UGG-style baby boots

I've been trying to make baby booties for 3 days now. Again, things aren't going right and this is getting to be too frustrating. First of all, I can't find the yarn that the pattern calls for --- Berroco Suede. So I tried searching at Michael's and Hobby Lobby for some other yarn. I found my former knitting instructor and she suggested using Baby Bee's Dreamy Baby Chenille. I was so stupid not to check the gauge and proceeded to making the boots using size 4 and 5 needles. I was just dying to make these boots! Unfortunately, it turned out to be big enough for a 3 year old. (See left boot in the picture) Sucks. Then I tried it again --- this time, using only size 2 needles. It came out smaller but I think it still is too big for a baby. Uggggh!!!

My classes at Personal Threads will start tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to find Berroco Suede there and my new instructor will be able to help me with it. I got the pattern from the DIY site, btw. Click on this link for your reference. As for the pic, this is what it's supposed to look like ---->

Dya now see what I mean about how cute these booties are??? It's to die for. I really gotta learn how to knit these right!

Hats Galore!

I couldn't get over how nice the ribbed hat and the beret turned out early this week so I made a couple more. This time, for my husband and for myself.


This one is what I said I was going to make of the black Nashua yarn. It's for my husband. The first ribbed hat I made (see previous posting) was a little to small for him (women's size) so the whole time I was knitting this, I had to "borrow" his head every once in a while to see if it already fits.



This is me in my new hat. I got the pattern off my "One Skein Wonders" book too. I just didn't add the I-cord decor on top.




About the yarn, I got all 4 skeins of those Cypress Mohair from Personal Threads at a sale price. (Only 2 skeins are in the picture as this shot was taken after I made the hat) I didn't really know what I was going to do with it when I was purchasing it --- but I sure am happy I got it coz it made a really nice hat! I'm sure it's going to make a nice pair of mittens too. I'll probably try that next!

This Week's Projects

I know I haven't updated my blog much lately... but that doesn't mean that I haven't knitted much either! You see, my friend shared this wonderful website last Sunday and I got hooked on it since then: www.peekvid.com It has a listing of different kinds of movies, tv shows, cartoons, etc. I have never seen Seasons 1 & 2 of "24" before and I am so glad to have found it on this site. So that's what I've been upto ---- 24 and knitting!

I have a couple of Nashua yarns that I impulsively bought before when I was looking for sock yarns. It sure made some nice hats. I made a beret for my friend Anne (the one who got me into peekvid!) and finishing another one for her twin Grace (I ran out of cream though so I'm going back to the store again today). As for the black yarn, I'm knitting a ribbed hat for my husband. (I'll post the picture later when it's done --- hopefully today!)



Btw, this is what happened to my Cascade wool... an unfinished sock. I hope to finish it this week. Just pray that I will have the patience to make the other sock afterwards. Haha!



I also made a ribbed hat made of the left over Malabrigo yarn that I used for my bubble bag. It's really nice. I liked making a hat out of it too!

Lastly, I'm finishing a pair of mittens for my grandmother. It's the same color as the fluffy scarf I gave her last Christmas. I hope she'll like it!

Socks: First Attempt

I bought a skein of Regia yarn yesterday in an attempt to knit a pair of socks. It's my first time to try a yarn this thin. Worse, with size 2 needles. I am so not used to that and it just felt uncomfortable. I couldn't seem to make the cuff right although my swatch seems to give me the right gauge. Sucks. I knew that if I continue any further, my interest in knitting will go kapoof!

So today, I went to the yarn store to buy the book that I so wanted to buy yesterday --- Knit Socks! It has patterns that call for worsted-weight yarns and bigger sized needles. So together with the book, I also bought 1 skein of jet black Cascade 220 yarn and a set of Brittany needles size 3.

I am almost done with my first leg now. Yey! I love how smooth and even my stitches are and how perfect the size is for my husband's feet!

Knitting Class

I signed up for another knitting class --- this time at Personal Threads. I'm really not in it for the lessons but to meet new knitters. Hehe. It's actually pretty cheap compared to the previous class I had before which was for $15. This one costs only $32 for 4 two-hour sessions, every Thursday, for the whole month of February. Great deal huh?? Their classes are in groups of 5 that's why I like it. Not like the "class" I took before, which turned out to be a one-on-one.

The project that I would like to learn on my class is "Shimmer" from the Knitty website. Reeeeally nice! It'll be my first attempt in making a shrug! I can't wait!

From Crimson to Purple

I couldn't sleep for a couple of hours last night so I started another project from my Pursenalities Plus book --- the "Crimson" pattern. Very pretty. Check out what the finished purse looks like at the lower right side of the book (see the picture below). I am using Malabrigo yarns: 2 skeins of Pearl Ten and 1 skein of Black, 1 skein of Trendsetter Dune #85 and a black acrylic handle from Design a Bag. I'm half done with the body of the bag --- ohhhhh! I can't wait to felt the whole thing! :)

My First Bubble Bag

Here's the second bag that I felted today. It was inspired by the bubble bag pattern on Pursenalities. I used Malabrigo worsted-weight wool in black and roanoke gold. To see the "before" picture, please see my January 14 blogpost. Sorry for the ugly shot. I was in the laundry room when I took it. And neither has the bag been dried nor shaven. I am just very excited to share it. :) Anyway, I really enjoyed doing this so watch out for more of my felting projects in the future!

