me that?)  So I made a special little something for her special little gal who’s making her debut in just one week.

I really, really like it.  Not just the pattern – the pattern is super easy and looks great and it’s free – but the colors and the yarn.  In all the examples I could find of this little sweater, everyone had made it for baby boys.  It really is a unisex sweater but I wanted to girl it up a bit without making it fru-fru.  Thus the cool purples and gray.  The little silver floral button ties it all together.

At least in my opinion it does.  And today, my opinion is all that matters to me.

The cotton and pima yarn… it’s so soft and snuggle-y… and still washable.  Apparently, that’s a very important thing in baby wardrobes.  And will be perfect to layer for this fall.

The stripes are what sold me.  The purls make the transitions between colors stand out.  It would look nice in a solid color too, but why would you not want stripes?

My only beef is when I slipped off stitches to work on the back and arms, I did not have the number of stitches the pattern said I should.  I had to add two stitches on the back and both arms.  No biggie.  But I thought I had messed up somewhere… and kept counting my stitches over and over again… and I hate counting stitches.  Finishing the piece was a tad difficult as the holes under the arms were much larger than I expected, but a mattress seam helped hide them.  And it may have taken me 30 minutes to crochet a one inch chain.  (That happens when you’ve never crocheted before.)  In the end though, I’m a huge fan.

I can’t wait to see weeMohn in her purple stripes.  Out of all the baby pieces I’ve knitted, I’ve only seen two little guys in little hats I made, so now I have something to look forward to.  I might also look forward to seeing weeMohn herself.  Very excited for our friends and their new addition – and hope to hear good news in the next week!

*Free Pattern: Super-Natural Stripes baby sweater by Fawn Pea

I’ve been keeping myself busy with too many things to count (all but cleaning, that is), but I keep making time for knitting.  I’ll admit it’s slowed down since the thermostat has been reading over 90°, but there are still projects in the works.  And of course, knitting “class” every week.  All this talk of football has me looking forward to hours of being posted on the couch with a skein of yarn in my lap.  But the rotten thing about all my working projects is that they’re all gifts.

Gifts = Secrets.  I don’t know why I torture myself with keeping things on the down low but I do.  It’s all hush over here.

Boo.

But I’m very excited about my latest project.  It’s coming together quite brilliantly, the colors are perfect, the comfy worsted yarn is very comfy (thus the name) and it’s pretty darn adorable.  It’s purple.  Actually, all of my current projects are purple.  I may have to throw in another small one just to mix up the color palette I’m working with.

As reluctant as I was to start knitting [because in my mind it's what old ladies did], I’m happy that started clicking my needles.  If my Mom hadn’t joined in her knitting circle, I would have never even tried.  But I love it.  I love to be able to create something with string and sticks.  I love that two stitches can make so many different patterns.  I love seeing how creative and intricate others can be with the same materials.  And I love sharing what I make.  Thus all the secret knitting.

It’s a viscious cycle.  But I think it’s worth it.

This hat was made with somebody in mind.  Someone that’s got a little funk in them and expecting a little boy in only ten short weeks.  When I came across the pattern, I said to myself, “Oooh, I know who’d like that.”  Come to find out, I was right.  (I love it when I’m right.)

The interesting thing about this hat is it’s made from the top down.  I was hesitant about doing an entire project that included M1 stitches throughout, but that’s the best way to learn.  And learned I did.  I knew I didn’t want to do bar increases because of the stockinette but I struggled with the knitted increase.  After I huffed and puffed, Susan and her crafting prowess came to my rescue and showed me the correct way.  I had left out a minor detail in the stitch… a detail that left no peek-a-boo holes… I conquered the Make One, people.

Also new to me was striping.  The pattern called for each stripe’s yarn to but cut and hidden.  Instead, I carried the yarn (it was only five rows) and was quite pleased with my jogs.  I won’t get into the pom-pom.  But I will tell you that it took way longer than it should have and I may have broken a sweat on Bev’s couch.  (Yes.  Knitting can be stressful.)

The stocking cap finished up very nicely though and I loved the final look of the piece.  I can’t wait to see it on someone’s little head though in a few months.  In other words, I NEED PICTURES!

*Pattern: Striped Stocking Cap by Deb Gemmell from Baby Knits Head & Toes!

You wouldn’t expect less, no?

Gah.  The cuteness kills me every time.

