Megan's Mittens...Oh So Cozy!!

These mittens were knit specifically with hands in mind...Las Vegas hands to be exact!! Though I did worry a bit, as I double-stranded knit them with 100% acrylic "Vanna's Choice" yarns: Would they be too Cozy for the Vegas weather?? Well, even in the desert winters, there are times when little hands need warming, and these ought to do the job nicely!! :)

I, once again, found this wonderful pattern using my favorite "tool/website": Ravelry.com. It is always a source of information to me...in oh so many ways! The link to this specific mitten pattern can be found here: http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/accessories/lofty-mittens.html

I greatly enjoyed the slight complexity of learning a new pattern & technique. These are the first mittens I have ever had the joys of "creating", and I believe they turned out marvelous!! I have great expectations that the new owner/wearer finds great use & joy with them!!

They look quite long in the hand, but I assure you, they fit like a "glove", er...mitten!!
Thanks for having a look everyone, and happy knitting to you all this fine Christmas Day!!

It is with humble heart & a gracious soul that I show these hand knit items to you....perhaps to inspire you to knit something of your own, or just to help "warm" up the soul!

Merry Christmas from Queen MAB

Baby R's Little Blue Dress

This is little Miss Ramona sporting her lovely woolly, denim-blue dress! She is 5 months old already...where did the time go??!!

I found this pattern on Lion Brand Yarn's website: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/81021AD.html?noImages=
The only real modification I made to the pattern was extending the length of the dress straps, so it will fit her longer. It's a bit on the large side right now, but with the extended straps, she should be able to sport it as a cute top for several months to come!!

Made with a basic Garter & Stockinette stitch...this dress looks adorable on her!

Love those leggings!!

Here's looking at you, kid!!

Will the Paparazzi please stand back?!

Ramona's Halloween Frog Suit!!

This is Ramona...age (almost 4 mos.), currently enjoying her new Froggy Suit fitting!!

 

Momma Tonya is showing her off for all to see!!

Warty arms indeed! Nothing stops this baby from being adorable!! Especially the darling little fly on her shoe :)

A "barf bib" was asked for...just in case one of those "need it now" moments were to occur, you know?!

She's thinking about it! Does the blue really go "with" the rest of the ensemble??

I can't say enough how much fun it was to create this outfit, but more so, how wonderful & fulfilling it was to see baby R all dressed up!! She was the quintessential model, and is always a beyond adorable companion!! Just look at those lashes!! :)

I once again must thank Ravelry.com for being such a welcome and wonderful inspiration to me & my knitting! With out that community of knitters from all aspects of talent range & worldwide regions...I would never be the knitter I feel I have developed in to today!! Also, if you have a little one in your life & feel a need to clothe them, especially as something fun for Halloween & such, I highly suggest the book: "Wacky Baby Knits"!! This Frog Suit can be found there, on Ravelry.com, as well as listed on Etsy.com.

I couldn't be more pleased with the final project, but most importantly, neither could my sister...the mother of little Ramona! She was so blown away by the whole ensemble...booties to match, with barf bib & all!! It was a challenge to say the least, but a success in so many ways!! Happy Halloween everyone :)

-mab

My Blanket Cardigan

This is from a B.O.B. Cardigan pattern that I found on my favorite knitting website, Ravelry. The B.O.B. actually stands for "Button on Blanket", but I took the easier route of not including button holes, and installing a zipper instead. Since I ended up knitting it a little on the small side, due to a shortage of yarn, I thought a zipper might be best for a "proper" fitting.
I love the end result and am very pleased with the warmth that surrounds me when I put it on! It truly is a blanket of a cardigan!!

Regarding this project, the truth of the matter is, I've had it completed for quite a few months...it was finished in early June if not late May of this year, but I haven't had the zipper sew in, and let's face it...it's not quite "blanket weather" yet. I was just so excited to knit this cardi, using up some stash yarn of Lion Brand: Chunky Wool-Ease in Bluebell, that I had to start this sweater as soon as I saw it!! It does need to be blocked a bit in places - especially in the sleeve/armpit area, but I know it will be a perfect companion to football games and outdoor activities throughout the fall months.

