More Stash Organization

The sun never did fully come out yesterday, but I decided to take some pics during mid-day anyway. I don't think that they turned-out too horribly...

Stash

Baby Bee: Sweet Delight Baby
Colorway: Frolic Ombre
Using for October Socks

Crystal Palace Yarns: Mini Mochi
Colorway: #103
Using for June Socks

Baby Bee: Sweet Delight Baby
Colorway: Ladybug Ombre
Using for April Socks

Sunshine Yarns: Soft Sock Yarn
Colorway: Bitterroot
Using for July Socks

South West Trading Company: Tofutsies
Colorway: #854
Using for September Socks

Also, my January Socks are all finished!! I'll post pics of the totally complete ones once I get them loaded onto my computer. Until then, though, you'll have to just look at the "almost there" socks...

(I'm sorry about the bad lighting. As I told you, the sun never really came out yesterday.)

Ok, Now I'm Excited

Rita at Castle Fibers just announced that she’s starting a new line of yarns called R.I.P. and I need to get the Scab colorway for my December Socks!!

It would be so perfect!!

Come Out Sun

I'm really hoping that the sun will cooperate with me today and come out soon so that I can get some more pics taken. I spent last night figuring out which yarns I want for each month of socks. I've just got 4 months left to pick-up yarn for, so I don't think that I'm doing too badly. The July and September socks may switch places, though. To me, bright green lace socks seem far more appropriate to knit in the summer than in the fall.

Hopefully, I'll be back later with actual pics and more content.

^_^

Winter Buddy Pattern

I just used some worsted-weight Red Heart that I had on-hand for this cute little Snow-person. Worked in the round in single crochet, it’s a very quick project and is great for beginners or last minute gifting.

You can also use a baggie filled with sand as part of the stuffing for the Bottom Snowball and he becomes a very festive doorman. (I suggest staying away from fillings like beans and rice because they can attract bugs over the years.)

Note: I sewed the buttons onto my snowman after I had finished making him. If you want, you can sew the buttons on prior to stuffing the individual snowballs. (I just like doing the accessorizing last.)

Pattern:

Bottom Snowball

R1: (Using the Magic Ring Method) Work 6 Single Crochets. (6 SC)

R2: Work 2 SC in each SC around. (12 SC)

R3: (SC in next SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R4: (SC in next 2 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R5: (SC in next 3 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R6: (SC in next 4 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R7: (SC in next 5 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R8: (SC in next 6 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(48 sts)

R9: (SC in next 7 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(54 sts)

R10: (SC in next 8 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(60 sts)

R11 - R13: Work even in SC. (60 sts)

R14: (SC in each of next 8 SC, decrease 1 SC) 6 times.
(54 sts)

R15: (SC in each of next 7 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(48 sts)

R16: (SC in each of next 6 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R17: (SC in each of next 5 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

Fasten off (leaving enough of a tail to sew on Middle Snowball) and tuck-in loose ends. Stuff with fiber-fill, set aside.

Middle Snowball

R1: (Using the Magic Ring Method) Work 6 Single Crochets. (6 SC)

R2: Work 2 SC in each SC around. (12 SC)

R3: (SC in next SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R4: (SC in next 2 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R5: (SC in next 3 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R6: (SC in next 4 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R7: (SC in next 5 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R8: (SC in next 6 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(48 sts)

R9 - R12: Work even in SC. (48 sts)

R13: (SC in each of next 6 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R14: (SC in each of next 5 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R15: (SC in each of next 4 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R16: (SC in each of next 3 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R17: (SC in each of next 2 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

Fasten off (leaving enough of a tail to sew on Head) and tuck-in loose ends. Stuff with fiber-fill, attach to Bottom Snowball, set aside.

Head

R1: (Using the Magic Ring Method) Work 6 Single Crochets in contrast color. (6 SC)

R2: Work 2 SC in each SC around. (12 SC)

R3: (SC in next SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R4: (SC in next 2 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R5: (SC in next 3 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R6: (SC in next 4 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R7 - R11: (Switch to main color.) Work even in SC. (36 sts)

R12: (SC in each of next 4 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R13: (SC in each of next 3 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R14: (SC in each of next 2 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R15: (SC in next SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(12 sts)

R16: (dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(6 sts)

Stuff with fiber-fill, thread yarn through remaining 6 SC and pull tight to close hole. Make a small pom-pom & attach to the center of the “hat”. Attach Head to the Middle Snowball, weave in ends, set aside.

(I just embroidered a brim onto the “hat” by overlapping basic stitches along the color change until they bumped-out and gave a bit of a lip.)

Scarf

R1: Ch 70. Fasten off, cut yarn leaving a 3 inch tail. (70 sts)

R2: SC into each ch. Fasten off, cut yarn leaving a 3 inch tail. (70 sts)

R3: SC into each ch. Fasten off, cut yarn leaving a 3 inch tail. (70 sts)

Add fringe to scarf ends, trim to 1.5”. Tie onto Snowman.

Finishing

Determine button alignment and sew onto Snowman.

Ta-Da!! Now you have a cute little winter buddy.

^_^

Trying to get all caught up...

Right now my knitting obsession is threatening to take over our little apartment so I need to make an honest attempt to organize everything before something gets either destroyed or spilled on. I almost had a heart attack when my dad's washcloth was nearly drenched in tea last night because I was trying to avoid stepping on a bag of afghan squares. So, I decided that in the next few days I'm going to focus on getting all of my yarn and projects entered both here and on Ravelry and then safely packed away so that I don't go crazy.

Projects:

January Socks - I decided to make at least one pair of socks each month this year out of Laura Chau's book, "Teach Yourself Visually Sock Knitting". (Which, just so happens to have 12 different sock patterns.) I love the things that Laura designs and have been meaning to try my hand at socks for awhile now so this is the perfect way to force myself to finally get going. The first pair is the Basic Top-Down Sock Pattern and I've just completed my first sock this morning!! It's just a wee bit snug width-wise so I think that i'll go up a size for my next pair of socks, but keep the lengths the same.



Finished Winter Buddy - I've been putting off taking pics of my finished snowman and I have no idea why. I'm so glad that I found these buttons at Walmart, though. I think that I paid all of $1.50 for a nice big pack of them in black and white. They work very nicely in place of coal, don't they?


Stash:

Regia: Bamboo Color
Colorway: #1065
Using for January Socks

Castle Fibers: Castle's Royal Sock Yarn
Colorway: Christmas Candy Canes
Using for Febuary Socks

Castle Fibers: Yarn(scapes)
Colorway: SD Sunset
I haven't decided which month this will be used for, yet.

Conjoined Creations: Flat Feet
Each flat is unique so there is no colorway
Using for March Socks

Quick Update

I've been super busy since Christmas and have had some issues logging into my blog on my new computer so here's a quick re-cap:

I made baked apples.

We went to Deadwood.



I worked on my mom's Christmas scarf.



It snowed in Deadwood.



We drove home.



I started making a Snowman of my own design.
(I'll post the pattern as soon as I write it.)

I watched a beautiful sunset on the way to knit-night at Athena's.




I finished my mom's scarf.




I made Merecedes' fingerless gloves.




I liked them so much that I made a pair for Cathy.

Whew! I still have more, too, but those pics are on my phone and I don't feel like sending them to my e-mail at the moment. I'll hopefully have more updates (with pics) tomorrow, but now I have to go to bed because Dan is tired and has to work early.

Nighty night,

^_^