Commuter Projects 2015

Started commuting to Hoboken last February, set a goal of 12 projects by the end of the year. I post about setting that goal here. Here's the final count and just a quick run down of what I knitted and crochet this year.

Around 19+ project finished this year. Many made on the train/bus. I thought I documented all my finished projects but . . . But not too shabby for a year and all from my stash. Still knitting my stash away. Maybe next year it will all be gone?

Project 1: Linoleum dishcloth by Kay Gardiner x 2

many end to be woven in

Project 3: Seed Stitch Pouch

Finishing: hand stitching zipper in

Project 4–6: Set of 6 Crochet Buttons x 3

brunt orange buttons

Project 7: Crazy Yarn Log Cabin Throw

ends need to be woven in

Project 8–11: Market bag x 4

cotton scraps makes for fun market bag

Project 12–13: crocheted tiaras x 2

Princesses with their new tiaras

Project 14: crocheted basket

new basket, new cat

Project 15: lacy cowl

nice lightweight for the spring

Project 16–17: Graham hat for donations

for donation to Operation Gratitude

Project 18: Earflap hat for WG
This came out great. No picture. Thinking of making another hat in this pattern but need to find yarn in my stash.

Project 19: Eggplant for Ollie

Ollie and eggplant

I know there are a couple of other projects that I can't remember. But this is all I can remember. This is why my wrist hurt so much.

Feeling kind of make-y

Been making stuff like crazy. Going from one project to the next. And a lot of ripping out in between.  Most projects are one-off. I've been taking bits and pieces of patterns that I like to come up with something of my own. 


That's how my red ombré slouchy hat took form. The yarn: scraps from 7 projects; the pattern: I used from my the rib from my favorite slouchy hat, the Wurm, shorten it by half and instead of the purling, I knitted all the way working the different yarns into the ombre. I had the most of the burnt orange which I ended with. I added a partial row of darkish red of thick/thin yarn because I like the feel of the yarn and thought it gave the hat a little interest. 

I'm going to have a hard time letting this one go.

It really came out great, the ombre is so beautiful. After a soak and some blocking, it's soft and slouchy as I wanted it to be. 

Oh! By the way, I'm working my way to opening a etsy shop to sell my goods. Most of the knitted items are one-off using yarn from stash during my stash busting year. Also thinking of sewing up pouches and totes from my fabric stash. I have a lot of vintage fabric that I should start using up. Need to figure out a name--I'm leaning towards a suggestion from a friend--aprilMADE. I'm trying to launch by end of Oct/beginning of Nov to try and get some holiday shoppers. Stay tune.

Green Hat Take 3

Started this project twice before. Different patterns--frogged! So I found this one in my pile of pattern printouts. Like the way this ribbing looks, hope the rest of the pattern is just as good. Looks like it will be a really warm hat. Good for this snowy cold winter. Stay tune.

Pattern: Lina by jokoknits

Yarn: Stitch Nation Full O' Sheep

I finished it . . .

on Christmas day. Weaving in all the ends, now just to send it out. I need to make one more item for the package and then off it goes. 

It started out looking like a mound of garter stitches. 


It got bigger and bigger 


Till the finished product. I think the picot edging adds some fun to it.  100% cotton bath mat. Handmade and washable. The pattern Muriwai Bath Mat is from Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman/Mel Clark. I didn't block this piece. If I did, they wouldn't get till who know when.

What I did on my Thanksgiving break

My thanksgiving consisted of working on my holiday gifts while watching Castle marathon all day. Then a little cooking for dinner, steak and some steam broccoli [so sweet and tender] from the farmers market. Wanted to try out a new chocolate pudding recipe, but I was just too lazy start something new after our early dinner.

Holiday Gifts
The gifts that I was working are for the family. Started two things at the same to keep my interest going. Knitted gifts are a bit tough when you have 3 knitters and a crocheter in the family [on top of that a sister who is a great knitter]. But I've been in the mood to knit lately and I thought I better take advantage of it. I made a second bandana cowl for WG with some left over yarn [he found a crochet knight's helmet, that he wants me to make for him. Yes, I said knight's helmet. Need to get the pattern will try and start after making my gifts.] 

Working on a cotton bamboo lace-y scarf in a coral. Using the yarn I got in May when my family was here. We went to the Lion Brand Outlet and picked up a few things [few. . .hehe]. The pattern is the Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from Knitty.com. Been want to knit something in bamboo for a while. It has a nice drape to it, looks nice in this pattern.


The other project I started is a cowl in red merino wool. Maryse cowl by Amy Christoffers from Knitscene, Winter 2012 Something warm and cozy. The pattern is pretty easy, have ripped it out totally yet.