Monthly Archive for July, 2009

it’s time to round up a bunch of small projects and show you all. these are all little things that just kinda filled in between bigger projects. many of them were great ways of using up scrap i had lying around.

first off, Esme’s favorite cat toys in the whole world! these are ping pong balls covered in a layer of felt.  so easy to make… and adored to death by the laziest and pickiest kitty in the world. if people are interested, i can write up a quick tutorial for them… but it really is very easy.

next up, we’ve got a little experimental felted bowl. nothing too note worthy… just using up a bit of scrap to try it out. Paul loves it and uses it to toss his keys and change into every night. now i want to try making some moebius bowls.

i’ve been wanting to switch over to knitted dishcloths for a while now. it’s been going slow since other things (like dishcloths as Christmas gifts) have been higher priorities. i did pick up enough yarn to make a full set in the colors i’m planning though… and here is a swiffer mop head and couple dishcloths i made to see what i will eventually have…

the mop head is handy, but i don’t care for this design. it rolls up at the leading edge and is difficult to get into edges and corners. i’ve got a new pattern to try for a wrap around and button on design that should work better.

i have loved the idea of mug cozies ever since i first started knitting. of the ones i’ve seen, this pattern was the most lovely. i’ve been wanting to make it for a long time….

what an utter disappointment! i was let down on almost all fronts with this pattern. the bottom increases as written make for a lumpy and distorted bottom. it doesn’t lay flat on the bottom of the mug nicely even when stretched and makes for an unstable cup. if that was the only issue, i could rework it and be happy… but there is more! even though it is snug at the base of even a normal mug, the smocking stitch pattern is so stretchy that the top is loose enough that it continually tries to fall off the mug.even when pulled tight, it is too stretchy to be practical. this is compounded by the button loop. even cutting the length down by half from how the pattern is written, it is way to long. all together, it makes for a nice photo… but most of the time it is just another piece of clutter and a knitting regret.

this little Christmas ornament pattern is really fun. i had trouble getting the point to stretch out as long and lovely as pictured in the pattern… but i think that might be cured by knitting on larger needles so there is more play when blocking. in the mean time, this little guy makes for some sweet photos that work well for greeting cards.

i’ve needed a new case for my camera for a while now. i was a little disappointed with this one because it didn’t felt down as much and fit as well as the last one (even though it is exactly the same pattern… darn yarn!)… but then i stared embroidering it with my handspun yarn. it is lovely and i can live with it being a little too big.

this one was an exercise in skill testing. when i first started knitting lace, this bookmark pattern re-engineered from a vintage design was put forth as a very difficult and expert pattern. i fell in love with the look of it and set it as a goal for myself someday. it proved to be a nicely complex but not too difficult pattern. i can see why people see this as a challenge… but i don’t think that should scare people off. it is a beautiful piece that is worth the effort. the only downside is that it really is too large to be a functional bookmark.

after sock wars last year, i noticed i was wearing a callous on the top of my index finger. as a little knitting aid, i knit up a finger minus the glove.

these little flower pins are a fun way to use up lace weight scraps. i want to make a million of these…

here is another scrap project. a nice lace patterned headband that works up well in sock yarn scrap.

and to finish up, a dose of cute!