I'm so glad to finally be posting this project, as it's been waiting so patiently for me to do something with it! But the days are now getting shorter, and the nights are getting a bit cooler....I doubt it will be too long before you can see me sporting it to the supermarket, or keeping me warm on my way to work in the morning!!
Happy Fall knitting to all!!
Soon to come...more Baby Projects for little Ramona!!

-mab

Baby Ramona is Here!!

These are just a few images of my sister Tonya, her husband Jerry, and the new, little Ramona! I've been knitting up a storm since I first found out she was coming, and now she's here...Hooray!! I think she definitely has "Tonya qualities" to her face already...so adorable!!
As far as my knitting goes, there are a few projects that I need to post, but don't have them quite perfected yet...and an adorable baby bunting for R that is nearing completion...I call it her Rosebud Bunting!! She will look so snuggley and comfy in it - I'm dying to take pictures of the little one sporting it, that is, as soon as I can complete the project. The pattern is all lacing, which isn't too difficult, just very time consuming. And though I can knit at work and at home, I find myself lacking in the motivation department at times. But no more procrastinating...I've got a baby to clothe :)

-mab

Grandma's Beret part II

I just wanted to show the pictures of my Grandma Welles in her new beret! She's such a lovely, wonderful woman! And I'm very excited that she liked her new hat so much!!

Thanks again, Grandma, for giving me such a fun, new project that helped me learn yet another new stitching technique. It's always a pleasure!! :)
- mab

Baby Uggs

These adorable boots are from a pattern I found on Ravelry.com! The pattern said they fit 0 - 6 months, but I would venture to guess the size I knit up would be closer to a 1 year old. I plan on making more of these for my sister who is due in 7 weeks! I'll probably use smaller needle sizes to get the right fit...or a thicker yarn (for this I used Patons Pure Wool in Rosebud. I really liked knitting with the yarn, and have plenty of the skein left, so I plan on trying again. I just wish I had been able to finish the 2nd boot in time for her Baby Shower earlier today! Oh well...she definitely came away with a few knit goods!! :)
-mab

Grandma's Beret

Last week I was asked to knit up a hat for my Grandmother...actually she wanted me to start a hat for her to finish, but her hand-eye coordination isn't exactly what it used to be...so I went ahead and made one for her! It's a 5 point star beret that wasn't exactly difficult to knit, but I did come across a new decrease stitch that I've never done before: The Raised Center Double Decrease!! It even sounds a little intimidating, to me at least. :) Anyway, I really do like the outcome, and have very high hopes that my grandmother is happy with it. I'm just so glad I got it done right in time for Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to All!!
-mab

Monkey See, So I Do

I love this little monkey! I got the pattern out of Susan B. Anderson's "Itty Bitty Toys" book. The patterns in it are fantastic and easy to comprehend. He has the cutest, sly smile that you can't see in this picture, and a very round, pudgy belly...all the better for hugs & loves!!

I even included a tail! For what monkey would be ready to swing on one's heartstrings with out one?! His beady little eyes take in every action....his "Mad" ears, hear every word...he is Super Monkey!! Coming soon to a tree branch near you...or is he??

SeedStitch Border Baby Toaster

This is an adorable sweater that I must admit to knitting 3 times now! I know we all have our favorite patterns, and I think this might be one of mine! It's such a simple and easy to understand pattern: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60806A.html that helps you make the, sometimes, "Huge" step from knitting blankets/scarves/and such to actual garments! I think one of my earlier posts is of this same pattern, but this time I knit with the pattern's suggested Seed stitch on the borders. I think it looks adorable this way, like the Rib stitch reminds me of a more collegiate look! Do I sound completely crazy?...Don't answer that!

I just see this cozy little sweater keeping a cute little one nice and warm! Very cheesy, yet so satisfying to finish!!
-mab

And the last two shall be Bunnies!!!

These are probably the last 2 bunnies I shall bring to life for the next little while...that is until I can replace my needles! On the very last foot of the very last bunny, whom I've come to call Blue Boy, I snapped the tip off one of my needles and had to finish the little guy using some skill :) At least I could finish is what I'm grateful for, relieved really! So, come tomorrow these two little buds are off to Chicago, the Windy City, where two little kidlets await...knowing, not knowing, when will they arrive??!! All I can hope for is that they're loved and given lives of their own now. It sounds silly, but once you've stitched a face on to something, you kind of start to look at it as alive! I feel like Dr. Frankenstein...although, these little guys are missing their bolts!

