FO Friday 26

Happy Friday everyone! I'm super excited because my in-laws are coming to town and I haven't seen them in quite some time. We're hoping the weatherman is wrong, as they are predicting rain almost the whole time they're supposed to be here, which is a huge bummer since they love coming to San Diego and eating outside since to them that's rare coming from the snowy Midwest. Keep your fingers cross for us.

Today I don't have anything new to show you, but I do have a few things to share. You may remember I made two dogs for my mother-in-law for Christmas, a corgi and a wiener dog to represent the two she lost this past year. She loved them dearly and I thought it would be awesome to have something to remember them by. I never sent them to her, as I found out they would be visiting us and thought these were presents that were better given in person than by mail. I recently put the final touches on them, with collars, name tags and a little sweater for Otto, as he always wore one when it was cold. They never bought an official sweater for him, but always just cut sweatshirt sleeves. I tried to go with that ragged look with mine to match. Each tag has the name of the dog it represents, and on back each say Love, Kurt and Tami. It's hard to get a pic of Otto's tag, as he is so short. LOL I hope she loves them as much as I do.




Also I promised a picture of the pillow in "action". Weirdly, the pictures I took earlier in the week with daylight were way too dark, so this is last night with the lights on. All of the walls of the room are the light color, and the dark color you see to the right is our long accent wall in the room. I figured this corner got it all kind of in one pic.

FO Friday 20

It's Friday again! Thank god, I think I'm ready for some time hanging out with my husband. I love days we can spend together, even if we just sit at home and play video games. This weekend should be beautiful here in San Diego, getting into the 70's on Sunday. Sorry to all of you who are stuck inside and surrounded by snow. I don't mean to brag. LOL

I had a fun week of packages arriving at my door! I ordered several knitting books from bookcloseouts.com, a knitting book from Barnes and Noble and tons of fingering weight sock yarn to dye. All of it came within two days of each other. So awesome. Here are the books that I got. I can't tell you how excited I was to find the Charmed Knits book for super cheap. I've been dying to get this book! The Big Book of Knitted Monsters was the one I got from B&N (obviously since it just came out).

Have any of you knitted any patterns from these books, or read the Yarn Harlot's books? I'm excited to dive in to all of them. What are your favorite patterns from these books if you own them?


Anyway, back to FO Friday. I have a few projects to share, and one that you've seen before but I thought I would show it to you completely finished.

You may remember the purse I made for my sister in law that I shared in FO Friday 18 and how I debated on a ribbon or not. Well, I found one that worked pretty well, so I went ahead and bought it. Here is the purse completely finished with the ribbon. Do you like the new addition?





I finished the heart washcloth, and also pretty much finished off that skein of yarn, so I marked it off of my yarn diet skein count. I had fun knitting this because it was easy, especially since it's hearts so that it was symmetrical. Once I read the first part of a row, I knew how to finish the row off without looking at the pattern. It made it an easy tv watching knit. Also, I loved how the yarn pooled when knitted.

Materials used:

US 6 needles
Bernat Handicraft cotton
Yarn needle





This has been a long time coming. I'm not sure why it took me so long, but I think it might have been the annoyingness (I know, it's not a word but just go with it. LOL) of the color change on such a small ami, BUT I finished the corgi!!! Planet June's pattern was great, and once I stopped complaining about all of the color changes, I finished it quickly. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The only thing that annoys me a little is that it turned out SMALLER than the wiener dog, which doesn't make sense, but oh well. I just need to do a collar and get a name tag before shipping it to my mother in law, along with the other dog I made for her.

Materials used:

5.00 mm (H) hook
Red Heart Super Saver (body- white)
Vanna's Choice
Caron Simply Soft (nose- black)
Poly Fluff Stuffing
Safety eyes- 9mm
Yarn needle

Share your FOs!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 22

My life is passing me by. How is it another Wednesday? How is it 2011? Scary, isn't it? I don't have a ton of WIPs to show you (okay, I actually have 3, so that's something, right?) because I've been busy completing projects, which is a good thing I guess. I still have Christmas presents to finish and ship off. My sickness and vacation sure turned that upside down. I feel bad, but then again, we never seem to send gifts to my in-laws on time for some reason. It's so much easier when family lives close and you have the stress of having to give their gifts in person. In the end, it's the thought that counts, right? Who cares if it's a little late. Let's hope they don't. LOL

Another piece of news that I wanted to share. I got a message on Ravelry the other day, Lion Brand wanted to use my reindeer I made last year as one of the pictures on the pattern page for Ravelry! I was SOOOO excited (and still am), maybe a little more excited than that warranted, but LOOK! They used my picture as the second one, right below THEIRS! Cool, right? I always wondered how they picked the pictures for the front pages of patterns. Now I know!

