A Few Finished Projects

One of the main reasons I enjoy knitting so much is the enormous sense of accomplishment when I finish something.  It can be painful, sticking with something all the way to the end, but sometimes you can just feel it, and you know it will be worth it.

Approximately two years ago, the only stitches I knew were Knit, Purl, and decrease.

Which was fine, really, and got me through several projects with a pretty high degree of cool.

But then I decided that there were so many many cooler things out there to try, and discovered that pretty much any stitch you want to try can be found in on-line video tutorials.

And so I decided to make a Queen's Garden.  It was so cool watching each petal form, that I just couldn't put it down!  This pattern is worked from the center towards the outside edge, with an increasing number of stitches in each row.  I really loved the pattern, but I won't lie when I say that I was relieved when it was done.  That was a heckovalotta stitches in that last row!

This is the pattern that I decided on while on vacation a few months ago.  It's actually not much of a pattern, I just found a stitch that I liked and made it into an infinity scarf for a friend.

I was very very happy with it at first, and the stitch pattern is really cool (and how about that model?)

but after a little bit, the edges started curling and it stretched out too much - I thought I had put enough of a seed stitch border on it to avoid that, but I guess I didn't.  Sorry Kristin.  Let me know if you want me to try again, and my feelings will TOTALLY not be hurt.  I'd rather make you something you love and will wear than for you to have something that will sit in a closet somewhere.

On my needles now are a GORGEOUS sweater that I've started in the coziest shade of burnt orange that I've ever seen.  I've made a few mistakes though, and have to rip some back.  I'm also deathly afraid of running out of yarn since the stuff I'm using was a gift my mama picked up at a thrift store, and didn't have any labels on it.  That makes things very tricky when trying to get more.  Ugh.

So for the past few days, Morgan and I have been busy making things for an upcoming craft sale that we are going to try out for the first time.  I have way too much yarn in my stash right now that I'd love to use up (um, so I can justify buying more) and we are having a blast searching patterns for small projects.  What better to do on a long weekend to keep our minds off of the upcoming first day of school???  More pictures and details of these fun small projects will follow, I'm sure.

Hope you are enjoying these last few days of summer before the school year starts.  A friend that I used to work with always used to sing to everyone in the office on that first day, "It's the most wonderful time of the year..."  Love you Sheila!  I think of you singing every year. :)

XOXOX

NH