More Knitting Finishes

I really enjoy learning new techniques at my Local Yarn Shop (LYS), so I was pleased when they offered a class in Fair Isle. I'd already learned how to carry yarn across the back of the work, so it wasn't a leap to learn the technique. Fingerless mitts was a perfect little project to start with. Only problem was this pattern does not have a gusseted thumb, but the pattern was easier to maintain that way.

I am crazy about this Boxed Pullover from Nora Gaughn. It's a raglan sleeve with a crew neck. The pattern calls for a bulky weight yarn, so I knit it up in Berroco Lodge. I finished all the knitting in eight days, then spent a few more days blocking and seaming. Earlier this week I bought more Lodge to make a second one, but that might not get done til next winter.

I also made a shawlette to go with it, and I'm crazy about it too. Found this one on Ravelry, called Ambleside Shawl. Very easy to knit, but it takes a while. I used Malabrigo Rastita in a dk weight. The Rastita is a slightly felted wool, very soft; so I bought more of this too in a different colorway for another shawlette.

I've been wearing a lot of wool sweaters lately because it's so blasted cold. It was -12 degrees when hubby got up for work yesterday morning. It seems like winter will never end. 

Quilting Finishes

Nearly everything in January got put on hold because of a surgery scheduled mid month, but I did finish this quilt ahead of time.
It looks a little plain to me, but I liked it anyway after it was done. I bought the fabrics several years ago online and was disappointed with both the scale of the prints as well as the colors. Shopping from catalogs sometimes presents challenges. I saw an opportunity to use them up when one of my quilting pals suggested a challenge from this pattern, which was called "PS I Love You", from the Wilmington Prints website. 

My surgical procedure, which most folks never heard of, was performed to alleviate symptoms of a rare disorder that most folks never heard of. Three hours in the O/R, six incisions across my belly, and an overnight stay in the hospital. Now that the surgery is seven weeks behind me, I'm feeling like my old self again, and most everything that has ailed me for the last three years has finally been resolved. I am a fortunate woman.

Our quilt chapter conducts a Mini Raffle most meetings. It's a fundraiser for the chapter, and members donate all the items. I took a turn in January and made this travel iron tote and donated the iron too. Cute, cute pattern and easy to make. I used silicone fabric for the lining, so you can take it to class, use it as a small ironing mat, then pack up the hot iron in the tote to take it back home. The pattern is from Sisters Common Thread and is simply called "Travel Iron Tote".

I also made some mesh bags from Nancy Ota's line of Zip It bags. This zippered pouch is perfect to carry around all my knitting notions--scissors, markers, ruler, pencil, tape measure, and so forth. I made a smaller wallet size as well. The mesh is vinyl, and is available in a range of colors. A friend of mine has made them for cosmetics, kids' crayons and school supplies, and other creative uses. The pattern, "Zip It ScreenPlay II", includes directions for five sizes.

Nancy has a couple different patterns for mesh totes, and I made the medium size from the "Screenplay" pattern as a birthday gift for someone in my quilt chapter. Haven't made one for myself yet, but I intend to make a couple to use as totes for small knitting projects, like socks. Next time I'll make them a little deeper and make the handle longer.