Knit stitch - revisted

For the month of January, I practiced my knit stitch as much as I could.  I also learned how to increase and bind off.  Here's a little of my progress:

January for ME!

 I finished 1 of 12 projects for ME the other day.  Here it is.  I've been talking about this and blogging about this and admiring the project page on my Ravelry queue.  Voilà!  My Hip Cozy!

 I used all my bits and pieces of yarn that appeared to be the same weight, with a light halo effect, and made endless rows of half double crochets with a little decreasing here and there for shaping.

 This is the inner part of the Hip Cozy.  I tried to make a slip stitch with the purple yarn but it turned out kinda uneven but I still am in love with this project.

I added more buttons than needed. I want to make sure it stays on good and tight.  I plan on wearing this soon with some leggings or jeans.

Testing 3

Arrr,  fellow Ravelers!  Testing free patterns is better than a pirate's booty!

Pastafarian Eye Patch by Maeve O'Shea

Testing 2

I tested this Waves Washcloth Dishbottle dress.  How fun to make!

I wish I had a full size soap bottle to fully enjoy the pattern.  But I have been going through dish soap like it's my job (actually it is..but that's another story) so, I'll try and pick up a full size bottle next time to get the full effect.  I also noticed that my camera lens must've had a smudge on it... ah shoot.  Sorry, people!

The verdict

So, I listened to those Podcasts and although they have great topics and focus mostly on crochet, I just can't get past the sound quality.  I have trouble listening to a podcast where people sound like they are on the phone and that's how most of these sounded.  Ug!  I think I'm getting this sound snobbery from my husband.  It's amazing what rubs off on you from other people..

I continue my search of yarny podcasts with sound quality that doesn't make my ears hurt or my body cringe.

What's new?

I haven't been on here in ten days!  Bad, blogger, bad!

I have been slaving away on my Hip Cozy.  I feel like it's taking forever.  Maybe because it's for me I feel the need to dilly dally...

I also decided to broaden my craft podcasts and started listening to Getting Loopy and YarnThing.  More to come on my opinions of these shows in the near future.

whoop!

a shout out!

Testing 1

The Elizabeth Bennet Mouse pattern from Elizabeth Harac.  I helped out as a tester to see how comprehensible the pattern was, any mistakes, comments, etc.  It was pretty cool!  My guage was a little off on the dress but the mouse came out super cute!  The shawl and hat kill me!

If anyone has an obsession with Elizabeth Bennet, I will be more than happy to put a face on this little mouse and send her your way!  Let me know!

Snow Days

Last night, I was up until eleven helping test out a pattern called Elizabeth Bennett Mouse.  I was a little nervous as I crawled into bed dreading how I was going to feel the next morning at school with the kiddos.  As I prepared for the husband to tell me it was time to get up, I was trying to squeeze just a few more seconds of sleep out, he told me, "Nicole, you're on a 1 hour delay."  WHOOHOO!  I was happy with that!  I snoozed with Hazel for another 45 minutes or so and when I woke up to check the updates on the news, there it was -  closed!  Yea!  

So, what did I do on my snow day?  I hung out with my little cutie and made some progress on the hip cozy.  I fear that the stash yarn I plan on using may not be enough, if that's even possible.  I have to dive into my stash and see if anything else will go with my color choices...   I'm on row 18 and have less than 10 rows to go so, we'll see!

Under the tree for me...

My lovely parents bought me these:

And a box full of yarn!  Whoohoo!

Why yes..  I do have plans for these!

Christmas Present revealed!

Fit to be Tied pattern from the awesome book: Stitch N Bitch The Happy Hooker.

I love this bag and the stitches were so tight that I didn't see a need to put in a liner.  Not to mention the fact that my sewing skills are not that great.  The receiver loved it and I bet I see it make an appearance on her blog....