Warning: Project in picture may turn out better than it appears

So there's a saying that goes, "Never judge a book by it's cover." In the knitting world, it would be, "Never judge a pattern by its picture." I would have to say that is my BIG lesson this month.

Everyone seems to be having babies. I recently completed my first baby blanket which went ok, my gauge was wacky, but I my friend won't even notice ;) . Last week, I realized I have to begin the blanket for my husbands cousin, and soon, seeing that she's due in less than TWO months. AND another friend of mine asked if I could make a blanket for her sisters baby (thankfully, I can put that one off for awhile as she JUST found out she was expecting) So I jumped on Ravelry and began searching for baby blanket patterns. After two hours, I went to bed with a headache. I logged on this morning to look at a project someone had made and saw a blanket she had completed a few months ago. It was gorgeous. What's funny is that, the pattern she used was the one I was going to originally use to make the first baby blanket. I changed my mind after I found a pattern for a "cuter" blanket.

How wrong I was to base my cuteness scale on a picture. You would think I would know by now that there are three factors that determine the outcome of any knitting project: yarn, needles, and the hands that make it. So OF COURSE my project would look much different than a picture of the same project someone else made. From now on, I will definitely keep this important lesson in mind when searching patterns. As I type this, I realize this epiphany of sorts doesn't make my life any easier. In fact, it does the opposite, because NOW, when I search patterns, I will envision how different it can look with a different type and color yarn!

This is why I need to just create my own patterns...

I'm officially a designer!!

If you look under the "Designs" tab you will see a special section to help you search for things created just by yours truly! I have put up my very first pattern, the Hello Kitty leg warmers my sister requested for her birthday. I searched for hours on the web trying to find something remotely close to what my sister wanted, but found nothing. So I decided to just try to make some on my own. While I loved the challenge of creating my own pattern, I think I need to work on my knitting skills just a bit more before tackling any more . Feed back is very welcome, please feel free to share any changes you may have made when making this for yourself!

Hello Kitty Legwarmers

Finished measurements:

Gauge: 4”= 26 sts

Materials:

Size 5 US dpns (set of 4)

(A) 2 skeins Berroco Pure Merino DK in Black Magic (100% Merino 50 grams/126 yards)

(B) 1 skein Colinette Cadenza in Magenta (100% Merino 50 grams/132 yards)

(C) 1 skein Berroco Pure Merino DK in Ecru (100% Merino 50 grams/126 yards)

(D) 1 skein Berroco Pure Merino DK in Cardinal (100% Merino 50 grams/126 yards)

(E) 1 skein Berroco Pure Merino in Mimosa  (100% Merino 50grams/92 yards)

3 stitch markers

**Note Color (E) is only going to be used for two stitches (really) so if you have any leftover yellow yarn that you think will work for her nose, feel free to substitute it in**

CO 64 sts with (A). Divide sts onto 3 needles (20, 20, 24) Make sure the needle you will be working with first has the largest amount of sts.

Join in round. Place stitch marker to indicate beginning of round.

With (A), work 1x1 rib for 12 rnds

*With (B) knit across for 8 rnds

With (A) knit across for 8 rnds

Repeat from * 2 more times

Begin working row 1 of color chart 1 for 24 sts. Finish round with (B)

Continue in this fashion through row 8 of color chart 1

Begin working row 9 of color chart 1 for 24 sts. Finish round with (A)

Continue in this fashion through row 16 of color chart 1

Begin working row 17 of color chart 1 for 24 sts. Finish round with (B)

Continue in this fashion through row 24 of color chart 1

With (A), work 1x1 rib for 12 rnds.

BO loosely

repeat for second legwarmer except use color chart 2

Color Chart 1

Color Chart 2

Burn, baby, burn

I've become somewhat of a yarn snob. I didn't mean to, honestly. I started out trying to be frugal, after all, not knowing how deep into it I was about to get. So when I began working on the back pack for my daughter, I figure, hey its for a six-year-old, no reason to drop a load of cash for her. How wrong I was. I fished out $20 for four skeins of worsted 100% acrylic yarn, and was left with a LOT of left over yarn. I've used it to knit a couple of cell phone covers, and currently working on a hat with kitty ears. Let me tell you, any time I have good yarn I spent good money on, I am quick to begin working with it. My kitty ear hat sits forlorn on my nightstand, day after day, while I knit up blankets, hats, legwarmers, and a shrug with better quality yarn.

So why the standoffish attitude towards the cheap yarn? I like quality. I understand that for most things, if you skimp on the dollar, you skimp on the quality. My husband is just now beginning to understand why I'll spend $60 for a pair of jeans at a department store, instead of $20 at a discount store. Cheaper yarn generally isn't high in quality. The manufacturer uses a percentage of the fiber that makes good quality yarn, and substitutes acrylic in for the rest, making it cheaper to produce. So obviously the cheapest yarn out there will be 100% acrylic. While that makes it easy on my wallet, it takes its toll on my knitting. It's hard for me to work with. I find myself putting more effort into making those stitches because the yarn won't slide off my needle or through the old stitch easily. I don't know why, but it also dried out my hands. Besides, the finished product just LOOKS cheap. I don't want to make something that looks like it could be purchased at the local dollar store. I'm tempted to host a bonfire and just use all that acrylic for kindle. I wonder how it will burn? I know that sounds dark, but really, that's how much I dislike that yarn. I am now a firm believer that acrylic should be for my nails ONLY.  From here on out, if it isn't found in nature (on a plant or from an animal/worm) then it isn't for me!

I'm a Barbie girl

Over these past few months, I've had to buy many kinds of yarn for all of the projects I've done and have collected a bit of a collection of the left over yarn. I grew up in a home where being wasteful was a big NO-NO. I don't know how many times my mother told me, "You better appreciate what you have, because your cousins in the Philippines don't have it."

So, naturally, I look at all that left over yarn and automatically start thinking of things I need to do with it so it doesn't end up in the trash. I've knitted a couple small pieces (baby hats, cell phone covers) and have grown quite bored making them. I entertained the idea of making some amigurumi but I don't know how far I can go with that before everyone gets tired of receiving them from me!

Then a GENIUS idea came to me. Why not knit barbie doll clothes? She spends half her time naked anyways (you'll understand when you have a little girl in your life under the age of 10) Not only will I have something to do with that extra yarn, but I will be able to practice making all sorts of different projects (just miniaturized) AND barbie will have an extensive FREE wardrobe! Can I get a what what?

Knit me baby, one more time

Wow I have been so busy. I have completed a few projects these past few weeks, will add them to the end of this blog.

I find it really funny that when people FIRST find out I knit, I get one of two responses: "Wow, you're an old lady now, can you knit me something?" or "I have ALWAYS wanted to learn how but never had the time(don't have patience, it looks hard, etc), can you knit me something?" Since I am still fairly new to the knitting world and obscenely obsessed (I caught myself smelling my yarn in the car), I am pretty generous with knitting things for people right now. The ladies at my LYS did make a valid point with me yesterday. Only the people who are crafty themselves will truly appreciate what it takes to make that sweater. So I decided to reserve my big projects to immediate family only. The one exception to my new rule is a pullover hoodie my cousin wants me to make her by Christmas, but that's because she is buying the yarn.

About to start my sisters birthday present. She requested pink and black striped leg warmers with a Hello Kitty face on the calves, so this is a totally custom made pattern. I am currently working on my gauge and trying to make a color chart that will fit. This has to be done in 3 days! I've got my sweatbands on and "Eye of the Tiger" playing in the background. Let's do this!!!

And now for pictures! I recently completed my daughters backpack and the baby blanket for my friend: