Endings and Beginnings

No more Monkey socks on the needles.  I am so happy to have finally completed them.  I pretty much breezed through the second sock.  I had the pattern memorized and I was able to chat with a friend, watch a movie, and knit in the car.  None of which I could do while knitting the first sock.

After it's all said and done, it wasn't a bad knit.  I may even make them again sometime.  You know that I'm very careful about saying never, so I'll just say you never know.

Details:

Monkey Sock pattern by Cookie A.

My own hand painted sock yarn

Magic loop on size 3 circular needles

I've begun knitting for a new pair of capri pants that should be completed by the weekend.  I will show them again when they are done.

That's all I've got.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Unsettled

I asked Paige, my oldest daughter, this question: "Paige, do you think orange and yellow are colors more suited for a boy or girl?"  Her reply was "I'm sorry mom, orange and yellow makes me think of candy corn."  "I don't like orange and yellow."  I'm wondering now, could it be that if she liked candy corn she would like orange and yellow?   That is totally not the point.  Are these colors better suited for a boy or a girl?   

Since I could not get an answer and the implication was just that I should not have made a pair of orange and yellow pants, I decided to make a gender neutral object to embellish the onesie.

I had great fun (maybe it wasn't that great--or fun, because it took a long time to find fabric that worked with this yellow/orange combination).  However, it was very gratifying to find fabric to match, please note that the ribbon is orange with yellow polkadots AND the fabric is orange with yellow polkadots.

Please tell me what you think fellow bloggers.  Boy or girl?  For those of you who have followed my Monkey Sock Saga, I'm near the point of closing the toe and it's looking like I'm going to run out of yarn.  Any comments of sympathy will be well received. ;-0

Have a super weekend!!

A is for ...

ALBERT.  Another baby shower gift has been completed and is now in the hands of the soon to be mom of three.  It looks as if they are black, but are actually navy blue.  I changed the white ribbon to navy, but did not get the chance to take another picture before they were picked up for the baby shower.

I started another earflap hat, this one is being made to fit a one year old.  My plan is to embellish a onesie to match.  They will be listed in my Etsy shop.

I don't know what to say about Christmas knitting.  I have been learning Adobe Illustrator for the past week or so and I am just starting to grasp it.  I will now use it to design closet dividers.  I have also been practicing using my electronic cutter.  Lots of trail and error.  After cutting about 40 sheets, it's getting better. 

That's all I've got.  Have a super weekend.

Silence

Today there is no humming of the sewing machine.  No click-clack-clicking of knitting needles.  No sound of scissors cutting paper for closet dividers--actually I don't think this produces any sound.   For the first time in weeks, I am not working.  I got this order for an Etsy customer into the mail today and I am taking a little vacation.  I will be closing my Etsy shop for a few days in order to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

You know, maybe it's because of the red/white stripes, but this owl makes me think of the flag.  Am I the only one?

I was happy to find red/white striped fabric for the onesie embellishment.  This little owl started as a penguin, then an elephant, but they didn't seem to work for me.  I like owls.  I would never buy owl paperweights or owl ceramics, but I really do like them on babies.

 I am in compliance CPSIA police!  I have included my care and manufacturing label.

Everyone in the U.S.--have a super Thanksgiving!

Thing One

Paige (my oldest daughter) had initially requested the colors pink and purple for her gift, but she saw the black and white set in my Etsy shop and decided on it.  I was more than happy for her choice because that left me with only the hat and booties to knit.  The booties are made in 3 pieces (6 pieces total for a pair) and are sewn together.  It doesn't seem right that something so small should be so much work.  Although they are labor intensive, I always sort of gush over them when they are done.

Here is the total set all done and ready to be gifted.   I don't have time to revel in the sweetness of it, as I have more knitting to do.

More pictures to come!  Have a great weekend!

In the Process of Time ...

this...

became this.....

(terrible picture-foggy today)

This set was a custom order from a dear young lady that is very much like a daughter to me. She will be attending a baby shower on Saturday, and I'm proud to say that it was completed on Tuesday. Too many times, I have been still knitting something that is needed "today." Not this time. We've been "snowed/iced-in" so much that I would be ashamed not to have it done.

A baby boy is expected. If it should be a girl, I think that this is gender neutral. The parents would just need to keep the "J" for the name.

More pictures to come of baby knits. Nothing is on the needles yet, just in my head, and screaming to get out! There seems to not be enough time in the day. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Girls Can Rock Snails

I took my camera to the repair shop and the cost to fix it is just about $29 shy of buying a new one. Needless to say, I will not be getting it fixed. However, I am able to make some minor adjustments and it works! Yay! God is merciful and good.

There was a lot of deliberation over whether to put a snail on a little girls' bodysuit. The choices in which to use the spiral shape were few and I could only come up with a snail or a lollipop. Maybe the next one will have the lollipop. I purchased a fat quarter of fabric and only got 1 1/2 aqua colored spirals. The sensible thing to do with the half spiral was to make a snail.

The ensemble is complete and ready to be listed in my Etsy store, which I will do sometime next week. I am waiting on my new CPSIA care labels. I hope to get them today. Have a good weekend.

Christmas Knitting...

... has begun. My plan is to do some assembly line type knitting on the baby booties. All of the parts are being knit and I will assemble them during some TV time in the evenings. I have the tops and backs for one pair complete and have just started the sole. A trip to my local yarn store is on my to-do list so that I can acquire more yarn in Christmas colors. I also may make matching hats.

The baby pants are being made in the 12 months size. I don't think I will make them 12 - 18 months since they will likely not get that much wear. These will be listed in my Etsy store as made per order. I don't want to stock a lot of Christmas pants, but I will make a certain number for the Craft Fair that I will be working in November.

I bought fabric today and I found some that will work well for embellishing the bodysuit that will be worn with those black and white striped pants with the aqua ruffles. Lots to do. Have a super day.

Rebound

The knitting of these pants, or re-knitting rather, is done. They have been seamed and only need to have the elastic put into the waistband. I should get that done today or tomorrow. The size for these capri pants is 12 - 18 months. Black and white works with just about any color. I have plans to knit some with orange and maybe with red. This style has become my favorite and the knitting seems to go faster with the striping.

Due to the CPSIA laws, I am no longer making the t-shirts with heat transfer iron-on. So, I had decided to embroider. Embroidering onto t-shirt fabric, even with the stablizer, was difficult. Look at this try....

It's pretty bad. My next choice is to get fabric and do applique. I will head over to Quiltworks tomorrow to see what I can find. Enjoy your day!

One Of These Things Is Not Like the Others

Last night when I sat down to seam these pants I was feeling so accomplished. I had reskeined two hanks of dyed yarn and dyed one. These things were, of course, done in addition to taking people to and fro, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the general needs of running a household. So, let me say that to also get the chance to seam these pants was, in my opinion, phenomenal.

Sing with me.... I'm every woman. It's all in me. blah, blah, and etc.... That elusive frog keeps coming to my house. This time he didn't ring the doorbell. He came on in unannounced. I sat down and starting seaming and alas, what is this? Why don't my legs line up? Oh. No. One leg is shorter than the other. Where is the mistake? At the beginning. I knit 1/4th out of 4/4th legs wrong. It is shorter than the rest. Nothing to do but pull it out. Frog it and reknit it. The whole front side. No. Not the whole front, just 3/4ths of it.

I'm a grown-up knitter. No crying or whining, or kicking, or screaming, nope.... I just smile and cast on.....one, two, three...

Look At What Came Back

Yesterday, I received the package in the mail containing my favorite little outfit. As, it turns out, I did not leave a part of the waistband open. For some reason, I left the yarn uncut after I wove in the end. This mistake would have upset me since I had to pay to ship it back to her, as well as reimburse her for shipping it to me, but things really do happen for a reason.

I had been so concerned for the buyer because I was not hearing from her and because of that I had been praying for her. When I did finally hear from her, it was with bad news. She has suffered a traumatic medical event and I am grateful that she has come through it. I will not tell what happened, but will you please pray for her and her family.

I smiled as I opened the package, it was like seeing an old friend. I have now completed the outfit by adding the booties. It would be great to see the baby in it.

Re-skeining yarn is still on the to-do list. I should get it done today and post tomorrow. I know...I said that yesterday. ;). Enjoy your day.

I Really Have Been Knitting

Remember the carnival ride that I wrote of the other day? Well, it has begun to slow down. But "they" are still not letting me off. School started yesterday. Yip! Yip! I think that now I will be much more productive. Maybe I will even get back to daily (or at least, most days) posting to this blog.

These baby pants are made to fit 12 - 18 months. They seem huge to me because I've only ever made 0 - 3 months. I will be working on patterns for 6 and 9 months as well. I have been ordering new yarn colors and once it comes in, the knitting will begin for the Christmas pants. I'm already starting to think as far as Easter. Knitting is so slow that I probably should have thought about Easter of 2010 as far back as Easter of 2009. I'm going to get a feel for this after a while.

There are a couple of local stores that I'm considering taking merchandise into, as well as a couple of hospitals. Lots in the works here at His Glory Hand Knits HQ!

My family is headed to Wichita. Please pray for our safe journey. Have a great weekend.

OOOPS!

The knitting of this set goes back to the first day of my posting to this blog. It has now sold. I will miss it. I used to take it out and admire and stroke it. My favorite, I'd have to say. I really hope that the mom and baby enjoy it.

Yesterday was a very busy day for me. I was going in many different directions. As a result of that, I did not do the normal final perusal of the pants. You know how it is in the horror movie when the person is sitting and looking so sirene and then the realization that the enemy is still near hits? That is what happened to me yesterday. I ran to the post office and got the order shipped. My two summer charges were gone home. My own kids had settled down for the evening. It was nice and peaceful and BAM about 3 hours later the thought struck -- YOU DID NOT CLOSE THE WAISTBAND! Much to my dismay. I have sent an e-mail to the buyer and begged a thousand forgivenesses. She will have to return them to me (At my expense, of course).

My husband advised that I type out a checklist. I did. Sigh.....Sniff.

There's A Frog At My Door

I constantly say (because I believe it) trust the math. Well somehow the math has failed me. This pant back seems awfully wide. The size is supposed to be 12 - 18 months. I think that a two year old may be able to fit them in the hips. Sigh. I've perceived that the frog was near for a while. I tried to ignore him. Just wanted to show a progress pic because I said that I would. I do like the light pink with the black and white stripes. The finished pants will be pretty, I think.

If anyone reads this blog and is not a knitter, the sound of the yarn when pulling out the stitches is that of a softly ribbiting frog. The frog is not my friend. I, however, embrace the frog.

Fancy Smancy Pants

bad picture taking (see the sides of the board?)

These pants have been done for quite some time. There was a matching long-sleeved body suit that said "just a lil' bling" and it had fur on the sleeves. Before my job closed, a lady there bought the shirt. I have been planning to recreate it. So, maybe I will do that before I list the pants on etsy.

I've made a considerable amount of progress on my mother's sock. Once I get to the toe decreases I am going to switch to the other sock and turn the heel. I cannot actually work on the socks simultaneously because there is only one size 1 circ. That reminds me that a knitpicks order is needing to be made. I need.... uhm .... want, quite a few things.


I got some fabric today for knitting project bags. Maybe I will get a chance to cut them out tomorrow and get them sewn on Saturday. I'm changing the pattern a little. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Have a happy Thursday.

Order Up!

A thank you card, business cards, and care instructions to be included

I think that I knit these pants quicker than any others ever before. I told Stephanie that I would have them ready and listed with Etsy today. By George, I did it. I am doing the river dance right now (only in my mind, and even there I'm missing some steps). lol

I will be working on another custom order throughout the week and probably into next week. At the same time, I will intermittently work on the hat that matches the brown, green, white striped purse, and I will also be working on my mother's socks. Rather adventerous, I know.

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday. Happy Birthday mom. May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you and give you peace.

Have a super-fantastic day.

I Present To You an FO

You know, I can really appreciate blogging. It seems to make a girl do what she said she would. I have actually finished these pants in a week's time, because I said I would. Let's see if this type of trend continues. I have LOTS of sock yarn. Maybe this is just the thing to get it out of the bag and onto the needles, and then off the needles and onto some feet. ;)

The ruffles on the behind were fun and interesting. The next time I make a pair in this style, I won't take the ruffles all the way to the sides. Do you see how they stick out? It's hard to know how a thing will look without a model. I might love how they stick out on a baby. Oh well, someone will just have to buy them and send me a picture.

I had to weave in 33 ends. I like how the pants look inside out. Someone asked me the other day if they could be worn inside out. Well, no. Maybe some day I will make them in garter stitch.

As I said yesterday, I will list them in etsy today or tomorrow. Probably tomorrow. I have a pair of booties for which I need to make a matching hat (I haven't even cast on yet). I will put it in writing now that I will make it today. There. That settles it -- maybe?

Have a good Wednesday.

Front? Check.

I finished knitting the front of these capri pants last night and they are now being blocked. I should get them sewn together some time today and will list them in my etsy shop Wednesday or Thursday.

Look at all of those ends to be woven in. That's not fun. The good part of it is that they are so adorable. I don't have any baby girl's around me to try them on. Maybe I will have to buy a life-sized baby doll. Hmmmm. That is something to consider. I had never thought of that before.

I don't always make booties to match, but I will have to make some for these.

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Have a wonderful day everyone!

Got Labels?

Nope. I've got to sew labels into every one of these pair of pants. I guess I will rent a movie and settle down in my big comfy chair with the big ol' ottoman and get busy. This picture was taken on that ottoman, it's one of my favorite spots in the house.

I started this pair of socks for my mother for Christmas last year and didn't finish them. Her birthday is in September and so I plan to give them to her then. I love magic loop knitting. As you can see, I am working on both socks to avoid the plague of the second sock syndrome. I will gleefully finish both socks at about the same time.

Well, have a happy Monday everyone!

Just listed

The inspiration for this onesie came from the ribbon that is in the hand knit pants. I really enjoy working in microsoft publisher and have had fun creating the animals.