My First Felted Bag

Just a few minutes ago, I felted the first bag that I knitted using Malabrigo worsted weight wool almost 2 weeks ago. It's soooooooooo cute!!!! Although I noticed that even after I left it in the washer to agitate for 12 minutes, some stitches are still visible. Sucks. I got the pattern from my book "One-Skein Wonders" but I think my stitches turned out to be too tight for felting. I guess that's what they meant at personal threads when they said I should knit loosely (on larger needles) if I was to felt my bag. But again, I still think it turned out to be soooooooooooo cute... it would be a really nice gift for Mark's niece! I gotta wait for it to dry first though... and shave it, of course! ;)

My First Beret

I finally figured out on my own how to finish my Yorkshire Tweed Beret. It looks nice. Although I think it would be nicer if I used wool or some novelty yarn instead of plain 100% cotton. Oh well. It's still an accomplishment though. My first beret. :)

On Needles

I used to buy those Addi Turbo circular needles because I like the softness of the snag free cords. But they are so expensive, aren't they? I've only bought 2 so far and thought I can't go on buying every size of these needles even though I like it. My husband would definitely freak out, as he's the one who's financially supporting my hobby (yes, i'm a housewife!).

So I tried researching online if Skacel has like an Addi set... but voila! I found the Knit Pick Options instead and it's wayyyyy cheaper!!! Only $59.99! My husband ordered it for my Xmas gift and when I got it, I never stopped knitting since then. The cords are so soft --- softer than my Addi's. The connection between the needle and the cord is so smooth too. So snag free. The needles are only from sizes 4-11 though. So we had to purchase sizes 13-17 separately. But it's only $6.99 each pair --- still cheaper than getting it from Skacel. Knit Picks doesn't have sizes 0-3 interchangeable needles though. They sell those like normal circular needles to maintain its quality, and at only $4.99 each. Great deal huh?? I might just purchase that at a later time though. I have already bought a whole bunch of stash the past couple of weeks. Besides, I'm not that keen on making projects using those needle sizes anyway. And my socks patterns usually call for double pointed 3's or 4's. So it can wait. :)

Yorkshire Tweed Beret

I started doing a beret yesterday which I found on "One-Skein Wonders" (page 168). I'm now down to the edging part of the project but I can't seem to figure out how to work on those last few rows. Frustrating. I unfortunately have casted on very tightly too. Now I'm having a hard time putting the cast on back to my circular needles, as stated on the pattern. Arrrrgh. I really like this project done. I think the beret would look really nice. Thoughts?

New Year, New Addiction

It's the year 2007. New year... new blog... for my new addiction --- KNITTING :)

It all started last November 22 when I attended a class at Michael's to learn knitting basics. Since then, I've made 8 scarves (plus another one in progress) 6 of which, I have given away to family. (Below are the only scarves I have left)


Sometime late December, I learned to locate 2 of the 3 yarn stores here in Omaha: String of Purls and Personal Threads . And I got more hooked. Purchasing yarns just give me a different kind of adrenaline rush. Addictive! :)

I think what I need now are knitter friends to hang out with. There are "Knit and Sit" hours at String of Purls. I went there a couple of times... not to knit though... but to purchase yarns while I secretly observed the knitters. Hmmm. I felt so amateur just watching and listening to them. Don't think I'm ready for that yet. But then again, they could also help me learn new stuff, right? Hmmm...

December 27-January 13th was an "everything 20% off" sale at Personal Threads. As I looked around there one day last week, I started a conversation with a very nice woman who is as addicted to knitting but more experienced than I am. Her name is Kathy. She is actually a resident of Indiana and just flew in for the weekend to take advantage of the sale. Wow. She's more addicted than I am then. LOL. She and her daughter (Kate, who also flew in from Idaho) have successfully convinced me to graduate from knitting scarves. That it was time for me to "move on". So I met up with them for a couple of days last week and they taught me how to make socks, a bonnet and a felted bag. Soooooooooooo cool!

I found out from Kathy and Kate that Personal Threads also have "Knit Nights" which happens every 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Cooooooool. I've already made acquaintances at that store so I think I'm going try that out too. They don't have it for this month though due to their annual clearance sale but I heard it will be back next month.

Since last weekend, I've tried making different kinds of projects. First was a pair of fingerless mittens made with Koigu... then a red purse and a bubble bag, both made with Malabrigo worsted-weight wool. (I have yet to felt the bags though as I can't seem to find any Eucalan.) Yesterday, I made my first drawstring pouch and today, I'm making my first bikini pair (all using 100% cotton). 5 knitting projects in a week. Not bad eh? I'll update you all as soon as I'm done with the bikini. Then I'll move on to knitting socks. :)



One thing that frustrates me though is that I have been trying to make baby booties for more than a week now and it's still not going right. I'm not sure if there's something wrong with the pattern or if I need to change my yarn --- it just always is too big on the foot and too tiny on the cuffs. Sucks. But I'll give it a try again next week using another kind of yarn.