International Tatting Day 2015

It's International Tatting Day!!! It's almost Easter and I have been working on some covered eggs. The blue egg is paper-mache and the red a wooden egg, both found at local hobby stores. The eggs were painted with acrylic paint and sealed with Mod Podge.

Blue: Sz 30 DMC Cebelia

Pattern: Christiane Eichler

Red: Sz 30 DMC Cebelia

Pattern: Renulek

Off to do some tatting and have some  chocolate.

Pins and Shuttles

This month at guild meeting we had a program on pin cubes. Some were stitched, some not, some were old, and some were new. As part of the monthly program we had the opportunity to make a paper pin cube. 

Some stitched pin cubes.

A paper pin cube and 2 pin towers.

An antique pin cube

The two large pin cubes are new but have been given an

antique finish. 

My paper pin cube.

Now that my paper pin cube is done, I am working on a stitched pin cube. I am working on one that appeared online as an SAL in 2009. I decided to stitch something on each side, five of the six are complete.

On that tatting front. I made 2 starts on the Spring 2015 doily by Renulek. The first I used to make a cupcake pin cushion for a friend and the second a for the doily. I started late, got to the first part of round 2 then stopped to make some Easter eggs. I have one egg complete and I'm working on the second. Should have that done soon. Easter is almost here.

Spring 2015 doily by Renulek

Cupcake pincushion.

Thanks for stopping by,

February Week 1.5

My Snowflakes for February are Snowflake #4 from Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments.

Snowflake #4

Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments

by Barbara Foster

Lizbeth sz20. white

I made a start on Jane's tat-a-long, Tat It and See 2015 and made it to Day 8. Though the 2015 TIAS was finished up over the weekend, I plan to  continue and finish mine as well. Up until the very end I though I would wind up with a blue bunny. As it turns out the TIAS was a pair of scissors. Now that all is revealed I have the blades done and need to add the handles.

TIAS 2015

Manuela sz20

My knitting has been on two projects. My version of the Purple Sweater by Jenifer Stark on Ravelry. I am doing mine in Vanna's Choice Yarn by Lion Brand. The sleeves are the next portion of my sweater that I need to work on. The pattern calls for long sleeves but I want to make 3/4 length sleeves, (well just below the elbow). Hopefully I can get 2 sleeves that match and have a nice taper. (LOL)

Purple Sweater by Jenifer Stark

Ravelry

Vanna's Choice, Oatmeal, 

sz 10.5 cir. needles

My second knitting project was to be a pair of oven mitts made with Sugar and Cream. Well mine will be Peaches and Cream because that's what I have on hand. My knit group is working on these as a Knit-a-Long. Since I am learning some new to me techniques, I will be sticking with the yarn I have already, My first choice of colors wasn't pleasing to me so after group on Monday I tink-ed the portion I had done. (tink- un-knitted, unraveled). Need to see how much I can get done before we meet again next week.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

Snowflakes

Snowflakes number one and two are done. It's hard to tell from the picture but I have one of the Snowflake No. 1 attached to the ball ornament. It is a pearlscent white and the white thread didn't photograph well. I have a second ball that I will attach the other snowflake to.

Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments

by Barbara Foster

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

First of 2015

My first finish of 2015 is my shawl. I finished it on New Years Day, Over the weekend I blocked it, and here it is.

Harvey

Sock-Yarn Shawls

Patons: Krory Socks FX 

Color:57210

This year I am planning on taking the 25 Motif Challenge, and taking part in two stitching blog challenges, Halloween Ornies SAL 2015 and 2015 Stitching Smalls SAL. I am working on Snowflake #2  from Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments, by Barbara Foster. It would be so nice to make at least one of each snowflake in this book.  

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

Knits and Tats

My shawl is very close to being finished. I am working on 'Harvey' from the book Sock-Yarn Shawls, by Jen Lucas. This is my first attempt at making a lace shawl. I pulled out my first 3-4 starts, before I got the hang of it. Then I figured out how to read a simple chart and learned the value of a life line, all the while learning how to read the stitches on the needle. These lessons should be invaluable in improving my knitting. I have about 6 more rows of the lace pattern then the final border, after which will be the lesson in blocking.

Here is my progress (1/2 of the shawl):

Harvey

Sock-Yarn Shawls

Patons: Krory Socks FX 

Color:57210

I managed to complete several sets for earrings, and a pendant that I used for Christmas gifts. The ds count was the same but the threads were different and so was the final size. I used several size 20, Lizbeth Threads and some DMC Fil argent, Art. 285, the beads were seed beads from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

The Knitting Bug

I can hardly believe the date of my last post to this blog. It didn't feel as if I had been away that long. I know I've worked on a few things since July. Maybe I can find the pictures and do a 2014 round up later this month.

Last month I was required to work some very long hours. When I got home there wasn't much energy left for creativity. I did manage to knit a few items. They will be used for birthday and Christmas gifts. Most of the patterns used were from Ravelry.

Purple: Mobius, Vanna's Choice, 145 Eggplant

Mulberry Mix: Hat POP! , by Kristy Vine, Red Heart Super Saver

White : basic beanie, Bernat Deniumstyle

Pink Hat: Red Sparkle Hat by Elena Chen, 

                       Scarf: The Big Easy Scarf by Lee Samsami Stein

Vanna's Choice, 101 Pink

The Mobius was an experiment. I wanted to use up some left over yarn from another hat I made, so I decided to try Cat Bordhi's Mobius Cast On. The other hat didn't make the photo shoot. It was hiding somewhere on the couch. The first row of the Mobius was a bit fiddly, but after that it was fun to watch it grow. For this first trial I simply knitted 4 rows then purled 4 rows until most of the yarn was gone then bound off. I have already added a few patterns to my wish list on Revelry, As soon as my new yarn arrives I will be deciding which one to try first. 

I used Silfoxes Tatting stitch count to make this set. I haven't gotten the beads just right but I am happy with them and will be making a few more.

Lizbeth size 20, Color 633

Seed beads from stash

I need to finish my ends and add some findings to make a pair of earrings and a pendant.

Next post I hope to share the shawl I am working on.

Thanks for hanging in with me and continuing to stop by,

Gwen