Now on to WIPW 22:



First off, sorry for the crappy picture, but I worked a little on it at my crochet meetup, so I couldn't take the pic until tonight with no lighting! Yep, here's the corgi (even though it doesn't look like one yet)! I haven't done much to it, but still wanted to add it to my WIPs since I'm still working on it. It's coming along good, though not fast since I have to keep changing colors. Normally that doesn't slow me down as much, but it's so small, that it's hard to get my fingers in there to swap the yarn, etc. I hope to have this finished by the weekend so that we can package them up and send them off with the other gifts going to my in-laws in Illinois.



After I finished the first fingerless glove, I didn't work on the second right away because I had all of the Christmas gifts to worry about. Now, I still have Christmas gifts to worry about but the stress has been taken away with them, so I thought it would be nice to have a mate for the first one. I decided to go up a needle size as the first one is a little snug at the finger area where I casted off and in the squishy part of my thumb. I can already see the difference in size, so that's a good thing! I think this one will fit perfect. At least one of my hands will be happy when wearing them. I'm still in love with this yarn color. I wish I could duplicate it again exactly, but unfortunately, with hand-dyed, that's not really possible. That's the blessing and the curse of it, right?



In last week's WIPW, I said I'd hoped to have both dishcloths finished by that post. I didn't get as much knitting done as I thought or wanted to on the trip, so I didn't finish this guy (pattern here). I hope to finish it this week, but we'll see. I don't have THAT much more to go, so if I just sit and concentrate on it, I can probably finish in an afternoon or evening.


For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!

FO Friday 10

Wowzers, we're already in double digits for FO Friday. I feel like we just started!

This time, I actually have my FO finished on time. YAY, me! Also a side note, I might not be able to finish an FO Friday project by next Friday due to being out of town for the holiday (Thanksgiving). Either way, I will be scheduling a post so those who would like to participate can post their FOs. Just a heads up. :)

Now on to FO Friday 10!

You may remember the start of my amigurumi dog, pattern by Lion Brand. Here are pictures of it in progress:





Not much, right? Now on to what he finished off like. I think he's adorable and I can't wait to give him to my mother in law. I decided to change it up a little, making the nose flat instead of a ball on the end like the pattern called for, and also changed the tail to make it more like her dog.

I'm calling it done right now, but I want to make it a little sweater out of fabric, as her dog, Otto, always had to wear a little sweatshirt because he could never get warm. I thought it would be fun to also get a little name tag for him, too.


Materials used:

4.00 mm (G) hook
Red Heart Super Saver (body- Coffee), nose- Black)
Yarn needle
9mm safety eyes
Poly Fluff stuffing

And the finished product (sorry for the bad pics but it's 10:30 at night):

Share your FOs!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 14

November is kicking my butt. There is no better way to say it. I was so happy to finish the owl bag, but that was only one present out of many that I have to make by Christmas. I still have faith in myself that I can do it, but haven't crocheted much since finishing the bag.

I did however, have time to learn the knit and purl stitch over the weekend. I posted about it yesterday here.

Here's what I've worked on:



You may remember from last week's WIPW that I started a dog for my mother-in-law. I was hoping to have it finished by now, but unfortunately, I don't. This is where it's at now. I'm going to try and finish by Friday for FO Friday. Keep your fingers crossed for me!



I thought I should probably have two Christmas presents being made at a time if they are small (the bag was way too much to work on two at a time, so this is my first time trying it). I started this hat yesterday for my brother-in-law. I'm using Caron Simply Soft, which I'm not a HUGE fan of when making the items, but love the way it feels once it's done and also Wool-Ease in blue. I didn't know what I wanted to use, other than the Caron Simply Soft. I dug through the stash and found the Wool-Ease. I love when I get to use some stash that I bought awhile ago and had no clue what I was going to use it for. Total win situation! It's the Animator's Hat pattern that I made for myself awhile ago, which you can see here.


For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!

FO Friday 6

Happy Friday! The weeks keep flying by! I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

You may remember, if you were visiting my blog back then, that I shared bits and pieces of a giraffe for WIPW 1. I have yet to show the finished product, and decided now was the time. Originally I made it for a friend of mine who just had a baby. I now feel like too much time has gone by for it to be a baby gift, so I think I'm going to keep it until Christmas and gift it then. I will either send it to said friend, or to my step-sister's baby boy, Hudson.

Below is the picture from WIPW 1.



Materials used:

3.75 mm (F) hook
Red Heart Super Saver (body- Bright Yellow), spots- Light Blue)
Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn (mane/horns/tail hair- Navy)
Yarn needle
Thread
Poly Fluff stuffing

And the finished product:

Share your FO projects!

My First Swap

I can't believe I almost forgot to share the pictures of my first swap! I decided to join in a swap over at the Ravelry group $10 Amigurumis for the month of August. The theme was dinosaurs and I thought it would be the perfect chance to create my own pattern. I shared my dino already here, but wanted to show the package I sent and received in all their glory.

The idea behind $10 Amigurumi is that each person should spend no more than $10 on the swap (minus shipping of course). You can include yarn, candy, craft items, of something to go with the theme of that month. Basically, anything goes (to a certain extent). Each person has filled out a questionnaire in the group thread, so once your partner has been chosen, you can look them up to see what their likes/dislikes are.

I loved participating in the swap and can't wait for my next one!

This is the package I sent to my partner. She mentioned she loves the color purple, blue and green, adores chocolate and is a teacher.



I was super excited to get my package. Who doesn't love to get a surprise box in the mail (even when you know that it is on its way)!? Here are a few pics of the items I received, including an adorable knit and crocheted dino! As you can see, his body is knit and his stomach, scales and bottom of his feet is crochet!

The Dinosaur Says RAAAARRRRR

Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone in the US! Please have a fun and safe holiday. Enjoy the last days of summer.

I took part in my first swap in August, and I had a great time. It was the swap from $10 Amigurumi Swap on Ravelry. I'm still waiting on my package to arrive from my swap partner, but I wanted to share the dinosaur I made for it. I'll share the full swap package in a separate post once I receive mine.

A few of you probably remember the progress from WIPW 2 and WIPW 3, in which I shared the beginning head and neck of the dino and then when he was almost complete. Now I present to you, the dinosaur finished! This was my first amigurumi from scratch with no pattern. If I were to make him again, I would change a few things, but I'm still really happy the way he turned out. To be honest, it was hard to send him away!

Materials used:

4.00 mm (G) hook
Loops & Threads Impeccable (whole dino- Deep Forrest)
2 buttons (for the eyes)
Poly Fluff stuffing
Yarn needle

To see all pictures of this dinosaur, please click here!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 3

First off, I wanted to announce that I am going to have a Flash Your Stash post this Friday with a Mr. Linky so we can all show off our stash of yarn! It will be an ongoing post (hopefully) so I won't be closing the Mr. Linky and will be adding a link to it at the sidebar of the blog. Feel free to post a link to your Friday Flash Your Stash post and add an updated picture whenever you like. Who doesn't love to see everyone's piles of beautiful yarn!?

Now on to WIPW3! Wow, did last week fly by! Unfortunately, I was sick for most of it, so I didn't get too much crocheting done. It just felt weird handling yarn being so stuffy and feeling gross. The bad was of course being sick and not crocheting. The good was I had tons of time to think up fun new projects! Once I started to feel better, I cruised through the dinosaur I have been working on for a swap (almost finished!) and did a decent part of the afghan I showed in WIPW1.

Here are both projects, closer to completion!


As I mentioned, I have an old picture from our first WIPW. It may not look like a huge improvement, but believe me...it is! I'm using the afghan stitch which is taking forever, but I love the result. The blanket is turning out thick and lush with no holes. The next square is going to be cream with brown flecks, and then solid cream. In the next row over, I'm going to offset the colors. I hope it makes for a good pattern! I can't wait to get the second square finished and the 3rd started.



