Socks in progress #2

Just a quick photo of my progress :)

 Why can't I rotate my pic? Soooo annoying :(

Kid scarf.

My daughter completed her scarf several months ago, and I am just now getting around to posting about it.

The pink scarf is my 7-year-old's first crocheted project. You can see that the tension is a bit wonky in places, and the sides have some decreases and increases where there shouldn't be any, but I think it looks pretty good for a kids' first project. I helped her by making the flowers and the fringe, but the rest is all her work.

My daughter is currently working on another project, and I'll post on it when she is all finished.

Completed Project - kids shirt.

I recently finished the shirt for my younger daughter. I used the same Knit Picks CotLin yarn that I used for my eldest daughter's shirt, but this time I only used about 3 2/3 skeins of yarn. I used the "Lacy Heart Curtain" stitch allover for a fun and girly look. I continued the pattern up the straps and joined them using Kitchener stitch (grafting). I finished the shirt by crocheting a scalloped edge along the bottom. I think it turned out nice, and my daughter loves it, so mission accomplished!

I made the shirt long on purpose. The tunic-like length will hopefully allow her to get a couple years of wear out of it. In the pictures she has worn it all day and stretched the bottom quite a lot, but it seems to snap back and relax nicely after a whirl in the wash. I really do love that the yarn is so easy to care for. The more washes it goes through the nicer the drape and feel of the fabric become. Someday I may venture to make a shirt for myself out of the CotLin yarn, but not for a good long time ;)

Socks in progress.

Thought I'd follow my progress on a pair of socks for my husband. I cast on last night and am working on the toes today. I have included a picture of my progress around noon, then will have a second picture at the end of the day.

I am using size a 1 (2.50mm) 40" cable for magic loop method. The yarn is Knit Picks Comfy Fingering in the color "Whisker." The yarn is 75% Pima Cotton and 25% Acrylic. The yarn is super soft in hand and has a really pretty sheen to it. I can't wait to feel the finished socks!

I am using my favorite sock construction techniques with the double lattice stitch for the instep and leg of the sock. Someone somewhere has no doubt used this stitch for socks before, but I am not following any pattern. If I feel so inclined, I may make a pattern for these socks as I go.

This is the method I used to cast on. The method is called a Turkish cast on (magic loop is the technique using one circular needle instead of two, it does not refer to the cast on method used). Anyway, I like this method because it is very easy to do, easy to remember, and has a seamless look (plus it is comfy on the toes).

I have a cup of coffee next to me and E3 coverage on the TV... this has got to be the perfect set up for power knitting :)

UPDATE @ midnight

Here is my progress at the end of the day. As you can see, the toe section is complete and I have a few rounds of the stitch pattern complete. The yarn really makes the stitches pop. I hope to have enough done by the end of tomorrow to really show the stitch pattern clearly. Also note that the color is off in this second picture. The yarn appears to be more of a green than a silvery gray.

Completed Project - Kid's Summer Dress.

Here is another project that I just sort of sat down and started knitting. This is a summer dress I made using Knit Picks Shine Worsted yarn (60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal) in the color "Dandelion." I love using this yarn, it is soft, has a beautiful sheen, and washes up nicely in the washing machine.

I worked this dress in the round from the top down. I cast on enough stitches to go around my daughters chest, worked in stockinette until long enough then increased and started working in a very simple flower eyelet stitch until the dress was long enough. After casting off, I crocheted around the top edge of the dress and worked two straps to tie it with. I had originally wanted to knit real straps for the dress, but didn't have enough yarn so I settle with two simple ties instead. I used 9 skeins of yarn altogether so the total cost of the dress was just under $27.

My daughter loves this bright and fun dress and has been wearing it every chance she gets. I love that it is easy to care for and is so cheery and summery :)

Completed Project - Kid's Shirt.

I finished this shirt for my 7-year-old a little over a week ago. This was something I just sort of made up as I went along. The stitch pattern I used is called "open twisted rib." I worked the shirt from the bottom up in the round, made separate little sleeves then joined them and worked the top in yoke fashion, decreasing right before the collar. The shirt turned out very well and should grow with her.

The yarn I used was Knit Picks CotLin yarn (70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen) in the color "Conch." I used just under 5 skeins of yarn for the whole project putting the cost just under $15. I really like this yarn and am making a shirt for my younger daughter with the 3 1/4 skeins left over from this shirt. I will be buying more of this yarn in the future for sure.

 

 

My daughter really likes this shirt. It is soft (gets softer with each wash too!) and holds up nicely. We are thinking this shirt will look very cute with some peasant style skirts for summer. I like the way it turned out because it looks nice with just about anything. She can wear it around the house to play in, but can also pair it with a skirt and wear it to church. Not too shabby for just sitting down and knitting with no plan beforehand. Some day I would like to create a pattern for this shirt to share with others. I would like to make it in a couple other colors, and maybe in a couple different sizes. I will try to learn something about pattern making once my life settles down a bit.

Mermaidia socks complete.

I completed these socks quite a while ago, but due to recent events I was unable to post until now. Not really a Christmas present anymore, I guess they are a happy summer present instead. I think the socks turned out good and I hope the recipient likes them.

I am not too crazy about the yarn I used for this. I do not think I will be purchasing this yarn again. There is enough left over of this skein, that I'm going to make a pair of children's socks. If the yarn was really really bad to work with I would just toss it, but I am going to use it up.