Tropical Breezes

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Originally uploaded by Beachside Knitter

One of our Misery Knits buddies lives in Saskatchewan where it is very cold for very long. I thought she needed some tropical breezes from here in sunny Florida so I made this little bag for her. Now I wish I had some more of this fabric for myself. It is so cute with Tropical snow/sand people.

Starshine & Moonbeams

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Originally uploaded by Beachside Knitter

This knitting tote went to one of my Misery Knits buddies. Gail sends us all 'moonbeam' soothing words each night and morning. She is a child advocate so I lined the bag with a white background print with redwork 'children' playing. So I told her that all her little children are safely tucked inside.
I've made other bags for my buddies but forgot to take pictures

A Duffel for Stacy

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Originally uploaded by Beachside Knitter

I made this one for my son's girlfriend Stacy. I quilted all the fabric myself because I couldn't find any prequilted in this pretty lilac print. I told her that it isn't a Vera Bradley, but it's better because it was made with my love

A Dear Daughter Duffel for my Jill

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Originally uploaded by Beachside Knitter

Jill picked out the fabrics she wanted and I loved adding a little surprise - I always add a rigid insert to keep the bottom of the bag stable. I had these preprinted 'Dear Daughter' quilt blocks but Jill will probably never want a quilt??? dunno , but anyway it was the opportunity I was looking for to give them to her.
I especially like the one that says 'Blessed is the Daughter who gives without remembering and who takes without forgetting'

Lola's Picture

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Originally uploaded by Beachside Knitter

OK I think I figured it out, but I'll just put this pic in as a separate post because I'm still having a little trouble

Baby Clara Dress

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Originally uploaded by Beachside Knitter

This was sent to baby Ava. It took me a couple of times to figure out just what the designer meant, but after abandoning one yarn and trying again, I finally got it. Now I understand it perfectly and would love to see it in Pink. I used baby blue Panda Soy sock yarn for this. It has a little elastic in it which may help baby to wear it a little longer since it is a little stretchy.

La La La La Lola!

Last week, all my knitting projects were turning to crap. No matter what project I picked up, it ran into a problem. Sooo, I set everything aside and made up this little cutie. It was fun, and it went fast. Last summer I bought a teensy tiny little sweater knitted on toothpicks! It is the perfect knitting project for Lola. Awww, ain't she cute?

Gifts

This is my favorite baby sweater to knit. It is called "Beribboned Eyelets" from the book Kids-Kids-Kids. It goes together in a strange way so it is fun to see it emerge. The hat I made up.
I used a novelty "flag" yarn as a carry along on some of the rows to dress it up. I couldn't find buttons that pleased me so I crocheted around plastic rings with embroidery floss and then embellished it with a pearl center.
I actually made this for my "Granny Hope Chest". Maybe some day I'll get a grandchild.
This is fleece trimmed with paper doll fabric made for a baby shower
This is a one piece sweater knit with TOFUTsies yarn. It is supposed to be done with a solid color and a variegated, but I just used the variegated because it uses less than half a ball of each color - so I only used one ball and had a good bit left over. I didn't find buttons I liked so I crocheted around with white and made a flower on the end of the ties. I like contrast
I made this scarf for a friend we are going to visit later this week.

Front View

This picture should be at the bottom of this post but I don't know how to do that.
Here is a picture of the front of the shawl - Note the long "tails". These are not too bad, but if I had continued according to pattern, they'd be a mile long!

New Accomplishments

I like to be very organized because I can't stand it when I can't find something quickly. For a long time I've been trying to come up with the perfect solution to storing all my needles, interchangeables, and hooks, etc. At one time I did make a little case for my Harmony needle set, but it was still not big enough to hold everything easily.
I found this cosmetic bag for $10 and it is working out splendidly!
I have three sets of Denise needles, and one set of Harmony's plus some extras and fixed circs. I also have one set of Boye Needlemaster which I really don't like but use in a pinch. I made a very nice case for it years ago and I think I'll just leave them as is. Click on the Pictures for a closer view.
I covered a piece of heavy duty quilting template plastic with fabric and made pockets for the needles on both sides. Smaller on one side and the thicker needles on the other side. Then I made another "panel" for all the cords by wrapping four pieces of elastic around the panel and stitching down at intervals. The Denise cords are on one side and the Harmony cables on the other. I used a Sharpie to write all the needle sizes onto the pockets. I put all the "buttons", extenders, etc into separate plastic pouches I bought from KnitPicks (one of them came with my set of Harmonys). All the interchangeables, cords and pouches fit in just one side of the bag along with needle gauges, snips, etc.
The other side of the bag holds my little tool box and I plan to make some "panels" to hold all my fixed circs. There is still plenty of room.
There is a zipper compartment on the outside of the bag where I put my zippered case set of crochet hooks plus a sizeable pouch of miscellaneous hooks. I'm thinking I might also make a panel to hold all those hooks so they are not "bunched up" in there and making it easier to find a specific size. I am thilled that this case is working out so well, it holds everything with room to spare - and only $10! I'm glad I didn't have to go through all the trouble of making the case too. Hmmm, there may be other cases in my future - like for embroidery and also to take to quilting classes....

ANOTHER SHAWL FOR ANN!
This pattern "Feather and Fan Triangle Shawl" is from Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle. I used five hanks of KnitPicks Bare, Superwash, 100% Merino Wool, Worsted Wt., 220 yds/100 grams per hank.
The shawl is huge. I eliminated about 10 rows of the garter stitch section. Then I eliminated about 30 rows of the feather and fan because it was just getting too big and I was almost to 400 sts per row.
Here's the problem: At a certain point on the garter st section, it says to start the "tails", which means that instead of increasing one st each side every other row, you would now increase on EVERY row. Well, first of all the tails are not necessary and would probably get in the way when wearing unless you wrap it around your body and tie in the back - which, to be fair, is the reason for them in the pattern.
However, it was adding way too much unnecessary knitting time, using up too much yarn and just getting too big. I have a person in mind I might make another one of these shawls for, but next time (using the same yarn) I will not make the tails, I will not make the garter section as large and will start the feather and fan sooner and make it wider. I took a picture of the front but I don't see it here. ???? I'll add it up top if it doesn't reappear.

Mobius

Finally something is finished. This is "Mobius" by Norah Gaughan. I used KnitPicks "Comfy" (cotton) in Creme Brulee color. I will bring it to Dallas in January for my son's girlfriend. She chose the pattern and color during the summer. I think the color choice is a good one because it seems to go with soooo many colors. She is a teacher and will wear it to school.

So Pretty!

Last night I just had to snap a few pics. Just look at this gorgeous PINK sky. The sun was going down in the west and this is looking east over the ocean. So pretty. It only lasted a few minutes though.
Here is the "Gift of Friendship" scarf for my friend Jennie who loves to walk on the beach in Maine even in the winter. This will be a warm hug from me and in a way I can walk with her. It is knit with KnitPicks Andean Silk which is a worsted weight Alpaca and Silk blend, very soft and warm. I chose the color "Lettuce" because Jennie is also an avid gardener and now she can be reminded of her summer garden while she walks in the winter.
Shhhh, she doesn't know it is coming. Just mailed it today.

Friends

Look at the wonderful surprise I received in the mail! Pat and I have been friends since childhood. She has become quite an accomplished quilter and I am the lucky recipient of this wonderful quilt, which you can see is on the sofa in my sewing studio where I take my naps. It is done in Mary Engelbreit "friend" fabrics and it is just the right size for a nap. I love it and I love Pat too. I will always treasure it. (I'll even take it to the nursing home some day :) Ain't it a beauty?!