Earth and Sky mystery shawl

I participated in the westknits mystery shawl KAL, Here is my finished product. My colors came out ok, even though I picked them blindly without knowing the pattern. I wish I had the red and the natural colors switched, but this is the way it is.

Another school bag

After seeing how cute Isabelle's bag was, Madeline decided she wanted one too. I had some denim and said we could use that, thinking I wouldn't need to get so much interfacing, fusible fleece, etc. So we went off to buy lining fabric, she picked a cute burgundy with dragons and tigers. Here is the finished product. This one went a lot faster.



Outside
(and I got the pockets right)



inside view




"inside out"

I finished a westknits mystery kal shawl, I will post it tomorrow as it is blocking now, and I want to get outside pictures with it. I am sort of ambivalent about this project.

School Sewing

Yesterday was the first day of school, I was so busy I didn't get to sit down, but once or twice, and when I finally did, I was too tired to knit. I did get a couple projects done before school started, however.

I made Isabelle a bag, let's hope it holds up, as she has no locker this year (middle school remodel, currently housing school in an unused elementary school). She chose the fabrics, I accidentally made a pattern modification, but I think it makes it cute.

this is the "outside"



This is the "inside", and the way I think she is going to use the bag.

some more pictures:


I also made a little pencil case:



And one for Madeline:



Madeline now wants a bag like Isabelle's, I am going to make hers out of denim and some dragon fabric we picked out yesterday.

I am also working on the pattern for these socks, I will publish it Sept 1.

Kids sure do make you busy

It seems that after Christmas life gets really busy.

I have been busy with the kids and end of school, then summer started with multiple tasks to do.

I am currently working on designing my first sock pattern. I have designed, and tested, and am now working on making the pattern user friendly. The design will be part of a year long knit a long with the FG sock group on Ravelry. I am in charge of the September/October sock. I will post a picture when it's ready.

long space between updates

I apologize for the long absence. The holidays really work a number on a person.


I spent quite a bit of time doing holiday knitting, I couldn't even remember what it was if you asked me. Then after the first of the year, I went through a knit it or frog it challenge. I finished two projects and frogged a third.

I also released a pattern with the "2010 From Robin's Nest Four Seasons sock and mitt club"

I designed the winter mitts, called Winter Flames


I also got a belated birthday gift that may be just as attracted to my yarn as I am.

Hands across Ravelry Scarf

I'm sort of proud of this project. so I will share.

There is more detail if you are a member of Ravelry and can see this thread

However this is the abridged version.

I got some fleece from a ravelry member named Curlie. She had my name in a secret swap, and stalked me enough on Ravelry to see that I was contemplating learning to use a drop spindle, and was looking into aquiring some roving to do it with. Her boyfriend's family owns a sheep farm in Norther California. So she got me 8 oz of raw fleece.

It looked like this


I hung onto this fleece for about a year trying to get the nerve to wash it, but then what, how was I to card it? I finally decided that I really was not interested in spinning. Uneven rough spun yarn didn't reallly interest me.

Then I got the idea that maybe I could trade some services with another Ravelry member "Scullerymaid", and maybe she would card and spin the yarn for me. She agreed then suggested we start a whole thread that encompassed the wool from start to finish. Fabulous idea!
After spinning it looked like this:

Then when it was suggested I dye the wool after spinning, I said, ok I can use kool aid.... Snapper, another Ravelry member jumped in and offered to dye the yarn. She used her creativity to make this exclusive color way.


I got the yarn, caked it, then knit a pattern suggested by JenDeJour (another Ravelry member)
I, like the other people in this chane chronicled all my activites with the yarn, and here is the finished object.

Boo!

This is Boo the malabrigo bat!

I have been doing some christmas knitting too, but can't post any of that, because I don't know who actually reads the blog.

But to celebrate halloween here is boo!

I thought I would come in after the fact and add a little more detail about Boo.

Boo is a pattern that has been around for a while. I am not certain how long. I have been wanting to make one for about two years. The pattern is a Mochomochiland creation. If you like toys these are some of my favorites, by Anna Hrachovec. She also designed the grouchy couch from previous posts. I have that book. It's very cute, and there are a few designs in it I still want to make.

You can find the pattern for Boo at ravelry here

If you want to see Ann's website, you can find it here.