A Wee Little Sweater

I found this pattern on the Ravelry website, that I love so very much: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/presto-chango
The sweater was simply too adorable for me to pass up! Granted there isn't a baby in the picture yet...but there clothes are too cute to not make. I truly can't wait for my sister to have her little Ramona, then all these clothes I'm knitting will have a happy home...and a happy little body to place them upon!!
The sweater knit up very quickly, and I think my favorite part was the limited seaming I needed to do, and the mix of buttons I found for it! I also love the way the removable front panel creates a repeated leaf motif. Knitting is simply too cathartic for me to leave it all to garments for myself or toys...I always need to throw a little project or two in, as well :)
Enjoy,
mab

Happy Easter Weekend Everyone!!!

I recently had the opportunity to create 4 special little bunnies as Easter surprises...each for 4 very special children. I had a limited amount of time, but managed to get all 4 done in about 2 weeks. I dedicate it all to "muscle memory"! I found that each time I finished a bunny, it was a little faster than the time before...and yet totally unique in it's "personality". There are 3 with dark green eyes, and the 4th has blue...to match the eyes of the kids. I even made one with a little pink nose...to maybe be the little girl's. I hope they go over well, and are loved in their lifetime...it was a pleasure creating them!
Happy Easter

-mab

Poppies for Remembrance

The Canadians and the British are two countries that use the Poppy as a symbol for Remembrance. I find that very fitting in my life, as I have also always associated this beautiful, natural flower with some very important people in my life. 

Just recently we lost someone very dear & close to us. I knit up a few of these poppies for people very close to me...to help them remember others in their lives as well. 

I plan to attach pins to the back so they can be worn as a lapel. This simple pattern turned into so much more once completed. It was an easy challenge as a knitter, but a wonderful outcome!! This is what knitting is all about!!!

-m

Maggie's Robin Hood Jacket

I set out with a pattern in mind, actually it was more like a challenge in mind...I didn't think I could pull this one off, but a friend of mine at work made me promise to at least try. The pattern: Zoe Mellor's Robin Hood Jacket! The task was not going to be easy...it's riddled with cables, a skill I had so far, not learned, and it was not my usual pattern. By that I mean, each line wasn't written out for me, telling me what my next step was...that was hard for me to get over. But again, that friend, was able to write out every step of nearly the entire pattern! And she's only been a knitter for a number of months!! I was totally impressed and ready to go.
Eventually I hit a snag in motivation, when I realized it would be ages until I had a little person to wear such a garment. Until...my sister's friend, Megan, asked if I could make her 3 yr. old a cardigan. I was so happy at that moment, I knew that the Robin Hood Jacket would be perfect for Maggie!! It gave me a whole new reason to finish the piece and a thrill and excitement I wasn't even ready for. It may sound cheesy, but when I first saw the picture of little Maggie smiling away, wearing the cardi I made just for her, it lit me up inside!! I've never felt such a rush of accomplishment before now, especially when it came to my knitting. Pure Happiness!! I don't want to sound overly confident, but I think it turned out pretty dang cute for having only just taught myself most of the necessary skills for the pattern. But in honesty...cabling sounds intimidating, but it's actually really easy, and kinda fun!!!
Hope you like it, too!!

mab

Storm's New Sweater

It's been quite some time since last I posted any projects that I've done. Well, as the time has passed, a few projects have come and gone, but most recently my project was to knit a new sweater for our recently adopted friend, Storm! She is a blue doberman with very fine blue/gray hair that reflects light with a bluish tint. I made her a quick knit sweater from the Lion Brand Yarn website, but I used a "stash" yarn meant for blankets/afghans...needless to say, it stretched out so fast that she can't wear it anymore, and I needed to get her a new one fast! I found this pattern on www.ravelry.com, a site that I'm a member & huge fan of. It is called the Side Button Greyhound Sweater, and fits Storm perfectly...I almost hope, not too perfectly, I want her to be able to move well enough, you know. If I knit her a back up, I think I'll go a size up on the waist band just to be sure it has enough breathing room. But now our little girl #2 has a new blue sweater to match her blue body!! Isn't she lovely??!!