2009 Finished Objects

Here's a linked list of all the projects that I completed in 2009. They are also linked to in the drop-down menu to the right.

• Altered Bride's Notebook
• Backpack Purse
  
• Beach Tote
• Beaded Snowflakes
  
• Blue Triangle Shawl
• Butterfly Pillow
  
• Clothespin Angel
• Crocheted PBJ
• Cup Cozy
• Doll Outfit
• Fingertip Towel
• Glove-Mitts
• Iron Pad
  
• Knitted Sushi
• Mom's Shawl
  
• Mom's Socks
• Paprika the Dragon (Made x2, Click Here for an update on my pattern notes- it's at the end of the post.)
  
• Quilled Coasters
• Quilled Photo Frame (I haven't given this to the recipient yet, so no picture)
  
• Reusable Swiffer Cover
• Spa Set
• 2 Tatted Bookmarks  (scroll to end of post)
  
• Tatted Cross Bookmark
• Welcome Friends Cross Stitch

Tatted Tidbits

A few weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to find Lizbeth tatting thread at JoAnns. I used the color "Caribbean" to make this tatted snowflake from the Big Book of Tatting. It is the Dancing Snowflake on page 26. Lizbeth is the nicest thread I've ever tatted with, and I'm looking forward to using it again.

I finally starched this little bit of tatting. It's the Seed-Bead Earrings on page 24 of the Big Book of Tatting. I didn't actually make a pair of earrings - I just wanted to practice tatting with beads.

Blue Triangle Shawl

Yes, another Easy Triangle Shawl. If you don't count the break I took to make Christmas presents, this one went very quickly. I wasn't actually planning to make another shawl, but when my sister gave me two skeins of Homespun yarn, I knew exactly what to do with them! Thanks Grace.

I recently took the extra rows out of my purple shawl, as it was too long:

That should be the end of Easy Triangle Shawls for a while.
~Sarah

Baby Shower

A friend of mine recently had a baby shower. I made a "Snowed Under Cap" (January 2008, Creative Knitting), booties (#9 from Baby Booties to Knit and Crochet by Leisure Arts #2731) and thumbless mittens (Online Pattern that I slightly altered).

I couldn't make the snowflakes come out right on the hat, so my Mom embroidered them for me - thanks Mom! I used Lion Brand's Wool-Ease; colorway: Denim Twist. The snowflakes were done with Bernat's Baby Coordinates in White.

Booties:  I used Bernat Baby Coordinates in Blue Bon Bon. The hardest part of the pattern, for me, was picking up the instep stitches; but I always have trouble picking up instep stitches. The first picture is a bit washed out; the second is closer to the true color of the yarn. {Blogger is being fussy and keeps turning the first picture on its side. I'll try to add it later, in the meantime here's the other picture.}

Thumbless mittens. I used the Bernat Baby Coordinates in Blue Bon Bon again. I'm amazed at how far this yarn has gone! I originally bought it to make a sweater and hat for my cousin, Luke. (I must have made them before I started blogging and photographing my projects because I can't find any pictures. The pattern is from FreePatterns.com and I was able to find it by typing "triangle sweater" into the search box. You do need to sign up to view the patterns.) Anyway, I made the sweater, and hat, and now baby booties and mittens, and I still have yarn leftover!

The pattern for the thumbless mittens is available here. I had a hard time finding a mitten pattern for newborns, so I settled on a pattern I mostly liked and altered it a bit. The first change I made was the needle size. I didn't have the sizes called for, so I used sizes 3 and 5. I worked knit 1 purl 1 rib for 1.5" so that the cuffs will stay secure under the baby's coat sleeves. I was planning to do an eyelet row and thread ribbon or cord through to help keep them on, but forgot, and didn't have enough time to plan it out. The only other change I made was to line them with flannel so they will keep baby's hands nice and cozy.

Little Projects

Last year I bought a Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar. One that intrigued me greatly was the Dish Scrubby from Monday, May 11. I made it in a couple hours, with Sugar 'n Cream, Potpourri. I gave it to my Mom, but haven't heard if she likes it or not. If she does I will make more for her, and for my hope chest.

Remember Paprika? Well, I made him again for the little boy I babysit who loves dragons. I tried pulling the chains tighter, as I recommended in my previous post. It didn't work so well. I had a very difficult time getting the starch to keep him in the right shape. So, tighten your chains, bit not too much. Here's the original Paprika. I didn't have time to photograph the latest one.

2009 Ornaments

A few years ago I began making ornaments for my Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents and Parents, and anyone else I needed a quick, easily made Christmas gift. For 2009 I got started early. I got a beaded snowflake kit from Herrschners for a deeply discounted price.They were fairly easy to make, once I got the hang of it. There were two color combinations; the blue one pictured below, and a white one with blue accent beads. It's almost entirely the reverse of the one below.

Mom's Shawl

This was a Christmas gift for Mom. It is the Travel & Television Shawl from Mary Mulari's Accessories With Style, page 50.

As with most of Mary's patterns, I would make a few changes. I would have sewn the cuffs on before the pockets and binding so that the seams could be hidden under the pocket and binding edges. I think that I would also have preferred to turn under the pocket edges or do a decorative stitch, rather than using the binding. Otherwise, it was quick and easy to sew.

Backpack Purse

As I was working on updating my blog today, I realized there are several FO's that I have yet to blog about. First up, this Backpack Purse by Mary Mulari.

This is from Made For Travel, Page 57. There are two changes I would make to the directions. First, as with the Beach Tote, I would serge all pieces before beginning sewing. Second, use a reinforcing stitch on the seams at the top. The fabric is not holding up well at the top. I think sergeing and a good reinforcing stitch would have prevented the problem. Other than that, I'm happy with my new purse. It has nearly eliminated the shoulder soreness caused by regular purses. One other change I made was to make beaded zipper pulls for the front zippers.