Vera's Crafty Blog

A Mad Hatter Christmas

2009-12-24T13:18:38-05:00

The Hats Keep Coming

My hatmania hasn't let up just yet. The weather is right for them, and I think that's what triggers it. Here's what I've been up to lately...

Gwen

My friend Mollie made one of these and taught a class on it at the LYS, and I just had to make one. It's a terrific pattern, that's easy to memorize, and makes a lovely hat.

This one, knitted in Cascade 220 is for Pat's mom. Blocking really makes it.

Rosalie

I'm not at all into the whole Twilight/New Moon phenomena, but I think this hat is cute. Made from a pretty electric blue Cascade 220, this is for Pat's sister.

Kelechi

I very much wanted to crochet something, and I love how this turned out with some Cherry Tree Hill Potluck I had lying about.

Super Cupcake

Bonnie Marie Burns does it again with this pattern. The picture doesn't show how cute this hat is. Going to make the cowl to match too. The yarn is Paton's Classic Wool.

I can't part with it.

Another Rib-A Roni

This is becoming my "go to" hat. For Pat's niece, Hana. The yarn is some Crystal Palace Fjord I found on sale.

Lady DJHK

While shopping last night, I came upon this and HAD to have it.

Music and Hello Kitty? How could I go wrong?

**Merry Christmas!**

Rose Rose

2009-12-07T20:36:29-05:00

Knit Like the Wind

I spent most of yesterday in my pjs, watching football and knitting furiously on my Rose Red beret, and I finished her during lunch today.

I love, love, LOVE this hat! *jumping on the couch* The pattern is very well written and quite easy to follow. An extremely pleasant knit that just kept my hands and needles going.

This photo shows the cables reasonably well. It's such a beautiful hat. Naturally, these photos don't do her justice.

The color is truer on these.

I enjoyed working with the Frog Tree Alpaca, but the prettiest hats I saw on Ravelry were knitted with Angora Merino from Sublime Yarns.

I already have the yarn on order for another hat :-)

Coming up Roses

2009-12-06T20:47:49-05:00

Sunday, Lazy Sunday

I've done little much except watch football and knit my Rose Red beret. I first spotted this pattern on Ravelry, and knew I had to get it on the needles.

I don't knit many top down hats, but the pattern has been very pleasant to knit, and works up pretty quickly.

The color isn't true in the photo below. It's actually a dark rose. I'll take a better photo once it's done.

All is Vanity

2009-12-04T20:51:04-05:00

Mo Coline

I had Patrick take some photos of me in Coline. Vanity would not permit me to leave it at the self portraits I took this morning. I really need to learn to take a decent self portrait.

I ended up wearing her to work today, and got lots of compliments.

My co-workers are used to me dragging my knitting to work, but they are still fascinated that I can make things that look wearable.

I have fun with it.

I really wanted a better shot of the back of the hat and the beautiful crown decrease that I stressed over so much.

Deciding on a color for my next one...

Coline by Myself

2009-12-04T07:59:01-05:00

Coline's All Done!

I finished the Coline Hat this morning. Gentle Readers, I decided to entertain you with some self portraits.

Glamour shots they are not, but the hat fits even though it's a bit larger than I'd like.

Then again, I'm not showing off my Hello Kitty pajama pants :-)

I had a bit of drama with the decreases. I was sleep addled and did not read that the stitches move.

On a decrease round, the last stitch becomes the first stitch of the new round. After a nap, all was good and I finished quickly.

I'll have Patrick take photos of me later, but I wanted to share the hat now.

At any rate, I will make another one soon. I will make it shorter, go down a needle size and skip the tubular cast on. It's very pretty, and I'm glad I learned, but a simple 1x1 rib is fine for me.

Coline on the Horizon

2009-12-01T07:32:42-05:00

Hello December!

OMG! It's December already!?! What happened to 2009? Of course, these issues of time and space do not bother Hello Kitty as she looks serene channeling Lara from Dr Zhivago.

Coline Hat

One of the reasons I love Ravelry so much is that it introduces me to so many new patterns in one place.

The other day, I came across this.

So gorgeous! I immediately fell in love, and downloaded the pattern.

Here's what I have so far. I even managed a tubular cast on.

I hope to finish her soon.

Do check out the designer's blog, A Black Pepper Designs. She's amazing.

Thanksgiving~Thanks for Knitting

2009-11-30T07:00:32-05:00

Some Quiet Time

I enjoyed my extended Thanksgiving holiday with knitting and friends. With my drama from last November, it really felt good to have some quiet time.

I'm so glad I can knit.

Cabled Beret

I knitted this as a gift with some yarn that I brought several years ago for a felted purse that I will never make.

Evermore Scarf

I started this scarf for Patrick in January, knitted about halfway, then put it down. Picked it back up, and hope to have it done soon.

I really need to get a better shot of the beautiful rosewood needles I'm using.

Galaxy Girl Shawl in Progress

I got a skein of some gorgeous (what other kind is there?) Wollmeise in The Loopy Ewe sock club a few months ago, but I'm not in sock mode, and I found a great, mindless pattern on Ravelry called 22.5 Degrees that would work well with it.

Here she is so far. The colorway is called Guide to the Galaxy. Still have a lot of knitting to do.

A Saturn Thing

I also cast on for a Simple Things Shawlette with some Miss Babs yarn that I brought at SAAF a couple of years ago. The colorway is Saturn.

I seem to be astronomically inclined with my choices of sock yarn colorways :-)