This is where I'm at with the dinosaur for my swap. I hope to finish it tonight (the legs and eyes/mouth) so I can send it out, along with other goodies tomorrow or Thursday. I'm pretty proud of it (despite the lumpy tail) since it is the first thing, besides the cupcake, without a pattern. Though I didn't write the pattern down completely as I went (since I winged it), I still hope to make another one and iron out the issues I had with this one. I hope my swap partner likes it! I'll be posting the swap I send to her once she gets it (just in case she comes here) and will also be posting the box I receive! It's a round-robin swap this month, so it will be from different partners.


To share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in yours to get the word out! The more the merrier!

Under the Sea with Razzy

As I previously mentioned, my first amigurumi book was Amigurumi World: Super Cute Crochet. Before realizing I could find free patterns on great sites like Ravelry and Crochet Pattern Central, I used Amigurumi World for my first several amis. The octopus was one of the patterns that made me swoon, eventually leading to the purchase of the book. I couldn't believe how cute he was! This was my 3rd ami ever made, and I'm really proud of it. To this day, it holds up to my most recent ones. The hardest part was to fit all 8 legs and make them look good. I named him Razzy. :)


Materials used:

3.75 (F) hook
Red Heart Super Saver (body and legs-Lavender )
Pink felt
9mm safety eyes
Poly Fluff stuffing
Yarn needle

I worked on him from April 17-25.

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 2

Welcome to WIPW 2! I hope everyone enjoyed last week. I know I did. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone progress on their projects and what new they've been working on.

This week, I'm only going to share one WIP. The blanket I shared last week hasn't progressed enough to show again and the other projects will be shared on the blog in a completed state!

Here is my newest amigurumi:



I started this just yesterday when I was with Sharon, from the website Ami Amour (Visit her site. She makes amazing amigurumi and has a lot of great patterns for free!). This is our second meet up and we had a great time talking and crocheting at Panera Bread. This is my first true ami that I've come up with myself (other than the cupcake) and so far I'm happy with it. I'm doing a swap on Ravelry (my very first one) and this month the theme is dinosaurs. When he's done, he'll be a Brontosaurus...or so I hope! LOL

To share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in yours to get the word out! The more the merrier!

Turtle Time

After making the reindeer for my oldest niece, I figured I would do the same for my other niece who was turning one years old. Even if she wasn't going to play with it at a young age, I thought it would be fun for her to have it for when she gets old. I wanted to make something that wouldn't take me too long, but would be fun and more colorful than the reindeer. I looked through my Ravelry patterns in the queue, as well as books and magazines I had around the house.

Deciding on a cute tortoise pattern I had from the Crochet Today! May/June issue, I picked out soft but easy yarn to make amigurumi with. The pattern was for a mama and baby tortoise, but since I didn't have much time I decided to make the smaller of the two. I had this great yarn that I got because I loved the colors, but had no clue what I was going to make out of it. Seeing it again, I knew it was perfect for the project. I had a tight deadline and actually got it done hours before my niece's birthday party.

Below are a few pictures. At first I thought the eyes were a little big for how little he turned out, but now I like it!

Materials used:
3.75 (F) hook
Red Heart Soft Yarn (shell-Embers)
Caron Simply Soft (head/bottom of shell/legs-Lt Country Peach)
9mm safety eyes
Poly Fluff stuffing
Yarn needle

I worked on it from May 23-June 9, 2010.

To see all pictures of this turtle, please click here!

Reindeer in May! It's Never too Early

My niece's latest obsession are reindeer. When my sister mentioned her May birthday party was going to be reindeer-themed, I knew I just had to crochet one for her! I quickly went onto Ravelry and found a perfect (and free) pattern (you must be signed into Ravelry/Lion Brand to see it). Since it was the middle of the year, I figured I would make it with a brown nose and teal collar so that she could play with it throughout the year, instead of just during the holiday season.

Below are a few pictures of how the little guy turned out. I was actually pretty happy with it since it was one of my first larger amigurumi projects.

Materials used:
3.75 (F) hook
Red Heart Super Saver yarn (antlers/hooves/nose/tail-Coffee, body/legs/head- Cafe)
Red Heart Design Sport (collar-Pool)
9mm safety eyes
Poly Fluff stuffing
Yarn needle

I worked on it from May 2-23rd, 2010.

To see all pictures of this reindeer, please click here!