A dear friend of mine is expecting.  (What?  No way!  You know pregnant people?  Shut up!) She had shared with me that her little man’s nursery was invaded by owls and I made it my personal mission to incorporate something owlish on my Ravelry queue.  When I stumbled upon these little guys, I had to knit them up.  Just look at them – how could I not?

I started with the gray owl and followed the pattern (he finished about 2.5″ tall).  I wanted to try my hand at a second one, a larger one, so I casted on more stitches and improvised (he measured about 4″ tall).  After they were knit up and I finally found my bag of Polyfill [hiding in a closet top among a bazillion white pillows], I sewed up some rice bags to weigh them down, attached their eyes and stuffed them up.

To say I like them is an understatement.  I’m smitten.

I hope the owls find a nice place to cozy up in the nursery.  I hope they get touched and squeezed and drooled on.  And I hope to see Baby C’s photo with at least one them while wearing his stellar baby beanie.  *hint hint*

*Owl pattern: Owls Two Ways (knit and crochet) by Ana Clerc.  Free pattern available through Ravelry.com.

I found myself a new [free] pattern, not too far off from Miss Abby’s hat, and casted on.  I knew that I was going for the bear look, so I chose heathered brown yarn from Vanna’s Choice.  And I now know I don’t care for that particular yarn.  It looks very nice but I think  my fingers may have gotten spoiled with all the wool I’ve been knitting with.  Damn you, fingers.  So after I finished one, I casted on for a second to use up the yarn.  And then there were two nice hats.

Did I not mention that they’re super cute too?  How could I forget that morsel of information?  My bad.

Yeah, so they’re super cute.  One skein made the entire hat with ear flaps and then one hat and one bear ear.  Luckily, Bev at knitting class had extra of the same yarn and I was able to knit up the second bear ear to have  a complete set of ears.  And… done.

I actually gave these to some gals at work.  They both had little boys several months back and with these knitting up larger than expected, I thought they’d last at least through this year’s winter.  I got see some pictures of the little men in their hats – I died.  Seriously, my heart stopped because they were that darn cute.  THAT is the reason why I’m loving this knitting so much right now.  I love to share.

And so the cycle continues… and I knit another baby hat.  *addicted*

*Pattern: Lil’ Devil Baby Hat by Kitty Schmidt.  Opted out devil horns for bear ears.

Sure did.  I usually try not to make goals because I feel like a weenie when I don’t meet them.  And if I do make goals, I rarely share them with others because then they ask me questions and I have to admit I failed.  But I made a goal.  Nay, I made more than one goal – I made goals.  And I will be victorious.  Yes… yes I will.

My goals this weekend are to:

1. Turn on my sewing machine.
2. Thread a bobbin.
3. Drive some fabric down the line to practice.
4. High-five myself for making some progress in the land of sewing.
5. And, if I feel so inclined, attempt to craft something.

I’ve had my cute little sewing machine since October and I’ve done nil with it.  Even as I set it up at home, the hubs eversolovingly reminded me that I don’t know how to sew.  [As I'm quite good at it,] I ignored his spewing facts and told myself I could do this.  I could.  And I will.  Then I might have not touched my cute little sewing machine since I first set it up.  But by golly, I am bound and determined to use some damn needles and thread.

I have a binder full of tutorials, some projects are more for inspiration rather than coming to life, but my mind has been focused.  I’ve found several “easy” projects but I know they won’t be “easy” until I can weasel my way around my machine.  This weekend, I conquer my cute sewing machine.  Wish me luck.

I finally started a hat that my pal Abby had liked.  When I finished it, I decided to make one for Little Skipper too.  They were birthday hats. (One might have been belated… yeah, sorry about that.)  It only made sense that I make one for the final birthday, for Natalie’s birthday.  I fed my Ravelry addiction and searched for a new pattern, something different.  I found a few but after a little reassurance from PodMate, I casted on.  So glad I did.

It’s a Mystery Beret.  Or, a Meret.  It has such a pretty pattern and knitted up marvelously.  Don’t get me wrong, I had two major boo-boos but I was able to correct them myself.  (By the way, I might have felt like Wonder Woman after I did.)  The red is a bit off in the photo (Photoshop failed me) but the bamboo wool is a dark red, rightly named Lipstick. So so pretty.  Natalie’s reaction last night only makes it better.

I kind of want to make another one now but I have some other tricks up my sleeves.  Possibly more super secret knitting… maybe a project for myself… the possibilities are endless… but I know I’m loving my new hobby.

*Yummy Birthday Beret: Meret (Mystery Beret) by Woolly Wormhead.  Free pattern available through Ravelry.com.